Mason Jar Monday: Chia Pudding Edition

OK, so my obsession with mason jar apparently runs deep. 

Today I'm going to tell you about my obsession with Chia Pudding.

First, I am not entirely sure that I believe chia seeds are as amazing for you as I read they are, but I'm willing to take the risk because they taste delicious and I do believe that they are a pretty tasty alternative to the sweet treats that I so desperately crave in the evenings. 

So, once a week, I make chia pudding. I have taken on the awful burden of playing around with different recipes (I know, I know, but someone has to do it and I am willing to take on that task if I must). There have been batches that I've flushed down the sink immediately and batches that I have gobbled up for breakfast, lunch and dinner in one day (and, I have read that chia pudding is a great breakfast alternative and I plan to hold onto that!).

What I adore (and what my kids despise) is the texture of the chia seeds once they have been sitting in liquid for a few hours; they remind me of the tapioca balls that you get in bubble tea. The longer you let them sit, the more the chia seeds will absorb the liquid and the plumper and tastier those little seeds will become. 

After extensive testing, I would say that- without fail- chia pudding made with coconut milk is my favourite and chia pudding made with plain greek yogurt is my absolute least favourite no matter what I put in it to give it sweetness and flavour. And (this is a great thing!) the simplest recipes are always my favourite. If you want fresh fruit, cinnamon, chocolate chips or coconut shavings in your chia pudding, add them right as you're about to eat your pudding...stick to a simple mason jar recipe and don't mess with it!

Ok, it's not pretty but it tastes delicious, I promise

Without further ado, here is my go-to, never fail, chia pudding in a mason jar recipe:

Mason Jar Overnight Chia Pudding 

1/4 cup black chia seeds

1 cup coconut milk or almond milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla (ONLY include vanilla if your milk is unflavoured- it's not necessary otherwise)

In a mason jar, mix together the chia seeds, milk and vanilla. Screw on the lid tightly and place the mason jar in the fridge overnight.  Try not to eat it all for breakfast (I dare you). 

Mason Jar Monday

Today was my first day ALONE this summer!

My kids began their one week of day camp. Why one week you ask?  Well, it turns out that one week of day camp for two kids costs approximately half a mortgage payment. Read that again and then weep for me. Read it another time and weep again. So. Much. Money.

Anyway, because the kids are away, I decided to indulge in the one thing I love to do that I just don't have the time to- cooking. I didn't really learn to cook until I was in my 20s, but I find it to be the most therapeutic activity I could undertake- and Lord knows I need some down time in my life right about now. To be fair, I cook every day in order to feed my family but I would say that a lot of what I do in the kitchen is out of necessity and not for pleasure. So I took today to finally try out some recipes that I have been obsessing over on my Pinterest page- and they all involve mason jars!

Hence, #MasonJarMonday

Mason Jar Greek Feta Salad

This salad was a concoction of a bunch of ingredients in my fridge and is the thing I'm most excited to eat (tomorrow at work, if I can wait until lunchtime).

What to do:
I assembled the following ingredients in a mason jar, exactly in this order! (Warning...the measurements are very specific;)

1 tbsp Greek Feta Salad Dressing

2 huge scoops cooked quinoa (about 1/4 cup)

2/3 cup Corn, Avocado, and Tomato Salad (if you don't have an already assembled salad, simply layer fresh corn, avocado and tomatoes with a squirt of lime juice)

Handful fresh feta cheese, cut into bite sized pieces

Mixed greens (smush in as much as you can in the top of the jar)


How to eat:
Place the lid tightly on your mason jar and place the jar in the fridge.
When you're ready to eat, dump the entire mason jar into a bowl and go at it. The quinoa will be well seasoned by the dressing, the lettuce will continue to be crisp, and the feta will be perfection.

Ever made a mason jar salad before? If so, give me your favourite concoction! I'm always looking for new mason jar combos!

