Hey Baby

Oh baby, baby! Creative solutions for travelling with the kids – along with stylish shopping, pre-birth getaways, and more ways to spoil yourself. All in the November issue of City Spice.

Are You Expecting…A Little Style?

Are You Expecting…A Little Style? Cute outfits for moms and tots in Edmonton boutiques. by Kathy Fitzgerald It’s official. There has never been a better time to be pregnant. Being the mom of a school age kid, I am generally not in the market for maternity clothes and baby paraphernalia, but the growth of boutique shops for moms in Edmonton has left me feeling a little wanting. Mommy couture to baby couture Maternity couture - I never imagined there was such a thing! Stylish and high-end clothes are available for every occasion at places like Yo Mama on 124th Street. Stunning power suits, sexy dresses, and sporty casual wear that do not even look like maternity clothes are filling these boutiques. Walking through the shop, I was so taken by the clothes I did not realize my arms were filling up with a small collection for the change room. Remembering that I had not been pregnant for seven years, I discreetly put the clothes back and scurried out of the store. But then I took a peek at the baby clothes in shops like Bugs ‘n Berries in Old Strathcona and Princess and the Pea in Crestwood! Super soft organic cotton sleepers? Tiny little socks with a Mary Jane shoe pattern on them? UGGs for a six-month-old? Really, it just does not get any cuter that this. In fact, it is almost enough to make a girl want to have another baby. Not your momma’s diaper bag! Every mommy needs something for hauling around the diapers, bottles, soothers, etc., but these days the traditional diaper bag is anything but traditional. A visit to Amy Lou Boutique on 23rd Avenue showed me bags of every style imaginable: polka dots, bright colours, neutral tones, baby-ish and non-baby-ish. For the really non-traditional moms they even have a funky skull and crossbones diaper bag. Wow!

Boutique shops in Edmonton

It’s official. There has never been a better time to be pregnant. Being the mom of a school age kid, I am generally not in the market for maternity clothes and baby paraphernalia, but the growth of boutique shops for moms in Edmonton has left me feeling a little wanting.

Mommy couture to baby couture

seven years, I discreetly put the clothes back and scurried out of the store. But then I took a peek at the baby clothes in shops like Bugs ‘n Berries in Old Strathcona and Princess and the Pea in Crestwood! Super soft organic cotton sleepers? Tiny little socks with a Mary Jane shoe pattern on them? UGGs for a six-month-old? Really, it just does not get any cuter that this. In fact, it is almost enough to make a girl want to have another baby. Not your momma’s diaper bag! Every mommy needs something for hauling around the diapers, bottles, soothers, etc., but these days the traditional diaper bag is anything but traditional. A visit to Amy Lou Boutique on 23rd Avenue showed me bags of every style imaginable: polka dots, bright colours, neutral tones, baby-ish and non-baby-ish. For the really non-traditional moms they even have a funky skull and crossbones diaper bag. Wow! Not your momma’s cloth diaper either! With increasing awareness of earth-friendly options for diapering baby, cloth diapers have certainly become more popular. At Bosom Babies, where they tell me “the real store is at the back of the store,� they have a wall of the brightest, hippest, most adorable looking diapers I have ever seen. Now not only do I want to have another baby, I want to use cloth diapers this time, too! Mothering for mom A common thread running through these boutiques is the personal care customers receive, especially the moms. The owners tend to be moms themselves and they know their business. At Bellydonna in Old Strathcona, owner Tracy tells me their philosophy is to “mother the mother�. One-on-one fittings and instructions on how to use baby slings are just one of the services offered. The experience of becoming and being a mom is acknowledged to be both incredibly special and overwhelming and Bellydonna aims support moms through this transition.

Bosom Babies Edmonton

Not your momma’s cloth diaper either! With increasing awareness of earth-friendly options for diapering baby, cloth diapers have certainly become more popular. At Bosom Babies, where they tell me “the real store is at the back of the store,� they have a wall of the brightest, hippest, most adorable looking diapers I have ever seen. Now not only do I want to have another baby, I want to use cloth diapers this time, too! Mothering for mom A common thread running through these boutiques is the personal care customers receive, especially the moms. The owners tend to be moms themselves and they know their business. At Bellydonna in Old Strathcona, owner Tracy tells me their philosophy is to “mother the mother�. One-on-one fittings and instructions on how to use baby slings are just one of the services offered. The experience of becoming and being a mom is acknowledged to be both incredibly special and overwhelming and Bellydonna aims support moms through this transition.

Mothering for mom

A common thread running through these boutiques is the personal care customers receive, especially the moms. The owners tend to be moms themselves and they know their business. At Bellydonna in Old Strathcona, owner Tracy tells me their philosophy is to “mother the mother�. One-on-one fittings and instructions on how to use baby slings are just one of the services offered. The experience of becoming and being a mom is acknowledged to be both incredibly special and overwhelming and Bellydonna aims support moms through this transition.

