What's Inside? - The MOMpreneur

what’s inside
8 14
22
26
Q & A
The Sole of the matter
Jessica Jacobs couldn’t find her
perfect job so she created it.
feature
balance
A mom’s solution to cloning
herself to find more time for her
family and business.
fitness
spring is here!
Get out and walk your way to
feeling great.
Q & A
“stick-to-it-ness”
Donna Leblanc’s journey
through market ups, downs,
trends and turns..
& more!
EDITORIAL..................................................................................2
inspiration
Are my beleifs holding me back..................................................4
read about sex
Halitosis Challenge.....................................................................13
bUSINESS
Permission Based Resiliency.......................................................11
Regulating your Market Investments..........................................13
CLASSIFIEDS............................................................................19
community.......................................................................... 20
FAMILY
Children’s Play & Learning Centre............................................25
Resiliency....................................................................................28
Volume II, Number 4 APRIL 2007
Publisher/Editor: Kathryn Bechthold ~ (403) 201-3327
Graphic Designer:
Crystal Ink ~ www.crystalink.ca
Photography: Stephanie Cragg Photography
SVP Photography
Canal Hill Sudios
Printer:
Distributor:
Cover:
Calgary Colour Press
DLRJ Enterprises
Fran Wipf
Contributing Writers
Laura Watson, Trina Read, Jessica Jacobs, Coral Freedman, Crystal Dallner,
Fran Wipf, Sara Korsunsky, Michelle McDonald, Kim Magotiaux, Donna Leblanc,
Calgary Public Library, Parenting Power
© 2007 The Mompreneur Networking Group Inc. assumes all articles published here are
original and is the property of the submitting firms. The Mompreneur Networking Group Inc. is
published monthly by The Mompreneur Networking Group Inc., Suite 3041, 614 - 33 Heritage
Meadows Way SE, Calgary, AB T2H 3B8. This is a FREE publication distributed by DLRJ Enterprises.
Article contributions are encouraged, please contact Kathryn Bechthold at (403) 201-3327 or
email: themompreneur@shaw.ca. Produced and printed in Canada.
APRIL 2007 |

editor’s message
When it comes to being resilient, I
am the first one to say without any hesitation,
that I am the best. I don’t waste time on the
small stuff (addresses to appointments,
contact’s phone numbers, flashing “E” on the
gas gauge), I sweat the big stuff! I am hypervigilant;
survive any catastrophe; the uberresilient.
I am like the new super bugs that the
media warns us about everyday – nothing can
kill me, you can try what ever you like and I just
continue to fester and bubble. I can admit that
this has become a bit of a problem for me.
Although I have lived a bit of a charmed
life, I have experienced a few bumps along
the way that have taught me that I am made
of tougher stuff than I thought. With the birth
of my daughter, along came the “Mama Bear
Factor”. I am now prepared to run into any
burning building, chew threw my arm, attack
and dismember any threat or sell my organs in
order to protect my family. This has led me to
prepare for any crisis, as improbable as they
may be, in order to have a plan.
You may be thinking to yourself that this
is not a bad trait to have. Let me assure you,
my husband will disagree. He has had to suffer
through multiple conversations on what we
would do if my business went under and he lost
his job at the same time as one of our parents
needed full time care and global warming
caused massive flooding. He has put up with
my demands to remind me if our car is rear or
front wheel drive in order to plan for the crash
that would have us half hanging off a cliff in
our family Toyota. He has learned to sleep with
the bedroom door open so I can hear if any
intruder is approaching my daughter’s door
and I can leap into action and maim quickly
and efficiently.
This pattern of behavior culminated this
morning, when, after three weeks of struggling
to write this article, he said “you don’t have
a problem with being resilient, you are too
resilient. You are always planning for the worst;
you never enjoy how well you are doing and
plan for your future success.” It was a very
powerful moment for me. I realized I am always
using the slightest downturn or negative part
of my day to prove that I am headed towards an
inevitable crash. This has led me to decide that
it would be much more fun, less depressing
and more advantageous to plan for the good
stuff and enjoy it along the way. It also leads
me to wonder, just how much time have I
wasted by focusing on the bad stuff And
by focusing on the bad am I producing a selffulling
prophecy
So for this issue, I ask you to think about
the stories you have been telling yourself about
your future, learn how to handle the tough
times with grace and carbohydrates and as
always let me know what you think.
PS. If you are in a crash that leaves your car
half hanging off of a cliff, you must quickly
decide if you drive a front or rear wheel drive
vehicle (this is something I can never remember
- I may write it on a post it note and stick it
to the dashboard). If it is rear wheel drive, you
should try to back up and stabilize the vehicle.
If you can’t back up, cross your legs and put
any heavier stuff in the back and wait for help.
If you do go over, make sure you are wearing
your seatbelt.
PSS. I know nothing about these things but
I did read this in Oprah. If this does happen
to you and my suggestions do not work, I will
assume no liability – call Oprah, she has more
money anyway.
Kathryn Bechthold
Publisher/Editor
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APRIL 2007 |

M O U N T R O Y A L C O L L E G E
C O N T I N U I N G E D U C A T I O N
inspiration
Laura Watson, Venture Coaching
Are my beliefs
holding me back
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Ask yourself; what do I believe about
success How do I define success Who is
my role model If I’m honest with myself, do I
believe I’ll be successful
I asked each of my clients these
questions recently, and we
discovered a disturbing truth. We
all carried mostly negative stories and beliefs
about success! Many of us had not defined it,
and did not believe we’ll ever be successful!
When we listed our negative beliefs,
many of us created a full page. Beliefs like,
“successful people are arrogant”, “people won’t like
me”, “success = being a bitch” and “I can’t have
success and a family”.
In contrast, our list of positive beliefs was
much shorter, and many of us had no positive
stories at all. Try it. List all your positive
success stories, write as many as you can.
If we have mostly negative beliefs about
success, if we have no role models and if we
believe we aren’t really worthy of success, how
do these beliefs effect our behaviors
Negative beliefs = negative behaviors.
As a business coach, I see how negative
beliefs are the source for many self-sabotaging
behaviors. Behaviors like procrastination, overcommitting,
avoiding, over-eating, underexercising,
distracting ourselves, cramming
projects into the last minute, and negative
self-talk. These behaviors hold us back from
achieving the success we say we want because
they are rooted in our beliefs that success is not
possible for us. So what do we do
Change our beliefs about success.
If we can make up negative stories about
success, we can make up positive stories too!
We can create and adopt new beliefs that
better serve us. Then new, positive behaviors
will result from our new, positive stories.
Ok, how do I do that
Get help to make change.
Our negative stories tend to have a life of
their own, they want to survive and they don’t
want to give up their influence on us. Having
someone in our life who knows us well, who
can point out how we engage in self-sabotage,
can make a huge difference in how quickly we
adopt our new beliefs and behaviors.
If you want success and think you are
working too hard at it, consider rewriting your
stories. Seek out positive role models and find
someone tactful whom you can accept support
from. Then see if your path gets easier!
INFORMATION: 440-5520 E-MAIL: cetech@mtroyal.ca
http://conted.mtroyal.ca

