A Connected Community Makes for Happier Moms

We believe that when you’re really hooked into your community you’re happier. That’s why we do what we do. Vancouver is a really great place to raise a family, but it’s even better when you take advantage of all that it has to offer. This month we’ll be focusing on a number of Vancouver neighbourhoods (and even a few out in the suburbs), highlighting what makes them family-friendly. Call it our love letter to this city that we call home.

Love Where You Live

One of the things that makes VancouverMom.ca so special is our community. We love connecting with you on our website, through Facebook and Twitter, in our RSS feed and in the emails we send out. We especially love hearing back from you, when you share your thoughts and stories. This month we’ll be asking for you to share why you love where you live. What makes Vancouver your city? What do you want other moms to know? Drop us a line and tell us … or contribute an article (or three) yourself!

Being a Vancouver Mom is Fabulous

Whether you’re wondering what to do in Vancouver on a rainy February day, or you want to know about family-friendly spots on The Drive, we’ve got you covered this month and all year long. We’re here to help you love where you live, and redefine the way you think of the word “mom”. So let’s join forces, and share what makes being a Vancouver mom so fabulous!

What do you most love about living in Vancouver? Leave us a reply and let us know. We’d love to hear from you!

Stock Up Cafe is one of my favourite places to multi-task. There aren’t many places in town where you can grab a quick (not to mention fresh and healthy) bite to eat, pick up a ready-made entree and sides for dinner and secure a unique birthday or hostess gift for your favourite foodie. And don’t forget your java fix with a coffee to-go on your way out the door.

Fresh and Tasty Vancouver Restaurant

My favourite time of day to visit Stock Up is between 7:00 and 8:00 am, for one of their delicious made-to-order breakfasts. Their fully-stocked case of salads, sandwiches, wraps and entrees always appeals to me, too – it has provided a great picnic lunch for my family on a number of occasions. Their freshly baked muffins, scones and other baked goods are always tempting and tasty and make a great snack to pair with a hot cup of coffee or tea. Eat in or take out, I’ve never been disappointed.

But if you stop by for breakfast, lunch or a snack, why not pick up dinner while you’re at it? Stock Up isn’t just a great Vancouver restaurant, it also has a wide variety of fresh and ready-made family sized or individually portioned entrees and sides that would be a welcome addition to almost any supper table. In a life of multi-tasking, not every dinner can (or should be) made from scratch. And if you’re going to take a short cut every now and then, you might as well make it fresh, healthy and tasty.

Pick Up Something Special

With several cases filled with unique foodie treats and gift ideas, you’re bound to find a special treat for yourself. They have shelf upon shelf of sauces, spices, dressings, tea and cookies, even soaps, candles, cutting boards and novelty cocktail napkins. It is always worth a look to tempt yourself with something fun.

Kid-Approved Healthy Meals

As if all this potential for one-stop productivity wasn’t enough, you will, in all likelihood, also have a child or two in tow when you visit Stock Up Cafe. Even the pickiest of eaters will find something of interest to sample while sitting in one of the Vancouver restaurant’s clean and comfortable high chairs. And you can give yourself a pat on the back. Not only are you multi-tasking over lunch, but your child is enjoying a fresh and healthy meal. Everyone’s a winner.

Stock Up Cafe

www.stock-up.ca
6019 West Boulevard, Vancouver, 604-266-4527

Resolutions to Move It, Move It

Getting into shape is a perennial item on almost everyone’s list of New Year’s resolutions, and is usually the first one to fall by the wayside. We can’t find the time, we don’t enjoy it, or we lose interest after a few weeks. To keep the motivation high, here are some suggestions for fun ways to move our bodies in Downtown Vancouver:

• Head to the barre! Try a Bar Method class for a challenging full-body workout that combines elements of dance and isometrics. A few classes in their Beatty Street studio will have you discovering muscles you didn’t know you had.
• Try a running clinic! With the Sun Run coming up on April 15th, now’s a great time to join a structured running class. Getting exercise with a group is a great way to stay motivated – Denman Street’s Running Room has a 10k training program that starts on February 8th.
• En garde! For something completely different, head to Academie Duello on West Hastings Street and learn the ways of swordcraft. Try a free lesson and see if you can’t work out some frustration, sword in hand.

Get Inspired, Try Something New

In a rut? The best way to get inspired is to learn something new, or try something you’ve never done before. These are some resolutions you’ll actually enjoy keeping.

