WHAT’S New WITH PEAK. PAPER CO?
Why We Love The Malcolm Hotel in Canmore, Alberta
[Sponsored stay. Thoughts and opinions are my own]
When I first moved to Alberta 7 years ago, I fell in love with the mountains back in love with art. The “Peak” in my business name is a tribute to that and the Rockies continue to be my favourite place to get inspired.
So much so that we make the 4-hour road trip from Edmonton to Canmore, Jasper or Banff every few months to spend a few days exploring or showing off our new home to friends and family.
How We First Learned of The Malcolm Hotel
On one of many walks down Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk, we came across Canmore’s newest hotel (the first one built in 20 years!) called The Malcolm. It’s the only luxury hotel in town and a 5-minute walk to downtown from the beautiful Spring Creek neighborhood.
A few months later when my husband, Scott, and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary, we decided to book a stay there and were blown away!
Scott was actually born in Scotland (lol, I know!), so we already loved all the Scottish homages around and the grand entrance.
“Its ambiance and design reflect the royalty that the hotel is named after – Malcolm III, a Scottish King, which is where Canmore’s name is derived from” - The Banff Blog
But what we couldn’t stop talking about was the POOL! The Malcolm Hotel has a heated, rooftop pool and two hot tubs with panoramic views of The Three Sisters mountain range and what looks like a green-screen in every direction.
Peak Paper Co x The Malcolm Hotel Partnership
My family travels as a pack. Where we go, our dog Bubba and 1.5 year old daughter, Frankie, comes too.
But like any other parents reading this know: you start to value consistency a lot more as you get older. Life with young kids is unpredictable, so I love the idea of already being familiar with where we’re staying and knowing it’s a good fit for us as a family.
As I started doing more partnerships with Rocky Mountain Soap and selling my products at shops in town, Canmore felt more and more like home. And I knew The Malcolm was the ideal home base for all our life and work adventures to come.
Fortunately, the amazing team at The Malcolm Hotel said the feeling was mutual and now sponsors our overnight stays everytime we’re in Canmore! SO proud and SO excited to bring you along!
Hotel Amenities We Love
1) The POOL
Heated, rooftop with panoramic views of the Three Sisters, Mount Lawrence Grassi, and Ha Ling Peak mountains. It also has two hot tubs and a firepit area for those cooler mountain nights.
2) It’s Pet Friendly
What a treat to have a luxury hotel that allows our four-legged friends to join (specific room type). Bubba meets tons of other pups during our stays and there’s a big green space + walking trails right outside the lobby. Your pet fee (one time $50) also includes a dog bed, bowl and locally-made Mut Hut treat.
3) Private Balconies
This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but we love that some of the rooms on the second floor have balconies overlooking the pool deck. If you have kids, what a dream! You can watch them play, sit on the deck too, or like us, peak at Frankie snoozing in her pack n play with the monitor.
4) Every Room Has a View
The Malcolm Hotel is luxury without a huge footprint. There are 124 rooms total and ALL of them have views of the Canadians Rockies.
5) Second Floor Lounge (for parents and kids especially!)
If dining in a restaurant with young kids doesn’t sound ideal to you (ha, I get it!), you can get delicious food and drinks from The Stirling Lounge delivered to a booth on the second floor! There’s a whole bunch of board games, a poker table, foosball, scrabble, you name it. We walked down the hall and ordered food two nights in a row with our own bottle of wine.
6) Location
The Spring Creek neighborhood is probably my favourite area in Canmore. It’s right long Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk (keep scrolling down for stroller-friendly walks) and short 5-10 minute walk into town, but feels so quiet and peaceful watching the ducks in the water and elk roam the property early in the morning. You’re also at a great inbetween point from Banff to Kananaskis.
7) The Pulse Coffee & General Store
You get nespresso coffee included in your room, but little miss Frankie Jean woke up at 5:30am all three mornings this trip so we were ready for coffee round 2 by 8am LOL. The staff in The Pulse (and everywhere in the hotel, really!) are so friendly and always give great recommendations. There’s a general store with local goods to browse, too.
Family Friendly Hikes and Walks in Canmore, Alberta
Stroller-friendly walks in Canmore:
Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk (quick: 10-20 minutes into downtown)
Larch Island (1.5 hours roundtrip)
Mineside Trail to Three Sisters Pathway (2 hours roundtrip)
Engine Bridge
Family-friendly hikes in Canmore - bring a backpack/carrier for little ones:
Heart Creek Trail (easy hike: 2 hours roundtrip)
Jura Canyon (moderate: 2.5 hours roundtrip)
Grassi Lakes (easy to moderate)
Troll Falls
My Favourite Shops in Canmore:
Stonewaters
Alberta’s Own Marketplace
Mut Hut Pet Emporium
My Favourite Places to Eat & Drink in Canmore:
Stirling Grill & Lounge
The Blake
Tavern 1883 (pet friendly side patio)
The Iron Goat
Tank 310
Crazyweed
Sheepdog Brewing (you can order in or bring any food you want)
Rocky Mountain Bagel Co (pet friendly patio)
Tips for Hotel Stays with Kids and Pets
Pack a white noise machine to turn on for overnight sleep and all naps (works well for dogs too who are prone to barking at noises - this drowns everything out!)
