Holiday gift guide for fathers or a father figure in your life. These 12 meaningful gifts that’ll warm his heart.
A wonderful and thoughtful gift for the superhero in your life! This custom hard-cover comic book $50.14 “incorporates your kid’s name and the Mega Dad of your choice into a story of heroic adventures both big and small.”
Delight your mom by planning a Sweet Escape for $28.99. It includes a few handmade, luxurious bath and skincare products, a novel (you choose the genre during checkout), relaxing teas, and a recipe card to make a rejuvenating beverage to go along with your themed bath experience. A sweet escape indeed!!!
Beautiful real star illustration map $54.30 created using the actual view from the date and location of the sky at that time. Something special she’ll always cherish.
Elevate her sleep quality with the Slip $165 silk sleep set. “It’s like sleeping on a cloud” raves one friend who recently bought the set.
A wonderful addition to her home with this simple yet beautiful custom print $5.97.
These beautiful and intricate plates $16 will be a great addition to her table setting.
Treat her with a nightly heated foot massage with this incredible massager for $183.99.
Not your average lunchbox $149, elevate her lunch with this cool lunch bag that comes with an insulated interior. She could also carry this around like a purse.
A fun camera $180.95 for the mom that loves to take pictures.
Get creative with some answers in telling your best friend why you love her with this cute “Why You’re My Bestie” book $20.44. Something she’ll look at when she needs a little pick me up.
The almost too pretty to light Terrarium Candle $35.98 to brighten up her room. Simply beautiful.
Instant Camera $129.99 for your bestie, who loves to take photos and print memories.
This beautiful diffuser that looks like art $73.60.
This beautiful Disney charm $39 makes for a beautiful charm for your bestie. You could also give a bracelet to go with it.
Bring a smile to your bestie’s face with this book $14.96 and let them know you were thinking of them. To simply put it, this book is pure happiness and god knows, we could all use it given the year, we’ve all had.
Surprise her with BoxyCharm, a monthly beauty subscription box sent straight to her doorstep for as low as $25 each month.
A very cute set to add to her nighttime beauty routine, this Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask Set for $59 is guaranteed to give her skin intense hydration this winter.
The Daisy Travel Spray Set $65 is perfect in every way, a nice everyday fragrance that smells classy and sophisticated.
A must-have (clutch) conversation piece from Fenben $30.86 to make her little black dress pop.
This perfect confetti lip balm for $22 to give her lips a natural and plump feel with a hint of glitter. (Or, the Matcha lip balm, for ultra-soft lips).
Perfect for your next sleepover with her while watching a movie, a must have cult-favourite TonyMoly All You Need Mask Set !!!!!
#1 on my list this year, this game-changing, Drybar for $198, (a blow dryer and round brush all in one) for a beautiful blowout for her everyday use.
How cute are these? Gift her with this George & Viv Holiday Bar Soap with the oh so beautiful and playful packaging for $10. Thank me later.
This elegant Elephant Velvet Pouch $22, that she’s gonna love to store her beauty products.
Love having your creams cold? Or, to keep your jade rolling nice and cool, this Cooluli Mini Fridge for $49.99.
Picture by Gelcream of Cryo Rubber Mask, one of the best sheet masks EVER for hydrating and nourishing (dare I say glow-y) for $18.
DIOR Advent Calendar 2020 (need I say more? ) for $592.22. A perfect luxury gift that she’ll always remember.
This gorgeous House Of Jo Malone London, $ 210 that contains travel candles, room spray and bath & body essentials. A self-care heaven.
With the amount of handwashing we’re all doing, treat her with this luxury Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash & Balm Duet, $161, leaving your hand feeling smooth, hydrated and moisturized with natural lavender and rosemary oil.
Looking for the ultimate makeup book for her? Look no further because the fabulous Face Paint: The Story of Makeup $18.99 makes for a wonderful coffee table book with divine pictures.