• Maybe you always dreamed of being a ballet dancer, or maybe hip-hop is more your style. Harbour Dance on Granville Street offers adult classes at all levels in ballet, jazz, Bollywood, hip-hop and belly dancing, among others. Except for tap dance classes, no special equipment is necessary, and with most classes open to drop-in, you can get your So you Think you can Dance on without having to make a big commitment.
• Dreaming of travel, but life gets in the way? Have a little taste of adventure by taking a language class. UBC Continuing Studies at Robson Square offers introductory classes in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin and Spanish.
• Bring out your inner Iron Chef with cooking classes at Dirty Apron on Beatty Street. Try French, Italian, or Japanese cooking, and learn basic knife skills. Or book a babysitter and head out for date night at one of their “It Takes Two” classes for couples.

Do Unto Others

Doing good feels good; as you help others, you help yourself. Why not make some resolutions to change your world for the better? Here are some Downtown Vancouver registered charities that can use your support year-round.

• The YWCA’s Crabtree Corner Family Resource Centre in the Downtown East Side provides services for women and children, including transitional housing, hot meal programs, and early childhood literacy. They’re always accepting donations of new toiletries, baby items, school supplies, and children’s wear, or you can make a financial donation online.
• Covenant House supports homeless teens in Downtown Vancouver with emergency shelter as well as counseling and basic life skills education. They are always looking for donations of new and used items, including non-perishable food, toiletries, and clothing, which can be dropped off at their location at the corner of Drake Street and Seymour Street.
• Intrepid Pens, a reading and writing society in the Downtown East Side, taps into the power of storytelling to bring about healing for women. They gratefully accept donations of books, writing supplies like notebooks and pens, bus passes, and tickets to local arts and culture events.

There you have it – what to do in Vancouver this January to move your body, feed your spirit, and offer much needed support your downtown community, as you make your New Year’s resolutions.

What about you – what New Year’s resolutions are you making this year?

Photo credit: little blue hen on Flickr

The holiday season is one of the best excuses to go shopping – and it’s already here! Some people start shopping months in advance, and that is wise of them because they don’t have to worry about finding the perfect gift at the last minute. But if this isn’t you don’t despair, because we’ve got you covered.

When shopping online, you have to consider shipping time. Canada Post does tend to be pretty busy at this time of year, so now is probably a good time to get started.

Remember how nice it was to be the center of attention, getting to unwrap all these gifts and feeling so anxious for the morning to come? When you become a parent, the winter holidays start to have a different meaning and you don’t really expect the same things you used to. It becomes even more fun to see the excitement in your kids’ eyes and watch them open one gift after another. But let’s not lie to ourselves, because it still feels pretty good to be given something. This is why we took all of you into consideration when searching through these online Canadian stores for the best gift ideas. This way, nobody gets left out and it just requires a few minutes and clicks of your time.

Here is what we came up with. And Vancouver moms, please do not forget to forward to your respective partners. Like we said, giving is great, but we all like to receive, too!

For the House

Room6

Special things for nice people.

Shipping: From $8.95, free shipping over $150; Pickup option in Deep Cove, BC
Payment: Paypal, Visa, Mastercard
Return policy: 10 days of receipt for exchange or refund
We like: The most gorgeous and unique selection of products ever! Take a look at their holiday selection for some beautiful ornaments. The overall design of the website is also very user-friendly.

For Little Kids

Cool Toys for Tots

Unique educational and fun toys for toddlers.

Shipping: Fedex rate based on distance and weight, from $16
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Paypal
Return policy: Return within 14 days of receiving it
We like: Family run online store based in Edmonton with a wide choice of unique and quality toys. You can search by very specific categories (dress, up construction, trains, play kitchens, eco-friendly, etc.). There’s plenty to choose from. Not all of their catalogue ships from Canada so you might want to stick to these brands if you want your order fast and to avoid duty fees: Melissa & Doug, Imagiplay, Deux par Deux, KidKraft Canada and P’kolino.

For Teenagers

Cry Wolf Clothing

Limited edition, collectable, wearable and affordable pieces of art.

Shipping: From $7.29
Payment: Paypal, Paypal E-Cheques and Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard and American Express).
Return policy: Refund or Exchange within 30 days of receiving it
We like: We love the very unique designs of the whole product line; the selection of accessories is quite different from what you would find elsewhere and combined with the designs, they make perfect gifts. They have free backgrounds for iphones, ipads, etc using their own designs. We also love the gallery that shows pictures of their products in real life on real people!

