Happy FIVE YEAR Anniversary Donald Physiotherapy!

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We are always excited to work with family-friendly local businesses, and are so honored to represent Donald Physiotherapy on our Ask Mum online directory. This month, they are celebrating FIVE years in business and we wanted to capture some of their journey and share this with our community.

 

Donald Physiotherapy opened in Stonebridge November 3rd, 2014. Starting with Trevor Donald, answering phones, booking appointments and seeing clients, Donald Physiotherapy quickly evolved into a full service health and wellness centre.

family, community and quality of life

They do local, they do family!

Donald Physiotherapy is a locally owned, family run business, thus lending to their core values of family, community and quality of life.  This has lead to the evolution of the core services of Donald Physiotherapy to include Physiotherapy Rehabilitation and Prevention, Pelvic Health for Women, Men and Children, the Management of such Persistent pain presentations as Arthritis, and Massage therapy.  Donald Physiotherapy serves the entire family from babies and families, to seniors.

 

Donald Physiotherapy is all about Community!

Donald Physiotherapy are always getting involved one way or another to help and grow our community in Saskatoon. Every year, they participate in the C95 event raising money for Breast Cancer Research, and this year more than $1400 was donated!

It’s also nearly time for Santa Pictures – every December Donald Physio hosts pictures with Santa for the community (this year picture day takes place on December 7rd). They gather non-perishable food items for Rock 102 Stuff the Bus Campaign for the Saskatoon Food Bank!

They are also heavily involved in the Irish Dance Community, supporting the local FEIS competitions in the Fall.

The Donald Physiotherapy BLOG (click here to access) is always a great place to go for information and education re: various topics including pelvic health, muscle and tendon injuries, etc. AND Donald Physio also host the occasional free seminar for the public (the last seminar hosted in September – focussing on how to prevent and manage dance injuries for your children).

 

They are all about improving quality of life

Donald Physiotherapy delivers quality of life to their clients. Whether getting back to a sport the client loves, being able to run with their children, or the overall management of pain, Donald Physiotherapy individualizes each individual client to what they want to achieve through knowledge, experience and expertise.

They do excellence!

In the five years that Donald Physiotherapy has been operating, they have been nominated four times for the SABEX Awards – the Business Excellence Awards for the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce.  Award nominations and finalists have included New Business Venture, Small Business of the Year and Customer Service.

Events happening this week to celebrate the Anniversary:

We will be having in-clinic draws for the clients who have supported us throughout the journey! Join us.

 

To read more about this business, and to view their services and contact details, head to their listing on our Ask Mum Saskatoon online directory here.

 

Introducing Rosette Events – Events with a Difference!

 

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We are so honoured to be working with Rosette Events – an Events company with a difference. Michelle Whalen, the Mama behind the organization, had the fantastic idea to run events in Saskatoon, with the purpose of raising funds for key charities and organizations in Canada. Michelle was a Stay-at-home-Mama when she started Rosette Events, and she wanted to combine her passion for volunteering with her top-notch organizer extraordinaire skills, to do something outside of the home. Michelle is from Saskatoon, and has been living in Martensville the past two years with her family. She has a three and a half year old daughter, and her youngest is turning two on the date of Rosette Event’s next market – this Sunday!

Rosette Events hosts family fun events and markets, with a fun or festive theme. The best part of these events, is that they are fundraising events. Previous events and markets have raised awareness and funds for the following incredible organizations: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Crisis Nursery, Mothers Empowering Mothers.

Do you want to find a way to support this wonderful business with a powerful and special mission? Their next event is coming up!

Join Rosette Events at the HARVEST HOME Market this Sunday!

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A Medieval-Halloween themed Family Market for Charity

Date & Time: Sunday 6th October from 10am – 4pm

Venue: Saskatoon German Cultural Centre 

 

All profits raised from admission (by donation) and the raffle, are donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Saskatchewan. This is the second annual event for this charity, and last year’s event brought in close to $600 for the charity! Let’s help break the record, and even double this amount Saskatoon Mamas!

  • Over 30 Vendors (mostly handcrafted)
  • Face painting by Infinity Face Painting and Fun Mi Meow Face Painting
  • Halloween-themed photo booth by Trew Moments Photography
  • Sensory Play area by @bohs.bins
  • Colouring and activity tables for the kids
  • RAFFLE

PLUS!

12 – 2pm: Snow White & Merida Meet-and-Greet

2 – 3pm: Sprinkles the Clown – Walk-around magic AND Balloon animals

See inside a Viking Village with the Vatnheim Vikings (all day)

Learn all about life on the prairies with the Saskatchewan Archeological Society (all day)

This Market has it all! Join in this weekend… and be part of something greater!

Click here to view the Facebook event information.

Click here to access Rosette Events on Facebook.

Future events:

  • November 9th: Sugar Plums (Martensville) – Charity to be announced.
  • December 1st: Yuletide Shimmer (Saskatoon) – Fundraising for Saskatoon Crisis Nursery.

Our Fav YXE Mama Influencers (Part 3)

Amanda @fitbumpsk

Amanda Brindley is the owner and main instructor at Fitbump, a body positive fitness community specializing in Prenatal & Postnatal fitness. She is also mom to a four year old daughter named Molly. Amanda prides herself on sharing posts about real, honest motherhood to help moms feel less alone. Sometimes humorous, sometimes vulnerable but always real. Her feed is not perfectly curated, it is usually unfiltered photos from an iPhone and her outfit of the day is usually an old sports bra, leggings and sweatshirt.

Amanda is also very passionate about spreading the word on women’s health and body positivity. Struggling with her own body image has inspired her to create posts helping other women feel more comfortable in their own bodies. She is out to change the world so her own daughter does not have to deal with the ridiculous pressure women face to look a certain way, when really looks are the least important thing about a person. We are so much more than our appearance.

