SIMPLY SUPPA

Thursday, August 16, 2018 No comments

In our home, we dance nearly every day. I dance when I’m making breakfast, in front of the mirror, after dinner and sometimes before bed. As many know, I danced for my entire childhood at The Woodbridge School of Dance, formerly The Ballet School – from six to 19, and then became a part-time dance instructor through university, and until I got married. Ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre – I loved it all. Dance played a huge role in my development as a child, a young adult and through my career as a journalist, broadcaster, and on-air personality.

It’s been more than a decade since I stopped taking dance lessons, but I’ve never stopped dancing. Dancing has always made me happy and regardless if we’re silly bopping and twisting around the room or I’m doing plies and tendues at the kitchen sink, dance is a language, a feeling, a passion.

I’ve said it before – long before becoming a mom, I knew I would introduce my children to dance. If you haven’t enrolled your children in dance classes yet, it’s never too late.

It goes without saying that dance helps develop creativity and confidence; it builds rhythm and musicality, of course, but also strongly benefits cognitive development, memory, mind-body connection. If you want a good brain workout, try a ballet class. No joke. Or a tap combo, a jazz or hip hop routine. The brain-body communication is a skill in itself.

And then there are the physical elements – the flexibility, the body awareness and mindfulness. Having young children in dance reminds them to be fit and healthy, that exercise is not only important but can be fun, too. And it is fun – a lot of fun, actually.

Having your child in a dance program at a young age teaches the importance of being a part of a team, cheering each other on, that practice and practice and more practice will prove that you can master a step you once thought was impossible. It’s invigorating and uplifting; to this day, I can’t compare the exhilaration after a performance – the culmination of an entire year’s worth of hard work and practice.

When it came time to choosing a school for my girls, there really wasn’t a search – they’re dancing in the same studio my sister and I danced, a full generation later. And that makes me very proud. Beaming.

If you’re considering enrolling your child(ren) into dance, here are a few things you should consider, from a former dancer and dance educator:

Technique and training: what methods are taught, what is the structure of a class, size ratios and evaluations.
Teachers: their education, demeanour and experience. (Don’t discount the teenage teachers who danced at the studio – these are the success stories and become strong role models for young dancers)
Infrastructure: are the studios equipped with flooring, change rooms, clean appearance, and;

The most important for me is the culture of the school. Whether you choose a competitive or non-competitive school or program, ensure the dancers are supported, nurtured, cared for, that they’re excited about dance, they’re happy, developing lasting relationships and bonds with their peers.

Cause if they are, they’ll continue to carry these characteristics with them for life.

The Woodbridge School of Dance has generously gifted Simply Suppa with one term of dance for a pre-school child for giveaway! The contest is open to new registrants only, children aged 3-5. To enter, please visit my Instagram page!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. As always, the opinions expressed on my blog are my own.

Wednesday, August 08, 2018 No comments

I don’t consider myself a baker — I love to cook, but baking has always intimidated me. I’m not sure why.

The other day, I got it into my head to try and make/bake my own healthy treat. Without a recipe. So I did. And they turned out well! Maybe not perfectly, but that’s ok, cause next time I’ll switch it up and adjust my recipe.

I approached my baking experiment just like I do cooking — use flavours and ingredients that work well together, taste along the way, and at the end of the day, hope for the best.

I’m a big fan of oatmeal and always have been, which is interesting cause I don’t like cereal. At all. But oatmeal isn’t as mushy, and you can add different spices to flavour it up. Steel Cut Oats, though, are my favourite. They’re chewy, don’t soften as much and give a nutty flavour. They do take longer to cook in the morning, but you can use them as overnight oats, find quicker cooking ones, or in this case, bake them.

For this recipe, you’ll need steel cut oats, milk, frozen bananas and strawberries (or raspberries or blueberries), shredded coconut, chia seeds and maple syrup. Or whatever you have. If you don’t have some of the ingredients, change it up, try something else. I know, so NOT a baker.

This treat will last a week in the fridge, or until you finish them. Whichever comes first. You can eat them cold or warm, but my fave is for breakfast, heated with a sliver of salted butter on top.

Enjoy.