APRIL 2007 |

| theMompreneur.com

READ ABOUT SEX
Dr. Trina Read
Halitosis Challenge
Bad breath has ruined many a romantic
and sexy mood. Yet in the world of sex etiquette,
who is responsible to take charge of said breath Is
it the smeller who is making an odor value judgment
or the person with the halitosis
Walking through arrivals at the airport, I was
greeted by a full on Hollywood kiss. Being a girl, I
was really digging it and knew at once I must savor
this moment because it does not happen often. As
I heard the curious crowd “oh & ah”, I tried not to
let the tears starting to form in my eyes appear so
obvious. When the embrace was done and I came
up for air, it took everything I had not to gag.
You see, my knight in shining armor’s breath
smelled (and tasted for that matter) like he had
consumed an entire bulb of garlic at his recent
supper.
Being a pragmatic gal, I thought to myself, “If
he had been planning such a grand romantic gesture,
why was the teensy matter of his breath forgotten” Even
if it had been a spur-of-the-moment inclination, in
my world it is common sense to pop a breath mint
after said supper before having contact with other
human beings.
In the girl form of locker room talk (a.k.a.
having coffee), many a gal has recounted how they
could not enjoy a romantic evening because her
guy’s breath was repulsive. In trying to remedy the
situation, they gave what they felt were obvious hints,
like offering him a stick of gum, sprig of parsley or
whatever breath freshener was available. They then
were confounded that he just did not get it. (Please
note: I am certain men have their own halitosis date
challenges too.)
Biting my tongue and feeling a bit sheepish, I
thought of how I would have rather chewed off my
arm than confront my garlic-loving prince at the
airport. My inner romantic girl voice screamed that,
if I told him, he would become discouraged enough
never to want to do something I relish.
There are some things in this life that do not
make much sense. Telling another human being with
whom you are getting up close and personal that
they have breath that could peel paint seems to be
one of them.
I decided to conduct an informal study—okay,
so it was mostly friends and relatives that were within
earshot while writing this article—on why it is so
difficult to tell someone they have bad breath. There
was complete consensus on why: nobody wanted to
embarrass the other person, thereby breaking the
romantic mood.
Let me get this straight. They do not say anything
because they do not want to break up a romantic
mood that is already completely destroyed. Hmmm.
To add insult to injury, as soon as turtle breath is
out of earshot, the victim will go on about said bad
breath to anyone who will listen to their woeful story.
It is like living in a Seinfeld episode.
Coming back to my question of who should take
charge of a bad breath situation, there are a couple of
things to think about. First, ask yourself if the breath is
a one-off event (like the airport scene) or is it chronic
If it is the latter, a trip to the dentist may be in order.
Next, ask if there is a laxness to the personal
oral care regime. Think back to the start of a new
relationship, when many a person silently crept
out of bed at 5:00 a.m. to brush their teeth (or at
least swipe toothpaste with their fingers over teeth)
so their partner would wake up and experience
“toothpaste kisses” first thing.
Today, outside of the work environment, is a
second thought ever given to quality of breath Or is it
presumed your partner will love you regardless
In fact, I have a theory that one of the reasons
couples lose the desire to passionately kiss each
other after many years together is because they do
not make such a fuss over their breath.
Good sex is all about preparation and the
little things that make a big difference. If you want to
get romantic and think you might have bad breath,
simply lick the inside of your wrist and sniff. If you do
not like what you smell, immediately do something
to alleviate the situation.
If nothing else make sure to keep a pack of
Listerine PocketPaks at your bedside table when
things start heating up…so they can stay heated
up.
“It is an irony,
appreciated only by
the French, that good
manners are the basis
of very good sex. In
bed, the two most
erotic words in any
language are ‘thank
you’ and ‘please.’”
Hubert Downs
Go to Dr. Trina’s website,
www. trinaread.com to sign up for
your weekly audio T-Sex Tip, or
email your comments to drtrina@
trinaread.com. Sexologist, Dr. Trina
E. Read is a national newspaper
columnist, magazine columnist
and international speaker.
APRIL 2007 |

q & a
Kathryn Bechthold & Jessica Jacobs
Getting to the SOLE of the matter.
| theMompreneur.com
Photo by: Stephanie Cragg Photography

