Monday, September 29, 2014

All fired up

A mom friend shared a great post by Ashley Csanady:  Can girls be heroes? Target’s pajamas say no

I didn't realize how much this bothered me until I became a mother, but for months now it has been building and I'm just about ready to blow. 

Why does everything have to be gendered?  

I'm sick of it.  I'm sick of all the pink.  I'm sick of all the limiting logos, slogans and tag lines that are meant to be "cute."  And while I'm on the topic, why do animal costumes need little pink bows?  God forbid my daughter be mistaken for, oh I don't know, a leopard.

I used to think there was no harm in it.  I think that I'm a fairly confident, well rounded woman.  But now I'm responsible for teaching my daughter how to navigate this world and it feels like we have somehow taken several steps backwards.  I want her to grow up free of the limits that others put on us with stupid t-shirts.

My daughter is a force to be reckoned with.  When she's around other toddlers, her energy is off the charts.  People regularly comment that she'll be a "tomboy" or is "just like a boy."  But I'll tell you what I see.  I see courage and a sense of adventure that I truly admire.  I imagine that when she grows up, she'll go bouldering and jump out of planes.  She's fearless, warm, funny and outgoing.  She's not a tomboy - she's active! 

We need to change the conversation that limits us.  The words we choose, the media we consume, the t-shirts we wear - they matter.  I choose to be a better example, starting now.

  




Thursday, September 25, 2014

Meals On The Go: Homemade Zucchini Bread


Breakfast is particularly challenging around here.  Despite my best efforts to wean my little one, she's still nursing overnight.  So in the morning, instead of mowing down on breakfast, she grazes.   Her appetite really doesn't pick up until later in the day.  

To encourage weaning, we've been enjoying a lot of outdoor play.  My hope is that by giving her lots of exercise and distraction, she'll start to drop one nursing at a time and opt for the healthy foods that I offer.  It's a slow process, but it works most of the time.  I just make sure that I have plenty of snacks ready to go in my cooler bag.  

The latest addition to my mealtime arsenal is a homemade zucchini bread.  I love making it.  On days that my toddler is particularly curious, I set her up in her highchair so she can watch as I explain what I'm doing.  Other times, I measure and sift all my dry ingredients while she naps so that I can quickly put it together later.  It's a fantastic breakfast item or snack on the go.

Homemade Zucchini Bread 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 3 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup apple sauce
  • 2 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups grated zucchini (don't press to remove moisture)
  • 1 cup chopped almonds or flax seeds (optional)

Directions

  1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
  3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
  4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool and remove from pan.
The recipe makes two loaves and freezes really well.  You can also substitute some of the zucchini for grated carrot for added nutrition.  I'm still tinkering with other healthy substitutions and will post an update if I find something that works really well.  For now, this is a big hit in our home.

Enjoy!


Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Making The Most Out Of Consignment

A few weeks ago, I cleaned out my closet and decided to bring some of my designer items to a consignment shop. 

I was a little weary of the process.  I had read some horror stories about shops where people felt they had been cheated.  Since I really couldn't wear my items any longer, I still wanted to give it a shot.  So after reading all the reviews, I decided to give two shops a try:


This very trendy shop doesn't follow the traditional consignment model.  A buyer looks through your pieces and will select and price them for the store.  You can choose to receive half that price in store credit that is good for one year or you can take 25% in cash, on the spot.  No appointment necessary during store hours.

The buyers were super friendly.  They asked me to browse while they went through my items.  The store was chock full of very fashionable, trendy pieces.  As I looked at their merchandise, I realized that it was unlikely they would select any of the more classic designer items I had brought in and I was right.  They politely declined and thanked me for stopping by.  If you are looking for an interesting piece to spice up your wardrobe, they are worth checking out.


Flair Trade and its predecessor, PLAYNWEAR kids consignment, have been serving the Yonge & Lawrence area for 30 years.  It was clear from the moment I walked into the shop that this high-end resale consignment shop was built on developing long lasting relationships with both customers and consignors.  The buyers took the time to go through my items, explained why some pieces weren't being accepted and also suggested that I bring a few items back in for a different season.  

If you consign your items with Flair Trade, they will be placed on the floor for a 60-day period.  If you want your items returned to you if they don't sell, you have the option to call the shop about a week before the expiry.  If you don't, the items will belong to Flair Trade and will be donated to a local charity.  As with other consignment shops, Flair Trade offers commissions on the sale of items which can be taken in cash or store credit (which is slightly higher than the cash rate).

Although the shop is small, it has great turnover. Within a week of dropping off my castaways, my black satin trench from Bebe was sold.  If all goes well, I can expect upwards of $200 for items that normally would have gone straight into the donation bin.  That's a whole lot of diapers. 

