U.S.H.: The Unmatched Sock Hanger - Review

Today, I have the great pleasure of announcing the launch of a very new product called the U.S.H. (the Unmatched Sock Hanger). Basically, consider your children's socks a guaranteed find every time you look for them. Why? Well, instead of throwing socks into a drawer, where they run a big risk of getting eaten by the big, bad Sock Monster, the U.S.H. enables you to hang socks in pairs using the clips on either side of this device. If you are a parent, or even person, like me, you must lose your socks quite often, only to never find them again. Just watch the video below and learn some more about the U.S.H.!!

When I was first introduced to this product by Joey Ring, its creator, I was skeptical but curious. And guess what, it proved to do what it was meant to do! As a result, I have been able to save some $$$ on socks I would have otherwise lost and I do not have to waste my time looking for them. Can we just say #doublemomwin anyone?

One nice thing about the U.S.H. is that it comes in a variety of colours. And since Lukey's room is rather neutral, the clear U.S.H. goes perfectly. For those kinds of mamas and daddies out there, COLOUR COORDINATION IS EVERYTHING.

On another note, there is no need to limit this sock hanger to, well, hanging socks. No, it can also be used to hang cute baby headbands, jewellery, accessories, baby shoes, and other small items. Just use your imagination!

And I have to say, collaborating with Joey has been a pleasure. Any time there was a question or an issue, his response was within 24 hours, if not immediate. So it is with confidence that I say that he is a professional at what he does, and you will not be disappointed by the Unmatched Sock Hanger and the customer service that comes along with it.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on one of these beauties, set to be delivered by October 2016!!!

Thanks for reading :-)

-Alesia D.

Newborn No More

February 4, 2016, marks baby Lukey's three-month "birthday", if you will, and it also marks the day he is no longer considered a "newborn". *Pass the tissues please.*

Day 1! :)

These past three months have been filled with all types of emotions, from happiness to fear, joy to frustration, excitement to doubt. But the strongest emotion I have felt thus far has been love. Love, because every time I look at him, I see a miracle. A miracle that has not only doubled in weight since his birth, but a miracle that is transforming and learning new things with each passing day. This is the same miracle that evolved from a little seed-like thing into a full-sized baby, which I carried with me for nine magnificent months. 

This little boy of mine is settling into his personality and is so curious about everything in his surroundings. He is the reason I am who I am today, and he is the reason I am in awe, every day.

I found it a bit hard adjusting to a constantly crying baby for the first two months, but some time after that period, I somehow learned that if I made him sleep more in the morning and early afternoon, he would be less grumpy and cry less. For example, every time he woke up (about every three hours), I changed his diaper, then fed him laying down in a comfy spot until he fell asleep. So far, so good. This has been my biggest accomplishment so far!

At this point, baby Lukas has hit all his milestones; he comfortably lifts his head when on his tummy, pulls himself up into a seated position (with the support of your hands), looks at and follows objects, babbles and makes cute sounds, brings his hand to mouth, is beginning to grab various objects, and responds to different sounds.

I am proud to say that my little man no longer sleeps by my side in his bassinet. Nope, he has been sleeping in his crib for about three weeks like a big boy. He wakes up every 3 to 4 hours to feed at night, but goes right back to sleep *most* of the time. (Let's keep it real mommies, we all know this is not the case every time.)

He loves his bath time, particularly when you put a mirror in front of his face as he seems to be fascinated with his own face. He loves falling asleep during car rides, enjoys time with his grandparents, and always gives mommy and daddy BIG smiles when he is being changed. My heart melts every time he gives me those lovey eyes and smiles...

I would say we have a great bond being formed and solidified, and he trusts his mommy to be there for him.

Now that Lukas has grown out of his newborn state and settled into a routine, I have been making more time for myself by exercising and catching up with life. This time last month, I signed back up at the gym and have been going full force. I also signed up for dodgeball again (if you're looking for a sport that provides you with a GOOD and INTENSE workout, sign up, it will change your life). Now, going full force has left me with a few temporary injuries, like knee pain, back pain and even pulling a glute muscle (umm, ouch?!), but it has also helped me identify my new physical weaknesses. Thanks to a good workout plan, I have been able to strengthen my body and feel a lot less pain, if any at times.

Motherhood has also given me more confidence. I had it before, but not to the point of feeling comfortable enough to always speak my mind, especially around strangers. It is fascinating how one tiny human being can have this effect, and it is equally as hard to explain how this came to be. I am more sure of myself, more able to stand my ground and more capable of expressing my needs.