1. What made me start Little Soles
Inc... There is more then one answer for that
question.
I knew that I didn’t want to go back to
work full time outside of the home. I wanted
to, in some way, find a way to work at a job
that I really enjoyed. To be creative, include my
family and children, and work towards creating
a long term work plan that will one day be our
FAMILIES “sole” source of income. I have
always made a better entrprenuer then an
employee. hahahaha. I want to be in control
of our days. Also; let’s be honest.... what girl
doesn’t love the “perfect pair of shoes”. I
believe that shoes are the ultimate accessory!
I have also found that in Canada we as
consumers and Moms have a tendency to
WANT products that are unique and functional.
That not only means fashionable and usable
but also affordable. As a Mom, and consumer,
this was another reason why I started Little
Soles Inc.
2. Some of my major successes
and challenges.... First major success...
Surviving the first year of business. That has
been the best success so far....so many business
fail in the first year. To be where we are now is a
true blessing. Another success is the on going
positive response we get from people who
have purchased Little Soles.
As far as challenges go; there always
seems to be lots of those! Finding good
quality childcare has been a big challenge.
Finding good care for my children is the most
important thing. I wouldn’t want to do any
of this if I wasn’t happy with how my children
were spending their time while I am working.
The challenge of learning how to be a success
inside the home as well as outside the home
has been a great one. I have learned that there
is always sacrifice....that’s hard for me....as a
mom and as a entrepreneur.
3. Being a Mompreneur is more
challenging for many of the
reasons listed above. For me;
I have always wanted to be a “good Mom”.
Do crafts, play, sing, dance and laugh...leave
a legacy. As well, I have also wanted to be a
successful business woman. Achieving both
at the same time; while cooking dinner, acting
out a scene from The Backyardigans, cleaning
up potty messes, and packing lunches for
school can be overwhelming. I have chosen
a new philosophy...”balance” is unreasonable
BUT harmony is achievable!” I had to accept
that things will never be in Balance on a daily
bases for me BUT if I am organized, open and
honest with my children about my “JOBS” then
Harmony is definitely achievable!
4. What tips would you offer to a
Mom thinking of starting her own
business
a. Research. Research. Research. Do your
homework. Find out if what you want is
achievable. If it is then JUMP!
b. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t
do both jobs of Mom and Mompreneur.
But realize to be successful there will
always be sacrifice of some kind!
c. Always remember to take some time for
just you. No work. No kids. Nobody, just
you. Your time is precious.
d. Don’t be afraid to share....We as woman
tend to have such a competitive streak in
us. Surround yourself with other women
who you enjoy and trust to be there
for you. You can never have too much
support.
e. Find good help for your children. Talk to
them about what you do in your business.
The reality is that this Momprenuer thing
involves them too
5. EXTRA BLAH BLAH BLAH.... I need my
children to know that we are in charge of our
life choices! I had to set an example. I want my
children to believe that they can do anything
they set their hearts and minds to! It is all
about choices! I hope that one day they will
see how important it was for me to be home
with them as much as I could. I need to be
the volunteer at my son’s school. I need to do
dance classes with my daughter. I need to be
in my own space as much as possible. These
are the things that are the most important
to me, not many jobs offer those benefits.
I couldn’t find my perfect job. So I created it!
APRIL 2007 |

10 | theMompreneur.com

usiness
Coral Freedman, The Coralation Group
Permission-based resiliency
Each of us has times when things
don’t go the way we want them to
in business. We lose a key client, find out we
have a problem with production, or find a flaw
in our design that could potentially set us back
for months. Sometimes we have to deal with
much larger problems – the damages caused by
a fire or flood, for example, or even bankruptcy.
When big or small problems set us back, we
often find that our courage gets knocked out of
us. And for some, it’s not the problem we can’t
deal with, it’s our personal reaction to our own
feelings of sadness, overwhelm and fear that
causes us the most concern.
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine who had
been dealing with some career challenges told
me that she felt she might be in a bit of a funk.
“Well,” I said, “I guess if you are in a funk and
can recognize it then you have an opportunity
to decide whether it’s okay to be there for a
while or not. It’s when you don’t think you have
a choice that you have to worry. Would you like
me to check in with you in a few weeks”
Apparently, this response had a profound
impact on her.
She told me later that from my response,
she felt that she had permission to feel blue
about the situation she was dealing with. It was
suddenly okay to not be at her best all of the
time. That she wasn’t a failure just for having
these down feelings.
This made me wonder: Is resiliency – the
ability to bounce back after a challenge (and
hopefully to come back stronger) – really just
about giving yourself permission to live with
the low feelings until you choose otherwise
And what do you do if you’ve decided you’re
ready to bounce back, but you’re not sure
where to begin
Here are my suggestions:
1. Seek out people who’ve faced what
you’re facing and have gotten through it.
You are not the only person to lose a client
or go bankrupt. You want to surround
yourself with people who have thrived
after experiencing what you’re currently
going through. Talk to them about what
they did, how they felt, etc. Ask them what
they learned that they are now grateful for
about the experience. You are not alone.
2. Help someone who is less fortunate
than you are. By doing so, you focus on
what you have to be grateful for in your
life, rather than what you are missing. Yes,
you may be suffering a business crisis, but
you can be reminded that you have your
health, good friends, etc. by volunteering
to work with those who are less fortunate.
(A note here – choose a means of helping
people that will take your mind off of your
problems, not have you worry about your
ultimate fate. In the case of bankruptcy,
for instance, you might want to hold
premature babies in the hospital rather
than work with the homeless.)
3. Spend time with supportive
friends and mentors. Now is the
time to only give your attention to people
who are inspirational and supportive.
4. Fake it till you make it. I’m not
suggesting that you deny your feelings
to yourself. You may not be feeling 100
percent and you want to respect all of your
feelings. Rather, you want to continue to
do the things you normally do when you
are feeling positive and optimistic. If you
would normally go to a networking or
social event, then don’t skip it. If you have
a regular breakfast with a friend and don’t
feel like going, go anyway. Try and get
back to the routine you had before the
problem arose.
5. Remind yourself of why you first
got started in your business.
Think about what motivated you before
you were successful at all. This may be
enough to inspire you again. At the very
least, remind yourself that if you built it
once, you can build it again, only this time
your experience will make you faster and
you can avoid past mistakes.
6. Write a letter to yourself from
the future. Pretend it’s a year from
now and you are thriving. In the letter,
look back on the last year and tell yourself
what you learned from this experience
that allowed you to do even better. Tell
yourself what you’re grateful for about
the situation, and what steps you took to
get to this place. End by completing the
sentence, “If there was one thing I could
tell you to remember that would have
made this last year easier, it would be…”
7. Pay attention to your health.
This isn’t necessarily the time to start
training for a marathon. Now is the time
to practice extreme self care. Make sure
you get enough sleep. Give yourself time
to play and be creative. Do things that
make you feel good, whether you feel you
“deserve” them or not.
8. Breathe. Perform this exercise whenever
you start to get overwhelmed. Exhale as
much as you possibly can before inhaling
regularly, three times in a row. You will
feel better immediately.
When facing a tough business challenge,
most people think their only options are to give
up or to press ahead despite everything. I’d like
to believe that there’s a third option and that
you would do best to choose it. When faced
with a challenge that winds you for a moment,
you can give yourself permission to pause,
feel and float for a brief period of uncertainty
before moving forward in a way that allows you
to rebuild. And to me, this is what resiliency is
really about.
Coral Freedman is the founder of the Coralation Group, a coaching, training and consulting organization that guides business owners
to more success. She can be reached at coral@coralationgroup.com.
APRIL 2007 | 11

