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Big Kids

How to Manage Your Children’s Tech Use with Family Link

May 2, 2019

This post is proudly sponsored by Family Link App from Google. I am part of Mom It Forward Influencer Network.
As always, the opinions stated herein are my own.

Navigating technology can be challenging when you have kids! Let’s face it – technology isn’t going away, so it’s our responsibility as parents to teach our children how to use it properly. So how to manage your children’s tech use?

While parents would like to admit that we’re able to manage our children’s tech use, I think we could use a little assistance. Our biggest hurdle is managing the amount of time kids spend on their device and setting limits as well as a cut-off time during homework time, or bedtime. Another issue has been managing the content they see as well; they easily can come across inappropriate content while surfing the web, or discovering videos online.

The Family Link app from Google is a free tool to help parents manage the kinds of content their kids see, and the amount of time kids are spending on their devices. It’s also a great way to keep conversations going about what healthy technology looks like for the family.

What I love about Family Link is that it can help parents:

approve or decline apps kids want to download from the Google Play Store
hide apps on the device at any time
approve purchases your kids want to make in their favorite apps
restrict content kids can see in the Play Store by maturity rating
block specific sites, only allow a curated set of sites, and apply filters that attempt to block mature content in your Family Link settings.

Another concern is how much time our kids are spending on their devices. Family Link allows parents to:

set a daily limit for each day of the week, so once that time is up, the device is locked and they can only make calls if they need to
set a device bedtime
remotely lock your kid’s device anytime
see app activity reports so you can keep an eye on what they are using on their device.

Bonus points – Family Link also allows you to see where your child is located, as long they have their device on and with them. Since my younger son doesn’t have a data/phone plan yet, we can easily know his whereabouts when he’s off playing with friends.

You can download the Family Link app from Google and begin setting some smart ground rules to help guide your kids as they explore the online world.

Entertainment

Enter to Win an Epson Voice-Activated Printer for Mother’s Day

May 1, 2019

For the tech-savvy mom this Mother’s Day, give a gift that’s as smart and savvy as Mom with Epson’s voice-activated printer XP-7100 Small-in-One.

The Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 Small-in-One Printer allows you to print, scan, copy, and get creative! You can print wirelessly from your computer, tablet or phone, or use the Epson Creative Print app, which allows you to customize your printing with a tap of your finger. Best of all, it’s a voice-activated printer.

This Epson Expression Premium printer can print 4×6 photos in as few as 12 seconds, without the worry of streaks or running ink. With the Creative Print app, you can print directly from your phone, choosing from your favourite photos from Facebook and Instagram.

The coolest part? This voice-activated printer is compatible with three popular voice assistant platforms—Google Assistant^™, Siri^®and Amazon Alexa.¹ So you can simply take a picture and then ask Siri to print it in seconds. Not sure how much ink you have left? Ask Siri to show you. The voice activation means you can easily multi-task – which is mom’s specialty anyway!

The XP-7100 features superior photo quality with 5 colour inks, auto 2-sided print/copy/scan, a 30-page auto document feeder and easy mobile printing.

Enter to Win

One lucky amotherworld reader will win an Epson XP-7100 Small-in-One Printer ($199.99 Cdn retail value). Use the Rafflecopter below to enter!

¹ Epson Connect and Amazon Alexa account registration required. More information about Epson’s voice-activated printing services can be found here.

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House & Home

Spring New Life Into Your Home with Home Depot Home Décor

April 29, 2019

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot
As always, the opinions expressed herein are my own.

Spring is the time of year where homeowners’ attentions naturally shift towards the home. Whether it’s spring cleaning, reorganizing, or a complete renovation, springtime for many means improving the home in one way or another.

For me, it’s a feeling of releasing the heaviness that winter brings, and refreshing our living space with some new life. It’s the time to pack winter clothing, coats and boots to make room for spring jackets and cute flats.

It’s also time to roll up the old winter rug and boot mats and pack away heavy blankets and throws and bring in some softer colours and new home décor items to brighten up the home. With the weather getting warmer, we want to invite some of that light and airy freshness to our living space.

