Just wanted to say goodbye

I didn't really get the chance to do it so I will do it here on my blog. A blog that's quite irrelevant now, since the store is closed. Yes, its closed. My very first baby. The place I spent over 10 hours a day at times, where I put all my energy and devotion. Its all over. I had to turn the page. It was hard, I was in denial for a long time but it had to be done. No choice.
So I come here for the last time to say goodbye to my faithful clients, who became my friends and confidants. Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I am off to the land of motherhood, with diapers and feedings and nap time. Farewell...

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Du 10 au 17 décembre

Breastfeeding is glamorous...really?

On the eve of the last day of the 20th edition of World Breastfeeding Week, here in Quebec we have gone as far as making the act of feeding your child a glamorous act. Mahée Paiement is the spokesperson for the week long event and she recently released a video where she has presented breastfeeding as being a very glamour. Dressed in a sexy black dress, hair all made up and posing in a velvet and leather decor with a baby on her boob. You can see the picture right here
If I am a mom who is presently breastfeeding, I fail to see how this represents my reality. On the other hand, if I am a mom who had trouble breastfeeding or failed to breastfeed, I still do not see how this can help. Finally if I am a mom to be and have no idea what to expect from breastfeeding, should this be the example in my mind???
Being 32 weeks pregnant with twins getting ready to breastfeed again after a very short break (my son was weaned only a few weeks before I got pregnant at 14 months) this sort of publicity stunt bothers me. I can see that having a celebrity endorse breastfeeding has the potential to encourage some women to take on the challenge. Only 48% of women in Quebec actually breastfeed.
I am no marketing guru by all means, but this seems to me like this was an amazing publicity opportunity to promote breastfeeding that missed the target. I could imagine many different scenarios that are very real and concrete where one promotes breastfeeding. A mom at the restaurant, or in the shopping mall, perhaps a shot at home with some other mom friends who are also breastfeeding. But all dressed up to go to a gala or something...how is that real? I, for one, if my presence was required at a gala and I had to breastfeed, I would do it before I put my sexy black dress on, or I would use the pump. One thing is for sure, I would not be wearing my 6 inch heals sitting on the edge of a leather office chair!

Ateliers danse et expression corporelle

Dans ta bulle a l’honneur de présenter des ateliers d’expression corporelle pour les jeunes enfants, développés et gérés par Adriana, art-éducatrice spécialisée en danse et en psychomotricité, fondatrice du Centre d’expression corporelle Colibri.

 Au cours de ses dix années d’expertise dans des institutions renommées (Centres de la petite enfance, écoles) de Rio au Brésil, Adriana n’a eu de cesse de continuer à enrichir ses connaissances et son talent auprès de professionnels émérites. Devenant dès lors, détentrice d’un savoir et d’un savoir-faire d’une qualité rare, elle en révèle aujourd’hui toute la richesse, dans le cadre des ateliers que nous offrons dans notre bulle (Espace boutique-atelier : Dans ta bulle : 316, rue du Mont-Royal Est, Montréal).

Au travers d’exercices ludiques, les ateliers d’expression corporelle amènent le jeune enfant à une découverte de son corps, une exploration de ses capacités motrices, ainsi qu’à une prise de conscience de sa présence dans un espace accueillant, dans lequel il pourra en toute quiétude, se manifester de façon naturelle et spontanée.

Tout au long de l’atelier, l’enfant est incité à exprimer sa potentialité créatrice, à développer le sens de son individualité, de corps et d’esprit. L’originalité de tout l’ensemble - non quantifiable- des exercices psychopédagogiques qu’Adriana propose aux enfants, réside également dans le fait, qu’il est adapté au besoin de bonheur de l’enfant. 

Dès lors, on comprend bien que la progression des acquis permise par la participation régulière de l’enfant à l’activité annuelle, favorise un développement psychomoteur optimum.

Le support musical brésilien, les exercices ludiques et créatifs, l’accompagnement vigilant et expérimenté d’Adriana, offrent à l’enfant la découverte de ce don d’une présence pleinement vivante, dans un espace ouvert et chaleureux où il fait bon jouer, apprendre et partager ses dons innés et acquis, au sein du groupe, permettant en fin de compte, un bel éveil humain.