Support local with Nat’s Chocolate Lip Scrub $24 for an amazing self-care experience that will make her crave her favourite chocolate.
Hoorayyy! You’ve made it to the third trimester. The third trimester is from week 27 to the end of pregnancy. While you may be ready to have your little one in your arms by this point but your baby still has growing to do. While you patiently wait to move on to the next stage, this post outlines tips for a healthier and relaxed third trimester.
What does the third trimester feel like?
When asked to describe her experience of the third trimester, a pregnant mom describes it by saying, “The third trimester feels similar to the first trimester because the exhaustion and constant peeing come back. You’re experiencing a huge discomfort as your belly gets bigger; you have to re-strategize how to do your daily routine. Like, shaving your legs is a whole workout, and the process and prep for switching sides when laying down is a struggle.”
Despite all the physical and emotional challenges, most moms would never trade this magical feeling for anything in the world. The biggest reward, one mom adds, is “when you feel your baby kick and move around to the sound of your voice or your touch. The feeling and sensation inside honestly feel like magic. Like every single time, it’s like, whoa, you’re alive inside of me.”
With a few more months to go, I have a few tips to make your last stretch a bit more easy and comfortable:
1) Support team of new/experienced moms:
Moms know the best. The quote ” life doesn’t come with a manual. It comes with a mother,” isn’t just said for no reason. They magically have cure to every problem you have. I’ll never know their secrets. So, now would be a good time to pick their brains. A pregnant mom shares, “there have been multiple times where my thoughts almost eat me alive, talking to experienced moms eased up all of my worries and anxieties about a lot of things.”
2) Belly butter for the stretch marks:
Pregnancy and stretch marks go hand-in-hand. As the baby grows in your womb, naturally, your skin would get some stretch marks that should otherwise be called your badge of honour.
Recalling how she sought relief to her stretch marks, a mama states, “my stretch marks happened so fast and so quickly, so that’s another thing that’s been hard to cope with considering stretch marks was a huge insecurity of mine. Loading up on body butter is going to be a lifesaver for you. ” I alternate between bio-oil, shea butter,coconut oil, and almond oil,” she adds. So, load up on the belly butter!!!
3) To breastfeed or to not breastfeed:
The decision to breastfeed or not to for your baby is a very personal one. The best way to decide would be to learn more about this process by reading books, we recommend this one or proactively speaking to different moms on online facebook groups or on quora.
There’s still a lot of stigma with the need to breastfeed, and it may look like something easy and natural to do. But, the reality is that it’s not a breeze. One mama mentions, “I am under pressure by the older female generation in my family to breastfeed successfully, but the reality is that for a lot of women, it’s challenging than you can imagine. So, do your research.”
4) Excercise:
Feeling tired and exhausted most of the time is entirely normal during the third trimester of pregnancy, and rightly so. But, encourage yourself to do light exercise daily. A long walk, swimming or yoga class will make for a healthier pregnancy and help you sleep at night. Additionally, adding a few gentle leg stretches may help to reduce leg cramping at night.
5) Keep track of baby’s movements:
As the baby grows bigger, there is little room for movement due to your uterus being crowded. It’s always good to keep track of your baby’s movements. And, contact your doctor immediately if you notice a decrease in the baby’s movements.
Kick Counter app is the most highly recommended one from a few different people and articles. It’s good to start maybe once a day when you know the baby is awake, but as you progress, count more often because, by that time, your baby should have a more consistent period of when they’re awake.
6) Create a birth plan:
It’s always best to make one so that there is a general idea of how you want things to go in case of an emergency. For instance- what kind of delivery do you want: C-section, natural or water. Decide on whether you want an epidural or not. And, finally, who you want in the room with you.
7) Pick a hospital to give birth in:
If you have a specific doctor you are comfortable with, ask for their professional advice on the hospitals they recommend. Research your local hospitals that are close in proximity, have top-quality doctors and medical staff, or even get reviews and feedback from other mothers to help you make this decision.
