Win a Pair of Saucony Shoes + How I'm Becoming a Runner!

As my regular readers know, I'm a total treadmill girl. I am obsessed with the treadmill desk my dad made for me, and often blog and catch up on emails and social media while I walk. The treadmill also directly faces our large screen television, so I also catch up on my favourite shows at the same time. I know they say multitasking isn't really a thing, and I get that you can't give your complete focus to two things at the same time, but so far I've been very successful when walking is one of those things...and oh, do I love to multitask!

What, this isn't how everyone sets up for a treadmill session?

A photo posted by Kate Winn (@katethismomloves) on Oct 24, 2015 at 5:38am PDT

However, recently I decided I wanted to challenge myself a little and try to incorporate more running into my cardio workout...but without making it painful! I know there are lots of walk-to-run programs that have you do two minutes of this, one of that, three of this, check your heart rate, two minutes of this, hop like a bunny...just kidding (I've been teaching Primary Phys. Ed. for too long!) The thing is, I don't like to have to think about my workout while I'm in the middle of it, so I didn't want to be constantly checking the time, my heart rate, or anything else. Therefore, I devised my own "Running For Beginners" program. Here's how I did it:

Originally (by which I mean six days a week for the last ten years), I walked for 30 minutes a day on the treadmill, at a rate of 3 mph (sorry, never did change treadmill settings to metric; and no, that isn't superfast but for someone who is typing at the same time, please cut me some slack) and incline of 4.0 percent.

Now as part of my new program, I walk at that rate and incline for a couple of minutes, and then I switch to a 5.0 mph jog at 1.0 incline. (I thought I'd need a 0 incline but I'm so used to going uphill that I felt like I was falling forward when flat - plus treadmill running offers less resistance than being outdoors, so I wanted to give myself a tiny bit more challenge so I'll be ready to head outside...once the weather hits an acceptable 20 degrees or so!) When I say I wanted to make this painless, I'm not kidding...I started out only running for three minutes, and then continuing to walk until my 30 minute total treadmill time time was up.

Each week, I've added one minute on to my run time...and I'm quite proud to say that I am now up to a nine minute run every day. I plan to continue to go up incrementally each week, and by summer perhaps I'll be ready to take on a 5K! (I said *perhaps*...let's not go holding me too that, okay?)

To help motivate me, my friends at Saucony were generous enough to send along a brand new pair of shoes - I chose the Guide 9 style in pink - which I'm absolutely loving. (I'm embarrassed to say that my previous "treadmill shoes" had seen me through over a thousand walks...and had seen better days!) The shoes have new Everun Continous Cushioning Technology, and I can't even tell you what a difference they make as I run.

Even more (now here's the part you actually care about!), Saucony offered to treat one of my readers to a brand new pair of shoes as well! Whether you're a walker, a runner, or just want to rock some stylish footwear, Saucony has the shoes for you! (The winner can select any pair of his or her choice from Saucony.com  - such a fantastic prize!)

All you have to do to enter is simply fill out the form below and hit submit. That's it! Bonus entries for following This Mom Loves on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Contest ends Monday, March 14th 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Good luck!

Angela Price: The Hockey Wives Momterview* (*mom-to-be!)

Angela Price, wife of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, is one of the stars of the W Network series Hockey Wives - with new episodes starting March 16th.

I had the opportunity to chat with Angela, and in our conversation she opened up about the media scooping their baby news (they're expecting their first child at the end of April), how she feels about being known as "Carey Price's wife", her favourite Montreal restaurant, and more!

Congratulations on the pregnancy - how are you feeling? 

Thank you! I'm actually feeling pretty good, so I'm not complaining!

The Diet Coke picture you shared to announce you were expecting was really cute - did you work with the brand on that, or just do it yourselves? 

We are excited to announce that we are expecting...well, "confirm" that we are expecting is probably more appropriate. Our baby news and my rant about Montreal media on the blog today!