It has been a privilege watching little Lukas grow from newborn to infant, and I look forward to guide him through all of his stages in life, hand in hand. 

Let's get social!

Come and join me on Instagram @ChezAlesiaDunn

Are you expecting a little bun in the oven? What do you imagine your first three months with a newborn being like?

Becoming a Mom

Almost six weeks in and I can finally say I have a handle on my life again. The first few weeks were quite an adjustment, what with being up all night, diving into the world of breastfeeding, and being a parent. I had waited for this for a long time. I, Alesia Dunn, was finally a mommy.

The night after having my precious baby Lukas was fairly easy—the nurses were amazing and made sure I had all the proper tools and guidance to feed him and take care of him. Once I arrived home, however, I was no longer in the comfort zone the hospital had created for me and other mothers alike. The first night or two back home were a little challenging. Not only was I trying to master breastfeeding all on my own now without anybody's help, but I also realized that my sleep, my dearly beloved sleep, would be compromised from now on, and there was no turning back.

Being sleep deprived, this one challenge took its toll on me the most. I have always loved my sleep, and so it was hard on me emotionally and physically. I remember one night in particular, I was getting so beyond frustrated with my son's crying after being up for so many hours. But an inner voice peacefully reminded me that this is a new world for him and he is probably afraid. I was a mommy now, and this is where unconditional love and affection came into play. Once I was reminded of this, that night and every other night after that became easier and my patience grew from that night on.

Another challenge I faced was leaving the house on time. I remember being late for his very first follow-up appointment at the hospital and then being late for his first appointment with the paediatrician. Why? Well, it was only when I became a mom that I found out I could no longer take showers nor get ready when I pleased. Oh no. I learned very quickly that unless baby is fed, burped, changed and happy or sleeping, I could not do all these "me" things. And then there was the extra time needed to fully pack his diaper bag (and knowing what to pack), bundle him up, secure him in his car seat. But then also remembering to prepare myself a big bottle of water filled with ice, because that is what breastfeeding had led me to crave. Did I mentioned I was always famished? Nursing did that to me too.

Then there were all the little things I always took for granted, such as running into the grocery store to pick something up quickly, tidying up the house, cooking and even blogging.

And finally, another challenge I faced was giving my body the time it needed to recover from delivery itself. I am the type of person who loves going out and being active, but even walks proved to be a tad strenuous.

In the end, I would not change a single thing. I am so happy to have found motherhood and am thankful to have this. The very moment I laid my eyes on my precious son, I knew I was in love, and I knew God loved me, for he gave me one of the most beautiful gifts one could receive. Even his beautiful little cry was mesmerizing. I love all the little things about my baby boy, like the way he searches for mama when he is in someone else's arms, the way he stares into my eyes when I hold him closely, the way he gets hyper and excited around mealtime—these are the little moments I will hold in my heart forever. And I can only imagine the fun times that are to be had in the future.

If there is one piece of advice I could give to a new mom, it is to take a deep breath and remember that things will only get better from here. Someone once told me to not forget the feeling of longing I had while pregnant. It's easy to think of the "now" when the baby is crying and won't go to sleep at 4 in the morning, leaving you tired and frustrated. But if you can focus on the days and nights you spent dreaming of being a mommy to the baby in your belly, it puts all things in perspective and helps you regain control of the situation.

-Alesia Dunn

Let's get social!

Come and join me on Instagram @ChezAlesiaDunn

What were your challenges in the first few weeks of motherhood? What worked? What didn't work? I'd love to know!

Individual's and Couples' Activities on a Budget

Being pregnant and on a mission to save a few dolla-dolla bills here and there before baby comes, I have had to think about ways to still have fun by myself and with hubby but not break the bank.

Thankfully, I live in a city where a wide variety of fun, free activities are offered on the daily, ESPECIALLY in the summer time. And let me tell you, when you have a nice, chunky mortgage to pay off, a baby on the way and all these little expenses here and there, you start to appreciate the word "free" when it comes to fun. Now, I'm not saying that we're drowning in our expenses or anything, but I think it makes things more interesting when you start having to use your creativity to do things. It pushes you to further familiarize yourself with the city in which you live, explore it more, find new interests and hobbies and try new things altogether. All-around good times!

Now without wasting any more time, allow me to present my top activities for preggos and for couples.

