I have been following Red Fox Creative Studio for a few months now and was thrilled to finally partake in a couple of their workshops this past month. I was so excited to see something like this pop up in our city. Creativity and artistic expression have been so good for my soul, particularly postpartum, and I know that some of the new crafts I have learned will help me calm my busy mind when baby number two arrives. Check out all that these ladies are offering and then treat yourself to some me time to learn something new!
Tell us about Red Fox Creative Studio.
We like creativity. We like it a lot. We believe creating is good for people. Our services include technique-based art classes and workshops along with classes and workshops rooted in mindfulness. A few of the studio's offerings:
Where did the idea for a creative studio come from?
At the time, we were feeling like we weren't using our passions to drive our lives forward. We were conforming to the ideals of "work" and feeling drab about every day life. Inspirational thoughts for our "unicorn dream" (as we refer to it) started to become more frequent. The dream was and still is to create a business model that was centralized around people getting together to learn new things, while expressing themselves creatively.
How has becoming Momtrepreneurs meshed with your family lives?
We are often answering emails and creating social media content into the night. We both try and keep it to a minimum, but sometimes it can't be helped. Also, because of the nature of what we do, most of our classes take place in the evenings — so we are away from our families.
Where do your ideas for classes and workshops come from?
This business would be crazy hard without each other. We both bring particularly great skills to the table. It's great to have another person to brainstorm with. Oh, and the one and the only Pinterest.
What has been your favourite class offering so far?
ART BOOK. I love how you can present a topic/journal prompt and everyone can come up with a different visual to go along with it. Everyone says how relaxing it is to just create for the sake of creating and not having the pressure to create a grand masterpiece. The pieces created in this class are just for you. No one else even knows what it might mean, that is what's so special about it.
Kayla, you also offer other services through Kayla Huszar Creative Services. Do you want to share more about that?
YES, I sure do! I am a registered social worker, trained in expressive art therapy. The focus of my private practice is creativity, dialogue and playful expression, as a means to heal. I want to hold space for anyone who needs it, while focusing on providing support for mothers and working professionals. My practice involves using a therapeutic setting where clients use imagination and creativity to show how they might be feeling, grieving, and/or struggling.
Creative expression in therapy is an effective form of communication that can alleviate stress, calm minds and focus on healing. What would you say are the top three skills a Momtrepreneur would need to successfully run a creative studio?
What have you found the most gratifying about running a creative studio?
Having a space to come to everyday that it just ours, while creating a community, homey feel about the services we are offering.
Where do you see Red Fox heading in the future?
Well the unicorn dream is to have instructors (including us but other people, too) in the studio teaching all the time. Spreading the creative joy all over the city.
What do you have in store for creators next year?
Here is our current menu, with classes being added to the website all the time:
Where can we find more class info?
Use code CREATIVITY2018 to save 10% off of all classes and workshops!
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Erin Degelman has been whipping up delectable sweets in her home bakery, Let Them Eat Cake, for the past 8 years. We had the pleasure of chatting with Erin about the challenges of running a business with little ones, her biggest inspirations, and her best baking secrets.
Tell us about Let Them Eat Cake.
I bake cupcakes, cakes, and confections to order. My products are all fresh, never frozen, and made with quality products.
When did you start baking?
I began baking when I was a young girl actually. My grandma used to give my sister and I dough to play with and we would add cinnamon and sugar and bake it! My mom used to own a bed and breakfast and she is also an excellent baker, so it's always been something that I grew up with. I decided 8 years ago to start baking for other people and it just grew from there.
Who is your bakery crush?
Jenna Rae Cakes in Winnipeg! She does amazing cakes and cupcakes and I would love to have a bakery like hers one day.
What has been the hardest part of adding a family to your business?
Being a good mom. There is not enough time in the day to do everything I need to do for my business and be the best mom I can be. It is the thing I struggle with the most. The guilt that the time I am using to bake and decorate could be spent playing with my kids.
How do you generate new ideas?
I am a huge Pinterest fan. I love to look through Pinterest and see creations that people have made and try new techniques. Instagram is great too for seeing trends and new techniques.
What has been your most successful form of marketing?
My main source for marketing is Instagram. Instagram and word of mouth. I have been so fortunate that I have had people recommend friends and family to me.
Who is your kitchen idol?
I love Ina Garten. She had no formal training and became a success. There is not a recipe of hers that I have tried that I did not like!
What is your favourite aspect of being a Momtrepreneur?
