2013-06-19T06:11:44-04:00 Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/author/index.php?author=minnow-hamilton Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Minnow Hamilton Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3430315 2013-06-13T12:24:28-04:00 2013-06-13T12:24:33-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/
1. How much time do you and your family spend online? A better question is: how much time do you and your family spend together offline? That is the question posed by Foresters Life Insurance who is challenging parents across Canada to shut off their screens for some 'Tech Timeout' with the family. Ten bloggers in the SavvyMom community will be taking the challenge this summer, my family is included. For one hour a day we need to participate in an offline activity together. This doesn't mean we all have to be offline for an hour each -- it means we have to spend that time together, without technology. This video is hilarious. If you can relate to it, you need to take the challenge, too.



2. Spending too much time on our phones/tablets/laptops is, without question, a growing concern in our society, but we'll admit that it's exclusively a First World problem. Here is a video you should watch with your kids (NOT during your Tech Timeout hour!) to remind everyone about keeping their frustrations in check. I'm reminded of the book written by Craig and Marc Kielburger, the Me to We brothers, entitled My Grandma Follows Me on Twitter: And Other First World Problems We're Lucky to Have. It's a great book, especially if you're looking for a graduation gift for the grade six to 12 set. I recommend it.

3. In not-so-surprising news, I recently read that social media is linked to narcissism. So that means you're not being cynical if you think all those people who constantly update their profile picture with a better shot than the last one are waiting to hear 'OMG, you're so beautiful.' There is now a study to prove it that I read on MediaPost, thanks to researchers at the University of Michigan's Department of Communication Studies. Apparently the Facebook brand of narcissism is more common among adults, with images of perfect lives. The same study reports that college students are more likely to broadcast themselves through Twitter because they tend to have an inflated sense of their own opinions. Which came first though -- narcissism or social media? Clearly the former. But given the rapid popularity of the latter, what does that say about our society?

4. One thing I learned about society from this awesome Father's Day article I read in Esquire this week is that fatherhood is in. Yes, being a dad is a big deal. Read this article in honour of your dad, your kids' dad, your dad's dad and all dads. It's worth a few minutes of your time. I promise.


5. Finally, a simple infographic for you. I love infographics because I am a visual person -- I like white boards and diagrams and flow charts. This is one I would like to put on my wall to remind myself that the route to happiness is a simple one. I hope it works for you.

Have a great week.

This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca. Follow Minnow and SavvyMom on Facebook for more savvy tips and solutions.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3390996 2013-06-05T17:04:10-04:00 2013-06-05T17:04:26-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/

1. In case you weren't on Twitter this past Tuesday, let me update you. The editorial team at SavvyMom released a list of the 75 Most Influential Canadian Mom Blogs for 2013 which was met with great excitement and applause. The selection process was tough, based on criteria that included quality of content, look and feel of the blog, audience size and follower engagement (such as commenting). Skip Pinterest and go straight to the source--these are the blogs you should be reading.


2. One topic you can be sure parents are interested in discussing is that of parental behaviour at competitive sporting events. I read in The Globe recently that a fight broke out among parents last week at a youth soccer match in Barrie, Ontario. It escalated to the point where the police were called in to settle the 30 parents involved. There are few details of the event in the article (it's only five sentences long) but it sounds like there were racial slurs made. This is not a racial issue though--it's a parenting issue. It's so sad to see parents who think they are being supportive actually ruining the experience for their kids, and the opportunity for them to experience the positive influence that sports can have. Don't get me started...


3. In the world of celebrity obsessed citizens, the BRCA1 gene has apparently been dubbed 'the Jolie gene,' after Angelina announced that she was a carrier and opted for a double mastectomy. Despite the fact that I am annoyed that in our society it takes Angelina to raise awareness about such an important medical reality, the fact is that it worked. More people are talking about it and sharing their experiences, like Amy Verner did in The Globe and Mail's Monday edition. It's a very honest and personal account of her own story. Read it if you haven't yet.


