Deck the halls and the chandelier - Fa La La

Slowly but surely I’m beginning to deck the halls here at home. Christmas is only a month away - in case you needed me to remind you (sorry!), so it’s time to get going. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to Christmas decor, I really try to keep things simple. I don’t like too much stuff crowding the space. What can I say? Visual chaos is not for me. A few touches here and there is all I really need to feel festive, and don’t go thinking I don’t love Christmas because I do. Why else would I be decking the halls at the end of November?  Here’s where the first Christmas ornaments landed this year...

Yes, the dining room chandelier. Why not? The colours work rather well, the ornaments add interest hanging delicately over the table, and they’re out of the way. Not too crafty nor too cheesy, I hope.

I started by using the table to play around with the ornaments and figure out how I wanted to display them. 
I then threaded sewing brown thread thru different icicles' holders.  Once the threads looked well distributed, I simply added the ornaments while playing with the individual lengths.

Having an over sized mirror in the dinning room was instrumental in getting the ornaments to look right and yes, spare my sanity!  I still have a whole month to lose what’s left of that.  Once they were all tied up, I simply cut off the excess thread.  Here’s the final result...

The last touch to the table were some fabric poinsettias in an decorative urn. I will soon hang a gold metal (and yes, kind of glittery) star from the curtain rod and voila, mes amis.  My dining room is ready to party.  Everything here will be reused next year, in another room no doubt.  

A little while back I was telling you about how one day I simply posted just about everything we owned on our main floor on Craigslist and Kijiji and sold it. You can read about it here. Well, voici the new dining room chairs. They have transformed the room!

They are smaller and a lot more interesting than the chocolate leather Parson chairs we used to have. I love the touch of Boho the fabric patch work brings into the room without being over the top - or so I hope.  Three things worth noting before saying chausito for today:

1- the chandelier was spotted and picked up by the curbe.  I cannot tell you how thankful I (still) am for that coup de chance!

2- the ornaments ranged from $3.50 to $5.00 - the sky doesn't always have to be the limit.

3- the colour of the dining room ceiling is much darker than the walls, it helps create a cozy room and set the mood for intimate dinners. 

So what do you say?  Christmassy enough or still needs work?

How to seed a pomegranate minus the mess (well almost!)

For video, scroll down...

No, it's not chicken pox....

We love pomegranates in this house, so we eat them all year round.  11 months out of 12, and just because I'm such a sensible (read lazy) person, I buy the seeds in the frozen section and conveniently add them to oatmeal and cereals.  It's good stuff, plus such an easy and sensible way to eat what is otherwise a very (very) messy fruit.

excellent chat, excellent fine motors

But, come on...  We all know that 'easy' plus 'sensible' equals 'mega boredom'.  A winning equation would be more like 'splashy mess' plus 'tough stains' equals 'fantastic fun'!  So, and just because I'm such a cool Mom and a huge fan of plastic body suits and painting sheets, 1 month out of 12 I buy the real thing and tell my peeps to knock themselves out while I proceed to clean red stains and mentally curse with a Latino smile (read scary grimace) on my face.

Toothless people love pomegranates ;)

In this episode of the Produce Picker Podcast obtained via Front Door Organic (Toronto), Ray the produce picker, demonstrates how to cut open a pomegranate and avoid the mess that can be associated with getting the seeds out. We tried it, and it's amazing!  I think, Ray's technique helped the kids reduce their mess by something like 75%.  I'll take that, thank you very much!  See my friends, adding an opportunity to play with water to any equation is guaranteed to result in a lot of fun, all Moms know that.

 

So bravo Ray, and many thanks.  We will now retire our plastic body suits to do some other cool winter activities around the house like body paint and Papier-mâché.  Because I'm such a cool Mom, I live for moments like that, don't you know?  And that big, fat, Latino lie will conclude this post. 

 

Off to write my Wednesday segment for RelieF: Taking the word 'Stress' out of 'Xmas'. Pomegranate Martinis, anyone?