My favourite aspect is having the option to say I won't take on an order. If I have something important for my child, I have the option to say they come first and I can make my schedule around my family's.
What is your favourite cupcake on the menu?
It's a toss up between lemon and coconut — I am a total lemon and coconut girl. My dulce de leche comes in a close second though!
For all of us amateur bakers, what is the secret to a perfect cake?
Room temperature ingredients and let your cakes rest a night before icing them. I always bake my cakes, let them cool, and then leave them overnight in a sealed freezer bag on my counter. My grandma always did that, so that's what I do!
Where can we find your sweet treats?
I've been on the hunt for hardworking Momtrepreneurs all over our beautiful province. This week, I am featuring a mom who has been making a line of natural baby products since last year. Madison of Little Bum Baby Products not only creates a beautiful bath, body, and baby products, but she offers natural alternatives for the laundry room, too! She sat down with us to give us the scoop on growing a business with a young family at home.
Tell us about Little Bum Baby Products.
We are a Saskatchewan-based company that offers all natural, organic, and chemical free baby care products. Our full product line includes:
How did you get into making baby products?
My daughter is allergic to disposable diapers which means I had to cloth diaper, and finding a cloth-diaper-safe diaper cream was hard and expensive. So I did a ton of research and found some recipes online and decided to make my own. I took different parts of a bunch of recipes and came up with my own. Thus, the first Little Bum Baby Products Diaper Cream. After that, I expanded to create all of the products we currently offer.
Getting the right recipe must take lots of trial and error. What was the biggest nightmare batch you ever made?
When we first started making lip balm it was a long process to figure out how to make them solid without being too solid. We also tried making them with natural flavorings instead of essential oils. The first batch we made was a liquidy mess and none of the flavour (vanilla extract) even remained in the lip balm tub, it all leaked out the bottom! We played with it enough that we now have a great recipe that is the perfect consistency and works wonders for the lips!
What is your product philosophy?
We want to make sure everything is 100% safe for all ages and all natural. We hate that most baby products are filled with chemicals and fillers which are really terrible for your children and their skin.
What has been your biggest mistake since starting?
Having too many products and not enough sales. I haven't really learned my lesson as I just keep adding to the list!
What is your favourite part of being a Momtrepreneur?
Getting to stay home with my family .
What would you say are the top three things needed to launch a successful product line?
What is your biggest motivator that continues to drive Little Baby Bum Products?
Helping all the little bums with their sensitivities.
How do you use social media to market your business?
Creating lots of Facebook posts, participating in tradeshows, sharing in Facebook groups, and doing giveaways.
Where can we find Little Baby Bum Products?
*Mention this interview and save 25% off your entire order until October 20!
*contact Little Baby Bum Products before placing your order*
As a former teacher, Nichole Forbes, speech pathologist and co-owner at Regina Speech Centre, holds a special place in my educator heart. I've seen the difference early intervention can make so I know the value behind the services they are offering. We all know there have been major funding cuts to education and services like speech and language therapy are one of many that take a hit. This is one of the many reasons private centres are so important in our community.
Tell us about Regina Speech Centre.
Regina Speech Centre is a speech and language centre that just opened its doors on April 1, 2017 and we have been busy ever since. We are an energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate speech centre who aim to provide the most current, evidence based practice to our community. We provide client and family centered speech and language services within our community, day cares, and family homes targeting various concerns. We have a variety of experience in helping families with (but not limited to); expressive and receptive language delays.
We have experience in working with individuals with motor speech disorders, apraxia, autism, fluency, cochlear implants, literacy and language development, auditory processing, picking eating, and early attachment. We also have a passion and strong interest in providing parents with tools and strategies through parent coaching. We believe the best way we can help the children we work with is by empowering the parents and giving them the strategies. This is the main motivator to encourage us to develop various parent education classes. We offer individual services, group services, consultation services, and parent education services. What ignited the spark to open a speech centre?
It really just takes one person to believe in your crazy idea, and say "yes... do it." Then next thing you know you're in the middle of renovations, building a speech centre, and reading information on how to write blogs, choose a logo, and build a brand for your company. Encouragement from other strong women who own their own businesses and strong family members who support our crazy ideas are what sparked our business adventure.
What is your favourite aspect of being a Momtrepreneur?
That when an idea or an opportunity approaches me, I can say yes or no and pursue it. I am in charge of what my work day and work life looks like. There is freedom in that.
If you had not taken the plunge and opened your own centre, what would you be doing instead?
