The sporty-chic appeal of classic polos and rugby shirts is making a comeback as this preppy top continues to grace the streets and runways. Rugby shirts and polos have been a staple in my wardrobe the last couple months, and I’ve been leaning into this style a lot more than I expected.

If you’re on the hunt for some sophisticated sportswear staples to elevate your style, look no further. Here are some of my favourite finds at the moment.

Striped Wool-Blend Sweater

Polo Letter Patch Detail Drop Shoulder Sweatshirt

Contrasting Polo Collar Sweatshirt

Striped Polo Drop Shoulder Sweatshirt

Letter Graphic Pullover Polo

Rugby Shirt with Motif

Cropped Rugby Polo Shirt

Striped Cotton Jersey Rugby Shirt

Pony Club Embroidered Rugby Top

xo, Kiki

When you think of sleep training, babies usually come to mind. But ultimately, kids can struggle with sleep at any age, and we learned this first hand having to re-sleep train Evan at the age of 4. Our initial sleep training journey for Evan started when he was 6 months old. After several days, he was sleeping on his own throughout the night, and this continued up until late last year.

With so many kids going through big transitions right now (new environments, new school, new friends, new activities, etc), I thought it would be helpful to share our bedtime battles, and how we got Evan’s sleeping back on track.

Diana from Dianamartins.ca reached out to me several months ago asking if I needed help with sleep training Oliver. While Nitin & I weren’t quite ready to sleep train Oliver at that time, I decided to ask (with a hint of hesitation) if she ever ventured into the world of youth sleep training. To my surprise, Diana let me know that a large number of her clients were toddlers and older kids. My first thought – I’m not alone! I mean, I hear from family and friends the typical toddler bedtime struggles, but here Nitin & I were at a point of complete exhaustion, where bedtime was taking anywhere from 1 – 2 ½ hours.

To backtrack, our troubles began late last year. We kept Evan in his crib as long as we could – he was happy and comfortable, we were getting sleep. All was great. That is, until we made the transition to his “big boy” bed at the end of December. Evan was 3 ½ at this point, and we decided to remove his crib and introduce a bed before baby Oliver arrived in February. We opted for a floor style house bed, but little did we know that his new found freedom of roaming would disrupt our sleep, and his, for months to come.

With the ability to just get out of bed and walk around, we would find Evan wandering into our room throughout the night. Have you ever been woken up to someone just standing beside you? Scary AF let me tell you. We also noticed that Evan’s bedtime routine was dragging on and on and on, sometimes taking hours (yes, hours!) to get him to sleep. And the negotiations …oooh the negotiations! One more cup of water, one more snuggle, one more books, just oooone more tickle. By the time he was sleeping, Nitin & I were exhausted. But we still had a kitchen to clean, toys to put away and work to be done. It got harder when Oliver was born. Trying to balance an infant with a seemingly never-ending sleep routine was no walk in the park. On top of this, Oliver was sleeping in our bedroom so when Evan would come to our room in the middle of the night it would wake Oliver, and when I got up to feed Oliver it would wake Evan. It was a vicious cycle, disrupting everyone’s sleep. 

Enter Diana. We were eager to get to work with re-sleep training Evan, but doing this in the summer posed its own set of challenges. Nitin & I have always been quite strict with the kids’ bedtimes. We’re never the couple to keep them out late at events, so we either won’t go or someone will watch them. When Evan is out slightly later than he’s used to, we’re paying for it for days to come. For summer sleep training, it was difficult to find a period of 10 days where we didn’t have an event or birthday party to attend in the evening, and could commit 100% of our time to this process. We eventually realized there was never going to be a good time, so we started end of July. If you do plan on sleep training, commit and make sure you don’t have any evening obligations for 10 days. Trust me, it is worth it.

When I had my first call with Diana, I explained to her all about our struggles. It was reassuring hearing her feedback, and how common these sleep issues actually are. After our chat, and filling out a questionnaire, Diana got to work creating a customized sleep plan for Evan. Nitin & I hopped on a video call with Diana to go over all the details, and ask any questions. How do we handle Evan’s middle of the night wake-ups? How do we respond to his evening negotiations? How do we make sure he feels safe and loved while also maintaining this boundary?

Everything was done virtually, and we were sent a detailed plan of action which was extremely informative and thorough. Nitin & I sat down with Evan to explain that we were going to start sleep training. He was very receptive, and loved that he got to earn treats when he stayed in his bed. We explained how it will benefit his mind and body getting a full night’s sleep in his own bed, and he agreed. I will say that Nitin & I take more of a gentle approach to parenting, so we did reassure Evan that if he ever really needs us we are always here, and there was a night or two where he took us up on that.

The first night of sleep training went better than expected.  We logged everything in the app Diana provided, from the time we started bedtime to the time Evan fell asleep, how often he was up during the night, and when he woke up in the morning. We used the app to communicate, and Diana was always quick to answer our questions/ concerns. We continued doing this for 10 days, seeing improvements as we went along. There were nights where Evan didn’t care about earning his rewards, but overall he got the hang of things quickly. I also think he felt the difference from having a full night of sleep.

By the end of the 10 days, Evan’s bedtime routine went from 2+ hours to less than 45 minutes (including bath, brushing teeth, pajamas, books), and Nitin & I had our evenings back. We were worried that he wouldn’t want to go to bed (and stay in bed) without being incentivized by toys or candy, but we created a chart so a reward system is still in place.

Nitin & I noticed that Evan was more tired than usual, despite getting a solid 11-12 hours of sleep, which Diana reassured us is normal as his body was still catching up on sleep. Evan still gets up once in a while to come to our room in the middle of the night, but our main concern was addressing the long, drawn out bedtime routine, which has been such a game changer. If we have to deal with bringing him back to his room or having him hop into our bed once in a while, I am 100% fine with that. After our mission was complete with Diana, she did let us know that if we ever have any troubles or concerns we could reach out to her. It’s reassuring knowing that we still have her support if we need it.