Get the SnoozeShade for blackout naps in the stroller on the go
Ask for a large washroom and put the pack n play in there for overnight sleep (it’s dark, well-ventilated and acts as a separate room)
Bring a travel highchair, booster seat or perch table chair for feedings in the room
Pack a cooler for the road trip with pre-prepared food and snacks. There’s a fridge in the room to store everything once you get there
I’m not sure if any of the rooms have a bathtub, but ours just had a shower (something to keep in mind for young babes/longer stays to bring your own)
We also pack dish soap for washing bottles/baby meal utensils
Stick to your normal bedtime routine at home
Thanks to The Malcolm Hotel for another beautiful and memorable stay. I sincerely hope you check it out and find these tips helpful in planning your next mountain adventure!
xo
Nest In The City x Peak Paper Co Collection
Nest In The City x Peak Paper Co
Watercolour Wildflower Collection
About The Collection
Kids tend to grow up with their favourite stuffie or blankie in tow. For me, it was “Leo the Lion” and a teddy (aptly named “Angel”) that my dad got me. Did you have one too, or your kids?
That’s what I want to create and my vision for Peak Paper Co: paintings, products and gifts that stand the test of time.
I’m so excited to introduce my newest and most sentimental collaboration with local children’s boutique, Nest In The City: Frankie’s Blankie & Heirloom Watercolour Wildflower Collection
Behind The Scenes
When I was 9 months pregnant with our beautiful daughter, Francesca, I was swimming in anticipation, deadlines and the “what ifs.”
Whenever I’m feeling creatively stuck, I often turn to painting florals and these tiny watercolour blooms will forever remind me of such a pivotal, life-changing time.
The need to *slow down*
Listen to that calling to explore
And spend time creating with no intention.
Once I painted the wildflowers, I scanned them in, digitized them in photoshop and created a pattern. From there, I got it printed on fabric for our baby girl (without a clue how to sew, lol!)
Jenn from Nest In The City saw what I created and reached out about making blankets together for your littles too!!
From Painting to Product
After trying out new colourways, we were both so delighted with how the pattern looked in blush and Nest In The City got to work on fabric test prints
Frankie Blankie
You guys. Our blankets are made of *the* softest material for all season snuggles.
And they’re full size! Perfect for picnics, stroller walks and a cozy place to play that won’t be outgrown.
It’s pretty darn cool that the florals I painted at 9 months pregnant are now soft as can be and wrapped around my little babe, Frankie.
It’s SUCH an honour knowing we’ll have a small piece of my heart in your homes too.
Three Exclusive Baby Cards
Along with our cozy watercolour blanket, we also created three exclusive baby card designs to welcome all the new wildflowers in your life. The perfect bundle for celebrating new life and loved ones.
A Heartfelt Thank you!
Nest In The City and I are beyond grateful for your support of our small businesses, and of our hearts. This collaboration was a year in the making and we can’t thank you enough for all your love and kind words as we finally make it a reality!
xoxo
Brittany @peakpaperco
Jenn & Team @shopnestinthecity
Download my Habit Tracker
Hi, fellow writing aficionados!
If you’ve taken one of my Montblanc’s Inspire Writing series workshops on modern calligraphy or creative bullet journaling, you know how much I love to combine art and writing.
And if you’re anything like me, you want to find ways to make ordinary tasks like organizing and planning more creative and enjoyable. It’s also proven that when you write things down, you retain them better and hold yourself accountable. And in order for you to successfully create a new habit, you need to make it rewarding too. The act of checking off a task and marking it complete motivates you to continue doing it!
Sign up for Peak Paper Co emails to receive an instant digital download link to my habit tracker below! You’ll also be first to hear about upcoming art workshops along with pet portrait and product releases:
If you haven’t already, put Atomic Habits at the top of your reading list. You’ll learn all this and a million times more to help motivate you and keep you accountable to your goals (all while letting go of bad habits that are getting in the way).
For example, I wanted to start getting up before my daughter at 6:00am so that I had time to myself to write each morning.
With my new habit tracker (above), I colour in a box for each day that I successfully woke up at 6:00am. (It’s like the equivalent of getting an ice cream for scoring a soccer goal when I was kid!)
