LifeStyle || The Importance of Unstructured Play || My #PlayMore message

As you know I’m lucky to call myself a Fisher-Price® Play Ambassador this year. I’m so excited to help spread the word on the importance of unstructured play for our little guys. Through studies and research, Fisher-Price® found that nearly all Canadian parents surveyed (90 per cent) agree overscheduling children’s activities can be overwhelming to them as well as to their children (86 per cent). Along those lines, the majority of parents (80 per cent) believe childhood today is more complicated than it should be. By giving children toys that have been designed to encourage physical, social, emotional, language, cognitive skills and imagination, a lot of what parents seek is right there in their children’s toy box. Let’s join Fisher-Price® to encourage families to take the time to Play More!

Harper has been loving the Fisher-Price® Woodland Friends SpaceSaver Jumperoo™. She likes to jump to the music, sounds and lights and I like that it folds up compactly for easy storage when not in use.

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Home || Harper’s Nursery Reveal || A modern gender neutral space….

I like to think it’s called “Second Baby Syndrome,” but it’s taken me 7 months after Harper’s arrival to complete her nursery space. Let’s face it she has been in a bassinet in our room until last month so of course I was in no rush. I just laugh at myself now, looking back when I was in a rush to complete my first baby’s nursery before they were even born! Wow times have changed or maybe lessons are learned. Either way I’m so excited to share her baby space.

We designed her room around the stunning Soft Modern Sideboard from The Brick. I decided this time around to invest in pieces I can see transitioning out into my home once Harper outgrows her nursery space. This sideboard is the perfect mix of open and closed storage for all her baby needs. And in the future it will be an amazing additional to my dining room when the time comes. It’s so versatile, you can change the look of it by switching the colour changing geometric shelves in seconds.

Jonathan Adler for Fisher Price deluxe bouncer

I had to have this glamorous Incy Interiors rose gold crib from West Coast Kids. It pairs perfectly with the pops of metallics on the metal star burst accents I found in store at The Brick (pictured below). You never know what you’ll see in store, each Brick location is different and updates their accessories often. You should take a peek!

Below I’ve sourced a few of the pieces we used to complete her nursery. If you don’t see it linked feel free to leave a comment and I’ll get back to you!

Cactus self adhesive removable wall paper

Machine Washable Rug

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Lifestyle || The tastiest pork chop recipe you ever did see… || @TheBrick & @GEappliancesCA #partner

With the summer in our sights we are getting outside as much as possible. It’s the time of year I notice that we start to shift from winter’s comfort food to light fresh fast meals. With my little helper Alastair, we are going to share one of our family favourite recipes using organic ingredient’s from Spud and seasoning from our friend’s at Epicure. We’ve been loving the additional of our new GE Series 30″ Free-Standing Double Convection Range to our kitchen. With two ovens I can cook a meal and bake dessert at the same time. Or in this case, cook a hot dip as an appetizer while I using the other oven for dinner. I found with my last oven I never used my warming draw and it slowly transformed into pan storage. Such a waste of space. Doubling my oven space has been amazing, making cooking even easier! I don’t think I can ever go back to a conventional single oven range.

Italian Pork Chop

What you’ll need: 6 pork chops, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, fresh basil, fresh spinach, 2 large savoury tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and Epicure’s Balsamic Vinaigrette seasoning (or Italian blend of choice).

What you’ll need to do: brush a table spoon of olive oil onto pork chops, season both sides with pinch salt and Epicure Balsamic. Cut tomatoes into thirds, season and place open flesh down onto cooking pan with pork chops. Cook in oven at 400 degrees for approximately 25 minutes (cook meat throughly). Place tomatoes on top of each chop with a sprinkle of cheese. Run under the broiler on high for approximately 2 minutes or until cheese is fully melted. Serve on bed of fresh spinach and basil. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

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