We had a couple trips booked, the first being a week after we finished sleep training, and we were concerned with how this would affect our great sleep training results. We knew Evan would be sleeping in our bed at the cottage and we wondered if this arrangement would affect our new routine once we got home. After this trip, as well as our Muskoka trip, thankfully nothing changed in terms of being able to get Evan to bed without all the shenanigans. The first few days after we got home he would come to our room a couple times at night for comfort, but this didn’t last long. Even now, he’ll still come to our room during the night once in a while, but we’ve established a solid routine for getting to bed at a reasonable time, and it’s a night and day difference from what we were used to. Since Evan started JK, his bedtime is around 7:15, which sounds pretty early but his body needs it.

Thank you so much Diana for helping us get back into the bedtime groove. You can click here to reach out to Diana for sleep training services and book a discovery call.

Sweet dreams lovies!

xo,

Kiki

Father’s Day is around the corner, and I’ve rounded up my top picks for the dad who says he wants nothing for Father’s Day. Whether you’re shopping for your own dad, your FIL, or helping the kids put together something special for their main squeeze, I’ve got you covered. This list is far from your typical Father’s Day gift guide, which is often filled with ties, beer, cologne, and cheesy gifts that end up stored in the back of a cupboard. Enjoy these fun, stylish, useful gifts for any dad.

Buckle Slides – These stylish slides are known for their comfort, and at this price point you can’t go wrong.

Pizza Oven – The gift that keeps on giving. Perfect for hosting, neighbourhood parties or family pizza night, this highly-rated, wood fired outdoor oven makes delicious pizza in 60 seconds.

Shave Set – Help dad step up his shaving routine with these shaving essentials from Clarins. Practical luxury at its finest.

Chocolate – What better way to a guys heart than with food? My go-to spot for the finest chocolate in town is Walkers Chocolates, and they always have a great selection of holiday chocolate, including these Father’s Day treats.

Headwear – This year the boys are gifting Nitin (and themselves) matching Blue Jays hats. Does dad have a favourite sports team? Grab some matching gear for the win.

Baseball Tickets – Along with the matching hats, we got Nitin tickets to a Blue Jays game to enjoy a family outing.

Spa Day – Who wouldn’t enjoy some R&R at one of Canada’s top spas? Book dad a day at Spa my Blend where he can unwind in their beautiful sanctuary while enjoying incredible treatments and food.

Saxx Underwear – Every holiday Nitin is gifted a pair of his favourite boxers, Saxx. I don’t know what it is about these, but men seem to go crazy for their comfort and fit.

Duffle Bag – Whether he’s headed to the cottage, on a family vacation or work trip, a classic duffle will never steer you in the wrong direction.

I Love Dad with the Very Hungry Caterpillar – Have your kids write a note to dad, or trace their hands in this book to make it a lifelong keepsake.

Endy Pillow – Give the gift of a perfect nights sleep with an Endy pillow. I bought one for Nitin’s birthday several years ago, and it’s become one of the most used (and loved) gifts yet. Much to Nitin’s dismay, I’ll often switch pillows with him because it is so damn comfortable.

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads out there!

xo, Kiki

With thousands of options to choose from, shopping for toddlers can be down right overwhelming. I am grateful to receive a lot of gifts for Evan through my blog, which also means I have a pretty good sense of what toys will be played with vs which ones are enjoyed for all of 1 day before being discarded and forgotten about. Of course, all toddlers are different and have a range of interest, but below are tried and tested products that I’m confident will stand the test of toddler time.

Magna-Tiles

One of the most popular kids gifts, I guarantee these magnetic building tiles will be a hit with toddlers (and adults!). If you’re looking for a similar, more cost effective option I recommend these.

Memory Game

Memory games have been a big hit around our home lately. I don’t know if it’s because I loved playing memory as a kid, but I never get tired of playing this with Evan. I also love this one, as well as this more cost effective option.

Easel with Chalkboard & Magnetic Whiteboard

This particular easel is my favourite for a few reasons. Not only is it double sided, with a chalkboard on one side and a magnetic whiteboard on the other, but there is a roll of paper at the top making painting & clean-up a breeze. It also comes with three holders for your paint, and is adjustable so it can grow with kids.

Hot Wheels Colour Reveal

Nitin & I always joke that we need shares in Mattel because Evan has more Hot Wheels that we know what to do with. I love this set because it’s colour changing, so a little extra fun for kids.

Hungry Hippos

Always a favourite of mine growing up, we bought this for Evan and I am so excited to play it with him.

Convertible Sleigh Wagon

Another Khosla family favourite! We take this wagon to farms in the summer and use it as a sleigh in the winter by changing out the wheels with the ski runners. While the wagon itself doesn’t fold up, the handle tucks under so it fits perfectly into our trunk.

Thomas & Friends 2-in-1 Transforming Playset

I received this for Evan as part of a campaign I was working on last year, and it’s one of his most loved, played with toys. We build the track together and have endless fun playing with the trains. The best part (for parents), is that all the pieces are easily stored within the Annie and Clarabel cars, making both clean-up and storage hassle-free.

Kinetic Sand

I personally prefer Kinetic Sand over Play Doh because it’s non toxic, hypoallergenic, and it doesn’t dry up or stick to things.

Lovevery Play Kits

These play kits have been on my Holiday Gift Guide for years now, and are still one of my most recommended gifts for babies and toddlers. Each play kit is carefully curated with eco-friendly, age-appropriate, Montessori-inspired toys.

Take-Along Town

This set folds up, making it perfect for storing and also for taking with you if you’re heading to the grandparents or someones house. It comes with multiple vehicles and accessories, inspiring the imagination of little ones.

Puzzle Above & Below

We do a lot of puzzles around here, and the ones from Crocodile Creek are always a hit, including this Above & Below one.

Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box

I found in the last year or so Evan has outgrown his Duplo lego and prefers playing with Nitin’s old, classic lego pieces. We got him this set for Christmas so he can use his imagination and build his heart out.

Wooden Play Food

This food set gets more use than any other one we own. Evan loves using the cutting board and knife to cut through the velcro pieces, and serves up the most delicious meals ;).

NHL Mini Hockey Goal Set

I like rotating Evan’s toys out, but this goal set has earned itself permanent real estate on our main floor. If you follow along on Instagram, you probably see how often we use this. Evan pretends to be Sidney Crosby, while I make the play-by-play commentary. We did purchase a couple additional plastic hockey sticks to use for our family games.

Bath Crayons

Simple yet endless fun, these bath crayons are easy to clean up and store and make for a fun stocking stuffer.

The Gruffalo Book

Books, books, books! The Gruffalo is one of Evan’s current favourites, along with this set and this book. We read a lot, so I got Evan a ton of books for Christmas this year including this one, this one, this one, this one and this one.

Barbie Fashionistas Doll

Always a classic, you can’t go wrong with Barbie! This summer one of our neighbours, who is around 6 or 7 years old, brought out his Ken dolls. Him & Evan had a blast playing with them, so I couldn’t resist picking up this one for Evan.

Folkmanis Rabbit Puppet

Folkmanis is one of my favourite brands for stuffed animals/ puppets. Not only do their animals look extremely realistic, but they are incredibly soft and durable.

Happy shopping!

xo, Kiki

The berry best, sugar-free strawberry muffin recipe is here! These are probably my favourite muffins to-date; moist, delicious, wholesome goodness for the entire family to enjoy! Evan & I went strawberry picking the other week and with more strawberries than we know what to do with (ok, that’s a lie – can you really have too many strawberries?), I decided to whip up some healthy strawberry muffins, which we’ve all been enjoying for breakfast this week. Full recipe below!

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat flour (or regular white flour)
1 tsp baking powder 
½ tsp baking soda
Pinch of sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon 
¼ cup melted coconut oil + a little more for greasing muffin tin
⅓ cup maple syrup 
2 eggs
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups of ripe strawberries, hulled and diced

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Grease muffin tin with coconut oil.
3. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt & cinnamon. Mix together with a whisk until everything is blended together.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, maple syrup and coconut oil until blended. Add in the yogurt and vanilla extract, and whisk well.
5. Gradually pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, and mix together. Just when the dry ingredients are mixed in, fold the strawberries into the mixture, ½ at a time. Fold until the strawberries are well incorporated, making sure not to over-mix.
6. Divide the batter between the 12 muffin cups, evenly.
7. Pop in the oven for 20-22 minutes.
8. When the muffins are done, put them on a baking rack to cool slightly, and enjoy! I sometimes need to use a butter knife to loosen the sides of the muffins from the tray.

Notes

Store the muffins at room temperature for 3 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can freeze the leftovers for up to 6 months.

I would love to hear what you think of this recipe!

xo, Kiki

For the first time in three years, we finally got to celebrate Evan’s birthday with all our family & friends, and I am excited to share the details with you guys! First off, can I just say that hosting a birthday party is so much damn work, so to all the parents out there who have been doing this for years, please, teach me your ways! Nitin & I were absolutely exhausted by the end of Sunday, even with trying to keep things fairly simple. With that being said, celebrating Evan with our nearest and dearest made it all well worth it.

For the venue, we landed on Andrews Scenic Acres in Milton, which is Evan’s favourite farm. I visited here as a kid, and we’ve been taking Evan since he was a newborn. We hosted a very intimate birthday for him here last year, but this year we got to take full advantage of the space. Having a large, private area was extremely important to us, and I love how this farm feels like home. The team at Andrews’ is incredible to work with (thank you Lorraine), and made the party planning process as smooth as could be. When you host a party at Andrews’, you have a party host who helps with setting up, refilling the drinks, moving things around, etc. They also allowed you to drop everything off the day before to store in their fridge/ facility, so we didn’t have to worry about lugging a million things on Sunday morning. What a timesaver!

Food

The Khosla’s are huge foodies, as you guys know by now, so we spared no expense on food. We wanted live food stations so everything was as fresh as possible, and offered our guests a choice between two of Evan’s favourite things; pizza (surprise, surprise) & waffles.

General Assembly Pizza

We were thrilled to have the incredible team from General Assembly Pizza on-site to prepare and cook fresh pizzas for Evan’s big day, and it was more than we ever expected! We love GA pizza and eat it all the time at home, so we were over the moon when they agreed to cook for Evan’s birthday, as they don’t do too many events (thank you GA – we love you!). They were the first to arrive in the morning with their beautiful set-up, Italian stone oven, and the friendliest staff. 

Our guests had a choice of 6 delicious pizzas:

1. Cheese Wizard (vegetarian)
2. Loving Cup (pepperoni)
3. Sweet Heat (spicy)
4. Mila Margherita (vegetarian)
5. King ‘Shroom (mushroom)
6. Marinara (Vegan)

If you haven’t tried General Assembly Pizza, you are missing out! I highly recommend paying a visit to their Adelaide location in downtown Toronto. You can also pick-up their frozen pizzas from Sobeys, Fortino’s and specialty stores. 

They use fresh hand-picked basil, nitrate-free pepperoni, and the most premium ingredients. How can you go wrong with that? Our guests loved this experience, I just wish I had the time to enjoy more than one. By far, the best pizza around!

Waffles in the 6ix

If you love waffles, this is the company for you! I first discovered Waffles in the 6ix back in 2021, when they sent me a delicious box of their premium waffles for Mother’s Day. They were so flavourful and unique, so when I started planning Evan’s birthday I knew I had to reach out to them about their live waffle station. Lucky for us, they had availability on June 5th, so we booked their live waffle station for 2 hours. 

