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http://barbaraannsolomon.com
Mon, 08 Jul 2019 14:44:30 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.21http://barbaraannsolomon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cropped-main-and-central-32x32.jpgBaby – BARBARA ANN STYLE BLOG
http://barbaraannsolomon.com
3232Has style became secondary
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/07/has-style-became-secondary/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/07/has-style-became-secondary/#respondSun, 07 Jul 2019 17:20:36 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=7047Motherhood has changed me in ways I never expected.
I never thought that I’d live in jeans for the simple fact that I spend most of my day on the floor (and they have pockets). But life with a one-and-a-half year old and an active dog has made practical fashion seems to be winning day-in and day-out.
And that’s not to say that I’m not following trends and playing with colours, prints and patterns like I always do. But dare I say, my outfits do seem to be “toned-down” this year vs. years past.
I also find myself shooting content more regularly, but not often sharing the details or styling choices behind it. Because in my mind the choices have been, “we were going to the park, it was hot, and I only had one clean bra.”
And thus the title of the post: has style (as a subject matter) become secondary (for me)?
I truthfully hope not, as the reason I’m in this blogging game is to share my passion for fashion and styling, but we’ll see, as the summer season is made for shooting, hopefully I’ll get more quality time to spending sharing my thoughts and takes on the current trends.
Here is a great spontaneous shoot we did in the early spring. To stay up to date with what I’m wearing make sure to be following me on Insta.
Some thoughts about this look Since early spring, I’ve been living for beige and tonal neutrals. There is something lovely about the natural hue that matches so well with my predominately pastel wardrobe (and hair).
Sterling and I have both lived in our denim coats last season. Mine, gifted to me from Joe Fresh, is oversized, pastel and basically made out of dreams. Sterling’s jacket was found at a maker’s market last year, during the very early days of Baby Shark, and was hand-painted on the back of an up-cycled coat by artist Natalie Daye of Big Blue Denim. I instantly fell in love and predicted how much Sterling would love sharks.
So until I’m back spending my days in an office, I think my style will have a touch of “practical motherhood” sprinkled throughout.
On Sterling: Jacket: Natalie Daye, Romper: Gap, Shoes: Minimoc On Barbara: Jacket: c/o Joe Fresh, Shirt: Target, Pants: Topshop, Shoes: Coach, Sunglasses: c/o Clearly, Necklaces: Van Der Hout Jewelry
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/07/has-style-became-secondary/feed/0Make Memories
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/05/make-memories/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/05/make-memories/#respondThu, 30 May 2019 19:51:16 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=6086My biggest fear, is simple. I’m afraid of forgetting. Always have been. It’s maybe why I’ve been documenting my life through pictures since I was a kid.
Now, I often say that my memory is photographic, but what I mean is that if there is a picture of it, I can pull the memory.
I’ll never forget one summer, while away at overnight camp, I used 17 disposable cameras. I currently have boxes, hard-drives and over 30 000 photos on my phone and there is nothing I like better than going through them and looking back on the memories and moments.
The process of documentation has been been a critical part of my life and as I’ve gotten older I find myself investing in creative ways to capture moments.
At our wedding, I invested in an amazing photographer from Mango Studios, an inspiring cinematographer from Elle & Be Films and an illustrator Danielle Final, who live-painted the ceremony, reception and photography session. The combination of these three methods of documentation have kept the memory of this special day vivid for me.
Since Sterling’s arrival, my world has exploded with pictures, but I’m not complaining. I find myself often picking a month, from the past 17 and reviewing the special moments I captured. With Trevor and I both photographers ( 2Boo Studio) we are always with a camera on-hand.
When Sterling was first born we invested and took photos at about 6 weeks with the insanely talented Scarlett O’Neill. With these shots, we’ve printed giant poster size wall art and created hardcover books for our families to remember this quick moment in Sterling’s life.
So during our recent trip to Miami, we decided to invest in memories and capture this moment in time, Sterling at one. So we began to arrange for our second session of family photos. I found Emily Prada, a Miami local known for her breathtaking wedding photography, who uses nature to highlight her subjects via Instagram and fell in love with her aesthetic. Because she shoots locally, she had lots of recommendations for locations and we picked John U. Lloyd Beach State Park as it’s filled numerous scenic backdrops. Check out some of the photo session below.
I cannot wait to print these photos out and put them on display. I’ve already gifted a set of family ones to my grandparents for their hospitality and love during our trip to Miami.
