OM MOM STYLE, with Solly Baby

Whether you’ve been here since my first baby (our son) or came around our newest’s arrival (baby girl), you probably already know that I am a babywearing faithful both by choice and otherwise.

Naming Our Daughter, Naïa

6 Favourite Toronto Spots, For Baby Items

New Year, New Everything

If you’ve long followed The OM Edit, or former ‘Peeks At Five Ft.’, then you know just how many “adventures” we’ve been on. That’s what I call them — our moves, team changes, free agency, last minute contract signing and everything in between like marriage itself, parenthood... you know.. adventures!

And while we love each new adventure as it comes, we of course have favourites. The next, easily finding it’s way into the top few.

Bilingualism / Second Languages With Kids

After much interest regarding some insta-stories shared of R working on his Spanish, I compiled a tidbit on what / why / how we ended up pursuing a language other than our own with him.

Why I Encourage My Kid To Risk Falling Down

It’s not what it sounds like — not exactly, at least. 

Little & Lively (Giveaway)

You could be new around here and probably still figure out my love for essentials — wardrobe, kitchen, beauty. And when it comes to children’s item, the same applies. 

I’ll spare you the long and detailed with all that and keep it to the point. It’s hard enough being a parent these days. Everywhere you turn there are too many choices, (new) rules, advertisements. Keeping up with it all can be ridiculously consuming. That’s why I have wholeheartedly adopted the “buy better, buy less” idea even in my choices as a parent. 

Weekend Basics

Weekends are nothing fancy in our household – in fact, most of the time, they hardly even seem like “weekends”. Generally my husband has a game, sometimes two, occasionally three (if you can even stand the thought). But when we do weekend, it’s worth every minute – which is usually spent finding a new coffee shop, hitting up a fruit market, and a whole lot of outside time with a rambunctious toddler. 

This calls for all of the basics – a favourite jean, a sneaker and my ultimate go-to, a classic tee (added a leather jacket because the weather was that mild that I felt obligated to wear something other than a coat equal to my body weight).

A Birthday Note

I love these photographs! They don’t seem like anything special. They were taken by my very own husband. With no spectacular background, or out of this world outfit. Nothing “goals” about them or anything of the sorts. But they captioned themselves. 

“Me, at 26. Arms full, heart full, grateful.”

Life Lately, Lessons From Our Children

It’s so funny, all the things a child can come up with to ask. Often the answers are redundant to us because we forget even having ever learned them. But there is one topic in particular, Rhe is really fond of, that does have me fooled. Tomorrow!

The Giving Manger

The holidays are fun. They really are. But I’ve found that there was a period of time where they lost the magic a little. Don’t get me wrong – I still looked forward to it and opted into every festivity as possible but it was more about the presents and the parties. Then we became parents! And almost instantly it became magical again. 

Fall Colour Palette

I'm no big fan of colour. I'm very happy with minimalism in just about all areas of life. However, when I saw the Pantone Color Guide for this autumn, I was pretty intrigued by some of the tones (warm taupe, spicy mustard, sharkskin) and the style pairings of them.

Easily, my favourite of them is the sharkskin, a soft but definite grey as it blends with my usuals. But what I really fell in love with that was out of my "norm," was the combination of a muted tone such as the grey with a very fall friendly rusty or mustard toned pop.

I was sure, after already clicking "confirm order", that I was going to absolutely hate this burnt mock neck knit. What in the world was I thinking? I'll never wear it. I can't pull that off. Does it even go with anything? I'm so glad that I did though. It really seems like a bold colour but when combined with other colours that are muted or monochromatic, it's really not that overwhelming.

I tend to fill R's wardrobe with minimal tones as well, but even for him, it doesn't hurt to add other warm hues like camels or the occasional (big trending) olive for the season. As long as it's all easily combined and practical for his toddler adventuring, like this outing we took as a family to check some coffee shops and health food stores, then it works for me.

I highly suggest checking out the Pantone 2016 colour chart and shaking things up a little this season. We did, in more ways than one.