4. In the world of digital media, there is one video that's still making the rounds this week. It's the Prancercise video and there isn't a lot to say about it at all except that it will make you laugh. Every producer and video developer who is trying to make a 'viral video' needs to watch this. This is what really busy people (like you) are watching!


5. Speaking of really busy people (I'm talking to you again) I heard on Metro Morning the other day about the 'Busy Trap'--a term I had not heard of before. I looked it up and found this piece that appeared in The New York Times, written last year. It's a brilliant account of our society and all of us BUSY people who declare their 'busyness' as a badge of honour. Not to be confused with people who are actually dead tired and exhausted from working double shifts at the ICU instead of being busy with a full plate (work, kids, activities, family, social engagements). Be clear about what your busy is. And don't forget: never be too busy for the special people in your life.

Have a great week.

This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca. Follow Minnow and SavvyMom on Facebook for more savvy tips and solutions.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3359143 2013-05-30T17:36:23-04:00 2013-05-30T17:36:29-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/



1. Firstly, a funny video for all parents who have experience with the 'I-run-this-show' type of two-year-old girl. I laughed out loud, then immediately searched to see if it was part of a series for more entertainment. They've just released their second video.




2. Another video that caught my attention this week was a second witty play on words from Kmart entitled, 'Big Gas Savings.' Their first viral video, 'Ship Your Pants,' had over 17-million views, but One Million Moms, the U.S. Christian mom group, did not react well to its popularity, referring to it as 'disgusting' and encouraging moms to pressure Kmart through social media to take the video down. Instead, Kmart released a second video -- the Big Gas Savings ad -- which has already had over 4-million views in a week. What do you think: funny or inappropriate?




3. In sports news, we saw Sergiy Stakhovsky, a Ukrainian tennis player, stop play at the French Open on Monday to take a picture of a line call he clearly disagreed with. After a brief interaction with the officials, he leaned over and took a picture with his iPhone. Later, he tweeted it out to his peeps. What struck me was the reality that technology has eliminated the debate in life -- especially in sports. The element of chance or objectivity which is such a real part of the game is becoming lost. No more fights with line judges or debates over whether it was in or out...just as there are no more dinner-table debates about who's on first and what's on second. Now we just go straight to the Google machine for our answer. What would Johnny Mac have done back in the '80s with an iPhone? I know it would have been a lot less fun to watch him, that's for sure.




4. In more troubling news, I read an article in the Toronto Star this week that a company in Colombia that specializes in manufacturing stylish, high-end bulletproof clothing is now in the business of selling bulletproof backpacks and vests for kids. The bags are being specifically made for the U.S. market, and so far 300 have been sold in Colorado. The manufacturer sees a real business opportunity in the U.S. because, while "the rest of the countries in the world try to disarm, the United States say, 'Let's protect ourselves'...So in that light, that's a business opportunity." He is marketing to schools in the hopes that they'll buy the products as a safety measure if a random shooting takes place. Imagine living in a place where you might consider taking measures like this to ensure your child's safety?




5. Finally, I found a fun new product to cart your kids in while biking around this summer. It's called a Bakfiets Cargo Bike and it's been imported here by a very savvy mom from Holland. Even though they confuse me with their nationality (why can't they be Hollish?), I love the fact that the Dutch bike everywhere with kids. Now, Canadians can have as much fun as they do, because Bakfiets Cargo Bikes are available here. But don't be looking for these bikes at any local bike shop -- they are being marketed in real life at parks and 'meet ups.' Contact them directly for more information on how to arrange a test ride.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3320652 2013-05-24T07:54:32-04:00 2013-05-24T08:21:05-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/

1. Remember the days when we were worried about our kids catching a glimpse of the Swimsuit Edition of Sports Illustrated? Apparently, if your kids are over the age of 6 and use the internet, it's likely they have seen much worse. I read a stat recently on Babble that reported kids as young as 6 are surfing adult content online. I'm not sure what to say about this, except keep the computer in an open area and keep an eye on what they are doing -- especially when they have friends over. Here's more from Babble on this.


