Checking in Mrs.Jones?
A NEW BUSINESS OFFERS THE HELP OF A HOTEL CONCIERGE AT HOME.

What if living at your house was like living at a five star hotel, where a helpful concierge could take care of all the day-to-day errands – sending out dry cleaning, arranging a night out, picking up groceries – that take so much time away from work and family? Well get ready to be pampered, a new Winnipeg errand service –
Concierge One – aims to be your in-house concierge and lifestyle management service.

With a combined 40 years experience in the corporate world, Heather Hlady and Moray Merchant know the strains and stress that a successful career can put on your personal life. Sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done, which often means waking up on Saturday morning to a mountain of chores, instead of a relaxing day with friends and family.

Knowing what services they would have liked to have as they moved up the corporate ladder, Hlady and Merchant set out to create a business that would cater to those busy clients. And so, in early 2008, Concierge One was born.

“We do whatever we can to help people free up their time,” says Merchant. “If there had been a service like this around we would have used it.”

For an hourly (about $45), monthly or annual rate, Concierge One will take care of a variety of errands, from the personal/domestic (cottage care, personalized shopping), the corporate (restaurant reservations, traveling executive support) to the miscellaneous (organizing spa visits, vacation planning and event coordination).

For more information call (204) 223-1710, toll-free at 1-877-223-9099, by email at info@conciergeone.com or check out www.conciergeone.com.

Sweet Dreams
SOME OF WINNIPEG'S BEST DESSERTS TO TEMPT YOUR TASTE BUDS.

It’s true, I’ve never met a dessert I didn’t like. A few could have even replaced my husband. So where are these nuptial-melting morsels? Three of my girlfriends and I set out to find the most decadent, delectable dinner finales in the city. Forget the spa, forget the shopping spree, true indulgence comes with a fork.

The “Light But So Right” Dessert
We began our quest at a classic Village dessert hot spot - Baked Expectations. On this visit we bypassed the restaurant’s infamous cheesecakes and tried something a little different from the large dessert case. A tall, cinnamon torte with layers of thin crust and light cream looked almost too delicate to eat, but was a must try. Before she could finish her first bite, Julie exclaimed, “I could eat this and go for another one.” We all agreed that this would be the perfect dinner finale for someone who was in need of something sweet, but didn’t want to feel like they broke the calorie bank (or their zipper).

The “Eat Your Troubles Away” Dessert
Being the sweets lovers that we are, the girls and I were very excited about Dessert Sinsations Cafe, where the name says it all. While owner and pastry chef Barbara O’Hara is known throughout North America for her custom-designed, too-beautiful-to-cut wedding cakes, her in-house cakes are just as creative and deliciously awe inspiring. The four of us spent a good chunk of time in front of the display case, which rotates daily, and finally narrowed it down to the stick-to-your-fork Kit Kat Cheesecake and the decorative Coconut Cabana. While both desserts were visually stunning, we had no problem making a mess of them with our forks. The hearty cheesecake, complete with in-house created cookie crumb crust, made Twila claim: “If I had a bad day this is something I’d want to eat.”

The Coconut Cabana caught us all by surprise with its complex flavours and textures - a hint of apricot zest, nestled between layers of fluffy cake, finished with a coating of fondant-like icing, whipped cream and peels of toasted coconut left us feeling like we’d just indulged in something very refined.

The “Best Friends” Dessert
We all found our higher power at Chocolate Zen, a newer addition to the up and coming South Osborne neighbourhood. We sat around the one, chic table offered by the small store (they do mostly take-out and wholesale desserts, but it’s not uncommon to see strangers sharing the table just to indulge in Chocolate Zen’s creations) and got high on Chocolate Elevation. The tall stack of rich chocolate layers filled with chocolate mocha mousse and strawberry sauce had us saying, “Hello lover.” We soon realized this was truly a woman’s dessert, as it brought out some of the day’s juiciest girl talk. “Desserts like this are meant to share,” noted Natalie. “That’s why they’re so big. You’re supposed to bring a friend, or two, or three.”

The “Twisted Take on a Classic” Dessert
At Fude we were sidetracked by the dinner menu’s signature dish, chili chocolate chicken, but were reminded of our mission when we saw the dessert listings, which is short but very sweet.

We opted for the Die by Chai cheesecake, the restaurant’s specialty, and the best-named dessert of the day, Drunken Granny. This twist on a classic apple crumble features stacks of apple that have been marinated in red wine on a very thick shortbread crust, topped with crunchy oats. “This is definitely not grandma’s Apple Betty. It’s modern,” I said. “Eating this makes me feel like I’m home, but it’s a funky home.”

The cheesecake, made with real chai tea, cinnamon, ginger and cloves, took us a second to process. As one of the most unique desserts we tried, the girls and I all agreed that it takes an adventurous palette to appreciate the sweet/spice combo this finale has to offer.

Finally, our stomachs began to tell us it was time to end our sweet research. We all concluded whether it be chocolate or chai, nothing beats a great Winnipeg dessert, especially when you have a good group of friends to share it with.

Hello Baby!

Our annual spring shower gift guide
Each year we round up some of our favourite baby items that we think would make perfect prezzies for any new mom.
For a complete list of our favourites from the past three years, head to www.winnipegwomen.net.