Alberta fashions and accessories

A growing trend? I simply could not believe the fashions and accessories available for moms. Was this a phenomenon excusive to Edmonton? A quick call to a mom friend in Calgary told me no! Ella Bella, a store that carries the brands often seen in fashion magazines, is her personal favorite. Another friend directed me to Posh Mommy in the trendy Kensington shopping district. Lucky mommies. Of course, these boutiques do provide luxurious and extraordinary gift ideas for baby showers and pregnant girlfriends, but these beautiful things are so darn hard to let go of. Hmmm…perhaps it’s time for a romantic dinner with hubby tonight?

Gear for the Road

Baby small children travel Gear for the Road What you need to travel with your baby or toddler in tow. by Mike Fisher Strollers. It’s how we roll. But when you’re on the road, packing your own four-wheeled chariot may not be an option. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Parents travelling with babies and toddlers can rely on established rental gear companies in Alberta. You can get everything from high-end car seats to easily stowed cribs. One Tiny Suitcase owner Stacey Corbett, a mother of twins who launched her baby equipment rental company more than 10 years ago, tells us how to make travelling with kids in the province as smooth as, well, a baby’s bottom. The company has outlets in both Calgary and Edmonton. Other rental choices include Little Traveller and Baby on the Move.

Gear for the Road - One Tiny Suitcase

One Tiny Suitcase owner Stacey Corbett, a mother of twins who launched her baby equipment rental company more than 10 years ago, tells us how to make travelling with kids in the province as smooth as, well, a baby’s bottom. The company has outlets in both Calgary and Edmonton. Other rental choices include Little Traveller and Baby on the Move. What equipment trend is emerging for travel with kids? I’m seeing more and more really compact children’s beds that have an air filled mattress. Top manufacturers are adapting to the travel market. The Baby Bjorn Travel Crib is really popular in Calgary and Edmonton, as it folds up nicely. You can just throw it into the trunk of your car. Favourite trips for parents travelling with kids in Edmonton and Calgary – and also near the cities? In Calgary, the Calgary Zoo is easy for parents and kids love it. It’s family friendly, central, and you can jump on the stroller-friendly C-train. Outside Calgary, Canmore (less than an hour’s drive west) is a favourite for my family. It’s in the mountains, it has good wide sidewalks and a boardwalk that follows the river - and we love the Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe. Also, northeast of Calgary (about a two hour drive), we love Drumheller and the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

Travelling with Kids

Favourite trips for parents travelling with kids in Edmonton and Calgary – and also near the cities? In Calgary, the Calgary Zoo is easy for parents and kids love it. It’s family friendly, central, and you can jump on the stroller-friendly C-train. Outside Calgary, Canmore (less than an hour’s drive west) is a favourite for my family. It’s in the mountains, it has good wide sidewalks and a boardwalk that follows the river - and we love the Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe. Also, northeast of Calgary (about a two hour drive), we love Drumheller and the Royal Tyrrell Museum. In Edmonton, West Edmonton Mall is a given, but it works for toddlers to teenagers and there’s so much to do. For families, the waterpark there is very popular. For city and nearby trips, people like to rent a stroller that they can easily collapse and fit into the car. We carry everything from compact to jogging strollers that you can take on the pathways in Calgary and Edmonton or even hiking in Banff.

Alberta must-do road trips

What are three must-do road tips for parents and kids? 1. The car seats are a major consideration - ensure it is securely fastened. The Britax Roundabout is our most popular choice and it’s known as being top of the line. 2. Stop every few hours and let kids burn off steam, so plan some rest stops. 3. Keep supplies in a cooler with snacks and drinks, so if you are in between rest stops, you can keep them happy with snacks they’re used to. Are Calgary and Edmonton baby friendly? A huge advantage for travellers in Calgary and Edmonton is that there’s a baby boom, and that means it’s much easier for parents to find baby and kid stuff in both cities. I was in an Edmonton baby store recently and I was amazed by the selection. If you already live in Calgary or Edmonton, why might you rent equipment? Families are hosting other families with kids, perhaps from out of town, but of course they don’t have two of everything - that’s a big part of our business. Also people who want to try out a new piece of equipment, such as a jogging stroller, will rent and try before buying.

