Date Night in White!

Photo courtesy of Crystal Flaman www.inspiringsuccess.ca

Date nights with the hubby have been far and few between.  Now that our little one is 2 years old, we are getting out a little more often than we had in the past. Our latest date adventure was so exciting and so much fun, that I had to share!  Last week, my husband and I attended an event called the Okanagan White Dinner.  This is based on an existing event that is spreading around the world called “Le Diner en Blanc”, essentially a picnic dinner party.

It is a throwback to elegance and refinery. A time when we dressed up to go out, a time when even a picnic included fine china and glassware and a time when we honored our commitment to attend a dinner party.  This all started about 20 years ago when the founder encouraged guests at his annual dinner party to bring a friend, eventually they outgrew his home and had to move the event to a public place. Since the host didn’t know everyone who would be attending, he asked everyone to wear white in order to be easily recognized.

Photo courtesy of Crystal Flaman www.inspiringsuccess.ca

The rules are simple, you must wear all white. Your picnic dinner that you bring must consist of 3 courses and it must be served on white china with real wine glasses and real cutlery (no paper or plastic allowed!). And if you register, you must attend or risk being blackballed from the invite list for life. This inaugural  event was magical!  First we showed up at a location that was disclosed to us 2 days prior to the event, where we were to potentially meet shuttles to take us to the dinner site.  This year’s location was within walking distance of where we were to meet for our group, although there were shuttles coming in from communities in the north and the south.  We were greeted with lovely live jazz music and rows of tables draped in white linen table cloths.  We then proceeded to set up our “picnic” area. And then in true “Diner en Blanc” fashion, we showed approval of the venue by twirling our napkins in the air.  (hence the need for linen, not paper, napkins:) )  It was a wonderful evening, dining under the stars with beautiful music in the background and good friends in attendance, definitely a night to remember.  And, in appreciation of our host, we lit sparklers to signify the end of the event!

Not only was our evening spectacular, but it also came with a great story! Sunday night was the night of the Peachland Fire, where the highway from the south to Kelowna was closed.  So in true “Diner en Blanc” fashion, one of the participants of the Penticton group offered the use of his home where they all congregated with their picnic dinners to enjoy an impromptu dinner in white.  And from the pictures I saw of their napkin twirl, they definitely approved of the venue!

Thank you to four local foodie women in our community for bringing this great event to the Okanagan.  Jennifer Schell, Christina Ferraira, Claire Sears, and Alison Love. And since this was the first event of its kind in the Okanagan, this year was unofficial but from the turnout I am sure they will be on the official circuit next year!

To participate in this event, you must be registered to receive an official invite.  Invitations are limited, only 70 were sent out this year (each invitee gets to bring an additional 3 people).  But for next year, they have opened up the invitation list...so if you are interested in participating next year...get on the list now!  Shoot me an email to themellowmama@gmail.com and I’ll send you the link! :) Bon Appetite!

This blog post can be seen on www.okanagan4kids.com.

Oh how life in the Okanagan is delicious...

The Okanagan is known for it's beautiful wineries...106 at last count!  Along with our growing wine industry is a strong and vibrant culinary industry.  Restaurant events are increasing all the time and winery restaurants are appearing at a brisk rate. 

This year I have the pleasure of coordinating the Thompson/Okanagan Wine and Dine, and it's going to be a great event! The event this year will be starting off with a Launch event at the Delta Grand, and it's going to be a good one! 10 restaurants & 10 wineries will be there handing out samples to over 200 attendees.  The tickets went fast, what a pleasant surprise!  

Once the launch night is over, then the real fun begins.  Restaurants have put together fixed price menus of $15, $25, and $35 paired with beautiful wines from BC Wine Institute BC VQA wines! You can check out all the menus on http://www.bcrfa.com/.  And come and check out the Wine and Dine Facebook Page for a chance to win Gift Certificates, and hear the latest news!

Shatobu...a girl needs all the support she can get!

...

http://www.shatobu.com/

I've always wondered about these blogging opportunities that everyone was talking about...and then I was one of 25 moms chosen to test out the latest Shatobu wear. It all sounds very fancy but Shatobu is the latest in support wear. Yes, I said support wear!