Parliament Hill Yoga: 

I am so fortunate to live in a city where fitness is prevalent. So much so, that every Wednesday, +lululemon athletica here in Ottawa puts on a free Yoga class from 12-1 p.m. for anyone to join. This tradition began in the summer of 2012 and has been growing ever since. Expect to see people in the hundreds downward-dogging and sun-saluting their lunch hour away. It really is a magical thing to see so many people coming out and getting a good breath of fresh air with you. Just don't forget to bring your mat, some yoga gear and water... Assistants are constantly walking around and helping participants out!


Prenatal Massage: 

THIS IS FOR THOSE WITH BENEFITS AT WORK! There is nothing more relaxing than getting a good, deep tissue prenatal massage from someone who knows their stuff. When hubby is busy, I really like to take the time to get pampered in this way—at least once a month. My suggestion, if you don't already have yourself a masseuse, is to request a female masseuse with strong hands (if that's what you like). Ladies, I just find that male masseuses get a little awkward when dealing with a pregnant lady, and it really just does not work for me. I am so lucky to have found a fantastic female masseuse, I literally fall asleep. And the best thing about all of this is that I only have to pay 10% of the regular price! Gosh I love benefits.


Berry Picking with Significant Other: 

I think this activity provides a few great benefits. Firstly, it costs significantly less to buy a basket and fill it with as many berries as possible (as well as eat "a few" along the way, hehe) than it would to buy packs at the grocery, on sale or not on sale. Secondly, it allows you and hubby to bond over a light and fun activity. And men love food, right? I say "winninggg" to that! Thirdly, depending on the type of berries you are picking, you could end up doing lots of squatting, which results in your daily workout being completed. Especially if doctor has requested you not do any exercise, it's a sneaky way of getting some in anyway! Fourthly, if you did like I did this year and picked a TON of berries, you could end up making homemade jams and spreads! That way, you control the amount of sugar and you ensure you are consuming real fruits when having jam. When pregnant, I feel very strongly about this.


Farmers' Markets: 

Ever thought of checking out your local farmers' market? It's such a great way to learn what produce is in season and support your local community. My husband and I love that. Many Saturday mornings, we will get up, wear comfortable clothes and head out for a nice, long walk in the downtown area to see what new fruit and vegetables farmers are bringing in and buy a few of our favourites. And for the majority of time, their prices tend to be better than of those in large supermarket chains. And fresher. When these products are coming from, say, Mexico or something, you don't know a) how long it took them to get here, b) how they were stored, c) when they were picked and d) if any rodents managed to get in the truck, plane or boat on which they were transported. #reality


Casino du Lac Leamy Sound of Light: 

This just happens to be one of my favourite free activities. I mean, you can pay to attend this firework activity (between $25 and like $100-something), but the truth of the matter is that you can easily watch the fireworks from anywhere and tune into the right radio station to hear the music, which corresponds to the firework movement and intensity. It happens every Wednesday and Saturday nights for three weeks (5 nights total). One of four countries compete on each night, and the winner is announced at the grand finale on the final night (short clip is on my Instagram!!). It is definitely worth seeing!! Just grab a lawn chair or two, a drink and your camera! And don't forget to hold hubby's arm from time to time. :) P.S. Fireworks aren't harmful to baby if you are pregnant. Baby might get startled at first, but absolutely no damage can be done to his eardrums. Just an FYI!


Northern Lights Sound and Lights Show: 

Another free activity offered on Parliament Hill, this nightly must-see event should be part of at least one of your summer date nights. Using both advanced digital technology and great sound, the show highlights Canada's history on the Peace Tower. It's so easy to keep this activity free: parking practically anywhere downtown is free after 7 p.m., so no having to worry about that! Plus, the baby in mama's belly will enjoy all the sounds!


Picnics by the Water:

Think you're too old, too busy or too cool for a picnic by the water? Think again. There is so much potential when planning a picnic for you and hubby. In my case, hubby loves going out for walks and he also loves eating, so I figure, "why not make a date activity out of it?' This works so well for us because we get to use our food from home: we make sandwiches, fresh salads, bring water and dessert with us—a full meal! I bought a cute picnic bag in our dating days that includes cutlery, plates, cloth napkins, cups and even salt&pepper shakers and a bottle opener. It looks like a backpack and holds so much food. One of our favourite spots is near the Rideau Canal, absolutely romantic.

Of course, you can always opt for movie nights, game nights, parades, festivals, and so on, but these are some of our favourites. One thing I encourage you to do it is to check your city's webpage to find events and activities in your area. Especially with being pregnant, I find that anything I can combine with walking is worth doing since my doctor has put many restrictions on the frequency and intensity of the activities I would normally do.

What are some of your favourite free activities? I'd love to hear and try them out if possible!

-Alesia D.