Ina Finkbeiner was born in Germany. After graduating she worked as an accountant in Germany until 2007, but it never really grew on her. So along with her husband and she decided to start a little adventure and moved to Vancouver. They only planned to stay for a little while but they fell in love and couldn’t leave. In 2010 her biggest adventure Anna was born, and she started looking for baby and kids toys. Her favourites were sold by the German brand sigikid, and she came up with the idea of importing their products to Canada. In response, she recently launched her online store, My Little Mousie. We caught up with Ina recently to chat about some of her favourite things for herself, her business and her family.

What are your favourite things for your kids?

I enjoy baking pear muffins for my daughter (her favourite things). I enjoy watching her when she eats them even more.

What’s your favourite thing for you?

Hot yoga in the morning. It feels nice to be in the moment and focus only on yourself for a while.

What’s your favourite thing for work?

Having the satisfaction of really finishing something.

What’s your favourite place in Vancouver?

Stanley Park, because it’s so unique, and you can do so many great things there all year round.

What’s your favourite birthday gift idea?

My husband had my favourite birthday gift idea: he took me sky diving!

What’s your favourite Vancouver restaurant?

Bishop’s in Kitsilano. I love their fish dishes and it’s perfect for a romantic date night!

What’s your favourite kids’ book?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It was my favourite when I was little, and now it’s my daughter’s! We even got her the caterpillar stuffed toy.

My Little Mousie

www.mylittlemousie.ca | Twitter | Facebook

Two Worlds Collided

Wendy was born and raised in Coquitlam, and she started off her career working at BC Tel, which later became Telus. It wasn’t the best fit for her, though, so even before she had kids she sent about redefining herself by going back to school to study fashion. Like a lot of moms, things changed for Wendy when she had a baby. She says, “My two worlds collided, and that’s where I came up with the idea for our first product, which is the PumpEase hands-free pumping bra.” She was pumping once a day, so that her husband could take a late-night feeding, but she didn’t enjoy it. “The thought of sitting on the couch, unable to do anything else, pretty much drove me crazy.”

Wendy made her first hands-free pumping bra for herself. It wasn’t long before other people heard about it, though. She shares, “A couple of friends caught wind of it and suggested that I sell it. I never had any plans to sell it. But then I thought this product-based business would be passive income, naively.” It’s been a lot of work, but Wendy loves it. “It’s been really successful, we’re now launching a nursing line, but I just really kind of fell into it.”

Redefining “Mom” on the Dragons’ Den

Wendy and her PumpEase pumping bra were on Dragons’ Den in late 2010. While they didn’t choose to invest in her business, she had a very positive experience. Wendy says, “It was anything I could have imagined and more. The people at the CBC were amazing. There was no negative experience there at all.”

Hands-free pumping bras are outside the mainstream for a lot of people, on or off TV. It’s certainly not something most of us would ever have heard of before we had kids, let alone actually considered buying. Wendy gets some varied reactions when people encounter PumpEase for the first time. At consumer shows, she says, “I actually love watching people’s reactions when they walk by my table – the double-takes, the looks of horror. I totally take that opportunity to talk to them about it. It’s pretty funny.”

Bringing Sexy Back to New Motherhood

Wendy runs really cheeky ads for her products. She says, “When it came time to come up with a marketing image I didn’t even consider having some generic, kind of frumpy, mediocre, mainstream image. That’s just not what I’m about. Our bras are the only fashionable hands-free pumping bras on the market, and the only organic ones as well. When it came time to choose fabric I considered solids in pretty colours, and I also ended up with these prints.” She adds, “I’m just trying to make it a little more fun. I mean, pumping is not fun. If I can bring a smile to someone’s face when they’re reaching for their bra … you’re a mom, you know. The postpartum period is not when you’re feeling really sexy.” She’s redefining the way moms feel about themselves after having a baby.

Wendy’s recently branched out by introducing the Toni Top, a maternity and nursing top. Her fashion background once again combined with her experience as a mom. She shares, “I never really went out and bought maternity clothing. A couple people gave me these jeans with the big panel on the front, and I hated them.” She wants to avoid that fate for other people. “I just wanted to beautify the world a little bit by offering moms something that didn’t scream maternity or nursing, and also worked through pregnancy and nursing, and be something they would want to wear after they were done.” She sees that mothers have a negative relationship with the clothing they wear during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and she wants to change that. She says, “If you can get something that looks good, and feels good, then that’s my goal.” She’s redefining maternity and nursing fashion.