From bookworm to e-book girl

Being married to a sexy geek mon homme has proven to be awesome in many, many ways and to name but one: my guy loves giving me stuff I’d never shop for in a million years (I’m not talking cheap lingerie or gym equipment either, y’a know?).  His latest big hit: an e-reader.   It’s a pretty gutsy gift considering how much I love books and everything about them.  He must love a challenge, 'cause as I was opening the box, he was already telling me to give it a try and see how it felt before making up my mind and throwing it back at him.  So I did. 

What was there NOT to like?  Nothing really, except the fact that an e-reader doesn’t feel, smells, holds nor is carried like a book!!  It also keeps getting lost in any decent size bag.  I was afraid to drop it, break it, lose it, you name it.  This e-reader thing was causing me stress, maudit!!  But of course, I loved- and still love- all the advantages my new gadget offers… Who doesn’t love shopping for a new book from the comfort of her bed (and in any language!), do searches, highlight and adjust the size of the print on any given page?  Really, I thought it was worth finding a solution to my ‘real book envy', so I started to look for an e-book cover.

It had to be something I’d like to live with for many years (talk about challenging!) and offered me the ‘book’ feeling I was so desperate to find.    Who knew it would be such a daunting task!  I exhausted all my online ideas, then finally tried a bookstore: Indigo.  Dah. Part of the gorgeous Verso Artists Series - LightWedge, my leather pink cover is beautifully designed and has totally exceeded my expectations.  It retails for about $40.  The cover allows me to hold the e-reader as a book, adding weight and shape to the flat and rather cold electronic devise.  I’m also able to attach a light, ideal for a late read, a plane or a car ride. 

Will I ever stop buying books?  Of course not, silly but I won't buy them as often.  If you'd like to make an educated decision about getting an e-book for yourself, there's many articles online, but you can always have a look here and draw your own conclusions.  If you'd like to find out information about whether or not e-books are greener thank books, go here, it's worth a read.

As for me, I’m afraid I’m totally hooked on my new electronic wonder and its new cover... so I guess I’m happy as can be, and as my guy will gladly tell you: a happy wife, is a happy life.  Yes, I know... He’s all charm, and he’s all mine. 

How do you feel about e-books?  Bon mardi!

What I wore on RelieF - III

Last night on RelieF it was all about the love of Vintage, repurposing, reclaiming and why these trends have become so popular. I also presented some tips on how to shop smart when it comes to second hand in general.  Vintage is a lovessesion of mine so I was in heaven!  I showed some pictures of my favourite finds and a tiny bit of my clutch collection made an appearance too. 

The best part about this segment was knowing exactly what I wanted to wear from the get go: anything by designer Marnie Kramer and her company The Blushing Maple.  Lucky for me, my segment coincided with the launch of her newest dress line: Viktoria. 

Made of reclaimed wool mainly from sweaters, and  pieced together using raw and exposed seams, the dress is interesting to look at, incredibly versatile and comfortable.  A fall and winter staple, the Viktoria dress can be worn over tights and flats, or stocking and boots or over jeans with a big belt.  I wore a three quarter sleeve black t-shirt underneath but a shirt or a turtle neck would also look great.  The Viktoria dress is really my idea of a perfect dress.  I love it.  $168 sold at the Fresh Collective on Roncesvalles.  V&V with a twist, and let me tell you...I could have had fun all day!

Here's what Marnie wrote on my FB page: 'One of my favourite parts of my business is "the hunt" for the fabrics, which usually leads me to many second hand stores rustling through buried treasures that I can take back to my studio to transform into something new.'  Unique and clever clothes made with love, now that's a cool combo.  Here's the back of the dress.

Go check it out at the Fresh Collective on Roncesvalles or contact Marnie directly by email . If you'd like to show your love for great designers and local work, go 'Like' The Blushing Maple on Facebook and stay tuned! 
To balance the richness and texture of the dress, I went with Guy Latulippe's suggestion and wore this gorgeous Elementals black ceramic necklace by Kelly Kan, $209.  