If you are a Toronto local and looking to capture memories with your children, check out my photography business 2Boo Studio. I’d love to create special moments for you that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/05/make-memories/feed/0Toddler Toys
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/05/toddler-toys/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/05/toddler-toys/#respondMon, 06 May 2019 16:48:27 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=6078Since becoming a mother in January
2018, there are a few things that have consistently blown my mind. The biggest
being how quickly time moves. It was just earlier this week, when it dawned on
me, that I was pregnant two years ago.
TWO YEARS AGO. How is that possible?
Sterling is 16 months now, taking
about 10-15 steps on his own and ready to explore new things each day. He and I
spend our days together and are currently exploring options of childcare, but
in the meantime, Trevor and I have prioritized him having a growing library of
books, toys, tools and crafts to engage and stimulate his developing mind.
So when buybuy BABY reached out to share their amazing assortment of indoor, outdoor, creative, and educational (STEM) toys and activities from our favourite brands (at every budget) I jumped at the opportunity to spoil Sterling. Although this post is sponsored by buybuy BABY all opinions are 100% my own.
Having Sterling born so early in the year (January 4th), I find his developmental stages change with the season. As we approach spring, he’s all about moving and being outside, which is convenient because I am as well. The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Sports Car has definitely been a winner as the weather has been warming up. We’ve gone cruising around our neighbourhood thanks to the push handle allowing me to have full control. Sterling absolutely loves playing with this stylish car in our home too, and practices getting in and out. I love that this toy can also grow with him as there is a removable floor to give him control once he’s ready.
We also picked up the Happy Trails Walk and Ride-On Giraffe to encourage movement around our home. I love to watch Sterling’s development, coordination and balance while pushing and scooting on this adorable wooden toy. Sterling is currently mastering backing up and navigating around Taco.
As a designer myself,
sparking Sterling’s interests in the different types of art is one of my
favourite parts of parenting. He’s been drawn to music since day one, probably
because I walked around singing every day of his life and my entire pregnancy.
The Hey! Play! Acoustic Toy Guitar has been fun for the whole family to play with, Trevor “tuned” it and I’ve been walking around playing everything from The Beatles to Baby Shark. Sterling likes to pick the cords while hitting the base to a beat. Instruments as toys, introduced at an early age will hopefully ignite a life-long passion for music and the preforming arts.
As Trevor and I are photographers, our collection of cameras is pretty big and growing. Knowing that Sterling will grow up around cameras, we started his collection of toy versions pretty early. Again, hoping to spark interest.
I love the nostalgic feeling of this Fisher Price Classics Changeable Disc Camera, that is an updated version of the 1968 original. So far Sterling has only figured out the pressing of the button, and has yet to discover the adorable pictures that can be seen through the viewfinder. The camera comes with three discs, which are filled with images from animals to nursery rhymes to stories.
We also picked up the Hey! Play! Montessori Wooden Math Game, which teaches STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) basics. With wooden pegs and colour tiles and stacking rings, the game teaches children to count, sort and stack. This is another toy that will continue to grow with Sterling and so far, he’s at the stage where he’s arbitrarily stacking the rings and sorting them across the pegs.
Probably Sterling’s favourite and most used item we picked up from buybuy BABY was his new Sweet Seats Shark Chair. His face lit up the first time he sat down in it. He can usually be found lounging in it while flipping through his books, cuddling with a stuffed animal or snacking on Cheerios. I think he really likes having a spot just him.
Over these next few months as we move into the warmer weather of spring and summer, I can’t wait to see how much more Sterling learns and develops. These toys and activities from buybuy BABYshould ignite his interests, creativity and thirst for discovery. Each day as he takes his tiny steps forward, it feels like leaps and bounds as he discovers the world around him.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/05/toddler-toys/feed/0Traveling with a one year old
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/04/traveling-with-a-one-year-old/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/04/traveling-with-a-one-year-old/#commentsTue, 02 Apr 2019 01:19:27 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=6012
At the end of last month, our family escaped the never-ending, shitty winter weather, to beautiful Miami for two weeks. And I’ve got to tell you, it was probably one of the healthiest decisions we’ve made as a family in a long time.
Winters are hard for everyone, but I think it’s especially hard for those who work from home or spend their days raising little ones. Between the cold and winter storms, being trapped inside for months can feel isolating, so this escape was very much needed. The weather for each of the days we were there was 27 degrees and sunny.
We split our trip into two sections, the first 5 days we stayed at the beach in a newly built hotel and then for the next 10 we were with my grandparents.
Last year, Sterling and I came down (I shared about my trip with a 7 week old, traveling alone, here) but as my grandparents weren’t there, I knew this trip would be much more special. I also thought it was really magical that the ages of the people on this trip are Sterling: 1, Trevor and I: 31, my grandparents: 91. 1, 31, 91. A truly special trip.