2. To cheer you up, I included a tribute to moms, made by my favourite internet sensation, the Kid President. It's heartwarming for moms to watch, but I also like it because it reminds us that there is some good content on the internet being produced for kids. My 15 year old son showed it to me -- so even the teens are watching.


3. Speaking of moms, one of our very own Canadian moms, Leanne Shirtliffe, just released a book called Don't Lick the Minivan: And Other things I Never Thought I'd Say to My Kids. Leanne is a Calgary blogger, also known as Ironic Mom. The book is as funny as the title. I recommend it.


4. Did you know we have a new blog on SavvyMom? It's tough to keep up sometimes with all the changes that are happening around here -- even for me. But our esteemed food editor, Jan Scott, is now contributing more of her fantabulous party content onto the PartySavvy Blog. Check it out here. I know you're going to love it!


5. Finally, for parents who have children who play sports and have suffered a concussion, or are worried about a concussion happening, you might be interested in an important event taking place this month in Toronto. A symposium on May 31 is being led by hockey great, Ken Dryden, and supported by coaches, athletes and experts on the treatment of concussions. It will be worthwhile for any parent whose children are involved in contact sports. Tickets are $50. Details are here.

Have a great week.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3285480 2013-05-17T07:53:33-04:00 2013-05-17T07:53:35-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/
1. News of Angelina's double mastectomy, after she was identified as having the BRCA1 gene, went viral yesterday. It hit every paper, homepage, radio station and news broadcast. It was a brave statement to make on her part and is a very positive step in raising awareness of this gene. Then I looked at my inbox and read a press release about the effects of radiation when treating breast cancer. Interesting, I thought. Then the phone rang and a PR rep started a conversation with, "I thought with the news of Angelina's double mastectomy, your readers might be interested to find out more about breast cancer treatment options." To which I responded, "So, you're saying that our readers will suddenly be interested in learning more about breast cancer because Angelina just announced that she does not have it?"

It was a brief phone call. But it left me thinking...the Canadian Breast Cancer Association tells us that one in four women in Canada are diagnosed. That means we all know someone who's been affected -- a mother, an aunt, a sister, a colleague or a friend. Most of us know a lot more than just one survivor or victim of breast cancer. Do we really need Angelina's announcement to remind us of this horrible disease? I may be too cynical about Angie, but I just sometimes wish we paid less attention to the celebs and more to the humans around us. I hope when it comes to serious issue like breast cancer we do.

2. In the world of crazy mom trends, the latest digital obsession with taking photos of your kids seems to be the baby mugging trend. It's not as horrible as it sounds, these moms are not mugging babies -- they are taking pictures of their babies with a coffee mug over them so the baby looks like he/she is popping out of the mug. They're very popular, so who am I to judge?

3. What's crazier than baby mugging? The ostrich pillow. This might not really seem mom-related at first glance, but who gets more tired than moms? Perhaps this is just what a sleep-deprived mom needs at the office for a little pick-me-up. As long as it doesn't replace chocolate, I might be willing to give it a try.

4. And here is more shocking mom-behaviour news. Lisa Thornbury, a mom blogger and one of our Savvy Storytellers recently went to Walt Disney World with her family. She has a special needs daughter, so was eligible for a guest assistance pass which essentially allowed them to skip the very long lineups. Then she realized there were people who had figured out a way to beat the system. Apparently, wealthy Manhattan mothers are now hiring disabled tour guides to join their families on trips to Disney so they can skip the lineups themselves. Here's more on what Lisa refers to as the 'disgusting, deplorable story.'