Why your kid isn't reading (and what you can do about it)

For my son's first year of school, we decided to spare no expense, throw caution (or hundreds of dollars) to the wind, and send him to private school. I wanted his first experience in school to be nothing short of spectacular- I wanted him to be in a learning rich environment, where teachers were engaging and interactive, where his growing brain could be nurtured and filled, and where reading- above all else- would be a top priority. 

Well, the school was fantastic, the teachers were top-notch, and my son's precious mind was filled with amazing things...but he didn't learn to read.

In fact, when we switched him to a local public school for Senior Kindergarten, he was reading at a Level B (keep in mind that each school/school board uses a different method of tracking reading levels but in my son's school Level A is the lowest reading level- students are expected to be at Level E by the end of Senior Kindergarten) ... and he didn't seem to be improving. 

By the time we had our first Parent/Teacher interview, my concerns regarding my son's lack of reading skills were confirmed. He was very bright, inquisitive, engaged and energetic...but he just wasn't catching onto reading as fast as his teacher hoped. So what was going wrong?? Me. I was going wrong. I assumed that because he was a bright kid, he would pick up on reading with limited practice at home. I assumed that he would be a fantastic reader just because he was at school. AND I WAS SO WRONG!!!!
So I began my mission to help my son become a reader. And I'll let you in on a few of the tips and tricks I picked up!

But before you read any further keep in mind a few things: a) I am a trained teacher so the advice I'm giving comes from a combination of my parental experience and professional experience; b) All children learn to read at their own pace and comparing your child to another won't be helpful at all; c) If problems persist, ask for help! There's no shame in asking your child's teacher or special education assistant to guidance- that's what they're there for! 

1) Find out what they want to read and get it
Here's the thing- if your child isn't interested in what you're putting in front of them, they won't read it. End of story. Yes, as they get older they will have to read things they aren't interested in, but when they are young and don't have the maturity necessary to understand a "must do" versus a "want to do", giving them reading material that is fun, engaging and interesting is needed.

My son was really into dinosaurs, so we loaded him up with dinosaur books. Just piles of them. He would flip through and look at the pictures (remember: the words don't have to make sense yet- we just want them engaged). We would take him to the library and let him choose his own reading material- I never said no. He chose Power Rangers and Pokemon and Geronimo Stilton and Captain Underpants...and we read them all. If they choose it and they want to read it, say yes. Put it beside their bed so they can pick it up whenever it's convenient for them. 

Alternatively, use some online reading sites to encourage reading. I love Raz Kids and so does my son!

Tip: Don't worry about the level of reading at this point- just engage them with material they want to look and they want to hear about!
Tip: Owning books is amazing- if you can afford it, buy your child a few books to keep- BUT spend most of your time using the library! Free resources are the best resources:) 

2) Read to them all the time
Got 5 minutes? Read a book. Waiting for dinner to cook? Read a book. Falling asleep? Read a book!
My point is that reading needs to be seen as an ANYTIME option in your household. It needs to take priority at all times of day. And the best part is that reading doesn't need to be a long, drawn out activity. It generally takes between 5-15 minutes for you (as a parent) to read a book to your child. But by taking those 5-15 minutes, you have shown your child that reading is a) important and b) a fun activity. 
If you suggest: Hey! Why don't we read for a minute!  And you're met with a NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO- Don't get upset and freak out (like I do all. the.time!).  Instead,  ask your child to let you know when they're interested in reading and pick up a book then.  Let them feel some control over the process of reading and they'll start to become more interested. 

Tip: Reading isn't just for bedtime. Try your best to make reading a daily, regular bedtime activity but sneak it in during the day as often as you can!

3) Phonics matters
There are so many schools of thought on phonics, but it seems that study after study support what most teachers already know- Phonics Matters! 
So if your child is struggling with reading, go right back to the basics: letter sounds! There are a plethora of online resources to help you teach your child with phonics- apps for your phone, tablet and programs for your desktop - but I really like the idea of sitting down with a pencil and paper, writing the letter and getting your child to repeat the sound! It's simple, but it works! Don't frustrate your child by doing the whole alphabet day after day- choose 3-4 letters to work on each week. Slow and steady wins the race.
No child with be a successful reader without the right foundation, so don't be discouraged if you have to go back right to the beginning with them - remember that you are building a successful reader by equipping them with the right tools and that is so important.