I also wanted to start reading at least a few pages of a book before bed, so I added that to my habit tracker. Every day, I colour in the box if I read before bed and it’s highly motivating and also interesting to see what your “streaks” are like.
Excited to learn more? I also offer three signature art kits that all include anytime access to a virtual class:
Pet Portrait FAQs
Interested in ordering a custom watercolour pet portrait? Here’s everything you need to know!
Email subscribers always get first access to pet portraits, workshop tickets and all the fun new Peak Paper Co. creations.
They get released once per month: the third Sunday of the month at 9am MST. They've sold out in under 10 minutes every single month exclusively to email subscribers - thank you!! - so if you're new around here or curious about these adorable pet paintings, I'm answering some frequently asked questions below so that you're all set.
Here we go!
How do I get on the list?
Once you’re signed up for emails, you’ll be first to hear! Be sure to set a reminder to check your inbox right at 9am Mountain Time Standard time on the release date (The third Sunday of every month) and click the link to purchase the type of portrait you’d like.
What sizes are available?
5x7 inches
OR
8x10 inches
OR
2 pets painted together (10x8 inches)
What is the cost?
Custom pet portraits start at $249 CAD for a 5x7 size OR $359 CAD for an 8x10 size. This includes a signature original watercolour painting of your pet's head and part of their neck along with personalization (pet’s name hand-lettered in calligraphy) optional and included. +tax and shipping across Canada and The United States.
If I have two pets, can they be painted together?
Yes! There’s now an option to order 2 pets together. They’ll be painted side by side on a size 10x8 paper ($499 CAD)
How long does it take?
All portraits are lovingly hand-painted in my studio within 6-8 weeks. Secure, trackable shipping is available all across Canada and the United States. If you have a specific date in mind, please message me the details.
What if my pet (or the gift recipient's) has passed away?
These paintings are truly the greatest honour to create. Getting to know their stories and choosing your favourite photos is all part of the process of commemorating your beloved pet in watercolour. I'll send you the guidelines and details on how to share your photos - you'll have one full week after purchase to find and share your favourites with me.
How do I send you photos and what are the requirements?
Please wait for a direct email from me on the same day of your purchase. I'll send you the guidelines and details on how to share your photos, even if your beloved pet has passed. You'll have 1 week to find or take your favourite ones :)
Pet Portrait Photo Guidelines:
1. Get on your pet’s level (don’t take the photo from above)
2. Take the photo face forward or profile (side view) and include eyes, ears and neck
3. Try to take the photo where there’s natural light, shadows and lots of clarity
4. High quality images are best – if shooting with a smartphone, just make sure the image isn’t pixelated or a screenshot
As always, I'm here to help! Please reach out with any questions. I can't even wait to paint your pets!
💛xo
Brittany
Travel Guide: Where to Camp and Get Creative in the Canadian Rockies
Did you know that the “Peak” in Peak Paper Co. comes from my love for the mountains? Ever since I moved from Ontario to Alberta in 2015, the Canadian Rockies have made this beautiful province feel like home and inspired a whole collection of artwork.
From hiking and camping in the summer to snowboarding and cabins in the winter, it doesn’t matter if we go for a weekend or a week - it always feels like an instant vacation and I get a ton of heart emojis and questions whenever I share our adventures on Instagram Stories!
There really is nothing like fresh air and sunshine. By popular request, read on for my trip itineraries and how I get creative with watercolour and calligraphy in my travel journal during our adventures in Alberta and BC. Have a fun and safe time!
Canoeing at Island Lake Lodge in Fernie, BC
My watercolour travel journals I kept while camping this summer. Scroll to the bottom for more info!
Camping at Castle River Bridge in Castle Provincial Park, Alberta
To avoid what we were sure would be big crowds in the usual hot spots (Banff and Jasper) we looked further south and came across Alberta’s newest Provincial Park: Castle Provincial Park!
It’s about 30 minutes from Pincher Creek and WOW. What a hidden gem!
Our dog Bubba loves camping! This river and beach is steps from the campsites at Castle River Bridge.
We camped at Castle River Bridge and only had to walk a few feet to a rushing river in the valley of the mountains. There’s a little rock beach to bring your chairs down to too. We enjoyed a good book and a few glasses of wine just watching the river flow by and even took a (freezing cold) dip after a lookout hike up the road.