Calgary Edmonton Family Trips

If you already live in Calgary or Edmonton, why might you rent equipment? Families are hosting other families with kids, perhaps from out of town, but of course they don’t have two of everything - that’s a big part of our business. Also people who want to try out a new piece of equipment, such as a jogging stroller, will rent and try before buying. What are the things I should think about bringing in the car or on the plane? For both air travel and a road trip, have an extra change of clothes for the kids in a bag that is easily accessible. You don’t want it in your suitcase. In terms of equipment, for infants I am more comfortable bringing an infant car seat with me, as you know how to work it. What’s best for a trip to the mountains? We get more requests for baby backpacks and jogging strollers. What are your top rental items and why? Car seats and full size cribs. Parents want a full size wooden crib like baby will use at home. Most hotels carry a ‘portacrib,’ but not this full sized version.

Baby Moon Getaways Primer

Expectant parents take one last opportunity for a relaxing couple’s vacation. by Mike Fisher A “baby moon getaway� is for expectant parents who want some together-time travel before the big day. Read on as a doula suggests tips for moms who want to take a pre-birth break, an Edmonton mom describes her baby moon in Alberta - and we speak to a Calgary spa with mom-friendly packages that may send you over the moon. Dads-to-be, you’ll want to read this, too. Hip mamas travel, too Helen Cotter, co-founder of Calgary-based Hip Mamas Doula Services, offers suggestions for moms contemplating a baby moon getaway. A doula provides continuous emotional, informational and physical support to pregnant women and their partners.

Hip mamas travel, too

Hip mamas travel, too Helen Cotter, co-founder of Calgary-based Hip Mamas Doula Services, offers suggestions for moms contemplating a baby moon getaway. A doula provides continuous emotional, informational and physical support to pregnant women and their partners. - For pampering, a lot of pregnant women might enjoy a pedicure and foot treatment or even a lower leg massage, as they might not be able to do that for themselves. While she gets a pedicure, he can get a manicure. - The spontaneity of a baby moon is nice, especially when you’re there, as it’s harder to be spontaneous after baby arrives. So maybe don’t go with a schedule in mind.

Walk the talk

- Hiking or short walks are fine for moms-to-be, as long as they don’t get themselves out of breath. Don’t do a strenuous hike, but a nice walk does have its benefits. The movement of the pelvis when you are walking can actually help the baby drop lower and get in a better position for birth. - Swimming is also excellent, because as mom leans forward, she is encouraging the spine of the baby to be along her front. - One thing that people sometimes do in a prenatal class is come up with a postpartum plan, so you could use the Baby Moon retreat to talk about mom’s goals, as well as dad’s. For example, she might say: “What I need after the birth is two hours a week where I can go and not take the baby and you can give me the support and just let me have some total me time.�

Ma and pa, meet spa

Both Calgary and Edmonton are chock full of day spas, which make a great retreat for expectant parents. Kim Trowell, lead reservations and group coordinator at the Hyatt Regency Stillwater Spa in Calgary, suggests these baby-friendly treatments. MamaMia: A spa package designed for moms-to-be with a full hour of prenatal massage, a one-hour pedicure and a one-hour manicure, a lunch break and a special gift. “This is one of our most popular packages, because it’s a nice, well-rounded spa day that takes about four hours,� says Trowell. “The highlight is the type of pillowing for prenatal massage, which allows the mom to lie face down at any stage of their pregnancy.�

Mom massage in Alberta

MOMassage: This treatment is geared more towards relaxation, it’s not deep tissue. The technique is altered so that it can be the most relaxing for the mom-to-be, and the therapists can do some things to help alleviate some of the pains that go along with pregnancy. Belly and Body Butter: A light exfoliation, then rich body butter to the skin, then wrap mom in a thick duvet. The body butter soaks into the skin and hydrates. There is also a face and scalp massage. “I know a lot of moms have drier skin issues during pregnancy, so it helps with that, and the girls tend to focus on things like elbows and knees that get drier,� says Trowell.

Spoken Word Artist Moe Clark

Recently returned from debuts in Europe and South America, 26-year-old Métis spoken word artist Moe Clark, aka Maureen Alicia Clark, is releasing her new mixed media performance piece on home turf. Intersecting Circles, a spoken word poem that won the Calgary 2007 CBC Poetry Face-Off has morphed into a film short in collaboration with video artist Morganne Klemke. The video poem, shot in the Cypress Hills last summer, will premiere live at Medicine Hat’s Esplanade Centre in November. Voices of ancestors At the heart of this multimedia event is the clear, true voice of a unique Albertan poetry performer and sound engineer

Drawing on cultural teachings

In her poetry, Moe Clark draws on the cultural teachings of her Shoshonee and French grandfather to bridge the gap between Aboriginal and European heritage. Art, she believes, has the power to transform attitudes and to heal and harmonize communities. Clark explains: “My grandfather was an artist. He used to paint landscapes, observe the land, go for long walks, and then began to carve immaculate birds, walking sticks, and other creatures from nature or his imagination in his later years.� “I used to love watching him paint and carve. I would sit patiently and observe him quietly. I think that is how I learned to meditate. He passed away when I was 16 and somehow I feel that a lot of the art I do now is in his honour. I want to continue his legacy as a humble and artistic human being.�

A trip to Cypress Hills

Sacred space Her return to the Cypress Hills for the History in the Hills gathering two years ago sparked Moe’s desire to create her video poem in the landscape of her childhood. “I realized how connected I was to the land, the space, the spirit. It really was a sacred reunion for me. The poem seemed to be the perfect fit for a project there.� Technology supports Moe’s poetry. Using a recording device that loops different tracks and is operated by a foot pedal, she is, quite literally, wired for sound. Technical dreamscapes “The looping pedal gives me an access point into other realms of performance and vocal exploration,� she explains.