Tip: Reading Rockets has some great information and resources for parents who are helping their child learn to read successfully!

4) Don't make reading a REWARD or a PUNISHMENT
Admittedly, I have been known to yell THERE WILL BE NO TELEVISION UNTIL YOU HAVE READ A BOOK! OR I have whispered 'If you finish this writing assignment, I'll buy you a new book'. 
But here's the thing: we can't expect our kids to want to read if we use it as either a reward or a punishment. Reading should just be a thing we do- not a thing we force- and it should be part of our daily life.  
If picking up a book and reading to a parent or being read to by a parent is becoming a regular fight in your house, turn reading into a daily game. Don't force books! Read signs at the grocery store or while you're on the road. Read magazines instead of books (Owl, National Geographic for Kids, and Chickadee are all great options). Write your child an easy-to-read note and leave it beside their dinner plate or tape it to the bathroom mirror. Read the back of the cereal box. 

Tip: There are a few times that rewarding a child with a new book is a great incentive to read more, but make sure that you are not consistently tying new reading material to completing (or not completing) other tasks!

5) Practice Unbelieveable Patience
Encouraging and reading to and with a reader that doesn't want to read is so frustrating. SO SO SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!!! I get that more than you know! My son is the most stubborn child in the world (he is a red head after all!) and he would throw the biggest hissy fits over simply being asked to read one word- I mean, it may have even been his name and nothing else! 
So, from one impatient parent to another I implore you to reach into your back pocket and pull out every single ounce of patience you can muster. Grab it and hold onto it. Keep your reading sessions short. Limit it to one short book, or one page, or a handful of words. Encourage, encourage, encourage! Tell them they're doing great when they read only ONE word correctly. Try your best not to let them see your frustration (I have been known to yell into a pillow post-reading session) because it will rub off on them. 

Tip: Don't give up easily. It can takes weeks and weeks or months and months of regular reading practice (and reading to your child!) to develop reading as a habit. It can takes months and months or weeks and weeks of practicing patience to actually develop patience. Be kind to yourself and your child!

Got a tip for parents who are struggling with their child's reading? Share it below!

"Time of the Month" Brownies

Hi! Miss me?

It seems this six year old blog has gotten awfully dusty. I suppose life got in the way and instead of documenting it, I decided to live it. I got a new job, I continued to edit and write (albeit significantly less than previous years, thanks that new job), my husband has been busy kicking butt and taking names at work, we somehow managed to end up with a child who is going to enter GRADE ONE and another who is going to enter JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN!!!! this September, and I am in the midst of making overwhelming life decisions that shouldn't be nearly as difficult as they are. Phew.

But I must admit, I've missed the outlet that blogging gives me. I miss writing just to write. Just to share. Just to put my voice into the universe, no matter how many or few ears it hits.

And so, I have decided to return to my space and offer up the most amazing recipe I have managed to create entirely by accident. It's my "time of the month" brownies.

Now, I don't know about you, but that time of the month is absolutely h-e-l-l for me. I am super moody, bloated up beyond belief and cannot eat enough; seriously (to steal a line from my fav Amy Schumer) I cannot fit enough food in my dumb mouth. Specifically, chocolate.

In a fit of desperation this month, I raided my pantry, found some cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate chips, decided I needed to pour all of them down my throat and somehow managed to create the best brownie recipe ever (there were a few more steps in that story, but you get the picture).

They are chewy, moist, chocolately, and just perfectly crunchy on the top. The sprinkle of sea salt at the end is probably the best choice this hormonal girl ever made.

And without further ado, I'd love to share the recipe with you.