For Vancouver Dads

Marquis Wines

Online Wine store sourcing premium wines in all price ranges.

Shipping: Only ship to BC. Average $25 shipping for a case. Free shipping in Vancouver if you order a case. Free shipping for gift cards.
Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Paypal
Insider Tip: Use coupon “Winedeal” to get 15% off your order (not on BC wines)
We like: Browsing their online store almost feels like you are at the actual retail location on Davie street. The selection of wine is very large and the website is very informative. Most of their product descriptions are actual tasting notes from the owners. Also, their community section is a very nice example of how you can use your online store to reach out to your customers. For example, they have a Youtube Video channel that allows them to share their daily experiences with their followers. Their “Staff Picks” page is also worth checking and their wine tasting events seem to book pretty fast.

For Vancouver Moms

Smart Box

Themed gift boxes (Adventure, Serenity, Charming Getaway, Gourmet Getaway, etc.).

Shipping: From $9.99. Current free shipping holiday promo with code CAXMASFSD.
Payment: Visa, American Express, Mastercard
We like: Great concept (pick a theme and let the person choose where and what). The beautiful packaging makes it look like more than just a gift card. You can easily search for the perfect box by selecting location and category, plus the website allows you to read through all of the guidebooks.

Capturing the Holiday Spirit by Giving Back

Because the holiday season is mostly about giving to people who really need it, here is a nice way to support a cause and give a very unique gift at the same time.

Making Magic Fund

Local online stores banding together to help.

How it works: 12 local online stores are working together to raise money. If you buy something from any of their shops from now until Sunday, December 11 they will donate a portion of their proceeds to the Adopt-a-School program, which benefits schools in Metro Vancouver. The participating businesses are:

• Apricot Culotte
• Bumblebee Toys
• dandelion KIDS
• Fill Your Own
• Giving Gifts
• Green Planet Parties
• Kippo Kids
• Maxwell Designs
• My Little Green Shop
• Onyx Containers
• Puddlegear
• Today I Ate A Rainbow

Plan Canada

International development agency for the improvement of children’s lives.

Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Amex
How it works: You place your online order and you can either send a free personalized e-card, gift card or have a free card sent to you that you can personalize yourself and give to the recipient. What is nice is that they actually match some of the donations that are made according to a ratio. Some of the gifts include goats, hens, library boxes, clean water as well as gift items like jewelry and plush toys.

United Way of the Lower Mainland

Charity that supports children and seniors in Metro Vancouver.

Payment: Visa, Mastercard
How it works: You place your order online and they send you a card with a picture and description of the gift. You can then personalize it. You have the choice between paper card, e-card or print-your-own-card. Some of the gifts include after-school activities, Help Line support and homework helpers.

Happy holiday shopping!

Emilie Sarkissian owns Apricot Culotte, an online store selling affordable European baby clothing. She carries previously loved baby clothing directly imported from France, and end of season baby clothing at up to 50% off retail value. To keep up-to-date on her latest news and specials, follow Apricot Culotte on Facebook.

Valentyna Zolotarova is Redefining “Mom”

If the word “mom” makes you think of staying home and baking cookies, think again. Valentyna is an entrepreneur who loves the opportunity to experience and exemplify the joy of being an independent, strong, yet family-oriented woman. Valentyna shares, “In our society, many women feel as if they have to choose between their career and their family. I highly disagree. I want every woman to know that she should not have to choose between her family and her career and that both are equally important for a woman’s well being.”

Being a mother, teacher and small business owner isn’t without its obstacles, though. Valentyna says, “My biggest obstacle has always been the shortage of time. From the time I was six, when I started school and intensely practiced karate, piano and ballet, I have always tried to do as much as possible in a day. My life today is quite similar. Being a parent, a karate instructor and a high school teacher does not leave too much spare time in my schedule.” Like many mothers, she doesn’t do it alone. When asked how she overcomes the time crunch, Valentyna says, “My husband and my mother are a great help when it comes to the organization of time and responsibilities. If it wasn’t for their help, I would never be able to keep up this schedule. I am truly blessed and thankful for their support.”