My own second hand acrylic bracelet :)

Pretty yummy, eh?  It's long (or short), rich, versatile and the variety of black beads make it most interesting.

I could have gone with small back earrings but this dress calls for a bit of an eclectic look (can you see me smile?). Designer's Rita Di Cesare (from Nude Clothes) suggested this brilliant touch.  Citrine stone drop earrings from the lovely collection of Curious Oddities by Kat Shura, $18.  They truly completed the look.

Added suede flower and belt - both second hand!

Back on the show in less than two weeks, and already looking forward to seeing Tamara and Co.!

'Repurposed' and 'Reclaimed' are powerful words and actions.  To me they are synonyms of creativity and always result in small but meaningful victories.  How do these words sound to you?

La photo du dimanche - La Boca, Buenos Aires

Bon dimanche! Je suis de retour chez Magda et ajoute avec enthousiasme une autre participation à la photo du dimanche. Ma dernière image a été choisie comme coup de coeur et ça m'a rendue bien heureuse.  Je dois tout à mon araignée ;)!  Je m'amuse à découvrir les adeptes de cet événement hebdomadaire et leurs coups de génie photographiques, merci de partager!

Voici ma 'tite contribution de cette semaine...les maisons traditionnelles du quartier La Boca, à Buenos Aires qui m'ont totalement charmée. Ce quartier est riche en histoire et est situé près du port de la capitale.  On dit qu'il a été d'abord habité par des immigrants italiens et aurait donné naissance au délicieux tango argentin. De nos jours, La Boca continue à être un quartier très modeste, riche en controverse et fréquenté par les foules fanatiques du Club Boca Junior qui se dirigent par milliers et très religieusement au stade temple de La Bombonera (ce qui me laisse plutôt froide, je vous avoue).

Casas de La Boca - soleil couchant

En ce qui concerne les maisons, elles datent du début du siècle et doivent leurs superbes couleurs aux restants de peinture nautique que les marins utilisaient pour peindre les bateaux amarrés au port de la capitale.  Comme la peinture était durable et gratuite elle était populaire!  Elle a certainement su colorer ce bout de ville et la revêtir d'une certaine mélancolie bien porteña.  Bonne semaine à tous!  Voici ma page FB si ça vous dit!

"F" is for Frittata!

Too many cooks in my kitchen

I don't like wasting food so my family's lack of enthusiasm (to say the least) about eating leftovers drives me crazy... Why do leftovers have a such a terrible rep?  Really, if you don't want to waste perfectly good food, you need to be creative, reinvent, and of course fool the customers a tad!  It's a gratifying experience to watch your offspring lick his plate and go on about the deliciousness of the tomato sauce (made with the newly blended eggplant he totally snubbed on his plate the night before no less). So hard for me to repress a smile while he's begging for more and then gets upset ‘cause you've ran out of leftovers! See?? Black magic is a powerful thing, from eggplants to liquid candy... ou presque. 

The key to reducing food waste depends on the cook's ability to estimate how much her-him loved ones will be wanting, willing, hoping to eat at any given point. I've been feeding this crowd for a while now, and I have concluded I'm at the mercy of too many things to get it right! From moods, to energy levels, to the influence of the sun on each and everyone's astrological sign, you name it. I also happen to have better days than others as a cook. Bottom line is even in the best of cases: my calculations are often off and I end up with too much food (the fact that I'm mathematically challenged, does not help me in the least!).

Here are more tricks on how to avoid wasting food!