Yield: 12-16 squaresAuthor: Julia Suppa

Baked Steel Cut Oat Squares

prep time: 20 minscook time: 50 minstotal time: 70 mins

ingredients:

2 cups steel cut oats
2 cups milk (I used 1%, but you can try with a dairy free option)
2 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla
Cinnamon (as much as you like)
2 frozen bananas, sliced in rounds (they can still be part frozen)
2 cups strawberries (fresh or defrosted)
Coconut flakes (about 1/2 cup, but you’ll be sprinkling along the way)
Butter (I use salted)

instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl or mixing cup, combine chia seeds, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and maple syrup. Leave aside for at least 10 min.

Meanwhile, slice up your fruit. You need 2 bananas, but the other fruit is optional. Pick what you like. I used strawberries.

Coat a baking or casserole dish with butter, salted or unsalted. Arrange half of the frozen fruit along the bottom of the dish. Add half of the steel cut oats on top. Sprinkle with coconut flakes. If you want to toast your flakes, you can, but I didn’t. Add a second layer of fruit and steel cut oats and then top with milk mixture, ensuring all the oats are covered. Top with more coconut flakes and bake, uncovered, for 45-50 minutes.

Cut in squares, and enjoy cold, warmed up, or topped with butter. Depending on the size of your cassarole dish, this recipe will make 12-16 squares.

Saturday, July 28, 2018 No comments

"When you change the way you look at things, the things we look at change." ~ Wayne Dyer

I'm proud to say I'm a "give back" kind of girl; many people know I love to support local initiatives and charities. Here's what I've noticed though: some people shy away from getting involved in charitable causes because they believe they can't afford it financially. As in, they can't contribute money to the cause.

We all have something to give.

I've always believed in sharing talents in lieu of money. In my case, I align myself with organizations that need writers, or event producers, social media assistance or hosts. My talents add value, content, and passion to the initiative, and most importantly, it means I can use my skills to help others and connect so much more deeply.

"When you chance the way you look at things, the things we look at change."

Sure, writing a cheque or getting a tax credit is easy and convenient. And I'm not suggesting NOT to donate. Please, donate. But getting involved -- like personally invested -- into a cause will leave you with such a deep pride. And it doesn't have to be difficult. Try it.

In fact, I'm trying it with my eldest daughter, Isabelle. Isabelle is 6 years old, and this summer, I decided to create a give back project we can do together. Of course, we've been introducing the concepts of donating clothes and unused toys for many years, but I wanted for her to understand that even at 6 years old, she can use her talent to make someone else happy.

And then it came to me. Painting.

Isabelle loves to paint; it brings her so much joy. So when I asked her if she'd like to create some paintings to brighten up other kids' lives, she was ecstatic. We talked about children who may be sick at the hospital, or at a clinic, and babies who are staying in the NICU. Isabelle was a preemie, so we often discuss babies who have to live at the hospital. (Plus decorating the NICU has always been a secret goal of mine -- those walls are so blah, and seeing a piece of art created by a graduate preemie would bring so much comfort to a parent in the NICU, in my opinion.)

Truthfully, I didn't even know if this would all be possible. But we didn't let that stop us.

And so, we started our summer project with a passion. Together we will create a variety of artwork and choose a centre or hospital that will accept our colourful creations. We're making small ones, larger ones, cork boards. And maybe our little project will grow. And others will join in. I honestly hope it does.

Either way, I'm happy my daughter learns a few things about giving back:

- anyone can give love, share talent and passion and make an impact, especially in their own community

- you can use your time off (aka summer holidays) for good deeds

- there are many ways you can support a cause, and if you can't find one you like, make up your own

- the generosity in your heart is priceless

And as a parent, I feel happy knowing I'm enriching my child's life and hopefully setting her up to be a leader, a philanthropist and an all-round do-gooder.

For more ideas on how you can give back locally, I suggest you take a look at LocalLove.ca, where you can find easy ideas on ways you can get your kids involved in local initiatives and learn about inspiring change makers in your community. Sign up for the weekly Good News Letter -- I love to read it every week.

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." Change the way you look at volunteering or giving back. Try a different perspective.

And, here, our first few creations..

Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Local Love and have received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

Friday, July 27, 2018 No comments

It’s not surprising we’re already half-way through summer. It seems we wait for it all year, and it’s gone in the blink of an eye. You know what else disappears quickly? Summer sales. Now‘s the ultimate time to stock up on summer essentials at excellent prices, cause, realistically, we still have a couple of months of warm temps to go and lots of time to put these styles to work. I, for one, will not be purchasing a snowsuit in July. No way, no how.