This is an unserviced campground for tents and trailers with **no cell service** so remember to pack:
Your own water, ice, food and firewood
Bear spray
Plan to shower elsewhere
Hit up Beaver Mines General Store if you run out of any essentials - including beer and wine ;)
Here’s what we did and LOVED while we were camping…
Top spots to explore in Castle Provincial Park in 2020:
Camp: Castle River Bridge Campground or Beaver Mines
Hike: Table Mountain
Visit: Frank Slide and the Frank Slide Interpretive Center
Swim & Picnic: Chinook Lake
Note: there’s also amazing little cabins on the campground that are closed this year (2020) but keep your eye out for next season! Across the road from Castle River Bridge are Crown Land sites (see more on that below) where you can camp for free with no amenities. First come, first serve.
Camping at Castle River Bridge Campsite in Castle Provincial Park, Alberta
Staying in a Tiny Home at Snow Valley Lodging in Fernie, British Columbia
I won a contest for a 2-night stay in a tiny home at Snow Valley Lodging in Fernie! It’s only about an hour away from our first camping spot at Castle Provincial Park, so we stopped at Chinook Lake and Frank Slide on the way (see list above) and continued on our way.
We had THE BEST time in Fernie, BC and felt so welcomed back as Albertans! (We had heard stories about Alberta cars getting keyed/vandalized when going to BC earlier in the year). Tourism Fernie even has a campaign out now to encourage Albertans to visit safely again.
Tiny home living! Snow Valley Lodging has a big common area with firepit just for guests along with free bike rentals. They’re also pet friendly!
Here’s what we did and LOVED while we were in Fernie…
Top Spots to explore in Fernie, British Columbia in 2020:
Stay: Snow Valley Lodging in a pet-friendly tiny home!
Hike: Spineback, Fernie Alpine Lodge gondola, Fairy Falls, Fernie Mountain
Drinks & Patios: Fernie Brewing Company, Fernie Distillers
Bike: Free bike rentals are included at the Snow Valley Lodging! Take advantage and bike along the river to get to the brewery and back
Day trip: drive out to the stunning Island Lake Lodge & rent a canoe on the lake. Look out for Moose and lots of amazing birds!
Camping Close to Edmonton: Long Lake Provincial Park
When you don’t have more than two nights or don’t want to drive 3-5 hours to get to the Rockies, we love camping at Long Lake Provincial Park about 1.5 hours outside of the City of Edmonton.
They have waterfront sites, boat launches, a day-use beach and tons of different options. Earlier in the season, the water is also very clean (a big bonus for Alberta lakes, which tend to get yucky in the summer!)
One year, we even saw the Northern Lights from our camping chairs too. Super fun!
Note: The public beach is *not* pet friendly. We try to find a waterfront site or wait until the end of the day to bring the dogs swimming.
Going Off The Grid: Remote and Crown Land Camping in British Columbia
Another incredible part of moving to Alberta is that we’re now close friends with people who’ve grown up here all their lives. My friend Krista’s grandparents own property about 9 hours from Edmonton in a tiny, tiny mountain town in British Columbia’s interior.
We had to take a ferry in our car to cross the lake and then kept driving until we hit the most beautiful place I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing!
Beautiful British Columbia. Summer rain brought out a rainbow over the whole glacial lake where we camped!
Our campsite was RIGHT on the lake. I’m talking steps from this view and surrounded by waterfalls, natural hot springs, wildlife and rural living.
I’m not sharing the location because it’s private property and we were invited by friends, but encourage you to get out and find more hidden gems by searching for “Crown Land Camping” in your area! Crown Land means it’s free to camp, but lots of planning is required for those sites since there are no washrooms or amenities; you have to bring all of your own essentials and pack out garbage, fire pits, etc. It’s also always first-come first serve, so it’s best to go during off-peak times like during the week or in the early or later season. In my experience, it’s so worth it if you’re an experienced (and somewhat of a risk-taker) camper!
Getting Creative: My Camping Travel Journal and Art Prints
Whenever we take big trips to Europe or for our Honeymoon, I always keep a travel journal. But instead of writing about our day, I hand-letter the most memorable moments in calligraphy or paint a scene that was really special in watercolour.
It’s my no-stress, no-pressure, 15 minutes of creative fun every morning and I’m so happy to carry on the traditional through my camping travel journal now too.
Thank you guys for all the love on these pieces!
For more Canadiana artwork you can proudly display inside your trailer, cabin or home, visit the shop.
Original watercolour and calligraphy travel journals. Painted using Tombow’s Water Brushes. Peal Paper Co. is a Towbow Ambassador and was gifted 3 brushes to try! Absolutely love them for travelling as the water is pre-loaded in the barrel of the brush. #TombowPro
2021 Updates!
”Glamping” With A Newborn near Sundre, Alberta
Last summer’s adventures were so much fun - we loved finding hidden gems and exploring with our friends around Alberta and BC.
Planning for this year’s trips was a little different and oh so special . We now have a baby! Our beautiful daughter, Francesca (AKA Frankie!) was born at the end of May and she’s become our whole entire world.