8) Eat healthy food:
Now more than ever, it’s essential you eat well balanced and healthy meals because the baby gets all its nutrients from you directly.
a) Eat small frequent meals:
“Everything feels so squished up in your body, so you can’t eat much at once. So eat small meals but increase the number of meals. Also, you continuously eat because you’re incredibly hungry all the time”, adds another new mom.
b) Be cautious of the sugar content:
Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of nutrients for pregnant women. But, one has to consider the portions of the fruits. “I failed my first diabetes test, and it was because of eating too many fruits. I was shocked to learn the sugar content of fruits, and it’s been a challenge trying to minimize the number of fruits,” advises a mother. When it comes to your diet, eat everything in moderation.
9) Getting good sleep:
Your body has grown so much in so little time; the discomfort during this stage of pregnancy can break up a woman’s sleep cycle. Recalling the last few weeks of pregnancy, a mama reveals, “sleeping is so hard I would have to find the one position that was comfortable and then stay there, but not too long because I would get these killer leg cramps.”
If sleep is something you (like all pregnant moms) struggling with, try these easy fixes-
a) Pillows: If you have trouble getting comfy in bed, get creative with your pillows. Use them to support your body parts that feel uncomfortable. Pro tip: many women find folding a pillow over, and placing between the legs can help. We recommend using a pregnancy pillow.
b) Environment: Make sure your environment is right for sleeping. Please switch off the TV or laptop, turn the lights off and make sure the window is open for fresh air. Pregnant women tend to feel hotter, so make sure the room is cool enough.
Finally, If you still have trouble falling asleep, try reading a book for a while and have a warm glass of milk with turmeric.
10) Stay hydrated:
It is essential to stay hydrated as your kidneys are now ‘peeing for two’ and will be filtering up more blood than usual. So, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. Like most mothers, if you need to track your water intake, we recommend buying this super cute water bottle that exactly does that.
11) Relax and self-care:
While it’s completely normal to be stressed and feel anxious during pregnancy, you must keep your calm and stay relaxed. If you’re feeling tense, take a warm bath just before bed and try a few deep breathing or relaxation exercises.
Moms start to experience a lot of stress as they mentally prepare for this new role and chapter of life. Self-care is so essential during this time. “I’ve been journaling my journey and doing the paint by number canvases,” states a mom. Stretching and yoga are other super useful things, especially with all the back pain you feel due to pregnancy.
12) Enjoy some alone time:
This is the only time you’re going to have for yourself before the baby arrives, so enjoy it as much as possible.
I hope this helps. All the best! Most of all, sending you all virtual kisses and pats on your beautiful pregnant bellies. Take gentle care of yourselves during this magical time of your life.
What pregnancy tips would you share? Did you have any unusual cravings? Anything else that you would like to share? I’d love to know in the comments below.
Earlier this week, my cousin asked me to help with her art project. I readily agreed, wanting a break from the monotony of my days. I was pleasantly surprised, but it also made me realize that…
I don’t have a hobby.
Sure, I love reading books, listening to music, hanging out with my friends, long walks (if it counts as one?) or this blog. I am not sure if it counts as a hobby. Eventually, all of them seemed like work or a task sometimes, no matter how much I adore doing in my weekly routine. And on these long winter nights with strict quarantine regulations, it was refreshing to help my cousin with her project.
Shortly after, she explained to me the project- to use cuts outs from magazines, books, newspapers or comics and implement different art forms using the cutouts. Naturally, my interest piqued in her little art project. With everything going in the world with politics, work and mentally preparing for the cold weather ahead, I found it was calming to have a little hobby that required my full attention. Furthermore, it made me forget about the everyday worries, mindless unintentional scrolling or any activity that leaves your mind lazy and bored. No thanks.