Browse the style or shop both our looks here, via ShopStyle.

Small business brands: baby scarf (www.mymila.ca) teether (www.minimomo.com)

XO, Olivia Murray.

Home Grown Books x Wangechi Mutu

I've long been a lover of arts, creative-types, abstract ways. Having a child no where near changed that. Since before he was born, I hoped he would be a happy open minded child. And while it's still early to tell who he really is or will become, I appreciate his acceptance of my unorthodox ways, old school play, and artistic inspiration day-to-day.

I was recently approached by Home Grown Books (an independent publishing company based out of New York and devoted to organic-creative learning) regarding an upcoming launch. Seriously, I'm in love! It's not everyday that ideas which resonate so much with my own, cross my path in business ventures. Together with world renowned artist, Wangechi Mutu, they created a book for the curious and creative at heart. We were lucky enough to receive a copy before public availability and what a treat that was.

The story is a hard-covered board book full of compelling collages done by Mutu encouraging children to exercise their imagination, while taking in objects that are not what they seem at first glance. What Do You See, is just one of the releases within an artist series featuring professionally recognized contemporary art, made in tiny hands size with inquisitive hearts at mind. Not only is the book super beneficial to your own home and experience, but it's printed in veggie ink, on 100% recycled paperboard with a portion of the profits going towards Every Mother Counts. The book will be available for pre-sale, costing only $9.95 (USD), starting August 15th. You can find it and so much more through Home Grown Books' online shop.

 

 

Time stands still best in moments that look suspiciously like ordinary life.
So let them wonder, dream, believe - and tell me, what do you see?

XO, Olivia Murray.

Naming Baby Murray

We often get questions about Rheo's name; from pronunciation and the spelling, or where we found such a name and was it hard choosing it. When it comes down to it, I don't feel like it was hard deciding because we didn't find the name, it found us. No seriously. It all started on our wedding night. (This is PG, I promise). The minister that married us had a tradition of giving the bride and groom their first gift. Something loved and local. So we decided that night to open that and only that gift. To my absolute joy it was a box of gourmet truffles and smoothies from a chocolatier I was already in love with, Rhéo Thompson. Every piece is like heaven melting in your mouth but that could fill an entire other post. As we stared at the chocolates, almost too good to eat my husband asks "what's Rheo Thompson anyway?" I explained to him that it was the original chocolatier, his name. We looked at each other and smiled. It was clear we were both taken by it but proceeded to eat chocolates as one must do.

Fast forward to our baby moon, in an über with a super cool driver and exchanging life stories. He tells us all about how marriage and children are both amazing and not to be discouraged by the world's changing take on all that. As only an über driver would do, he reached into a little dish he had and handed us each a gem stone – a "gift" from his home, straight out of the tropicals of Rio de Janeiro. Making wide eyes at each other in the back seat, we accepted the stones and caught our flight quite smitten about the occurrence.

On the other side of that flight we would end up walking beachside between the mountains of beautiful Whistler and meet a man and his dog from Ontario. Naturally, we had to stop and talk. I mean, what are the odds. After some short conversation, we find our manners and introduce ourselves, in which we got in return "I'm Rheo." You guys! I'm shocked even rethinking about it. My husband asks him if he spells it "R-i-o," and he tells us "no it's actually R-h-e-o." Like, shut up! No way! It was pretty much decided then and there that our baby's name was found in a box of gourmet chocolates, a unique über ride and the most stunning of mountains.

So we found a name but my, my is it ever uncommon! We didn't care. It was meant to be. But how often would people spell it like the place? When would we ever find an ugly cup in his name? What would people (kids) say? Taking that all into account but in love with the name, I sought out companies that do name customization. And believe me, I didn't stop until I found plenty. Once I did, it was set. Rheo it would be.

One of my most favourite items was gifted after his earth-side arrival. A book, The Boy Who Lost Him Name. A pre-set story line with fill ins based on each letter of the given name. In search for the lost name, the character has to find every composing letter and each has a story attached. It's a beautifully illustrated, thick paged book that every kid with a unique name or different spelling just HAS to have. Common name? Traditional spelling? Still great for helping your kid learn the make up of their name.