A photo posted by Angela Price (@byangelaprice) on Oct 21, 2015 at 7:15am PDT

We just did that ourselves; it was actually very last minute! Carey saw the cans at the rink and grabbed them before coming home!

News of your pregnancy was shared in the media earlier than you would have liked - can you speak to that a bit?

We were a week out of having that all-important doctor's appointment where they check the heartbeat and make sure everything is good, and someone must have seen us at a doctor's appointment or something and the media released that we were expecting, so that's how a lot of our friends and family found out which was too bad.

You're keeping the sex a surprise?

Yes, we have no idea, so we're very anxious to find out!

Of course you spend the hockey season living in Montreal {Angela is originally from Tri-Cities Washington, and the couple spends their off-season in Kelowna BC, near Carey's hometown}. What are some of your favourite things about Montreal?

The food...especially now, being pregnant! Montreal has some of the best restaurants out of any city I've ever lived in so that's definitely my favourite part!

Any one in particular?

Oh, I would have to go with Sho-Dan which is a sushi place downtown.

Have you learned any French since you've been in Montreal, or did you already speak the language?

You know what, I didn't speak French before. I'm American so I didn't grow up with that but I've taken private courses, courses at the university, I've learned through Rosetta Stone and it's not sticking! But I'm continually trying!

What made you decide to start your own blog {By Angela Price}? You're helping me master my hair-curling technique, by the way!

Oh, great! Well, it kind of brought all of my favourite things together in one place. I love photography, I love telling my stories, and I'm so far away from friends and family and I'm awful at texting and keeping in touch so it's a good way to let everyone know what I'm up to. I just thought, why not?

I know you said on the blog that there's a silver lining to Carey being injured in that you're spending more time together than ever - which is especially nice with a baby on the way - but there must also be a lot of frustration and disappointment since he's not playing right now?

Oh for sure, especially since this season has been a little rough for the guys and of course Carey wants to be on the ice so it gets a bit frustrating when he wants to be able to help out and there's nothing he can do. I think it's nice that I'm pregnant and we have the baby to distract us and give us something to look forward to and take our minds of that a bit.

Congratulations on being part of the cast of Hockey Wives! What would you say are the best and worst things about being on the show?

I think the best thing is seeing girls that you were friends with in the past and probably wouldn't see again, and being able to be with them and catch up has been really nice. I'd say the biggest downside would be watching yourself on TV, and hearing how annoying your voice is, stupid little things that you don't like about yourself and are displayed for all to see! {Here I shared with Angela that I *never* watch myself back on television.}

Are you ever concerned about being known as "Carey Price's wife" - is it a struggle to keep your own identity?

It was a struggle at first but at the end of the day, I am Carey Price's wife and I'm proud to be. I don't really mind it, but I think people often forget that I am my own person and I have my own life which doesn't always revolve around him or the Habs necessarily, so that can get frustrating.

As a follow-up to that, what do you want people to know about you as an individual? {Warning: Hardcore Habs fans may want to skip this answer.}

Oh, good question. I don't know if there's anything in particular that I want people to know, just that I have my own interests and I think people think that hockey kind of runs our world at home and that's not necessarily true. At home, we're just the same as any other couple. We're not talking about hockey, not talking about the Habs, just normal everyday things.

Do you find you've faced much social media negativity - I'm thinking of the Twitter harassment faced by another NHL goalie wife, April Reimer - have you had any issues like that?

I haven't had any big issues but of course you're going to get those negative people and I always joke that it seems like I can't do anything right according to people on social media! Everybody has their opinions but I think I'm pretty lucky that it doesn't get to me. I feel worse for my friends and family who read that stuff and get all worked up and upset but to be honest it doesn't really bother me.

The impression I get of Carey is that he is pretty private and can be wary of media attention - how did he feel about you joining a reality show?