Inspiring Others, Redefining Motherhood

Wendy is on a mission to make moms look good and feel good at a time when they otherwise might not. She says, “My mission is to support a mom’s decision to breastfeed through education, community and beauty.” She isn’t just re-defining motherhood for herself, by raising her kids and running her own business. She’s redefining motherhood for other moms, too. That’s what keeps her going, and brings her inspiration. She shares, “What most inspires me is when I get a testimonial from a mom. Some of them bring tears to my eyes. I never, ever set out to do this. I’m working from my home office, and I kind of get holed up in this small little mindset, and then I realize the reach that I’m having and how I’m changing people’s lives and I’m just like wow. I’m honoured to be able to help moms reach their goals.” We can’t think of anything better than that.

Thank you so much, Wendy, for sharing how you’re redefining the word “mom” for yourself and others!

Snugabell

www.snugabell.com | Twitter | Facebook

Inspired by Fashion

Perienne believes in preserving the integrity of food. She says, “I believe in what we call ‘real’ food – I want my chicken to taste like the best roast chicken you have ever had. Natural meat is pricier to purchase, but I refuse to feed my family and customers processed meat. Our health is the most important thing we have!”

Perienne draws inspiration from fashion and the seasons when making food. She says, “Something about wintertime always gives me the urge to get back into comfort food, and to do it in a way that is upscale and nostalgic. We can hardly keep our natural chicken pot pies on the shelf. Tossed in a tarragon veloute, they remind me of wrapping myself in a big cashmere scarf.” Cozy, comforting and sophisticated.

Facing Obstacles, Redefining Mom

Like any mom, Perienne faces her fair share of obstacles as she works at redefining life on her own terms. When asked what challenges her, she says, “I need a few extra hours in the day just like everyone else. For me it’s all about priorities – some days it is just more important to me to take my daughter to Maplewood Farm than it is to do be developing new recipes for the restaurant. It’s always a balance – some days I have to be with clients, and that means my daughter and husband have to have dinner without me.”

How does Perienne overcome the obstacles she faces? She says, “Good communication helps, but I am constantly learning how to balance it all and make it all work.” She also says that she has a tendency to take on a lot of things at once. “Sometimes this can make it a bit tricky to really enjoy and live in the moment and appreciate what is happening at that time. Looking back on how fast time flies by, I’m trying to take my own advice and really enjoy the present.” She adds, “I didn’t ever fully understand it until having my daughter – all of the sudden she’s a little girl, not a baby anymore, and I don’t want to miss a moment of it.”

Foodie and Mom

Life with a toddler is putting Perienne’s patience to the test, as she shares, “My toddler is a smart girl with a very active mind, and now she’s at the age where she doesn’t always understand her emotions. The amount of patience required to reassure her in those moments comes from the patience required to prepare a complex recipe. And if all else fails, laughter and a sense of humour will always get us through a rough patch or a recipe we mess up. Sometimes it’s the spur of the moment that makes for the best parenting and cooking!”

Perienne isn’t just redefining motherhood – motherhood is also redefining her. She says, “Motherhood saved my life – I really don’t mean that lightly. My beautiful mother passed away when my daughter was two and a half months old. Had it not been for my sweet baby Simone, I would have made very different decisions for my future. She was the reason I started my business – I needed to focus on building something positive that I could pour my heart and soul into. I was hurting so deeply, that I never believed I could get through it. At the time I wanted to do something that my daughter could be proud of. Looking back on it now, I made a conscious decision to take the road to heal and become a better mother and woman. It’s funny how things work – I gave my daughter life, and two months later, she saved mine.”

Following and Reaching Dreams

Perienne is working hard to set a good example for her children. She says, “I want my children to know that they can do anything they want to do, that they should always follow their dreams, and that I will love them no matter what. If they can learn this, and be the best version of themselves through watching me, then I will have done the best job imaginable.” The work she’s doing in redefining motherhood on her own terms is aimed at setting an example for her daughter, and any other children she has.