Just in time for spring, The Home Depot is expanding its offerings into home décor! Home Depot now has thousands of on-trend home décor products available online in all areas of the home including furniture, wall décor, home décor, bedding, kitchenware including small appliances, cookware and serving ware. The online shop carries brands in every décor category including Kitchenaid, HDC, Safavieh, The Company Store, and Nambe.

All are available in a convenient online shopping experience, with free delivery in-store, or free shipping on most orders over $45. If for some reason the item isn’t what you expected, or it doesn’t fit with the style of your home, you can simply return it to your local Home Depot.

What I like is the convenient online shopping tools so you can keep track of your wish-list items. When you shop online at The Home Depot, you can use these convenient tools to discover and purchase new products:

“My List” function makes it easy to save your favorite products of interest. Once you create an account and login, the products you like are saves to your Favorites folder where you revisit.
Easy “shop the room” and “shop the look” curated collections by style
Product Recommendations
Easy Navigation to product discovery

Here are some of my favourite picks for the Bedroom, Family Room, and Kitchen.

Bedroom

Nothing screams summer than white linen. I love wearing linen in spring and summer and would love to wrap myself in it while I sleep. I love the airiness of crisp, white sheets, fluffy pillows and luxurious duvets. Add a pop of color with pillows, throws and wall décor. I tend to gravitate towards soft pastels and bright sea blues and teals.

Baxton Studio Chevron 3-Drawer Silver Mirrored Nightstand
The Company Store 3-Piece Linen Cotton Solid Snow King Duvet Cover Set
The Company Store 4-Piece 300 Thread Count Bamboo Cotton Sheet Set
Trademark Fine Art 30 in. x 47 in. “Open Sail” by Julia Purinton Printed Canvas Wall Art
The Company Store Embroidered Decorative Pillow Cover in Blue Scroll
The Company Store Embroidered Decorative Pillow Cover in Blue Medallion
Lalit 7-Piece King Bed in a Bag
Home Decorators Collection Chennai Whitewash Nightstand

Kitchen

The Home Depot also carries a wide array of small appliances and housewares from national brands such as KitchenAid, Calphalon, Delonghi, Lenox, Fiesta, Corelle. Traditional dining furniture is pretty but not as functional as this Home Decorators Collection Aldridge Extendable Dining Table in Antique Grey or Washed Black. I like it paired with the Linon Home Decor Hyde Ash Grey Wood dining chairs, and the Home Decorators Collection Hampton Grey Buffet. Add a little bit of retro with a quirky “Eat Here” vintage sign, and help stay organized with a World Printed cork board.

Wall Pops 23.5 in. x 17 in. Tambour Printed Cork Board
KitchenAid 5-Speed Blender
3R Studios 16 in . H x 15 in. W “Eat Here” Retro Wall Art
Studio Silversmiths Clear Crystal Decanter and Cocktail Glass Set (Set of 7)
BAUM Tangiers 16-Piece Turquoise Dinnerware Set
Linon Home Decor Hyde Ash Grey Wood Dining Chair (Set of 2)
Lipper Acacia 12 in. Wavy Rim Bowl with Salad Servers
Home Decorators Collection Aldridge Washed Black Extendable Dining Table
Cuisinart Multiclad Triply 10-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
GoWISE USA 5.8 Qt. 8-in-1 Chili Red Electric Air Fryer
Home Decorators Collection Industrial Mansard Adjustable Height Black Bar Stool with Backrest
Home Decorators Collection Hampton Grey Buffet

Living Room

While it may be difficult to give your living/family room a complete overhaul, even one new piece of furniture, or new pillows, a throw, wall art, or some new décor items can freshen up a space. The Home Depot has some on-trend items and offers private brands at affordable prices, such as Home Decorators Collection and The Company Store. Spend cozy family nights on the Mayfair Classic Natural Sectional with Chaise, or the Phoenix Sectional Sofa with Ottoman in Dove Gray Linen. Or swap out your heavy wooden coffee table for a light and airy Bella Aged Gold Coffee Table by Home Decorators Collection. Add some contemporary décor items such as the Silver Chess Abstract Decorative Sculptures and Glitzhome Gold Accent Sphere.