 

Brin @grow.them.wild

My name is Brin and I am a wife, mother, and business owner.  I have two happy, busy little boys aged 1 & 3 and a wonderful husband. We live in a small town outside of Saskatoon with the purpose of living a slow simple life. We spend most of our days outside exploring, throwing rocks in sloughs, and riding bikes.

I am a professional photographer and own my own business (be PHOTOGRAPHY – www.be-photography.ca) and that is why I love Instagram so much. Capturing my boys and our boho home has become a fun part of my days. I also run an online store that features bohemian items for mom and baby (The Bohemian Collective – www.thebohemiancollective.ca)

You will definitely see the influence of my work in my Instagram feed. If I was to have a theme for my feed I would say it is Bohemian. Things I love: traveling, cooking, being in the outdoors, and anything boho. And a dream of our families is to live overseas with our children.

 

Carrie @lifewiththegauthiers

Hello! My name is Carrie Gauthier and I am a mama to 3 men and a little lady all under 10 years of age. I have been married to my high school sweetheart of nearly 13 years this August and together we lead a beautiful chaotic life lol 🙂

I am a former teacher turned entrepreneur almost 10 years ago. I left the high school teaching profession to follow my passion of photography – officially opening “Little Black Dress Photography” in 2010. My desire to freeze time for our own little family, organically lead me to doing the same for my clients.

My entrepreneurial itch & draw to children’s products & fashion, was further scratched when my sister & I officially opened “Mini Citizen” – an online clothing boutique for woman and children one year ago.

Through these side hustles, I have found an amazing balance between being at home with our kids, running them to their activities and sports, all while being true to myself and my passions (aka- getting a little adult interaction lol). I am a non coffee drinking morning person (this is new since having children) who likes to multitask, try DIY projects, shop all day every day, take a million photos of my children, pretend to know what to order at Starbucks, and share all the memes – seriously how fun is life since those came out?!?!?!

“Life with the Gauthiers” is a snapshot into our life – particularly all things motherhood. From helpful mom hacks, neat finds and children’s fashions, to finding toys with great play and educational value. I hope to inspire mamas with things I have learnt while raising our four littles, tips and tricks that have worked with our family, hidden local gems/sales/finds, as well as amazing products and services that I fully endorse for our family. I promise to share all memes that make you pee just a little while reading, brighten your day with our daily chaos (no you are most certainly not alone stashing chocolate) and lift you up on this crazy beautiful ride.

 

Courtney @kinsleysworld16

Hi everyone, I am Courtney. I am a mama to a 2.5 year old girl Kinsley and a 6 month old little man Lincoln. My husband works away from home so its mostly just me and the kids. When I am not on maternity leave, I am putting my 4 year broadcasting degree to good use in the construction field working as a Project Systems Manager at a Mining/Welding Company.

I love to write and am planning on starting a blog here soon about my adventures, successes, and hurdles as a mom. Our instagram started as a brand rep page for my kids which we are slowly phasing out of and has slowly changed into a lifestyle portrait of our lives. Currently our page mostly focuses on mom life experiences and kids but will also be showcasing some home decor and more as we continue on this instagram journey!

 

Janna @thismomthing

Hello, I am Janna, the Mama behind “This Mom Thing”. I am married to a Mountie, and am a Mother to three. Former art teacher, turned photographer – but full time hot mess mom (lol)! My hubby’s work schedule is crazy, and I run my own business and try to be as present as possible for my kiddos. I am a kinda-crunchy mom and I pretty much wing it daily trying to balance it all.

Joselyne @joselyne.effa

My name is Joselyne, I am a local influencer here in Saskatoon. I am a wife, a nurse and a mom of 2 sweethearts, Alexia (two years) and Lucas (2 months).

And as if that wasn’t enough, I thought hey why not try my hand at photography. So here I am raising two littles, trying to carve out time with my husband, and take photos… so come on over and follow along. I’d love to share all the ups and downs with you as I try to figure it all out!

 

Kendra @kendra.eff

Hey mama’s, I’m Kendra! I’ve been married to my husband Levi for just short of 8 years and we have two adorable little humans; Nora is three and a half years, and Myer is seven months! I’m currently on maternity leave from my job in Human Resources, so I started documenting my day-to-day mommin’ moments on Instagram.

It’s honest and imperfect – but hopefully with a bit of humor! I share about mom life, solo parenting while my husband works away, and our adventures around YXE.

There’s an amazingly strong community of moms here in SK, and I’ve really enjoyed making new connections through Instagram, Ask Mum Saskatoon, Mommy Connections, FitBump (the list goes on!). I look forward to connecting with you!

Megan @meganannemarie

Hey everyone!! My name is Megan! I am a stay at home Mom to two boys.  My oldest son, Finn, is three and a half years and my youngest son, Nash, is one and a half years old.

I have a Bachelor degree in Social Work as well as a Youth Care Worker certificate and I used to be a hairstylist too! I grew up on a farm in Manitoba but I’ve been living in Saskatoon & area for 10 years!

On my Instagram, I share my every day moments in motherhood, fashion finds, and toddler activities. Thanks for following along!

 

Michelle @michelleckeen

Girl mama to two. I’m Michelle, born & raised in Saskatchewan, currently on mat leave with our second daughter, Zoe. Self-proclaimed coffee addict, fashion lover and interior design guru. 

I fell in love with the instagram world while on mat leave with our oldest, Ava. I enjoyed posting photos of my baby and naturally it spiralled from there, however, it is just over the last few months that this interest has become a passion and I have fallen in love with the instagram community and the connections & opportunities that have come from it. 

It is my goal to inspire you through the pretty things like fashion and interior design but also hope that you are intrigued by my realness and day-to-day journey on this rollercoaster that is motherhood.

 

Miranda @mirandabraun_

I’m Miranda, a wife and mama of three. I work part time as a nurse and stay at home with my kids the rest of the time. My hands are pretty full but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Motherhood is such a gift! I love capturing the beauty and chaos of it all and sharing my experiences with other mama’s. Hope you enjoy following along!

