Here are some great photos of last nights Glam Mom on the GO GO at My Filosophy in Edmonton!

A debut joint event featuring designer, Gail Conzatti and her amazing Kairos Handbags with Kathleen Todoruk, of Todoruk Design and bibagogo.  Take a look at the amazing combinations for two essentials for all moms-on-the-go!

Kairos Beautiful Kairos Grab’nGo handbag (available in many amazing colours!) Super light, room for Bibagogo, bottle water, wipes, diaper, wallet, cell phone, keys, kleenex and other necessities.  Click here to order online! We think this combo is a knock-out!  Pink shortcake bibagogo with the ruby red Kairos Grab n’ Go!

One of the featured products that should be in the Kairos Grab’n Go handbag besides the Bibagogo was The  ‘Little Black Book’ for Busy Families – the Ultimate Family Resource Guide from Pregnancy to Tweens Across Alberta!  Click here to find out more!

Here is my personal favourite!  Kairos Union Square Tote (available in some amazing colours!) Click here to find out more. I always need outside pockets that quickly store my cell phone, business cards, car keys and that handy kleenex that I seem to always need to wipe one of my kidlet’s nose!!

Kathleen and I are huge supporters of other Canadian companies that focus on Canadian made products!

My Filosophy carries NakedUnderwear : The New Boxer Brief.  And take a look at the owner of this Canadian company!  Now that is an entrepreneur that we would all like to meet!

Good Bibagogo times with everyone at My Filosophy & Gail from Kairos Design.

Thank you to everyone who came by for some fun!

Jenifer Schaefer, an Edmonton mom of 2, who has a very popular, well-followed and respected blog called, City and Baby, wrote ‘Night Out for Glam Moms’ on May 30th. I urge everyone to log in and read her post and follow her blog.  As a mom, I have followed Jen for a while as a resource for what is happening out and about my city.  My favourite is her weekend guides:  Click here to view! Jen’s info is concise, easy to follow and has always posted what I would like to want to find out (whether I was looking or not!).  She is one I also follow on twitter and facebook.

Now as a local entrepeneur, I will shout out loud to my hometown fellow parents, women and other business owners, to check her out as she truly supports her local entrepeneurs!  In this one post she truly, SUPPORTS LOCAL.

• My Filosophy – Local, independent retail boutique that shines the spotlight on Canadian designers
• Canadian purse/bag designer, Kairos Designs
• Kathleen Todoruk, Edmonton haute couture designer and designer/co-owner of Bibagogo
• Joeffer Caoc, Canadian fashion designer (My Filosophy carries this line of fashion)
• Tangible Moments Photography – Local, Edmonton photographer specializing in child, maternity & family portraiture (Beautiful picture of little Lilian in the pretty pink Shortcake Bibagogo)
• Bibagogo (us) – local designed product, designed by Edmonton designer and manufactured here in Edmonton!

Thank you Jen for exploring and suppling information about Edmonton’s baby-friendly events, activities, shopping and other delights.   AND thank you for your kind and supportive post!

A gift that combines eating & hygiene!

EATING PART OF THE GIFT

Hottest award-winning, father-inspired, mom-marketed toddler bib on the marketplace -Bibagogo

• Stain-resistant, wipe & go and washable
• Rolls up and goes anywhere -perfect for carseat snacking, restaurant eating
• Fashionable and not baby-bib-like with hip designs
• Hidden pockets in back (comes with 2 clothes and spoon) but can put stickie pad & pencil crayon for doodling at restaurant while waiting for food or mini-toys, small book to read
• Extra long and adjustable neck to fit a child up to 5 years old
• Perfect eating and can use as an arts & craft smock (bottom pocket hold fallen food, crayons and paint brushes – little ‘picasso’ bibagogo!)

HYGIENE PART OF THE GIFT

Twooth® Timer is a two minute tooth-shaped mechanical bell tooth brushing timer . Invented by a mom and recommended by dentists and hygienists! Easy for kids & adults to use: simply turn the top to ’2′ and brush until the bell rings.