Other than using black magic spells and a wand to reinvent leftovers, big machinery comes in handy: blender, bullet, chopper, you name it. The more evidence you destroy, the better. Eggs come in handy too. I have a few tricks in my hat to reinvent leftovers into delicious meals using stale bread, potatoes, rice, and my famous 'Clean-out-the-fridge' dish but I'm in a hurry today (gotta go shop for cool loot bags and that is way more fun than leftovers!) so let's just reinvent something we tend to cook too much of: pasta.  Here's a simple, yet delicious way to reinvent it  next time you're left with too much. The more you've got, the better. You can use any type of pasta to boot! 

What you need

In a big bowl, mix the leftover pasta (yes, with sauce and all) with beaten eggs

Add salt and pepper (easy here)

I like to add some parsley

Throw in any kind of cheese your family likes (we love shredded farmer's marble or mozzarella and parmesan cheese) and mix it in

Add whatever else is kicking around, like bacon, shrimp, prosciutto, go ahead and give your leftover pasta a twist!

 

Method
In a non-stick frying-pan warm up a good amount of olive oil

Poor in the pasta mixture

Should look something like this... 

Cook for about 5 minutes...  Then it's flipping time!  Sorry no pictures of my flip... that would be taking self-portraits to a whole new level! 

Using a big pot cover, cover the pan and flip the mix onto the cover.  The handle will make it easy to have a good hold and will help you slide back the pasta onto the frying pan.

You might want to do this over the sink, just in case of a flipping disaster - not that it's ever happened to me...

Cook the other side for a few minutes and serve.  Enjoy with a side of green salad and a glass of wine. 

Clearly, this picture should have been taken 2 min. earlier than it was, especially since my family doesn't particularly love crunchy frittata!! Thing is, there's just too many cooks in my kitchen (please refer to first picture, I think it illustrates my point perfectly!)

Eye Candy - It's all in the patterns!

All pictures and clothes by Anthropologie

Good day!  So I have been writing a lot about style of late, blame it on the change of season and delicious pictures and inspiration I just can't resist.  These four pictures have two things in common:

1- they are all by Anthropologie (I totally heart their goodies and the fact that they are now available in Canada)

2- they feature what most women (not men!) deliberately stay away from: pattern on pattern. 

Why?  Well, for one styling a pattern on pattern outfit seems hard to pull off, and it is.  Yet, it's so gorgeous!  The trick is to understand what colours work best on ourselves, balance out the size of the patterns with our bodies types, and the texture of the clothes.  Easier said than done, you say?  Right, you are.  Yet, it's de toute beauté and totally possible.  Have a look... 

I love the richness of the tapestry like pattern and texture

on the skirt, the wool sweater balances the look perfectly!

One word:  classy!

Probably my

favourite combo

Now, if you think the pictures above are just too much for you, here are other delicious patterns worn with solid colours for you to consider. Keep in mind that it's important to get the plain vs. pattern ratio just right.  Style is a fun balancing act!  If you are going for print, I just read that it's better to never choose a print that is larger than the palm of your hand.  Makes sense, if the scale is too big it will swamp you, and that wouldn't be a good thing.  Also, keep accessories to a minimum... and here I have to ask... Why do women insist on pairing necklaces to earrings?  Just do one of the other!

I can't help but notice how these looks work against the patterns on the wallpapers behind the models.  Just brilliant.  Pairing a pattern (or a print) with solid is certainly easier to pull off, yet a good understanding of colour and texture continue to be key.  The same applies to the shoes and handbags.  The ones featured are particularly brilliant, and they complete the looks perfectly. 

Last but not least, if you would like to experiment with patterns (and perhaps prints) but think you're too old to pull off the look (silly, silly) please do yourself a favour and read L'age Moyen's excellent post on the matter and truly get how it's All in the detail. 

Now I must ask....Which ensemble do you like best?  I think I'd like one of each!  Gotta love Anthropologie!

Family Room Makeover - The Old, the New and the Second Hand!

Our new space! Nuts about the Egg chairs... they swivel!!!