He definitely is a lot more private than I am, and when I first went to him about Hockey Wives, I was thinking he would automatically say no, but he didn't. He was open to the idea, so we discussed with the show the importance of Carey maintaining his privacy and not filming in our home with us, not requiring anything from Carey and they were fine with that. So now we're in control of when he's on the show and when I'm talking about him or our family so we were able to remain as private as we wanted so it's been a perfect fit. I know when I started my blog, a piece of advice someone gave me was, "Make sure you're only telling your story, and not your husband's or anyone else's," and I keep that in mind because I think it's important.

What can we expect on the new episodes of Hockey Wives?

For me it's a lot of baby preparations and baby showers, and just celebrating the fact that we're having the baby. I'm really looking forward to it because I think it's a really special time that the cameras were able to capture and probably some episodes that later in life I'll look back at. 

Because my blog is called This Mom Loves, I always ask my interviewees how they would finish the sentence "This mom loves..." in your case it's "This mom-to-be loves"! What are some of your favourite things - products, places, foods, activities, anything?

Okay, where do I start? I love eating, as you know. Matcha tea lattes are my number one, every day. I like spending time with family, I love my quiet times in the morning - which I'm scared are going to go away! - and I love the outdoors, the sunshine. Love it, love it!

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You can catch new episodes of Hockey Wives on W Network starting March 16th, and find Angela on her blog, Twitter and Instagram.

P.S. Angela and Carey are involved in several charitable initiatives, and as a teacher - and Habs fan - I just had to finish off with this fun photo from Angela's Instagram.

Had a pretty sweet set up today while reading to some kiddos for @englishmtl literacy event.

A photo posted by Angela Price (@byangelaprice) on Jan 22, 2016 at 11:39am PST

Zootopia: My Girls' Review

My daughters get very excited about some of the perks afforded by having a blogger mommy. When it comes to "free stuff", they also know that they have a responsibility to share their honest reviews so they can help other families.

That said, we were treated to an advance screening of Disney's new movie, Zootopia, last week...and as "media" I had to swear that I would hold my review until the official release date - which is today!

Here's the premise of Zootopia, straight from Disney:

The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighbourhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery.

And now, the official reviews!

Olivia (age nine):

"I enjoyed Zootopia. I found it really funny - and I particularly liked the fox, Nick. There was a lot of action. There were a lot of surprises, things that you didn't expect to happen. I found some parts a bit scary."

Eva (age seven):

"It was very funny and I liked a lot of the details they showed. I liked that it didn't go too fast because it gave me time to understand what was going on and figure out the jokes. My favourite part was near the end but I can't tell it or it will ruin the surprise. I liked Nick the fox the best because he was so funny. There were lots of scary parts too though like when an animal was chasing another animal or another time an animal had blood and you knew it was attacked."

Kate (age...well, what does age matter really?):

This would be one of my favourite modern-day Disney movies. I loved the determination of Officer Judy, and Disney always comes through with humour for the adults as well. I was surprised that both girls were bothered by the animal chase scenes (especially since my nine year old loves the Star Wars movies and reads book series with much more frightening material) but there was something very realistic about seeing animals get hurt that didn't sit well with them. Other than that, we all loved the film, and I would definitely recommend it to other families.

Enjoy!

What Are You Feeding Your Skin? Advice + Common Food/Skin Myths Debunked!

My regular readers know that skin is my "thing". I've never had to worry too much about my weight, I don't stress about hair, and I've had few post-braces concerns about my teeth. My skin, though, has always been my issue. 

That's why I was fascinated when this information popped up in my inbox from Skintology Skin and Laser Center in Manhattan. (www.skintologyny.com) While I know I won't be making it to New York City any time soon, I can still take advantage of the professional expertise! I think there is a lot of misinformation out there about the connections between food intake and skin condition, and I appreciate having some of the most common myths debunked here as well. Read on for better skin!