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MOMENTOS
12 | theMompreneur.com

usiness
Crystal Dallner, Outright Communications
Regulating your marketing investments
Resource management for small business
Marketing investments come in three forms – time, money and
energy. To prosper, investors must learn to balance and manage
each one appropriately.
Managing Time
All business owners know how fast
time flies. How can they ensure the best use of
that time By discovering what time of day is most
productive for them and scheduling their most
arduous tasks into that time slot. By closing office
doors and screening incoming calls all managers
achieve a higher quality output. At the end of each
work day, compile a list of important tasks for the
following day and rank each element according to
its priority.
Executive’s waste approximately 45 minutes
every day looking for misplaced information.
Put important papers and materials in their proper
places before leaving the office. Consider investing
in software that organizes projects and contacts.
Time is as valuable as money. Having the right
time-management tools and practices will increase
efficiency and preserve company resources.
Managing Money
Too often, business owners attempt to
manage all aspects of operating the
business themselves. Why Are they afraid
that relinquishing some responsibility will diminish
their effectiveness Or are they trying to save
the company money Regardless, owners will do
themselves a favour by simply outsourcing those
tasks in which they have the least expertise. Hiring
expert contractors for specific business related
tasks, such as tax preparation and accounting,
communications planning or Internet utilization and
web development, not only saves time but, in the
long run, will preserve financial resources as well.
Invest in marketing initiatives appropriate to your
business and budget. Begin with a solid marketing or
communications plan that outlines your objectives
and resources in advance.
Offer to appear as the featured speaker or
presenter at various industry events, seminars and
networking clubs. The Chamber of Commerce,
Rotary Club and various community groups provide
excellent exposure opportunities for those willing to
participate.
Prepare and distribute regular company
newsletters or an online “e-zine” and send out media
releases regarding newsworthy company events.
Take advantage of marketing opportunities that
stretch your marketing budget including cooperative
advertising, in-kind sponsorships, cross-promotional
and outreach activities. Follow through with a post
mortem evaluation of each activity to assess the
return, or benefits, of each marketing investment.
Managing Energy
Ever wonder where successful business
owners find the energy to accomplish
so much The answer is that, through experience,
they’ve identified those areas where the investment
of their energy resources provides the greatest rate
of return.
When it comes to marketing, for example,
they’ve expended the necessary energy to test
various related initiatives and focus groups in
determining their target audiences and how best
to reach them. Knowing right away what works and
what doesn’t allows the owner to avoid wasting
energy on less productive efforts down the road.
One of the most common causes of small
business failure is the fact owners invest so much
of their energy in running their business that they
simply burn out. Driving ambition has its place, but
must be harnessed in concert with a balanced lifestyle
that includes family, friends, social occasions
and the relaxation of enjoying a favourite, nonbusiness
oriented, past-time.
Be consistent in working eight productive
hours per day but consciously schedule extended
time away from the office at least once a week. Use
your lunch hours to stroll in the park or participate in
an exercise program. Focus on eating healthy meals
with regular energy boosting snacks throughout
the day: fruit, almonds, raw veggies, raisins and
small servings of yoghurt are healthy, quick and
affordable. Managing energy means having energy
to manage.
As a successful business owner, never stop
investing in the most powerful tool in your company’s
management and marketing arsenal – you
Crystal Dallner, Publicity Expert,
Publicist, Marketing & Media
Relations Consultant, is the founder
of Outright Communications, a
thriving marketing firm based
in Edmonton, Alberta. She holds
the title of Media Relations
Chair on the Canadian Women
in Communications and
Canadian Paraplegic Association
Edmonton boards. She has
been nominated for the YWCA
Woman of Distinction Award.
For all your publicity, marketing
and design needs, visit online at
www.outrightcommunications.com.
APRIL 2007 | 13

BALANCE
Fran Wipf, Caregivers Inc.
I have often wondered what life
would be like if I could be cloned.
One of me would run my business while the
other me would keep my house immaculate and
raise my son. With so much extra time, I might
have some time to relax or get a massage. And
I may even get to the end of my to do list.
Ask any mompreneur what the biggest
challenge in her life is and you are guaranteed
to hear the same answer: balancing my
business and my family. Business and family
are the two driving passions of our lives. We
can’t imagine life without either one, yet
balancing both is often overwhelming. We
are challenged, stretched, energized….and
drained. And when business and family collide
at one of those dreaded intersections where
we have to choose one at the expense of the
other, even for just a couple of hours, we are
left with that nagging feeling that somehow we
are missing out. If only there was a way to get
more time with our family and more time with
our business.
I think I have found the next best solution
to cloning. I hired a nanny. I spent months
searching for the right individual to run
my business, so that I could better run my
household. When I found no one qualified
to take on my business, I hired someone to
manage my household instead. It has worked
fabulously.
Having a nanny has truly allowed
me to spend more time with BOTH
my FAMILY AND BUSINESS. My nanny takes
care of my son as well as the housekeeping,
cooking, laundry and the grocery shopping.
When I am done my work at the end of the
day, my house is clean, supper is ready and the
laundry is already in the closet. That dreaded
pile of ironing has completely disappeared.
The time that I am not working is free to spend
as I wish, because my work at home is already
done, and done well. It’s a real treat for me
to have someone doing things better than I
would do them myself. My home has become a
place of rest instead of a constant reminder of
everything I have left to do before I can go to
bed. I can give my son my undivided attention
and spend time doing things that he likes to
do, instead of mentally calculating how much
time we can spend on this activity before I have
to be home to put the laundry in the dryer.
A fulltime nanny costs just $1500 per
month and provides childcare, housekeeping,
meal preparation and laundry services to your
family. You set the nanny’s schedule according
to your needs, and because she lives with you,
you also have a reliable babysitter available at
the last minute anytime you require.
My nanny has a Bachelor’s degree in
Psychology. She is well-educated, intelligent
and ambitious. I can’t imagine life without her.
She is every bit as capable and meticulous in
running my household as I would be. She has
two young children of her own in the Phillipines
and has left them in the care of her husband in
order to work for my family. After working for
us for two years, she will be eligible to apply
for Permanent Resident status in Canada and
sponsor her family to join her. Therein lies the
motivation for an educated, skilled individual
to come halfway around the world to work as
my nanny. She is making a way for her children
to have a future that life in the Phillipines can’t
provide. In that sense, she’s helping my family
and I’m helping hers.
14 | theMompreneur.com