Baby Trekker
There are a million baby carriers, backpacks and slings on the market, but one of them – the Baby Trekker – is made right here in Manitoba. With five positions – baby facing out or in on the front or back, plus a nursing position – this carrier grows with your child, and is suitable for mom or dad to wear. And since it’s made in Manitoba, it’s designed to fit over warm winter jackets.

Available at A Child’s Place and Splitz

Frog Pod (pictured above)
Scoop, drain and store with this super cute bath accessory by Boon. Use to scoop toys from the tub, and then hang back on the wall.

Available at A Child’s Place, E-Children, Baby Bin Boutique

Hop Skip Bottle Dryer
The space saving design of this bottle dryer frees up precious counter space, and includes a bottle brush and a shelf for drying
nipples and lids.

Available at E-Children

SPRING SHOWERS 2007
OUR ANNUAL ROUNDUP OF GREAT BABY GIFTS

Diaper Bags
Hip moms and dads are no longer satisfied lugging around a quilted diaper bag covered in babyish bears and bottles. Most of the city’s maternity boutiques now carry a variety of diaper bag lines, including Bumblebags, Kecci and Caden Lane. Our favourites include the black patent rock-chick style from Diaper Dude (below) and this fun and colourful messenger bag from Ju-Ju-Be (left). You can find Caden Lane and Bumblebags at 9 Boutique on Academy Road (9boutique.com), and Kecci, Ju-Ju-Be, Diaper Dude and others at Anticipation Expecting Style on Corydon Avenue
(shopanticipation.com).

Diaper Cakes
When you’re in the hospital room welcoming a new baby into the world, let’s face it, flowers are nice, but what you really need is diapers...a lot of diapers. Well, maybe you should drop some hints about Babycakes, a new Winnipeg company specializing in “cakes” made out of diapers and other new-baby essentials.

Lindsay Roth started the company last fall as many of her friends and family started having children. Faced with buying rounds of baby gifts, Roth came up with the Babycakes idea as a way to give something that was useful, fun, and wouldn’t be left in a vase at the hospital. Available in three sizes and colours (pink, blue and yellow) it’s a perfectly practical gift for new mothers.

Less than a year into the venture, Roth says that feedback has been very positive, especially from people who are looking for a unique shower gift or are putting together a group gift at the office. Prices range from $41.95 to $69.95 and all include toys or clothing and free delivery. Visit baby-cakes.org for more information.

HEALTH IN YOUR HANDS

Calgarian Nancy Scott’s son Jack was prone to ear infections, which often came during visits back home to Winnipeg. Without Jack’s proper medical information on-hand, Scott says her son was prescribed antibiotics that hadn’t worked in the past, because she couldn’t remember what he had previously taken. The frustration of incidents like this inspired Scott, along with her partners Jana Sinclair and Marci Andrews, to create a new product: Health Pod Baby. Developed with the expert help of 20 doctors and health-care professionals, this portable health organizer stores all of your child’s health information in one handy zippered folder, which fits easily into a purse or diaper bag. The organizer has sections for keeping track of doctor’s visits, health and development milestones, your child’s health history, as well as a family health history. Convenient pockets allow you to store health insurance cards, immunization records, birth certificates and a current photo of your child, all in one place. Once all of this vital information is compiled, you can easily leave it at home with your child’s babysitter, or quickly grab it as you head out to your child’s next physical. The Health Pod Baby is $59.95 and can be found in Winnipeg at E-Children, Sharon’s Linens, The Gift Shop at St. Boniface Hospital, Room for Style, The Baby Bin Boutique and 9 Boutique. To find out more, visit healthpod.ca.

SPRING SHOWERS

April and May babies are arriving in the world, which means plenty of baby showers on the horizon. Not sure what to buy the new parents? We’ve compiled a list of the cutest baby gifts spotted around town.

• Made with fun fabric patterns like retro cowboys or sushi rolls, Funkie Baby bibs have a waterproof layer hidden between a reversible cotton exterior. From Molly Jacobs, 2090 Corydon Ave, 475-2400.

• Calendula, lavender, green tea and chamomile are infused into the line of baby body products from Tiber River Naturals. The hair & body wash, solid soap and lotion can be used by anyone with sensitive skin, including mom. From Tiber River Naturals, 408 Academy Rd, 474-2333.

• Every fashionable baby needs a pair of Robeez soft-soled shoes (right). This wildly popular line was started in Manitoba and now sells around the world. Find them at A Child’s Place at Grant Park Shopping Centre or St. Vital Centre.

• Companies like Parade, Kee-Ka, Kumquat, and Munki Munki are coming out with fun, colourful and practical baby outfits that put a plain old terry sleeper to shame. Find them in Winnipeg at: Humboldt’s Legacy, 887 Westminster Ave, 772-1404; Elephant Shoes, a Winnipeg-based online company, 797-2826, www.elephant-shoe.ca; Anticipation, 941 Corydon Ave, 831-8103.

• Babylicious makes receiving blankets so cute they are coveted by adults. Find this line, with its bright colours, and bold stripes and polka dot patterns, at Anticipation, 941 Corydon Ave, 831-8103.

More Lifesavers!
Their Health at a Glance
Stephanie Staples - Your Life, Unlimited!
Purse Nurse
Sweet Scrubs