Sliced bread, sugar free gum, nannies-on-call: all great ideas for moms.

Add to the list these brightly coloured silicone baking cups that can be used over and over, and washed in the dishwasher.

And best of all, no eating paper.

$3.47/6 at Nood in B.C. and Alberta or online at www.nooddesign.ca

As if we needed another reason to dream of a Parisian escape, photographer and breakfast blogger Jennifer Causey has released a new book, Simply Paris: A Photographic Journey (US$24.95).

In the tome, the Brooklyn-based photographer documents a recent trip to the City of Lights through photos of her favourite places, people and things. We love the intense flea market shots and rundown bookstand pics. Naturally, a number of mouthwatering Parisian breakfast shots also made the cut.

Sadly, for now, homemade crepes will have to do.

At Blurb.com

The new Rise Bakery and Café caters mostly to the Monday-to-Friday business crowd but even if you’re not of that set, the fresh baked pastries and grilled paninis are worth braving the downtown madness for.

The second location (the original is in Bow Valley Square) is open bright and early for pre-office java, fresh baked muffins (love the mango-bran combo) and rich yogurt parfait packed with homemade granola and Greek-style yogurt ($4).

Satisfy lunchtime hunger pangs with sandwiches like the smoked turkey with sliced pears, Oka cheese and sweet onion relish on an apple, rosemary, flax sourdough ($7.95).

And before the weekend hits, stock up on the fresh-made breads like the chocolate loaf ($6)—it's worth every carb.

Rise Bakery and Café, Penn West Plaza, 120-207 Ninth Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-262-7474, www.risebakery.com

The newly revamped Vendôme Café is catering to caffeine-loving Sunnysiders once again.

Brought to you by the folks at Teatro, the café’s hearty menu is perfect for a cold day and includes delectable goodies like goat cheese and beet salad, rich butternut squash or tomato soup ($9.95 for the combo) or a ham and cheese croissant with gruyere and emmenthal ($6.95).

But it’s the stunning black-and-white photos adorning the walls that add the right amount of edge and modernity to the historical space. Photographed by Jason Eng with art direction by Shea Kerwood, the three photos on the right wall are of the lovely Calgary model Ania B. (centre) and her equally stunning parents.

We can’t promise you’ll look as chic as them sipping your java but at least you can try.

Vendôme Café, 940 Second Ave. NW, Calgary, 403-453-1140.

As far as summer lunching goes, there’s nothing better than grabbing a snack from a kiosk and basking in the sun on the grass before your next meeting.

Calgary’s Stephen Avenue is a well-known hot spot for the downtown lunch crowd but head a tad east to Olympic Plaza and you’ll come across Ca’puccini.

From the talented folks at Teatro, the upscale restaurant where celebs come to eat (or at least are rumoured to come), the laidback kiosk serves a variety of breakfast and lunch items made fresh every morning at the neighbouring restaurant.

Start the day with an espresso and breakfast panini ($3.80) with eggs, bacon and cheese or head there at noon for a hot pulled lamb sandwich made with braised Alberta lamb and served with coleslaw ($6.90).

And who knows, maybe you’ll see Mr. Pitt there one day.

Ca’puccini, Olympic Plaza, 222 Eighth Ave. SE, Calgary.

There’s a shortage of perfect brunch places in this city.

So imagine the excitement of discovering our favourite downtown haunt Bumpy’s is now open on Sundays from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

No more Sunday withdrawal from the house-made granola ($4), breakfast panini with tomato ($3.75) and the best muffins ever (we’re talking fresh-out-of-the-oven, packed with peaches, coconut or berries).

And if you’re a freshman to Bumpy’s, just don’t mess with their coffee—no extra hot, extra foam, half-sweet here—the talented baristas have perfected a system and it works.

We’ll bet our weekend brunch on it.

Bumpy’s Café, 1040 Eight St. SW, Calgary, 403-265-0241, www.bumpyscafe.com

Cheerios not so cheery anymore? You too can be a happy homemaker at breakfast time.

We tested Grandma Betty's scones by Joy Road Catering from this month's Western Living magazine, and they are the lightest, fluffiest, downright best we've ever had.

So pour some coffee, hand him the recipe, and head back to bed.

For scone recipe, visit Western Living magazine.