Here, I share with you our week full of art activities that were fun for my brain, mind and soul. Here goes:
We tend to underestimate the power and beauty of art in little things around us. I urge you to try something that feeds your mind. A hobby that’s just yours for you to have fun and have a good time. It had the same effect on me as reading poetry. All week it was exciting to have a fun project planned. Now, I have something new and exciting to fill up my days with. I would highly recommend you try carving out some time for a hobby. No rules. No explanations. Just fun.
Here’ a little tip: find something that brings your thoughts and focus on the now. You have to be fully present and immerse yourself in your choice of activity.
It was a gentle reminder of this quote from the Deads Poets Society: “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.
Lastly, don’t underestimate your hobbies- whatever they might be for you. Don’t be scared to make mistakes, have fun, unlearn what you already know and learn something new. Look at things from different perspective.
Do you have a hobby? Are you someone that would love to share their hobbies or flaunt their work? I’d love to hear/see your art.
Sabrina Mann is an Edmonton based fashion model and a beauty consultant. She is also a serious beauty enthusiast who posts her own incredible makeup and hair tutorials on Instagram. “I want to inspire others to live a meaningful, passionate, and fulfilling life.” she describes as her motto in life.
Here, she shares her all-natural vegan skincare routine, her go-to lipstick and how her online business transformed her life.
First, let’s talk about beauty. What’s your beauty philosophy/mantra?
I like to keep things organic and natural! Having healthy, glowing skin is a necessity! Wearing minimal to no makeup and feeling fully confident is the ultimate goal!
When do you feel most beautiful?
I feel the most beautiful as my natural, confident, happy self. Being a fashion lover, wearing my styled looks makes me feel even more beautiful!
Anyone that follows you on Instagram knows you’re a big skincare enthusiast. Could you walk me through your morning/night skincare routine?
My Monat skincare routine has absolutely transformed my skin!
I also love using skin tools every few weeks to give my skin some extra care. My faves are my blade for dermaplaning, microdermabrasion and micro-needling! And of course, don’t forget to exfoliate 2-3x a week with a gentle, hydrating scrub! I use this one.
The word self-care is buzzing right now. What are some of the things that help you feel good?
Number 1 on my list would be taking a nice hot bath! Baths help me wind down and also help my sore muscles since I workout regularly. Having a gym routine has helped a lot with my energy and really helps clear my mind. I also love meditating every morning and night. Really helps start my day off right and release or work through any stagnant energy!
We’ve talked about your love for fashion, and it’s clearly evident on your Instagram. You’re always doing different fashion hauls on your Instagram. Do you have any favourite sources?
You’ve mentioned several times that your business has changed your life. Can you tell me a little bit more about that?
I work with Monat- a vegan hair and skincare brand, and it has changed my life forever. I started this online business, not having a single clue about anything that I was doing. It made me super nervous, but I met such amazing supportive and like-minded people! Being in that environment pushed me to grow and become the person I am today.
I have grown so much as a person over the last two years of my doing this business, and it makes me so happy. I want to make a difference in this world and inspire others to control their lives and do the things that make them happy! My business provides me with the stability and flexibility I need to live out this lifestyle!
Who’s your fashion inspiration, and why?
I wouldn’t say I have one specific fashion inspiration, honestly. I take inspiration from so many places! Pop culture, designers/brands or celebs have always influenced my style. I take what I like and make it into my own.
Your go-to makeup routine? (with product names)
I like to keep it simple and minimal. I love doing full glam, but natural makeup that highlights my features is my go-to!
One person living or dead you could go to dinner with, and why?
Rihanna because she’s my idol!! A queen inside and out, I’d love to meet her.
With your social media presence on Instagram, how do you maintain a level of privacy in your life?
I like to be open and vulnerable to my social media and show people the real me! To show people that I am not this perfect person, share my struggles, and celebrate my wins. Of course, that doesn’t mean I share absolutely everything. There are certain boundaries I have; however, I am generally a very open person.
