PLASTIC-FREE WITH S'WELL BOTTLES

 

It has become my mission to rid our family of plastic in all its forms. The child-friendly melamine dishes were replaced with bamboo, plastic cups were replaced by glass, storage containers were replaced with glass or stainless steel and drinking bottles with any trace of plastic were replaced by stainless steel.

A S'well bottle is a must in our family. Made from non-leaching and non-toxic 18/8 stainless steel, these fun bottles come in three sizes (9oz, 17oz and 25oz, which holds a bottle of wine!) and keep your drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. And, the kiddos love to pick their favourite designs.

You can feel good about supporting this company too. S'well has teamed up with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to provide good, clean drinking water to children around the world.

Next on my plastic-free mission is helping Little Bean say goodbye to her pacifiers, which she so loving calls her 'soo-soos'. This will be tough ... for us all.

A TRIP TO COPENHAGEN

The four of us recently spent 10 days in Copenhagen. It was glorious. The city is perfect for exploring by foot or bike (we rented a 'family bike' and the kids had a front row seat for our adventures).

Monkey and Little Bean were captivated by the imaginative playgrounds, diverse animals at the Zoo, interactive games at Experimentarium City, sea creatures at the aquarium, a castle with not one, but two moats, and of course the yummy Danish treats.

I was enamoured with the picturesque architecture, fresh nordic cuisine, an impressive modern art gallery, embracing chilly temperatures with blankets on sidewalk cafes and absolutely everything that made up Danish style and design. And, Tivoli, the second oldest amusement park in the world, sits in the heart of the city and enchanted us all with its bold colours, thrilling rides, carnival games and live band music that marched throughout the park.

There is so much to adore about this progressive city, and country, that it is no wonder the Danes are considered to be the happiest people in the world.

Here are a few snapshots of our trip if you'd like to see ...

OUR FIRST SKI TRIP

Our family ventured away from the mild temperatures of Bermuda to wintery Mont Tremblant, Quebec for our first ski trip.

The kiddos loved everything about winter. From bundling up in hats, mitts and snowsuits to rolling, sliding and licking the fresh falling snow. Monkey learnt to ski, making it from the top of the mountain to the bottom all by himself, and Iris tried hard to stay upright between my legs. When we weren't skiing, we trekked through the woods with a team of 10 husky dogs and painted a few masterpieces at a creative studio. 

Here are a few photos if you'd like to see ...

A TRIP TO CANADA

We recently returned from a trip to Canada where we visited [most of] our favourite people and places. We spent time relaxing and feasting at Langdon Hall where our married life began; building a snowmen with what little snow remained; discovering [and dancing at] the Children's Museum; wandering the Royal Ontario Museum where Monkey first discovered his love of dinosaurs; strolling our old Queen Street West neighbourhood; chowing down at Terroni where you can eat well with kiddos in tow; and watching the sea creatures at the Aquarium where Little Bean first squealed at jelly fish.

We found an apartment rental through Kid & Coe, a website tailored to family-friendly home rentals around the globe, that was a wonderful landing spot after a day filled with visits and sight-seeing.

It was an exciting and happy time away. Here are a few pictures if you'd like to take a look ...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I wish you an amazing festive time of year and hope that you're able to celebrate with those near and dear to you. 

This is the first Christmas that I'll be away from my family, but thankfully the kids and I went to Canada at the beginning of December for a lovely wintry visit. My husband's mother and sister will be joining us in Bermuda this year, and we're figuring out the traditions that we will establish for our little family. One new tradition will be to head to Elbow Beach on Christmas morning, along with the island's ex-pat community, to raise a glass of champagne with new friends. Monkey is already excited to splash in the ocean! 

However you celebrate, happy holidays to you!

STUNNING VACATION HOMES

The Beach Hut

Last night I discovered Unique Home Stays, a website that offers private home rentals in the United Kingdom, and ever since I have been daydreaming of a summer vacation spent on the English coast. The homes offered are stunning with impeccable design and location. The best part is that there are self-catering options that welcome children. 

Here are just a few of the cottages that have me longing to plan our next family adventure ... 

Seapink Cottage

The Old Flour Mill

Bluebird Cottage

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This little kid makes me smile each and every day. This Thanksgiving I'm so thankful for our small, and growing, family.

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

A TRIP TO NANTUCKET

Our summer road trip has (sadly) come to an end. We packed up the car and headed to Nantucket, a small island off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with a stop in Boston along the way. We rented a picturesque cottage via HomeAway.com and spent our time playing at the beach, biking the trails, strolling the quaint downtown village and devouring the amazing seafood.

Here are just a few pictures to share ...


Nantucket Harbour



Building a fire station

Surfside Beach

Bye-bye Nantucket!

A Boston water break

I hope you are enjoying your summer too!

ONE KID, TWO KIDS, THREE KIDS, FOUR KIDS ...

Do you know have many kids you want to have, if any? I find this question so hard to answer. I'm an only child and I've grown to like the dynamic of a small family of three. Sure, there were times growing up where I begged and pleaded for a sibling. To me, a sibling meant an eager playmate, a partner in crime and a confidante ... I even longed to play fight with someone. Now, I appreciate the one-on-one time I have with my parents although there is a little part of me that craves the chaos associated with a large family.

My friend recently went to the funeral of his high school basketball coach. He was a teacher who made a significant impact on those he coached and those he taught. He also had a family of eight children. When asked about his big family, the coach simply said that his one regret in life was to not have more children. 

Last year, I walked past a mom with her three kids huddled together on the sidewalk. They were excitedly looking at photos together and it seemed like a moment of pure and easy joy.

I'm always taken back to the basketball coach and the mom on the sidewalk when I try to figure out the right number of kids for me. Right now, my husband, Monkey and me make three, but come this Fall there will be a new addition to our family -- a brother or a sister for Monkey. I've asked him if he'd like a sibling and his answer is: "I want a doggie named Pluto." It's just that simple from his perspective.

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A SPRING PURGE

I'm in the midst of a Spring purge. Clutter seems to accumulate too easily in our small house and so it is time to take decisive action. My spare moments have been dedicated to purging our home of things we no longer need or use, from household items and clothes to shoes, bags and books. I'm moving from room to room at a slow pace (after all, my spare time is limited to Monkey's nap), but gradually the large garbage bags are stacking up, ready for the donation box. It is really quite an invigorating process.

I just finished purging my closet. I was a bit ruthless, but my clothes now have space to breathe and be seen. There is a wealth of tips online to get you through the process -- here are a few easy tips that helped me ...

One year rule: If you haven't worn a piece of clothing in one year then it's time to let it go. This one is a bit hard, so start with a two-year rule if that works better for you.

Be stoic: Try really hard not to feel emotional about getting rid of your once prized and favourite piece. If you no longer wear it, then it should go so that someone else can create fond memories with it.

Avoid duplicates: I tend to hoard some wardrobe basics (white t-shirts, white shirts, black turtlenecks, black leggings, etc.). There is no need to have so many duplicates because I only wear one at a time. I tossed all the worn pieces so now all of my basics look crisp and neat.

Try stuff on: Take the time to make sure the clothes you keep fit you well and make you feel good. If you really love something that doesn't fit properly, a trip to the tailor can be your saving grace.

Next up on my task list ... Spring cleaning!

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