• convenient size doesn’t clutter countertops and fits in most medicine cabinets
• helps reduce dental bills by improving dental hygiene
• encourages older kids to brush without nagging & without supervision
• needs no batteries
• works with all types of toothbrushes
• award winning!

More information about the Bibagogo and the Tooth Timer found on their websites but also the Womentorz  website that supports global partnership and women supporting women.

To gift both products the total cost would be approximately $40.99 (+S/H).

There was 10 Bibagogo originals donated for all the VIP attendees bags and an amazing Blue Rainboot Bibagogo for the giveaway (the same Bibagogo that was gifted to Alyssa Milano, Jewel and given to Ellen for her Annual Baby Shower event!)

Check out Modern Mama’s site for more details!  Here is the CTV Global News segment that features Skyla & Connie of Modern Mama.  Bravo!

Leanna Chan, creator and founder of Little Blossom, beamed a happy smile and did what Leanna does the best, network everyone at the table and show sincere support for her fellow entrepreneurs.   I remember meeting Leanna for the first time at an Edmonton trade show.  Not only does she have that vivacious positive energy but she makes everyone feel such worth and importance.  She is a catalyst for camaraderie.  Check out her latest upcoming June event, Little Blossom Princess Parade at Cafe O’Play – true example of supporting others businesses and products.

Meeting Leanne Power, author, blogger and mompreneur, stirred something that I have felt strongly about when I was a past early childhood teacher – teaching the importance of self-worth, positive self image and healthy esteem to our children.  I was so impressed with her new book, You Are Sooooo Beautiful.  I shared a project that I have put on the ‘backburner of life’ since leaving the teaching profession.  Leanne, sparkled with enthusiasm and interest.  We are now planning to meet and talk further about collaborating!   Go meet Leanne on June 26th in Edmonton, Chapters Southpoint at her upcoming booksigning.

Maureen Connellan, an Edmonton baby and child lifestyle photographer, joined our table.  Of course any mom meeting another mother glowing with a beautiful pregnant tummy has to focus on the obvious – when are you due, is this your first?   When Maureen told me that she is mommy of 4 and soon to be five, I just signed a ‘wow’. I am always in awe of the capabilities of women to live life, procreate, nurture and still have the self-motivation, determination, will and ability to provide a business that supports and celebrates others. Maureen’s business is Tangible Moments Photography - She has such talent, an obvious eye for ‘sweetness’, and ability to capture that “picture that is worth a 1000 words’.   Maureen captured some breathtaking Bibagogo moments.   Thank you!

Last but not least, my mother.  My mother faithful stands beside me at events, function and activities that I involve myself in as a mom entrepreneur.   She, herself, is a true inspiration.  Career women, mom, wife, widow with 2 young children, business owner, fighter and survivor of cancer and grandmother.  My mother modelled the foundation that I needed to be a mom entrepreneur.  Plus, she still carries the record of single handedly selling more Bibagogos to other grandma’s like her.  Thanks mom for celebrating and supporting women that are motivated to succeed and do what they believe.

All these women are true entrepreneurs, with true talent and energy to invent, learn, organize, share, multi-task, support and nurture everyone, everyday.  I thank them for doing what they believe in.  I thank them all for being an inspiration to others.

Last week we were fortunate to attend a wonderful Bossy Mama event “Innovative Women” Spring Brunch.

The event brunch focused on hearing amazing and inspiring women talk about their ‘aha’ moment that brought them to business success.   Tracey Scarlet of Alberta Women Entrepreneurs opened the event, sharing her experiences and motivating the women in the room to reach out, search for resources and network.  I recall listening to Tracey and nodding about how she touched the true fact that entrepreneurship tests relationships!  It is so true, when we have are dedicated to a goal, hopefully you have that dedicated spouse standing beside you.

Next, I found myself screaming “Bravo! Touché!” in my head as I listened to Laura Berg, founder and president of My Smart Hands .  Laura made the room giggle, nod, smile and be engaged with her words of encouragement and tips: “Don’t take no as rejection, take it as motivation!” “Develop an ‘inner circle’ of masterminds” “If you do nothing, you will get nothing” “Tap into other available resources”... Bravo! Touché! Thank you Laura.

