I hope all of you have noticed the growing sponsors on the left sidebar.
I am a small town, community girl at heart. Although a decade ago I physically ached to bust out of my hamlet and catapult into j-skool at Ryerson, I knew after less than five years of living downtown Toronto that Big City living wasn’t for me. I knew after five weeks at the Toronto Star that a Big City reporter job was not for me.
And so — having picked up a fiance along the way — we moved back to Durham. In that full-circle way of life, I landed my first Big Kid Job at the very first newspaper I ever worked for (at the tender age of 15).
And so began settling back into the community feeling I felt missing from downtown. That closeness has only intensified after moving to north Durham — now with a baby — back to the stomping grounds of my youth. We are planting roots here.
So you have no idea how awesome it is to have these wonderful local businesses on the site. To have other people value and validate what is so important to me, and what I strive to achieve with this site, is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. And what better way to showcase Durham Region and the network of businesses that support it than share them with you?
I have purposely chosen not to go with a ad network. There is more money that route, but little if any control over content. There are restrictions on what you can say about your ads and advertisers (nothing, mostly), even where they can go on the site itself. I have no interest in that, and it defeats the purpose of what I am trying to create here.
Please take some time to visit them when you have a chance. A big fat thanks to all of you (and my endlessly patient and supportive sister) for the immeasurable help in reaching this point.
I’ve spent an eye-crossing amount of time updating and adding to the links section the past week or so. They desperately needed to be done to preserve my sanity, and also in response to what Mr. Google says people are looking for (namely: stuff to do, places to go, and birthday party centres — all for Durham).
Things are now split into what I hope are easier-to-navigate categories for y’all:
Durham links: The main entrance, also found on the right-hand toolbar over there, and directly above, under the logo
Places to play: Municipal recreation programs, indoor gyms, dance, birthday party centres
Stuff to do: Get out of the house with grown-ups (including, of course, Durham Mom’s Night Out!), Early Years Centres, public libraries, event listings, travel/tourism links
I’ve only subscribed to this recall email list since late last week, and have already received three recalls. How scary is this? I mean really? What’s going on here??? If I thought the stench and fumes from burning hard plastic wouldn’t kill us all, I’d have a giant Made in China toy bonfire in my backyard.
Added to this are recalls for children’s furniture (excessive amounts of lead) sold at Winners’ HomeSense, and Gymboree toy swords (11 have broken, causing a sharp point and “laceration” risk, although no injuries).
If you’re as frustrated as I am about all this, check out the Cool Mom Picks Safer Toy Guide. The site has scoured the Interweb for “the best handcrafted, locally made, organic, fair trade, or simply safer alternatives for younger children–for you, for us, for all the grandchildren and nieces and nephews of the world. We want you to know that safer doesn’t mean boring, and handmade doesn’t mean rustic.”
The guide is organized by age and action (teething and building and vrooming and cuddling etc.) and includes a whole lotta online discounts. Fantabulous.
I know our parents and grandparents shake their heads and scoff at a lot of these (“We gnawed on painted wooden sticks! With lead! And arsenic! And it was snowing! Both ways! And we liked it! And we turned out just fine!”), but each time recall news lands in my inbox, the worry grows. And I don’t know what to do. Do I burn throw out all of Lucy’s beloved Little People and squirty bath toys and bottles and sippy cups? Buy a lead test kit? Return the Christmas present we bought her this weekend which we know she’ll absolutely adore but, alas, is Made in China like almost every toy? Replace it all with eco-friendly stuff?
The thought of knowingly hurting Lucy makes my heart hurt, but it’s so confusing as a parent when some toys are safe, and some aren’t, leaving us wringing our hands and clucking like harried hens.
I did a story for Paying Job this week on humour in the workplace, and in doing so, tried to sign up for this Hump Day newsletter. Workplace email did not, apparently, appreciate the word hump, and steadfastly refuses to let the email in.