You mean besides professional Disney karaoke, yarn spinner, 90's rapper, master pun creator, rebel knitter and crocheter? I would probably still be working at my previous job. I don't see myself NOT providing speech and language services in some way. I have been fortunate enough to find my passion and purpose; it would be crazy to abandon that blessing.
What has surprised you most about working for yourself?
How my passion for the field has been reignited, how my drive has increased, how much my creativity has exploded, and my overall happiness. It's amazing how freeing and rewarding it is once you start believing in yourself.
What might people be surprised to know about you?
I'm creative and artistic; I have had paintings in art galleries before. I am also strongly passionate for outdoor activities: kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and just soaking up the sun are some of my favorite things. I am an avid reader; I read on average a book a week (either read it or listen to an audio book).
Another reader! What is your top pick?
Two favourites: "To Kill a Mocking Bird" and "Daisy Fay and The Miracle Man".
What local businesses do you admire the most?
Ali Lauren Creative Services: I love the personality, the grace, and the drive she has with her business. She's always encouraged me and is always a sounding board for me to bounce ideas and business problems off of.
OuTcomes Therapy: I have been blessed to cross paths with Louise, owner of OuTcomes Therapy, and her drive, her passion, her advocacy for her clients, and her ethics motivate me to push for, and deliver, stronger services for my own clients. What do you wish other people knew about Regina Speech Centre?
I wish people had a stronger knowledge of how encompassing speech and language therapy is. I can work with the little-little ones to school age to adults. I can help with not only speech sounds but literacy, writing, cognitive skills, memory tasks, feeding, play skills, vocabulary development, and overall communication skills. We have an abundance of information on child development, interaction and attachment, and parent coaching and offer various classes.
Most importantly, I wish that people realized the importance of early intervention, to not "wait and see," and that they are their child's best advocate. So if their gut is saying "help"... listen to it and seek out our help. It's what we love to do. Where can we find Regina Speech Centre?
This week's Momtrepreneur is Amanda Adam, owner and lead photographer at Fat Cat Studios. She is an award-winning, local Saskatoon lifestyle photographer who has an amazing eye for detail. She offers a variety of services that will beautifully capture and preserve your life's most important moments.
Tell us about Fat Cat Studios.
I am an award-winning and published photographer. My main focus is on maternity, wedding, newborn, and children's portraiture. I bring my history as a graphic artist to my photography and offer high-quality, artistic portraits. I work with an amazing, professional photographic print company to offer beautiful artwork featuring my clients' portraits as well. My services are available both on-location and at my in-home studio. I currently offer sessions for:
Has photography always been your dream job?
I had actually never even considered becoming a photographer. I have always loved to cook and, for much of my life, I wanted to be a chef. I ended up choosing not to pursue that career path because I thought it would make having a family life more difficult, and I didn't want to lose my love of cooking. Instead, I content myself with always cooking new dishes and having friends over for dinner parties!
How did Fat Cat Studios come to be?
I was working a job I hated that I felt was eating up all my time. I was always either working, commuting, or de-stressing from work. My son was due to start school soon and I desperately wanted to spend more time with him while I could. I decided to turn my side-project into a temporary full-time venture, so I could be home with my son. By the time he started school, it had taken off enough that I didn't need to return to work!
What do you love most about photography?
I love getting to meet so many new people and being allowed into their life for some of their most special moments. I recently had a wedding with one of my favourite couples to date. Prior to getting engaged, they went through a very difficult cancer diagnosis and treatment together. Their wedding was a very emotional one on all sides, full of love and gratitude for something as simple and precious as good health. The knowledge that I'm helping people keep these moments for life, makes me love my job even more.
What is the best part of being a Momtrepreneur?
The cookies! I LOVE being able to say, "Time for a break. Let's bake some cookies!" I started my business to spend more time with my family and I do everything I can to ensure I don't lose sight of that!
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
I love to cook and bake! It helps me relax at the end of a long day, or in the middle of a particularly difficult day. I also love to read and usually have one or two books going.
We love a fellow reader and are always looking for recommendations. What is your favourite book?
One of my absolute favourite books is The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue. I read it about once a year!
What has surprised you most about working for yourself?
The biggest thing that's surprised me, is how much I enjoy going to work now. Not only is my "commute" easier but I have a lot more freedom in how I spend my time. I don't feel guilty getting up and moving around, or simply taking a break when I'm stuck at a desk, because my "boss" understands mental and physical health is important. It's not easy shouldering the responsibility alone but, with a great support system, owning a business can be very rewarding!
