Kathryn, Author at Mommy Kat and Kids

How to Turn That Fancy Dress Into a Fantastic-Looking Halloween Costume

October 24, 2018 by Kathryn 1 Comment

With Halloween not far away, my thoughts are turning to creating costumes for everyone in the family. I find that the sooner I get started, the easier things are. I’m a big believer in making costumes whenever possible to save money. But sewing and gluing last-minute until the early hours of the morning can easily ruin one of my favourite holidays.

Luckily, I’m often able to find everything I need for an amazing costume in my own closet! Try these tips to help you turn your favourite dresses into fantastic Halloween wear!

Rework Your Little Black Dress

Using something you already own is a great way to make an environmentally friendly Halloween costume. Plus, of course, taking that approach will leave you with more money to spend on treats.

So, why not take that special occasion dress that you have not worn for years and turn it into a Halloween costume? As you can see here, special dresses come in a huge range of cuts and styles, which makes it really easy to create a period-themed costume. [Read more…]

New Parent 101: How to Stay Well-Rested with an Infant

October 20, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

It’s been a long time since I had a baby in the house, and I have to admit I had forgotten just how exhausting having a baby was when I gave birth to my new little bundle of joy.

As cliché as it sounds, I actually fell asleep in a bowl of cereal one morning! My husband was just as exhausted, sitting across from me at the table. We laughed and decided then and there that there had to be a way to get more rest.

Parenting is tiring…there’s just no way around it! But if you’ve got a new baby in the house and spend most nights in and out of bed wondering how much DO newborns sleep, these tips will help you get a little more rest when you need it!

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

You don’t need to do this alone. You and your partner shouldn’t feel like you can’t ask for an extra hand as you adjust to life as a parent. You know the expression: it takes a village! So, call on your village. You’ll be surprised how happy your friends and family will be to help. [Read more…]

Enjoy Delicious Comfort at Bedtime with Microfiber Sheets from Sweet Sheets-Giveaway

October 18, 2018 by Kathryn 178 Comments

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for sweets. And if you dream of Cotton Candy and Strawberry Shakes like I do, it’s time to take your love of all things sweet to sleep, with a little help from Sweet Sheets bedding!

I was recently introduced to this fabulous Alberta-based company run by three hardworking moms. Their goal? To bring sweet dreams to North American families with a line of soft and comfortable dessert-inspired microfiber sheets!

The company generously sent me some new microfiber sheets to review, and my middle son was so excited to see the richly coloured Saskatoon Pie sheets. Dark purple is one of his favourite colours and he couldn’t wait to add the colour to his room.

For my oldest son, the soft Black Licorice shade was a better fit. He’s currently just shy of his teen years and has developed a new fondness for the colour black. The Sweet Sheets shade was ideal; it was rich and soft without being too depressing. [Read more…]

Must-Have Toys to Keep Kids Entertained When the Temperature Drops

October 11, 2018 by Kathryn 2 Comments

Even though Saskatchewan usually enjoys fairly pleasant weather throughout the months of September and October, this year was definitely an exception. Our first snow fell shortly after school started, and we’ve had freezing temperatures and highs in the low single digits ever since.

That means finding indoor activities my boys can enjoy is a priority once more. And ideally, I want to get them doing something more than playing Fortnite all day!

Luckily, there are some fantastic new toys for 6 year old boys or older looking for indoor fun! These three are my personal favourites for getting kids off their screens and involved in serious creative play! [Read more…]

Looking Back at Philips Avent Must-Haves I Wish I’d Had When My Baby Was a Newborn

September 28, 2018 by Kathryn 34 Comments

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Philips and PTPA. All opinions belong to Mommy Kat and Kids and are not influenced in any way. Please view full terms and policies.

My beautiful baby boy is one year old, and it feels like just last week that I held that precious newborn bundle of joy for the first time.

The year was so much fun, and I loved watching Cormac grow from a helpless infant to a little boy with opinions and a distinctive personality.

I also loved having the opportunity to partner with Philips Avent over that year and share my favourite baby products and their features.

But there are other items I didn’t get the chance to use, though I wish that I had! These three items are my top suggestions for new moms, and every one of them is something I would have loved for Cormac in his first days and months:
[Read more…]

Help Kids Avoid Antibiotics this Cold and Flu Season with Echinaforce Junior-Giveaway

September 27, 2018 by Kathryn 34 Comments

Fall weather came early to Saskatchewan this year, and I have a feeling that the chill of winter isn’t far behind. In fact, we’ve already had our first (now melted) snowfall!

And while winter does have its own charm, it also signals the start of cold and flu season! With two school-aged boys and a baby in the house, that means I’m on high alert for those coughs and sniffles.

That’s why I like to make sure I have Echinaforce Junior in the house! These chewable tablets are suitable for children two years of age and older, and contain fresh echinacea root and herb.

[Read more…]

Using the Philips 2000i Air Purifier to Help My Son Sleep Without Sniffles

September 26, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Philips Canada and PTPA. The below post reflects my own opinions and experience with this product and does not necessarily reflect claims from Philips Canada. Please view full terms and policies.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been testing the effectiveness of the Philips Series 2000i Air Purifier in our home. Having two boys that struggle with the air bourne allergens that the season brings, I’m always concerned about keeping our air quality as high as possible.

And fall is an especially hard time for my oldest son, Zackary. In fact, he’s spent the last few weeks dealing with a stuffy nose and occasional itchy, watery eyes as well.

Knowing I have two boys with allergies, Philips very kindly sent me two purifiers so that I could help both of them breathe a little easier. And after hearing my poor son sniffling, I made sure to get one of the two purifiers set up in Zackary’s room right away!

[Read more…]

Harvesting and Storing Garden Vegetables

September 20, 2018 by Kathryn 7 Comments

I love so many things about planting a garden. Seeing that first green shoot pushing up through the soil, watching the first flowers and vegetables appear on each plant…even clearing out weeds is fun when I see my little garden thrive!

But my very favourite thing about planting a garden is harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs that I’ve planted when they’re finally ready each fall!

If you’re new to planting a vegetable garden, you may be wondering when the best time is to harvest those vegetables, and how to preserve carrots, potatoes and other produce you have in abundance.

If so, grab your Dig It gardening gloves and follow these tips for harvesting and storing six popular varieties of garden produce!

Picking and Ripening Tomatoes

Tomatoes are such a wonderful taste of summer and with a little planning, it’s a taste you can enjoy right into the holidays and beyond! Harvest tomatoes off the vine when ripe but pick all of them, including green ones, before the first heavy frost. Wash and dry green tomatoes well and then store them indoors to ripen. [Read more…]