15
Photo by: Canal Hill Studios

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(value $150)
16 | theMompreneur.com

health
Sara Korsunsky BSc., N.D
Put Insomnia to Rest
Using Naturopathic Medicine
Insomnia is characterized by difficulty
falling asleep or staying asleep, and affects
women ten times more often than men.
This discrepancy may be due to hormonal
fluctuations as well as the fact that women tend
to wear many hats- working, caring for family,
and running a home are very demanding
and stressful jobs indeed! Adequate sleep
is necessary for the body to heal and for
emotions to be processed. A lack of sleep
puts you at a greater risk for heart disease,
infection, high blood sugar levels and obesity,
and causes the body’s stress hormones to
become unbalanced. Fortunately there are
ways to treat insomnia naturally at home and
with a Naturopathic Doctor that are safe and
very effective.
What is Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Medicine is patient-centered
health care that treats the whole person and
focuses on finding and addressing the causes
of disease. Naturopathic Doctors are trained
in the same basic sciences and diagnostics as
MD’s, but use natural treatments that aim to
enhance the body’s innate healing processes
and emphasize prevention. Treatment plans for
insomnia are individualized and based on the
totality of symptoms and pertinent causes, and
would include a combination of naturopathic
techniques geared towards eliminating the
causes of insomnia without side effects.
The Causes of Insomnia
Insomnia can be either short term or
chronic. Short term insomnia is often a reaction
to stress and may follow a traumatic event,
illness, surgery, weather changes or traveling.
Chronic insomnia is also often linked to anxiety
and stress, and may become habitual, wherein
a person knows that they will be unable to sleep
and becomes focused on this, causing a vicious
cycle of worry and sleeplessness. Pregnancy,
menstruation and menopause often lead to
insomnia due to discomfort and fluctuations
in hormone levels. Progesterone tends to
promotes sleep and is low during menstruation
and menopause.
It is important that other medical problems
be ruled out before commencing natural
treatments of insomnia. These may include
hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, and alcoholism
and depression, which can manifest either as
hypersomnia (too much sleep), or as insomnia.
Overuse of stimulants, food sensitivities, or
prescription drugs can affect sleep cycles
and should be investigated with a health
care practitioner. A condition called adrenal
fatigue, wherein the adrenal glands produce
cortisol, the body’s major stress hormone,
improperly, can also lead to excitability and
difficulty sleeping at appropriate times, with
extreme fatigue at other times.
• Sleep difficulties are estimated to
be the #1 health related problem in
North America.
• Over 50% of adults report trouble
sleeping at least a few nights of
the week.
• We sleep an average of 6.9 hours
per night, which is almost 1 hour
less than a few decades ago!
• Lack of sleep leads to fatigue,
obesity, high blood pressure,
heart disease, shortened lifespan,
depression, low immunity and is
implicated in diabetes.
Conventional Treatments for
Insomnia
Sleeping pills have harmful side effects
such as mental fogginess, decreased short
term memory and impaired physical ability
which can all lead to accidents and injury. They
also cause accentuation of the brains’ GABA
neurotransmitters, which can depress lung
function leading to asphyxiation, and resulted
in over 1000 overdose related deaths last
year. Prescription medications do not treat the
causes of insomnia and often lead to chemical
addiction. They should only be used short
term and not by those over 65 years old or with
sleep apnea.
Naturopathic Treatments for
Insomnia
Healthy sleep hygiene is essential to a good
night’s sleep. Maintain an environment that is
dark, quiet and comfortable, and if necessary
change the mattress, blinds, or temperature of
the bedroom to maximize comfort. Go to bed
consistently within the same hour in order to
give your body the message that it is time for
sleep, and engage in non-stimulating activities
such as reading, drinking tea or bathing to help
you wind down. Writing in a journal before bed
or keeping a notepad by the bed will prevent
forgetting important ideas that pop into your
head while you’re falling asleep. Don’t eat large
meals shortly before bed, but assure not to go
to bed hungry. Most importantly, always try to
get as much sleep as possible before twelve
a.m. Each hour of sleep prior to midnight is as
worthy as two hours after.
Natural supplements Relaxing herbs
such as chamomile, lemon balm, valerian,
hops and passionflower are best taken
in the afternoon and evening to avoid
daytime sleepiness. Melatonin is a safe,
over the counter sleep aid especially
useful for those who travel through time
zones or do shift work, but may cause
some grogginess the following day. 5-
hydroxytryptophan is the direct precursor
to serotonin, the neurotransmitter
involved in sleep. It helps promote deep,
relaxed sleep and is also found in foods
like turkey and nuts. These examples
of natural supplements effectively help
insomnia by improving the brain’s sleep
biochemistry, decreasing anxiety and
relaxing the body.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
APRIL 2007 | 17

18 | theMompreneur.com

Acupuncture Chinese medicine is very helpful at
calming the mind and treating the causes of
insomnia. According to Chinese Medicine, the
heart meridian governs the mind and sleep,
and when the mind is too active, insomnia
occurs. Acupuncture is a gentle, safe and
relatively painless treatment that addresses the
whole person by balancing the body’s energy
meridians, reducing stress and relieving muscle
tension.
Homeopathy The ancient science of homeopathy
is based on the principle of like curing like, and
uses minute doses of natural substances to help
the body reestablish balance and get rid of
symptoms. The best part about homeopathy
is that the prescriptions take all of a person’s
physical, emotional and mental symptoms into
account, resulting in healing on several levels.
Exercise Aerobic physical exercise relieves stress,
especially when done outdoors, since daytime
exposure to maintain the body’s circadian
rhythm. A Stanford University Medical School
controlled study showed that after 16 weeks,
adults who exercised regularly were able
to fall asleep 15 minutes faster and sleep 45
minutes longer at night. It is important to work
up at least a small sweat, and to exercise 4-
5 hours before sleep so that your core body
temperature has time to decrease before
bed. Although non-aerobic, gentle forms of
yoga such as Hatha and Iyengar offer specific
sequences of poses that are helpful treatments
for insomnia at home.
Insomnia is a complex problem and needs to
be treated as such, through careful evaluation of its
causes and a holistic approach to healing. Sleep
medications are short term, band-aid solutions to the
problem with dangerous side effects. Naturopathic
Doctors will listen to all of your health concerns
and offer you a personalized treatment plan using
treatments that address the causes of insomnia.
Supported lifestyle and nutritional changes and
gentle naturopathic remedies are effective ways to
treat insomnia that will also have positive long term
effects in all areas of your life, so that you can sleep
well and rest easy that you are ensuring a healthy
future.
health
Sara Korsunsky BSc., N.D. is a licensed Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine in
Calgary. Dr. Korsunsky practices family medicine, and she has a special interest
in pediatrics, mind-body medicine and autoimmune diseases. To book a free 15
minute consultation or have Dr. Korsunsky talk to your group or workplace, please
call 403-617-2727 or e-mail sarasunsky@gmail.com.
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I provide the training and on going support in
building your own successful home business. Visit
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APRIL 2007 | 19