What is your best piece of advice for people choosing a photographer?
While you should look for someone whose style you love, who is experienced and serious about their business. I feel it's just as important to find someone who you get along with on a personal level. You are inviting this person into some very special and private moments of your life and, especially in the case of weddings, you're spending several hours with this person. If you dislike them, or feel uncomfortable around them for any reason, this will definitely show in your photos!
Where can we find Fat Cat Studios?
Mention this interview and save 30% on all *lifestyle sessions from September 15 - December 15!
*LIFESTYLE SESSIONS DO NOT INCLUDE WEDDING OR BOUDOIR SHOOTS. DISCOUNT CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS.*
This week we had the opportunity to chat with Michelle Coels, owner and head coach at One Tough Mama. If you have ever looked into prenatal or postpartum exercise, you have probably already stumbled across her. She has been working in the fitness industry for almost a decade and just recently decided to dive into her own business full time. If you've ever had the privilege of meeting Michelle, you know she's found her calling. She genuinely cares about her clients and bettering the information available to them.
Tell us about One Tough Mama.
I am in the business of serving individuals. While I work mainly with women, I do not see myself as a female based business. I see myself as a business focused on the individual. We are all different; in a perfect world everyone's fitness program would reflect that. However, to keep One Tough Mama accessible to as many incomes as possible, I offer the following:
Where did the idea for One Tough Mama come from?
I struggled with many things postpartum. I did not overly enjoy my time as a "stay-at-home mom," feeling empty and alone. I very quickly started working again to feel like me. In the meantime, I discovered I had diastasis recti, and later, pelvic organ prolapse. It not only changed my life, but also how I approached fitness and exercise therapy.
I wanted to change the messaging for moms within Regina and beyond. I wanted to change the messaging for the general population about their core and their understanding of "what it takes" to be healthy and fit. I wanted to be better; to offer better. And I wanted to feel like myself. Rather than searching for a business idea, I honestly felt like I HAD to start One Tough Mama. My passion for core and pelvic floor gave me the confidence and gusto to put myself out there and prove to myself that my information was important and useful. It was terrifying. It is still hard. But it is worth every sleepless night. I look forward to my work everyday. Getting up is no longer a chore — it is a gift. I am thankful to have found this passion every damn day. It's what keeps me going. In one word, describe your life as a Momtrepreneur.
Rewarding
What does your day-to-day life look like as a Momtrepreneur?
I wake up, ready to kick some ass — it's another day, yo! Let's do this! A little work here and a splash of Olivia snuggles and breakfast there, and we are off and running. Another day, another opportunity to learn from and teach women (and men) about fitness.
As an entrepreneur, I likely have at minimum three ups and downs a day. THIS IS AWESOME, I AM DOING GOOD THINGS and FUCK THIS, THIS IS HARD, WHY DID I EVER THINK I COULD? Thankfully for me, the opportunity to work with individuals who feel that what you offer helps them, keeps me going. Having taken some control of my work life, I now carve out some time to work away at a course every week. Learning is one of my favourite things to do. I also write alot. Most I don't share but it's therapeutic to get the thoughts out of my head and on paper. Evenings are all about family time (aside from one). I play with my daughter: we talk, sing, move, and cook until it's time for bath and snuggles. Bedtime is my favourite. We sit quietly in the dark talking about our day and who we love. It's in those moments that I know I am doing the right things in life right now. After bed for my daughter, it's bed for me! Seriously though. What has been the best thing to happen since you started working for yourself?
The best thing that has happened is my mind has slowed down. I am an anxious person, barely able to keep up with the flow of thoughts that cross my brain every minute. Taking control of my schedule has allowed me to take control of my thoughts and manage them better. This has positively affected all areas of my work. It is also allowing me to fulfill the need to be unapologetically me. I can be me in my work and it is a creative outlet for me.
You recently shared the news of your pregnancy — congratulations! How do you see that changing your business?
With baby number two expected to arrive some time in the late fall, there are definitely some short and likely long term changes coming to One Tough Mama. For one, I will not be running most in-person classes for November and December. Being a fitness coach for postpartum women, I see it as my duty to practice what I preach which happens to include the overlooked REST period after birth. In order to serve my clients, and serve them well, I am going to first ensure that my own healing is a priority. This includes taking some physical time away from the business. I will continue supporting my remote fitness coaching clients at all times.
Mental health is a priority for me so, while I have plans for my return to work postpartum, I am being mindful of the fact that my best intentions now may not reflect what is best for my health after baby arrives. My hope is to significantly improve my online program and support to fresh postpartum mamas as I travel through this period the second time around. Who is your greatest inspiration?