Ok...not as glamourous as the latest smart phone or some cool kitchen gadget. But as a mom (of a now 14 month old), a very needed piece of additional support in my life. (no pun intended) So in September, I received my package of support wear...just as our fall heat wave hit! But I made a commitment and I wasn't going to wimp out. I pulled on the high waisted bicycle short version. And surprisingly they weren't that warm. I had committed to wearing them every day for 5-6 hours, for 30 days. And I did it! 

They were comfortable, easy to get on, and held a pleasant shape (no squiggy bum here!). What was also awesome about this support wear was that not only did they keep all the jelly in the belly in check, but the snug fit help suppress my appetite. (I felt full a lot quicker.) And that excessive back fat that usually occurs after putting on this type of garment did not get out of hand! Shatobu stands for Shape, Tone, Burn. It definitely shapes, but does it tone and burn? Who really knows, but since I ate less, I did lose weight. Yay!

I would say that this is a good thing and worth trying!

All this rain, and a welcome little visitor

Steggie came to visit us!  In all this grey weather, it is so nice to add some brightness to our day.  Our little visitor is completely handmade and adorable. And my son loves him!

So often handmade items are geared to girls, so it is so cool to have a unique toy that is geared to boys. This little dinosaur is just one of the unique designs made by Snap Pea Designs, and they have plenty for the little girls too. I do have to say that I have a soft spot for this little froggy too.

Beautiful colors and made from cotton, wool or super soft merino/angora, each design is unique. Made by a local Kelowna mama, you just know that each one of these toys was made with love.  You can order these items directly through Snap Pea Designs or stop by The Natural Baby Shop to see them.

Check out our blog on Okanagan4Kids.

Bringing fashion to the delivery room

Have you ever thought green (hospital green) wasn't your color?

Well this item will take care of that! Dressed to Deliver has taken fashion into the delivery room. Combining practicality with comfort to bring you a dress fashionable enough to wear before your due date all the way to the delivery and beyond.

With well thought out features such as an empire waist that supports your breasts. To straps that undo to allow access for IV's and nursing. The dress is made of a soft jersey knit that is stretchy when & where you need it the most, and comes with a hidden snap opening in the front and the back.

There are currently three prints to choose from, sizes Sm to XL. Look your best on this amazingly special day.

Korean Food at Soban Korean Bistro

Korean food is not easy to come by in Kelowna. But there is a new restaurant in the downtown core that serves great Korean food, with friendly service, and a great atmosphere.  Once again, we arrived enmass with 3 ladies, 3 babies, and 3 strollers, and they were very accomodating. 

Not knowing what to order, the server was extremely helpful in helping us wade through the foreign sounding menu.  We ended up with a few sampler platters, where we could try a little bit of everything.  Included was Kimchi, Jopchae (stirfried noodles with vegetables) Seafood Pajon (seafood pancake), Bulgogi, and Bimbimbop (rice base with veggies and dressing).  When you look at the individual ingredients in each of the dishes nothing seems extremely different.  But the flavours!  Were amazing!

And they did everything to make sure that we were comfortable with our babies in tow.  Setting us up at a comfortable table with adequate room for the strollers. 

If you get the chance to try it out, don't hesitate!  SOBAN Korean Bistro is at 530 Bernard Ave, Kelowna BC.  You can call them at 778-478-9638.

PS I recommend you try the tangy ginger soy dressing for the B-bop (aka Bimbimbop)!

Food: * * * * */5
Service: * * * * */5
Stroller Friendly: * * * */5
Price: Lunch Special $14

Review of Babies in Bloom...and the new stuff I learned!

I was able to drag my husband to the Babies in Bloom event on the weekend...yay honey!!  And it was quite good!  It was in a great venue, the Center of Learning is a beautiful building at Okanagan College. 

There was a range of exhibitors, everything from clothing to equipment to online suppliers.  Luckily for my husband I didn't go too crazy.  The only money I spent was with Booty Boutique. I picked up a neat scented disc to put in the diaper pail, and it seems to be working already!  As well, I picked up a reusable swim diaper (we are hoping to be in the pool a lot this summer!). 

I found out about a new Canadian shopping website called True Cuddles.  Check it out, it looks cool.  And we had E's picture taken for the Cutest Baby Contest, he is a true ham in front of the camera!  Pictures will be posted on Facebook soon for you to vote!

Even Dad had fun joining in on storytime and trying out one of these running striders.  I have to admit, E sure looked cute on the thing.  And Dad was having a blast!

