Life With Kids Series: Easy Bake Tandoori Chicken

Oven Baked Tandoori Chicken

The first of our "Life with Kids" series is a delicious recipe. Tandoori chicken is a staple in our house because it's super easy. The great thing about this recipe is the marinade itself, you can't really go wrong in your measurements because the yogurt dilutes everything. In fact, I eyeball everything (except the lemon juice which must be measured) and it always tastes great.

Life with Kids: New Blog Series

When I launched OM home in 2005, I knew nothing about business. I fancied myself an artist who made pretty designs. But with my experiences and education, at least I had a basis from which to work. Not true with parenting. There was absolutely nothing NOTHING that prepared me for motherhood!

I’m still relatively new to this whole mom thing and I’m not going to lie, life with two kids under 3 and a newly re-launched business can be downright appalling at times.  A few people think I’m crazy but most wonder how I manage.  I’m pretty sure this series will prove it’s a little bit of crazy and a whole lot of (barely) managing. Honestly? I try to take it one day at a time, but sometimes I cheat.

Avnee and Rohan

I’m guilty of not answering right away when my daughter calls me from upstairs. Sometimes I forget to brush her teeth. I’ll hand my son over to my husband when he comes home at night with an, “oops, I think he just pooped.” I take naps in my car so I can have some peace. I put off toilet training my daughter because I found it icky (she is trained now). I use my iPhone way more than I should when I’m with my kids. If I need to choose between washing my hair and sleeping five more minutes, I’ll sleep for 10 more minutes and let my son cry a little. PS, I’m amazed at how long I can go without washing my hair. Sometimes, when my daughter says, “I don’t WANT to” I’ll roll my eyes so far back into my head, I have to bang it a few times to get my eyeballs back in place. I bribe her with cookies.

But I also use my remote control starter to let the car run so my daughter can “drive” the car. I either “run” alongside the car, ahead or behind the car (depending on how fast or slow she’s driving) or I sit in her car seat and she drives us to the grocery store. I regularly turn off the lights in the house, turn on the music, strobe the flashlight, crack a couple of glo-sticks, and have dance offs with my daughter and my husband. I pretend I’m on “Whose line is it anyway?” when I sing made up songs to my son in different musical genres. His favorite is Bollywood, mine is Rock Opera. My voice gets rough from hours spent talking to my kids as "Rocco the Pig", a hand puppet and honorary member of our family. I spend an hour setting up a project for my daughter where I know she’ll only spend 10 minutes playing. More often than not, I’ll say “one more time” but really mean “five more times.” I bribe her with cookies.

Either way, I’ll blog about it here and include fun projects, great recipes, cool new gadgets, cool decor, DIY projects or other random musings and misadventures from our lives. Maybe I can look back on this crazy time one day and laugh or maybe you can find a good laugh today. I'll invite my partner, Toni, and other working moms I admire to chime in with their experiences from time to time.

In the meantime, thanks so much for reading!

Hello, cuteness!

                                                                     ©2012 Leanne Pedersen Photographers

I was so excited to get these photos in my inbox. Taken by Vancouver-based photographer Leanne Pedersen, it's so lovely seeing her daughter Astrid wearing OM baby. You can see more babes in our PJs right here, or shop here. 

Thanks so much Leanne for sharing these photos! 

Handmade kantha quilts in Chatelaine Magazine

We are so thrilled OM home's kantha quilts are featured in the January issue of Chatelaine! 

One of a kind, each blanket is unique. OM home has partnered with the Baljit and Bahené collective in Tilijala, Kolkata to recreate the traditional kantha quilt. Our quilts are made with layers of new sari fabric that softens and becomes more rippled and comfortable after each wash.  

If you look closely, you’ll see the collective’s initials are embroidered on each quilt.

OM home's partnership with Baljit and Bahené was formed in collaboration with longtime family friend, Shamita Das Dasgupta, a prominent leader combating violence against women of South Asian descent. Dasgupta works with the collective, provides necessary supplies, and pays them directly for their work.

Baljit and her collective are currently in production. If you are interested in twin, full/queen, or king size quilts please email us at orders[at]omhome[dot]com, and we will advise when larger sizes are available.

Kantha baby quilts are currently available at www.omhome.com.

Pajamarama! Buy 2 get 3rd Free!

Do you still have kids on your holiday shopping list? OM home's popular 2pc PJ is on sale! 2 days only.