We’re usually tent campers, but that didn’t sound too appealing with a newborn ⛺️😅 and the national parks of Banff and Jasper are VERY busy in the summer. We wanted our first trip with the baby to be a slight step up from the tent life but still as quiet as camping and only a few hours away.
Wearing Frankie in her Beluga Baby Wrap for a walk at Mountain-Aire Lodge outside Sundre, Alberta
Check, check, check and then some ✔️!!
Exploring a New-To-Us Region of the Mountains
Sundre, Alberta is located in central-west Alberta. From Edmonton, it’s less than 3 hours away and home to most of Alberta’s campsites. This area is totally a hidden gem with incredible views in the foothills of the mountains.
It borders Banff National Park (but the only roads to get into the national park from there are by horse!)
Speaking of horses, Clearwater County/Mountain View County is home to most of Alberta’s wild horses! How amazing is that?!
We loved our stay at Mountain-Aire Lodge and would totally recommend it if you’re up for a little adventure.
The rooms at Mountain-Aire Lodge are very clean and have basic amenities like electricity, a comfy bed, a washroom, little kitchenette and TV. Outside, you have access to the a communal BBQ and a giant fire pit.
But there’s no drinking water, cell service or wifi so keep that in mind if you’re booking a stay. It’s also about 40 minutes down a gravel road from Sundre. It’s primarily a year-round RV site, so most people there are regulars who come up every weekend from the Calgary/Cochrane areas. We felt like we had the whole place to ourselves!
Ya’ll know I’m obsessed with dogs and our boston terrier, Bubba. If he can’t come, we don’t go. Mountain-Aire Lodge is pet-friendly!
And what we were pleasantly surprised by at Mountain-Aire Lodge:
An incredible view of the Red Deer River
We stayed in unit #208 where you could see the mountain view over the river right from the back door
A herd of 6 wild horses
SO COOL. This herd of wild horses has been frequenting Mountain-Aire Lodge for over a decade and there’s a few new additions, including the baby foal who’s only a month old (like our daughter!)
We treated the wild horses like the wildlife they are and kept our distance, but we did see other guests petting the older horses. They’re very comfortable around people after being welcomed on the property for so many years.
We saw the wild horses every day, multiple times a day!
The foal had a big pee while I was filming LOL Check my Instagram Reel
A “secret beach” where Bubba had the time of his life
Besides seeing the horses, this made my whole weekend. There’s a sandy beach completely tucked away from the main road. It takes a little bit of manoeuvring to get down there - you have to walk down a short trail and across some shallow water to get to the beach.
My husband carried Frankie in her bassinet first and then went back for Bubba LOL Ultimate adventure Dad!
We brought a little pop up tent to shade the baby and it was perfect. Also a great spot for dogs - there were a few there, all off-leash and friendly.
A Brittany in her natural habitat! Fresh air, mountains and camping 💛
Excited Now? Get Outside!
I hope you get a chance to explore some of my suggestions above for a guaranteed safe and fun time!
I’ve already seen so many of you sharing photos from Castle & Fernie, and it makes my heart happy! Check my “Camping” Highlight on Instagram for more behind the scenes.
If you live outside of Canada or Alberta, thanks for living vicariously through my camping escapades and please remember to DM me for all the local gems just as soon as it’s safe to travel here again!
Keep scrolling or click here for all the Canadiana art from the shop to commemorate your trips or deck out your camper.
Thanks SO much for your support!
Xo Brittany
Shop handmade Canadiana art prints for your home or camper
Follow along on Instagram for all my latest adventures!
Virtual Baby Shower
How to Host a Beautiful Virtual Baby Shower in 6 Steps
After lots of fun chats on Instagram and questions about ours, I thought I’d share the whole process and 6 easy steps for how to host a beautiful virtual baby shower. I’ve also included a free template for all the games that I created - simply sign up for my email list for the link (at the bottom of this post).
Huge congratulations to all the fellow mamas-to-be! You’re getting to share a big piece of your heart with those who love you and you can never go wrong with that. I promise: this will be FUN! (and oh so beautiful)
I’m officially 30 weeks pregnant over here and couldn’t be more excited. I’ve been planning out the nursery for months (why are there 1,000 options for every. single. thing online?!) but only just started to make purchases and get creative with the nursery artwork over the last few weeks. There’s something so incredibly special about painting and calligraphing pieces for my daughter that I know will be in our family for years and years to come. Cue the happy tears!
My older sister Katrina is also expecting her first baby girl in just a few weeks too. *Squeal* She lives in Ontario, and we live in Alberta (about a 4 hour flight between us), so preparing for our babies during a pandemic has certainly been challenging when we’d love nothing more than to be spending loads and loads of time together.