The event continued with Traci Costa, Vancouver mom entrepreneur who founded Peekaboo Beans “Playwear for Kids on the Grow”.  Traci spoke of the challenge of trying to get people to buy into her vision, the reality of rejection and how to take that rejection and be inspired by it.  Powerful take-home messages included: Have the right strategic partnership,  network, find the right group or person to partner with; and find a mentor, take on an intern!

Just when the room of women felt inspired and motivated, Paula Morand, founder and CEO of JumpStart 720 literally energized the room!  Paula was electric!  She promoted us to physically be moved but also made our hearts jump with powerful statements like “hypothetically is the key to dreaming”, “clarity breeds consistency”, “feel the fear and do it anyway”, “assumptions and expectations will get the best of you every time, don’t expect, just give back!” From one moment of feeling your heart break when listening to her tragic story of losing her husband, your heart then jumps with excitement because her contagious energy and positive outlook and advice.

What an event.  Thank you Carol McBee from Bossy Mama for organizing an event that brought phenomenal women who can inspire and motivate all of us to continue on, work together, network, support and give to others!

Bibagogo’s maxim, “GO AHEAD. GET MESSY“

Keep the Mess under control and clothing protected from stains are ultimately reasons why people use bibs on children.  The bibagogo was designed for those reasons as well as the convenience of having everything all together – bib, spoon and 2 facecloths.   Often or not, any parent who has a ‘bit of O.C.’ nature cringes at the site of their child getting messy with their food.  This in turn can set a tone of reservation in the child to not explore, touch, feel, squish or mash what is put in front of them.    Askamum.co.uk blog post said something interesting that we often know but forget, “handling food sends messages to the brain and tummy about the type, texture, consistency and edibility of things, and prepares the digestive system to receive it.” There are countless documentation to the importance of children actively exploring their world through play.  The element of play in the process of mealtime is unavoidable. So really, ‘Go ahead. Get messy”, let your child enjoy the learning process of understanding foods, enjoying textures and flavours and actively play during mealtime.  Just place a Bibagogo on your child to protect their clothing and keep the mess under control.

Shara, busy mom of 2 and business owner of Mommy Perks, recently posted this fabulous video illustrating a great messy art & craft learning moment!  
Following this video post, Shara and I began a conversation around MESS.  Both of us, being past Early Childhood Teachers, have it engrained, all developmental importances of play (including messy play) to our children’s development and well-being.

Shara posted the following quote, which I can only say, “ditto!  I agree!” 

“I love a clean home and sometimes people ask me, “How can you let your kids be so messy and play so much?” Knowing what a neat freak I can be. But I also know this time is short and playing is a MUST for healthy brains and bodies. So our kids play all day long, make home made play doh, paint, glue, cut, color, use sand, sing, dance and more. It’s a must! And one day…my home will be clean and I can be all crazy-nutso about it on my own time.”

Preview the Womentorz Facebook Photo album picture posting of this beautiful gift!  Thank you to Melinda and Shara.

Please consider buying from these small businesses instead of going to a large chain to buy something ‘typical’.  All these products are unique, inspired by moms and dads like you who put their innovative creativity and hard work to bring such wonderful products to the marketplace.  Celebrity gifting is a way to gain exposure.  Celeb Hoopla is not only reputable but personable.  They truly support the companies they work with and deliver a service with such care and intregrity.  We highly recommend Celeb Hoopla for any small business looking for marketing exposure.   We also recommend any of these products from these fine businesses.  Pleased to be a part of such an amazing group of entrepreneurs!

Laughing Lily

Nightmare NibblerSweet Mango BabyBoca Beth – Bringing Spanish to Life

Jewelry By Andrea

See Baby Grow

Tree of Life Design

Vintage Body Spa Eco Baby Botanicals

Take Your Pix Board Book Photo Album