Shelan  @shelanfaith

Hello! My name is Shelan and I am a mom to a beautiful three and a half year old girl Ella. She is the most funny, silly, sassy and loving little girl I know! I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and as much as I love city life this girl misses the farm (hopefully one day we will have our own). Thankfully for the time being we get our dose of acreage life at my in-laws.
I work full time as a Medical Laboratory Assistant and when I’m not working I’m busy filling my time with DIY projects, gardening, canning, baking, volunteering, shopping, spending time with family and friends!

I also love to support small shops as up until March I owned my own business and know how important it is. Can you tell I like to keep myself busy! Follow along with me for a peak into our crazy busy life!

 

 

Meet some of our Fav YXE Mama Influencers (Part 2)

I just love the Ask Mum community, and we are so lucky to have truly inspiring women in Saskatoon. When selecting our Fav Mama Influencers, we don’t care about the number of followers you have or a perfectly curated Insta feed… it’s about having a voice and using it and having people who seem to want to follow along as you do life. So here goes, meet some of our fav mama influencers, and watch this space as we release another blog article soon with more!

Amanda Grace (@bluebirdjournals)

Hi, I’m Amanda, a local YXE blogging mama. I am mama to two young girls, Georgia and Elsie, who are often the inspiration for my writing. I write about the struggles and celebrations of being a mom, being married to an out of town shift worker and the ups and downs of my mental health journey. My ability to speak honestly hopefully makes others feel supported and empowered – that’s my goal anyways! You can read my raw, real and motivational blogs at www.bluebirdjounrals.com or catch my weekly motivational Monday posts on Instagram, @bluebirdjournals.

*I was lucky enough to meet this Mama IRL recently, and she’s exactly how she comes across on The Gram. She’s fun, honest, a lovely mama and so likeable. You will feel inspired by just being in her presence. We enjoy following along as she shares her solo parenting journey and gives us her daily take on motherhood. Oh, and her daughters are super cute!

 

Ashlee Piper (ashleepiper7)

Hi! My name is Ashlee Piper. I’m a wife, momma of two amazing kiddos, full time teacher, home based business owner and lover of life! I’m part fashionista and part hot mess momma.. it’s called balance! I’m an advocate for body positivity and have been on a journey for my health. I’m learning to love my body and the changes happening to it as well as those that have taken place from pregnancy and following having babies.

*I enjoy this Mama’s take on body positivity and her health journey is truly inspiring. I love that “what you see is what you get” with this Mama, and she is happy to jump onto her Insta stories after a sweaty workout and be totally real. Oh, and she’s drop-dead-gorgeous and I love her style!

 

Deanna McMillan (deanna__mcmillan)

I was born and raised in Saskatoon and am the proud “curvy” mama of 2 little boys and 2 cats. I am an iced coffee obsessed, total crazy cat lady and if it weren’t for my husband, I would probably have at least 2 or 3 more. After having my first son, I was unable to produce enough breastmilk due to an endocrine disorder called “PCOS”. The guilt and shame I felt over this triggered my postpartum anxiety and depression. I never felt fully supported by our healthcare system during these struggles and really felt let down as a first time mom.

After joining Fitbump in September 2016, I connected with many other Moms who had similar or identical feeding/ mental health struggles. It was through my own personal struggles and meeting these other moms that I was inspired and found my passion in being a “Fed is Best” advocate as well as a maternal mental health advocate.

My goal is to be a supportive/ encouraging friend to all Moms and to find the common ground that connects us all as mothers. I started a Facebook group and have also had the opportunity to address the “Baby Friendly Initiative” coalition and “Healthy and Home” regarding my postpartum experiences. I try and keep things as real, raw and as open as possible on my social media as well as in real life. You can typically find me in leggings and a tank top/ zip-up hoodie sans make-up. When I’m not “momming”, I work full time as a veterinary laboratory technologist. I hate winter and would happily live somewhere where it was +40 year round! 

*I love what this Mama stands for. Creating aware around postpartum support (or lack thereof in some cases) and that fed is truly best is so needed in our community. She values supporting moms and finding common ground rather than pointing a finger and judging another mom’s decisions – now that’s a friend we all need right!? 

 

Erica Stobbe (@stobbeslife)

Hello, I’m Erica, and I am a mother of two (Cooper & Ridley) and married to my wonderful hubby, Kevin for almost five years. We live in Saskatoon and absolutely love it here. 

A few things: I enjoy music, supporting local, natural/ holistic living, yummy food, coffee and beer, being in nature, trying new things, and fitness, among others, but I really love fitness. Any time I can move myself physically is always good and I enjoy the encouragement, positivity, challenge, motivation and community that it can bring. But, I also believe in balance and sometimes that means putting the physical on hold. Life as a mom has taught me more than ever that we need balance in every aspect. Physically, Mentally, Emotionally and Spiritually. Balance isn’t always easy, but I strive to always make good out of any situation and to see the positive. That’s also why I love community. We’re not meant to do this alone and the instagram world makes support so accessible. Yay!

Anyway, I won’t bore you, that’s no fun. I’m all about keeping things real though. The good, the bad and the ugly parts of womanhood and motherhood. Sharing things I like and enjoy and learn along the way! So if that is your vibe, feel free to follow along. 

*I’ve met the lovely Erica IRL and she’s a darling. She is fun and honest and shares her every day life and adventures with us. She is in the know about YXE events and is always taking us along with her. We love her carefree attitude towards life and parenting.

 

Janine Oxby (@janineoxby)

Hi, my name is Janine and I am a mama to a spunky 3 year old daughter (Codie) and almost one year old twin boys (Weston and Gunnar). I am a stay at home mom/ work from home Registered Massage Therapist and I absolutely love what I do!

My feed is full of real life, relatable moments and navigating being a mom of three under three.

*I am sure this Mama is sick of me saying this to her “I don’t know how you do it!”. But you know what her response is? ‘Neither do I!’ I LOVE that – I enjoy her honesty and how she admits that parenting is so tough. She is a beautiful Mama and I so enjoy getting to know her as she shares glimpses of her life with us.