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Want truly fabulous skin -- glowing, vibrant, and younger looking skin? Make sure you're putting foods for healthy skin on your plate. "Everything you eat becomes a part of not only your inner being, but the outer fabric of your body as well. The healthier the foods are that you consume, the better your skin will look," says Rachel Sharoff, a licensed aesthetician at Skintology Skin and Laser Center in Manhattan.  The reverse is true as well. The less attention we pay to what goes in our mouth, the more problems we may see cropping up with our skin. "You could have sallow, dry and older-looking skin. It's not going to happen overnight, but starve your skin long enough, and it's going to show," says Rachel Sharoff. What's more, some health experts believe that when your diet is missing certain foods for healthy skin, other, even more serious skin problems can result.  Sharoff points out that, “a number of conditions, such as acne, can cause you to suddenly break out. And some chronic skin conditions, such as eczema, may be linked to diet.”

Berries

Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries pack high amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants help block "free radicals," such as the sun's rays, from damaging skin cells. But don't toss your sunscreen. Eating berries is an extra step you can take to help protect your skin from damage and prevent premature aging. "Free radicals; like the kind formed from sun exposure damage the membrane of skin cells, potentially allowing damage to the DNA of that cell," says Rachel. The antioxidants and other phytochemicals in these fruits can protect the cell, so there is less chance for damage.” When you help protect the cells from damage and disintegration, you also guard against premature aging. In this respect, these fruits may very well help keep your skin younger looking longer," says Rachel.

Sweet Potatoes

Vegetables such as sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene and vitamins A and C — a good formula for beautiful skin. These nutrients can help retain skin moisture and prevent dryness.

Low-Fat Dairy

One the most important components of skin health is vitamin A. One of the best places to get it is low-fat dairy products. In fact, experts say that the health of our skin cells is dependent on dietary vitamin A.  “The A in dairy products is true A, so everyone's skin can use it,” says Rachel Sharoff. She adds, “low-fat yogurt is not only high in vitamin A, but also acidophilus, the "live" bacteria that is good for intestinal health. It may also have an impact on the skin. Anything that helps keep digestion normal, any live bacteria or enzymes, is also going to be reflected in healthy-looking skin.”

Salmon, Walnuts, Canola Oil, and Flax Seed

These seemingly unrelated foods all deliver essential fatty acids, and thus are key foods for healthy skin. Essential fatty acids are responsible for healthy cell membranes, which is not only what act as barriers to harmful things but also as the passageway for nutrients to cross in and out and for waste products to get in and out of the cell. Rachel Sharoff explains that, “Because it is the cell membrane that also holds water in, the stronger that barrier is the better your cells can hold moisture. And that means plumper, younger looking skin.” The same inflammatory process that can harm our arteries and cause heart disease can harm skin cells. Essential fatty acids can offer protection to both. The best-known essential fatty acids are omega 3 and omega 6, which must be in balance for good health (and good skin). Though we all seem to get enough omega 6, Stuart says many people lack omega 3s. Fish, walnut, and flax seed oil are among the best sources.

Oils

Oils can give your skin much needed moisture. Just make sure you're using healthy oils, such as olive oil. Adding just 2 tablespoons a day to your diet will help keep your skin properly lubricated and healthy.

Whole Grains

The mineral selenium is an antioxidant found in whole-grain products. Selenium can help control cell damage that can lead to skin cancer. Filling up on whole grains will help you avoid refined white flour and starchy foods that can increase your insulin levels. High insulin levels can induce inflammation and irritate your skin.

Green Tea

This beverage deserves its own category in any article about foods for healthy skin. The skin-health properties in this beneficial drink just can't be beat. "It has anti-inflammatory properties, and it's protective to the cell membrane. It may even help prevent or reduce the risk of skin cancer," says Rachel Sharoff. Indeed, a study published recently in the Archives of Dermatology shows that whether taken orally or applied to the skin, green tea can reduce the risk of damage from ultraviolet light (such as the burning rays of the sun), and thus reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Water

While the exact amount you should drink each day varies, no one disputes the role good hydration plays in keeping skin looking healthy and even young. When that hydration comes from pure, clean water; not liquids such as soda or even soup, experts say skin cells rejoice. "It is my belief that our skin needs at least eight glasses every day," says Rachel Sharoff. In addition to keeping cells hydrated, water helps cells move nutrients in and toxins out, which Rachel Sharoff says automatically leaves skin looking better. She adds that, “when we're properly hydrated, we also sweat more efficiently.”