Let’s talk footwear — I often find my best buys in the summer. When you’re shopping summer sales, it’s important to not only find a deal but also look for transitional items that you can use for a bit longer. Plus, if you’re planning a winter getaway, if you don’t buy them now, you’ll never find them later!

I’ve been wearing Skechers shoes for decades now, and honestly, this brand keeps getting better and better. Our whole family sports Skechers sneakers and shoes, but I’ve never tried Skechers sandals — and where have I been? The Skechers sandals have the same cushiony footbed as the sneakers but in a sandal format. And the wedge is perfect for summer BBQs, dinners out, and even touring. I wore these sandals for the first time on a trip to Ripley’s Aquarium downtown (aka LOTS of walking), and they were so comfortable, didn’t cause any blisters and didn’t even tire my feet. I love the interesting strap design, and they’re leather, too.

My kids love their Twinkle Toes flip flops with the elastic ankle strap. We generally wear flip-flops wherever there’s water — the beach, the splash pad, swimming lessons. And these flip flops are easy to put on, have a soft foam wedge and even light up. The toe design can take a little getting used to, but overall, these have been a win for us this summer.

When it comes to running shoes and sneakers, we buy different styles to serve different purposes; Skechers has thousands of styles in their stores and online, from Performance to Street Style and boy have these designs and styles improved over the years.

I’m loving these new rose gold Skechers Street sneakers. They’re perfect for the outing where you need to be comfortable, but they’re also big on sleek style. Here’s the thing: gone are the days where street shoes just looked good but destroyed your feet. These Skechers street beauties support your feet and your look, too.

And the same goes for kids’ sneakers, too. Our girls are loving these new S Lights Runners with a large velcro strap and no laces. They combine the ease and speed of a lace up or slip on with a traditional sneaker. And of course, the lights. We always need the lights. Back to School is around the corner; if you’re looking for runners that are parent-approved, school-approved and kid-approved — start at Skechers.

To win your very own pair of Skechers shoes (any style!), keep your eyes peeled on my Instagram to enter!

Enjoy the remaining weeks of summer!

Tuesday, July 24, 2018 No comments

No sour faces here -- I'm lovin' on lemons. Actually, I've always loved lemons -- it's not just a trend (for me at least). Especially in the summer, I'm a huge fan of lemon gelato and lemonade; there's something about that cool, fresh, tarty flavour. So refreshing.

This season, lemon and the bright lemon yellow colour and pattern has been a style must, and of course, I've been partaking. From sandals, to dresses to rompers, I'm not sure I've ever had so much sunshine in my wardrobe. And you know what? I think bright yellow DOES make people happier!

Because of the extreme heat we've been having, and the abundance of lemons in the stores, I thought I'd try to make a homemade lemon popsicle to combat the summer swelter. The best thing about homemade anything is you can control the sugar content, and you know exactly what goes inside.

Lemon is such a versatile fruit, and it pairs well with so many herbs and flavours. Here's my take on a lemon thyme ice pop. I've made these pops with unsweetened coconut milk, to keep it light, but you can also try with coconut water or regular water too. These are refreshing and easy to eat, and best of all, you don't feel gross after you've indulged!

Enjoy! If you try these and love them, let me know!

Stay cool everyone.

Yield: 6 popsAuthor: Julia Suppa

Lemon Thyme Ice Pops

In extreme heat, popsicles are a must. Making your own ensures you know all the ingredients, and you can control the sugar. These are easy and delicious!

ingredients:

You Will Need:

2 fresh lemons, juiced
2 cups of unsweetened coconut milk
1-2 tbsp. raw honey
Zest from one lemon
A few springs of thyme

instructions:

This recipe couldn't be simpler. Add all of the ingredients together in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, simmering for about 10 minutes. Taste the liquid to ensure you've added enough honey/lemon. I prefer my pops tangy, but you can add more honey if you like. Note, coconut milk and lemon may curdle; continue whisking and stirring to break it up.

If you don't like thyme, try adding basil or parsley to the pops! Lemon works well with a variety of herbs!

Pour liquid into silicone or plastic moulds and freeze for at least 3 hours.

Created using The Recipes Generator