 

Jordi McCallum (@raising.mccallums)

My name is Jordi McCallum, I am a wife, a mom and a small shop owner. I met my husband is high school and we have been together ever since. Pre-kids I worked at a fly in mine and my husband and I travelled all over the world.

Once we had our first daughter (Kennedy), I decided I wanted to be home with her and opened up a new chapter in my life as a stay at home Mom. I decided to open up my own small shop (@Lilbugyxe) where I make and sell children’s clothes, it has become a new passion of mine and has allowed me to be at home with my girl.

Kennedy is 2 years old, and she is my little wild child. I always wanted to have kids but I strongly underestimated the amount of love you can have for another human, she really is the love of my life. Kennedy will be promoted to big sister this September and we couldn’t be more excited!  I love shopping small and taking photos which is how @raising.mccallums came to be.  We really enjoy going on little adventures and sharing our story along the way!

*What a cute family, and this Mama’s small shop @lilbugyxe is so worth a follow too – the clothing items are so sweet! We also can’t wait to watch as they add another member to their family, and all the joy and craziness adjusting to two brings.

 

Kathleen (@kathleengerms)

I’m Kathleen! I’m a teacher, pre/postnatal exercise specialist & a social media influencer/blogger. I’m married to my handsome hubby and I have two boys (6 month old & 4 year old). I am passionate about sharing honest and real moments on my Instagram when it comes to motherhood.

*This girl is FUNNY as heck. She also speaks about real issues and we love her advice and ‘Truthful Thursdays’ on her Insta Stories. She has a famous mom-bun like no other, and has a sassy take on motherhood that is so relatable and you feel like you just absolutely have to check back to see more. She also blogs at https://mommainspiration.com. 

 

Kayla (@prairie_girl_enjoying_life)

Hi everyone! I’m Kayla, and I’m a Mama to two boys, Amari who is almost 6, and Elias who turns 1 this month. I tend to wear a lot of hats, so my Instagram is a bit of a mixed bag of family, travel, events, with a little science nerdiness thrown in there.

I’m also a Postpartum Doula and own Crocus Doula and Wellness Services (@crocusdoula), I’m the Coordinator for the Parents on Campus group at the U of S (@usaskcomfortroom), and run a kids/ maternity consignment page called Kids Closet YXE (@kidsclosetyxe). So I like to keep busy, but I’m very passionate about supporting new moms and families, so I love it!

*This Mama is truly inspirational. I’ve had a few chances to hang out with Kayla and she is so genuine and caring. She supports mamas and loves community, and is a true advocate for places like The Well Collab who hold space for women on their journey’s. She is also always game for attending events and meeting new mama friends.

 

Leah (@hotcoffee_creativekids)

I am a small town Sask mom of 3 kids (6,4,2). I am also a part time registered nurse 1-2 days per week. On my days home with the kids I love to learn through play with them.  We do crafts, sensory play, DIY toys and lots of outdoor play.

We document our ideas and activities here and have so much fun coming up with new creative ways to play and learn!

*This Mama’s Insta feed is filled with amazing sensory activities to help mamas be creative with their kids, through play. We enjoy following along and feel so inspired by her tips and what she shares with us.

Our Top Tips and Tricks to Survive (and even Thrive) this Solo Parenting gig

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Parenting is tough on the best of days, and when you solo parent for a short time or for a long season – it is no joke! I have personal experience with solo parenting over the last few years, and I have chatted to many mamas about their solo parenting challenges, advice, tips and tricks that they’ve learnt along the way – and I thought it was time to share this with you mamas. Some themes definitely emerged but it’s also clear that every mama faces her own challenges during solo parenting phases, and some things come much easier to some.

 

Some common challenges definitely emerged – Loneliness, Drowning in mess, chaos and sometimes anxiety, Battling to juggle everything, Feeling like a failure or a bad Mom, Utter exhaustion and brain fog. I hope that our top tips and tricks help some mamas who may be in this season too (there sure are a lot of you in Saskatoon that I’ve been chatting to), and are looking for ways to cope a bit better with this life stage.

 

Ask for Help

Planning meals, school drop-off, breastfeeding the baby, grocery shopping, cleaning the house, oh and trying to play with the kids and keeping yourself showered and fed and happy too?! This sounds impossible but why do we think that we should tackle all of this alone, without help? Because we are strong mamas and we want to cope? We want to do it alone? I’m saying enough is enough to this.

As a mama, asking for help is quite a struggle (for most) – I know for me it’s not something I do. Like ever. Until recently actually. I’ve been working on this very thing for years now. It took moving away to a completely different continent and culture with no family and very close friends or major support system, being pregnant at the time then birthing my second baby, and adjusting to two under 3 years old all while traveling a lot together as a family and solo parenting. But I’m here now and I am finding it easier to not only ask for help, but ACCEPT it and to stop feeling guilty about it. Here’s a practical takeaway if you’re wired like that – Make a list of what is making solo parenting impossible or difficult for you, Now think of who you need to ask for help to make things better. And here’s the trick – accept it and try your best to not feel guilty (I know how hard it is mama)!

The most common things that mamas are asking for help with are:

1. House Cleaning

If you are drowning in laundry, mess and chaos – your mind will not be in the best mental state. If you can, try get some help with this – even a once-off clean to try help you catch up. This is something I have only recently done and it helped a lot! When my husband got home from his most recent trip, we were all able to enjoy the weekend together before his next trip and not worry about all pitching in to try get the house clean or at least livable (gasp!). If you aren’t able to get a cleaner in to help you, perhaps you could ask a friend or family member to watch your kids for a few hours so that you can focus on the house work? Some local cleaning companies to consider: A & C Detail, Exquisitely Clean Service, Go2Girls, Handy Housewives, Home Dynamics Housekeeping, The Cleaning Fairy, Tidy Time Saver. I can personally recommend Home Dynamics Housekeeping, and I will be trying out Go2Girls soon too.