You'll need:
1 cup butter, melted (measure one cup of butter and THEN melt it)
3 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose white flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
4 eggs
Sea salt (to sprinkle atop after baking)

What to do:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking pan.

Combine melted butter, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl on low. Beat in eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly each time.

Slowly mix in flour, cocoa powder, and salt on low until completely mixed. Mix in chocolate chips by hand. Spread batter evenly in greased baking pan.

Bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven, immediately sprinkle with sea salt, and cool pan before cutting and devouring (you probably didn't need that last part of the instructions, but just in case...).

Plus Sized MODEL Not a Plus Sized HUMAN

There has been a lot of buzz about the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue including a "plus sized model" in their pages this year.

Here she is:

Sports Illustrated’s Newest Model, Robyn Lawley. Credit: James Macari/Sports Illustrated

Her name is Robyn Lawley and she is beautiful! She a has a body that most women could only dream of having (reminds me of Kate Upton, right?), and she is a size that is a bit more realistic than most swimsuit models.

So what's the stink about?

Well, at size 12, she is considered a plus sized MODEL.  Of course she is.  The normal size for a model is between 5'9" and 5'10" and a size 2 (although I'm guessing they love a size 0 even more). Even "curvy" Victoria Secret models come no where close to a size 12.

But let's face it, much like the television and movie industry, the modelling industry is built on illusion. Those clothes being trotted down the runway? You will likely never wear them. That crazy hair and over-the-top makeup? You won't be leaving your house looking like that any time soon. It's fun, make-believe and fantasy- like little girls or boys playing dress up. THE MODELLING INDUSTRY IS NOT REALITY.

And so, in that fake world, being a size 12 is considered "plus sized". But remember that context is key.

In the world in which we live- the everyday world where we work, parent, and just try to survive- size 12 is considered the norm. In fact, the average women is estimated to be 5'4" and 155 pounds (which is about a size 8/10). So, in the context of our everyday living, Robyn Lawley is perfection. But in the context of the modelling world she is "plus"; she is larger than is normal.

Does it suck that those considered to be amongst the most beautiful in the land are often smaller than seems humanly possible? I guess. Listen, I'm 5'5" and wear a size 4/6. I'm smaller in size than the "average" person and yet I am no where close to meeting model (or television) standards. But I also understand that no matter how hard I tried, I could never reach those standards. And I also understand that I am not MEANT to meet those standards, because they are an illusion, a false reality, a make-believe fantasy.

For some reason we seem set on making all things into a controversy, when there is very little controversy here. For some reason we as a society have decided that any time we use the word "plus" we are equating that with "less than" or "wrong" or indicates that people find someone who is "plus" disgusting or ugly. But it doesn't mean that- not at all!!  It simply means that Robyn is, for better or worse, larger than the fantastical illusion of the modelling industry standard.

Should the industry be providing more and more examples or "healthy" (i.e.: strong, fit) female bodies? Sure! It is always great to see more attainable figures in the fashion and modelling industry- something that is slightly better than the average but not completely and utterly unattainable.

But should we get our knickers in a knot because an industry built on impossible-to-attain standards considers a size 12 to be plus sized? Absolutely not.

Robyn Lawley is gorgeous, fit, healthy, and an absolutely regular (or even smaller!) size HUMAN- let's celebrate and encourage that- but she is not a "normal" sized MODEL.

And let's just leave it at that.

2014 - The Year That Was

I would be lying if I said that 2014 wasn't a huge year for me. In fact, I think it would be safe to say that this year held more opportunities and realizations of dreams than any year previous- even dreams I dared not say aloud to anyone.