Flights We planned our flights around nap-times and found great success with Sterling. Our flight to Florida departed at around 6pm, and although Sterling didn’t sleep on the 3 hour flight he was easy and calm due to the late hour. The minute we landed he fell asleep in our ErgoBaby until we picked up our rental car. On the way home, we arrived at the airport at 10am for our 1pm flight, and Sterling made some friends with the people around us, and passed out on top of his dad until we landed.
Hotel We spent the first 5 nights about a 20 minute drive away from my grandparent’s place in Aventura, at the newly built Costa Hollywood Beach Resort. We decided on this resort for a few reasons: • their proximity to the beach and boardwalk • A full kitchen. As Sterling goes in and out of picky stages with food, preparing and having essentials on-hand is key • A separated living space and bedroom. Sterling is a great sleeper but goes to bed around 8pm, so having a space for us to be in was key
The location was truly amazing. A 1 minute walk to the beach where you could spend your days on the touristy but family-friendly Hollywood Boardwalk which is lined with restaurants, ice cream shops and little stores. On the Friday and Saturday nights, most of the restaurants had live music and the streets were filled with people.
The hotel staff were friendly and knowledgeable about local restaurants as well as the area. Our room was great, very modern and sleek. I did a room tour and it’s saved to my Miami 2019 Highlight on Instagram. They also had a small breakfast available each morning, which was great because croissants are key for Sterling and coffee is mandatory for this mama and both were delicious.
Food The first few days Sterling had a hard time adjusting to the break of routine around meal time. So we focused on simple meals and invested in an Ikea highchair so he could sit properly with us during family meals, and almost immediately he started eating better.
We didn’t really go out to eat much so unfortunately we didn’t hit many of the spots on our must-eat list, but rather ate where it was convenient. Feel free to DM me on IG or leave a comment if you want more details of the spots we did go to.
For Sterling, we brought a bunch of his favourite food pouches PC Organic Banana Kiwi Strained Baby Food and once we got to my grandparent’s we made his regular smoothies for meal times, which consist of blueberries, bananas, peanut, nut or seed butter, yoghurt and whatever else we have on hand, like spinach or strawberries.
Overall, traveling with a baby (almost toddler) is never going to be easy, but being flexible with your schedule and rules can allow for a painless trip. I really enjoyed the extended time-off, typically vacations are one-jammed-pack-week of sight-seeing and activities, but this trip to Miami for 15 days, meant that we could keep each day light and enjoyable.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/04/traveling-with-a-one-year-old/feed/1Sterling Turns One
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/01/sterling-turns-one/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/01/sterling-turns-one/#respondMon, 14 Jan 2019 17:06:55 +0000https://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=5937
It was a few days before Christmas (and I was so sick), when it dawned on me, that I had to get moving on planning my son’s first birthday. Sterling was born a few days after the start of the new year, so over the next few days I would need to arrange everything, rather quickly, as businesses would be closed during the holidays and New Years.
I decided to keep it intimate affair, inviting only our families and a few friends to celebrating this milestone in our home. With that in mind, I also worked with Sterling’s nap-time schedule to ensure a happy baby during the party.
I designed the invitations, elegant and shark themed, inspired by his favourite song, Baby Shark. And although I’ve heard Baby Shark thousands of times, I love how excited he gets when he hears it, so I’m all about it.
I served brunch and included all of our favourites: bagels, cream cheese and smoked salmon, egg salad, tuna salad, a giant charcuterie board filled with meats, soft and hard cheeses, olives and assorted crackers and breads.
We ordered custom cookies (which were as delicious as they were beautiful) from Little Rose Cookie Co, who was so amazing to work with. She created the Baby Shark cookies and Sterling couldn’t stop smiling when he saw them.
Sterling had two cakes, a decadent hazelnut chocolate from the bakery Sweet Olenkas that we served to our guests and a naked smash cake that I made using the Betty Crocker’s Rainbow Chip and layered with frosting and sprinkles.
The smash cake was a big success. At first Sterling didn’t understand what he should do, but with some encouragement he loved destroying and exploring the cake, tasting it a bit before dropping every last piece onto the floor (which we lined with a plastic table-cloth for an easy clean up).