Oh, and side-note. If you have a cleaning service help you, please don’t keep this a secret. If someone comments on your home and how immaculate it is, and how they are drowning in mess and can’t cope but other mamas seem to ‘have it together’, PLEASE tell them that you get help.

While chatting to mamas over the last while about solo parenting, it’s obvious that people are asking for help. Why do we try hide it? Can we start telling people more that we get help? Maybe a mama won’t feel so inadequate?

2. Babysitting/ Daycare

If you feel overwhelmed and need some time with the baby, it’s alright to see if someone can help you with your other children. There are Moms out there getting help, you can too.

3. Grocery and Meal Preparation

Grocery shopping, meal planning and preparation are some of the hardest things to find time for (but one of the most important things to have organised). Ordering my groceries online and collecting them has been one of the biggest life savers for me lately. I use Independent Grocers (pick up) and have had an incredible experience. Most mamas are using: Save on Foods and Superstore. If you aren’t managing with the meal prep, why not try HelloFresh or use SkipTheDishes one or two evenings per week?

 

Make some time for just you

This seems impossible, especially with small children and/ babies, but it doesn’t have to be a long period of time, but it must be scheduled and made a priority. Some examples could be: 20 – 30 minutes of movement (yoga or pilates or exercise program at home), reading a book before bed, a bath alone, a glass of wine or a cup of tea or some chocolate once the kids are in bed, doing some journalling, watching some Netflix. Anything. Whatever you enjoy doing to relax and whatever makes you feel like yourself, do it.

 

Get in Community

The idea of Moms supporting Moms is more important than we think. If you don’t have a mama tribe or some mom friends in your area that you can just call for anything, it’s time you put yourself out there and joined a mommy class. Our city has so much to offer when it comes to mom meet-ups and classes. Not all are paid for to attend, some groups are free and have an open door policy. If you are looking for a group and a way to make some mommy friends, send us a message and we will help.

You need your mom friends who will support you during this time but also help you remember to not feel sorry for yourself. That you still need to live in the present, and that if you are just trying to survive the whole time, you will miss out on what’s right in front of you. These beautiful moments that are fleeting. Let’s grab hold of them and treasure what we have, even in the crazy season we are in.

 

Be Positive

Re-iterating the sentiments above – this season is hard. One Mum said “The days fly by but the evenings (and weekends) alone are long”. There will be many days that you won’t feel positive and it will be hard. Your mind is strong and you can do this. Also, if your mind is positive, you will find that you will cope more and you will see joy in this season. I know you can lean into it mama. Lean on your Mom Squad!

 

Routine

There are certain things that are impossible to control with young children. When possible, try stick to your non-negotiable routines. Bedtime to me is sacred. I have a strict schedule when it comes to my kids bedtime. Yes there are times when we are chilled and certain plans change things up a bit, but for the most part, we have an order of how we do things and a bed time for both kids. This means that if all goes well, I will be sitting down relaxing and having my me time by 7:30 the latest and I love that. The evenings are mine! And I need them – they have become sacred to me. If you have older kids who attend school or if you need to pack snacks or lunches for them, most moms say that this meal prep is best done the night before so that the morning routine isn’t chaotic. A practical guideline: Make a list of everything that needs to get done per day in your household or for activities etc, and plan out your routine.

 

Get out the house with the kids

We have fantastic programs in our city, and a lot of them are free! Our Libraries offer incredible programs that you can attend – Story Time, Dance parties. We love going to the library to get out some books and for the kids to play. Most of the libraries have toys and let’s be honest, other people’s toys are always more exciting than their own! Win! Now that it’s summer, a spray park or paddling pool or outdoor pool visit is an easy fun activity. Go for a walk, meet a mama friend for a playdate – just get out. One mama said that she tries to keep activities to a minimum because a very full day is stressful on her and the kids. Know yourself and your kids, and do what’s best for you. Be kind to yourself and your family.

 

Try not to blame your spouse

This is something that took me a while to learn and put into practice. We still have our little jokes but I always try to be careful that it’s still funny and doesn’t become hurtful. We all have our roles and at the moment my husband is working hard out the home, and I am working hard in the home. His job is super important and allows us to have our lifestyle and plan for an amazing future. Sometimes it’s tough to not be resentful (like my husband is off to NYC soon and not taking us with him – rude!), but it’s very important for your marriage and for your kids for you to talk through the emotions and to get on the same page – whatever that looks like. One mama said “Don’t hold it against your partner for being away – it’s hard for them too.” Wisdom right there. They are potentially missing birthdays, first steps, first words, and day-to-day life. I am so thankful that I am on this end, and I wouldn’t want to trade places!

 

Try your best & Do what you can

Mama, I feel you. My house has never looked worse than when I had tiny babies and all I did was breastfeed, and when I’m solo parenting. One of the mamas I spoke to mentioned that she just ‘does what she can’. Try your best and get done what can get done. Um, I instantly felt the pressure leave me when I heard this. It’s not my husband who puts pressure on me, it’s not even society (I don’t usually listen to the voices or opinions of society anyways). It’s me. I’m my own worst enemy. Be kind to yourself. Just do what you can.

 

Connect with Daddy

We make sure we Facetime Daddy at least once every two days when he’s away. With the time difference and work demands, and the kids schedules, sometimes this is difficult, but it’s so important to find time for connection. For Daddy, you and the kids.

 

How are your kids doing? Have they been fed today, do they seem happy (mostly)? Are they loved? I don’t know you, but I am pretty sure you answered YES OF COURSE to these questions. Okay, so you’re totally rocking this Mom thing, during this challenging time. Go you!