Driven to Succeed

It’s easy to see that Valentyna has been redefining boundaries and working to succeed since childhood. She says, “I hardly remember having free time as a child and that is how I have always liked it. I would get bored otherwise. The challenge was to accomplish the multiple goals that I would set for myself in a limited amount of time.” Her accomplishments have been truly impressive. When asked about she’s proudest of, Valentyna replies, “I have always thought that my proudest accomplishment would be an international medal or the Premier’s Athletic Award, which I was honoured to receive six times. To my surprise, my proudest accomplishment today is training and teaching karate while pregnant.”

Many people react in surprise to see a pregnant karate instructor. Valentyna is clearly redefining what is possible for a martial arts teacher, saying, “I actually believe that my current pregnancy has strengthened me as a karate instructor and an athlete. It has helped me feel the slower moves better. I also find that I explain moves in more detail because I rely less on my body for demonstration.” Pregnancy certainly hasn’t slowed Valentyna down at all. She shares, “I am sure my second child is already absorbing the English, French, Spanish, Russian and Math and Karate lessons that my students and 14 month old son are receiving.”

Teaching and Learning in Parenting

Valentyna does not feel that being a martial artist impacts her parenting. She doesn’t plan on teaching karate to her children unless they have a passion for it, as she did. But motherhood is redefining her all the same. She says, “Motherhood has given me a softer side. It has taught me kindness, forgiveness and understanding. These qualities have given me a strength that I have never felt or experienced before. It is truly amazing how much we can learn from our children.”

When asked what she hopes her children learn from her, Valentyna says, “I want my children to see that no one can define an individual. Society often tries to define us. In reality, there are so many dimensions to each of us that we can only begin to comprehend another by seeing the variety of roles that each one of us plays in life.” In her own life, Valentya says, “I have made mistakes, but I have always worked hard and recognized the importance of my misfortunes when they resulted in strength and even better results. I really do believe that everything happens for a reason and if I could go back in time, I would remind myself of the truth in that statement on a daily basis.” It sounds like she’s setting a great example for her children and her students, and redefining life on her own terms. That’s something to be truly proud of.

Thanks so much, Valentyna, for sharing how you’re redefining “mom”.

Hayabusa Karate

www.hayabusakarate.com | Twitter | Facebook

Something for Everyone

Most kids love swimming, but they’ll be thrilled when they see what’s on offer at Hillcrest. This gorgeous new pool has so many kid-friendly features: spray jets, water cannons, a lazy river, beach entry, tons of toy boats, balls and pool noodles, plus several racks of life jackets for babies and small children. For the older kids and adults, Hillcrest’s 70-person hot tub, steam rooms, sauna, one, diving boards and huge lap pool are sure to impress.

Their family change rooms make it easy for moms or dads to get the kids ready for the pool. There are lots of generous-sized private stalls so you can contain your kids while you all get changed and showered. Bring a quarter for your locker and you’re all set.

Affordable Family Fun Anytime

There are Red Cross swimming programs for all ages from four months to adult. Check out the lesson schedule on the Vancouver Parks Board website for more information. If you just want to come to Hillcrest for fun, don’t worry about the schedule: the pool is open for public swimming all day! Though it’s a brand spanking new facility, Hillcrest Pool is still an affordable place for families to go. Monday and Wednesday afternoons you can come during the ‘Discount Dip’, or take advantage of the family rate any day where adults get to pay the child price of $3.25 each.

More than Just Swimming

If swimming isn’t your thing, Hillcrest Centre offers a wide variety of other options. The centre also houses an NHL-sized ice rink, the Terry Salman Vancouver Public Library branch, the Vancouver Curling Club’s eight-sheet curling rink, a dance centre, drop-in sports and a state-of-the art fitness centre overlooking Queen Elizabeth Park. Take advantage of daily child-minding from 9:00-11:00am and get in a kid-free workout! Flip through their program guide to get ideas of what to do in Vancouver. They even have musical theatre camp for preschoolers!

Hillcrest Centre

www.rileypark.ca | Facebook
4575 Clancy Loranger Way, Vancouver

The cost of the holidays is often the most stressful part of the season. Making gifts is a great way to show people you care with your time, rather than spending a lot of money. It may not even take more time depending on how long you spend shopping for the ‘perfect’ gift. People often appreciate a homemade jar of jam or a box of cookies more because you made it with your own hands. Plus, it’s much less likely that they’ll get the same thing from someone else.