I still can’t believe that I have a one year old, but I’m falling more in love with the sweet boy he’s becoming. He’s funny, creative, loves to read, obsessed with both Monkey and Taco and I can’t wait to see all of the milestones we will reach together this year.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/01/sterling-turns-one/feed/02018: Year in review
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/01/2018-year-in-review/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/01/2018-year-in-review/#respondThu, 03 Jan 2019 21:45:12 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=5908I knew that going into 2018, it was going to be a very different year. I was 38 weeks pregnant as we started the year and were just finalizing the final details and meetings before #babyNegin was to join the party, and then Sterling decided to come early. He was born January 4th, and I’ll be working on a post discussing what I’ve learned in my first year of motherhood, but first I wanted to flash back on some of my blog highlights this year.
When I did shoot, I tried my best and feel confident, but it wasn’t a year where I felt my best. I struggled with my health; recovering from both pregnancy and injury, back-to-back. So when my confidence was at its lowest, I pushed myself to face fears. This year I shot basically naked and allowed others to take control of my image. I quickly realized that shooting my own content for the past 6 years, meant I’ve always had the final say of which pictures were release or shared. Giving up that up wasn’t easy, but I’m learning to enjoy the process of releasing that control.
Another post I have coming up is one about my goals for 2019. It will be another year of changes and transitions and I’m excited to get started on this exciting chapter. Leave a comment and let me know if there is anything you’d like to see on the blog, as I change things up.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/01/2018-year-in-review/feed/0Feeding my baby
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/11/feeding-my-baby/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/11/feeding-my-baby/#commentsThu, 29 Nov 2018 16:55:10 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=5811Our son Sterling was always super interested in what was going on at our dining-room table during meal time, so when his doctor encouraged us to start him on food just before he turned 6 months, I was excited to get experimenting with flavours and textures.
I started with the basics as recommended; oatmeal, apples, bananas and quickly began to learn his favourites like squash, sweet potato and pumpkin. Over the last few months, we also tried new textures for him like chicken and cottage cheese (not together) and stronger flavours like Kosher Sour dill pickles (which he loves to suck on and has helped with teething) and peanut butter (he tried it really early with the Israeli snack Bamba).
It was time to start developing those taste buds and blending more complex flavours together. And with that new task it was time to breakout the Beaba Babycook Pro, a 4-in-1 food processor that steams, blends, defrosts and reheats baby food with ease.
This machine makes preparing for Sterling so easy. The jar is large enough (1100 ml) to fit all of the ingredients for all of the recipes I’ve prepared. And most of the recipes from the Beaba Baby Cook Book are as simple as chop and peel (as required) add water, wait 15 minutes while it steams and then blend. Here are two different cookbooks by Beaba, one for baby and one for mama, but you can pick up this one in store at West Coast Kids.
The machine shuts off once it’s completely cooked and you simply remove the basket and set aside some of the water that you’ll add back in to create the desired consistency during the blending process.
A current go-to recipe that Sterling has been enjoying is the Carrot, Apple, and Potato Soup, with a pinch of cinnamon.
When Sterling tried this soup, it was love at first taste and I’ve made another batch to freeze for those meals out of the house, or when time is limited. I love the Kushies SiliTray, made from food-grade silicone, making it easy to just pop out the perfect portion.
Another favourite recipe from the Beaba Baby Cook Book, that Sterling devoured was the Apple Raisin Compote that can be served on top of oatmeal, pancakes or toast.
With half a cup of cubed apple, 1 pitted date and only 10 raisins, this simple recipe is filled with fiber, vitamins and minerals ensuring Sterling is getting all of the right things from his food.
I served this compote as a part of his breakfast along with cottage cheese and half of a mashed banana. This adorable Kushies SiliPlate has a strong suction that sticks to his high chair and the fact that it’s dishwasher safe makes it one of my go-tos.
I also have an assortment of the Kushies’ bibsthat help keep Sterling’s clothes clean. I love that most are spill and waterproof and that they are made in Canada. They also have a pocket (this one is made from a food grade silicone) so any crumbs or drops are safe from the floor and my pup Taco, who is happy to help clean up any mess that does make it to the floor.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/11/feeding-my-baby/feed/1Good Enough to Eat
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/11/good-enough-to-eat/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/11/good-enough-to-eat/#respondSun, 04 Nov 2018 16:57:53 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=5775
There’s nothing quite like the soft, delicate skin of a baby. And using the right products to protect and nurture Sterling’s skin has been one of our main concerns.
I have yet to invest in green beauty for myself, but I did want to start my son on the right path, using products that are as natural as possible, especially since a baby’s skin absorbs so much. So when my friends at West Coast Kids introduced me to one of their favourite brands Shoosha Truly Organic, I quickly became obsessed with a line of products with ingredients that are so pure and organic you can actually eat them.