In no particular order, here's what 2014 held for me:

I wrote a nationally-printed (newspaper) column (and then left!!!).
This actually began in 2013, but continued into 2014. It was the encouragement from a dear friend (who is a bonified, amazing, envy-worthy journalist) at the end of 2012 that led me to submit a piece of writing to a national newspaper. It was printed. And that was really the beginning of my journey toward becoming what I would consider a "writer",  as I accepted the amazing opportunity to test out my writing skills as a columnist, which eventually led to a paid, weekly column.  But by April 2014 I realized that writing a weekly column, especially one that included opinion, may not be exactly what I wanted to tie myself down to at this point in my writing career. The column was such an amazing opportunity and it was extremely hard to muster up the courage to leave, but I think we all have a voice inside that tells us when we are done and, as scary as it is to listen to that voice, it is important that we do. For me, at least, it was the catalyst to a million new opportunities that I never dreamed of!

I was in a national commercial!
I saw a casting notice on my Facebook and, on a whim, I clicked on it (sorry to the person in my timeline that had liked it because they wanted to audition!). I had some beautiful head shots done and thought, what the heck, I'll just submit. And then I forgot about it. Until I got an email indicating that I had been chosen for an audition. This is where my husband stepped in because if it wasn't for his unbelievably awesome encouragement, I never would have gone to that first audition. I thought I was being silly for even trying. The night of my audition I received a call back. And again, my awesomely encouraging hubby made me promise I would go. And the night after the call back, I found out I was "on hold" for the commercial. The next day I received word that I did indeed make the cut and was going to be in the commercial. I don't know if I will ever forget that feeling.
We shot the commercial and print ad over one VERY LONG but exhilarating day and the commercial was seen nationally during October and November, 2014. I don't know if I will have the opportunity to ever act (or audition, even- I find getting national auditions to be the hardest part, as this was my FIRST national audition!) in something like that again but it truly was a dream come true!

I became a talk show host!
I still have trouble typing this because it seems as if I am typing out a dream or resolution and not my reality. The week I was set to shoot my commercial, I was also given the opportunity to audition for a daily, live talk show as the host. To be fair, I had recent experience on my side- I had shot commercials and been a regular guest on news programs- but I had never been "the host". And, once again, it was my husband that encouraged me to make the audition happen because it was a crazy busy week for me and I wasn't sure how I could make time for the audition. But I did. And I got it. I GOT IT. My family was in the car and I was locking our front door, when the call came to let me know I was chosen to host the show. And I cried. And then I fretted about what to do because, in reality, going back to work outside of our home would result in a huge family shift. But in the end, I took it. And I  couldn't be more happy that I did. My new job has opened me up to a world that makes me feel (professionally) happy, fulfilled and excited every single day. I am more grateful than you could imagine for this opportunity and, although it is only a maternity leave contract (meaning 2015 may spell the end of my time at Daytime Durham,) the lessons I have learned about television, hosting and myself will be lifetime ones.

I realized how important my family was.
Truth? I was so sick of being at home. I needed more and I was taking my boredom out on my family.  At the perfect time (God always does that, doesn't He?), all those opportunities I listed above came my way- just when I thought I was going to crack- and my family fully supported me. They barely even blinked when I was making all these crazy life choices, they just supported. My husband could have balked because taking a television job meant a significant increase in work on the home front for him- but he didn't. My kids could have cried that mommy wasn't going to be around as much- but they didn't (in fact, they have been so freaking awesome). My mom and mom-in-law could have left me floundering- instead they stepped up and babysat or just helped out every time I asked. It was amazing to see aunts and uncles and siblings simply support when I needed it the most. It made all the transitions so worth it.

I got a mantra. And I love it.

On-Air Makeup Routine

Live television is like nothing I have ever experienced. The hustle to get an hour long lifestyle show on air, day after day, is an exhilarating ride that leaves you high for hours after a show is done. 
But, as much as I love live television, it also means there is no opportunity to go back and make changes...especially to the way you LOOK during the show.

It has taken a few months but I have managed to come up with an on-air makeup routine that is flattering, relatively easy, and looks good each and every time that camera goes on! Considering the lack of good "how to do tv makeup" information that I have found on the internet, I thought I'd share my routine with you!