The only requirement from their end was an outlet and table, which the farm secured for us, and they took care of the rest. They cooked fresh waffles on the spot, and our guests had a choice of so many delicious toppings to elevate their waffle experience. The team was incredibly easy to work with, showed up right on time, and left the best taste in everyone’s mouth.

If you’re looking to hire them for an event (they do book up quickly), you can use my discount code KIKI10 for 10% off.

Drinks

We had Flow water, juice boxes (Evan has never had a juice box before, and crushed about three of these when I wasn’t looking, YOLO) and Andrews Scenic Acres Sangria (Andrews is also a winery).

Cake & Cupcakes

It’s no surprise that Evan’s cake was made by our favourite bakery in town, The Sweetest Thing. Erin, the owner and mastermind behind the delicious creations, has become a friend over the years. I’ve been ordering from her since she was baking out of her house, and when she opened her bakery on Kerr Street in 2018, I couldn’t have been more excited. You can check out my blog post on The Sweetest Thing here. I’ve been going to Erin for over 10 years, and not only has she made all Evan’s birthday cakes, but she also did our gender reveal cupcakes when we were expecting Evan.

We went with a car theme cake, filled with chocolate and vanilla cake and icing, as per Evan’s request. As expected, it was simply delicious!

We also had nut-free cupcakes, just in case of allergies, which we ordered from Cupid’s Cupcakes. We kept things simple with a mix of prince (chocolate) and vanilla (princess).

All our plates and cutlery were from Bio-Sposables, an amazing company that carries biodegradable and disposable products to keep our world green.

Entertainment

Nitin and I went back and forth on what entertainment we were going to have at Evan’s birthday. Initially, we had a list of different vendors, but ended up scaling back because we wanted our guests to enjoy the beauty of the farm. Evan’s one request was to have Paw Patrol at his party, so we secured Chase (unfortunately the Sky costume didn’t arrive in time for the party), through Party Time Heroes. Like all the other companies we used, Party Time Heroes was incredibly easy to deal with, showed up right on time, and provided fun games for the kids. We booked the 30 minute package which allowed more than enough time for pictures, games, and they also brought a gift for Evan. One piece of advice I have for anyone hiring a character for a party, don’t mention the exact character on the invite, or you are going to wind up with a million character gifts. We have so much Paw Patrol stuff we don’t know what to do with.

The funny thing is, Evan was scared of Chase (go figure) and would only go near him if we held him. Gotta love kids! However, the older kids had a blast playing games and meeting Chase, and I would certainly use this company again in the future.

The Farm

Andrew’s Scenic Acres is not a commercial farm, and that’s one of the things I love most about this place. They have a huge straw mountain which the kids loved climbing on, a sandpit, playground, and mini houses for littles to explore.

We also did a few private tractor rides around the farm which the kids and adults enjoyed, and of course I brought my pizza along for the ride. Delicious food, great conversation and scenic views, what more could you ask for?!

The hit of the farm was the animals. From llamas to baby goats to chickens and more, the kids enjoyed feeding and playing with the animals. Evan is completely fearless when it comes to animals, so he’ll stick his hand right in to feed them. The farm provided mini ice cream cones with food, which was perfect for the littles to feed the animals with.

Decor

We kept the decor simple with classic red and white picnic-style tablecloths, and a table set-up with flowers, a chalkboard sign, guestbook and lootbags. I unfortunately did not get a lot of pictures of the decor as I was too busy hosting. When I went through my pictures on Monday I realized I didn’t take any proper table shots, but the tradeoff was being present in the moment, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

For the greeting table, I purchased this truck (now on sale), chalkboard easel and letter E. I initially had a vase of flowers, which kept getting knocked over by the wind, so I ended up just taking the flowers out of the vase and having them on the table. I also brought this wooden heart guestbook, which I ordered for Evan’s first birthday. For obvious reasons, we didn’t fill up all the hearts, so I’m going to bring it to all his birthday’s until it’s full. It’s a great, beautiful, compact way for friends & family to leave messages, and I’ve put it on display on a shelf in Evan’s closest.

Being at the farm, we also had a sanitizing station available to our guests, with hand sanitizer and wipes.

Overall, we had the most magical time with everyone we love most!

xo, Kiki

The GTA’s Ultimate Holiday Food Guide is here! You guys know how much I love great food, and sourcing quality local finds is always top on my list. The holidays are right around the corner, but there is still time to get your orders in! In need of a last-minute charcuterie board? On the hunt for a delicious gingerbread house making kit? Have an impossible-to-shop-for-foodie on your list? From the most mouth-watering dinners (sometimes it’s just easier to have someone do the work for you), to delicious treats & fun gift ideas, get ready to discover the best of the GTA food life this holiday season.

Platters & Mains

Sotto Sotto Oakville

Add an experience to your hosting with Sotto Sotto’s DIY Pizza Kits (also great for family pizza night). Available in three varieties: Margherita, Capricciosa & Piccantina, these awesome kits range in price from just $17.99 – $20.99, and include enough dough and ingredients for two pizzas (instructions and flour also included). Pick up a few kits and let everyone have fun making their own pizza with this foolproof method. Evan loves the Margherita pizza from here, and frequently asks for “Sotto Sotto pizza”. They also have a beautiful selection of holiday gifts which you can view here.

Pusateri’s

Offering the most delectable selection of holiday meals, you can’t go wrong with any of these options. I’ve always appreciated the quality and flavour Pusateri’s offers, and this year’s holiday menu did not disappoint. From a classic roasted turkey to beautiful platters to simple (yet delicious!) sides, you’re sure to find something to please everyone. They also offer beautiful gift baskets, holiday cookie & gingerbread house making kits!

San Remo Bakery

What can I say about San Remo aside from the fact that their food is delicious, their service is awesome and you can’t go wrong with anything from here. We order from here every year at some point during the holidays (pro tip: avoid the regret and just put their donuts on your order now), and have yet to be disappointed. They have a great catering menu from paninis and pasta to pizza, sandwiches, desserts and so much more.