When asked about her proudest accomplishment, Perienne says, “It’s a toss up for me. The day my daughter was born was the best accomplishment imaginable, to have brought a beautiful, healthy, baby girl into this world was incredible. But putting her in my beautiful mother’s arms was almost better. My mom was so excited for our daughter to be born – she was by my side for every moment of my pregnancy.” There have been other proud moments, too. Perienne shares, “I was at a rock concert – my favourite band was playing live. I looked over at my gorgeous husband, my restaurant was open for one of our first dinner services, and my baby was sleeping away at home with grandma, and I was so proud that I had managed to build a beautiful life in the midst of facing the hardest time imaginable. I have built a meaningful life out of extreme tragedy.”

Life After Loss

Perienne wants other people who are facing tragedy to take heart. “There is life after loss, and I am most proud to be an example of the fact that there can be beauty through all of the pain, and proof that you can build the life you have always wanted out of the ruins. My Mom was my best friend; my sister, my role model, my everything, and losing her to such a vicious disease affected all of us so deeply. If I can inspire just one person to make the same choice I did, and to chase their dreams in their darkest moments, then that will be an even bigger accomplishment.”

Thank you so much, Perienne, for sharing how you are redefining “mom”, and offering us some inspiration.

Cove Fine Foods

www.covefinefoods.com | Facebook

To further our goal of inspiring and informing our amazing community of moms, we’re profiling women who are redefining the word mom for themselves. Today we’re profiling Nancy Owens. Nancy is mom to three kids aged nine, seven and two, and a lifelong Port Moody resident. She’s passionate about her family and friends, community involvement, and personal growth. Earlier this year she decided to throw her hat in the ring and run for Port Moody City Council. It was a crowded ballot, with 20 candidates for only six council seats. Nancy didn’t win the election on November 19, but we wanted to hear about her experiences. We don’t endorse any particular candidate, but while we were prompting you to Mom the Vote Nancy was willing to put herself forward, and we think that’s pretty cool.

Nancy Owens is Redefining “Mom”

When asked what prompted her to seek public office, Nancy replied, “A strong belief that I would be good at it, coupled with an undeniable desire to increase my community involvement.” It wasn’t always easy though, as Nancy said, “The campaign was almost like having another child for a while, in that it demanded my attention, was challenging at times, and overall was a supremely rewarding experience, full of priceless lessons.” She added, “The whole experience still felt like a victory!”

Nancy faced some challenges as a first-time candidate. She says, “There were definitely some pressures and opportunities to compromise my original intentions and plans. In the end, ignoring these pressures may have cost me some votes, but allowed me to run an authentic first campaign I could feel good about.” Authenticity is always a good thing, whether you’re seeking public office or driving carpool. Nancy maintained hers by reminding herself to follow her gut. She says, “I may not have won the election, but I succeeded in running an honest, modest campaign, in keeping with my principles…and I feel good about that. No regrets.”

Lessons from the Campaign Trail

While Nancy was redefining “mom”, the campaign trail was redefining her. Here are some lessons she picked up along the way:

• Abandon expectations of the people around you. Politics isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and just because someone isn’t publicly cheering you on, it doesn’t mean they don’t love you! Having said that, most of my friends did champion me throughout this experience, and some wonderful bonus cheerleaders surfaced along the way. I could not be more grateful for these people and their support!
• Don’t pay too much attention to what other candidates are doing. Focus on your own path.
• Don’t take yourself so seriously! This advice would have saved me some icky feelings early on in the campaign. By the end of the election I was definitely laughing more than stressing or fuming.

The real test of any campaign, though, is whether a candidate would run again. We had to ask Nancy if she would consider throwing her hat in the ring again in 2014 and she said, “Yes! I will take some time to process this experience, and of course stay involved in the community. Public service is a call I have heard, and I will continue to listen. I am definitely not saying no to running for office again.”

Learning and Teaching

By running for public office, Nancy is setting an example for her children. She says, “I want my kids to know that it’s okay to take a chance, and try something new. It’s never too late to figure out what makes your heart sing, seek a new path, and reinvent yourself.” Fighting in a losing campaign brings lessons, too, as Nancy adds, “With the election results, I hope I am teaching my kids that it’s totally okay if you fall short of your goals, as long as you know you tried your best. And of course, always lose with grace!”

As every parent knows, however, the learning goes more than one way. We gain just as much from our kids as they gain from us. Nancy says that motherhood has changed her in countless ways. “Just off the top of my head, since having kids, I have become gentler, more patient, more relaxed, and more forgiving. I am less judgmental, and more open-minded.” She adds, “If I can take any credit at all for these three amazing, beautiful, fascinating people, then my life has been a total success.” I think any mom can relate to that.