Home Decorators Collection Griffith Sugar Shack Putty 2-Piece Sectional
Mina Victory Damask 20 in. Navy Indoor and Outdoor Pillow
Home Decorators Collection Bella Aged Gold Coffee Table
Litton Lane Whitewash Walnut Mango Wood and Iron Candle Holder (Set of 3)
CosmoLiving by Cosmopolitan Contemporary Silver Chess Abstract Decorative Sculptures (Set of 3)
Glitzhome Gold Accent Sphere Tabletop Décor
Litton Lane Jaxon 48 in. H x 16 in. W Wood Wall Plaque (Set of 3)
ArtWall ‘Windswept’ by Elisa Sheehan Framed Canvas Wall Art
Home Decorators Collection Conrad Antique Natural Entertainment Center
Handy Living Phoenix Dove Gray Linen Sectional Sofa with Ottoman

This is what Home Improvement looks like!

Are you inspired to start shopping for your next project? Happy Spring!

This post contains affiliate links. When you click through and shop, I will receive a small commission.

lifestyle

Win a Mother’s Day Spa for Two at the Remarkable Ste. Anne’s

April 23, 2019

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, so what a better way to celebrate yourself, and your mom than at Ste. Anne’s Spa! This beautiful full-facility spa in Grafton, Ontario offers all-inclusive day and blissful weekday and weekend getaways that rejuvenate your mind, body and soul.

My readers know that I adore Ste. Anne’s Spa, as I’ve been visiting for many years now. Only 1.5 hours east of Toronto, Ste. Anne’s is my go-to destination when I need some time to de-stress and unwind. As soon as you enter the lovely grounds, the clothes – as well as the daily stresses and responsibilities – come right off! Enjoy the facilities, spa treatments, and delectable food in the comfort of your robe. Take time to explore the grounds and the meditation garden, and take a wellness or yoga class.

My favourites: the Fieldstone Grotto featuring a hot tub and plunge pool, followed by the Eucalyptus Steam Room which is infused with eucalyptus essential oil.

Enter to Win

One lucky reader will win a Day Spa for Two at Ste. Anne’s! For Mother’s Day, treat yourself and your mom, sister, daughter or friend to a relaxing stay at award-winning Ste. Anne’s Spa.

Day Spa for Two includes:

3-Course lunch
Afternoon tea
Use of Ste. Anne’s signature robe
$120 spa & wellness allowance per person
Complete use of the facilities
8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

To enter, fill in the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!

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Travel

Here are the Best Ways to Get to Zakynthos, Greece

April 16, 2019

While many who visit Greece tour the islands in the Aegean sea, the gorgeous Greek island beauty also lies on the other side in the Ionian sea. Zakynthos is one of my favourite Greek islands in the Ionian. How to get to Zakynthos Greece depends on where you’re coming from, who you’re travelling with, and whether you have a rental car. Here are the best ways to get to Zakynthos, Greece.

Flights to Zakynthos

If you’re wondering how to get to Zakynthos quickly, you’ll likely choose to fly. Zakynthos is very easily reachable from Athens with Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines. During the summer, some European cities offer direct flights to the island including London and Amsterdam. British Airways offers direct flights to Zante during the summer months. Also, Volotea airlines in Italy offers direct flights.

Ferry from the mainland

Getting to Zakynthos within mainland Greece means taking the ferry. Since we drove (more below) – and that alone was a memorable experience! – we took the ferry from Kyllini, Peloponnese. Getting to Zakynthos by ferry boat was breathtaking. The views of the island’s coastline, and of the downtown, are simply beautiful.

No matter how you arrive, as you approach Zakynthos, you’ll be impressed by the beautiful coastline. The Venetians called the island Zante, but the name, like all similar names ending in -nthos, is pre-Mycenaean or Pelasgian in origin. In Greek mythology, the island was said to be named after Zakynthos, the son of a legendary Arcadian chief Dardanus.

Rent a car

If you’re able to drive, I would highly recommend renting a car so that you can tour Zakynthos on your own schedule. We opted to take our rental car with us from Athens to the island (stopping to visit Nafplio and the famous Epidaurus Theatre for a few days) so that we could explore Zakynthos leisurely. We drove from Tsilivi beach, where we stayed, all around the island. It’s only about an hour drive to get from one side of the island to the other.