5. Finally, a more personal note about the state of my physical health -- which I thought wasn't that bad until last week. My esteemed business partner Sarah invited me to join her in a new Pilates-style, full-body conditioning workout class at Studio Lagree in Toronto. It's not the traditional Pilates class that I am more familiar with, but I agreed to go as I pride myself in being pretty good at the Stott flavour of Pilates and thought I could nail it. Two days of salt baths and five days of stretching later, I can finally walk comfortably again. It is that hard. It's all abs, core and butt work, so if you're in good shape but want to be in better shape, you should try it. The sign at the top of the stairs says it all. Good Luck!

Have a great week.

]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3239634 2013-05-09T12:36:35-04:00 2013-05-09T12:36:41-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/ In honour of Mother's Day, my five things this week are all mom related. A mom salary, SAHM moms versus working moms, moms who rock, charitable events and a great mom ad for Mother's Day.


1. Being a mom isn't always glamorous, despite the popularity of celeb moms we see daily in the news. Perhaps everyone knows that, as indicated by a press release I read this week claiming that Canadians would pay their moms an average salary of $161,287 a year for all their hard work. This number came from a survey conducted by Leger Marketing on behalf of Walmart Canada, who is launching their second annual Mom of the Year Award. When asked what qualities a Mom of the Year should possess, the answers were several -- being loving, compassionate, hard working, fun loving, a mentor, sacrificing and charitable. All that for $160,000 a year.


2. So there is a bit of pressure to be the perfect mom, we all know that. But does that mean we should stay at home and care for our kids full time, go to work or find the perfect blend of both? These are the questions that will plague us forever. But one thing is clear -- whatever path we choose, moms want to be recognized for that choice and path. One of our SavvyStories bloggers, Rebecca Cuneo Keenan of Playground Confidential, was recently misrepresented in a mainstream media article as being a stay at home mom (SAHM). Here is how she reacted to that. Read it with interest, but remember not to judge your fellow moms.


3. I like the way Canadian Living celebrated moms by publishing a list of Canadian Moms Who Rock. Although we all know many moms who are not famous that rock (ahem, ourselves included), I was pleased to see some of our friends and writers on that list--notably Kathy Buckworth, Ann Douglas and Kirsten Doyle. All three are amazing, inspirational writers and moms.


4. And while we're celebrating moms, an initiative launched by the Children's Aid Foundation called Ignite the Spark caught my attention this week. It speaks to all of us who have mothers that ignited a spark in us -- or allowed us to pursue dreams and interests that may have ignited a spark. The Children's Aid Foundation tells us that over 75,000 children might not have that inspiration, but they are working to change that. Funds raised will go to enrichment programs for youth so they can be sparked. I will be making a donation in honour of my mother who continues to ignite my spark!


5. And because I love to include videos on my list of five things every week, I am sharing this Kobo ad that I think nails it for moms. It's very emotional and reminiscent of the popular P&G ad that went viral during the summer Olympics last year, but I still love it. I especially love the way they focus on paper books to pull on our heartstrings, all while promoting an electronic reading device. It's genius and well done.

Happy Mother's Day -- I hope you get what you want.

This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca. Follow Minnow and SavvyMom on Facebook for more savvy tips and solutions.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3238257 2013-05-08T17:35:18-04:00 2013-05-08T17:35:29-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/
The key is to spend the appropriate amount of time with her so she feels like a queen and then present her with a gift that she can use on a day that is not Mother's Day (because why limit the love to just one day?). The gift of time, the gift of organized closets, the gift of a new car...all of these are within your reach if you read our guide on How to Get What You Want for Mother's Day.



This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca. Follow Minnow and SavvyMom on Facebook for more savvy tips and solutions.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3201934 2013-05-03T12:31:16-04:00 2013-05-03T12:31:22-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/ blogs lately so I'm paying a lot of attention to what's hot in that space. Diaperless parenting trends, mom blog conferences, innovative dads and a bathroom reno all caught my attention this week.