COMMUNITY
Michelle McDonald, Servants Anonymous Society of Calgary
“We need $100,000.00 of operating dollars
to bridge us from April to July, 2007”
“…………… we do”
This excerpt is taken from a conversation
that I had in November, 2006 with the General
Manager of Servants Anonymous Society of
Calgary, (SAS). I had sat on the Board of this
Not For Profit a few years ago and understood
the challenges of fund raising. But now that I
have signed on to actually find the money for
SAS, my role in this Reality Series has changed
from interested observer to active participant.
Servants Anonymous is a Calgary social
agency who supports young women and their
children who are victims of sexual exploitation.
We were founded in 1989 as a registered
charity and offer a long-term relationship based
program for women who have experienced
homelessness, poverty, substance addictions
and violence. The SAS recovery model
incorporates safe and supportive housing
facilities, rehabilitation, child care, education,
job shadowing and training, and ongoing
encouragement.
The challenge of six figures by April…
hmmm…..somewhat a tough big ticket sell
and then let’s add the Anonymity quotient.
(Servants Anonymous has mandated to
protect the identities of the individuals they
support, often making it more difficult to relay
the need to the community) There are some
obvious places to look for this kind of money.
Most fund developers have a database of
Donors that they can appeal to, but our list of a
thousand odd individuals is not going to draw
this kind of dollar figure. Corporate giving in
Calgary is generous, but many have mandated
causes that align with the respective business
goals. Helping former sex trade workers is
not often one of these goals. Foundations are
also generous, but most are reluctant to offer
money for operating expenses. I couldn’t think
of a creative spin. SAS needs money to turn on
the lights, pay for insurance, beds, food, water
and remunerate the key workers and staff that
it takes to house the current 30 participants
and their children.
Guess I better put my Mompreneur
hat on. Think retail. What does every family
and most households need, what are you
always looking for that are never there Clean,
white, matching socks. Who does not need
an extra pair of clean, white matching socks.
In my family, the smallest takes her bigger
sister’s socks, big foot takes the mommy’s and
mommy takes the husband’s. Dad never can
find a clean pair of matching white socks. Can
you imagine such a display on the golf course
Do friends agree… Yes.
A campaign has been born. Socks for
Shelter will solve the lost sock dilemma for
households in Southern Alberta. As with any
business, we also have to work to hone our
message, develop awareness and raise money
effectively.
“Socks for Shelter, providing shelter for
women and their children from homelessness,
poverty and violence.” Proceeds realized
from this campaign will support shelters and
programs provided by the YWCA and SAS.
The offering includes three pairs of packaged
white sport socks (choose from “crew” or “no
show”) for the price of $25.00. Please watch for
us, as we will be visiting your neighbourhood
over the next five months.
“We need $100,000.00 of operating dollars
to bridge us from April to July, 2007”
“…………… we can do that.”
If you would like to donate to Servants Anonymous Society of Calgary or purchase some socks,
please contact Michele@servantsanon.com
20 | theMompreneur.com 20

APRIL 2007 | 21

fitness
Kim Magotiaux
It is finally spring!
It’s time to get out and walk!
Kim Magotiaux, owner and
personal fitness trainer at Bellies,
Babies & Beyond, can be contacted
at www.belliesbabiesandbeyond.ca
Balancing work, family and everything
else can be challenging, especially for new moms.
Fitness sometimes takes a backseat to everything
else, but it should be made a priority. Getting
into a fitness routine will help you cope with the
responsibilities of motherhood, get you back to your
pre-pregnancy shape and help you feel great about
yourself.
Canada has such beautiful cities, what better
way to exercise than to grab the stroller, lace up your
running shoes, and head outside to enjoy the fresh
air with your baby
Walking is an excellent form of exercise
and is perfect for the new mom. In the first
few months post-partum, your body is still recovering
from pregnancy and childbirth and will appreciate
this low impact activity. Build your activity slowly by
starting with 10-20 minutes, 3-4 days per week, and
then gradually increase the duration and intensity.
To help shed the baby weight, aim to build up to
30-60 minutes, 5-6 days per week.
Good posture is essential for new motherhood.
Pull your abs in, draw your shoulder blades back,
and keep your eyes looking ahead, especially if you
encounter any hills. Walking up hills is a great way
to strengthen your legs and glutes (butt), which will
help increase your speed on the flat ground. To save
your back from injury, avoid bending at the waist
and leaning over your stroller to push it up the hill.
To balance out this cardio workout with some
strength exercises, you can try adding in 1 or 2 sets
of 15 repetitions of the following moves during your
walk:
Squat Hold onto the stroller and place your feet
hip width apart. Keep head up, eyes forward and
back in neutral position as you squat, bending both
knees in a slow and controlled manner (ensure
good alignment of the knees and toes), until thighs
are parallel to ground. Squeeze your glutes and
straighten your legs to return to starting position.
Push up if you come across a bench, place your
hands at mid-chest level and wider than shoulder
width apart on top of the bench. Slowly lower
yourself towards the bench until your elbows are at
90°. Exhale out as you push your self back. Keep your
belly button pulled towards your spine throughout
the movement.
To make your walk more enjoyable, find a friend
or two to join you. If you want to meet other new
moms and want a more challenging workout, check
out one of the many stroller fitness classes around
the city. Get out, enjoy the fresh air and
have fun!
22 | theMompreneur.com