The lovely Mediterranean climate and the plentiful rainfall means the island is full of dense vegetation. As you drive through the island, you’ll notice all of the olive trees. So many olive trees! You’ll find olive oil, currants, grapes and citrus fruit on the island.

Must-see attractions

At the Bay of Laganas, you’ll find the prime nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean. Every year at the beginning of June, the female turtles come to the southern beaches in order to bury their eggs in the sand.

Marathonissi islet (also known as “Turtle Island”) near Limni Keriou contains tropical vegetation, turquoise waters, beaches, and sea caves.

The most famous landmark of the island is the Navagio beach. It is a cove on the northwest shore, isolated by high cliffs and accessible only by boat.

Celebrities

Should Parents Share Revealing Photos of Their Kids Online?

April 3, 2019

Who doesn’t love babies and their cute little legs and toes? Moms and dads may be tempted to share photos of their baby during bath time, in between diaper changes, while potty- training, or on the beach. Parents may think it’s cute to share revealing photos of their kids online on social media. But should they?

Sharing revealing photos of their kids online means those photos are out there – once parents post them on social media, they are floating in cyberspace forever.

Pink is a proud mama who enjoys sharing family photos on her Instagram account. She often shares captures of her two children Willow, 7, and Jameson, 2, as she juggles being a famous singer as well as a mom. It is her Instagram account, and she should be able to share whatever she feels is best, no?

The other day, Pink uploaded a photo of her and her two children while on vacation, hanging out with a pelican they’d found. She posted the photo on Instagram before realizing that her toddler son had taken off his swim diaper. But the nasty comments filled her feed, forcing her to delete the image and replace it with one that scribbled in where his diaper would normally be, covering his private parts.

Along with the updated version, she wrote in the caption:

“There’s something seriously wrong with a lot of you out there. Going off about my baby’s penis? About circumcision??? Are you for real? As any normal mother at the beach, I didn’t even notice he took off his swim diaper.

I deleted it because you’re all fucking disgusting. And now I’m turning off my comments and shaking my head at the state of social media and keyboard warriors,

And the negativity that you bring to other people’s lives. There is something seriously wrong with a lot of you out there. Smfh. Here’s a picture of the pelican we obviously caught and abused for hours before dangling baby penis in its face.”

View this post on Instagram

There’s something seriously wrong with a lot of you out there. Going off about my baby’s penis? About circumcision??? Are you for real? As any normal mother at the beach, I didn’t even notice he took off his swim diaper. I deleted it because you’re all fucking disgusting. And now I’m turning off my comments and shaking my head at the state of social media and keyboard warriors, And the negativity that you bring to other people’s lives. There is something seriously wrong with a lot of you out there. Smfh. Here’s a picture of the pelican we obviously caught and abused for hours before dangling baby penis in its face.

A post shared by P!NK (@pink) on Mar 31, 2019 at 9:49am PDT

So what do you think? Did Pink not notice and posted accidentally? Or did she post knowing his penis was showing but didn’t expect such a reaction from the public?

Whether or not she knew, it brings up the question – Should parents share revealing photos of their kids online?

Once you share revealing photos of your kids online, you can’t take them back. Many people feel it’s inappropriate to share revealing photos of your children because of the fact there are trolls and predators online who could possibly target the child. It may also be deemed inappropriate that those photos may resurface and embarrass the child later in life.

On the other hand, there is something seriously wrong when people are sexualizing a child. Unfortunately, this is the world we live in today, and some might argue it’s best to be cautious of what images are being shared online.

Here are some of the comments on Instagram:

@dannygirl57: “Wow. I guess I didn’t examine the pelican photo because I didn’t even notice that Jameson didn’t have any bottoms on… I noticed a cute photo of a mama and her babies enjoying a moment in life… those who saw anything more than that need their heads checked!!!! Keep doing u!!”

@pitbullmomma0724: “I am not for circumcision. It is my job to try and educate people before they do it. I am also not so obsessed that I am going to zoom in on a baby penis of a cute family photo to see if someone circumcised their son. WTF is wrong with you people. Really? What can she do about it now anyway? It’s done! Just enjoy the cute family photos and move on with your lives. Slamming someone isn’t going to make his foreskin grow back. It doesn’t make her a horrible mother….. move on….. Jesus!”

