got milk?

Give milk. Give life.

We are so happy to announce that the Héma-Québec is now accepting donated breast milk! This mother’s milk bank will be reserved for very premature babies (32 weeks or less) who cannot be breastfed by their mothers. Nursing moms who decide to donate their milk will be helping these preemies recover their health and get them on the right track to a happy healthy childhood. I am so, so happy that Quebec has decided to implement this into our society! This is going to make such a huge difference in the lives of the premature babies and their families. Too many preemies die as a result of intestinal disease and being able to receive breast milk will make them three times less prone to developing this type of disease.

The Héma-Québec Mother’s Milk Bank will provide pasteurized human milk and nursing mothers will have to go through a screening process. So ladies, if you are in good health, are nursing, able to produce a surplus of milk and are a non-smoker consider giving milk! Give milk, give life.

Learn more about breast milk donation in Montreal here. 

4Cats Art Studio - Plateau

We recently discovered a creative mom/child haven right here in the heart of Montreal! Located on Park Ave in the Plateau, 4Cats Arts Studio is just that, an art studio, but an amazingly youthful, color filled, splatter covered art studio, that offers amazing art programs for children of all ages.

 

What’s really unique, and what really stood out to us about their programing is that they don’t just teach the kids to paint, but they teach them age-appropriate art history all about famous artists and their different techniques, and then take inspiration from those famous works of art to create their own. For example, if they are studying Andy Warhol, the kids will do silk screening and make ink blot paintings. If the artist of the month is Picasso they will create acrylic on canvas and make ceramics, etc. The curators tell the children captivating and inspiring stories in a fun and humorous manner about the life and work of the artist being introduced, and we feel that that is a really great way to learn and give children a real appreciation and understanding of art.

When we heard 4Cats was having their first ever Mom’s Night Out, we knew we had to sign up, and check this place out! We were very creative women before children, and we still are, but after having kids we didn’t always have the time to be as creative as we’d like, so we were really excited to have a relaxing evening off to enjoy some painting.

When we arrived at 4Cats we were greeted by Tamsin Horsfall, the lovely owner of 4Cats Plateau, and her equally lovely (and very welcoming) staff. This studio only opened in June of 2011 and seemed to have a steady following, from the looks of all the amazing paintings and crafts they had mounted on the walls.

We placed our coats and purses in a paint splattered room, which we later found out was used for the kids to go wild with paint and express themselves through splatter art while parents watch (and stay clean) from the other side of the plexi glass wall. (They also have family splatter parties from time to time where even you can get into the mess  - and best of all you won’t be the one cleaning it up! Lol) Once we placed our belongings down, we were seated on a long white bench next to some other very creative moms. We are all very giggly, I guess we were all excited to have a night off from "mom duty", lol.

The inspiring artist of the night was Georgia O’Keeffe, who was known for revolutionizing the tradition of flower painting in the 1920s by making large-format paintings of enlarged blossoms, presenting them close up as if seen through a magnifying lens. We all discussed her art, and her motivation and inspiration behind her famous paintings (most believe her flower paintings were innuendos for certain female body parts).  The curators shared some informative tips on her life and style of painting, and passed around books of her work. They even had a bouquet of flowers we could pick from for inspiration. How fabulous! We were very excited to start our rendition of this amazing artist’s work. We had such a fun filled time choosing colors, learning how to shade,  blend colors and all that good stuff. It was a very relaxing, and it didn’t matter how great our paintings were (we often joked that our paintings were inspired by our sons art – i.e. the work of 1 year olds) it was the experience, and getting to know other smart and creative women that made this evening such a great success!

Our Inspiration - Georgia O'Keeffe

Check out our final paintings and let us know what you think! While they are no famous works of art, and weren’t half as good as some of the other extremely talented ladies at the event, we take pride in them and really had an amazing time making them. Thanks to the amazing Tamsin and her team at 4Cats for giving us an excuse to have a moms night out, and allowing us to have the opportunity to come in, learn some amazing things, get inspired, and let our creative juices flow!

 

If you love art, and would like your kids to be a part of it, you should definitely check out 4Cats in the Plateau. If you know Montreal, you know that the Plateau is like the epicenter of creativity in our city, you probably could not walk a block without bumping into some type of artist. So, you know going in that 4Cats is a special place to be, with a talented owner and knowledgeable curators, your kids will definitely be inspired! And who knows, maybe they'll become the next Picasso!

We couldn't be happier to have discovered this jewel in the rough, and in addition to the fabulous Plateau location, 4Cats is also slated to open in the West Island this summer, which we also can’t wait to check out!

Converse Spring 2012 Event

Montreal Fashion Moms had the pleasure of attending a preview event for the Spring 2012 line of Converse shoes. It took place at Candi Bar, which we have never been too. The setting was perfect as it was colorful and had a super fun, playful vibe, which is what comes to mind when you think of Converse. We loved the MEGA Bloks wall/ceiling behind the bar!

We were greeted and quickly proceeded to the bar for a super fun 'Tiffany & Co.' slushy cocktails, accented with yummy ring pops! With drinks in hand we were given a tour of the S12 Converse collection rep Darren. While classic converse are always a big hit we were particularly drawn to certain designs.

Obviously as moms we loved these adorable kids designs! The V2 Ox shoes with contrast colored velcro straps are super cute and the Chuck Taylor All Star Kids ChuckIt was one of our favorites. The lace-less low-top design with Velcro on the inside of tongue makes getting your child's foot into the shoe very easy, which is great because there is nothing worse than struggling to get their tiny feet into a pair of shoes! These lightweight styles would be perfect for Spring/Summer and Fall in Montreal. We also loved the Coastal Creatures (Pirate Ship & Dolphin) slip-ons, so fun for summer!!

