MAD LOVE MONDAY - Kaitlyn Breederland | Heritage Birth Services

Birthing a Business

Hey bossbabes!

I’m Kaitlyn Breederland, labour doula and co-founder of Heritage Birth Services, an Edmonton-based doula agency. I married young, and shortly after became a mom. Before having kids I worked with seniors in a long-term care facility, but I never really found a traditional career I was truly passionate about.

After my first daughter was born, I started to think about becoming a labour doula. It all started so naturally, having become a mom before many of my friends, they came to me for support and encouragement during their first pregnancies and births. I became passionate about nurturing that relationship and found real joy in empowering them in the months and days leading up to their births. Then, a friend asked me to attend her birth as a support person. I knew it was time to embrace this calling and take doula training. So I did.

Ever since, I have never doubted that I was created to do this. When I started out, I just knew that I wanted to be a doula. What I didn’t realize, at first, is that to practise my passion I also had to embrace being a business owner. I would have to do the “business stuff” first in order to be able to get to the part that I was super-passionate about.

Birth work is a heart-centred industry, so turning my passion into a profitable, sustainable career was easier said then done. I quickly realized, however, that if I wanted to do this (and do it well!) I had to treat it like a business. I had to give it my all, and I had to charge my worth. I can empower women through birth and postpartum till the cows come home, but the turning point for my business was when I firmly decided to empower myself. I decided to charge my worth and in so doing have turned my passion into a career.

This does not mean there have not been times when I wanted to quit! Absolutely I have had moments when imposter syndrome has hit me like a ton of bricks, when my inner critic tells me “I can’t do this! I can’t be a boss and run my own business … are you kidding me?” But. Just like when a woman in labour looks at me in the eyes and says “Kaitlyn, I can’t do this” and I reply “It’s too late, you’re already doing it. You're in it, and you're doing amazing!” Just as I encourage women in that moment, I too have to encourage myself. Like a woman giving birth, I’m too far into it to just up and quit, so I do the only thing to do and just keep moving forward! And it’s been a beautiful, thrilling, eye-opening experience.

My goal and my dream now is not just to work with and empower women in birth, but also in business. Heritage Birth Services has blossomed in the past year to become a doula agency where women—labour doulas, postpartum doulas, childbirth educators, and lactation consultants—can come alongside us and work with mothers and mothers-to-be without ever doubting that their work is a viable career and that they deserve to earn a living doing it.

I'm not really in a place to give advice. This is all still so new. But one thing I know to be true is this: Value yourself and always charge your worth. And when you doubt yourself and your abilities doula yourself through it. Look in the mirror and tell yourself “I'm doing this, and I'm doing awesome!”

Well, there you have it. I’m Kaitlyn, a doula, turned accidental business owner, turned passionate entrepreneur, and now a #bossbabe!

Top 5 Restaurants in YEG - Sarah York | Foodies of Edmonton

Foodies of Edmonton’s Top 5 Restaurants in YEG

1.Sabor

This spot has to be my top choice for this exquisite list for top 5 restaurants in Edmonton! Featuring the flavours of Iberian coastal cuisine using sustainable seafood, served alongside the passion and energy of live music with a Latin flare you are sure to enjoy your experience! The atmosphere is lovely along with caring service. Choose from an array of delicious handcrafted drinks using fresh ingredients, with an interesting variety of tapas and well thought out selection of seafood and as they like to call it “landfood”. Too top it off there are many gluten free options!

My dinner of choice would have to be the “Rack of Lamb” with roasted potatoes, vegetables and fresh mint-parsley.

2. The Marc

The Marc is one of those places where you leave and say, “I’ll be back!” Named one of the top three dining experiences in Edmonton and four-time winner of “Best Steak” by Avenue Magazine, it is sure to impress. The decor is simple and unpretentious, with a smooth casual but professional feel making in comfortable and relaxing. There is also the quaint street side patio available, of course in Edmonton weather permitting ;) The service and attention to detail is simply admirable with choices of a variety of traditional bistro fare.

My dinner of choice is the “Arctic Char” With precisely executed pan seared fish, served with couscous, and vegetable pieces. This colorful and summery dish will not disappoint!