@moiracurlis: “I mean, it’s pretty tone deaf to post a pic with your naked daughter and lower half of your son on social media with the amount of pedos and sexual predators out there. Cute pic. Take it for yourself. Don’t post it for the gawking masses and then get offended when people have feelings about it.”

@ashley.ortiz3: “I think there’s something seriously wrong with HER for posting a picture of her naked son in social media. I don’t understand how some people don’t care who sees their children’s private parts. THERE ARE SCUM BAG PEDOPHILES OUT THERE THAT LOVE TO SEE THESE THINGS. And you’re ok with giving them that? Your child’s naked body to look at? To pleasure themselves with? Come on people. Get out from under your rock and open your eyes to the world and sick people around you. Your job as a parent is to keep your child safe from anything and anyone out there to harm them. Even if it isn’t physically harming.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by P!NK (@pink) on Mar 31, 2019 at 2:06am PDT

What do you think?

Big Kids

Do Kids Feel More Pressure To Be Successful Today?

March 27, 2019

Parents feel the pressure to succeed on their own, but on top of that, they’re also responsible to ensure their children succeed too. The pressure to raise successful children is higher than ever. Parents may be putting pressure on children to succeed. Do kids feel more pressure to be successful today?

I think children today are feeling extreme pressure to succeed, and their parents, peers and society all play a role. Parents obviously want the best for their children, but they will go out of their way to ensure their kids receive the best education. Look at the recent college admissions scandal where 33 parents, including actors Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, “paid enormous sums” in a cheating scheme that rigged admissions to elite universities such as Stanford and Yale.

Parents pressure on children.

Some parents will put immense pressure on their children to be successful. Some parents will even go into debt to send their children to private school with the hopes that their education will ensure entrance into a top university. For some, using their wealth and social status to help their child get accepted into a good school means breaking the rules.

For those not so financially fortunate, and with perhaps a cleaner conscious, parents will encourage their children to be involved in at least one competitive sport, throwing money into training with the hopes that their child will receive a scholarship. Let’s not forget the academic pressure; kids are feeling the pressure to perform well in school, not settling for anything less than an A.

Pressure from all sides.

Kids are pressured from all sides – home, school, friends, extra-curricular activities, as well as the pressure of their impending future and career decisions. All of that pressure and being pulled in many directions can leave kids feeling anxious, inadequate, under-confident. In fact, high expectations can lead to anxiety and depression, which can also increase the risk of developing an addiction.

A 2017 study entitled, “Perfectionism Is Increasing Over Time” finds that “young people now face far tougher social and economic conditions than their parents”, and that perfectionism has increased over the last few decades. The study suggests young people now face “now facing more competitive environments, more unrealistic expectations, and more anxious and controlling parents than generations before.”

The social media factor.

Let’s face it – we live in a culture that equates success with money, social standing and fame. We live in a celebrity culture where musicians, actors and athletes are put on a pedestal.

Social media has raised the bar even further. Before social media, we looked up to celebrities on television, movies and magazines; but social media has made our connection to celebrities much more personal, and constant; we can follow our favourites 24/7. Not only do we have celebrities who are known for their movies, music or sport, we also now have unknowns rising to fame thanks to social media; YouTubers making millions of dollars, and Instagram influencers with millions of followers and brand ambassador deals. That celebrity status seems attainable to anyone who can create an account and gain “influence”.

Teens are seeking validation on their social media channels, putting too much value on the number of likes they receive and how many friends/followers they have.

Some children are self-motivated.

On the flip side, while some teens are unmotivated and lack ambition, there are some children who are highly driven and thrive with a busy schedule. For example, I’m encouraging my son to quit rep hockey to play house league and focus more on his studies next school year. But he wants to stay involved in various sports than quit playing completely. He says he’s willing to sacrifice free time to play video games or hang out with friends, to instead juggle homework and hockey. I agreed that he should do what he enjoys, as long as his grades don’t suffer.

If a child can manage the pressures, fine; but when there are any signs your child is feeling stress, anxiety, and/or depression, it’s time to take a step back and re-evaluate.

What’s most important.