Borgo Antico

A staple in the heart of downtown Oakville, Borgo Antico offers a mouth watering menu (standard menu & catering) featuring traditional Italian recipes. If you’re looking to impress this holiday season, I highly recommend checking out the appetizers and mains from Borgo Antico. They work one-on-one with clients to create personalized menus using their fresh, quality ingredients. Check out their menu for some

Colossus

With two locations in the GTA, Colossus is known for their delicious, authentic Greek cuisine. Their catering menu features generous portions (we always have leftovers) of Greek classics, from tzatziki and pita to saganaki, souvlaki, spanakopita & more. I highly recommend their taramosalata spread, which is a mixture of red caviar, potato, onion and evoo. They also have a small supermarket, Farma Greek, located under their restaurant where you can pick up fresh and packaged items to-go.

Monastery

If you know, you know. Monastery Bakery has been serving the Oakville community since 1990, and is always one of my go-to places. Prior to the pandemic, I would wake up at 5:45am on Thanksgiving morning to get fresh bread and croissants, and would come home and crawl back into bed knowing what was waiting for me when I woke up. Lately, you’re lucky if you’re not waiting in a line to get in, but they also offer delivery which is awesome. So why do I love this place so much? Their food tastes amazing, portions are generous, prices are great (make sure you sign up for their free loyalty card to save 5%), their bread selection is fantastic …I can go on and on. They also have the best chocolate croissants (chocolate in every bite, not just one in the middle), and great fresh food options! Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner ideas, you’re sure to find something for everyonehere.

Farmhouse Artisan Cheese

If you’re on the hunt for the best cheese selection in Oakville, look no further. Farmhouse Artisan Cheese offers a carefully curated selection of cheeses from around the world, and they also make the most beautiful (and delicious) charcuterie boards for both small and large gatherings. If you’re looking to make your own charcuterie or have one created for you, I highly recommend checking them out.

Sandwich Society

I post about this place all the time because they have the best sandwiches in town! Prepared with the cleanest meats, freshly baked bread and delicious spreads, you can’t go wrong with any of their sandwiches (my favourite is Firenze). You can click here for their catering menu, which offers sandwiches, charcuterie boards, fruit & cheese boards, dessert platters & more. Whether you’re hosting, looking for something (of value) to bring to your holiday gathering, or want to add something delicious to your holiday menu, I promise you will love this selection!

Sweet Treats + Gifts

The Sweetest Thing

This place needs no introduction on my blog, so let’s skip the intro to the good stuff. The Sweetest Thing has the best selection of holiday treats around! Gingerbread cookies, holiday cupcakes, cookie + gingerbread house decorating kits …you name it and The Sweetest Thing has you covered. Have a foodie on your holiday list? On the hunt for some holiday desserts? The Sweetest Thing has my personal seal of approval ..the best bakery around!

Big Fat Cookies

Who doesn’t love a freshly baked, crunchy on the outside, gooey on the inside cookie?! Big Fat Cookie has opened its second location right here in Oakville, with their other one located inside The Food District at Square One. Using the finest ingredients, these cookies are baked daily in small batches and are available in a range of unique flavours including Pistachio Walnut, Matcha White Chocolate, Double Chocolate Nutella & more!

Bunner’s Bakeshop

The best vegan desserts around! This Toronto-based vegan and gluten-free bakery delivers all throughout the GTA, and offers amazing treats you wouldn’t believe are vegan. One of Evan’s (three) birthday cakes was ordered from here, and it did not disappoint. No one could tell the difference! They offer a range of items, including cakes, cupcakes, Josephine Louise’s (omg, the most delicious spin on the classic Joe Louis), gingerbread cookies & more. Their holiday pre-order cut-off date is Monday at noon. The sports balls also the bottom of the cake are from Walker’s Chocolate.

Chocolatta

This gem of a place offers gourmet brigadeiros, a scrumptious Brazilian chocolate confectionary. Chocolatta is a family-run business with two locations: one at The Food District inside Square One and the other is located in Upper Beaches, Toronto. These brigadeiros not only taste amazing, but they look absolutely beautiful making them the perfect gift for anyone on your holiday list! They also made a great addition to any dessert table!

Walker’s Chocolates

I have been shopping here for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, I remember always picking up coach and teacher gifts from here with my parents. The tradition continues, as I popped in this week to grab some things to add to Evan’s teacher’s gifts. I also grabbed some stocking stuffers for Nitin, and gifts for friends and family. I mean, who doesn’t love Canadian made chocolate using 100% sustainable cocoa.

1 week to go! Happy planning lovies!

xo, Kiki (Kiran)

Still trying to find the perfect gift for your favourite little humans? Children love to learn, and what better way to nourish their ever-growing curiosity and expand their imaginations than with books! Books are great, practical gifts, but with thousands upon thousands of options to choose from, the search can be overwhelming.

Reading has been a big part of Evan’s life since he was in my belly, and there isn’t a day that goes by where we aren’t swimming in a sea of them. Whether you’re in the hunt for something unique, inspiring, fun, educational, this is the place for you! I’ve rounded up my top toddler book recommendations with over 50 amazing choices for littles! Satisfy their curiosity with the gift that keeps on giving.

You can also check out my Toddler Holiday Gift Guide here.

8 Little Planets

A is for Awesome

Animals in the Sky – I am in love with this publisher, and find their kids books to be so beautiful and unique. I use them as “coffee table” books in Evan’s room.

Antiracist Baby

Brown Bear & Friends

Book of Animals

Curious George – All our Curious George books are on repeat over here, and I strongly recommend the board books for toddlers.

Dr. Seuss Books – This is a great starter set for toddlers, and it’s currently on sale for only $15!

Dream Big Little One

Get Well Soon! – A great book for when kids get sick.

Goodnight Hockey – We also love this one and this one.

How to Babysit a Grandpa – There is also this version for grandma’s.