Thanks so much, Nancy, for taking the time to tell us how you’re redefining the word “mom” for yourself!

Registered Holistic Nutritionist

To answer this, I talked to an expert: Registered Holistic Nutritionist (and busy mom) Debbie Scallion of Real Earth Nutrition. In case you don’t know, RHNs are professionals trained in natural nutrition and complementary therapies, who mainly educate people about the benefits and health impact of optimal nutrition.

Debbie received her training at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. She explains why she chose this career path, saying, “I have always been interested in nutrition since I can remember. I taught myself how to cook, I scoured recipe books and watched every cooking show I could find on TV. I read books on the human body, biochemistry, psychology to learn more about what we need to have in our bodies to have them perform well. When I watched my unhealthy parents become healthy by changing their lifestyles to incorporate supplements and a more active lifestyle, I was hooked.”

What an RHN Does

As an RHN, Debbie sees clients in her office to help them achieve their health goals. Some come to her with pre-existing conditions in need of nutritional support. She sees people with cancer, Crohn’s, IBS, diabetes, disordered eating, or planning for or recovering from surgery. Since becoming a mother, she’s specialized in women’s issues including fertility, pregnancy, and feeding kids. She gives nutrition talks at a recovery house for kids who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, she runs a very successful weight loss program in a group setting and she does corporate seminars on various health topics.

Recently Debbie organized a major food event in Vancouver called Feast of Flavour. Participants sampled delicious foods while learning about the natural healing properties of the key ingredients. On offer was organic wine from Summerhill winery and organic saison beer featuring local hops. Celebrity chefs were also on hand to provide demonstrations. She’s looking forward to making next year’s event even better.

Resources for Eating Well

Debbie’s favourite cook books are A Pastry Queen Goes Green by Lorene Sauro, Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair, and The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook by Alissa Segerstein and Tom Malterre. Websites she loves include Cookus Interruptus, Saveur, Epicurious for quick ingredient dish ideas and a couple of food blogs called Poppytalk and Everybody Likes Sandwiches.

Where does the food expert shop for groceries? Since Debbie lives on Main Street, she heads to the Winter Farmers Market at Nat Bailey Stadium on Saturdays for produce, eggs and fish. She also likes East West Market  and Mainly Organics. When she occasionally eats meat, she shops at the old-school butcher shop Windsor Meats on Main at Kind Edward for their well-priced organic poultry and grass fed beef.

Debbie’s Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating

Since the holiday season is upon us, we thought we’d get Debbie’s tips for eating healthy while getting festive. Here’s what she had to say:

• Try to incorporate an 80/20 rule with healthy eating. 80% of the time eat as best you know how and 20% of the time, give yourself a break.
• Pre-eat before going to holiday parties so you’ll be less likely to over indulge.
• If you think you may have a difficult time, keep a food journal over the holiday season. It helps to bring awareness to what you’re putting in your body. Once you’re aware, you can’t become unaware!
• Stay as close to the original food as possible. It’ll help to keep you away from most processed foods. You’d be surprised how easy to prepare whole foods can be.
• Bring healthy options with you. It’s amazing how many classic recipes can be converted into a healthier form without compromising taste!

How do you eat healthy over the holiday season? Share your tips with us!

Real Earth Nutrition

www.realearthnutrition.com Facebook  | Twitter
109-1534 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver

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

What’s your favourite thing for your kids?

Soccer. Though I may grumble at the cold wet days and early morning games, it makes my heart skip a beat to watch them try so hard on the pitch and to see their smiles when their team scores a goal.

What’s your favourite thing for you?

Spinning – every class takes me up my own little mountain!

What’s your favourite thing for work?

Painting murals. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a plain wall transformed into a story and watching my little clients’ faces when it is completed.

What’s your favourite place in Vancouver?

My favorite place in Vancouver has to be Kitsilano. I love sitting on the beach in the summer with Fred and the boys and seeing the snow capped mountains in the distance. It makes me feel truly blessed!

What’s your favourite gift idea?

My favorite gift idea … every Mother’s Day my boys paint me a stone. It’s simple and inexpensive but totally priceless – a gift I can treasure.

What’s your favourite Vancouver restaurant?

My favorite restaurant in Vancouver has to be, without doubt, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. in Kitsilano. They have the best fresh organic pizza in Vancouver, and the kids get to actually make their own. I love it.