Your Instagram is extremely uplifting and optimistic. I was pleasantly surprised to see that same level of optimism in real life. Where does all that positivity come from daily?
It all started with my personal development journey that went hand in hand with starting my business. Mastering your mindset is key! I don’t wake up energized and motivated every morning. It all comes down to my mindset, discipline and desire to be better! If there something I am passionate about, I will absolutely do everything it takes to achieve it. Yes, I do have my days where I am not so positive, but I have the compassion and awareness to shift my perspective during those times.
You are always so confident and seem so unshakable at all times. However, we as humans tend to have insecurities no matter how much we deny. What do you do to curb your insecurities?
Yes absolutely! I would say I am 99% confident and have maybe 1% insecurities. That is the result of all my personal growth, but it wasn’t always like that. Whats really helped me overcome my insecurities is fully accepting who I am and stopping comparing myself to others.
I am uniquely me, and no one else can be that! I am on my own person and on my own path and journey in life! Comparison is literally a killer of dreams and confidence. Just remember you cannot be someone else, and they cannot be you. Only YOU can be you, so always speak and live in your truth. Accept yourself for the beautiful, living, breathing soul that you are.
Having a business based on your cell phone certainly has many advantages but can sometimes take a toll on your mental health. Do you ever have any days where you want to take a social media break? How does that affect your business and clients?
I absolutely do take breaks from social media! However, since I have the right work/life balance, I rarely need a long break. I am also a very organized person, so I have systems where if I do need time away, it doesn’t affect my business or clients! My company does not solely rely on social media, so taking breaks does not affect my clients or income too much!
Thank you so much, Sabrina! If you wish to book a skin or hair consultation with Sabrina, please reach out to her on instagram.
When to walk away from a relationship? a reader reached out to me last week and expressed her problems in the following the question.
Q: “I am the type of person that has a hard time quitting. I keep it going until I am black and blue; now, the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized that this isn’t exactly a fully positive quality. My question is: when do you call it quits? How do you differentiate between trying harder and making things work and cutting your losses and moving on.”
This is such an excellent question. Thank you for bringing this forward. We’ve all been at a point in our lives where we’ve asked ourselves: “should I give up and walk away from this relationship?”
First, I want to start off by saying there’s no such thing as a perfect relationship. Even the happiest of couples will have fights, arguments, disagreements and temporary break-ups. That’s completely normal.
There will be a time when you’ll have to remove the rose-tinted glasses and see if those seemingly little arguments/disagreements are leading to significant roadblocks in your relationship.
If you are at this crossroads of your relationship, then that means you’ve been given several reasons to walk away. If I were you, I would ask myself this question- by not giving up on that relationship, what are you giving up?
I’ve put together a little guide based on my personal experiences for you in hopes that this helps you attain better clarity of your relationship, and you’re able to make the most informed decision. Here goes:
1) Your relationship does not make you happy:
Any relationship, be it friends, family or romantic, should bring you happiness. You should look forward to seeing your partner and spending time with them. Obviously, you cannot be consistently happy all the time. That’s not realistic.
If you start to feel consistently unhappy, maybe it’s time to ask yourself why? Perhaps it’s you or maybe your partner. It’s good to understand why you are feeling unhappy, so it’s good to know why you are feeling unhappy. So, you can either fix the problem or choose to leave. There’s no shame to admit that your relationship is not offering you the same support and contentment that it once was.
2) You’re on different paths in life:
Sometimes you can start a relationship in one place, but you can change mindsets as you grow. Long term relationships can be amazing as you grow and change with your partner. But, sometimes, you grow and change at a different rate than your partner. If you and your partner are moving in different directions, it can be challenging to navigate the relationship. Sometimes, you can be in other places emotionally, and you might not want the same things. If this is the case, then you should separate amicably.
3) Lack of support:
In a relationship, support is critical. In a healthy relationship, you build each other up and have each other’s back no matter what. You want to feel like your partner believes in what you’re doing and is your biggest cheerleader. If that kind of support is missing, you can start to feel let down, discouraged, and disappointed.