Follow Your Dreams Little One

Life is Better with Friends – This is one of the (many) books we got for Evan for Christmas. Isn’t it fun when we can expose our kids to the things we love, through books created just for them?!

My First Book of Houseplants

My First Coco Chanel

My First Look and Find Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

My First Mahatma Gandhi

My First Things That Go Let’s Go

Once Upon a Golden Apple

One Love

Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race

Peter Rabbit – With both my parents being British, I grew up reading a ton of Beatrix Potter books. Evan has the series and loves reading the books, but we started with this book as a simple introduction and it’s still his favourite.

Pink is for Boys

Pizza! An Interactive Recipe Book

Play Hide & Seek with the Dinosaurs – I love Usborne books, and highly recommend their touchy-feely books (like this one) if you’re on the hunt for baby books. I’m pretty sure we own the entire lot as Evan loved these books as a baby.

Press Here

Spot the Difference – I love the illustrations, and interactive element.

The Crayons Book of Feelings

The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions

The Going to Bed Book (we love all these books, especially this one, this one, and this one at the moment).

The Home Team – We got Evan the Pittsburgh Penguins one before he was born, and it is his favourite book. So much so that it is torn, taped and completely falling apart. He’s asked Santa for a new one for Christmas this year.

The Little Blue Truck

The Little Snowplow – I’m just going to say it; I can’t stand this book. It just drags on and on, but Evan loves it and so it’s made the cut.

The Mitten

The Night Before Christmas – Oddly enough, this Christmas classic is enjoyed all year round over here.

The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary – Another one of Evan’s Christmas gifts, selected by daddy!

The Paper Bag Princess (Evan also loves this one and this one) – As an adult I find these books to be so strange, but I grew up loving them and Evan is following in his mama’s footsteps.

The Story of Rap

The Very Hungry Bear – We love this entire series, including this one and this one.

The Wheels on the Bus – This particular version has been a favourite of Evan for over a year.

The Wiggles: The Wheels on the Bus

Twas the Night Before Diwali – Another holiday favourite we enjoy all year, we’ve been reading Evan this book since his first Diwali. It’s a fun and playful way for us to introduce Evan to parts of our culture.

We’re Different. We’re the Same

Where is Curious George?

Why I Love My Mommy (there is also this one for dad’s which Evan loves as well).

Do you have any toddler favourites that I’ve missed? I’d love to hear!

Happy reading lovies!

xo, Kiki (Kiran)

Shopping for toddlers is tricky business. While you may not have the same pressure as shopping for an impossible-to-please adolescent, you want your gift to be loved and enjoyed; not tossed aside in a pile that eventually makes its way out for donation.

I’m thankful to receive a lot of amazing gifts for Evan from my partners, and that also means I have a pretty good sense of what keeps little ones engaged, stimulated and challenged. I also love hunting for fun and educational toys for Evan, from local finds to name-brand classics. I am so excited to share with you guys my carefully curated list of toddler-approved toys, and just in time for Black Friday. How am I so sure these gifts are hits? Because each and every one of them has a special spot in our home, and have provided Evan with endless hours fun. If you’re in the hunt for practical and fun gifts, you’re in the right spot! Grab your coffee and let’s do some shopping!

Lovevery Play Kits – This right here folks is my top gift recommendation this year! When Evan was around 4 months old, I went on the hunt for some great, age-appropriate toys. I fell in love with Lovevery for their well thought out, meaningful kits, and have been ordering from them ever since. They offer a wide range of kits based on your child’s age (we still use some of the items from our 6 month kit now), which are available to purchase on a subscription basis or one-off. These also make incredible gifts for expecting parents, new parents, babies and toddlers. Use code PLAYKITS30 for 30% off right now.

Lovevery Blocks – Another Lovevery favourite of mine is their blocks. This set has been a hit not only with Evan, but with his cousins ranging in age from 1 – 8 years old. Whenever we have company, this set always finds its way out. Stack, thread, build a car, learn shapes …the options are endless! A truly magical experience for littles.

Pikler Triangle + Wobble Board – We gifted Evan this made-in-Canada Pikler Triangle + Wobble Board set last Christmas when he was 1.5 years old and he has gotten great use out of it this year. It’s been awesome watching him grow with the Pikler triangle and learn to climb over. He pretends to snowboard on the wobble board, which is great practice from the upcoming season.

Once Upon a Boy Affirmation Cards – I am super excited to be able to include these incredible affirmation cards in my gift guide this year. Created for BOYS, these cards offer diverse illustrations and meaningful, conversation-provoking messages. There isn’t much on the market catered towards the little men of the world, so when Once Upon a Mat create this set of affirmation cards I couldn’t wait to start using them with Evan. These have become part of our daily routine, and I look forward to using them for many years to come. You can purchase online or at Maker’s Mojo in Downtown Oakville.

Fisher-Price B.B. Hoopster – We have a basketball net on each floor of our home, as well as a small outdoor one. Can you tell Evan loves basketball? The new Fisher-Price B.B. Hoopster is super fun for little ones (and adults) because its interactive components. It moves, talks and encourages kids in a playful way.

Lunii Storybook – I love this storyteller because it doesn’t use screens, has so many story options to choose from, and it’s great for at-home or in the car. Kids can turn on, select their characters, setting & more, and enjoy a magical story! You can also purchase more books for hours of listening fun.

Guitar – Evan, like many toddlers, has a strong love for music. He fell in love with this guitar during a visit to Indigo, and would not stop asking about it. While we wanted to save this for Christmas, we ended up caving and giving it to him as a Diwali gift. He plays music, dances, pretends he’s a Wiggle …it’s just adorable to watch! Our friends at Little Tikes added to Evan’s band with this drum set, which he is equally as obsessed with now.

Cat Construction Trucks – Cat Construction trucks are a timeless favourite, and great for both indoor and outdoor play. Evan uses the smaller ones inside (they’re also great for sensory bins, as a cake toppers, etc ), and we keep a couple for outdoor use in the garden and at the beach. We also love their Power Haulers assortment, with three variations of trucks.