If you are about to have a baby, or have just had one...I definately recommend you check this event out next year!

Fabulous Finds - Summerhill Pyramid Winery

This event was this past weekend.  And I've been to these type of things before...but kudos to the organizer of this event! It was great!  There was a nice mix of items and vendors that I haven't seen in the past.

They had everything from woodcrafts, pottery, art, and clothing. To knick knacks, vintage, organic foods, and jewellry.  And the location worked too!

This is the second year that they have done this.  And if you want to be informed of the next one, please join their Fabulous Finds FB page.  It will be well worth attending!

And this year they are giving back too.  They are holding a Silent Auction called Artists for Japan.  There are some great pieces that have been donated by local artists.  What an awesome idea!

Wasabi Izakaya...one Sexy place!

An Izakaya is a type of Japanese drinking establishment that also serves food to accompany the drinks.  The food is generally more substantial than food offered at regular drinking establishments.  (Thanks Wikipedia!).  They are similar to what we know as Tapas bars.

Recently, a few of these have been popping up around Kelowna.  And boy are they good!  Wasabi Izakaya on Pandosy is a fine example.  My husband and I went there the other day before a concert, and it was yummy!  At an Izakaya, you order several little dishes to make up a meal...and of course pair it with a good Japanese beer like Sapporo.  Pictured is the Sexy Dragon Sushi...yum!  But I have to say the suprising highlight was the Teriyaki Ribs, they were sooooo tender they melted in your mouth. 

Our server was lovely, he was helpful and very personal.  And I personally like having Japanese servers when I am in a Japanese restaurant.

They are located at 1623 Pandosy St, Kelowna, BC.  250-762-7788.  A great location to visit before doing a hockey game or concert.  And they are open for lunch too!

Food: * * * * *4/5
Service: * * * * */5

Stroller Friendly: * * * */5

Price: Dishes $5-$10 each (need to order several)

Great Big Sea-18 years of Kitchen Parties!

Thanks to Catisfaction for this great photo.

I went to see Great Big Sea last week with some friends and found out that it was also their 18th Anniversary as a band!  It was an amazing concert, in the Kelowna Community Theatre that only seats 853 people.  Wow what a great venue for a band like this! 

The band was engaging and witty...and Sean McCann is definitely easy on the eyes.  They led the crowd through many of their songs, along with some other bands' hit songs.  They definitely had the crowd singing and dancing throughout the concert.  They wrapped it up with the five of them at the front of the stage serenading us with a folk song, sang a Capella.

Definitely one of the better concerts that I have seen.

SNAP Okanagan, giving us all our 15 minutes of fame!

 

I wish I had thought of this first!  This is a great publication, people love to see their picture in print.  While I was in Cranbrook recently, they snapped a picture of me at an event there. SNAP East Kootenay had just come out with their first issue. Heehee...now I am famous (there)!   The people of SNAP must love their job, what a great way to attend some of the city's awesome events while working. 

Speaking of "15 minutes of fame".  This was a quote coined by Andy Warhol in the 60's...I'm wondering with internet and social media if we should change that to "150 minutes of fame"?

Bai Tong: Great New Location

Bai Tong has a great new location, and it is always great to be welcomed warmly by owners Kitty and JamJeet. 

We arrived 4 moms, 4 babies, and 4 strollers!  And they were extremely helpful and accomodating to us.  This new spacious and ground floor location made it a great lunch experience for us!  After much juggling, we were able to settle down comfortably to lunch.  Kitty was very helpful suggesting the best combinations to try.  So I tried Lunch Special Gang Leung with Chicken: Bamboo shoots, bell peppers, carrots, onions, lime leaves and pineapple are combined in this yellow curry sauce flavoured with coconut milk.  And having not seen them since long before my little guy was born, we were surprised with a congratulatory Fried Bananas and Ice Cream!

Check them out  275 Bernard Ave, Kelowna, BC, Ph# 250-763-8638 http://www.baitong.ca/

Food:                  * * * * */5
Service:               * * * * */5
Stroller Friendly:  * * * */5
Price:                   Lunch $10-$15

I love my Boobs!

 

My Boobs nursing top that is!  I bet I got your attention now...

