There are so many fabulous bloggers out there, and we want to highlight them on Cityline.ca. We’ll be profiling different lifestyle bloggers from month to month — they might write about food, fashion, beauty, décor, parenting, entertaining, gardening, you get the idea! For October 2015, we're putting the spotlight on mommy blog Baby & Life. Run by Yashy Murphy, her goal is to show her readers how they can "maintain the pre-baby life, post-baby" as she travels and eats her away around the world with her two small children in tow. Here's our Q&A with Yashy: When did you start Baby and Life? What was your inspiration for starting the blog? Baby & Life was born in November 2011. I was at home with a 2 week old and was bored! We decided to travel the following month and we were already out at restaurants and pubs with a newborn and so I decided to write about our adventures and how we were introducing the newest family member to our lifestyle. We love how you show your readers how you can “maintain the pre-baby life, post-baby”. Why is this an important focus for you with your blog? Thank you! Everyone told us our life would change and that we wouldn’t be able to travel, dine and hang out with our friends once the little one came along. I was DETERMINED to prove them wrong because I knew my husband and I travelled and dined out at nice restaurants as kids. I decided to share HOW we were living in downtown Toronto with a baby. I want other urban couples to realize that life doesn’t end once they have a child. You can maintain your pre-baby lifestyle post baby IF you WANT to. What top 3 tips can you give to our readers who might be struggling to maintain a balance in their life with young kids?

1. JUST do it! Don’t worry too much about what can go wrong or who will say what.
2. Don’t be afraid to engage in social experiments. Take the kid to a pub if that’s what you want to do!
3. Build a supportive network. Whether it be family or friends, surround yourself with people who want to see you maintain your current lifestyle.

You’ve travelled to over 33 cities in 8 countries since you’ve had your first child, and now you even travel with two! Do you have any advice or tricks of the trade on travelling with young children? Every flight and car ride is different. Some days we luck out and some days we don’t. However, we still ensure we expose the kids to new ideas, experiences and people. The more they travel, the more they WANT to travel. The key to travel with young kids is going prepared with toys, snacks and a good attitude. Go with an agenda but be flexible to change the plan. What do you hope readers get from visiting your blog? That you can still live the life you dreamed of when you first became a couple…even with kids along for the ride. Tell us about a post that you’re particularly proud of and want to share with Cityline.ca readers. My post on screaming kids in restaurants is one of my favourites because a restaurant we had dined at during our travels were apparently banning kids (according to a reader who left a comment on our original review). Through the powers of social media, I reached out to the owner and soon realized that things weren’t as it seemed. This post was my way of not only sharing tips for restaurant behavior, but also as a way of thanking the chefs who welcome families with well-behaved young kids. What’s your top advice for other bloggers? Don’t be afraid to voice your opinions. Watch out for self-censorship – don’t be afraid to hit publish. Most of all, don’t stop writing. It’s easy to lose your writing mojo, so ensure you maintain a frequent schedule. What are some other blogs you love reading? I have a couple that inspire me, make me laugh and totally fuel my wanderlust. Here’s some favourites: Casey Palmer, Globetrotting Mama & Solo Mom Takes Flight. We want to hear from you! Do you know a blogger we should feature on Cityline.ca? Maybe it’s you! Email us at submissions@cityline.ca and include “Cityline Featured Blogger” in the subject line. And don’t forget to include a link to the blog! Look forward to hearing from you!