Thomas 2-in-1 Transforming Playset – This 2-in-1 transforming set is great because it has multiple uses. Kids can play with/ push Thomas, or open the passenger cars to build out a full track set. The track fits neatly inside, making clean-up a breeze.

Sariso Boba Pop Fidget Toy – Fidget toys are undoubtedly one of the hottest gifts this season, and while they aren’t hard to come by, I personally love the ones by Happy Naturals. This Canadian company offers the most products and amazing service, and I’m pleased to offer you guys 15% off their entire site with discount code KIKI15.

Washable Paint – Painting is always a great idea, but save yourself the time and headache and invest in washable paints. I learned the hard way, letting Evan paint with my paint collection, only to have the paint not wash out of his clothes. These washable paints were recommended to me by another mama, so I picked up a pack for Evan’s stocking although I’m pretty sure they’re going to be brought out sooner.

Easel – Speaking of painting, what better way to let your little artist explore their inner creativity than with a multi-use easel. This is on Evan’s Christmas list this year, and I love this particular board because it has a dry-erase and magnetic side, as well as a paper roll that pulls down for drawing/ painting. There is also a chalkboard on the other side.

Nugget – One of our most-used purchases for Evan, I recommend the Nugget without hesitation. Kids can enjoy different configurations for hours of fun! There is a Canadian version now available, which you can check out here.

Convertible Sleigh Wagon – It’s the 2-in-1 for me. We use this in the spring, summer and fall, and love how it easily converts into a sled during winter months. The handle folds under, so it fits into the car for outdoor adventures.

Remote Control Car Monster Truck – We got Evan this truck for Christmas last year, and he is obsessed. Be warned that it is a battery-sucker, but it provides endless fun for kids …and the quality is great!

Doll – Dolls are a wonderful way to help children develop their fine motor and help-self skills. Evan selected this doll because the eyes close, and he loves putting it to sleep and taking care of it.

Kitchen – With tons of kitchens on the market, the KidKraft ones are a favourite because they are fun and practical without taking up too much real estate.

Leapfrog 3D Interactive Learning System – I love the interactive, educational aspect of Leapfrog products, and couldn’t resit this learning system for Evan.

Lego Duplo – We have a few Lego Duplo sets and get great use out of them. We’ll sit together for a solid 45 minutes as a family, building together, and Evan loves playing these on his own as well. I personally love the barn set which is currently sold out, but this amusement park is also adorable.

Glow Kiddo Glow Affirmation Cards – Another one of my favourite affirmation card sets is by Glow Kiddo Glow. Also available at Maker’s Mojo, these cards contains beautiful illustrations and positive affirmations for kids of all ages.

Trampoline – Because really, what kid doesn’t love a trampoline? My mom suggested getting Evan the Little Tikes trampoline last year, and it’s been one of the greatest purchases ever since. It sits on our main floor and is enjoyed every day.

Photobook by Fujifilm Printlife – Photobook for a toddler? Hear me out, because I guarantee this will be one of their favourite gifts this year. Last year we gifted both sets of grandparents Fujifilm Printlife photobooks, and we also created one for Evan with his monthly pizza pictures. Well, let me tell you, Evan would not put these books down, and still loves flipping through them when he’s at his grandparents. This year I’m making photobooks for the grandparents again, but I’m also surprising Evan with his own one filled with pictures of his family, friends & all our 2021 adventures. View all the deals at Fujifilm Printlife here (including discounts on photobooks).

xo, Kiki

The first day of school is a big deal, and while it’s easy to get swept up in the emotion of having your baby leave you for the first time I chose to look at things a little differently. Evan was initially scheduled to start pre-school in October 2020 when he was 16 months old (this is the youngest age his daycare allows). Nitin & I made the decision to hold back on sending Evan because of Covid. We pushed his start date 4 times, and with cases declining we finally decided to pull the trigger and send him this July. 

Nitin & I went back and forth quite a bit on when to send Evan to school. Did I really want to send him in July, right at the beginning of summer when everything is just starting to open up? What about the new variants? Selfishly, I would have loved to spend the summer going on daily outdoor adventures with Evan but the idea of him learning and socializing with kids his own age trumped my selfish wants. 

I’m also trying to be mindful of my own state of mind during this transition. All I’ve known the last two years is everything Evan, so instead of plaguing myself with mom guilt on sending my baby off to school while I return back to a quiet home, I’ve chosen to embrace this new stage. Evan gets to experience life outside of mama & dada, meet new people and enjoy amazing opportunities. Did I cry when Evan started daycare? Absolutely. I woke Nitin up crying at 3am the morning before his first day because I was a bit nervous, but the tears are few and far between because I know Evan is thriving in a loving, nurturing environment. I also remind myself of all the extra one-on-one time I got to enjoy with Evan, and how we can still go on evening/ weekend adventures, and of course you know this mama will be pulling Evan out of school to go berry picking (once he settles in of course; I promised Nitin I would wait at least one month).

A lot of you asked me on Instagram how the transition for Evan was. I’ll start off by saying I’ve never spent a night away from Evan, and since Covid took over our lives last year Nitin’s work travels have come to a halt. So for the last 17 months Evan, like most kids, has spent the majority of his time with myself & Nitin (when Nitin isn’t working). Evan is a super social kid so I didn’t have any concerns about him enjoying himself at school, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about his sleeping and eating. Evan currently falls asleep listening to Whitney Houston, Justin Bieber, Drake (no joke; he takes his music very seriously) and eats an extremely healthy diet. How is he going to fall asleep without his songs? What if he hates the food? Or worse, what if he loves the food at daycare and starts disliking the food at home? So far, neither seems to be an issue.