It's done! I'm so excited!! I just put the last touches to my family room on the main floor. You see mes amis, a few weeks back I decided to sell just about everything we owned on our main floor and refurnish the rooms (my husband survived just fine, thank you very much. I didn't even put him to work this time! :) I truly felt that we had too many things that either didn't look good or weren't working for our family anymore. My goal was to accomplish a new look with a very small budget... and so far so good!   I knew I had to sell the old to finance the new, so I turned to Kijiji-Craigslist but before doing so, I needed a good plan!  



Out with the old!

Yes, believe it or not there's a Latino method to my madness! The first thing I did was to consult with my friend and designer extraordinaire Harvey Winks from Home Vision. It's good to talk and think about a space with a friend before doing anything, especially if your friend happens to be a professional in the field and is willing to hear you out! Harvey's views and opinions are always key at the beginning of my projects. They give me a sense of direction and, in this case, confirmed what I already knew: I had too much crap stuff. We began by picking out the items that needed to go and identified what was staying.

Floor lamp, modern mirror and cushions stayed put

We then went over specific ideas (his and mine) for refurnishing the spaces.  He showed me some new trends - fresh out of the Contemporary Design Show in London - no less - and addressed colours, shape, lighting, etc.  I shared some pictures from my visual board.  A professional's input is always invaluable if you are planning on going thru the rest of the process solo!!

A touch of Vintage, curtain found at Mrs. Huizenga's,

vintage 1970 tea towel calendar re purposed as a cushion,

and blue luggage

The next step involved a calculator... I had to establish a budget.  I needed to figure out how much money I'd be making by selling the old furniture on Kijiji - Craisglist and how much would be needed to buy new or 'new to me' goodies.

Ikea's sofa and ottoman with storage

are perfect for daily use - it's washable!

I proceeded to sell two leather loveseats, a modern carpet, 1 leather chair, 2 white modern leather chairs, and 10 dining room Parson chairs (that I'm yet to replace!), got rid of another carpet and (sadly)three brass tables.  The rest of the 'stuff' found a new home within our place or was lovingly placed by the curb.  The key here, I think, is to sell things while they still look good so you can get a good portion of your initial investment back.  I know I did.

I feel that we have not only improved on looks, we have created a more functional space that works for the family.  First of all, we can sit more people.  The ottoman turns part of the sofa in a lounge chaise or becomes a coffee table with the help of a black tray.  To keep toys handy but out of sight, I eliminated a big wicker basket by this lovely vintage luggage.  It sure does the trick and adds interest!  I'm delighted to have tied my (oh, so precious!) vintage curtains with a perfectly serviceable carpet (I traded a brass coffee table for it!).  I'm glad I was able to keep my Indian sideboard, it's such a practical piece (it conceals all my outdoor dishes and some more toys)  I also love the fact that it adds a punch of colour to the room.  A quick note about the lovely wicker ottoman (AKA lobster cage) bought second hand for a song (he has a twin sister to boot!)  I love the way it ties in with the carpet and some of the greens in the curtain. It's also great to create extra seating or put under tired feet. You can't miss it on this picture....

So there you have it!  How to recreate a room, and be happy with the results!  Next stop, reinventing the living room and dining room!  What do you think so far?  What do you like best?  Do you think I'll stay on track with the budget?  Do you think cows can fly?  LOL.  Back with the rest soon.

La photo du dimanche : Les talents de mon araignée!

Bon dimanche!  Je suis de retour chez Magda et sa photo du dimanche que je néglige depuis quelque temps!  Désolée, mon amie!  Voici ma contribution...

Feuille d'érable cuivrée qui comme l'automne torontois, ne tient plus que par un fil...

Les araignées sont des artistes, tout le monde sait ça.  Prenez les prouesses de Charlotte l'araignée rendue célèbre par la littérature américaine et vous en serez convaincu.  Championne en marketing, ses messages subliminaux sauvent le cochon Wilbur de l'abattoir.  Même le gars IKEA ne peut que rêver d'un tel talent créatif!

