Collectif Nene

I just got an invitation to a must-attend for Montreal moms.

This event is so cool, in fact, that it got written up by one of the coolest sites (in the US,Sweetmama is still tops for me in Canada) called Cool Mom Picks.

So what is it?

Collectif Nene is a gathering of local businesses who create products for babies and kids. This weekend they will be putting on a baby show featuring all of their hand crafted products.

The show is taking place on Saturday April 30th from 11am-6pm at OFF Interarts (5145 St Laurent Blvd.

Although I have written about some of the brands to be featured like Twig and Zoo Babies some of them are new to me and definitely worth checking out.

Happy shopping!

Itsy Bitsy

About a week ago I blogged about a new high-end children's clothing store on Westmount's Greene Avenue.

Well, now that the article has officially run on Sweetmama, I can reveal more details to you.

The store is called Itsy Bitsy.

You can read all about it here.

Price Tag Wars

Last night I visited a new kids clothing store in Westmount for an article for Sweetmama. I won't give away the name or address yet...you'll have to wait until my article runs to find that out.

I've reviewed many kids' stores in my day but this one was special. Aside from having beautiful fashions for kids of all ages, the store had another distinguishing feature. It's price tags. $100, $200, even $300! I had to scour the shelves for the lowest priced clothing item at $70.

Now don't get me wrong, these shelves were lined with designer labels from Sonia Rykiel to Moschino. But why does a 2, 6 or 12 year old need to wear such expensive clothing? I don't think I even own one piece of clothing that cost more than $300 (ok, maybe the powder pink dress I wore as a maid of honor was more). So why would a kid, like Hannah, who is prone to tomato sauce stains and dirty knees, need such fine fashions?

I love to dress Hannah in cool clothes. At least twice a week at daycare her teachers compliment her on her outfits but I don't think I have ever spent more than $30 on a single item for her (shoes and outerwear excluded). In fact, if I'm not at Old Navy, H&M or Joe Fresh, I won't buy anything that's not on sale. Call me cheap. Call me frugal. I just don't see the point.

I already step into our locker and see her 6+ boxes of clothing since she was a newborn and secretly hope that my next child is a girl so all this stuff gets a second life.

What do you think? Are you a $100+ kids' clothing shopper or do you adhere to a style budget?

Balouni Enfants

It's rare that I walk into a toy store and not recognize one product on the shelves.

Actually, its never happened before...until I went to Balouni Enfants.

On assignment for Sweetmama, I checked out this new Nun's Island toy store and wow, was I amazed. Hannah and my husband tagged along and they had a ball while I got the official tour.

Karina, the store's owner, stocked the shelves with safe toys - whether they be BPA-free, fair trade or organic. And though the kid-friendly pool of products is vast I had never seen most of these brand names.

Find out more by reading the complete article. Or better yet go visit. You're sure to find the perfect gift for any little one.

Art kits from The Piggy Story
Toys from Katkaland

A selection of books in English and French

More from the Piggy Story (can you tell I am slightly obsessed with these whimsical pig prints?)

Weekend Reading List

It's been a while since I filled you in on my most recent articles on www.sweetmama.ca and www.sweetspot.ca.

Here is a list of some new and noteworthy products and services in Montreal:

Native Shoes

Green Stores

Best Swimming Holes for Kids

Mikai Boutique

Happy reading and enjoy the weekend!

Links to Click On

Two noteworthy links for you this week:

1. Hannah's editorial debut on Sweetmama

2. One of my new clients: Sarah's Universe

Check out their site, sign up for the newsletter and save an additional 15%

Baby Hues

Pinki Blue just moved to an enormous new location on Cote de Liesse.

Check out my article on Sweetmama for all of the details.

Go with the Flow

Just in time for the weekend, check out my newest article for Sweetmama.

Baby Urban Outfitters

Flo Urbain is an amazing kids' furniture and toy store. It's worth the trek to St Lambert to stock up on modern nursery decor and wooden toys.

Two new articles

Take a look....

Mandys Express Salads

Sweetmama Holiday Gift Guide

Weekend Recap

I apologize for being MIA this week.

Unfortunately I can't really make excuses for my absence aside from sheer tiredness. It's my own fault for staying up late most nights, as a result of a new addiction with Mad Men.

So it was quite a week...

I am proud to say that bedtime now consists of approximately 1.5 minutes of crying. Yipee!!! In fact, tonight was a mere 30 seconds! I figure I can let the cat out of the bag now since we are off to NYC tomorrow and at this point I probably won't jinx myself since the pack and play will probably take care of that for us.

We also participated in a study at McGill's Polka Lab for speech. A bit nerve racking for me, hooked up to monitors, while I had to make up a creative story for Hannah about artichokes, pencil sharpeners and toothpaste, all without using their real names. In the end, she graduated with a junior scientist PhD and a fun red t-shirt.

And now our bags are packed and we're ready to hit the big apple. On the itinerary: lots of family time with cousins, visits with friends, a hunt for a long black bridesmaid dress (hopefully achieved at Loehmann's) and tons of walking in the (forecasted) 19 degree warm weather. Fingers crossed that our nights will be quiet (and full of sleep) so I will have time to post from there.

If not though, here are a few articles to keep you reading in the meantime:

Montreal Maternity Fashion

Sauterelles et Coccinelles

Halloween Costumes

Cate & Levi

Under where?

Check out my newest article on Sweetmama:

Le Nid de La Cigogne

With the leaves falling and a real chill in the air, I'm contemplating getting Hannah a pair of long underwear to keep her warm and toasty.

More Articles

Weekend reading...

Forever 21

Maternity Fashion

Two new articles

For your reading pleasure:

Pretty Ballerinas

Kids' Birthday Parties

For your reading pleasure...

Here are two of my most recent articles:

Sparkles

BBG Studio

And be on the lookout for Tuesday's article on Sweetspot.ca about the opening of Forever XXI.

What a place! Just visited at 10:30am on opening morning and it was packed - full of people and amazingly priced fashion forward items.

Happy long weekend!

Sweetmama

For those of you who don't know, I also write for Sweetspot.ca and Sweetmama.ca

Here is an article for all you Laval moms out there (or for you city moms who may just need a long drive to make up for missed nap time):

Bébélatté