1. Topping the list of parenting trends gone wrong (and I'm sorry to judge here, but I just can't be objective in this case) is the diaperless baby crusade that's gaining popularity in New York City -- and who knows where else. To be clear, parents are raising their babies without diapers. Potty training consists of carrying a bowl around with you so that you can anticipate a movement and hold your child over the bowl...in the park, on the street, in a store, at a party, etc. It starts at birth. Here is more on this topic from the New York Times.

2. The most talked about topic this week on the mom blogs was an article in the Wall Street Journal that, according to the bloggers, makes their conferences out to be nothing more than a weekend getaway for moms. Candace Derickx of Life in Pleasantville, and one of our Savvy Storytellers, wasn't offended at all. In fact, I found her perspective very refreshing, arguing that blog conferences are not much different than drug rep conventions, for example:

"So why pick on us? Well, because we're kind of a big deal if you haven't heard. You have to admit had they written about dentist conventions it wouldn't have had quite the same bite."

She goes on to mention that the WSJ is not new to this game. They generated a lot more awareness and social sharing by writing about mom bloggers than they would have if they made the article about drug reps or dentists. I have to agree with Candace: You are a pretty big deal. Well said.

3. New to the influential parenting scene, but not to be missed, are the daddy blogs. Here is a post written by a Steve Weins, The Actual Pastor, who writes honestly about the exhaustion and reality of raising three kids under the age of five.

My favourite quote from the article: "One of the reasons we are so exhausted is that we are over saturated with information about the kind of parents we should be."

What I find interesting about this post is that it somehow feels more palatable if a man writes it. I worry that if a mom wrote something similar it might not receive the same attention or approval -- it could be viewed as whining. I hope I'm wrong, but the reality is that we're tough on ourselves and other moms sometimes. Weigh in below in the comments if you think I'm crazy. But read the post, it's worth the two minutes of your time.

4. And since I'm hot on cool dads this week (who isn't), here is one with so many kids he had to create his own invention just to get through storytime. They're smart phone pyjamas that allow the children to download their fave stories on their phones for bedtime from their dad's jammies. I'm not explaining this very well because, truthfully, I don't really understand it. This article from Babble might help explain. I'm sure he would be thrilled if you are interested in purchasing.

5. On a personal note, my team here at Savvy HQ insists that our readers care about my bathroom renovation, so I have some before and after pics to share with you. The old bathroom was original to the house and it was so old it pretty much stopped working -- the pipes needed replacing, etc. So I ended up sharing the master bathroom with my two large and often smelly teenage boys (whom I love dearly despite their hormonal fluctuations and body odours from playing so many sports). That bathroom sharing was just not working for me. So we renovated this one for them. And me.

This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca. Follow Minnow and SavvyMom on Facebook for more savvy tips and solutions.

]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3201397 2013-05-02T17:23:35-04:00 2013-05-02T17:25:52-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/
If you're interested in learning more about the women who bring you SavvyMom.ca, read on to see what they carry in their purses all day long. Here's our editors' list of 41 Things SavvyMoms Don't Leave Home Without--from the insiders at SavvyMom.



This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca. Follow Minnow and SavvyMom on Facebook for more savvy tips and solutions.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3157474 2013-04-26T18:10:47-04:00 2013-04-26T18:10:54-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/
1. I don't think I can possibly say what I want to about Boston in a short paragraph or ask the questions I want to ask. But I can share this beautiful piece written by a dad blogger who lives very close to where the young man was captured last Friday evening. Thank you to Rebecca Cuneo Keenan who posted this on Facebook, where I found it.

2. If you're worried about pesticides on fruits and veggies, and eating organic and/or local, then you might be thinking of growing your own veggie garden this year, like our super talented food editor, Jan Scott. When choosing what seeds to grow this year, she consulted the 2013 list of the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen for ideas on what to plant. The list is a good one to keep on your fridge door as a quick reference, too.