In honour of today and the fact that Lucy is home (we had to switch some days around my work schedule), here are some great sites to help you pass the mid-week hump:
This is what Lucy did while I wrote this post. Note the guilty look… And yes, we ARE still in our pajamas (mine, sadly, do not have feeties. Dammit.). What better way to spend a chilly morning?
Parent Books: a fabulous Canadian resource of parenting books, from family planning to divorce to toilet training and clinical text books for professionals.
babytease: Coolest t-shirts ever, including sleep is for the weak, iPood, I do all my own stunts and long term inve$tment.
True Mom Confessions: I know, I did this one already. But I’m addicted, so you have to be, too.
Consumer Reports Canada: Expert, independent, non-profit reviews of everything — fridges, irons, toilets, cars and bike helmets. Great site to visit before you make a purchase.
Toy Instructions: looking for the elusive slip of white paper that came with Baby’s electronic ball or doll? This site is a collaborative wiki of instructions, user manuals and assembly guides for toys and children’s games.
Kids in Mind: rates mainstream movies for sex/nudity, violence/gore and profanity. A great tool before heading to the theatre or video store with the kids.
Rate MDs: searchable, addable site allows patients to rate their doctors and dentists (more than 13,000 listed in Ontario alone). Lots of reviews of local professionals.
babygadget: the site hunts around for new, innovative, fun, sometimes wacky or highly functional and smartly designed products for little ones.
Lucy and I had lots of fun at the Durham Parent show this weekend (although note to the organizers: when you invite moms to a baby show, expect them to bring their giant strollers AND MAKE THE DAMN AISLES BIG ENOUGH!).
Our best deal was a brand new pair of Robeez for just $20, on sale at The Cuddly Bunny’s booth (also an Ugly Baby Clothes Contest sponsor). I also discovered a home grown version of the no-slipbarrette, from a Whitby mompreneur named Janet of Sugar and Spice Bows. The little cuties stayed put in Lucy’s hair for hours until, of course, Lucy realized they were there and yanked them out.
Did you know Whitby has an upscale baby boutique? I never actually saw them at the show (see: AISLES, above), but grabbed Ben and Hailey’s card. Will hopefully get out there in the next week or so. And you must check out Tamarra’s funky online store (pink skull shoes!) called Lollipops & Lizards, based out of Pickering.
Lucy actually got a ton of attention over the Munchkin Snack CatcherI wrote about the other day. Everyone kept stopping us and asking about it.
And we saw the wonderful Sara, and beautiful Karen of Wee Hands, who was glowing because…she’s pregnant! Karen’s due in September with a big brother or sister for Elizabeth — let the countdown begin! (and thanks for the Cheerios, ladies!)
This video is why I’m making Eric turn the car seat back rear facing. I wish I’d seen this before we made the switch and went on our big trip.
My doctor mentioned in passing it’s best to keep Lucy rear facing for as long as possible — but she never emphasized why. This does, and it makes me sick to my belly to imagine this happening to Lucy in an accident (don’t worry, it’s not graphic; just crash-test dummies).
Since we’re on an environmental kick (seriously, I had no idea that damning of raccoons would spark so many comments), it’s a great time to talk about Durham Region Freecycle.
The premis is simple: instead of sending your unwanted items to landfill, why not give them away? All sites around the world are free to join, and groups run on a message board system. You post when you have something to give, when it’s taken, and if you’re looking for something.
Before Christmas, I somehow got on an email list for a new Canadian online retailer.
I was pissed at first, but the gamble of whoever added my email paid off: I fell in love with the site, and two of my Christmas gifts came from Style Kid. Now it is part of my regular surfing, and here’s why you need to check it out: Read the rest of this entry »
Carly: Mom to Lucy, 2.5 years, and Spencer Dog, 9-ish. Due with second daughter late October. Wife to Eric, an engineer. Journalist and entrepreneur. Recently moved to north Durham Region, to the greener pastures of our dreams.
Durham Region Baby is a blog and resource site for parents, including local business, product and website reviews, a frequent newsletter and contests.
Sugar and Spice Bows