Every parent’s wish is for their children to be healthy, happy, and have a successful life. But we need to re-examine society’s misconceptions around wealth and merit. I’m trying to teach my kids that success isn’t measured by the amount of money you have, fame, or popularity; instead, it’s about living your best life doing what you love and pursuing your passions. It’s about spending time with friends and family, helping others, and making a difference in their lives. Most importantly, it’s about being happy with the person you’ve become.

I’d like to see my children grow up to be good, respectful human beings, who are kind and empathetic towards others, and care about other people and society.

lifestyle

My Favourite Things to Help Get You Through Winter

February 25, 2019

When will this winter end? While we’re still in the thick of winter, spring seems months away. How to manage to get through winter? Here are some of my favourite things to help get you through winter.

My Favourite Things to Help Get You Through Winter

Alumier MD Alumience AGE Serum

I’ve always been a fan of AlumierMD products, and the Alumience A.G.E facial serum is a personal favourite. This serum is designed to help your skin fight against environmental factors such as free radicals, pollution and advanced glycation end products (A.G.E.s). These factors can cause ageing, fine lines and wrinkles. Alumience A.G.E. uses a unique blend of ingredients to create a shield between pollution and your skin; It’s like an “instant barrier” for your skin. It’s also fragrance-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, mineral oil-free and dye-free. $145 available in select doctor’s offices, spas and online at www.alumiermd.com.

Inner Fire Yoga Wear

I couldn’t get through these long winter days without keeping my body moving and stretching with yoga.

My friend Francesca at Karma Lifestyle Yoga introduced me to this Canadian brand, Inner Fire, whose leggings are made from BPA-Free recycled water bottles. Pretty cool, right? The leggings also have SPF 50 protection and are made of durable, moisture-wicking fabric that is anti-fade and anti-pill. Their shirts are hand printed in-house with eco-friendly water-based inks, and the designs and quotes are inspiring and cute.

Savasana is the best part of yoga! When you’ve finished practice, savasana is when you get to reap all the benefits of your yoga practice; be in tune with your body, your breathing, and hopefully your inner spirit.

The “I’m Just Here For The Savasana®” tank comes in nine tri-blend colours. $35 – now on sale for $24

Go from studio to street in style with the Pocket Leggings that have 3 convenient pockets for your keys, phone and anything else. Love the cute mesh calf detail for some built-in ventilation. $108 – On Sale $88 at Inner Fire.

Comvita Manuka Honey

Don’t fall into another cold and flu season without the cosiest of cures, Comvita Manuka Honey. This Liquid Gold can be used to sweeten up your daily coffee or tea, but it’s also the perfect at-home remedy for that seasonal cough. Coat that sore throat with Manuka Honey; its unique antibacterial properties have made it a coveted superfood over the past few years.

For 40 years, Comvita has been producing UMF verified Manuka Honey, or Unique Manuka Factor, a rating developed by the New Zealand-based UMF Honey Association that ensures the honey has the three special compounds that make sure customers are getting the highest quality Manuka Honey. $23.99 (250g) and up

OGEE Sculpted Lip Oil

This yummy lip oil glides on effortlessly and melts into lips to moisturize and protect with a blend of organic oils including cold-pressed Jojoba Seed Oil. The cutting-edge formulation allows the rich organic oils, butters, and waxes to be applied in solid form, melting instantly on touch allowing for a silky application that doesn’t pull over dry patches. OGEE Lip Oil is gaining recognition from beauty editors at top magazines including Allure, Nylon and Byrdie. Kourtney Kardashian mentions this on her blog as a top pick to moisturize dry lips! $22 at TheChoosyChick.com

Lily Lolo Sculpt and Glow

Add a little glow to your face – which I definitely need during the winter months. The award-winning Lily Lolo brand from the UK created this bronzer highlighter duo to contour, give the illusion of sky-high cheekbones and add a beautiful glow. Works for all skin tones. Non-comedogenic, allows the skin to breathe easily. The sleek compact is ideal for travel and handbags. Does not contain chemicals, bismuth, talc, or dyes (FD&C, Lake). Vegan and Gluten-free. $26 at TheChoosyChick.com.