3. Central Social Hall

This gastropub is the epitome of the meaning, while serving high-end beer drinks and food. Central began with a focus on its night time atmosphere but following renovations and months of re-working the menu it's clear that they value fresh, unique spins on classic pub fare. Particularly being impressed with the effort they put in to locally sourcing their food. Not to mention the free chicken wings on Friday from 3-6pm ;)

My dinner choice has to be the “Tokyo chicken” with crisp fried ginger + soy marinated chicken, crispy won ton chips with srirancha mayo accompanied by “The Beautiful Salad” grilled herb chicken, avocado hummus, ribbon carrots, candy cane beets, watermelon radish, spinach, cucumber, quinoa, grape tomatoes, toasted sunflower seeds, apple cider vinaigrette

4. Kabuki Sushi and Grill

My top-rated sushi spot by far! Kabuki Sushi has a mind-numbingly wide selection of items on the menu; the sushi, sashimi, tempura, noodles, katsu and don buri (rice bowls), and a higher level of "exotic" variants. There's an adventure in figuring out what to order, and another adventure in consuming your catch! Fancy sushi rolls, easily big enough to share for two on date night. Sometimes the whole adventure is just searching through the menu, pinpointing those rolls which perfectly match the mood.

My dinner choice would have to be and order of “Dragon Eye Salmon”-House special combination of deep fried salmon, green onion and rice drenched in house sauce with the “House Roll”-Shrimp tempura, crab with unagi, avocado, tobiko on top

5. RGE RD

Last but certainly not least RGE RD! As they say it is “off the beaten path” with this Canadian cuisine inspired by our country’s fields and forest, our mountains and oceans. Source ingredients and provisions from farms and small-scale producers across Western Canada. Decadent farmhouse to table food! Those comfort foods you love elevated! Some special points about this dazzling restaurant are that RGE RD organizes a lineup of Farm Dinners across Alberta as well as having a butchery for some freshly prepared terrines, rillettes, sausages and selection of cured meats along with offering fresh baked breads!

My dinner of choice is the “Four Whistle Farms Duck” with roasted duck breast, duck tourtière, oven roasted pear, garden greens, cardamom duck jus. Delicious!

MAD LOVE MONDAY - Lauren Fuller | Sweet Skin Body Sugaring

My name is Lauren (pronounced La-ren) and my business is Sweet Skin Body Sugaring. I chose that service because I love making women feel beautiful and good about themselves. I also chose body sugaring because more people need to know about this amazing, all-natural way to remove unwanted hair. There are no chemicals in sugar (made up of sugar, water & lemon) and will never burn or peel your skin. Its semi permanent and is also a natural exfoliant. Every time someone tries sugaring, they never go back to shaving or any other kind of hair removal.

I was inspired to start my own business because I wanted to be in charge of my own hours/days that I work, I wanted to get into a field that I truly love (I wasn’t happy with my current job), and honestly, my mom was and still is a huge inspiration. She has been sugaring for almost 20 years and has always said I would be very good at sugaring because I have the personality for it. You must be good at making people feel comfortable and welcomed. I think I do a wonderful job at that.

My go to quote would be “you only live once.” I know, sounds so cliché, right? However, I really do believe that if you want to be a business owner, a teacher or an astronaut, then you CAN. Why waste time working at a job that you hate? Living your life unhappy? You have ONE life, so live it the way you want.

I would love to open my own sugaring spa one day! Right now, my business is out of my home and it’s a fabulous set up, but I dream of opening a store front. I could train other women to sugar and they could work at the spa. Doesn’t need to just be sugaring. As long as its all natural! Facials, massage, acupuncture, etc. I hope I can accomplish that within 2-3 years.

I get excited booking clients in, teaching them about skin care, making their skin smooth and building friendships with women. I learn something new from each person that walks through my door. I feel good when they compliment my home and sugaring room. It inspires me to work harder and do better each day.

I felt like giving up a week ago when I was starting to unpack my sugaring room and put everything together. I was very successful in Fort McMurray with my business because I knew way more people and built it up for 1.5 years. Moving to Edmonton has been overwhelming because I’m starting from the bottom again. I have to work extra hard to promote myself. However, I like a challenge and building my business again will be a wicked challenge. I can’t give up. I need to keep motivating myself and tell myself that things take time. I got this.

When I was still in Fort McMurray, I decided to quit my full-time job and only do body sugaring. I was so scared and nervous. My boyfriend was supportive and to this day is still very amazing about me being a business owner. I thought, what if I fail? What if something goes wrong? But it didn’t. I pushed past those nerves and built my clientele base up faster then I ever thought possible. That was a big moment of reassurance for me. Knowing I can do this without failing.

I have stressful days at times, so I usually have a bath, garden or walk my dogs. I find gardening the most therapeutic because I turn the tunes on and get into my own world. I love going to yoga when I have free time as well.

I hope to learn from other YEGBOSSBABES and I hope they learn from me. Us women need to stick together and support one another. This world is harsh, but if I can encourage even one person, my heart will be full.