Here's the finished product:

And here's how I do it! (all products listed in the exact order I put them on!)

Face👽
✏️MAC Studio Fix Fluid (NC15)
✏️MAC Studio Finish concealer (NC15)
✏️Veil illuminating complexion fix
✏️️Maybelline Master Bronze (Weekend Bronze) *I use this all over my face AND as my blush when combined with my contour colour*

Highlight/Contour👃
✏️Hard Candy Glow All The Way
✏️️MAC Taupe powder blush

Eyes👀
✏️BellaPierre shadow (Champagne & Pure)
✏️Maybelline Master Precise liquid eyeliner
✏️Brows: Coquette eyeshadow (MAC)
✏️Lashes: Extended Play Gigablack Lash (MAC)

Lips👄
✏️Rimmel The Redder The Better

And just in case you want to see some more of the everyday television face in action:

Putting Up The Christmas Tree

This past weekend was filled with magical Christmas events for my kids.

First, we bundled up and sat curb side to watch our local Santa Claus parade.

Then we had a special visit to Santa's secret cabin in the forest at Knox Farms.

When we arrived at Santa's hidden abode, Mrs. Claus and Santa welcomed us in, calling the children by name, and spending about 5 individual minutes with each child, talking about what a good boy they had been and what they might want from Santa.

My boys were in absolute awe as Santa and Mrs. Claus correctly named each item that was on their Christmas wish list and reminded them to be sweet to each other (I believe Mrs. Claus asked them to give lots of hugs and to not fight...). After their special one-on-one time, they were treated to hot chocolate and cookies care of two elves, and then we took a walk down Santa's secret path back to our waiting horse-drawn sleigh for a ride back to our cars.  It was such a special afternoon- one that I'm sure will help keep our babies believing in the man in the red suit for years to come!

Finally, we spent Sunday putting up our Christmas tree.

Our youngest is now 3 years old and he was thrilled to finally help out with all the ornaments, lights and crystal icicles. Check out the process:

And we were all pretty pleased with our finished product!  

A great way to cap off a festive, holiday filled weekend:)

I'm not your friend

Yesterday afternoon I told my eldest son (Z) I wasn't his friend.

He was mad (he is a redhead after all, so being angry isn't a new thing around here). He had been playing lego with his younger brother, but his brother wasn't "doing it right" and now Z wanted me to step in and build some type of ship from Star Wars.

But guess what? I didn't want to. And so I didn't.

I told him no.

He grumbled and complained and kicked up a fuss.

I told him no again.

He whined and cried and destroyed his already built lego creation.

I told him no a third time. I reminded him that I had already spent a good chunk of the day focused on them. I had taken them to swimming lessons (that I paid for), spent an hour in the freezing cold at the park while they played, pushed them both on swings, rode bikes and scooters, chalked on the driveway, fed them at least 8,000 meals (ok, that's an exaggeration, more like 1,500 meals and snacks because, BOYS), and helped them both make masks so they could look like Batman. I was tired, and I still had dinner to make, work of my own to do, a sick cat to attend to and a floor to sweep.

It wasn't that I needed time "alone", I just needed time to hear my own thoughts, get dinner on the table and breathe. Also, I don't like playing lego.

But my explanation of why I couldn't build some Star Wars ship thingy didn't fly with Z. And he threw an even bigger, redheaded tantrum. He said I was "THE WORST MOM EVER" and that I was "SO MEAN TO HIM ALWAYS". He crossed his arms and kicked his feet and railed against a mom who would dare to not drop it all to build him a lego ship.

So I looked at him and told him "I'm not your friend". Because I'm not.

I'm his mother. I love him more than anything and would do anything to help him, but building Star Wars ship thingys actually isn't something I am obligated or desire to do.

Because keeping my kids "entertained" is not my job as a parent.

But that is where I have previously failed as a mom.