APRIL 2007 | 23

24 | theMompreneur.com

family
Calgary Public Library
Childrens’ play and learn station A
Treat For Your Little Learner
Picture this - your little one independently
interacting with stories and games on a little
computer while you sit back and watch, or get
some work done! If you’ve been to any branch
of the Calgary Public Library lately, you’ve
probably noticed something new (and pretty
cute) in the Children’s Area. Every location
now has an Early Literacy Childrens’ play and
learn station, computers designed for children
aged two to eight, loaded with twenty-six toprated
games and activities that are a hit with
youngsters. Childrens’ play and learn stations
come equipped with a tiny mouse that caters
specifically to small hands and an imaginative
interface that encourages independent
exploration; no tricky menus to navigate or
complicated instructions to follow. The stations
are already proving very popular and you’re
almost certain to see a giggling child exploring
the games when you visit the Library.
Not only do the play and learn stations
provide interactive fun, they can also help
your child develop early literacy skills that are
essential to reading success. Early literacy is
what children know about reading and writing
before they can actually read and write, and
the Calgary Public Library’s play and learn
stations are a great way to introduce your child
to reading while developing early literacy skills
in a fun, non-threatening environment.
One of the key steps in encouraging
your child to read is to create an
early interest in books and reading.
Children who enjoy books will be eager to learn
how to read, and the Childrens’ play and learn
stations include interactive programs that will
allow your child to explore stories while learning
important skills. Between the Lions, a program
based on the award-winning PBS television
series, is designed to foster literacy skills, while
demonstrating the joys of reading. Children will
also enjoy the beautifully illustrated Stellaluna,
which tells the story of a young fruit bat and
explains the differences between birds, bats,
and other creatures.
To become successful readers, children
need to develop phonological awareness. This
means being able to hear and play with the
sounds that make up words. Your child will
be having too much fun to notice, but playing
Reader Rabbit Word Factory helps to reinforce
short and long vowel sounds and Green Eggs
and Ham introduces the concept of rhymes.
This knowledge helps children understand
the structure of oral and written language,
which makes it easier to sound out words when
beginning to read.
Children can also explore science,
social studies, and math while enjoying new
experiences and new vocabulary. Children who
hear an abundance of new words are better
prepared to sound out unknown words as they
learn to read. Children classify animals, adjust
weather conditions, and observe wildlife in
Sammy’s Science House which teaches early
science and thinking skills. Your child will also
enjoy exploring numbers, shapes, and patterns
with Millie’s Math House or learning about
organs and skeletons with My Amazing Human
Body.
Visit the Calgary Public Library
today and let your children test out the
Childrens’ play and learn station stories and
games for themselves. They will love the
interactive literacy tools while you are able to
peruse resources for yourself or sit back and
watch them learn on their own! Library staff are
there to help pick out books, CDs, and other
resources that foster pre-reading and literacy
skills. It is never too early to introduce reading
and literacy to your child and Childrens’ play
and learn stations are a fun way to do so.
APRIL 2007 | 25

Q & A
Kathryn Bechthold, The Mompreneur Networking Group Inc.
“Stick-to-it-ness”
Attitude
Donna Leblanc weaves her way through growthspurtz to poshmommy.
Inventing and re-inventing herself along the way.
Photo by: Stephanie Cragg Photography
26 | theMompreneur.com

1. What made you start Growthspurtz
What events happened that made you
want to transition into PoshMommy
I started Growthspurtz in 1993 after applying
and receiving a severance package from the
Alberta government. I was very unhappy in my
previous job and was looking for something
completely different. When I was expecting my
first child I found the maternity clothing stores
sorely lacking in Calgary. There was the mall,
department stores or one other independent
store in Calgary, and that one was run by an
absentee owner with no real interest in a full
service maternity store. The mall had overpriced
clothing that fell apart after one or two washes.
In the Bay, Sears and Eatons, I was met with
either a near retirement aged lady who wanted
to show me items in their oversize department
or someone working after high school and had
no idea how to answer any questions about
maternity and what to expect. My friend
introduced the notion of consignment to me
and suggested I try that avenue. I found
consignment stores either out of
business or even worse, filled
to the rafters with maternity
clothing my Grandmother
would consider dated!
I was near tears and
needed clothing!
Once I received my
severance package
I felt I was capable
of starting my
own consignment
store committed
to providing
the highest
quality children’s
and maternity
clothing available.
I began October 2, 1993 with a space of 830 sq.
ft., a 9 month old son, a supportive husband,
no experience but lots of enthusiasm! After
2 years I expanded into 1200 sq. ft. A year
later I went to 1650 sq. ft. and introduced
new maternity clothing in 1996. By this time
I had 3 children and 2 employees. I began
very slowly with the new maternity in a very
moderate price range. What I found out was
that every time I went to a higher price point
the clothes sold better and the lower priced
clothing didn’t sell as well. This happened
time and time again. Having the consignment
element became a burden as it is a lot of work
and was tough to mix in with designer priced
clothing. Consignment was a bit of a crutch
but I decided to unload it January 2006.
I began renovations in September 2006 and
completely reinvented the store and its initial
concept. I was known for so many years as a
consignment store that I felt a new name would
reflect the new focus, that being high end
maternity clothing. I also began carrying new
ladies clothing to hopefully catch the women
that had already been in the store and keep
them coming back after their pregnancy. The
next trip to LA will focus on bringing in clothing
that can used for both pregnancy and beyond. I
am constantly sourcing out the latest designers
that have a commitment to quality and function
for the pregnant women looking for the very
best in design and fashion.
2. What have been some of your
major successes and challenges
My major success and challenge has been
balancing work and family. When you own a
bricks and mortar store there is so much to
worry about. I have been broken into at least
a dozen times over the years and have had to
come in here in the middle of the night leaving
the children at home alone while I deal with
the police, locksmiths etc. In addition, when an
employee calls in sick, quits unexpectedly or
whatever they are known to do, it is me that
fills in the space regardless of my plans. I have
had to give up family vacations at the drop of a
hat because someone didn’t show up, but the
show must go on. I guess my biggest success
would really be just staying in business for
13 1/2 years, given the changes I have gone
through, the markets going up and down and
generally having a “stick-to-it-ness” attitude.
3. How has being a Mompreneur
made your business different
Being a Mompreneur has made my business
different because I can totally relate to
every one of my clients. I can safely say,
“I have been there”. I have councelled numerous
people on everything from the proper fit of a
bra to how to potty train a reluctant 3 year old.
I have stayed late for people who have not
been able to make the store hours, I have even
gone to people’s home to give an in home bra
fitting.
My advice to other Mompreneurs is the
same thing that Sir Winston Churchill said many
years ago and something I have thought about
over the years; Never give up, never, never,
never give up.
APRIL 2007 | 27

