I was incredibly lucky to have my mum/ nana visit twice during our year in Vancouver. When Gabe was born, she traveled all the way from Zimbabwe and spent the first three months with us. It was the greatest gift, especially while recovering from a C-section and navigating life with a newborn and a toddler.
Beyond being my "extra hands" and partner-in-crime on family adventures, we carved out time for the two of us. Sharing experiences with her is one of my favorite things to do, and these were the highlights of our "Mum Dates" incase they inspire your own.
The Improv Centre ( Granville Island):
This was a first for both of us! We attended an improv comedy show with an all-female cast, and it did not disappoint. We grabbed a drink and a snack and spent the evening having a laugh.
Miraj Hammam Spa:
If you are looking for the ultimate spa experience, especially on one of Vancouver’s many rainy days, this is it. We chose Treatment C, which is the "best of everything" package: the Hammam & Gommage (steam room and full-body scrub), an aromatherapy facial, and a massage.
The Highlight: Ending the session in the cushion covered Sultan Lounge with Moroccan tea and biscuits. It’s definitely a splurge, but for a mother-daughter treat, it was worth every penny.
Bonus Spa: As an aside because it's worth mentioning - one of the other spa’s we were going to visit together was the Fairmont Pacific Rim Spa. I didn’t end up going with my mum but I did go with my girlfriend Danielle when she came to visit from St. John’s. If you’re looking for a treat, this is it. The variety of services, the indoor relaxation lounges, the rooftop saunas and couches overlooking downtown Vancouver. What a magical morning.
Mom Camplife
For International Women’s Day, the founder of Mom Camp organized an empowering panel discussion featuring working mothers who have built their own success. It was here that we met Eliza and discovered Lavoh, her amazing Vancouver brand that makes reusable makeup remover clothes.
Mum-to-Mum Tip: I don’t expect that you’ll attend this exact event but I'm sharing it in case you’re a working mother with a "nagging business dream." I can’t recommend these types of circles enough. I also attended Christine’s YVR Creatives Motherhood Summit on my own. I didn’t know a soul when I walked in, but I left inspired and connected. If I had stayed in Vancouver longer, these would have definitely been "my people."
African Fashion Week Vancouver
This was such a fun, vibrant night out! There’s nothing like hanging out with fellow Africans to make you feel a bit closer to home. We loved checking out everyone’s incredible outfits and seeing the local design talent on the runway.
HD nail spa
A huge shout-out to our neighborhood nail salon. We spent relaxing hours in their "magical" massage chairs getting manicures and pedicures. They are fast, professional, and do an excellent job. I even introduced mum to her first set of lash extensions here, she loved them!
Author
I’m Mimi, the writer behind Mi & Yu. This blog was born out of a year spent exploring Vancouver with my toddler Yuyu and newborn son Gabe while my husband Jamie worked through a demanding fellowship.
What started as a way to survive the newborn phase turned into a collection of tried-and-tested family adventures, real reviews, tested logistics, and the occasional toddler meltdown included. Now back home in Newfoundland, I’m sharing those adventures so other parents can skip the decision fatigue and get straight to the fun part.
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