I used to equate my kid's happiness with a lack of boredom. It didn't matter if I had dishes, dinner, or work- if either boy needed me to play, I was there. I created games, I looked up Star Wars thingys on Google so I could build them, I played so many rounds of Jenga you wouldn't even believe! And then I would stay up until midnight getting all the stuff done in my house or work life that I had ignored because I had a bored(ish) kid.

It wasn't until this year that I realized how wrong I was.

Listen, it's not that playing with your kids or helping them out is wrong- it isn't...in fact it's an awesome thing do to. But what I had been teaching my boys by constantly dropping EVERYTHING to be their "playmate" is that they are not responsible for their own entertainment (or "happiness") and that their mom is their friend. And both of those lessons are not ones I wish to teach my sons.

I am not my kids friend. I am their parent. I am here to love the heck out of them and care for their physical, spiritual and emotional needs. I am here to listen to their joy and pain. I am here to comfort, scold, direct and encourage. I am here to love them unconditionally but reprimand (yes, even yell) when they are wrong. I am here to teach them and facilitate experiences that will help them grow into productive adults.

But I am not their friend.

I am their parent.

And what a disservice I have been doing by allowing them to think otherwise. What a disservice to them, as future adults, to think of the person in authority as a buddy and someone who bends to their whims and desires with the snap of a finger.

And so I have began to remind them- often in the middle of a tantrum, but then more calmly after the dust has settled- that I am not their friend. I am not responsible for neither their play time nor their creativity. I am not the root cause of their boredom and I am not responsible for their constant entertainment.

In the end, Z built his own version of a Star Wars ship thingy (I did look it up on my phone so he could try to replicate it, for what it's worth). My younger built a tower of blocks. Z eventually ambled over and said I wasn't THE WORST mom on earth (gee thanks), and I got dinner on the table.

It wasn't exactly a monumental moment in our house, or even a lightbulb moment for me, but rather a  (noisy, full of yelling and whining) reminder that being a parent is hard. But being a parent that falls into the "friend" category and caters to your child's every fancy is even harder.

Amazon Family

I love books. My kids love books (PHEW! I think every parent breathes a sigh of relief when their kids actually ask for books!).

And as much as I wish I could visit bookstores and libraries on a regular basis, our lives are already so busy that browsing the shelves for a new read (or for anything really) has often fallen to the wayside in favour of the convenience of browsing online.

And that's why I love Amazon. 

I'm sure you're familiar with the services that Amazon offers - books, DVDs, CDs - but they have recently launched a new platform that I am so excited to share with you!

Amazon.ca has launched Amazon Family. Amazon Family members will receive 20% off diaper subscriptions and Unlimited FREE Two-Day Shipping on eligible items with Amazon Prime. The membership program also provides new and expecting families with promotions and discounts, available exclusively for Amazon Family members. After a 30 day free trial, Amazon Family members will continue to enjoy those benefits as part of a Prime membership for the annual fee of CAD $79.   

Let's face it- parenting is so awesome but it isn't cheap! Amazon Family was created to offer families amazing price-points on all those essentials your family needs (I'm thinking diapers, toys, strollers, and more!) and even better they offer awesome advantages, including

  

• 20% off diapers with a Subscribe & Save subscription.
• Unlimited FREE Two-Day Shipping on millions of items with Amazon Prime, including strollers, high chairs, car seats and more.
• Access to Amazon Family exclusive discounts and offers on key necessities, including items for the nursery, toys, newborn accessories, children’s books and more. 

Best? When you buy it, it's delivered to your door! The convenience, the prices, the one-stop-shop-from-home-in-your-pjs, all make it totally worth it!

And for me? Well, I opted to use my subscription to load up my emerging reader with books he could succeed in reading and my wee book lover with his favourite books (FRRRROOOOOOGGGGYYYYYYY!). I can safely say that the price points for all items were spot on (and I'm not just talking books!) and having my purchases dropped off at my door really made my life that much easier.

Make sure you visit Amazon Family today and compare their products and prices with the stores you're currently shopping at. I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised:)