3. Speaking of going to the market...U.S. retail giant Kmart hit a home run with this wildly popular video ad promoting their free shipping policy. There are over 15-million views on YouTube and it's been featured on traditional media all week. (You've probably already seen it.) In fact, some of the mommy blogs are not in favour as they feel it is going too far. I disagree. I think they nailed it. This is not a campaign targeted to youth or children. Everyone will remember the Kmart "Ship My Pants" ad the way our generation remembers "Where's the beef?" or "Mikey Likes It."

4. A friend of mine in Ireland posted a news clip that caught my attention this week. It provides some solid, no-nonsense, old-school type of advice for bored kids (and parents, indirectly), so I assumed it was from an Irish paper. But upon further investigation, I learned that it was actually a principal in New Zealand, John Tapene, who ran it in a school paper in 2010, but the original script came from a statement made by a US Judge in 1959. Since the 2010 school newspaper, it's gone viral. Here's what they taught kids in 1959. My favourite lines are the last two.

5. New on the list of silly vacation themes (babymoon, staycation) is mancation. I don't think I need to explain this to you -- but apparently it's a 'thing' now and hotels/tourism companies are catering to this market. Here's a headline from one of my favourite newsletters, Thrillist, that caught my attention last week with a featured special for Windjammer Landing's 'Boys Will Be Boys' package. The title was "Unlimited Booze, Food and Good Times with Your Bros in Saint Lucia." I'm sure all of my friends who are mothers of sons will join me in hoping this trend does not last. As if they need encouragement.

This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca. Follow Minnow and SavvyMom on Facebook for more savvy tips and solutions.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3157663 2013-04-26T16:00:27-04:00 2013-04-28T00:39:21-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/ 31 Best Baby Shower Gifts that she'll actually use.



This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca. Follow Minnow and SavvyMom on Facebook for more savvy tips and solutions.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3103528 2013-04-19T08:31:49-04:00 2013-06-19T05:12:01-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/

1. The unimaginable bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon leave so much to discuss and wonder. What I found amazing was the ability of the American people to stay positive in the wake of such an event. The belief that good will always trump evil is a very powerful one and will help many through such a traumatic time.

This poignant statement from comedian Patton Oswalt, which went viral on Facebook soon after the bombing, expresses this sentiment well. It's an important message to retain when considering how to talk to your kids about the attack. Alyson Schafer (one of our own Savvy Experts) wrote a piece for the Huffington Post which provides step-by-step instructions on how to talk to your kids about Boston. Bottom line, young kids don't need to know about such inhumanity yet. Let them feel safe and secure in their worlds for now. Maybe that will help instill the faith in humanity they'll need to get through such times when they are older.


2. On a more entertaining note, President Obama took time from his responsibilities of running the Western world to meet with the Kid President. You remember I introduced you to the Kid President with this video a few months ago? Well this time the Kid President was actually able to sit right in the President's seat, shake his hand and discuss politics--or third grade math. I'm still not quite sure what the agenda was but there were some thoughtful messages about kindness and changing the world. Watch it with your kids, they'll like it.


3. Speaking of an agenda...do you think our beloved mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, ever has one? I'm pretty sure him walking into the camera and getting hit in the face was not part of the plan. Despite the fact that the video went viral, I don't think this is the kind of attention he was looking for.


4. Back to US politics. Maybe President Obama should speak to the Kid President about these ads--just released from a group called Moms Demand Action! The statement is very strong in its simplicity--books like Little Red Riding Hood, Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs and dodgeballs have all been banned in America to keep kids safe. But guns have not been made illegal to protect kids.


5. Less political, but equally as important is the message being shared through Dove's latest campaign and viral video, Real Beauty Sketches. Watch this video, it's beautiful and powerful. Share it with your daughters.

Finally, a good luck wish to our friend Marlowe (of Marlowe & tHe MiX) who has been nominated for a Juno this weekend in the category of Best Children's Album of the Year. Go Marlowe!]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3103464 2013-04-18T12:18:26-04:00 2013-06-18T05:12:02-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/
But there are real ways to keep an eye on Mother Earth while you lovingly mother your own offspring. Here are 11 Eco Ways to Live Well for everyday living with little ones -- and one or two just for you.