Our Fav Mommy Bloggers and Influencers in Saskatoon

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We love that as mamas and as women, we can have our own style, opinions, personalities and dreams. One thing is for sure, the Mommy bloggers and influencers in Saskatoon are full of different flavours and we so enjoy following their journey’s. We wanted to introduce you to some of the mamas we have been following along with for a while now:

ErikaAnne (@erika.aanne)

Hey friends! My name is Erika, I’m 28, wife to Nic, and mama to Nate (4) Bea (2.5) and Theo (7 months). We farm just outside of Saskatoon and enjoy small town living. I am a small business owner which includes lash artistry and a small ice cream shop that I run through spring and summer. On my Instagram page you will find photos of family life, home decor, food, fashion and products that I love and use! Please feel free to follow along with me as I go through this crazy life!

 

 

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Brooke (@brookebullochrd)

Brooke is a Dietitian & CEO @foodtofit_nutrition where she’s an advocate for body acceptance, fat acceptance, and finding your best health (including having healthy relationships with food, movement, and your body) regardless of size. Brooke is a Mum to little Fletcher who recently turned one! She is often in the kitchen guiding us mamas on how to introduce solids to your baby, and giving us tips on what kind of meals and snacks to prepare for your growing toddler. You’ll find her debunking myths about weight loss dieting and sharing #realtalk lifestyle and mom moments. We love how genuine and gentle she is, and we’ve enjoyed getting to know this mama online.

 

 

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Danielle (@danielle.nico1e)

We so enjoy following this Mama! She is real about her motherhood journey, she’s a true small shop supporter and ambassador for many of our local businesses, and she’s an amazing Mum to her two littles – Emma and Brielle. She is also super busy as she works as a hairdresser, and generates such beautiful content for all of us to enjoy, all while often solo parenting when her partner is away for work. Her insta feed is absolutely gorgeous and you can tell this mama is a girl mama all the way! For a peek into her life, be sure to follow along with Danielle and her girls.

 

 

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Erin (@thewritingmommalife)

Meet Erin! She’s a Saskie gal who gives us a glimpse into her every day life, where she tries to fill her world with moments of gratitude. In her words, she posts about the good, the bad, the boring and the awesome, and we love following along while this mama to Anthony experiences her motherhood journey. She believes in #realtalk, mom support and finding your village; and writing, travel, coffee and wine are some of her favourite things.

Erin has a blog ((https://thewritingmommaca.wordpress.com) where she writes about everything – from her travel experiences, toddler craft ideas and activities, to ditching the mom guilt, her thoughts on screen time and being real in motherhood. Go show this mama some support!

 

 

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Jen (@jenboyko)

Jen is a Mama to beautiful Ava, and her instagram feed gives us all the feels. She is an ambassador over at @cravingsmbk and we always look forward to her weekly takeovers. She is a part time working Mama, and one of the fabulous Mommy Blogger’s of Babies, Besties & Bubbly (www.babiesbestiesandbubbly.com), where she shares on topics like travelling with kids, hosting a baby shower, self care, bedroom design and reveals, organising your home, fashion and so much more! Join her family’s every day adventures and travelling escapades!

 

 

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Jordan (@mrs.j.westgard)

Hello! My name is Jordan and I spend the majority of my time chasing my sassy-pants daughter, Blake. My life is raw, unfiltered and definitely not staged! If you’re looking for a fellow mama who just tries to ‘fake it ’til you make it’, then I’m your gal.

If motherhood has taught me anything, it’s that it TAKES.A.VILLAGE! Sometimes that means asking family and friends for help, sometimes it means being part of a local mommy community like Ask Mum, with a huge variety of resources at your fingertips!

Follow along for an insider view of the world’s most terrible temper tantrums, coping with PPD and PPA, and seeing just how many mini eggs a person can actually eat in one lifetime. Hang in there, mamas, we got this!

 

 

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Julie (@kennedy_household)

Hey fellow mamas! I’m Julie and I am a born and raised Saskatoon gal. I’ve been married for almost 14 years and we have 3 beautiful boys. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be a boy mom. Yet here I am and I know it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be. I’m loving every minute of it.

We began a journey of health & wellness 4 years ago when one of our boys got incredibly sick. What I didn’t realize when we started this process of healing him that it would take us on an incredible journey. Meeting fabulous women through social media. Creating friendships because like minded mamas met up for coffee. Being able to empower moms. Witnessing them become their strongest most confident selves. I love being able to support and uplift fellow moms. We need the biggest tribe that we can have.

Being on social media has given me the opportunity to meet some pretty incredible and powerful women. This YXE community is so amazing. I can’t wait to meet you one day!

 

 

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Kelsi (@kelsikendel)

Kelsi Kendel is a local Saskatoon motherhood and lifestyle blogger. She began blogging over 5 years ago with Our Collective Muse, and then moved on to launch her personal blog kelsikendel.com last summer. She is a mom of two- her son Luca is 6 months old and her daughter Bella is almost 3! Kelsi is currently on maternity leave but works as a speech-language pathologist, specializing in paediatric feeding disorders. Follow @kelsikendel for daily fashion, home, and motherhood inspo!

 

 

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Maygen (@sneaksandlipstick)

Blogger Maygen Kardash journals her life as a mom on Sneakers & Lipstick, which sometimes means you get helpful information like the A-Z list of birthday party locations and entertainers in Saskatoon and other times, your heartstrings get a tug with an honest essay. Maygen is also a wardrobe stylist by trade, having worked for over a decade in television, on music videos, for print ads, and doing personal consults so there’s a dose of style in the content, too. She is also passionate about reducing waste, her delicious vegetarian diet, Saskatoon, and the people who make the community tick. Follow along at sneakersandlipstick.com.

 

 

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Meredith (@meredith_deanne)

My name is Meredith and I’m a Saskatchewan mama, teacher, and influencer. I’m currently on mat-leave with my fourth baby, and have become an advocate to raise awareness for CHD. I also love to travel, and as a family we had lots of opportunities to spend time working and living in other countries before settling here in SK.