Because soap always end up getting in baby’s eyes and mouth while in the bath, Shoosha ensured that their line was made from USDA Certified Organic food grade ingredients, like Calendula, Coconut and Sunflower Oil, so it’s not only gentle and hydrating on sensitive skin but it’s also tear-free.
Sterling absolutely loves bath time and now I do too, knowing that I’m using the purest products for his soft skin. Thank you Shoosha Truly Organic and West Coast Kids for partnering with me on this post.
Real talk. This summer was rough. As some of you know (if you follow me on IG), I broke my 5th metatarsal on my right foot pretty badly in mid-July and most of my summer dreams were crushed. I wasn’t allowed to swim, long walks were extremely painful, and driving was off-limits due to the cast (a walking one, thankfully). Some days seemed impossible. I tried to make the most of out of my quiet summer and filled my days with Sterling cuddles, picnics, reading and singing to my sweet boy.
Thankfully, now that Sterling is fully on the move, (and I am as well), one of our first big trips out of the house was visiting one of my go-to mommy malls, Hillcrest. I grew up pretty close to Hillcrest Mall located in Richmond Hill and used to love it, but I moved away after high school and hadn’t really been back many times since. But when my girlfriend mentioned that you could get the H&M Mama line there, when I was in search of pregnancy overalls, I ran there ASAP and was shocked to see how much had changed. Hillcrest was had completed about 50% of their renovations at the time and you can see the beautiful new tiles and redesign of the space.
I soon found out that along with some of the newly open shops like Aritzia,Sporting Life and Starbucks, my favourite baby store West Coast Kids would be opening their second Toronto location during summer 2018. And just like that, Hillcrest quickly became my new go-to mall.
When I got invited to preview their new wing earlier this month, I was excited to hear all about the changes and check out what other stores had opened since I’d been there last. We strolled through the whole mall, peeking into stores like Sephora and Miniso and the newly renovated Hudson’s Bay.
As for us mamas, they have all the amenities to make it your most comfortable visit. With nursing rooms, bottle warming service and free diaper kits that are available at their Guest Experience. They also have parent parking available at all of the main entrances which are crucial for the upcoming colder months. And if you need to connect with Guest Experience you can text 226-210-1015 and ask any question.
The new wing is now open and includes a giant Home Sense and Marshalls (which opened last week), and an Indigo and Old Navy that will both open in the next few months. My friends who own the contemporary store Carbon, located just down the hall, just opened this month and has a beautiful assortment of the world’s most relevant brands, catering to men and women of all ages. The Japanese-styled cheesecake sensation, Uncle Tetsu also just opened their doors early and if you haven’t tried the super soft freshly baked cakes you must.
After the tour, I headed back to West Coast Kids to pick up some essentials for Sterling that I’ll be sharing on an upcoming blog post and took in all the beautiful thing that this spacious store has.
The West Coast Kids’ grand opening is coming up and I’ll be sharing the dates and details on my Instagram account and hope you can join me there and check out the new Hillcrest Mall.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/10/mama-mall-hillcrest-glowup/feed/1Babywearing Mama
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/09/babywearing-mama/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/09/babywearing-mama/#respondFri, 07 Sep 2018 22:08:30 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=5625
As soon as Sterling was born, it became clear to me that I loved baby wearing. The first time I wore Sterling for an extended period of time (more than just being cozy with him at home) was during our flights to and from Miami when he was 7 weeks old. He snuggled into me so closely for those three hours, and since then we’ve both been hooked.
As much as I loved wearing Sterling, it became a necessity for me as the task of taking our puppy, Taco, out for walks fell solely on me. We live in a stacked town home, meaning a lot of stairs, so babywearing became the only way to get a newborn and puppy safely up and down those stairs.
Like most of the essentials for babies, there are so many options, but after buying and trying three different kinds, I’ve ended up using my ring sling by Canadian brand Junior Foxes the most. It was the quickest and easiest method to put him in when he was fussy and allowed me to get things done around the house.
I also fell in love with the fun and fashionable prints on these linen slings and found it nearly impossible to choose one for Sterling, but ended up picking up The Palms from their Classics Collection. The entire collection is based around their owner’s favourite tropical places to travel to.
One of the lessons I hope to teach my son is to shop local and support small businesses. I love that the owner, Milli Fox (follow her on IG for mom-entrepreneur content), a doula by trade, started this company out of her need when she had her adorable son and believes in producing locally and employs home-sewing mamas to carefully craft the Junior Foxes slings.
Do you babywear? If so which is your favourite way?