There are so many fabulous bloggers out there, and we want to highlight them on Cityline.ca. We’ll be profiling different lifestyle bloggers from month to month — they might write about food, fashion, beauty, décor, parenting, entertaining, gardening, you get the idea! For August 2015, we're putting the spotlight on adventure travel blog Hike Bike Travel. Run by Leigh McAdam, her blog allows us to join her as she explores amazing far-off destinations and discovers the stunning beauty in our very own country. Here's our Q&A with Leigh: When did you start Hike Bike Travel and what was your inspiration behind starting the blog? After my husband and I had sold a company in 2008, I spent a lot of time thinking about what the next stage of my life could look like. Travel had been a passion since I was a teenager so in the end I fell into blogging some time in 2009. I knew nothing about social media, photography, SEO, marketing, blogging relationships – really anything that today I would consider basic requirements to be successful. But I have persevered and made it a point to keep learning. We know you’ve gone on so many amazing travel experiences, but can you tell us about your most amazing, most memorable, once-in-a-lifetime travel experience? At 15 I went to England and Wales on a month-long bike trip with 20 other high school students from Ottawa. It was memorable on so many fronts. Actually stepping on English soil – which until that time was the stuff of history books – was a powerful feeling. Learning to get along with a group, fix my bike, be accountable for my decisions, manage spending money – all of those things as well as seeing castles, drinking in pubs, eating baked beans and fried tomatoes for breakfast have stuck with me. The big takeaway from the trip was how much independence I had compared to students today – and how that sense of wonder and responsibility has actually shaped me for life. [caption id="attachment_83075" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Ronda, Spain[/caption] And, on the flip side, could you share with us your most disastrous travel experience? And did you learn any lessons from your trip-gone-wrong? Right after university I traveled to Fiji, New Zealand and Australia for five months. In Sydney I met up with a friend and we both agreed, in the interests of saving money, we would hitchhike to Melbourne – almost 900 kilometres away. We were offered a ride by a couple of truckers but had to split up to do it. This was way before cellphones or the internet – and when we decided to do this my friend had my bag with my passport and all my money. We got in the trucks in the evening, saw each other in the wee hours at some dodgy rest stop and then nothing for hours. Neither of us had any idea where the other was. At one point my trucker thought he should be joining me in the back of the cab. By this time I’m scared and must have said something to put him off because he got back to driving. Around 6 the next morning my friend and I were unceremoniously dumped off on some back street in Melbourne, as the truckers must have been in radio contact. Big lessons: never get separated from your passport or money; never split up in the interests of safety; never accept a ride from a trucker at night. I’d say never hitchhike but I still believe there are extenuating circumstances when it is safe to do so, but NEVER ALONE. We particularly love reading about how much exploring you’ve done in our very own country. What Canadian destination do you think more people should discover? Canada’s North. The Northwest Territories and the Yukon are surprisingly accessible, Nunavut less so. The landscapes are empty, big and awe-inspiring. There is a lifetime of adventures to do, and by no means are they all wild and difficult. The wildlife in places is spectacular too. [caption id="attachment_83083" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Banff National Park[/caption] Tell us about a few posts that you’re particularly proud of and want to share with Cityline.ca readers. I did a 3-day backpacking trip in Banff National Park when the wildflowers were at their peak. It was a mind blowing, world-class display and also accessible as a day hike from Sunshine Village. Last summer I did a canoe trip in the Northwest Territories that didn’t break the bank. People think of the north and then the cost. This trip excluding airfare cost $450 for 5 days. The canoeing was glorious, the scenery was beautiful, with some of it reminiscent of the Georgian Bay. What do you hope readers get from visiting your blog? I truly hope I inspire people to go somewhere that would never have crossed their mind before reading a post. My other big wish is that I get people off the couch and outside to see the beauty and nature that can be theirs with a little physical effort. [caption id="attachment_83087" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Namibia[/caption] What are some other blogs you love reading? Mike's Bloggity Blog for entertainment and the male perspective. Hecktic Travels for photography and travel inspiration. Monkeys and Mountains for the Canadian adventure perspective abroad. Travels with Baggage for her crisp, edgy writing style. What’s your top advice for other bloggers? Do what it takes to become a good photographer with so much emphasis on the visual these days. Align yourself with a group of bloggers you like and trust for advice and sharing. Be generous on social media. [caption id="attachment_83093" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Algonquin Park[/caption] We want to hear from you! Do you know a blogger we should feature on Cityline.ca? Maybe it’s you! Email us at submissions@cityline.ca and include “Cityline Featured Blogger” in the subject line. And don’t forget to include a link to the blog! Look forward to hearing from you!

