Back to School

Back to school.

It was almost as if it wasn't really happening.  I've been pushing this day to the back of my mind for over a year now - not only because my youngest is entering Kindergarten, but because it's been a loooonnnng ride getting there.

To make a long story short, the past year has been riddled with anxiety for me just thinking about Zoë going to the big school.  I know I'm in the same boat as most parents with kids going to Kindergarten, but this was a first for me.  With Jadon, I was like "bye, see ya" (and that's pretty much how the drop-off went with him this morning LOL).  With Zoë, it was "will she have support?", "how will she be able to keep up with her classmates?" and "what will her mode of transportation be when the entire class ventures to the local park?".

I've spent close to a year gathering Zoë's doctors' and therapists' reports, and submitting them to her school.  Out of pure luck, our Vice Principal is also our learning assistance coordinator and very well versed with cases of muscular dystrophy.  When she told me this, it was as if a weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could really concentrate on the other little things of getting a child prepared for their first big day.  Of course, the preparation would still be different from my experience when Jadon was entering Kindergarten, but at least I had that piece of mind that Zoë was going to have the support she requires and the understanding that I so desperately hoped for.

I could go on and on about the rollercoaster of emotions that's plagued me in the past year, but that can wait until a later post.  Let's get right into the part where Zoë is Zoë and she's been waiting over two years to join her big bro and his friends at the big school!

With the help of Sport Chek, the kids were absolutely spoiled with back-to-school gear for their first day (insert raised hand emojis):

Honestly, Sport Chek has always been my go-to, one-stop shop for all things sports, fitness, back-to-school, Father's Day... you name it!  As a working mom, it's extremely convenient for me to stop at one store (especially when I have that long ride home ahead of me!) and be able to grab whatever the kids need for back-to-school shopping gear, as well as pick up anything that hubby and I may need.

A huge thanks to my Sport Chek fam for spoiling me AND the kids with back-to-school gear!  Jadon can't get enough of his never-ending Under Amour backpack - that thing is like a bottomless pit and perfect for our newly-minted grade three-er!

xo,
kristina

Disclosure:  All opinions in this review remain my own and do not reflect the opinions or views of Sport Chek and/or their affiliates.  We received a form of compensation from Sport Chek in order to complete this review. 

A Father's Day Experience + a Giveaway

Isn't it amazing how life comes around full circle once we "grow up"?  Way back when, I remember thinking about how uncool my parents were and how they didn't know anything (because teenagers know EVERYTHING, haha!).  Now I know that they were just trying to raise us, teach us morals and give us the foundations we would need to tackle this thing called life.  There are certain things that I've had to figure out myself, but I know my parents did the best they could.

As I raise my two kids, I realize just how much my dad did for us on a daily basis.  From the time I was five years old, I was a competitive gymnast.  This meant many practices, gymnastic meets, volunteer hours and commitment - not just from myself, but from my dad.  His shifts at work changed quite often (mornings, days, nights), but he always made sure he was present when he could be.  If he wasn't working, he was driving me wherever I needed to be or he was at the bingo hall volunteering or at the bottle drive, car wash, selling raffle tickets / chocolate almonds / his life (?) - you name it!  And let's not get started on those late night pick ups at 12:15am when my shift ended at my local grocery store at 16/17 years old (poor Dad!).

Whatever I needed, I knew I could always rely on Dad.

I initially intended to document a day of experiences with my Dad for this post, but we ended up running behind and didn't get to meet up until later in the evening.  Despite the change of plans, we were able to score Dad (and hubby) an in-store experience and new fit gear from Sport Chek!

Dad is normally a fairly laid back guy, so (as you can imagine) he was completely out of his element when I told him he was going on a shopping spree.  I just assumed he knew why we were meeting up, but when I told him he could get something for himself, he was beyond himself (growing up, Dad would always say by 'assuming' you're making an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me' - typical Dad joke, I know)!