Preparing for School

Prior to Evan starting school I showed him videos from the school website so he became familiar with his new space. I also had him join Nitin & I on a video call with the school supervisor where she took us on a virtual tour of the classroom. The week leading up to his first day we talked here and there about school but we didn’t turn it into the focal point of every conversation.

Due to Covid, Evan isn’t allowed to bring a backpack to school. Instead, on the first day of school we sent a reusable bag filled with the below items. At the end of each week we’re given back Evan’s blanket & stuffy to be washed, and each day we provide the school with fresh diapers.

• Diapers (we use these ones).
• Change of clothes (I put together a pair of pants, shorts, long sleeve t, t-shirt, socks & hat, and I’ll re-stock the school with anything Evan comes home in).
• Diaper cream (we use this one).
• Sunscreen (I love this one).
• Blanket
• Hairbrush
• Stuffy for sleeping

I also recommend getting labels to put on your kids stuff. I ordered from Mabel’s Labels back in 2020 so the stickers have been sitting in our drawer just waiting to be used. They are washable and can be applied to pretty much anything (shoes, clothes, hairbrush, bag, sunscreen, etc).

Evan is attending school full-time but we are easing our way into full days. Over the first two weeks we’ve been slowly increasing the amount of time Evan spends at school. He is currently in his second week at daycare (today is day 8), and here is a look at how things are going so far:

Day 1 – On Evan’s first day of school (Friday July 2nd) he spent one hour there. Parents aren’t allowed in the school so Nitin & I were a bit curious how Evan would handle being dropped off at the door. One of his teachers met him at the door, told him he would get to play basketball and with trucks, and just like that he took her hand, went in and didn’t look back. I was so proud to see my little man marching into school with so much excitement. When Nitin & I picked him up he couldn’t stop talking about all the things he did and that alone made my heart burst with happiness. 

Day 2 – Evan’s second day was on Monday July 5th, and again he did one hour. He was excited to play with the toys at school, and walked right in again. He did have some tears when they headed outside for play time but we were told this is normal as they transition from one environment. Overall, a very successful day two for Evan.

Day 3 – On our way to school on Tuesday Evan kept saying “no school, no school” but as soon as we got there he grabbed his teacher’s hand and went inside. He spent two hours at school on Tuesday and also got to enjoy a morning snack with his friends which he gobbled up. He had a couple tears during the transition from inside to outside but other than that another great day. The teachers did mention that Evan wasn’t drinking too much water. I was quite surprised because he drinks a lot of water at home, and aside from his Ripple beverage he doesn’t drink anything else. When we got home Nitin & I spoke with Evan about making sure he drinks his water at school. The one benefit of sending Evan when he’s a bit older is that it’s easier to communicate with him. He drinks from an open cup at home but he also has a water bottle he uses regularly, so I asked the school to keep encouraging water throughout the day. I’ve also been trying to give Evan an open cup more than this water bottle for consistency.

Day 4 – Wednesday was Evan’s first full morning at school. He started with the “no school” protest before we were leaving our house, but I know he enjoys himself at school so I don’t get discouraged when he says he doesn’t want to go. He was a bit hesitant to go inside the school but I love how his teachers always know what to say to make the morning transition a smooth one. He stayed from 8:30am – 12:15pm, and enjoyed his first lunch at school. Evan is a great eater but I still had some nerves about him not enjoying the food. I was happy to hear he had two servings of lunch, no tears and a great day!

Day 5 + Day 6 – On Thursday and Friday Evan continued staying at school for the entire morning (8:30am – 12:15pm). By Friday he was drinking more water at school and adjusting well to his new routine. He’s been eating all his snacks and lunch (he must be going through a growth spurt right now because he is eating a LOT of food) and already learning how to spell his name. Guys, my heart!

Day 7 – This Monday was a tough drop-off. Evan usually wakes up between 6:30am – 7:00am, but slept in until 8:00am on Monday. As a result, our morning routine was a bit rushed as we were trying to get Evan to school before his snack and circle time. For the first time, Evan started crying in the car as we turned into his school. He was quite upset and when I took him to the door for drop-off his favourite teacher wasn’t there. A teacher from another classroom took Evan in …crying. My heart hurt. I asked if his favourite teacher could come out and get him and I was told he should get used to going in with different people. Fair point, but the mama in me was still irritated. It was only Evan’s second Monday at school so I picked up my phone and called the school before I left the parking lot to make sure Evan was ok. His teacher told me he had no tears and was getting settled in. I was a little uneasy for the rest of the morning, but in true Evan fashion he came bouncing out of daycare with the biggest smile and tons of stories.

Day 8 – Evan’s school recommended we start him napping on a Tuesday. Evan has only ever slept in a bassinet or crib, so of course I was a bit worried about this change. We talked to him in the morning about sleeping at school, and he was super excited to take his blanket and bunny with him. He cried again when we turned into the school yesterday and went in (still crying) with the same teacher from the day before. Unlike the previous day however, I didn’t call the school right away because …well, I’m learning! I know Evan is in a safe, loving environment and if there were any issues I would be contacted. Sleep time at Evan’s school starts at 12:30pm. I waited until 1pm to call the school to see how Evan was doing. No answer. I paced for 30 minutes, called again and was pleasantly surprised – ok, more like insanely shocked – to learn that Evan fell asleep within 15 minutes. Um, what?! The kid who tosses and turns for an hour before settling down at home fell asleep in 15 minutes? He slept for an hour which is apparently great for a first sleep day. 

Overall, Evan starting pre-school has been such a positive experience so far. Today Evan will be sleeping at school for the second time and I’ll keep you guys updated on my stories with how the day goes.

In terms of what we looked for when selecting a pre-school, aside from the obvious (cleanliness, staff qualifications), the following were extremely important to us:

• Small teacher-student ratio
• Loving, nurturing environment
• Organic menu
• Variety of learning activities
• Good referrals

If I missed your question on Instagram or you have a new one, I’d love to hear from you below!

xo,

Kiki (Kiran)