Lack of support in a relationship can create an emotional void that can damage and potentially end the relationship. If this has been addressed several times and you find yourself in the same situation, then’s it’s time to leave and drive off into the sunset.
4) Abuse of any sort:
Any abuse: physical, verbal, emotional, financial and sexual abuse and so on. If your partner has abused you in any way, then this is a clear sign for you to walk away from the relationship. This remains non-negotiable.
Any kind of abuse is damaging and results in trauma and heartbreak that stays with you. An abuser always tends to convince you to stay. If this is the case, please, you should leave for your own safety. Please understand there are help hotlines available, and you must contact should you need them. Remember, you are not alone in this.
5) Lack of trust:
The foundation of all relationships is trust. The trust between you and your partner should be strong. If it isn’t, that could lead to a lot of doubts and insecurity in the relationship.
Lack of trust, more often than not, could lead to jealousy. If you don’t trust your partner, you could work on it and try to rebuild it. Losing your partner’s trust is a sign that something is majorly wrong within your relationship, and you’ll need to address it.
However, if your relationship is past the rebuilding stage, maybe because your partner betrayed your trust too many times, then it’s time to leave. It’s hard to rebuild a trust that’s been broken one too many times. It’s all about what makes you happy.
6) You’re putting in more effort than your partner:
An ideal relationship requires a joint effort. While a little compromise and a little give and take are expected in a relationship, there’s something that should never have to be given up in love.
So, when you take note of all the things you’ve to give up to be in that relationship and give more than you are getting back, then it’s time to walk away from that relationship. I understand being alone is hard for some people more than others. Having someone to care for you is nice, but it shouldn’t cost you your happiness.
7) You feel like you’re alone:
If being with your partner makes you feel alone, then you might as well cut the dead weight, cut your losses and give yourself space to remember what you really want your life to look like. Remember, if you wanted to be alone, you would be.
8) You are stuck in a toxic cycle:
For example- you keep attempting to address an issue, and it keeps happening again and again. When you’re in a relationship with another human, you’re both going to make mistakes. Repeatedly. We make mistakes, and we forgive each other and hopefully forget.
However, if it’s something that you feel is not unreasonable and within their grasp to change and, in turn, make your life happier together, and they refuse any effort, that’s no way to live. We should want our partner to be satisfied.
Always remember, an apology without changed behaviour is just emotional manipulation.
9) You’re living in the past:
If you find yourself living in the past, how things once were more than the here and now. Things should grow deeper and become stronger over time. If you find yourself lost in the theatre of nostalgia, well, you can play that movie as a singleton anytime while at the same time beginning a new act of your life with the prospect of a happier future.
Remember,
Before you plan your exit, allow your partner to address the issues you’re having (unless it’s infidelity or abuse. That’s a no-brainer: walk away from that relationship). Give them a chance to fix what they may not realize is broken. You owe them that much. Communicate how you are feeling. If they are genuinely “in it,” they will want to make it right. If you have given them the chance to help you write it and don’t choose to take it, consider it a mutual decision and call the movers.
You know one of the hardest decisions you’ll ever make is when to stay with somebody and when to leave someone for good. The moment you start to think about walking away from a relationship, you’re done with it. Once you’ve mentally disconnected from a relationship, the physical will follow.
You’ve got one life. Be true to yourself. It may be scary to think about life after you leave, but it’s even more frightening to imagine staying with someone who doesn’t value you as you deserve to be appreciated.
(Really though, if you’re asking this question here, that’s a pretty good indicator that you already know. Follow your instincts.)
Finally, leaving a relationship is really difficult. I hope everyone who’s going through it will find much-needed peace and happiness. If walking away keeps you away from chasing a fairytale for the rest of your life, please walk away.
Have you had to make this decision? What signs made you leave?