SOME COMMON MYTHS DEBUNKED

Chocolate Causes Acne

Fried foods don’t, either. There is no little pipeline that carries oil from your intestines to your skin. Oily foods have nothing to do with the skin’s oiliness, and oil isn’t the cause of acne, anyway. Acne occurs when testosterone and other hormones stimulate the growth of skin over pores so that the oil, sebum, that keeps the skin flexible and wrinkle-free, gets trapped inside. When bacteria degrade this oil, then there can be whiteheads, blackheads, and various kinds of inflammation.

Junk Food and Dark Colas Cause Acne

Experts agree that there is no evidence to support the claim that gorging on pizza and Coke leads to acne. However, if you notice that your acne flare up significantly after consuming certain foods or beverages, eliminate those items and watch your skin. You may have stumbled in your own free brand of treatment.

Vitamin A Prevents Acne

The Truth - Vitamin A is an important part of skin health. Basically, if you don’t have enough Vitamin A in your system, your sebaceous glands produce excess lipids, causing pimples, but if you have too much vitamin A, while your pimples might not be the issue, other parts of your body, like your liver, may be negatively affected. The optimal daily intake with food and supplementation is about 15,000 IU.

ABOUT SKINTOLOGY

Skintology Skin and Laser Center is an all-inclusive destination for all your beauty needs. Whether it’s laser hair removal, Botox injections or a hydrating facial, our trusted staff is dedicated to making your experience comfortable and pleasant. We offer customized treatments that are specifically designed for your skin type. Patient satisfaction is our top priority and we design treatments to produce the best results possible. Experienced Cosmetic Surgeons and Laser Technicians utilize the most advanced FDA approved laser technologies from renowned companies such as Cynosure, Candela, Lumenis, and Deka, to provide the most effective and safe treatments.

Inspire Little Scientists with Scientists in School

In my latest "Teacher, Teacher!" segment on CHEX Daily, my friend Sarah Newcomb joined me at the desk with hosts Teresa Kaszuba and Mike Judson to talk about inspiring our little scientists with the Scientists in School program.

Sarah and I actually met online as she is a fellow blogger, and had so much in common that we became fast friends. Now she works as the Communications and Marketing Coordinator for the Scientists in School program...which I absolutely love - and I talk about why in the clip.

We're at the 28:26 mark, and if you can't see the embedded video below, you can find it here {Video no longer available}. After our segment, one of the scientists from the program hangs out with Mike and Teresa and they get a chance to try a hands-on activity themselves!



Something we didn't mention is that this program is also a great way to bring parents into the school, as the students are usually split into groups with a volunteer needed to lead each activity. If no one is available we often ask older students to help out, but it can be a wonderful opportunity for parents who want to get involved in the classroom.

We couldn't leave the studio without taking a selfie...and please note that this is what I look like *after* a spray tan. (I like to call it my Irish-girl-inside-all-winter look.)

For more information, visit Scientistsinschool.ca.

Melissa Grelo Opens Up To Parents Canada Magazine

A while back I had a conversation with The Social's Melissa Grelo for Parents Canada magazine (we seem to go back and forth: I interview her for print, she interviews me on TV), and she was incredibly open and honest: about her struggles with infertility, her passionate thoughts about fitness, the importance of couple time and girls' outings when you're a mom, and the impact of motherhood on her career. A short version is available in the latest print issue of Parents Canada, and you can find the full interview online here.

My thanks to Melissa for being so candid!

Kate's Favourite Things - March 2016

My favourites for this month include a LOT of books...and I always love to hear whether or not you agree with my assessments, and what other titles you may recommend!