L'araignée artiste qui habite chez moi a des talents aussi.  Elle aime se nicher dans un coin du vieux porche d'entrée de ma maison.  Ce qui est énervant intéressant est qu'elle s'entête à tisser des toiles à travers le cadre de la porte d'entrée.  Un départ subit se traduit par une coiffe en soie instantanée sur la tête qui colle sur les cheveux courts comme ça s'peut pas!  Faut croire qu'elle aime nous garder au chaud! 

L'automne persiste à s'accrocher à la ville reine, mais il faut se rendre à l'évidence: il ne tient plus que par un fil. Un fil tissé par mon araignée bien à moi.  Elle a su secourir une feuille à la dérive et l'a laissée suspendue bien en vue pour qu'on puisse admirer ses couleurs cuivrées et du coup, ses talents personnels de spidergirl. C'est pas rien tout ça.



Le message de l'araignée est clair: vivez le moment présent et accrochez vous au derniers moments cuivrés de l'automne et couvrez votre tête ou elle s'en chargera! Je me demande si quand elle parle, elle a un accent sexy suédois, mon araignée... 

Bon dimanche aux adeptes de Magda et Cie.! P.S.: Psst... super concours international cette semaine chez-moi, si ça vous dit, aller aimer ma page Facebook pour participer, c'est par ici!

Équiper bébé sans se ruiner et idées cadeaux pour les jeunes familles!

Good day!  Today is all about 'Shopping for a New Baby Without Braking the bank and Gifting Young Families' (for English version click on 'translator' top right on home page!) 

Mon p'tit bonhomme

Bon vendredi!  Voici l'information et les conseils que j'ai présenté à RelieF - avec Gisèle Quenneville, en compagnie de trois mamans extraordinaires et la journaliste Mélanie R. Boudreau qui est sur le point d'accoucher.  Quelle belle soirée!

Pour voir le segment cliquez ici ou si vous préférez lire, suivez-moi...


Il est facile de perdre la tête, s'emporter dans l'enthousiasme et s'endetter quand il est temps d'équiper bébé!  Le marché est riche en produits ciblant les jeunes familles! Mon conseil?  Restez centrés sur vos besoins de base!  Faites-vous plaisir, mais gardez un esprit pratique et dépensez bien votre argent! Voici un mini-guide pour démystifier les besoins de base pour équiper bébé sans se ruiner.  Commençons par la layette! 

Les besoins de base d’un nouveau-né sont plutôt simples...
Pyjamas, grenouillères, chaussettes (entre 6-9 de chaque), quelques vêtements chauds (l'hiver sera à nos portes bientôt!), des draps, serviettes et couvertures aux textures douces (2-3 de chaque), sembleraient suffire pour les premières semaines. Ce qui est important de retenir côté layette est d’abord que les bébés ont besoin d’être changés souvent (on change 75 couches par semaine par enfant!) et grandissent rapidement.  Il est donc recommandé d’avoir une variété d’articles de base et quelques grandeurs différentes pour commencer, mais n'achetez pas trop! 



January Baby - L'hiver arrive!

Il est également sage d’acheter des produits lavables et en coton de bonne qualité pour éviter les allergies.  Il est facile de se laisser emporter et trop acheter.  Pour une liste complète de vêtements et articles essentiels à se procurer avant la naissance du bébé, on peut se tourner vers le site Canadien Baby Center (disponible en français)  pour obtenir une liste complète de suggestions et lire des discussions pertinentes en ligne.   

Quand épargner?Il est sage d’épargner dans les articles et produits qui ne seront pas utilisés longtemps.  Je pense notamment à la bassinette, le parc, la balançoire, et même à la table à langer.   Le système d’échange ou de rotation entre amis ou membres de la même famille avec des jeunes enfants fonctionne à merveille pour ces articles (qui prennent aussi énormément de place!).   D’autre part, on peut très bien trouver ces produits (en particulier: commodes et des tables à lange) ainsi que certains accessoires dans le marché seconde main pour une fraction du prix en magasin, mais attention : il faut respecter les normes de la sécurité notamment en question des lits et sièges d’auto! 