There are so many fabulous bloggers out there, and we want to highlight them on Cityline.ca. We’ll be profiling different lifestyle bloggers from month to month — they might write about food, fashion, beauty, décor, parenting, entertaining, gardening, you get the idea! For July 2015, we're putting the spotlight on foodie blog Dinner with Julie. Run by Julie Van Rosendaal, her blog allows us a peek into her Calgary kitchen while she chronicles her adventures with food. Here's our Q&A with Julie: When did you start Dinner with Julie and what was the inspiration behind starting the blog? I launched Dinner with Julie back on January 1, 2008, although the idea came years before. The concept was to post everything I ate for dinner for an entire year. Every day. The idea came about because people kept asking me what we ate for dinner, and requesting an everyday meals kind of cookbook, which I found uninspiring -- there are so many out there already, and when you think about it, most people don't use a recipe to get dinner on the table every day of the week. Most days it's a matter of pulling together something you know: spaghetti and meatballs, a favourite casserole, or doctoring up whatever you have on hand, like slathering a pita with hummus and topping it with leftover roasted chicken! So I figured it would be a mix of recipes and ideas: a sort of reality cookbook. January 1 kept coming and going, and finally I had to bite the bullet and just do it. I was hesitant to start because I knew I'd be committed! And when I started, it already felt like I was too late and missed the boat. Ha! Cooking for a family can be hard! Do you have any tips for dealing with picky eaters and different palates? It's funny -- I'm also the food editor of Parents Canada magazine, and people always ask, "how do I feed my picky eater?" But kids are all picky in their own way, just like grown-ups! I always encourage parents to get their kids involved in the cooking process, the shopping and decision-making -- not only because it teaches important life skills, but it makes them feel like they have a role to play in getting dinner on the table. But I don't subscribe to the theory that if they'll make it, they'll eat it. My son loves to cook, but if it's something he's not interested in eating, he's making it for us! I suppose my biggest advice is to encourage them to try a variety of dishes, and to be good role models when it comes to healthy eating. Kids pick up more on what you do than what you say! I also try not to be negative about some foods, like vegetables, but to celebrate them and avoid furthering any negative stigma. Where do you find inspiration for new recipe ideas? I find inspiration everywhere -- with people, places, ingredients, different cuisines -- sometimes I get panicky that there's so much food, so little time. I love learning from home cooks who have been doing it for years -- my grandma was the best pastry maker, and taught me how to do it. I love learning how to make pasta from Italian home cooks, peroghies from Ukranian babas -- there's so much to learn from so many people. What are your top 3 favourite ingredients to cook with? Impossible to choose! Whatever is in season. I also particularly love good butter, cream and eggs. Tell us about a few posts that you’re particularly proud of and want to share with Cityline.ca readers. I have a few favourite posts, like the salted caramel cupcakes we spontaneously made one day when my 16 year old niece came over and wanted to bake. She was about to go to the store to buy some caramel to drizzle overtop and instead I taught her how to make it out of butter, sugar and cream. Her mind was blown. I love this post because I love gooey cinnamon buns. And one of my most popular posts is for Julia Child's homemade sandwich bread, which is now in regular rotation at our house. What do you hope readers get from visiting your blog? I love being able to build a direct relationship with my readers, in real time -- writing for magazines means always cooking out of season. I hope to be able to connect with my readers, and that they are inspired to cook, not intimidated by the process. What are some other blogs you love reading? Like so many others, I've been a long time fan of Seven Spoons, Orangette, Smitten Kitchen, and Dinner a Love Story, I love The Tiffin Box from Edmonton and Remedial Eating, and am always discovering others. It's amazing how much talent is out there. What’s your top advice for other bloggers? You always hear "content is king!", but it's not enough anymore. It is important, of course -- if you don't have great content, you'll get lost in the shuffle -- but I think those that stand out are those that really use their own unique voice, and that style is reflected on other social media platforms as well. We want to hear from you! Do you know a blogger we should feature on Cityline.ca? Maybe it’s you! Email us at submissions@cityline.ca and include “Cityline Featured Blogger” in the subject line. And don’t forget to include a link to the blog! Look forward to hearing from you!

There are so many fabulous bloggers out there, and we want to highlight them on Cityline.ca. We’ll be profiling different lifestyle bloggers from month to month — they might write about food, fashion, beauty, décor, parenting, entertaining, gardening, you get the idea! For June 2015, we're putting the spotlight on home décor and DIY blog Pink Little Notebook. Run by Sabrina, her blog is a chronicle of her creative DIYs and her amazing before & after room makeover reveals. Here's our Q&A with Sabrina: When did you start Pink Little Notebook and what was the inspiration behind starting the blog? How did you come up with your blog’s name? It all started back in 2012. My husband and I just moved into our second home together. We were amateur DIYers who shared a common love for transforming dated spaces. Through trial and error, we quickly learned new skills and cost effective ways to spiff up our surroundings. We were hooked into the home improvement lifestyle. I began Pink Little Notebook in February 2013 as a way to flex my creative muscles even further. I started to document every project that took place, every new craft that I tried or just posted things that inspired me. As for my blog name, I’ve always kept a pink notebook on my desk. I would record just about everything in there from personal events to renovation notes to reminders. Although, I