My daughter is my inspiration. I see myself in her and yet I see her unique personality that is unscathed by society. I wish to live loudly, with love and authenticity, as a role model for her. I was a shy follower, scared to be noticed due to differences. It has taken me almost 30 years to respect what is unique about myself. Having found it, I feel I can live the life I wish to live and am motivated to share these skills with her so she, too, can live an authentic and kind life.
What brings you joy?
When I see other people happy and successful; my heart can barely handle the happiness. Also, Olivia giggles, Sophie kisses, and popcorn. My husband is pretty damn awesome too. So I guess that means family time over a bowl of popcorn — buttered only. People who eat it dry are weird.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about starting their own business?
Don't wait until your "plan" is perfect — just take action. Grow and improve as you are able. Be authentic and do whatever you choose because you love it, not to make money at first. Your passion will shine brighter than most anything.
Where can we find One Tough Mama?
We had the privilege of chatting with one of the mamas behind design molloy, a graphic design duo specializing in custom word art. Colette, and her partner Debbie, run two little shops over on Etsy where they have been turning your ideas into beautiful keepsakes since 2014.
Tell us about your business.
Recently, we expanded and started offering downloadable art in our sister Etsy Shop, where clients can purchase pre-made designs and print them instantly. We also have a handful of clients who ask us to complete different projects for their commercial needs. This service includes creating large banners, posters, print advertisements, infographics, and more.
How did design molloy get its start?
Debbie contacted me by email in 2013 and asked me if I wanted to collaborate and create a birth story for her son. The rest is history! We worked together on that first design and the process and result came very naturally to us. After being friends for over a decade, we decided to take a stab at being business buddies. I own design molloy and Debbie is a consultant that I pay for service. I suppose that first project together just felt right. We are both highly intuitive people who trust our gut instinct.
How do you generate new ideas?
Usually through daydreaming. I suppose in some ways by meditating. A spark of something will ignite and images/visions of how it may unfold play in my mind until I settle on something that is worth trying to represent tangibly. Sometimes it works! We are at the point now in our business where we don't force anything 'new' into our product line. Everything new is organically grown and can happen at any time.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful Momtrepreneur?
In no particular order... the ability to multi-task well, top-notch organizational skills (you need a system because you can not rely on memory alone!), and a sense of humour. You need to be able to let the little things go and laugh off a lot.
Can you share a time when you've had to laugh something off?
Autocorrect hasn't always been nice to me. Let's just say I accidentally used a bad word in a hurried email reply to a client. Luckily, she had a good sense of humour.
Any advice for new Momtrepreneurs, other than proofreading?
Believe in yourself, believe in your product, and be willing to adapt and learn.
What do you find most challenging about running your own business while raising little ones?
Mindfulness. Ensuring that I am a mindful mother, while also being a mindful business owner. Tuning out the business and shutting off the phone notifications while parenting is a challenge but it is so important for our family's well being. And vice versa... forgetting about doctor's appointments, school commitments, and play date schedules while sitting down and focusing on the business. This isn't a unique struggle, as I am sure most Momtrepreneurs feel this tug-of-war for their attention. Being mindful and fully aware of each present moment is something I strive for.
What is in store for the future of design molloy?
I would like to explore different print mediums to present our designs on. This would vastly expand our product line. Our business is growing steadily, at the right pace for our families and busy lives. If this growth continues, we will be in a fantastic position of working during regular school hours, while our children attend elementary school. The last child, of our combined 5 youngsters, will be in Kindergarten in 3 years time. We see ourselves having more regularly set business hours instead of just trying to fit things in where we can. We very much look forward to that growth in our company.
Who do you admire most in the creative industry?
We have a huge amount of respect and admiration for illustrator, Breakfast Jones. Her talent and creativity is seemingly endless and she has always been encouraging and supportive of our business. She has a consistency in her brand that we admire.
Any last details you would like others to know about design molloy?
We love to create in collaboration with our clients. It makes us happy when we can help someone's vision come to life. We are honoured when art has a healing effect on a client. When a client shares a part of themselves with us, when we learn the back story or the motivation behind a purchase, it fills us with pride to know we have been trusted with the project. It means the world to us! We wish everyone knew how meaningful and therapeutic it can be to create art.
Where can we find design molloy?
Visit either Etsy Shop and use code MOTHERHOOD15 from September 1 - 10 and save 15% on your order!
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