Life With Kids Series: Halloween 2014

As the child of immigrants, I have been making my own costume since day 1. While the folks embraced Halloween, they never embraced the concept of spending their hard earned money on a silly outfit for just one day (unless of course you count my big fat Indian wedding day, in which case, yes, they spent a lot of money there, not that I'm complaining).

I grew to love making Halloween costumes and still do when I get a chance (rarely). This year, the stars aligned and my son asked to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Since he asked me while wearing his green Om home jammies, this one was a no brainer!

Om home DIY Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Costume

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 

DIY Instructions

Take one Om home Jasper pajama in green

The Top

  Cut an oval to fit on top of the pajama with yellow fabric

Sew three sides of the yellow fabric onto a fabric backing and fill it with stuffing

Sew the stuffed yellow fabric onto the green top, making sure to include both horizontal and vertical lines across the center

 Cute!

The Stripes

Using orange fabric, cut 3 3" strips and 2 5" strips, about 10" long 

(depending on the size of your child)

I folded each piece and used hem tape to iron it together

The Mask

Cut out the template with both felt and orange fabric.

Spray the orange fabric onto the felt

Sew the straps from the previous step onto each side of the mask

You can find the mask template here 

Cowabunga!

For full instructions, I recommend visiting this wonderful DIY tutorial with a thorough set of instructions. You can find the mask template here. Happy Halloween!

Om Home announcement

Om home would like to announce with deep regret, partner Toni Brem Mullen is leaving the business to focus on her family. Toni joined the business at a pivotal time and with her help, we brought Om home to the next level. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her contributions and to wish her the best of luck in the future. Keep well Toni.

Stay tuned for lots of exciting changes, we will be re-launching during the summer with lots of fun new goodies, including new pjs! Thanks so much for your continued support! -- Oorbee

Happy Anniversary!

We launched Om Home's kids collection about a year ago and we couldn't be more thrilled and proud of all the support and encouragement we've received. The best feedback is that our PJs are ones you look for in the drawer; the first ones your kids put on after the laundry is done. Love that! 
Toni & Oorbee xo

Life with Kids Series: Healthy and Yummy Chicken Fingers

Hands down, this one is an all around winner. Semi-picky daughter took seconds. Super-healthy husband wants to pack and sell the mixture. Over-indulgent me licked the crumbs off the baking pan.  Most of all? It was ridiculously easy and fast.

Healthy and Yummy Baked Coconut Encrusted Chicken Fingers with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

6 boneless chicken thighs, sliced into pieces small enough for little fingers*
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (found in baking section)
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 tablespoon nigella seeds (optional)
1/2 cup crushed natural sliced/slivered almonds
1 tablespoon flax seeds (optional)
salt to taste
pepper to taste
pinch of sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)

* The smaller you cut the pieces, the less time it will take to cook

1. Preheat oven to 400° F
2. Mix coconut flakes, sesame seeds, nigella seeds, crushed almonds, flax seeds, salt, pepper, and sugar in a bowl and set aside
3. In another bowl, beat two eggs and sesame oil together and set aside
4. Place a grill rack (I pulled the one from my toaster oven) over an aluminum foiled lined baking sheet
5. Dredge each chicken piece into egg batter, then coconut mixture, then place on rack
6. Bake chicken fingers in oven for 15 minutes, flip over, then cook for another 15 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked (if you use bigger fingers).

Honey Mustard Sauce

2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1. Mix honey and mustard together. Lick the spoon when no one is looking


Note: While the nigella is totally optional, there's something about nigella and coconut flakes together that makes an average dish really pop.

Enjoy!

Life with Kids Series: Send your Kids Email and Make Your iPhone Addiction Work For You!

I am always on my iPhone. Except when I'm on my computer. But still, even then I check my email on my iPhone. Hang on, I heard a ding...

Ok! Anyway, I have 1,002 cute videos and pictures of my kids on my phone: everything from Avnee's first steps to sitting on the potty "reading" the economist. With my son, the videos are a little slow going (second child syndrome) but at almost 10 months, his milestones are coming fast now and I am happily recording them. Of course, there are tons of photos and videos of both of them together because, what could be cuter?

Rohan's Birth Day

So what do I do with 1,002 videos and pictures?  I've always emailed the super cute ones to the grandparents (who live far away), but sometime around Rohan's birth, I created email accounts for each child and added them to the distro list.

Avnee's First Haircut, Live Long and Prosper!