If you are crafty or you’d like to learn something new, look for inspiration and ideas online. There are communities full of creative types out there sharing video tutorials, how-tos and even free downloadable patterns. Here are a few places to go to help get your holiday crafting started:

• Teresa Richardson’s Crochet Geek channel on Youtube has nearly eight hundred tutorials on every crochet project you can imagine, from snowflake decorations to an Angry Birds hat. Her explanations are very clear and easy to understand, even for absolute beginners. If you’ve ever thought of taking up crochet, her channel is definitely the place to start.
• Crocheters and knitters should also check out Ravelry, a knit and crochet community. Find patterns, many of them free, and connect with other yarn-y types to give your holiday mojo a kick-start.
• Instructables.com is an amazing site with tons of electronics projects and a few pages of Christmas ideas too. You’ll find things like how to make a six-sided paper snowflake as well as the more complex projects like making your own LED Christmas tree baubles.
• Make Magazine online has an incredible variety of project tutorials. I suggest starting with their craft section if you’re interested in sewing, jewellery making or felting.
• For sewing, check out Burdastyle. They’ve made the concept of open source sewing a reality with sewing patterns that you can download for free or cheap, as well as tons of great tips, tricks and tutorials in photo and video format. There are not just simple projects for beginners but couture techniques too if you’re looking for a challenge.
• If you don’t have a sewing machine, not to worry! You can rent one by the hour at Spool of Thread Sewing Lounge in Vancouver. They also offer classes if you need a little help getting started.
• Check out the blog Not Martha for recipes and inspiration for creative baking and housewares. Notable past projects: bacon bowls for salad and miniature gingerbread houses that perches on the edge of a mug.
• Last but not least is Working Class Foodies for down-to-earth cooking shows on a budget. Rebecca and Max show you how to make great meals and treats with simple, wholesome ingredients.

Get your kids in on the fun over the holidays! Potato stamp printing makes great wrapping paper or cards. Try making it a beginning-to-end learning experience by letting them come up with the design to carve into the stamp, as well as inking the stamp and doing the printing. Many of the above websites have great ideas for holiday-themed children’s projects.

Don’t worry if you can’t sew or you just don’t have time to make five kilos of fudge over the holidays: your gift can be as simple as a coupon or certificate. Try giving a service gift, like several hours of babysitting or house cleaning (or any other service you think your loved ones would appreciate). Use a template on your computer, and the certificate will look pretty and festive.

Craft Fairs in Vancouver

If DIY just isn’t your thing, consider buying handmade. If you haven’t been to a craft sale in a while, you should go: they ain’t your grandma’s craft fair anymore! You can find gorgeous one-of-a-kind jewellery, unique purses, hand-sewn stuffed animals, stylish knit scarves and quirky silkscreened t-shirts made right here in Vancouver. The wares on offer are as diverse as the people who make them. You can find lots of craft fairs in our event rundowns throughout the holidays, and our readers shared many of them with their holiday shopping picks. By no means have we tracked down every craft show in the region, however. There are dozens of great craft markets all over the city during the holidays, so watch for posters in your neighbourhood. They usually happen in late November and early December, so it’s not a place for last-minute shopping.

Handmade Holidays Online

If you don’t make it to any of the craft markets, don’t despair: search online! One of the best-known websites is Etsy, which is a great marketplace for handmade goods, as well as vintage items. There are thousands of people offering a mind-boggling variety of items for sale.

Whether you make it yourself or buy from a craft market, one-of-a-kind gifts are sure to please the people on your list. Buying from a local artisan or small business is also greener too – it’s like the 100-Mile Diet for the holidays!

What are your favourite handmade gifts to give – or receive? And where do you find inspiration for crafting over the holidays? Leave us a reply and let us know!

*Image courtesy of Spool of Thread.

Rukiya Bernard is Redefining “Mom”

Rukiya loves acting. She says, “I think I love it so much because I feel like with every character that I play I understand human nature more and more. I get to play out different life scenarios real and surreal and understand myself a little more. It’s so much fun. Sometimes I think to myself, ‘Wow! Am I actually working right now?’” It’s not always easy to balance it all, though. She shares her struggles, saying, “Between acting jobs, last minute auditions, my side business of interior design, Tae Kwon Do, a course at BCIT, modeling, being a wife, being an involved mother, staying connected with my extended family, not having a babysitter or grandparents to help out – it can be challenging.”