We browsed around the shoe department and tried to make Dad 'cooler' by making him try on a pair of Pure Boosts, but that kind of failed haha!  I could tell hat he wast trying to convince himself that he truly needed another pair of runners.  After circling the store a few more times, Dad received a Fitbit lesson from one of the electronics specialists and he was sold!  Nothing like a little nudge and a challenge from his daughter (did you know that you can 'challenge' your friends through the Fitbit app?).  And off he went with his new Fitbit Charge 2!!

Since Sport Chek is our go-to shop for Father's Day gifts, I've put together some budget friendly gift ideas for the amazing dad / grandfather / step-dad / special man in your life just in time for the big day!

1. Fitbit Charge 2 | 2. Adidas Training Pants | 3. Nike Sandals | 4. Jason Mark Essentials Kit | 5. GoPro HERO5 HD Action Camera | 6. Nike Aerolayer Jacket | 7. Nike Flex Distance 2-1 Shorts | 8. Under Armour Sport Wireless Headphones | 9. GT Mountain Bike | 10. Adidas Pure Boost Runners

{win it!}

Father's Day is just around the corner and Sport Chek is generously offering one of our Canadian readers a chance to win a $75 gift card to help out with those gifts for Dad!  To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only and ends Friday, June 16, 2017 at 9pm PST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure:  All opinions in this review remain my own and do not reflect the opinions or views of Sport Chek and/or their affiliates.  We received a form of compensation from Sport Chek in order to complete this review.  Note that SwankMama does not accept responsibility for sponsors that do not fulfill their giveaway duties.  Winner will be contacted via email and will have 24 hours to respond, otherwise, a new winner will be chosen at random.

too cool for school

Annnnddd just like that, summer is already halfway done!  Over here in Vancouver, we've felt like summer just began a few of weeks ago, as the first couple weeks were a little chilly than normal.  Don't worry though - we took full advantage of the amazing weather while we were living in New West (here and here).

So now that it's August, it's time to think about the most exciting time of the year... BACK TO SCHOOL!!  Okay, it may only be exciting for grade school-aged kids, but it's always the best time of the year for parents (am I not right?!).  No more constant bickering, no more trying to find daily activities to keep the kids occupied (and off those electronic devices), and no more late nights.

We're hoping to put Zoe in preschool in September and have been considering our options, given her muscle condition.  I know I haven't posted full details about it yet, but let's just say that her gross motor skills are slightly delayed and, while she may look perfectly healthy and normal from the outside, she struggles with a lot of normal everyday things that most people wouldn't think twice about.  However, since she loves to do anything that her big brother does, I decided to include her in our recent back-to-school shopping trip courtesy of Sport Chek!

The kids and I headed to their flagship Metrotown location for a fun afternoon of shopping.  While it can get kind of hectic shopping with two littles (Jadon is very meticulous and Zoe is a happy-go-lucky, go-with-the-flow kind of girl), we ended up having major success in finding everything that the kids needed for school come September.

And here are my little models with their new Sport Chek gear (insert heart emoji).  While I couldn't find all of the items online, I've linked them below.  The items that we got from Sport Chek are Jadon's runners and basketball hoodie, and Zoe's yellow backpack, tank and joggers.

ON JADON // Hoodie: Nike | Runners: Nike | Tee: Modern Fort | Hat: Whistle & Flute

ON ZOE // Tank: Under Armour | Joggers: Nike | Runners: Nike | Backpack: Fjallraven | Sunglasses: Gap Kids

xo,
kristina

{win it!}

To kick off your back to school shopping, Sport Chek is generously offering one of our Canadian readers a chance to win a $50 gift card!  To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only and ends on Monday, August 15, 2016 at 9pm PST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  All opinions in this review remain my own and do not reflect the opinions or views of Sport Chek and/or their affiliates.  We received a form of compensation from Sport Chek in order to complete this review.  Note that SwankMama does not accept responsibility for sponsors that do not fulfill their giveaway duties.  Winner will be contacted via email and will have 24 hours to respond, otherwise, a new winner will be chosen at random.