BOOKS

Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson (received free review copy)

I'm a sucker for a celebrity book, and I was excited to get my hands on this one. Divided into four sections (Cultivate an Intuitive Relationship with Your Body, Eat Well, Awaken Your Body and The Miracle of Mindfulness), the book is a positive, encouraging health and fitness manual. Now despite Hudson's protests (at one point she actually writes, "This isn't new agey!"), the book feels very much so to me.

Hudson says she wrote this book because she was tired of hearing sound-bytes taken out of context from her interviews referring to her health habits: "Kate Hudson goes vegan" or "Kate Hudson works out three hours a day". Pretty Happy tries to set the record straight.

What I love about this book is that Hudson is extremely open and honest when it comes to the topics at hand (no celebrity tell-alls, or anything about work or relationships; she stays strictly on message), and admits that she's just sharing her own research and experience - no pretense of professional expertise.

There are several interactive workbook type components (quizzes, blank lines for answering prompts), and Hudson refers back frequently to her/the reader's "Drawing Board" - which can be anything from a traditional vision board to a list in a smartphone app.

For me, I was more interested in learning about Hudson than actually getting nutritional advice - My diet is not the most nutritionally balanced and I acknowledge that, okay? - and she lost me as soon as she suggested cleanses that involve eliminating gluten dairy and sugar. Readers out there who are passionate about healthy eating and exercise and always looking for new ideas will absolutely love the book.

If not - it's worth it just for all of the beautiful colour photography.

The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey

As seen on The Social, I picked up this book, quite truthfully, to feed into my productivity obsession. (My husband: "Uh, shouldn't you be looking for a book about how not to want to be productive?")

Filled with research, especially based on the author's own project (subtitle: "Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention and Energy"). One area where we totally agree: being as productive as possible with your time doesn't exclude relaxation and fun. In fact, I believe that by being as efficient as possible with certain pockets of my day, I actually earn myself more time to sit on the couch in front of the TV with a book (or take a bath with a book, a runner up for my favourite way to unwind).If you want to get more done, check it out.

For the Love by Jen Hatmaker

My mom shared this one with me because she knows my taste so well. Hatmaker, who is among other things a mom of five and a pastor's wife, is hilarious...which might surprise you since this book of essays is heavy on Christianity (you caught the pastor's wife part, right?). Her chapters about media and marriage ("Marriage is completely beautiful and sometimes not so much...") were particularly striking to me, as well as some of her insights about the church: "Young adults are abandoning church, so we can either listen carefully or watch their backs as they go."

I actually read a passage to my daughters from her "Dear Kids" chapter, and a quick skim of copyright assures me that I am breaking no laws by sharing this much with you:

"Some of your classmates barely get out the door every day. You see them. They are picked on or mocked or completely ignored, as if they don't even matter. They pretend they don't care or can't hear but you know they do...First, I hope you see them. This is harder than it sounds; you have to learn to see hurt people, because they figure out how to act invisible...My dream is that you see hurting kids and do the simple brave work of kindness. This isn't fancy at all. It sounds like: Do you want to sit with us? or I really like your outfit or What's up, man? or What are you reading? It doesn't seem like much, maybe, but if it's the only kind word they've heard all day, it can literally give them strength to go on."

With passages like that, I know Hatmaker is a mom and wife whose advice I want to take, and I will be looking for her other books ASAP.

The Children Act by Ian McEwan

In the midst of a marital crisis, High Court Judge Fiona Maye must decide whether a seventeen year old leukemia patient (also a Jehovah's Witness) should legally be able to refuse the blood transfusions that will save his life. Heavy, obviously, and fascinating.

The Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Lee

This month's The Social Chapter pick, I really enjoyed this novel about the converging stories of three different American women living in Hong Kong. Warning: there is a child disappearance, which kept me from sleeping the night I read it, but I was fascinated to learn about the life of expatriates in Hong Kong - a topic I knew nothing about before.

