Women Inc: 12 Brands to Follow

WOMEN

12

BRANDS TO FOLLOW

Inc.

Woman Inc: 12 Brands to Follow connects you with women-owned businesses that you deserve to know about. World-changing, innovative,and conscious, these brands showcase the power of a woman in charge.

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by Michelle Hughes

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WOMEN Inc.

CoCaBee Creates Powerful Skincare Products From Nature

Frustrated that she couldn’t find an all-natural, cruelty-free, organic lip balm that actually worked, Amanda Lavery created her own. Her company, CoCaBee, has taken the cosmetic world by storm and was even featured in the 2018 Oscar goody bags.

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Amanda Lavery is a self-admitted lip balm junkie. She loves almost everything about it - the feeling, the texture, the moisturizing qualities, and of course the myriad of yummy flavours available. What she didn’t love were the ingredients in the lip balms she was buying.

“I started reading more labels, checking the ingredients and researching the methods of how products we consume are created,” says Lavery. “To put it mildly, it’s a little scary to find out what we are really taking in.”

As a result of her research, she changed many of her buying habits, but couldn’t find a truly organic option for lip balm. So she did what any industrious, tenacious, and determined individual would do, she started to make her own.

Through lots of trial and testing, Lavery developed a lip balm recipe that was 100% organic made from raw, natural ingredients, like coconut oil. Not only did she feel better about what she was putting on her lips, the product she developed actually worked better than the non-organic lip balms she used to use.

Hers were smoother, more flavourful, and lasted longer than anything she had previously tried.

Friends and family soon noticed and requested their very own batch of Lavery’s lip balms. It turns out there are a

lot of lip balm lovers out there! “From there, the idea of getting this wonderful, safe, 100% organic creation out to more than just my friends and loved ones was a natural progression,” explains Lavery. And that was when CoCaBee was born.

With her lip balm recipe perfected, the only thing missing was an equally great container. She looked to nature for the solution, and found bamboo. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, making it fantastic renewable resource and the perfect vehicle for CoCaBee’s lip balms. “I think the packaging looks super cute, exotic, and totally unique,” says Lavery.

CoCaBee Ultra-Hydrating Lip Balm comes in delicious natural flavours like, peppermint, lime, coconut, and eucalyptus.

Lavery has recently expanded her line of products to include creamy, indulgent hand cream, which is certified organic and cruelty-free, of course. CoCaBee Hand Cream soaks right into your skin and comes in four long-lasting scents, lotus, vanilla, sweet orange, and lavender, all packaged in an eco-friendly bamboo jar, just like the lip balms.

“There’s no need to put harsh chemicals on your body when nature provides us with powerful skincare ingredients,” says Lavery. “Every CoCaBee product is handmade in Canada using natural ingredients, making them the perfect eco-friendly addition to your beauty routine.”

To purchase CoCaBee products, visit cocabee.com

Big City Advanced Skincare Treatments, Small Town Charm

Katelyn Rousselle is a small town girl with a big passion for skincare. Her 14 years of experience lead to the creation of The Skin Room, a tranquil spa in Edson, AB, and her very own line of Canadian-made skincare products, Medikate Skincare.

Katelyn Rousselle loves anything and everything to do with skin. When she noticed there were no options for advanced skincare treatments in the small town of Edson, AB, she leapt into action, opening The Skin Room, a tranquil spa specializing in healthy skin. “After all,” explains Katelyn, “we all want to look and feel good, regardless of where we live.”

Katelyn’s passion for skincare is palpable. “I take pride in every treatment I do, and I consider all options when choosing the best skincare plan,” she says. “If I don’t have the technology, I will refer you to the nearest esthetician that can help.”

Before starting The Skin Room, Katelyn spent many years learning the ins and outs of the trade. She gathered knowledge and experience in all types of roles; Spa Receptionist, Guest Coordinator, Esthetician, Team Lead, Clinic Manager, Esthetic Teacher, Laser Technician, Rebranding Manager, and an Esthetic School Program Developer.