This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca. Follow Minnow and SavvyMom on Facebook for more savvy tips and solutions.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3054799 2013-04-11T15:57:23-04:00 2013-06-11T05:12:02-04:00

Minnow Hamilton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minnow-hamilton/

1. This is a classic take on role reversal for all hockey parents to enjoy and digest--or any sports parent for that matter. I found it on Sportsnet. The kid is coaching his dad through his work week and imparting his heavy pearls of wisdom. I think you'll recognize the scenario and I think you'll love this post. It's perfect.

2. Parents just can't get a break these days. No matter what we do, people are watching and judging--then writing about it. Like Frank Bruni at the New York Times who is a single male with no kids. I suppose it's partly our fault that we've turned parenting into a verb, a skill and an activity that is graded and judged by society at large, rather than a natural path (or, dare I say, responsibility) we choose and accept. And speaking of judging, Frank's NYT article has some very solid points about the state of modern day parenting--it's just a bit tough to hear them from him. He's basically telling parents to 'chill' because despite the torment we put ourselves through while raising kids, they grow up despite our valiant efforts. Rebecca Keenan of Playground Confidential is one of our Savvy Storytellers and she wrote an interesting perspective on the article here, but her main point is this: 'There are as many different approaches to raising children as there ever were. The only difference is that now there are opinion columns in The Times talking about it.'


3. If you need a break from the parenting drama and you're experiencing Downton Abbey withdrawal, have no fear. There is a new British period series to fill the gap. It's called Mr Selfridge, but you'll want to start watching soon because you have already missed the first two of eight! Look for the same big hats and concern about social mobility, with a touch of the old-school Mad Men retail sales element thrown in for good measure. (It's about the British department store, Selfridges). Find it on PBS Masterpiece Theatre every Sunday night.


4. Too tired to stay up watching TV? Maybe you need AeroShot Energy. It's an air-based, powdered shot of smart energy which seemed like an interesting and whacked-out-enough product worthy of sharing with you this week. With 100 mg of caffeine and B vitamins, it apparently can provide the same energy boost as a large coffee. But why drink (and enjoy) your coffee when you can carry this little shot in your pocket and knock it back while riding the bus or your bike? It has no calories or 'mystery ingredients.' But here's my favourite part--the ad accompanying the product has this to say: 'Energy Drinks Are So Five Hours Ago.' That's the ad. Five hours ago is old? What does that make me?


5. Finally, a word on the late Margaret Thatcher. I read a great deal about her life this past week, and am fascinated by the discussion surrounding her as a woman in power, particularly in light of the 'trending' discussions surrounding Sheryl and Marissa lately. Sure, she never spoke out about her status as a woman to support the feminist movement, but that would have ruined her. She was tough and she acted like a man. But I still can't put my finger on why she has not been celebrated widely by the women's movement. An article in The Guardian by Russell Brand (of course that caught my attention) provided an interesting perspective. He was born the year she was first voted into politics and age 4 when she became Prime Minister. Although he refers to himself as 'one of her children' growing up under her leadership in England, he doesn't see her in a maternal light at all. Here's what Russell (we're on a first name basis) had to say about that:

It always struck me as peculiar, too, when the Spice Girls briefly championed Thatcher as an early example of girl power. I don't see that. She is an anomaly; a product of the freak-onomy of her time. Barack Obama, interestingly, said in his statement that she had 'broken the glass ceiling for other women.' Only in the sense that all the women beneath her were blinded by falling shards. She is an icon of individualism, not of feminism.

What would Sheryl say? Don't lean in. Run, or you'll get hit by shards.

Have a great week.

This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca. Follow Minnow and SavvyMom on Facebook for more savvy tips and solutions.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3055155 2013-04-10T17:02:32-04:00 2013-06-10T05:12:01-04:00

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This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca. Follow Minnow and SavvyMom on Facebook for more savvy tips and solutions.]]>