Spark Joy: an illustrated master class on the art of organizing and tidying up by Marie Kondo

Companion to the #1 New York Times best-selling The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up

While I disagree that rolling my socks into balls is cruel to them, and talk of the gods of tidying doesn't exactly fit with my faith, this was one of the best books I've read in a long time. However, that doesn't mean you will agree! When I showed the book on Facebook one friend commented that I don't need it (though I have to say I definitely learned a few tricks and was inspired to clean out my kitchen cupboards and organize the spice drawer the night I finished it) but really it just makes me irrationally happy to "spend time" with someone (Kondo) who sees things about clutter the way I do. And I also agree with her that once you've done a marathon tidy it really isn't as hard as you might think to keep things that way...and it will bring you so much joy! (I may have missed my calling as a professional organizer. If I didn't already have three jobs I might have to consider adding that on the side.)


MOVIES

Clearly this month was more about reading, but I did enjoy...

How To Be Single

Even a smug married like myself could enjoy the humour (I mean, Rebel Wilson!) and (spoiler alert) a happy ending for a woman doesn't have to involve a man.

Kortney Wilson: The Momterview (Part One)

This Mom Loves has moved! 

For updated content (plus all the posts found here) on our fresh new site, visit www.thismomloves.ca

I always say I can tell an interview went well when I actually enjoy transcribing it - which was the case with my chat with Kortney Wilson from W Network's Masters of Flip.

In this post (Part One) Kortney opens up about adoption, homeschooling, working with your spouse, and Nashville must-sees...just in case you ever get the chance to visit!

You're an Adoption Ambassador with the Adoption Council of Canada. After having two sons (Jett, now 11 and Sully, now 9), what made you decide to adopt?

When I met Dave, one of the very first things I said, no joke, was, "Someday I want to adopt a baby, and if this is a deal-breaker for you just let me know!" He was, of course on a first date, saying, "Oh no, that sounds great!" I remember one day nursing our second child, and he was really young, maybe two or three months, and I said "It's time!" and Dave said "Time for what?" and I said "Time to start the adoption process!" And as any father of a second baby would say, his response was, "Are you kidding me? Our child is two months old!" and I said "I know, but I've done the research and it takes a long time!" I just felt like that was something that I was always supposed to do, that was going to be part of my life and my plan, and the reasons changed and evolved but I'm certainly glad I did because Lennox (now 6) was always supposed to be part of our family.

You homeschool your kids - how's that going?

We homeschool the oldest two, and this is the first year actually. In Tennessee, or in America in general, the school system is pretty messed up. All you have to do is watch that documentary Waiting on Superman. We live in the urban core of Nashville where you have to lottery in and out of schools and although they did go to a great elementary school, we weren't entirely satisfied with our middle school options and I would say that one of the main reasons that came into play was that we found out kids were starting to drop some of their extracurricular activities and passions because of homework, and the homework wasn't really benefiting them all that much at this age. So they would come home and do a couple of hours of homework but they had to drop piano or soccer or their art lessons, so we figured we could probably get a lot more done and cater their education to them a bit better and still offer them an outlet to do the things they actually love.

Where we live there are hundreds of homeschooled kids in our own community. Right now they are at a homeschooling event that happens every Friday where there are probably a hundred mothers. It's pretty amazing, and several of those people have been or are teachers, anywhere from elementary school to university level, so it's really great to be able to say, "Hey, I know you teach biology to Vanderbilt students at the university, how about doing a swap, and we'll teach music?" So it's pretty awesome.

{I'm sure it goes without saying, but if Kortney and Dave lived here in Ontario, they would be lucky enough to be able to take advantage of an incredible publicly-funded education system. Okay, I said it anyway.}

I've visited Nashville once with my husband, and we loved it. I'd like your perspective as a Canadian now living in Nashville - what would you say are the must-sees for tourists who come and visit your city?

I would say the first thing is to stay in a neighbourhood within the urban core, because there are so many within seven to ten minutes of downtown and vacation rentals are huge, huge, huge here. In the urban core there are bars and restaurants and walkability, but other than that there are a few things:

Monell's, which is in Germantown, is a restaurant and it's a full-on Southern style family dinner. Or breakfast. Actually breakfast is my favourite. But you sit with other people, so it could be tables of 10 to 15 people, and you meet tourists from all over the world, and they just keep the food coming. If you want a real Southern experience, that's it.