We truly love it so much, myself and the creators of Lost My Name are helping you get a copy in your hands for less. Using my link (HERE) you can get a discount and have one on it's way to you ASAP. It's a great keepsake for personal having or one-off gift for someone else. The premise of encouraging children that their name is a part of this world too, no matter how differently spelt, cultural or unheard of, is absolutely genius to me!

A few of my other favourite Rheo incorporated products are included below:

Little Lizard - (swaddle pictured) and other custom pieces. 

Kat & Stiina - The infamous black, "Rheo" handstamped blanket we bring just about everywhere.
Name Puzzle - Old school, wooden puzzles, made up of your child's name. (*Canadian).
Bannor Toys - From rattles, to blocks, to stacking toys, Bannor Toys is a family run company handcrafting toys with included customization.

Here's to littles everywhere feeling big, brave and significantly unique.

Don't miss out on this opportunity and stay authentic!

XO, Olivia Murray.

#MothersPromise

There are a lot of promises I would love to make my son; promise he'll never feel failure, pain or heartbreak, promise he will never get lost or lied to, promise he will never be turned down or outdone – but I can't. As parents, we are discussing more and more the things we cannot promise and how our job isn't to be able to promise the world but to be there when the world takes it toll. 

Figuratively speaking we can't promise Rheo the world, but hypothetically speaking we can. 

This month I'm partnering with Pampers x Walmart to share my personal #motherspromise, as well as one we can all make in our journey through motherhood.

The world is exactly what we want to give our son - in a sense of knowledge and experience. Between my husband and I, travel has been a plenty. Through such experiences we've come to have a broadened understanding of culture, grown an appreciation for religion that is not of our own and gained a more indepth ideal of what the world outside of our own backyards really consists of. These are lessons, values, and memories we wish to gift our son.

With the lifestyle that comes due to our careers, things are unpredictable and not always consistent. We could be living anywhere, any given season and have to up and move at any time. Projects, collaborations, and shows needing covered could have us on back to back flights or catching trains, taxis, you name it. I've often worried if Rheo would be missing something in his childhood because of all this. However, there is something I can promise him within it all.

(Sharing pictures from my husband's and I's travels - before parenthood, during pregnancy, and with Rheo).

Dear Rheo,

I promise you a life full of wandering adventure.

I promise you lessons that are more than just textbook.

I promise to show what the world really is - from my hip or hand in hand.

I promise when the time comes to let you explore it for yourself - chasing you with a camera or awaiting your stories.

I promise to teach you everything I've already learned - how differentiating one country and ethnicity is from another. Or it's people - why they dress how they do, how to appreciate their food.

I promise you will never grow up ignorant to the religion of others or fear someone for the colour of their skin.

I promise you will learn why we love our home country as much as we do.

And even though I can't promise you all your memories will take place there, that you won't have to make new friends, or have spent a life in your childhood home - I promise you a first row seat at as much of the world as we can possibly manage.

 Above all else, I promise you a life full of sight and adventure, love and laughter.

You are without a doubt, my greatest adventure.

And with that, I promise you a life of nothing less.

Be it in our many moves and travels or within our day-to-day play, a small but significant promise we make, is keeping Rheo happy, comfortable and dry. That's why we love Pampers Premium Care. Suitable for sensitive skin, highly breathable, and hypoallergenic - Pampers Premium diapers are also equipped with a wetness indicator for mom and dad but very effective and durable for the days you're not on your A-game. Pampers Premium Care diapers and baby wipes are now available at Walmart and Walmart.com. 

What's your promise to your little(s)?

I will be sharing a way to keep your promise in front of you in the following post. In the meanwhile, join the movement by sharing a snap of your babe and your own wishes to Instagram, using the hashtag #motherspromise.

XO, Olivia Murray.

This is a sponsored post. All opinions and views remain that of my own.

I do not endorse products or brands in which I do not truly use or support.

℅ Acorn Influence, Pampers & Walmart.com