HORAIRE DU PREMIER TRIMESTRE

Les matinées sont réservées aux plus jeunes. Un espace-temps privilégié de 40 mn, à raison d’une séance par semaine, pour un maximum de 8 enfants avec leurs mamans.

10H -10H40 : Les bébés (7/8 mois à 18 mois) accompagnés d'un parent ou grand-parent.

Tarif : 125$ pour 10 séances.

10H50 -11H30 : Les jeunes enfants de 18 mois à 30 mois, accompagnés d’un parent.

Tarif : 125$ pour 10 séances.

L’après-midi s’adresse aux plus grands de nos tout-petits, dans le cadre d’un cours hebdomadaire d’une durée de 45 mn. Le tarif est de 140$ pour les 10 séances prévues au trimestre.

15H30 -16H15 : Les jeunes enfants entre 2 ans et demi et 3 ans et demi. (12 places maximum)

16H30 à 17H15 : Pour un jeune public entre 3 ans et demi  et 5 ans. (12 places maximum)

Début des activités : mardi 23 octobre 2012. Inscriptions obligatoires et frais payables à l’avance, avec la possibilité de régler en deux parties. La reprise des cours du second semestre aura lieu le mardi 15 janvier 2012, après la relâche durant la période des fêtes.

Pour plus d’information ou pour réserver svp contacter la boutique au 514 842 3019

Stretch marks during pregnancy: prevent or embrace?

There are many ailments of pregnancy that I have to endure, the back pain, the mood swings, the cravings, being nauscious, did I mention the back pain? Thank goodness stretch marks are not one of them!
There are things a girl can do to prevent them, or at least minimize them. Lets look at the options, but first, we should understand why stretch marks happen in the first place.
In a nutshell, stretch marks occur when the skin is stretched but is unable to return completely to its previous state. According to my extensive internet research, genetics play a major role in this. So if you already have some stretch marks or if your mom has them, chances are you are going to get them during pregnancy. Its important to mention that they dont look the same on everyone, depending on your skin tone it can be more or less visible.
If heredity is not in your favor, its best to work on prevention and early treatment. Having been in the natural cosmetics world for a while now and learing about different ingredients, your best friend in this case would be cocoa butter. Although  it cannot make stretch marks completely go away, (there is no miracle product out there!) the moisturizing action of the product on the skin does increase the skin's overall elasticity. Dry skin makes it more difficult for skin to return to its previous state. Skin is better able to stretch when it is hydrated therefor I recomend to hydrate twice a day every day. Not too much so your skin is not greasy, just enough for the skin to absorb completly.

Magic in a bottle!

We do have a great product at the store I often recomend, its called the triple butter balm; a mixture of cocoa, shea and mango seed butter that has been whipped to help application. Its quite wonderful. I did use it during my first pregnancy and I am currently using it with the pregnancy of the twins. I love the natural smell of the cacao, its so yummy!!
There is another option out there if you lose your battle with stretch marks. Accept them as your battle scars for having to go through the most wonderful experience of your life; road to motherhood!

Atelier de massage pour bébé: avantages inombrables

Tout d'abord un véritable moment de bonheur partagé, le massage réconforte, sécurise et apporte des bienfaits à la fois au parent et au bébé massé. Bébé se calme, les petits bobos s'apaisent les coliques et les constipations sont soulagées, son sommeil est favorisé. Bébé est heureux, maman et papa aussi.
Le massage bébé vous conduit à un niveau de confiance et de relaxation qui se reflète dans la santé et le caractère de votre bébé ainsi que dans la relation que vous aurez avec lui. Plus l’interaction est supérieure, plus votre enfant maximisera son développement physique, émotionnel et social.
C'est le plus beau cadeau que l'on puisse s'offrir.
Dans ta bulle vous offre des ateliers afin d'apprendre à masser bébé. Quatre sessions d'environ une heure suffirons pour apprendre les bases de cette activité.
Linda Coté la massothérapeute qui offre ces cours est vraiment une experte dans le domaine. Elle enseigne des techniques simples de massage afin d'établir une relation parent-enfant positive et sécurisante.

Début des cours: mardi le 18 sept à 9h30
                            mardi le 23 octobre à 9h30
Coût: 90$
Réservation: 514 842 3019

Cértificat cadeaux disponibles!