Mangia is an Italian restaurant - actually our friends own it, and it's really a big deal. You have to order the tickets a month or two in advance, but it's an experience. You go in and pay one price and get served food all night, there's singing and dancing - at one point in the night everyone is standing on a table or chair! It's absolutely amazing!

Of course you have to go either the Opry or the Ryman. Personally my favourite is the Ryman. I don't think you can find any better place to listen to music. It goes without saying that you should go to a honky tonk on downtown Broadway to get the tourist vibe. There's no shortage of them there - walk a block and you'll see ten!

Oh, and if you're Canadian you have to go to a Predators game! That's a given, right? I'm from Canada, my Dad's a hockey coach and so's my brother, and I've heard a lot of Canadians who have been to see the Predators say that it's literally entertainment. It's not just hockey. Because when we first got here, people didn't know anything about hockey. In '98 when Dave and I moved here, they had to entertain you, because people didn't understand what offside was!

Speaking of Dave - you run a house-flipping business with your spouse, and actually have to interact in front of the cameras and a large TV audience. What are the pros and cons of working together?

I would love to say that we leave it at the front door every day but we don't. I don't know anybody who can do that - and if you're out there, please call me! The pros are that Dave and I actually like each other, beyond just being husband and wife we're actually friends so it's kind of fun. He makes me laugh, he's a good partner. The cons: we are very different. I'm very analytical and type A and Dave is way more laid back. He doesn't really have deadlines! So he can let things go a lot easier than I can. But we've acknowledged that it takes both of us to really get us to the finish line. If you're frustrated with a coworker, you can go home and complain to your spouse or partner and at the end of the day, I can't do that, but by the same token, he understands me.

It was originally music that brought you both to Nashville {Dave and Kortney - both Canadians - met in Nashville while pursuing their music careers}. Are you still involved in the music scene?

We really aren't anymore. There are only so many hours in a day! Three years ago we decided we were going to take a step back from music, to be able to stay home with our kids, renovate houses, really focus on my real estate career, and we've done all of those things...although my husband still writes - in fact he just wrote a song last night! We still sing, and we'll likely record again in the future but we hope that for once in our lives we're doing it for us. It's not for a deadline or a project or a label deal or publishing deal to fulfil. It's nice for it to be for vanity and for us and the enjoyment.

How would you finish the sentence "This Mom Loves..."?

I love a short weekend vacation with my family - like two or three day vacations. My number one destination would be Asheville, North Carolina. If you Canadians ever come this way, next to Nashville it's my favourite city - sort of a hippie town where everyone's really happy and carefree. I think years ago it made this book where they said it was one of the happiest cities in the world. And they have the best food!

I also love me some Nars Foundation Primer. Gets me through my demo days when I'm incredibly sweaty! As a mom, that's my secret. Hmm...what else do I love...?

What about food and drink?

I'm a vegetarian. Oh, before that, wine solves most of my problems on a Saturday night! Some good wine. Actually I'll even drink cheap stuff, it only takes me one glass to feel no pain. As far as food goes, I love sushi. I could eat it four or five times a week. And Greek salad. Those are my go-tos.

*****

When the interview was over, I let Kortney know how much my seven year old loves her and Masters of Flip...and she was sweet enough to ask to speak to her. On top of that, she realized her daughter is about the same age, and told Eva that the next time we're in Nashville they should meet...which had her on a high for a long time!

I guess it's time to plan a trip! What shall we do for a Winn/Wilson meeting? A Predators game? Or perhaps a visit to Monell's? We'll see!

Coming soon: Part Two of our interview, where we get to the nitty-gritty about house-flipping and the upcoming Season 2 of Kortney and Dave's hit show, Masters of Flip! For now, you can find Kortney on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.