The great debate: Do we host a virtual baby shower or wait until the babies are born to get together in-person?
My mom suggested that my sister and I do a joint baby shower since we share so many of the same family and friends and we’re due just two months apart! But, with the current restrictions, I knew I wouldn’t be able to fly home safely to Ontario, and gatherings still weren’t permitted where we live in Canada (March 2021).
So, the question was: should we host a…. virtual baby shower?
What would that look like? Would guests consider it “tacky?” Would everyone (i.e., older family members) even know how to join? Should we just wait until the babies are born and the restrictions are lifted so we can all get together?
Those were some of the questions we asked ourselves at first. We actually agreed NOT to do a virtual shower in favour of a summer get together, but then we changed our minds. And I’m so glad we did!
Step One: Decide how many people and who to invite to your virtual baby shower (cap it at 25)
People were EXCITED! Our great aunt in British Columbia even went out and got her hair done for the occasion, bless her heart!
The rule of thumb is that you don’t want more than 20-25 people to join virtually. We’ve all been on Zoom calls where there’s far too many people and no one can get a word in edgewise.
To avoid that kind of chaos, you want to limit the guest list and have a clear schedule (more on that below), so for us that meant keeping it to a family-only affair. We have a BIG family!
We invited all our aunts and cousins just from our mom and dad’s side, which ended up being 23 people.
Step Two: Create an online baby registry (we used Babylist)
I’ll be honest: creating a registry for a virtual event felt awkward. When you host a baby shower in-person, it’s an event with food and drinks and prizes. It’s an experience that I wasn’t sure could be replicated in an online space.
But the beautiful reality of family and friends is that they want to celebrate your new addition, in whatever way that looks like. We were blown away and blessed by all the wonderful packages we received in the weeks leading up to the shower from our registries!
Both my sister and I used Babylist and loved it - you can add items from any website on the internet into one consolidated view. Yes please!
My top stores for baby items in Canada were Indigo, Well.ca, Amazon and H&M. DM me on Instagram if you want to see our registry to get some ideas.
Step 3: Choose a venue for your virtual baby shower (we used Zoom)
By now (one year into the pandemic), most people are familiar with virtual meetings and tools like Facetime, Messenger, Zoom and Google hangouts. There are some virtual baby shower specific video tools, but they seemed expensive and unnecessary to me.
I upgraded my Zoom account for one month for $20 CAD so that we could have unlimited time. If you have a free account, you’re capped at 40 minutes.
The must haves for any virtual event are: video, audio and a chat feature.
Step 4: Send out the virtual baby shower invitations (we used Paperless Post and Facebook)
Gather the names and email addresses of everyone you’re inviting in a spreadsheet.
I LOVE Paperless Post for creating digital invitations and have used it for several of my wedding clients over the past year. I customized a free “Flyer” option to create ours in a floral theme.
Make sure you include a link to your registry and a link to the Zoom event in the details.
You can send the invite out directly from Paperless Post, or just copy and paste the link and text it, email it or share it over Facebook with everyone you want to invite. Easy!
Step 5: Create a virtual baby shower schedule (See our one-hour plan below)
We decided on one hour between 11-12pm MST / 1-2pm EST. Here’s a full breakdown of the hour:
1-1:10: Intros, how to use Zoom, give an overview of how you’ll be spending your time together, and ask everyone to turn their videos turned on and mics off to start
1:10-1:20: Game 1 - How Well Do You Know The Mamas? (get a free Canva Template of all my virtual baby shower games I designed below!)
Create 10 multiple choice questions and answers related to your pregnancy. Share the slide on screen and ask people to post their guesses in the chat. Have someone keeping track of who won.
1:20-1:30: Game 2 - Over/Under (get a free Canva Template of all my virtual baby shower games I designed below!)
Share 10 “false facts” about yourself and your pregnancy and ask guests to guess if the correct answer is over or under what you listed. Share the slide on screen and ask people to post their guesses in the chat.
1:30-1:40: Game 3 - Celebrity Baby Matching (get a free Canva Template of all my virtual baby shower games I designed below!)
Ask guests which baby name matches with the correct celebrity mom!
1:40-1:50: Game 4 - Toilet Paper Belly Measuring (get a free Canva Template of all my virtual baby shower games I designed below!)
Ask guests to grab a roll of toilet paper - tear off as long of the role as they think your belly is wide and count the squares. Bring your partner in to do the actual measurement live once everyone has guessed in the chat!
1:50-2:00: Open all or just a few gifts
Alternative: Give everyone a virtual tour of your nursery if it’s ready! OR Go around and ask everyone to share their well wishes for the baby
2:00: Wrap Up - Say your thank yous and stick around to say your goodbyes and chat
Once the event is over, send thank you cards in the mail with gift cards to Skip The Dishes, Starbucks, Liquor Stores, etc. to all the game winners!