Like every mom, Rukiya is constantly redefining her priorities. When asked how she juggles it all, she said, “I pray to the universe that a new eighth day of the week shows up miraculously. Jeez! I don’t know. Every day is different.” Acting presents some additional challenges, too. Rukiya says, “My schedule and the locations that I work in fluctuate so much. I try to plan my life as best as I can – I live off of my iCalendar – if it’s not in the iCalendar it doesn’t happen. I stay up late, wake up early and I’ve become master of prioritization and effective efficiency.”

The Funny Side of Acting and Motherhood

Sometimes being an actor and a mom makes for some serious hilarity. Like the time Rukiya did an audition with the shot tight on her face, so that when casting saw the DVD, they couldn’t see that she was breastfeeding her daughter at the time to keep her from crying. She also says, “Having multiple auditions on the same day can be quite entertaining. I remember I had two auditions as did my mommy actress friend so it was four auditions, two moms, two babies, and one car filled with wardrobe and baby essentials.” Rukiya was dressed in goth-inspired clothing and heavy makeup in the back seat, and her friend was dressed as a nurse driving to her second audition. Rukiya says, “I was all sandwiched between two babies in car seats, one crying – probably because I was scaring her with my over the top make-upped face, feeding the other with a bottle, pumping one boob for milk as we run lines, and I try to change wardrobe into an African Miss Cleo inspired psychic.” Luckily it ended well, as Rukiya shares, “I ended up booking that Miss Cleo inspired role – a guest starring spot on Supernatural.”

Finding Inspiration

In spite of the struggles and the hectic car trips, Rukiya feels that motherhood has made her better. It’s redefining her, if you will. She says, “I feel like I’m more myself than I’ve ever been. I’m less consumed with myself. As an actress, your business is you and it’s quite all consuming. I used to obsess over roles, scrutinizing every possible choice a character can make over a given situation. Now, I just don’t have the time to do all of that. My daughter needs me – so I find myself jumping into character way faster and enjoying a freer approach to my craft. I feel like I’m a much better actress now than I’ve ever been. I’m certainly working way more than I ever have before! It’s weird how that happens.”

To keep her going, Rukiya looks for inspiration around her. Like many parents, she finds it in her child, saying, “Lately my daughter has been the biggest inspiration for me. I love watching her and seeing how she interacts with other babies, toys and entertains herself. She’s taught me over the last 18 months that you don’t need a specific language to communicate. She’s teaching me about how to enjoy the journey and not just the goal.” The learning goes both ways. When asked what she hopes her daughter is learning from her, Rukiya says, “I want her to learn to follow their dreams, do what she loves, not be limited by life’s limitations and be happy. I want my daughter to look at her mommy as the shining example of someone who has followed her bliss, made mistakes and made it all work. Especially as a woman of colour in this day and age, it’s so important to learn to be an independent, creative, entrepreneurial, forward thinking, driven person who can affect another person’s life for the better with the passions that she shares.”

I’m feeling inspired now, myself. Thanks so much, Rukiya, for sharing how you’re redefining “mom”.

Rukiya Bernard

rukiyabernard.com | Twitter | Facebook

Image credits – Rukiya and her daughter courtesy of Rhonda Dent, Rukiya the model courtesy of Sean Sharifi.

What are your favourite things for kids?

Kate: Spending time near the ocean, whether it be playing in the water in a warm climate or walking near the water on the sea wall and observing the power of the waves and all the nature surrounding.

Julia: Bedtime ritual had always been such a wonderful time in our household. My kids are now much bigger (10 and 13) but we always leave lots of space to go upstairs bath/shower and then spend 30 minutes reading and then lying down together as they snuggle up. From babies we developed a routine that had us having lots of fun in the bath, and then settling down to read. I have so many wonderful memories over the years, and it truly is the best part of our day with the children. Bath always provides lots of fun, and books create so much wonder, enchantment and connection.

What are your favourite things for you?

Kate: The ocean is my favourite thing for me, too, since my first child is still growing in my belly.

Julia: I love to exercise. I’ve always been a bit of an exercise junkie, and love to mix it up. I played a lot of competitive sports in my youth and this turned into a love for running later in life. I recently did a half marathon, but had a knowing that I wanted to do something different once I had finished. Currently I do kickboxing, which I love. High energy and learning lots of new moves, that keeps me stimulated and energized all at the same time.

