Annemarie Tempelman-Kluit founded yoyomama in 2007 when she couldn’t easily find local info on products and services for mums and their babies. As a mother of two girls and busy entrepreneur, she taps into her own front-line experiences to provide readers relevant, useful information focused on making it easy for parents to have great experiences with their kids.
Prior to founding yoyomama, Annemarie received a degree in English and a certificate in Online Publishing from the University of British Columbia, worked as the Web Strategist for Simon Fraser University and as a freelance writer – contributing to publications such as Fashion Magazine, Greenhouse Canada, the Georgia Straight and providing content to such clients as Bloom Essentials and Bug & Pickle.Her expertise is usability, content management and writing for the web.
Annemarie is a sought after expert on marketing to families and mums and considered one of Canada’s leading digital mums. She is the author of Healthy Mum, Happy Baby (published by Random House), wrote the Kid’s Stuff section in the most recent edition of the Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler Colourguide and contributes to the Vancouver Sun, CBC-BC Radio, CTV and more.
She was one of the first Canadian mums to be invited to the annual Disney Social Media Moms conference and among the first media admitted behind the scenes at Club Penguin headquarters.As the go-to mum in Vancouver, she has been quoted in numerous articles in the Globe and Mail, interviewed by NBC, and Today’s Parent as well as featured in the Province and Georgia Straight. She is part of the BC Children’s Hospital Social Media Committee and the Handheld Devices Committee at her daughters’ school.
What characteristics define the Vancouver Housewife?
Hmm…busy, doing lots of juggling, and immersed in the everyday but still aware of the bigger picture when it comes to how their day to day actions affect the world around them when it comes to what they eat, what (or if) they drive, their cleaning products and the like. Though I must admit I haven’t heard or used the word housewife to describe any of the women I know.
Are you a good representation of a Vancouver Housewife? Why?
Well I’m definitely busy and doing lots of juggling and working hard on going green(er) but I never think of myself as a housewife. Housepartner perhaps?
Do you feel that living in Vancouver in some way defines who you are? Please explain.
I was born and raised here so I feel it really defines me. In part because I’ve seen how much the city has changed – I grew up on the Westside, along with many of my friends, but most of us live on the Eastside now. I still remember thinking about buying a house out near UBC with some university friends back in the day but we thought that would be crazy because it was $120,000. If only we’d known…see, I’ve already brought this conversation around to real estate! Definitely a Vancouverite. I’ve toyed with the idea of living elsewhere but I’m too enamoured of having an ocean and the mountains within close range.
Have you ever had cosmetic surgery, Botox, Restalyne injections, etc.? If so, please provide details. If you haven’t had any of the above procedures performed, would you consider it?
I haven’t. Though I did test Exilis (fat melting!) for work. Before that I thought I’d never consider any cosmetic procedures but now I can see the appeal, though not the appeal of having Nicole Kidman’s lips. Mostly I’d be interested in skin resurfacing sort of treatments. But I don’t have the budget, bravery or time right now.
Other than your children (if applicable), what is the accomplishment of which you are most proud?
I’m most proud of the yoyomama.ca, my business. We launched at a daily email 6 years ago and we’ve gone through many ages and stages (just like with my kids) over that time. Now we keep mums on-the-go in the know via email, social media and our OnTheGoKids free iPhone app (http://www.yoyomama.ca/onthegokids/) which makes finding family-friendly events around Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary super easy. Our goal with yoyomama is to do the research for parents on family-friendly activities, services, locations and events so they can make the most of their time with their kids.
Has the desire for affluence/power/money been a motivator in the choices you’ve made for your life?
In some ways – we have to feed our kids after all! – but in many ways it’s been more about the lifestyle we want for our family and what’s important to us.
Tell us about your stuff. What do you like to buy, collect, etc.?
Handbags. Handbags. Handbags. I love, love, love them. Too much. And have too many. I’m also a big fan of cooking “accessories”.
Do you have “staff” in your home? (E.g. nanny, driver, chef, etc.)
Hah! I wish.
Do you belong to any clubs, teams, groups or social organizations?
Does the PAC count?
Finish this sentence: “My life’s motto is ….”
…to be an inspiring role model for my girls and show them girls can do/be whatever they want to be!
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