Learning about professions with a preschooler on Netflix Canada #StreamTeam

One of my favourite things about having a preschooler is our conversations. Throughout a single one, Hannah can change what she wants to be when she grows up multiple times. The top professions usually are doctor, scientist and puppy.

Her love of science definitely comes from watching Sid the Science Kid which streams on Netflix Canada.

Hannah is in love with Sid. She'll ask me where Sid lives. She'll tell people Sid is her friend. That she goes to preschool just like Sid does. And that she wants a dog just like Sid does.

I love the show too. Well, save Gerald. The Jim Henson production follows preschooler Sid and his friends May, Gabriella and the aforementioned Gerald. They all go to the best preschool ever (only four kids!) and learn about a variety of different scientific things from teacher Susie. They also sing catchy songs in every single episode and there's always a scientific song about the focus of each (I like checking out charts, because charts rule. A chart is a handy dandy scientific tool. It gives you information you see with your eyes, a chart helps you visualize. Get the picture? So do I). The songs are catchy - and stick in your head.

Educate your child & yourself with the Ontario College of Teachers

I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up – at least I did until about Grade 8. That's when I discovered you could actually write for a living, which began my quest to get in to Ryerson’s Journalism Program. Spoiler alert: I succeeded. If my Grade 8 English teacher Ms. Markham hadn't noticed my flair for writing, I may have never gone to Journalism school or, many years later, started this blog. The piece I wrote that impressed her was an instructional one, about making my favourite meal – Kraft Dinner – and she actually found it interesting!

Another teacher who left a lasting impression on me was my high school Physics teacher Mr. Kinsman. Even though I was never good at math, he somehow always made formulas so interesting and entertaining - and therefore easy for me to remember. In fact, even though it wasn’t a requirement for any of the university programs I was applying to, I liked his class so much I continued taking Physics right through OAC.

As a kid, I always thought being a teacher would be awesome. As an adult who now has a kid, I’m in awe of teachers. I have many friends who teach and the amount of work they put in to their profession outside of the classroom is astounding.

Did you know that every teacher in publicly funded elementary and secondary schools in Ontario must be certified by the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT)? Once teachers have successfully completed a teacher education program, they apply to the College for a Certificate of Qualification and Registration, which is their license to teach in Ontario.

Beauty Must-Haves for Busy Moms #PGmom #Review #Giveaway

I used to laugh at photos on the Internet of tiny fingers underneath the bathroom door. That will NEVER happen to me I thought.

Then I became a Mom.

The first few weeks of my maternity leave, I was super paranoid of leaving Hannah alone to use the washroom, so I'd put her in her little Fisher-Price chair right at the bathroom door while I was using the facilities. Now that I have a 3-year-old, privacy is a thing of the past - unless she's not at home or she's asleep. Now I have an audience outside the door - always. "Mommy, what are you doing? Are you peeing? Are you putting contacts on? Are you brushing your hair? Your hair is pretty, Mommy."

I'm sure every parent can relate. It's easy to let the little things escape you when your child is a priority - even forcing themselves to be one in the place you should really be able to have a few minutes alone.

That's why I love the new Pantene Pro-V Full & Strong Shampoo and Pantene Pro-V Full & Strong Conditioner. The shower is the only place where I get to be alone. The sounds of the water drown out any questions from my little one...I can relax and enjoy the few minutes I have to myself...and while I do so my hair get high intensity strength and natural fullness. The shampoo features anti-oxidant technology and is damage defying, while the conditioner helps reinforce strands at the core of the hair, leaving me with full hair instead of my natural flat.

I Could Have Been Elijah

This morning while I was at work I saw on social media a 3-year-old boy had gone missing in the 401/Bathurst area in Toronto. Quite quickly it was discovered he had left his Grandma's apartment - alone - where he had been spending the night. He ventured out around 4 am when it was -17 C with the windchill making it feel like -28. Elijah had on a tee shirt, a pull-up and his winter boots. The photo of him leaving the building through the lobby is haunting, all of us now knowing what would happen to him after he pushed open that door.

My heart aches for his family. All day I was refreshing Twitter - happy he was found, then crossing my fingers for a miracle while he was at the hospital. As a mom to a 3-year-old, I know just how clever they can be.

This tragedy is no one's fault.

I know, because at the age of 4 I also made it to my apartment's lobby - without an adult, but with my one year old brother in tow. I knew how to get on the elevator and press the button to go to the lobby. It was moving day and I suppose my brother and I somehow got lost in the shuffle. Most likely my Mom had told me to press the elevator button and wait for her and obviously I did not. When the elevator doors opened in the lobby, my Dad was standing right there and intercepted our escape.

Why I chose to get on the elevator alone (well, again, with my one year old brother) I'm not sure. Why I pressed the button to go to the lobby, I'm not sure. But I did these things. And for an entire elevator ride, my brother and I were without adult supervision. And it wasn't anyone's fault.

We will never know why Elijah put on his winter boots and left his Grandma's apartment so early in the morning on such a frigid day.

Please do not blame his family - this tragedy could have happened to anyone, and I am living proof.

Keep Elijah's family in your thoughts and prayers instead. I know I will be.

RIP Elijah.

© 2015 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Create #KinderSmiles this Valentine's Day #KinderMom

The only thing that makes the cold week back at work bearable after a week with palm trees is an upcoming Family Day long weekend. Last week at this time, Hannah was building me sand birthday cakes on the beach as I laid under a palm tree. She was also putting Kinder Sorpresa in her child's shopping cart at the Mexican Walmart.

Little does she know that this weekend she'll be surprised on Saturday morning with more Kinder eggs as a Valentine's Day treat - including Disney Fairies and Transformers heart trains (OK, so the Disney Fairies or "tooth fairies" as she calls them are for Hannah, the Transformers will be for me).

Celebrate Valentine's Day with Toopy and Binoo #Review #Giveaway

Last month, Hannah told me she wanted to change her name to Toopy Baa Baa Pizza Pizza Pie Mr. Potato. I kid you not. Clearly Toopy was in homage to every preschooler's favourite rat - Toopy of Toopy and Binoo fame.

So she was really excited when I brought home two new DVDs for her - I Love Toopy and I Love Binoo.

Each DVD is 75 minutes long and contains many Toopy and Binoo favourites - and both are in stores now, a perfect gift for Valentine's Day!

This Winter #RipYourClothesOn with Downy #PGmom #Review #Giveaway

Sorry the blog was super quiet last week. I had a great excuse - my Mom, Hannah and I were in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and my resort had no Wifi. We had a mostly relaxing vacation (I say mostly because Hannah and I returned with some sort of cold/flu bug, fabulous for flying...) and Toronto welcomed us home yesterday with more snow.

Winter is easily my least favourite season. Skating and skiing aside, after Christmas, I want it to immediately be spring. The only positive thing about winter for me is this - sweaters. Nothing beats a comfy, gorgeous, weight-gain hiding sweater. So while I am sad to wash my summer clothes and pack them away for next few months, after all the fabulous food I ate on vacation I'm thankful my sweaters literally have my back (and, uh, love handles). Having a January baby, most of my sweaters are also sentimental to me - they grew with Hannah in my belly and thankfully took back their original shape postpartum.

This winter, Downy is challenging Canadians to share their favourite fashion looks that make them want to rip their clothes on. How? Sprinkle a little Downy Unstopables into your load of laundry and your clothes will smell oh so fresh you’ll just have to cuddle up with your loved ones!