 

La poussette double de Phil and Ted...

Quand dépenser?



Pour ce qui est de ce que j’appelle ‘les plus gros morceaux du casse-tête’ comme le lit de bébé, le sac à couches familial (voir le vidéo sur le sac Charlie de SoYoung, ça vaut la peine!), le porte-bébé, le siège d’auto, la chaise haute ou de table et bien-sûr: la poussette!   C’est ici qu’il faudra réfléchir à ses besoins personnels, à bien étudier le marché pour comparer les produits offerts, considérer l’avis de personnes avec beaucoup d’expérience, faire ses choix et finalement: sortir son portefeuille.  Par contre, ce qu’on ne peut pas emprunter, partager ou acheter seconde main, peut toujours être suggéré comme idée cadeau...

4 ans + 3 continents + millage infini...

Égale...Aucun regret!!!

La ‘liste de enregistre’… doit-on s’en tenir pour offrir un cadeau?  
S'en tenir?  Certainement pas!  Par contre, il est essentiel de la visiter pour se familiariser avec les besoins de la famille.  C'est une excellente source d’inspiration pour offrir un cadeau qui sera utile à bébé et aux parents.  La liste de registre, n’est ni plus ni moins qu'une banque de besoins précis, à nous de la considérer!  Elle offre aussi une variété d’informations au sujet de leurs goûts personnels, par exemple.  On peut facilement s’y inspirer.  Assurez-vous de bien communiquer vos choix d’achats pour ne pas dupliquer les cadeaux!  Optez pour des bonnes marques ou des produits fabriqués et vendus localement, ça vaut toujours la peine!  

Une note sur les cadeaux personnalisés!

Les cadeaux personnalisés sont toujours appréciés et ont tendance à être conservés longtemps, voilà pourquoi ils valent la peine d’être considérés d’autant plus qu’ils sont utiles.  Voici mes produits préférés et ceux que notre famille a su conserver au fil des ans!  D'abord, les couvertures d’Admiral Road.   Concours à venir chez VSp, je vous laisse deviner le prix!!!

Il y a aussi les petits bancs de Jollywood qui sont jolis et utiles. 

Prévoyez du temps pour les commander les cadeaux personnalisés et les envoyer et aussi assurez-vous que le nom de l'enfant soit bien définitif (il arrive aux nouveaux parents de changer d'idée... je vous assure!) 

Gâter les nouveaux parents, c'est simple comme bonjour! 
Gâter les parents c’est plus simple qu’on pense et il est possible de le faire en dépensant trois fois rien (ou presque)!  Avoir un enfant c’est toute une aventure et c’est aussi très exigeant.  Il y a une foule de trucs simples à considérer notamment: la nourriture.  Oui, elle s’offre en cadeau!  Préparez votre recette préférée et offrez-la prête à servir ou congelée pour dépanner les parents fatigués.  Vous pouvez aussi vous tourner vers les services offerts en ligne ou les compagnies qui se spécialisent dans le domaine de la nourriture congelée comme SupperSolved.

N'oublions pas les services de nettoyage pour la maison ou l’entretien extérieur, et quoi dire des soins personnels comme les massages?  Les nouveaux parents vous seront reconnaissants!  Les services photographiques professionnels ou amateurs sont aussi bien reçus et comme toujours, les fleurs, le vin, le chocolat et les livres, peuvent être des touches parfaites durant les premiers mois de bébé.

Des cadeaux qui ne coûtent rien? Oui, ça existe!

Le temps se donne en cadeau aussi!  Les offres pour garder le bébé et donner du répit aux parents sont un cadeau sans pareil.  Il suffit d’y penser, un peu d’imagination et d’attention peuvent simplifier la vie des jeunes familles.  Offrez-vous le plaisir d'être en compagnie de bébé et gardez le portefeuille intacte!