La Roche Posay Lipikar Line

Suffering from dryer-than-normal skin or irritated skin like eczema? You’ll love the line of products from La Roche Posay for extremely dry skin. When my skin is super dry, the Lipikar Ap+ is my go-to cream to help soothe my itchy skin.

The Lipikar Ap+ is a think cream that fights itching and extreme dryness as well as sensitive skin. It’s soothing, lipid-replenishing, and is fragrance and paraben free. Great for adults and babies/children too. $25 available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall.

If you suffer from dry skin during the winter, it’s recommended to use lukewarm water and to keep showers short. Lipikar Oil protects the skin against the drying effects of hard water and provides the skin with the lipids required for restoring the skin barrier. In the shower, place a few drops in the palm of the hand and apply to moist skin. For baths, pour 2 to 3 capfuls into the bath water. Remember to pat dry with a towel – don’t rub! The niacinamide and shea butter formula moisturizes and restores the hydrolipidic film intensely to help restore the skin barrier and to provide comfort to the skin while soothing the tightness feeling due to dry skin. Babies, children and adults can use. $19.

My son’s lips get so dry during the winter months that they crack and bleed. Our go-to is Cicaplast. This repairing barrier balm soothes, protects and rebuilds the epidermis on chapped, cracked and irritated lips and zones. Its formula is concentrated up to 5% of soothing and repairing Panthénol, and enriched with MP-Lipids, pro-hydration active ingredient that protects lips from further cracking. $10

Klorane Peony collection

Klorane draws upon the power of the peony in this shampoo and conditioner to help soothe sensitive skin and scalp with the Peony collection. Peonies are scientifically shown to soothe sensitive skin and irritation. The calming pH balanced shampoo provides immediate & 24-hour scalp comfort while the lightweight and moisturizing conditioner provider soothes and conditions.

Klorane’s peonies are harvested in the Chinese provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu, following traditional methods respecting people and their surrounding environments. $20 each.

truMedic InstaShiatsu+ IS-2000 Shoulder and Neck Massager

Because of my back and muscle issues, I use the truMedic InstaShiatsu massager year-round, but I especially need it to help soothe my aches and pains exacerbated by the cold during the winter. It has eight deep-kneading massage nodes that dig deeply into sore muscles. What I love about this massager is that you can literally wear it; you can charge it up and walk around with it. You can easily manoeuvre it from your neck and shoulders down to your lower back. You can also use on other areas of your body. The best part of the massager is the optional heat for soothing relief. $129.99 at Costco.

Live Clean Foaming Body Washes

Live Clean has created a rich, creamy utterly luxurious foaming body washes with ingredients like shea, murumuru, mango, aloe moringa and matcha. Live Clean products are 98% plant derived and free of earth-harming chemical ingredients. Live Clean Foaming Body Washes are available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Well.ca in 450 mL for $7.99

activities

Family Day Fun with Board Games

February 17, 2019

Family Day celebrates the importance of families and family life to people and their communities. It’s a fairly new holiday, only launched in 2008, and is celebrated on the 3rd Monday of February.

This year, Family Day falls on February 18th. What are your plans for Family Day?

Since its inception, we’ve been trying to spend Family Day unplugged. We try to do something fun together as a family outdoors, such as tobogganing or skating. Just before our fingers and noses become freezing numb, we’ll head back home to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate and coffee for the adults. And what a better way to get the family involved in an indoor activity together than playing board games?

Playing games together brings families together, which is why Mattel is also asking families to reconnect and enjoy some fun together with board games:

Apples to Apples

Apples to Apples is the hilarious comparison game where players make Outrageous comparisons and can be totally subjective in deciding the outcome. It is perfect for any game night with family and friends! 12+. Available at Indigo, Mastermind, Toys “R” Us, Walmart, Amazon. $29.99

Bounce Off

Bounce-Off game is simple for everyone to understand and play, but don’t be fooled by the easy instructions – the competition is fierce! Whether you’re playing against others by bouncing balls in a frenzied race to match the card or the (slightly) more civilized turn-based play, Bounce-Off game brings the action and the results are wild! It’s perfect for parties and game nights and a great way to get the fun going and bring guests together. Age 7+. Available at Toys “R” Us, Walmart,Amazon. $29.99

Pictionary

This quick-draw classic, the guesses can be just as hilarious as the sketches, making it the perfect way to get the party started. Pictionary now includes two erasable markers, boards for drawing and an updated Pop Culture category of clues. Year after year, since 1985, Pictionary has proven itself to be the ultimate party game! Age 8+. Available at Mastermind, Real Canadian Superstore, Toys “R” Us, Walmart, Amazon. $29.99.