Buy 2 and get the 3rd Free! Free shipping. 

Code: BUY2GET3  Shop here.

*Sale ends December 13 at midnight PST. 

OM home's List of Great Gifts for Infants, made in Canada

This year, there's a new OM baby here, my son Rohan!

He is my muse, my inspiration, my little dude, my snuggle monster, my happy muscle man.

He also has a lot of hand me downs from big sister, Avnee and big cousins, Neelan and Nevan.

So how do I shop for a kid who doesn't need anything and doesn't know how to ask for anything? Well, I asked my super awesome mama group for some helpful hints on items their kiddos are currently drooling over (literally). Here's what we've come up with*:

2012 Gift Guide for Infants

a. Cloud Mobile Raincloud by The Butter Flying. Every baby has a mobile but this one is just so dreamy! They have lots of different sizes and shapes but this one is my fave. Handmade in Montreal, Canada. Available on Etsy, $26
b. Baby Slippers by Padraig: A must have for all babies this winter. Super warm and most importantly, they stay on little feet. Handmade in North Vancouver, Canada. Available at Kol Kid, $36
c. Frog Hand Puppet by Cate and Levi. Avnee loves her pig puppet, Rocco the pig so much, if Rocco tells Avnee to brush her teeth, she does. If mama tells her, she throws the toothbrush in the toilet. I'm starting early with Rohan. Made in Toronto, Canada. Available at Baby on the Hip, $28
d. Ringley Junior Teether by Ringley: My poor little guy is cutting 3 teeth this week! Please help him. Made in Toronto, Canada. Available at Balafant Boutik, $17.99
e. Organic Rabbit Rattle by Dress Me Up: Perfect toy! Soft, musical, and easy to grip. Handmade in Victoria, Canada. Available at Lusso Baby, $32.95
f. Floor mat by Wooli: We're super excited to join her in a holiday Trunk show at Lil Bean and Green on December 14, 2012 (more details to come) cuz her stuff is really sweet. Handmade in Toronto, Canada. Available at Little Peeps, $
g. Sophie Tether Strap by Josh and Teo: I'm not going to lie. I am addicted to Tether straps. I have them on the stroller, around a sippy cup, on Rohan's jacket, on Avnee's gloves and hat,  on the car seat, and right now on my t-shirt. Get one. Immediately. Get 10. You won't regret it.  Handmade in Toronto, Canada. Available on Etsy, $10
h. Yali, the Handmade Animaux by Raplapla. Lots of different textures and little pieces for baby to grab onto. Machine washable, perfect for when he drops it on the ground at a rest stop on the 401. Handmade in Montreal, Canada. Available at Ella & Elliot, $38
i. Animal Cloth Baby Book by Livwelltoys. It's never to early to start reading books to your baby. Especially ones they can gnaw on while you read it. This one has different textures and animals on every page. Cute! Handmade in Ottawa, Canada. Available on Etsy, $30
j. Robot 'R' by Rachel Riordan. Original art for an original guy! These prints are limited edition and signed by the artist. Each letter has a different design. Printed in toronto, Canada. Available at Planet Kid, $40
k. Musical Owl with Pull String by mimishop: An adorable Etsy find, just pull the cord and Brahm's lullaby plays for 2 1/2 minutes. Super cute and thankfully, during the times my daughter pulls the cord over, and over, and over, there are no batteries required. Handmade in North Vancouver, Canada. Available on Etsy, $30

Thanks to Caroline, Atousa, Bridget, Daphne, Sharon, Zeynep, and their little cuties.

*  slightly tweaked to include only products made in Canada

Kate Middleton is pregnant, which means she’ll need a few things

How cool is this?! National Post includes OM home's bundler on their list of favourite Canadian-made clothes for the newest little royal. See it here. 

"In case you just woke up (or are living under a rock), it is our pleasure to inform you that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is officially pregnant with her first child! Exciting stuff, but as every new mother can tell you, pregnancy comes with trials, tribulations – and a shopping list. Below, we offer the Duchess a few of our favourite Canadian-made clothes..." National Post, December 3, 2012.

Organic cotton romper from OM home

"Soft, unisex and environmentally conscious, the OM cotton romper is a must-have. It’s versatile, too, with a drawstring around baby’s feet that easily converts it from movement-friendly romper to snug sleeper." National Post, December 3, 2012.

Get it today for your own little prince or princess for 25% off. 

One day sale! Code: DUCHESS25.

Shop here.