How To Make The Most Out of Consignment

If you think consignment is for you, here are a few things I learned that can help you get the most value for your items:

  1. Check out the consignment shop.  Read the reviews and pay them a visit.  If the shop carries things you would wear, then odds are they will accept your in season items as long as they meet the shop criteria.  If lugging your stuff around is an ordeal, email pictures to the buyers to gauge interest or see if they offer a closet cleaning service where they come to you!
  2. Keep original receipts, boxes and garment bags.  If you can show what an item originally retailed for, it's easier for the store to price them right.  Also, having the original boxes and garment bags can help with merchandising.
  3. Show off your items in the best condition possible.  Simply put - clean, on a hanger and free of stains, tears and obvious wear.  Look at the item in good lighting and ask yourself if you would buy it in its current condition.  If you wouldn't, odds are the shop won't take it either.  If you're not sure, have a buyer check it out for you.
  4. Keep the season in mind.  Consignment shops post the season they are currently accepting items for so clean your closets early.  For example, if you have spring/summer items to consign, you'll want to bring them to a consignment shop around mid-March.  The earlier they hit the floor, the better your chances of the item selling for the agreed upon retail price. Items will get mark-downed based on inventory as the season progresses.
Have you ever bought or sold items at a consignment shop?  Any tips to share?  I'd love to hear about it.


Thursday, September 11, 2014

Making Room for Memories

Last night, I attended the WIFT Reception @ TIFF.  It was a great evening of intelligent women, cocktails and delicious food.  I really had an amazing time.

But...

TIFF parties are about being red carpet ready.  I love to do my hair, put on some make-up and wear something fabulous.  As many other urban moms, I had a collection of carefully curated designer pieces for just such an occasion.  That's right, I had a collection.

About a week ago, I started to plan out my TIFF outfit.  As I culled through the designer digs that I hadn't worn since before I was pregnant, I came to the shocking realization that things had just...shifted.  Even though I have achieved my pre-baby weight, dresses weren't sitting right on my hips.  Shoes were a half size too tight.  I was stunned.

I searched the internet for answers and learned that many women are in the same boat.  The pregnancy hormones that loosen the joints and ligaments in your pelvis and feet (among other things) in preparation for birth will often result in permanent changes to your body post-baby.  What?!?!

Don't get me wrong - I think I look pretty good.  But I couldn't help but feel a little sad that these last relics of my single days would never be worn again.  My closet was full of memories - dancing til dawn, romantic getaways, promotions - and I was surprised by just how emotional the idea of letting these things go was for me.

Then my daughter walked into the room to show me her latest trick and I laughed to myself.  It was just stuff and I have a whole host of new memories to add to my old ones.  My curvier hips and very supportive feet are a wonderful reminder of that.  So I cleaned out my closet and sussed out some local consignment shops.  A little cash to go along with new memories never hurt anyone.   



Monday, September 8, 2014

Condo Living: Rethinking Your Concept of Space

When I got pregnant, my husband and I had a decision to make - to either sell or stay in our one bedroom plus den condo in downtown Toronto.  

I have to tell you, it wasn't an easy decision.  With pregnancy hormones racing through my veins my first instinct was to upgrade to a bigger home with more rooms and a yard.  I even flirted with the idea of a walk-in closet and an ensuite bathroom.  I was giddy.

Then we started to look at homes and all of a sudden the giddiness dissipated.  The properties in our price range weren't really a step-up or they were taking us further away from the city we love.  It was depressing.

I thought back to what attracted me to our condo in the first place.  I had purchased it as a single, professional woman who wanted to live in a central location with great amenities, TTC at my doorstep and access to everything Toronto has to offer.  Condo living provided me with exactly that.  So the question became, do we really need to have exclusive use of space?  The answer was a resounding no, so we decided to stay and make it work. 

I'm a big believer in making incremental changes as you need them.  Our condo had served us well as it was until I got pregnant.  Now it was full of sharp glass corners.  Making room for baby meant letting go of possessions from my single days.  It meant being flexible.

We made three very useful changes to prepare for our growing family:
  1. Removed any unneeded/dangerous furniture to make room for our little one.  We listed some items for sale on Kijiji.  Anything we couldn't sell, was donated to The Furniture Bank.
  2. Converted the den to a nursery.  We selected furniture within our budget that would optimize the space by providing additional storage.
  3. Installed closet organizers which more than doubled the existing closet space.  Ours were installed by Closets By Design and we were very happy with the results. 

We're fortunate that our condo community has introduced an indoor toddler space and outdoor playground in response to the increasing number of families in our neck of the woods. There are also community centers, gardens and public libraries close by.  In addition to being great places to meet-up with other kids and parents, these common areas are chock-full of toys and books so you don't have to invest in them.

Today, we are happily living in our condo with a very active 17 month old.  All it really required was to rethink our concept of space and being open to evolving it as our needs change.  





 


Thursday, September 4, 2014

Family Fun: Far Enough Farm


I love going on adventures.  What do I love even more?  The look on my little one's face when she experiences something new.

So today we set sail on a ferry boat to Center Island to visit the Far Enough Farm.  If you have never been, it's well worth the $7 adult fare to get to the island (children under 2 are free).

The farm is located just east of Centerville Amusement Park and is open from 10am to 5pm year-round.  If you are thinking of hitting up the amusement park as well, be sure to visit on a weekend.  Now that the school year is in full swing, Centerville is closed on weekdays.