Balderash

Balderdash game features interesting, unbelievably true content and categories about people, words, initials and movies. Once a category is chosen and the question is read, each player writes down what they think the definition or answer to the question is. The real fun begins when the phony definitions are read along with the legitimate ones! You will be sure to laugh out loud as you hear the hilarious and creative definitions! Age 12+. Available at Indigo, Mastermind, Real Canadian Superstore, Toys “R” Us, Walmart, Amazon. $24.99

Enter to win

One lucky amotherworld reader will win these Mattel board games as well! Use the Rafflecopter below to enter.

Happy Family Day!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was given product in exchange for review and giveaway. As always, the opinions expressed herein are my own.

Food

My Love Affair with Coffee and Breville’s Bambino Plus (Giveaway!)

February 14, 2019

It’s the first thing I look forward to in the morning and fuels me throughout the day. I even turn to it for an afternoon pick-me-up. It’s warm, creamy and delicious. What am I?

C – O – F – F – E – E !

It’s no secret – I have a love affair with coffee. So, of course, I was delighted to try Breville’s Bambino™ Plus espresso machine. Who wouldn’t want to make delicious, premium quality coffee beverages at home?

I had experience using a premium espresso machine a few years back where I worked and loaded up on lattes several times a day. And since my husband is Italian, we had a vintage espresso machine passed down to us from family as well. We know what makes the perfect espresso! So we were both curious to see if the Breville Bambino™ Plus would fit the bill.

Breville Bambino™ Plus

This espresso machine arrived at our door right before Christmas, so over the holidays, I was able to set it up and try it out. I love that Breville Bambino™ Plus is a compact size as we don’t have a ton of counter space available. With a sleek stainless steel exterior, the machine is a beautiful addition to our kitchen.

Easy to use.

The Breville Bambino™ Plus is easy to use; it has three settings for temperature and frothing for milk if you’re making lattes or cappuccinos. It also comes with a single or double filter basket, along with a tamper and Razor trimming tool for easy measuring. We tend to use the double filter basket because we prefer our espresso long! The 54mm porta-filter with 19 grams is the key for full flavour and café quality coffee.

Warms up in 3 seconds.

It’s super convenient that you don’t have to wait for the machine to warm up before using; it’s ready to brew in three seconds. The Innovative Thermojet™ heating system achieves the optimum extraction temperature without the wait. The coffee temperature is perfect; the machine’s Digital Temperature Control (PID) delivers water at precisely the right temperature, ensuring optimal espresso extraction.

Froth milk like a Barista.

The automatic steam wand allows you to adjust the milk temperature and texture to suit your taste and makes barista quality foam. It’s also nice that the Bambino plus comes with a stainless steel milk jug!

The verdict.

So what do we think? My husband and I are impressed. The espresso has the perfect temperature, is nice and thick in texture and has the right amount of “schiuma” or crema/foam. Since I can’t have regular milk, I was surprised that the steam wand is able to froth my almond milk enough to resemble a regular latte.

I love that I can make espresso, cappuccinos and lattes within minutes. The only problem now is, trying to control how many I should drink a day! Breville has been successful at creating an espresso machine that honours Italian tradition my making café quality coffee.

If you haven’t had any experience as a barista, you’ll want to take a Breville’s Bambino™ Plus. And if you’re not sure which Breville’s machine is best for you, you can answer this fun quiz.

Enter to Win

I have partnered with the lovely people at Breville to give one lucky amotherworld reader their very own Breville Bambino Plus!

Please fill in the Rafflecopter below to enter. Open to Canada only until February 28, 2019. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received product from Breville Canada to review. As always the opinions expressed herein are my own.

About

Hi I'm Maria! I'm an author, lifestyle and travel writer, rock-concert-goer & gluten-free foodie. Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year: Because Moms Need a Little TLC, Too! is available at Chapters/Indigo, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon!
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