FAMILY
Gail Bell & Julie Freedman Smith, Parenting Power
Resiliency
“I said NO now go to your room and leave
your brother alone!”
It was three o’clock and I was
already shouting. This was the kind of
day I dreaded and there were still hours to go
before a meal – which I had to prepare and
serve – and that precious moment when the
kids were in bed and I could breathe. How was
I going to go on I collapsed at the kitchen
table, bent my head over the residual lunch
dishes and began to cry.
We’ve all been there – or somewhere
close to it. Parenting throws challenges at us
on a constant schedule. That is why resiliency
must be an attainable quality for us as parents
and also for our children.
Resiliency noun Roget’s II The New
Thesaurus:
1. The ability to recover quickly from
depression or discouragement: Her
innate resiliency helped her through the
witching hour.
2. Flexibility
If our goal as parents is to raise
independent, responsible, resilient individuals,
we need to model those characteristics and we
can’t do that by spending a large amount of
time sobbing into soggy P,B and J crusts. But
where does resiliency come from How can we
get it, keep it and teach it
A lack of resiliency is evident when one
finds one’s self yelling at one’s children or their
slammed bedroom doors. It is overwhelming
when, out of sheer exhaustion one gives in to
a tantrum or bribes one’s child to get what one
desires. It hovers when one dreads the thought
of a new day starting or the kids coming home
from school. It is not a nice place to be – but one
that we all find ourselves in from time to time. If
you have taken up residence in this place of no
resilience, it is time to make a change.
The change that brings on resiliency
comes in two forms:
• What we say to our children
• What we say to ourselves
Every time we interact with our
children, we have a choice: to react
thoughtlessly or to thoughtfully act. The former
may already be happening – it is exhausting.
The latter takes a lot more work at the outset
but feels way better when all is said and done.
Knowing how we will respond when things go
wrong (and when things go well) can make a
huge difference in the day’s outcome. Using an
internal script made up of respectful language
to express emotions and limits will result in
your children learning to handle situations
appropriately and listening to you rather than
tuning you out.
We call this Parenting with a Plan and
we’ve mentioned it before. It’s about evaluating
recurring situations that are bringing you down
and reworking those scenarios so that they turn
out the way you want them to. Once you know
what you want it to look like, you can create
respectful language to use and you can inform
your kids about the new version you are creating.
This enables everyone to work toward a new
family habit and keeps everyone; especially you
feeling confident and capable about handling
those moments that you know are coming.
To continue feeling confident, we also
need to be aware of what we are telling
ourselves throughout the day. We can become
pretty low if our minds are filled with,
• “She doesn’t respect me, that’s why she ignores
me”
• “He is going to sass me for the rest of his life
– I’ve got 14 more years of this until he leaves
home!”
• “I’m the adult here and I’d better show those
kids that I’m louder and stronger than they are
– then they’ll listen!”
• “Why I am I such a bad parent”
We can change what we are telling
ourselves to boost our resiliency. When the
toddler says “No” for the 34th time, we can
think, “Wow, this ‘no stage’ can be tricky, it’ll
pass.”
When our seven-year-old says, “You are
the MEANEST MOM EVER! I HATE YOU!” we
can think, “She’s obviously really frustrated,
she probably needs a hug”
When our teenager says, “Mom, you just
don’t get it – leave me alone!” we can think,
“Getting mad right now won’t solve anything,
when he’s calm, we’ll figure out how to face
this.”
Setting ourselves up for success
internally can be one of the best ways to stay
resilient. If we don’t take this step, we can
end up spiraling downward with depressing
self-talk. Our children need us to support
them through their development with a calm
demeanor especially when they are anything
but calm.
Once we have begun to build resiliency
in ourselves and to model it for our children,
we can take the time to teach it in other ways
as well. Our children meet with challenges
daily, both externally (Molly and Sara didn’t let
me play with them today) and internally, (how
come I have such an ugly face). We can foster
self-esteem by encouraging our children and
helping them to feel that they belong, that they
are loved and capable.
This is more about noticing their deeds than
about judging them for what they do. This can
occur when negative behaviour comes our way:
• I saw you hit – that behaviour is not
appropriate.
As parents we are getting more familiar
with talking about a child’s ‘bad’ behaviour
rather than a ‘bad’ child. We can apply the same
techniques when things are more positive:
• I saw you help your brother pack his bag
today – that showed kindness.
If we strive to show unconditional love
for our children, their actions shouldn’t impact
whether we love them or believe in them.
Helping a sibling doesn’t make them a better
person just as hitting a sibling doesn’t make
them a worse person.
Meeting our children where they
are, encouraging their participation in
problem-solving, and supporting them with
unconditional love will foster self-esteem and
resiliency. Figure out how to capture it for
yourself and then teach those beings who rely
on you. They are watching your words and your
actions. Take baby steps, breathe, and
together you will find resiliency.
For more information about this and
other parenting questions contact
Parenting Power via email at:
info@parentingpower.ca
28 | theMompreneur.com

CORPORATE & PERSONAL TAXES
You’ll
be glad
we went
through it
While many talk about how they
can better your small business
and personal tax situation, Paul
Lackan Consulting takes a
different approach - we show you.
Bring in your previous year’s
return and we’ll do a comparative
analysis, discuss variances, and
then develop a strategy that will
help you keep the money you’ve
earned for the long-term.
* Small business development
* Personal and Corporate Taxes
* Payroll
* GST
For the best advice.
For the best return.
Call Paul Lackan Consulting.
PAUL LACKAN
C O N S U L T I N G
503 - 1145
plackan@telus.net
APRIL 2007 | 29