Step 6: Get creative with your virtual baby shower backdrop and party decorations (for under $100)
I’m personally not a big fan of the downloaded graphics for Zoom. If you have a blank wall in your house and can set yourself up in front of a nice big window for natural light, you’ll be all set.
Our sweet mom gave us each $100 to spend on decorations. Here’s how I spent mine!
$20: Build a balloon bouquet, and put your calligraphy skills to use!
I chose gold confetti, gold metallic and pink metallic balloons from Party City and hand-lettered “oh baby” on the metallic ones before the event. I have beginner’s calligraphy kits in my shop if you’re interested in learning!$10: Fill up on cupcakes
I ordered two raspberry lemon cupcakes from The Art of Cake in Edmonton for my husband and I and they were incredible. (Diabetic mama over here so I can’t have too many sweets! This was a real treat)$50-$70: Order a local flower arrangement
I worked with Fabloomosity in Edmonton to create the feminine, boho-inspired arrangement of my dreams. My budget was $70 and I asked for anemones, dried florals, ranunculus and neutral/pastel colours.Make a “momosa”
Pour some orange juice and sparkling water or soda into a fancy champagne glass and top with raspberries or strawberries.Optional: Use a bar cart to display your setup beside you and to store gifts if you’ll be opening them live
*I wore a floral maxi dress from Winners as my virtual baby shower outfit (not maternity, just extra stretchy)
Hot tips for looking good on camera and having a great video call
I’ve been hosting virtual calligraphy workshops with Montblanc for almost a year now and have learned a thing or two about preparing a nice set up
Make sure your laptop/camera is at eye level with you - that might mean propping it up on a few boxes on top of your table
Never sit with your back to a window - always make sure there’s a window in front of you for best results
Eliminate distractions - if you have a dog or cat that might get into things while you’re “partying,” try setting up in a room where you can close the door. Put a sign on your front door that says “please don’t knock or ring the doorbell.”
I hope this was helpful, mama-to-be! DM me on Instagram if you have any questions/to chat all things baby. I’ve also shared my free games template and favourite art prints for nurseries below. Yay!
Shop Heirloom Nursery Artwork
(Free Shipping over $75 with code FREESHIP)
Live Art: The Atelier Collective Jilly Brunch 2019
A recap of my afternoon of rose, wonderful women and live calligraphy with Jillian Harris at The Atelier Collective Jilly Brunch in Toronto.
The first time I hosted a calligraphy workshop, I felt it: I love to teach. But the more markets I hosted and events I got to perform live art at, I realized it was more than just teaching that I loved. It was getting to connect in-person. Share what I’m passionate about. Learn about everyone else’s experiences. Get feedback on my work and form partnerships and relationships.
So when I was planning my first events of 2019, I immediately thought of The Atelier Collective - a new and breakthrough women’s conference that started in Niagara on the Lake in 2018 and has successfully sold out every year since.
Crafting the idea
Within a few moments on my first conference call with founders Ang & Taryn, we just clicked. It was incredible. And the ideas started flowing.
They told me about the private brunch they were planning with special guest, Jillian Harris, the day after the conference and how it would be an intimate setting with 150 women. They were eager to work together and gave me full creative freedom to come up with a new live art plan for this event!
The Creative Process
Since I’m already a huge fan of Jillian Harris and Team Jilly, it was such a fun challenge to come up with an idea that suited this exclusive brunch.
Florals, pastels, whimsy, romantic, refined - those are the words that instantly come to mind and what ultimately led to the final loose watercolour florals I painted for the Jilly Brunch.
I also hand-lettered three inspirational saying that guests could choose from and get personalized on the event day:
Dream
Plan
Do
Make your own magic
She believed she could so she did
Personalizing live at the event
Going into Ricarda’s Toronto, I was most excited about three things: meeting Taryn & Ang, live lettering, meeting Jillian Harris and her team! And all were such incredible experiences. A true *pinch me* day!!
I spent nearly four hours personalizing prints and writing custom quotes for all the women at the brunch. It was a flurry of pretty pink rose glasses, gorgeous decor, delicious foods and incredible conversations. And to my delight, my floral print design and jumpsuit matched the event design perfectly! 😂
Among fabulous company
I was absolutely away by the connections I made at the brunch. I met the owners of Smash x Tess rompers, event planner extraordinaire Melissa Andre, incredible industry photographers, fashion designers, lifestyle influencers, PR professionals and was surrounded by SO. MANY. WOMEN making things happen. Taking risks. Pushing boundaries. Empowering and inspiring each other to be our best selves (like The Birds Papaya - go follow her if you don’t already!)