But the real pièce de résistance was the DC Comics collection which had a matching pair for dad. How cute would that be?

We also loved the low top Chuck Taylor Double Tongue Ox for the tweens giving them some colorful options to play around with. The black and white polka dotted All Star stretch lace Ox and the sparkly striped kicks with ombre laces are also fun options with funky details for tween girls to give all their school mates a little shoe envy.

Now onto us fashionable moms. We can't always sport the 5 inch wedges or stilettos (ya, right!). So for the days when you want to be comfy but still be that cool mom, we think you'll love these. Introducing the Chuck Taylor All Star Dainty. They are brand new and the perfect cross between the classic Chuck Taylor All Star and the Chuck Taylor All Star Slim. The shoe has a slim, low-profile sole, giving it a more feminine look while maintaining that iconic Converse style. We were privileged to walk away with a pair at the end of the evening and we absolutely love them! They are perfect for school drop offs, running errands and activities with the kids!

These colors are perfect for spring!

The all new Chuck Taylor All Star Playlite Converse are also really great for spring/summer. They are super lightweight and the open cotton mesh allows your feet to breathe comfortably in hot weather. Because these shoes have virtually no sole, they feel almost invisible, which guarantees comfort. They are also very flexible - perfect to fold up and keep in your bag as a spare pair if you do decide to sport those heels!

We also died for these "Converse ♥ Marimekko" collection. It features two signature prints on the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star. The popular Unikko (meaning “poppy”) and Lokki (meaning “seagull”) prints design by Maija Isola. Fashionable and super comfortable? Yes please!

Any finally last but not least, all you Montreal Fashion Dads! We think these styles would fit into any dads wardrobe and give them the ultimate fashion boost without stepping out of the comfort zone.

 The Chuck Taylor All Star Premium features hand wash detailing, leather logos and toe overlays with rubberized eyelets. Sharp, stylish and a little rock and roll!

As mentioned before, the DC Comics collection is so good!! Featuring Batman (2 styles) and Superman, you can be the ultimate Super Dad and match your little one in these great styles! If you like these you might also like the collaboration with the Gorillaz. Very cool!

You can never go wrong with comfortable fashion, and we think Converse seems to get it right with this collection. There is something for everyone in your family. We can't wait to get our hands on some of these cool kicks for the upcoming season!

ABOL Eco Couture

Our third and final show at Montreal Fashion Week was ABOL. The Vancouver native showed her “eco couture” line in Montreal for the first time. The collection, named “dream” was influenced by Surrealism and included haute couture wedding gowns, gowns, corsets, jackets and skirts. Each piece is a translation of images and ideas from paintings and sculptures into wearable art.

“I’m creating a collection where each piece has an identity, defining a certain character to existence out of something that’s in [my mind],” says Abol. “That’s surrealism.”

All of Abol’s pieces are made mainly from raw organic wool and reclaimed silk in her studio in Vancouver, BC, so she not only designs and makes the clothes, she makes the fabrics! Impressive! The Eco-friendly designer even visits the farms herself from time-to-time to examine the sheep and ensure the method is safe and animal friendly. She prides herself on collecting raw wool from local farms, supporting the Canadian market and ensuring that the quality of the material is top notch. Even her dyes are environmentally friendly and obtained from boiled onion skins and other organic sources. Talk about a conscious designer!

The enchanting looks on the runway consisted of a color palette of rich neutrals like beige, white, brown, black and gold as well as shades of burnt orange and purple. The models had distinguished Victorian-inspired hair and makeup with dark smokey eyes and contrasting pale lips with their hair in large, theatrical, teased up-dos. The look provided a luxurious and mysterious aesthetic that truly spoke to Abol’s artistic inspiration. There was certainly an element of fantasy and royalty in the presentation with creative, whimsical pieces that looked as if they came straight out of a fairytale.

If you’re in the market for amazing, one-of-a-kind dresses or an eco-friendly bridal gown, be sure to check out Abol’s website. Her romantic designs can be quite costly, but if you value the quality and uniqueness of her handmade pieces, they will be worth every cent!

Abol’s presentation was a great way to end our evening at Montreal Fashion Week. "As far as I'm concerned, Montreal is No. 1 for fashion in Canada," Hamideh Abol said and we couldn’t agree more! À la prochain!

 

Photos: Hugo Trottier - Superstarphotos

Samuel Dong

For our second show at Montreal Fashion Week, we had the pleasure of seeing designer Samuel Dong’s all-new collection, SAMUEL DONG RED LABEL. The mood of his latest collection was quite sophisticated, romantic and elegant. Samuel Dong mentioned that his muse was the 1960s European woman and you can feel that vibe throughout his entire presentation. He used lots of exclusive Italian and French fabrics and they were to die for! The jacquard blazers were really gorgeous and we can definitely see a modern working mom adding one to her wardrobe. "Accordion pleats are especially important next fall," says the designer, "I also used them at the shoulders of some garments to exaggerate the shoulder line."

The models strutted their stuff down the runway in amazing pieces that were accented with feathers, faux-fur and organza. Their accessories were minimal but classic, we love the simple pearl earnings! The make-up and hair suited the atmosphere. They kept it dark but chic with red lips and dark black winged eye-liner - Amy Whinehouse style. The hair was pulled back into sleek and shiny pony-tails with rolled bangs à la 1960s pin-up! Absolutely gorgeous!

If you're loving the line and can see yourself sporting some these looks make sure to head down to one of his boutiques here Montreal, there is one in the Rockland Shopping Centre and the other at the Cours Mont-Royal in downtown Montreal. Parfait!

 

 Photos: Hugo Trottier - Superstarphotos