With each email (time-stamped, I might add), I also send a note to future Avnee or Rohan, to let them know what we were doing and how cute they are / proud of them I am / silly Mama is / all of the above.

Rohan's First Smile

I've also asked the grandparents to send emails. Sometimes it's a silly Happy Birthday email, and sometimes it's a "to Avnee on your 16th Birthday" heavy type stuff. I think my parents are pretty cool and I'd like the adult versions of my kids to know that.

First Time Snuggling!

 I think it's wonderful we have the opportunity to capture all the precious moments in our child's life as opposed to the fleeting photos we all have from our own childhood. But I do miss reminiscing over the worn and faded pages of a photo album. I always planned on making albums but it becomes less and less a part of the culture as things get more digital. Plus, when my kids are older and they claim I didn't hug them enough as babies, I'll tell them to do an email search for "hugs." Evidence, people, E-V-I-D-E-N-C-E.

First Picture of the Roy Shahs

I'm sure I'm not the only one doing this... Do you do the same or how do you archive your family memories?  

Sample Sale

Come join us this Saturday, February 23 from 2-5 pm at Playful Grounds Cafe for a Sample Sale! We will have organic PJs, onesies, hats, sleepers, bloomers, bolster pillows, and more. Bargain bins of $5, $10, $15, and $20. That's right, all items will be $20 and under!

This cafe has an area for kids to play while moms and dads shop. Lots of giveaways, prizes, and silent auctions! Tickets are $7 at the door or get your tickets now for $5 here.

SAMPLE SALE $20 AND UNDER

Most of our items are organic samples, ridiculously cheap and super soft. Makes great gifts! Each person will also receive a $25 gift card to use on our site at any time.

Other vendors include: ChangeMatt Cloth Diapers, Oceanlily Maternity Activewear, Salmon Naturals Accessories, Heritage RESP, MommyConnections.ca

See you Saturday!

 
 

Meet Oliver and Charlie’s mom, Toni Brem Mullen...

Did you know two moms are behind Om home's kids collection? Here I am with my little loves -- Oliver and Charlie. Little love #3 is due on February 25 (5 more days!). 

Photo credit: Shannon Echlin

I was recently interviewed by iVillage.ca about the inspiration behind Om home's kids collection and my career reinvention (I also share a super easy & delish recipe for Chinese noodle soup). Read it here.    

My husband often tells me Om PJs are the best in the drawer (of course he would), and my kids refuse to take them off for school (#timesaver), but what lands best are all the photos parents have shared of their gorgeous kids wearing our stuff. Thank you so much for all your support! Toni xo

Life with Kids Series: Winter Minestrone (a soup your kids might actually eat... mine did!)

I love soup... my kids not so much. But this past weekend, my husband made a soup that was a surprise hit.

Winter Minestrone 

Adapted from our go-to cookbook - The Daily Soup – my boys enjoyed 2 bowls each!! It’s so rare to see them both enjoying the same meal and I’ve certainly never witnessed (even though it's customary in Chinese culture) either of them picking up their bowl to polish something off.

Here's a link to the recipe. We were missing several of the ingredients, but it was a snow day (I think we got about 30cm!), so rather than venture out we improvised. You should note that we didn’t have fresh basil, scallions or pesto, thyme was substituted with oregano, and pasta with white kidney beans. 

Tip: Rather than peeling and cutting the squash (the skin is so hard i find the task impossible to do), I prefer to cut in half, scoop out the seeds, drizzle with a bit of olive oil, and bake for a little over an hour. Once done, scoop out and add to soup. 

We are still eating leftovers. Yum. 

Life with Kids Series: Crayon Creatures

Next up in our Life with Kids series is this amazing company that's been all over Pinterest lately. Barcelona based Crayon Creatures, takes your child's work of art and turns it into an actual work of art! It's no wonder the city that produced Gaudi would also have an artist that really appreciates the weird wonderfulness that is a child's drawing.

Each piece is digitally modeled by an artist who turns a 2D drawing into a 3D sculpture. The new model is printed with a 3D printer in full color sandstone material to produce a priceless keepsake for you and your child.

The great news is, they ship internationally! Prices are $120 USD + $20 shipping.

Can't wait to get one for Avnee!

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.

Cute Kids in OM Jammies

We've been told kids don't want to take off their OM baby PJs -- recent sightings at daycare, parks and gymnastics class. 

Send us a photo of your kiddo in OM baby to: photos@omhome.com and we'll give you 25% off your next order at www.omhome.com.

Click here to see more photos of cute kids in OM PJs, or shop here.