More information on Moe Clark

“It helps add depth to my pieces, giving them more atmosphere, more sonic backing.� “With my looping pedal, I can really immerse myself, my spirit, and my voice into that space and let the stories extend from that point. It helps me ground myself in the richness of voice and metaphor.� Giving back “Alberta has been a great place for me, as an emerging artist, to experiment and explore, to grow and find my voice and my audience.� She’s now sharing that voice on international stages, as well as with First Nations communities and the smaller Albertan communities that nurtured her.

The Duchess Bake Shop

by Janet Bertsch “The shop philosophy is quite simple; use the best quality ingredients that we can find and then make the best tasting food that we can out of them,� says Duchess Bake Shop owner Garner Beggs. “That means doing everything from scratch, not using anything artificial and making sure everything is as fresh as possible for the customers.� Garner and his wife, Giselle, opened the stylish pastry shop on Edmonton’s 124th Street at the beginning of October. So far, the business has been a runaway success. We caught up with them on a drizzly Thursday morning to find out more. What inspired you to open a patisserie? We were heavily influenced by the amazing patisseries in Tokyo when we were teaching in Japan. In particular, their attention to the entire concept of a shop, including décor, music, packaging, customer service, as well as quality of product, was inspiring. The whole idea of the shop was that we wanted to combine traditional French baking techniques with others. This means you’ll see classic apple pies nestled up next to pain au chocolate and English scones. There is a heavy French influence, especially in the shop décor, but we certainly don’t define ourselves as being purely French. Which items do your customers like the most? So far the biggest hits have been the croissant and their derivatives (pain au chocolate, almond croissant and gruyere croissant), the madeleine (classic French tea biscuits), and the macarons. The macarons in particular (not to be confused with the English macaroon) seem to have caused quite the fuss in the online world, with a lot of reviewers focusing on them. Chocolate and lavender seem to be the favourite flavours. Is there a particular ingredient that really excites you? We both really love using lavender and other floral essences. Playing around with natural extracts is really interesting and we’re excited to build up our repertoire of interesting ingredients. What are some of the best things to eat in Edmonton? For visitors, I’d recommend grabbing a loaf of bread at Tree Stone Bakery on 99 Street, a coffee at Transcend, indulge in a spectacular meal and enjoy the amazing wild game that Alberta has to offer at the unheardof restaurant. What do you like about 124 Street? 124 Street has long had a special place in our hearts. I spent a great deal of time on the street when I was in high school, hanging out at the Sugar Bowl. The 124th Street Business Association is passionate about building a unique and vibrant community and it’s something that I’m quite excited about being a part of. Why return to Edmonton to open the shop? Having travelled and lived in many places around the world, I can honestly say that Edmonton is an amazing city to live in, but it needs more unique and independent businesses. I really hope that we can inspire other young people to help build a unique culture in the city. While there are all sorts of obstacles to opening your own shop, they are certainly surmountable and the rewards are tremendous, not only for yourselves, but for everybody around you as well. What’s the one dessert that tempts you every time? For me, it would have to be a simple ginger cookie. I never get sick of them, no matter how many I eat. For Giselle, it would be the macarons.

The Duchess’s Favourite Blueberry Scones

The Duchess’s Favourite Blueberry Scones For greater accuracy, this recipe uses a kitchen scale to weigh out the dry ingredients. 675 g flour 1 tbsp baking powder 3/4 tsp baking soda 75 g granulated sugar 1 1/2 tsp salt 250 g butter, very cold, cut into cubes 375 ml buttermilk 200 g blueberries 3 tsp lemon zest Melted butter for brushing the scones before baking. Preheat the oven to 380F. Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda together. Add the sugar and salt and whisk to combine. Add the cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour mixture until pea-sized chunks of butter remain. Mix in blueberries and zest gently, then add the buttermilk and continue to mix gently until the dough holds together. If the dough is too dry, add more buttermilk (one tablespoon at a time) until the right consistency is achieved. Turn dough onto a floured surface and pat into a rectangle. The rectangle should be about 15 inches long, 6 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut the dough into triangles. Brush with melted butter and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes.

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