Nursing in public has been a hot topic in the past.  But I must say, maybe because I am surrounded by new moms, that I have noticed much more acceptance than I expected.  There has been a lot of public education lately, which has probably helped the cause.  Recently, while I was at a coffee shop with a girlfriend, a man came up to us with our babies and told us that he didn't mind if we breastfeeded our children there.  Ok, while the acceptance was cool, he was a little creepy. :)

It's interesting how breastfeeding is treated around the world.  Many years ago, while travelling through Egypt, I was taking a ferry across the Nile and was sitting across a women in a full veil breastfeeding her baby.  What was so interesting, was that in a country that believes that women should show modesty by covering up fully, she had no qualms about breastfeeding in public.  I think this is a perfect example of how other cultures view breastfeeding...as a natural process needed to raise our children.

I want to be able to breastfeed in public, but I have a level of modesty that I would like to protect (along with many other women).  So I have become the queen of nursing tops.  Nursing tops are those with discreet
access to make nursing in public easier.  I have tried Bravado, GlamourMom, Thyme Maternity, Immature, and Boobs.  I picked up my Boobs shirt when I was in Ottawa, they are from Sweden and so well made!  Immature came a close second.  Boobs were never available here, but I just discovered that ToysRUs has picked up the line...yay!!   So I highly recommend that if you are in need for nursing tops, check out Boobs!

One Day...a book by David Nicholls

I'm reading "One Day" by David Nicholls.  I had never heard of the book before it became my bookclub read.  And now that I am reading it, it has become an amazing surprise.  The author and characters are about 3 years older than myself.  But so far, it's bringing back some wonderful memories about my time in Europe.  As they are talking about Camden Market & Earl's Court, I think of going to that market and my flat in Earls Court. I even lived there at the exact same time as the characters in the book.  At one point they talk about Tipex, which is the British version of liquid paper.  And I laughingly recall when my boss at the publishing company I worked at asked me to Tipex a form, and I innocently said that I didn't know how to use the Tipex machine. :)  Next they went on a vacation to Rhodes, and that island turned out to be my jumping off point to Israel.  So far I am only 1/3 of the way through the book...and I can't wait for the last 2/3's.

Wine & Dine at Ricardo’s Mediterranean Grill

Wine and Dine is on!  And last nite I checked out Ricardo’s.  And the ever gracious hosts Ricardo and Sue were on hand to welcome us.  Ambiance, service, and food…a trifecta in my books!  I started off with the Mediterranean Salad which had a great combination of  Wild Greens with homemade canned organic Beets, fresh Fennel slices, crunchy Garbanzo beans tossed in a creamy vinaigrette. For my main, I  had the Sicilian Trout that was accompanied by a fragrant rice and grilled veggies.  I finished this with PannaCotta al Limone.  But with all the great things that this restaurant is (great food and hospitality), it’s the ambiance I love the most!  There is so much energy coming from the other patrons that it makes it such an enjoyable place to eat.  Who would have thought an old office building could have so much character.  Check out the rest of their Wine & Dine menu here, on till Feb 5th.

Have you ever thought to find your passion by trying 52 jobs in 52 weeks?

Wednesday night, I went to see a young man who has done just that-Sean Aiken.  We watched a great video that documented his travels for the year.  Coincidently, the documentary played on CBC on Wednesday night as well.  He was able to work 52 jobs in 52 weeks, and the resounding result…do what you are passionate about.  I remember my Ah-ha moment, when I realized that when doing a job I loved I didn’t worry about when I was to get paid, and before I knew it I had received another pay cheque.  I truly believe that if you do what you are passionate about, you will be good at it, and then if you are good at it, the money will follow.  Sean Aiken has a website www.oneweekjob.com and a book you can purchase called The One Week Job Project- the Book

Just got the coolest diaper bag!

                            I just got my Kemby Sidekick diaper bag! It’s the bee’s knees. It comes in some great colors (I got the grey one!), and includes an insulated snack pack, two bottle pockets and soft lined diaper pad. There were some reviews that it is kind of small, but I put everything in it I need (6 diapers, cream, wipes, plastic bags, nursing apron, receiving blanket, extra set of clothes , and still have room to spare). The coolest thing about this bag is that the top flap converts to a Baby Carrier. It’s not something you want to use every day (if your bag is too full, it bangs on your leg when you walk). But it is great for short trips and times when need to free your hands. Plus even without using the carrier, it’s still an awesome bag. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.