What are your favourite things for work?

Kate: I love that Conscious Divas gives me the opportunity to connect with amazing women doing amazing things in the world. The conversations that I get to have about people’s passions and inspirations for making the planet a better place in who they be and what they do is my favorite thing about work.

Julia: I love to connect with women, and through my work with Conscious Divas that has been one of the biggest perks of the job. When Kate and I formed Conscious Divas, our aim was to create a platform that would bring together amazing experts who had a message to share with the world and fabulous women whose main priority is their personal growth, and through this we have met so many amazing women who are very much in alignment with us. Having the opportunity to sit down with so many women who are doing fabulous things in the world has been a wonderful gift.

What’s your favourite place in Vancouver?

Kate: I was born and raised in Vancouver so I have a lot of memories growing up in East Vancouver that make it very special to me, but now that I live on the West Vancouver I love it here, too. I would say my favorite place is English Bay on a sunny evening.

Julia: Walking the seawall around Stanley Park. I emigrated to Vancouver from years ago from the UK, and walking around the seawall of Stanley Park was one of the first things we did, and still remains today one of my favourite things to do. For me it encapsulates all sides of Vancouver – the city, the beaches, the water, and the beautiful nature we are surrounded by.

What’s your favourite birthday gift idea?

Kate: If timing is not an issue I love to be able to put together a little basket of things that I feel are a great combination and of things the person loves. Time is not always on my side so if that’s the case it’s usually a cute pair of earrings or jewellery combined with some natural/organic pampering products.

Julia: I don’t have a specific one, I love to take the time to buy a gift that is unique and personal to that person. Crystals I find are deeply personal and connecting and I love to find ones that will provide some personal benefit or healing for a friend. Also I love to give books, either a recipe book filled with wonderful dishes or a book with a message that I feel will resonate with that person. My other personal favourite is beautiful natural body products that smell and feel utterly fabulous.

What’s your favourite Vancouver restaurant?

Kate: Vij’s is my all time favorite, the experience from beginning to end is always fantastic. Another casual favourite is Foundation, I am vegetarian and love all their creative options.

Julia: I had my 40th Birthday at Sanafir, and we had a blast. It is such a fun place and I absolutely love the food. Coming from England, I do have a penchant for Indian food, so another favourite would have to be Vij’s, and it is so worth the wait!

What’s your favourite kids’ book?

Kate: Incredible You!: 10 Ways to Be Happy Inside and Out by Wayne Dyer

Julia: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is our ultimate favourite book, and I can attest to reading it hundreds of times with my two children. They would always ask for it and we had so much fun interacting with the pages. As I mentioned previously the joy and fun we had with books with my two children, have been some of my greatest memories.

Conscious Divas

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Follow one of the three marked walking routes, each of which takes from about 20 minutes up to two hours, or try a self-guided walking tour. For a little more structure and to learn a lot about the plants of the garden, you can take a guided tour with one of the docents daily, April through October. If all the walking has made you a bit peckish, VanDusen is an ideal place for a picnic. If you’ve forgotten to pack a lunch, however, hot dogs, paninis and ice cream are available at the little stand in the herb garden.

History of the Botanical Garden

Around 1900, the Canadian Pacific Railway logged the site. Not long after, the land was leased by the Shaughnessy Golf Club, where many a golf professional and even a US president played 18 holes. In the mid-fifties, the CPR had its eye on the land for a housing development. Ten years later, the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association was formed to protect the land for public use as a garden. Since its official opening in 1975, the garden has been public space for Vancouver locals and visitors alike to enjoy nature.

Year-Round Destination

Just because it’s the rainy season, er, autumn, don’t think that the gardens won’t have much to offer. There’s always something spectacular in season, all year round. Not to mention the special events hosted at the gardens like the monthly HSBC VanDusen Family Program, held the third Saturday of every month. The theme for October is “Autumn at VanDusen”, where you can take a Halloween-themed tour of the botanical garden aimed at kids ages five to 11. And of course you’ll want to visit Santa and see the gorgeous display of 1.4 million lights at the annual Festival of Lights, starting December 9, 2011.

Don’t forget to check out the gift shop on the way out — if you saw some flowers or ornamental grasses that you absolutely must have for your garden at home, you just might find them for sale.

VanDusen Botanical Garden

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5251 Oak Street, Vancouver