Getting Framed with Spectacle Shoppe

It’s literally been years since I’ve replaced my eye glass frames and those who know me have probably never seen me with them on.  Truthfully, I tend to hide behind them, usually late at night and usually very close to bedtime.

So, imagine my excitement when SpectacleShoppe contacted me!  New frames?  Check. A positive shopping experience?  Check!

I met with Morgan, licensed optical technician and soon-to-be principal of Spectacle Shoppe, and she greeted me with a warm smile and we clicked instantly.  Not only is she a mother of two young children (check out her son modelling in the window of the shop!), but she is also living with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  Hearing this made me put my own life in perspective and seeing Morgan have such a positive attitude about her job and life in general definitely struck a chord.

We got down to business and I gave Morgan free reign at choosing the frames that she thought would most suit me.  I tried on a number of different shapes and sizes, but I know I wanted to go towards a bigger, trendier frame.  Thankfully, Morgan knew exactly which frames worked for the shape of my face and which ones fit properly on the bridge of my nose.  I’m not sure about you, but I had no idea the bridge of my nose affected the fit of my frames!

The benefit of shopping at Spectacle Shoppe?  You don’t have to settle on a frame while you’re in the store!  They offer a unique shopping experience where you can take two of your preferred frames and bring them home to decide for yourself – with no added pressure.  Once you’ve chosen your frame, Morgan will set up an appointment with you to bring both frames into Spectacle Shop and complete your order.

 I had a chance to interview Morgan and get her thoughts on how she manages her time, why Spectacle Shoppe’s unique shopping experience is so important to her, and her recommendation on when a child should have their initial vision screening:

Q.  Congrats on being on your way to becoming principal of Spectacle Shop!  What/who inspired you to become an entrepreneur and how do you balance your time?

A.  It's been a challenge and an awesome but sometimes scary adventure. I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and with that my health has always been one of my greatest fears, but after two very big life events (first the lost of my brother and second the birth of my children), I knew that I wanted to follow that voice inside my heart. It’s this voice that challenges my fears. 

I serve my clients, and especially moms, with genuine passion for helping them find eyewear that gives them that extra boost of confidence.  As a mom of two young children with busy mornings (which is very often), my eyewear is the only thing I put on so I want my glasses to make me glow.  I know this perspective makes me unique, and I’m proud to own it and share it with my clients so that they always feel like they are leaving our store with something extra special.

As far as balance, I think it’s always a struggle being a mom and an entrepreneur. I recently decided to change my work schedule and be in the store from Monday to Friday for a more stable and predictable work week.  I’m really hoping that having weekends off will provide with more time to reconnect with my family. My kids and my husband are my biggest source of inspiration and they truly keep me re-energized. 

Q.  We really enjoyed our fitting session with you and the fact that we didn't have to settle on a frame in the store.  Tell us how Spectacle Shoppe came up with this unique shopping experience and how you feel it benefits your clients.
 

A.  I want our clients to have the eyewear that fits their lifestyle and wardrobe with ease.   We noticed that even if you have a general idea of what you’re looking for, most people find that the photos on our website rarely do justice to the fine detailing that makes our frames special. We pride ourselves on carrying the most up-to-date styles from a number of the best eyewear manufacturers in the world and when our customers start to experiment in our store with all of the different options, they really begin to see how each piece becomes an accessory instead of just eyewear. 

We also noticed that our regular clients sometimes have a hard time narrowing their choices down to one pair and, because we respect that eyewear is a personal piece as well as an investment piece, we decided to offer something special and stress-free for clients in the selection process. Voila! We’ve been providing our regular clients this service for a number of years now. 

Q.  At what age do you recommend that kids have their first eye exam? 

A.  A common misunderstanding is that children need to be able to read or talk to have their eyes examined.  However, a child should have their first eye exam when they're 6 months old, with follow-up exams at 3 years old and 5 years old (before starting school), followed by regular annual exams to ensure that potential eye disorders don’t go undetected. These eye exams are so important because kids, unlike adults, don't know when they have challenges to their vision. 