Workshops for babies; massage lessons

New activity at Dans ta bulle

Workshops to teach parents how to massage baby

• Come and learn how to sooth your baby with your touch
•  Technics to massage baby in a safe and secure environment
• Maximise their physical, social and emotional development

4 sessions of 60 minutes with Linda Côté

When: starting Tuesday Jan 8th 2013 at 9:30 am

Where: Dans ta bulle boutique 316 Mont Royal E.

Who: Babies 3months + accompanied by a parent

How much: 90$

RSVP: 514 842 3019

Look at this one! He's having the time of his life!

 

 

Other workshops and classes to come, for both mommies and babies. I will be posting a new schedule soon.

Afraid of SIDS?

When my little boy was born, I was always worried about all sorts of things new moms worry about.  One of them was SIDS. Is he breathing? Is he too hot? Did he roll onto his tummy? Did he cover his head with the blanket? Well, some of those fears were calmed when I bought a sleep sack. I gotta say, its quite an invention. Combination sleeping bag and blanket, baby is snug and covered all night. I find that the perfect solution to keep my little monster warm efficiantly in the winter months without overheating him to a dangerous degree are aden + anais sleeping bags. The ones that are four layers of fabric. And the beauty of it is that I don't have to worry if he has rolled around and uncovered himself or covered his head with his blanket.
Each aden + anais cozy sleeping bag is made of 100% breathable muslin cotton, which allows baby’s body temperature to adjust naturally, reducing the risk of overheating. Not too hot, not too cold, just right!
When the warm summer days where here, I had a new dilema, the sleep sack was too hot, what to do?  I quickly discovered that, aden + anais, makes light summer sleep sacks!! Only one layer of muslin fabric.

So what’s muslin anyway? Well its an ancient fabric, traditional for swaddling, has an open, loose weave that is breathable and allows air to circulate around your baby, a little bit like gauze pads. Aden+Anais have a whole line of swaddling blankets they make with this amazing fabric. They really are my favorite blankets.

Whenever I fall in love with a product like this, I end up buying industrial quantites for the boutique, knowing that a good thing should be shared. You can come and visit us and listen to me rambling on and on about muslin anytime you like!

I later found out that The CJ Foundation for SIDS recommends the use of sleepsacks instead of blankets to keep babies snug during bedtime. So thats another reason why all babies should sleep in one.

In any case, here are few tips to prevent SIDS. I got this from the CJ Foundation website

• Always lay your baby to sleep face up
• Remove all loose bedding, bumpers, stuffed animals, and pillows from the crib
• Don’t let your baby get too hot, control room temperature where baby is sleeping
• Lay your baby to sleep in an approved crib, on a firm-fitting mattress
• Don’t smoke while pregnant and never smoke near your infant
• Put your baby on his or her tummy to play when your baby is awake and supervised

There are other tips on the website, go and have a look.

The adventures of a momentrepreneur expecting twins

Owning a business has its challenges. Trying to juggle family and work being one of them. I am trying to figure out how I am going to do all this with twins and a toddler. The coming year is going to be filled with lots of fun and not so fun moments I want to share with you. My adventures juggling business, toddler and twins sure promises to be entertaining to say the least.

Varak and my belly hanging out in the bedroom 5:45 am

Pregnancy and skin care

Your skin really changes during pregnancy, well, everything in your body changes!! Some things are better like hair and nails and other things are worse, like my skin. Under normal conditions I have normal to combination skin and my regimen is pretty simple, rinse and apply sun protection in the morning. Cleanse and lightly hydrate at night. Exfoliate in the shower and apply a mask once in a while. But now its all messed up!! I have pimples, borderline acne, oily skin, blackheads and whiteheads as well!
Thankfully I have access to the best skincare products on the market and I was able to get a hold of the situation pretty quickly. I've been using the Zorah organic products with argan oil. They have this new line for oily skin that I am in love with! There is the cleanser Kaïla with elderflower and also Inua, the matifying lotion with hemlock plant. The combination of these two products has been my lifesaver. My skin actually looks normal! The cleanser is in gel form but it doesn't lather too much and doesn't completely degrease your skin, which is great because to more you remove the more your body makes to compensate. The hydrating and matfying lotion is also great because its not heavy at all. Its a light formula that helps regulate your skins sebum production.