used my notebooks as a way to organize myself, I also used them to reflect back from time-to-time. With that being said, my blog really is the extended detailed version of my handwritten notes! Your before & after posts blow us away – we can’t believe how you completely transform your rooms! Where do you get your inspiration from when designing a room makeover? For me, inspiration comes from just about anything. It could be a piece of second-hand furniture that I found at the store, a random piece of art, or just an image I found from Pinterest or Houzz that triggers an initial thought. Tell us about a few posts that you’re particularly proud of and want to share with Cityline.ca readers. It’s so hard to choose a couple of posts. I love each before and after room makeover we’ve accomplished to date and the knowledge we’ve gained from every space. However, if I had to pick the two posts I’m particularly proud of, it would be my first makeover on Pink Little Notebook — my home office, and a recent makeover in our current house — the front foyer. We know it can be hard to keep a design project under budget, especially when it’s a major room makeover! What advice do you have for other DIYers who want to create an amazing new look for less? Number one: If you’re able and willing to DIY, you're already cutting the price down by half (if not more!). Pat yourself on the back! Number two: Imagination is as valuable as having a big budget! You don’t need to gut a room or have unlimited funds to do home improvements — work with what you have and only add what you need. Number three: Thrift store or prefab pieces are an excellent way to decorate a room on a budget. Not only is it pocket-friendly, but you can really customize the pieces to make it your own. What do you hope readers get from visiting your blog? Inspiration! It’s honestly terrifying to put your home on display (the good, the bad, and the ugly) but I think one of the greatest feelings in the world is knowing you inspired at least one other person to have the confidence to tackle a project in their own home. What are some other blogs you love reading? Jenna Sue, Centsational Girl, Christine Dovey, In the Fun Lane and Chris Loves Julia. What’s your top advice for other bloggers? Just focus on what you love. Be passionate. Be your best authentic self. There is no winning formula to blogging. It’s all about your perspective, your style and your online persona. It’s your space so just be you! We want to hear from you! Do you know a blogger we should feature on Cityline.ca? Maybe it’s you! Email us at submissions@cityline.ca and include “Cityline Featured Blogger” in the subject line. And don’t forget to include a link to the blog! Look forward to hearing from you!

There are so many fabulous bloggers out there, and we want to highlight them on Cityline.ca. We’ll be profiling different lifestyle bloggers from month to month — they might write about food, fashion, beauty, décor, parenting, entertaining, gardening, you get the idea! For May 2015, we're putting the spotlight on foodie blog The First Mess. Run by Laura Wright, the blog is her space for foodie experimentation, with a particular emphasis on cooking with seasonal ingredients and for special diets. Here's our Q&A with Laura: When did you start The First Mess and what was the inspiration behind starting the blog? How did you come up with your blog’s name? I started my blog in June of 2011 and it actually began at the encouragement of my friend. I had just graduated from a nutritional culinary program and had been working in restaurants for a while. She was always asking me questions about cooking for wellness and how to prepare certain seasonal produce items. After a while, it just seemed like those interactions would be really worthwhile online combined with photographs to inspire. The name is taken from M.F.K. Fisher's An Alphabet for Gourmets. In the section under P, she talks about the first mess of peas and how that crop is so eagerly anticipated because it signifies spring's return. I related to that reverence for the earth that she speaks of and thought "the first mess" fit just right for a seasonal food blog focusing on wellness. We love great food photography and yours is gorgeous! Do you have a background in photography? I don't have a formal background in photography and have always been a big fan of the "learn by doing" approach for the most part. Google has all the answers that I can't figure out. I subscribe to a lot of blogs and food media and always seem to pick something up in terms of styling from there, too. I love that everything and anything you want to learn is literally at your fingertips. Tell us about a few posts that you’re particularly proud of and want to share with Cityline.ca readers. I love the photos in these posts: really good tomato soup, (gluten-free + vegan) chocolate hazelnut torte, and the cauliflower and chickpea "rice + peas" salad. My most popular recipe is the spaghetti squash noodle bowl with lime peanut sauce. Where do you find inspiration for new recipe ideas? Most of my inspiration comes from the life cycle of the season or some of the movements and happenings of my life. If we're travelling a lot, I'll be blogging about snacks and salads that pack up well. If we're in peak holiday season, I tend to feature some hearty and healthy main courses and stews. What are your top 3 favourite ingredients to cook with? Coconut butter (which contains the oil as well as the coconut meat), lemons, and any seasonal produce. What do you hope readers get from visiting your blog? I've always wanted to communicate that living and eating well could be within reach for anyone and that it can be elegant and beautiful, too. Taking control of your health by choosing truly good food should never feel like a sacrifice. What are some other blogs you love reading? I love The Artful Desperado, Vegetarian Ventures, Nutrition Stripped, The Flourishing Foodie, My Darling Lemon Thyme, and so many more. What’s your top advice for other bloggers? Be yourself, be passionate, work hard, and make sure you're really in love with what you're putting out there. We want to hear from you! Do you know a blogger we should feature on Cityline.ca? Maybe it’s you! Email us at submissions@cityline.ca and include “Cityline Featured Blogger” in the subject line. And don’t forget to include a link to the blog! Look forward to hearing from you!