Looking for more information about glasses and children?  Spectacle Shoppe has published three articles on their blog to help you and your child enjoy their glasses/sunglasses:

1. How to get your child to wear and love their glasses

2. The importance of sunglasses for kids 

3. Glasses and your nose getting the bridge right

Connect with Spectacle on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or visit them in store at 5683 West Boulevard in Vancouver!

Disclosure:  The views expressed in this review are my own and do not represent the opinions or views of  Spectacle Shoppe.  We received complimentary frames from Spectacle Shoppe in order to conduct this review.

Protect Your Shoes with Tana and Ronson's + Weather the Winter Contest!

I recently had the pleasure of going shoe shopping for (gasp!) myself at Ronson’s flagship location on Granville Street.  After walking a block in the pouring rain and feeling the water soak through my un-treated suede booties, I was greeted by the store’s manager, Jessica, and treated to a personal shopping experience with comprehensive details on shoe care 101.

Think your shoes are ready for winter?  Do you know the difference between mink oil and all-protector spray?  How often do you have to protect your shoes?  These were some of the many questions I had for Jessica and she answered each one with ease, while convincing me that my shoe investment is worth protecting.

For most leather shoes and boots, Tana’s All Protector spray is the most popular choice.  It sprays evenly ensuring coverage of your entire shoe and provides protection from weather elements, as well as resists stains.  Jessica also highly recommended using Tana's Self Shine Cream to keep your black leather shoes scuff free.

If the leather on your shoe is more porous and a colour other than black, Jessica recommended Tana’s Mink Oil over the All Protector spray as the mink oil protects and absorbs into oil-tanned and other smooth leathers, while eliminating any surface scratches and scuffs.  She also made a great point – it’s hard to match shoe polish to coloured leathers and the mink oil does the job of what the polish would do to black leather shoes.

And you know that bottle of All Protector that just sits under your counter?  Depending on how often you wear your shoes, you should be using it every 3-6 weeks!  I mean, water in your suede booties is not pretty!

After my intro to Jessica’s shoe care 101, I had the opportunity to choose a pair of new boots for Vancouver’s infamous rainy days:

At over half their retail price, these gorgeous Ara boots are made of a soft leather, comfortable, warm and waterproof!  Plus the lower heel and extreme tread on the soles area must-have for a busy mama constantly on-the-go (running after kids is a full-time job!).

Ready to take the personal shoe care challenge?  Enter Tana’s Weather the Winter contest for your chance to win 1 of 5 bi-weekly prizes of $1,000 or a grand prize of $2,000!  Visit Tana’s contest page for full details and restrictions.

Fall in Love with Over The Loom + a Giveaway!

With all the craziness leading up to Zoe's birthday party, I'm kind of ashamed to admit that I almost forgot to plan the birthday girl's outfit!  After all, it's the most important detail of the day - besides all the little party details, of course.

Thankfully, Angel Kho from Over The Loom saved the day {and my sanity} with a gorgeous dress that went perfectly with the party's mint green colour scheme.  Made out of soft tulle, the Knox Tulle dress fit Zoe perfectly {with room to grow!} and received many compliments and admirers.  I think the pictures speak for themselves!

While browsing Over The Loom’s website, it’s hard not to fall in love with every single item. Their dresses, skirts and outfits have a girlish, old-world charm about them – think lace detailing, tulle and princess-inspired dresses.  While I was a little worried that lace and tulle would mean that Zoe would get limited wear out of her outfits, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the fabrics, as well as the construction of the dresses and skirts.

We also love the versatility of Over The Loom’s skirts!  Not only will Zoe be able to wear them for dressy occasions but she’ll also be able to pair them with casual tops for everyday wear, such as a day at the park.  Here's Zoe showing off her Isabella Tulle Skirt in Apricot:

      

{Win It!}