What’s your favourite kids’ book?

My favorite kids’ book has to be Bear Snores On. I adore all of the characters and have spent many hours reading about Bear and his friends to the boys. You will even see his influence in two of my murals.

DreamWallDesigns

www.dreamwalldesigns.ca | Twitter | Facebook

I asked her a few questions about what it’s like to be an artist and mother of three.

How would you describe what you do?

I draw. I illustrate and write children’s books, do editorial illustration and show in galleries. I also sell prints of my drawings through my site. I can sometimes be found at Emily Carr teaching a class in the Illustration Program.

How many kids do you have and how do you manage the balance between being an artist and a mom?

I have three kids: Jake is 15, Henry is five and Ida is three.

I have a rad husband who is super supportive in general and makes it possible for me to get stuff done. He is also an artist and teaches high school art.

My brother (another artist) and I trade childcare hours with our daughters while my sons are in school. It’s complicated, busy and chaotic most days around here but in a good, functional and (mostly) fun way! I work from a studio in my house so that means I can fit things in here and there. I do usually feel like I’m behind in everything, though.

What’s been inspiring you lately?

I have always been inspired by the illustrations in children’s books. Some of my favorites are Mary Blair, Gyo Fujikawa, Alice and Martin Provensen, Barbara Cooney, Tove Jannson, Bruno Munari, and of course, Maurice Sendak. My daughter is named after his character, Ida, in Outside Over There.

Also, right now I’m really into textiles from the Bauhaus, mid-20th century Eastern European graphic art and animation, and folk art. I’m inspired by the very remote chance that I might someday have time to design textiles and weave tapestries. I need a clone.

Do you find that having a family has changed your work as an artist (or its focus) in any way? 

I have actually had a child for pretty much my whole adult life as I had my first child at 20, so that’s a tough question. There has definitely never been much time to slack. It makes one pretty determined to make a go of things. I suppose my younger kids renewed my interests in the possibilities of children’s books.

What are some of your favourite kid-friendly things to do in Vancouver?

Collage Collage, bike rides to Third Beach and Spanish Banks, Trout Lake.

What’s next for you?

I have a book coming out this month called When I was Small. It’s the third book in a series by author Sara O’Leary. I will also have three more books coming out in the next year.

To discover more of Vancouver artist Julie Morstad’s incredible work, and maybe pick up a few prints, check out her website at www.juliemorstad.com.

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.

Originally from Scotland, Laura Falconer made her way to Vancouver in 2003 in pursuit of snowboarding and better summers (yes, really). Laura’s lifelong passion for shoes became a passion for little shoes after the birth of her daughter Thea in June, 2009. As Thea began to walk Laura began hunting for quality, unique, attractive footwear for her. With an 11 year career in interactive design, setting up an online store of desirable mini kicks seemed like the simple solution – Life & Soles was born. We recently caught up with Laura to hear about some of her favourite things.

What’s your favourite thing for your kids?

My daughter and I are spending a lot of time at the newly-renovated Grandview Park on Commercial Drive. It’s fantastic what the city has done with the park and Thea always has a blast when we go there.

What’s your favourite thing for you?

Right now it’s BC McIntosh apples!

What’s your favourite thing for work?

I love all of the brands we carry because I’m passionate about good shoes and good design so I make sure only to stock brands that I would be happy for my own daughter to wear. Native and Keep shoes have been very successful in the store which I think is due to their quality and unique design. They’re also both companies that care about the ethics of how their footwear is made. I have a particular fondness for Native Shoes because they’re a Vancouver based brand.

What’s your favourite place in Vancouver?

This is a tough one, there are so many great places. Anywhere by the sea or in the mountains always makes me happy and I find Deep Cove a really nice place to spend time. We had fun there this summer playing on the beach and swimming in the sea.

What are your favourite things to give as birthday gifts?

I struggle to think of good ideas for the adults in my life, we all seem to have everything we need and more. So I’ve taken to focusing on experiences as gifts. For my husband’s birthday this year I bought him a four-hour kiteboarding lesson in Squamish. It’s something he had never tried before and he loved it.

What’s your favourite Vancouver restaurant?

Burgoo, awesome comfort food.

What’s your favourite kids’ book?

We’re all loving ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘Room on the Broom’ by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. They’re funny and clever and the rhyming makes them a lot of fun both to read and to listen to.

Life & Soles

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