As a family we are passionate about spending quality time together and exploring the world around us, wherever we are. Additionally, I blog about lifestyle, home decor, fashion, travel, and motherhood on my blog http://www.petiteprairiefamily.blog. I also love connecting with others through Instagram, and a new collaborative page I started with two other mamas, @sk_creative_co.

Recently, I began hosting local Social Media Workshops to help others grow their online presence and network with one another. My favourite part about social media is the real life connections that can be formed, and the strong community of women supporting women; I’m excited to be featured here on @askmumsaskatoon!

 

 

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Nicole (@nicolebuhler)

Hi! My name is Nicole, I’m a Saskatoon based photographer and content creator. I have been married to my husband Dave for almost 7 years and we have a 5 month old daughter named Olivia and a 2 year old son named Noah. I love to share about fashion, mom life, and different places and products. We love to travel and support local businesses and restaurants. We also love to go for walks to the coffee shop. My love of photography has turned into a love of marketing for brands and companies I am passionate about!

 

 

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Sam (@sleepless.homemaker)

My name is Samantha but I go by Sam, and I’m a mama to 2 sweet girls. I love Jesus so you’ll see a whole lot of that here on Insta, I’m a huge advocate for mental health and body positivity, I love thrifting and DIY stuff and I love all things plants, gardening and home! Thanks for following along!

 

 

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Yessenia (@theblockfarmhouse)

Yessenia is a Wife, Momma and Blogger, and has a beautiful insta feed where she captures her family’s every day moments. Yessenia is one of our fav @milkinmore ambassadors, and we love following her takeovers and her every day life insta stories. She’s a local mama, witty and super stylish and has a love for all things decor and fashion. We love her try-on sessions, and this mama rocks a kimono like no other! Yessenia is one of the blogging mamas part of the @babiesbestiesbubbly crew, where she shares on topics like potty training your toddler, her water birth experience, home reveals, party planning and much more.

 

 

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What to do with young children over Spring break in Saskatoon

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Easter weekend is over, and you may be wondering how to keep the littles entertained this week over Spring break. Well, we’ve got you covered! Here are some of our top picks:

 

1. April Movie Break

When: Monday the 22nd April – Friday the 26th April
Where: Landmark Cinemas

Cost: $3

It’s April Movie Break at Landmark Cinemas, and the whole family can save big with $3 movies this week. What’s more is that $1 from every $3 admission goes towards supporting Kids Help Phone. This is truly “Movie going that does some good.”

For more details click here.

 

2. Spring Break Activities at Indigo

When: Monday the 22nd April – Friday 26th April at 11AM (be sure to confirm this with your local store)

Where: Indigo Chapters stores

Cost: Free

Monday: Arts & Crafts Day (Ages 4+) / Tuesday: Collectors Club (Ages 6+) / Wednesday: What Will You Build? (Ages 5+) / Thursday: Arts & Crafts (Ages 5+) / Friday: Preschool Pals (Ages 3 – 6)

*Please be sure to call your local store and confirm the activity lineup and times before arrival, to avoid disappointment.

 

3. Saskatoon Public Library Activities

When: Spring break week

Where: Libraries across Saskatoon

Cost: Free

There are always so many events happening across our city, in the many different library locations. This Spring break there are the following activities happening: Baby Story time, Family Story time, Family Dance Parties, A Dragon’s Den Puppet Program and more. To see which event you’d like to attend first, take a peek here.

 

4. Creature Feature Drop-In Program

When: Tuesday the 23rd April (11am – 4pm)

Where: Saskatoon Forestry Farm & Zoo

Cost: Free with Zoo admission

Your children will be able to meet Georgia the Porcupine, see and learn more about the Meerkats, Monkeys and Cougars, meet a Python or the Lizards. Find out more by clicking here.

 

5. Try a Salsa babies class

When: Tuesday the 23rd April at 2pm or Thursday 25th April at 11am

Where: Saskatoon Farmers Market

Cost: Free TRIAL session OR register here.

Email Tanya at littlehandsandme@gmail.com to book your free trial session this week only.

 

6. Safari Jeff at Lawson Heights

When: Wednesday the 24th April – Saturday the 27th April

Where: Lawson Heights Mall

Cost: Free

Safari Jeff and your “animology” adventure starts here. Wednesday 11am / 1pm, Thursday 11am / 1pm, Friday 11am / 1pm / 6pm, Saturday 11am. For more information click here.

 

7. Lost & Found at Wide Open Children’s Theatre

When: Saturday the 27th April at 11am / Sunday the 28th April at 11am & 2pm.

Where: 609 Dufferine Avenue

Cost: $10 – $15

For more information, view details here.

 

8. Home Depot Workshop classes

When: Various days and times depending on your local store.

Where: Various stories across the city.

Home Depot offers free workshops and classes over Spring break. Visit or call your local store for more information.

 

Let us know what you and your kiddos get up to, by tagging us on Instagram 🙂 Have a great family fun break!

 

Love,

Ask Mum

xxx

What to do with kids this Easter weekend in Saskatoon

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2019 is sure off to a fast start, and I cannot believe that Easter weekend is nearly here! We wanted to share a few things that you could get out and do with your kids this weekend in Saskatoon. Let us know what you plan on doing, or tag us on Instagram showing us what you got up to.

1. Geocaching Easter Egg Hunt in Martensville

When: April the 19th – 26th.

Where: Martensville

I kid you not, this is a real live treasure hunt around Martensville. Use GPS co-ordinates to find hidden eggs around the community. Each egg will contain the new co-ordinates and clue for the next location. The Grand Prize will be announced on the 26th April. More information here.

2. Celebrate Easter at Lawson Heights Mall

When: Friday the 19th April and Saturday the 20th April

Where: Lawson Heights Mall (134 Primrose Drive)

What’s happening? Well, what isn’t happening at Lawson Heights this weekend! They have a jam-packed weekend planned starting on Friday with the Easter Bunny making appearances from 11:30am – 1:30pm and 2:30 – 4:30pm. A Petting Zoo will be available from 11am – 5pm, AND Belle (from 12 – 1pm) and Aurora (from 1 – 2pm) are coming to say hi! Then on Saturday the fun continues, with the Easter Bunny from 11:30am – 1:30pm and 2:30 – 4:30pm, the Petting Zoo from 9:30am – 6pm AND so many in store guest appearances (Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel, Ariel). There is also a Scavenger Hunt (sheets available at King’s Castle). For more information, head to the Lawson Heights Mall or King’s Castle Designs & Events Facebook pages.