And my vendor neighbours, Elate Cosmetics, shared such incredible advice and inspiration about starting her small business and growing it to where’s it is today in Victoria, BC.
I was quite literally in awe to be among such fabulous company and kept nudging my sister to say “is this real life?!”
Hearing real and honest positive feedback about my artwork from people I respect so much was seriously amazing.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” - Wayne Gretzky
To end a perfect day, Taryn & Ang shared that they and their guests were singing my praises and gave my sister and I bottles of Two Sisters Vineyards’ rose (our favourite!).
After having just finished another amazing live event with The Fairmont Hotels in Jasper, that really solidified it for me: live art is 100% my passion and purpose.
I left walking on cloud 9. And I haven’t come down since ☁️
Live Art: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge "Dog Days of May"
How I got to paint 30 dogs at my favourite hotel in the Canadian Rockies!
One of my many passions in life is loving on our dog, Bubba. He’s our precious little Boston terrier mix who came into our lives 3 years ago. So when I was planning our wedding invitations and stationery, I knew he had to be the star of the show.
Well, let’s just say I got hooked on painting pet portraits. And as I was painting, I remembered that the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge holds an annual event all for dogs called Dog Days of May. It’s a 3-day event in Jasper National Park filled with dog-friendly activities like agility courses, doggy massages, pop up shops, guided hikes and more all on the gorgeous Fairmont grounds.
Approaching the Fairmont
After creating a thorough pitch, I reached out to my favourite luxury hotel in the Rockies; fingers crossed that they would be as excited by the idea of me painting all the four-legged guests at this year’s Dog Days of May event as I was.
Fortunately, they were!
Prepping for an out of town live art event
30 dogs were already registered to attend and we decided that each portrait would have the Fairmont logo on it and be placed in a matted black frame.
I prepared all those materials from Edmonton in advance before driving out to Jasper with all my supplies to spend the May long weekend at the Fairmont. This prepping process took a couple months to nail down the details.
Mountains and Dogs - What more could you want?
From the moment we arrived, I was in heaven. I got to meet all 30 dogs individually to take their photos in the communal dog park on the first night (That’s what I used to paint their portraits from)!
And for the rest of the weekend, I had the unique pleasure of walking around the resort and knowing all the special canine guests’ names.
Me all weekend:
“Hey, Norman!”
“Looking cute, Mickey!”
Our dog Bubba was also a special guest and got to take part in the festivities. He even got a welcome bag of treats and bowls in our hotel room on arrival.
My live art station was in one of the main ballrooms beside Zen Dog Massage and other canine vendors. Pawrents could pop in before scheduled activities to watch their pup getting painted - and I was in there for a solid 10 hours!
In between, my younger sister (and assistant for the weekend) and I rented a red canoe and paddled around Lac Beauvert - where I got engaged last year! We also got to dine at big family style tables with all the event guests and enjoy the facilities - which are second to none if you haven’t been there yet!
The farewell: when guests picked up their custom pet portraits
After finishing up the last few pet portraits into the wee hours of the morning from our lodge room, it was time to get all 30 custom dog paintings into frames.
My younger sister was such a trooper and framed every single one!
After our group breakfast, everyone headed into the ballroom to find their frames displayed on a large, long table. It was so fun watching them pick out exactly which one was their dog and say lovely things like “oh my gosh! You got his floppy ear just right” and “even the freckle on her tongue is there!”
Big smiles and big thank yous - the ultimate compliments 😊
What came next
A month after this event, I had another live art event in Toronto for The Atelier Collective where I was personalizing prints with calligraphy for an an exclusive brunch with none other than Jillian Harris!
After realizing how much people loved their pet portraits, I decided to paint one for the event’s guest of honour, Jillian herself, of her two cute boxers: Nacho and Peaches.
Well, turns out ya’ll love your pets and Jillian Harris as much as I do! Because wow. In less than 24 hours of launching my custom pet portrait service, all of the spots have sold out every month this year 🙌💛
I’m so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have live painted all of the four-legged friends at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s Dog Days of May Event for 2019 and can’t wait to be back the Lodge again for another partnership soon!
Shop Peak Paper Co
The Curated Shop is now open downtown inside Edmonton City Centre Mall. My stock list includes watercolour paintings, quotes on vintage maps, greeting cards and more home decor!
The Curated Shop is located on the Pedway level, right next to Tim Hortons and opened permanently on February 22nd. The shop features over 40 makers' handmade in Alberta products.
Two store photos by Kendra Allen Design
2018 Workshops
The first workshop of the year was on March 24, 2018! To find out about future workshops, join my mailing list below.