3. Have a Picture with the Easter Bunny at Market Mall

When: Friday the 19th April and Saturday the 20th April

Where: Market Mall (2325 Preston Avenue South)

Make a memory and kick off the weekend with some Easter cheer – bring the kids to meet the Easter Bunny and take a picture on Friday from 11am – 5pm, and on Saturday from 10am – 6pm.

4. The Saskatoon Farmers Market Easter Egg Hunt

When: Saturday the 20th April from 12pm

Where: Saskatoon Farmers Market (414 Avenue B South)

Children must find the farmer with the bunny ears and choose one egg from the basket. In each egg, there will be a clue which you need to solve! Once you find the vendor, you receive your prize! The event runs from 12 – 1pm, while quantities last (so get there early and browse around)!

5. Ashworth Holmes Park is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt

When: Saturday the 20th April from 10am – 2pm

Where: Ashworth Holmes Park (Avenue D N)

There will be Pony Rides and a Petting Zoo (weather permitting), as well as goodies and beverages available. Over one thousand candy-filled Easter eggs will be hidden all over the park! That’s a lot of eggs! Remember to register your kids and all proceeds are going to a local charity. More information here.

6. Easter at the Berry Barn

When: Sunday the 21st April

Where: The Berry Barn (830 Valley Road)

Come along for the Buffet from 9am – 3pm or the Plated option from 4pm. Reservations required and spaces fill up fast so don’t delay. More information here.

7. The Easter Brunch Buffet at The German Cultural Centre

When: Sunday the 21st April from 10am – 2pm

Where: German Cultural Centre (160 Cartwright Street East)

Bring your family along for a memorable meal together. Reservations required. More information here.

 

There are also Library Story Times (various library locations across the city), a Preschool Dance Party (various library locations across the city), Family Favourites at Cineplex Cinemas ($3 movies for the whole family), Story and Craft time (hosted at Indigo), and the Draggin’s Annual Car Show this weekend. If you need any information on these events, comment and let us know!

 

Have a wonderful Easter, from us over at Ask Mum.

xxx

Ditching the Guilt after a Hard Mom’ing day

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We had a hard day today. Ever been there? When your patience level is low and the kids seem a bit too loud and energetic? Um, if you answered no to this, I am not quite sure we can be friends 😉 But seriously, which Mom hasn’t been there?! I believe that Moms have the most high-capacity job in the world. It does not matter if you are staying home, working part-time or full-time. A Mother is a Mother. And our job is hard!

 

This is probably the time when you expect me to say, the days are long but the years are short. No, I am not that Mom. I am here to tell you that it’s okay to not be okay. You are the best Mom to the little/s that you’ve been entrusted with, and I believe that it is a true calling. We fail, we fall, we breakdown, we mess up, we have bad days. BUT, we have major wins, breakthroughs, many cuddles, and moments where we know that our littles adore us and feel the safest with us. Yes, motherhood is real and raw and absolutely mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting, but we are in it together and it’s okay to have bad days, weeks, months and moments.

 

I had a tough Mom day today. Tantrums, missed naps, a lack of patience and the list goes on. The house is a wreck… and so am I. To top it off, someone in the parking lot thought it was appropriate to write ‘Learn to Park’ with permanent marker on my hired vehicle! Fun times. If you are wondering how awful my parking was, it was not that bad – completely in the lines but a little skew to one side for sure. Who cares? What happened to a note on a piece of paper or perhaps deciding to make use of another parking stall? I digress….

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My day wasn’t ideal and I long for tomorrow. A reset. For now, I shall sip champers and eat chocolate all while binge watching Hart of Dixie or Gilmore Girls on Netflix. I’m skipping the mom guilt right now and being okay with the fact that today I wouldn’t have won the Mom Award. My kids are just fine. More than fine actually. They are loved, and happy, and well-fed (how many snacks can one toddler eat?), and can I repeat that they are SO LOVED. And they know it. What more is expected of us as Mamas? Let’s love our kiddos hard and be okay with having less than glamours days. We’re in this together right? Message a Mama right now and tell her she’s doing a great job just by showing up for her family day in and day out, in the hardest gig in the world.

 

How do we create a culture of ditching that Mom guilt?

  1. Be okay with experiencing real motherhood – the highs and the lows. Not everyone’s life is as beautiful as an Instagram feed. Let’s understand that bad days happen, and we will move forward and get up again. Let’s be honest about our life and be okay that we are sometimes just not okay.
  2. Don’t create unnecessarily high expectations for every outing and adventure. When we realise that some things are just out of our hands and that our kids sometimes feel sad and grumpy (just like us), we take the pressure off.
  3. Stop comparing. Everyone’s life is different. Let’s embrace our uniqueness and our family’s quirkiness or quietness or inside jokes, and get over trying to compete with other Mums who seem to “have it all” on social media. Um, they don’t. No Mother truly has their **** together.
  4. Stop criticizing yourself and the way you choose to “Mom” in the moments and look at the big picture. I see you Mama. I know you’re amazing. You needed to hear that today. You are doing WOW and you should be super proud. I am proud. Of you and of me.
  5. Self care. Buzz word? Maybe. But it’s a great movement that allows us Mamas to do things that we love and makes us feel normal and maybe even a bit in control. Let’s embrace looking after ourselves and doing what we love. We deserve it and then some. We are raising little beings who sometimes present themselves in true animalistic form.

 

Now let’s get out there and keep Mommy’ing hard. You’ve got this girl.

 

Much love,

Mandi

xxx