Needless to say, she was ready for the challenge of running her own business. “It’s exciting and gratifying to see how excited clients get to come in and see me. I run my business how I would like to feel entering another business,” explains Katelyn, “appreciated.”

One of her favourite offerings at The Skin Room is their Monthly Special Launch. Each month, The Skin Room features a different treatment and special skincare goodies for clients to take home. It’s a great way for clients to test the waters on new treatments and it’s definitely hit a chord with The Skin Room regulars. “The special has massive interest and often sells out in hours,” says Katelyn.

Launching a super successful spa would be enough for most people, especially a busy mom of two young girls, but not for Katelyn. After opening The Skin Room, she noticed a gap in the skincare product market. “There are so many brands with false promises,” says Katelyn. “I wanted to create a product that was simple and effective. I believe you don’t need more products, you need less.”

That’s why she created Medikate Skincare, a luxurious high-performance natural skin care line that transforms the health of your skin. It’s made fresh in small batches right here in Canada and is exclusively sold at The Skin Room.

The ultra-calming formulations of the Medikate Skincare line are designed for sensitive/rosacea prone and acne/problematic skin types. All Medikate products are free of perfumes, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, phthalates, parabens, and created in animal cruelty free labs.

What’s next for Katelyn? Keep your eyes peeled for a brand new serum from Medikate Skincare, launching by the end of this year. To find out about the monthly specials at The Skin Room, follow The Skin Room on Instagram, @the.skin.room or visit theskinroom.ca

Follow The Skin Room on Instagram, @the.skin.room or visit theskinroom.ca

“Since I am the owner and service provider at The Skin Room, I make each and every experience personalized and customized,” says Katelyn. “No two treatments are the same. I build a relationship with my clients and they get a service from a truly passionate skincare therapist.”

A favourite product of Katelyn’s Medikate Skincare line is Glow, a super nourishing skin oil that provides nutrients and antioxidants to keep your skin nourished while maintaining a healthy barrier against the environment. It’s her best seller for a reason, “I love seeing how one simple product can change the skin in so many ways,” says Katelyn.

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Every Woman Needs A Vagina Coach

Kim Vopni is a self-professed pelvic health evangelist. She’s on a mission to break through taboos and redefine how we think about women’s health. And that’s why she’s known as The Vagina Coach.

Kim Vopni’s journey to becoming The Vagina Coach happened “accidentally on purpose,” as she puts it. While pregnant, she used a device called the EPI-NO, a multi-purpose childbirth preparation tool that enables you to connect with your pelvic floor during pregnancy and train for childbirth. It worked so well she decided more women needed to know about the product and became the Canadian distributor.

The original plan was to distribute the EPI-NO as a side-hustle, but things took off. When she was laid off from her full time job in 2009, Vopni took that as a sign to focus on her business full time.

Vopni strives to increase awareness about proactive and restorative pelvic floor health for women. “I saw a huge void in prenatal education,” she says. “But I also had women who weren’t pregnant coming to me with challenges. That’s when my business expanded to include products and services for women in all stages.”

She helps women optimize their pelvic health in pregnancy, motherhood, and menopause. She works in collaboration with pelvic floor physiotherapists - they handle the internal assessment and treatment while she handles the movement and fitness piece. “It’s an overlooked aspect of health and fitness for women and I want to change that”.

Not only is Vopni a Restorative Exercise Specialist™, a Certified Personal Trainer, a Certified Pre/Post Natal Fitness Consultant, a Certified Fitness For Fertility Specialist, a Certified Pfilates Instructor, and a Hypopressive Method trainer, she is also a trailblazer in the kegel community, being one of the first to bring pelvic floor education into fitness and to use the principle of specificity to birth prep.

With credentials like that, it is no surprise The Vagina Coach knows her stuff. And it shows in her work. A client Vopni worked with had reached a plateau with her pelvic floor physiotherapy. Her goal was to run without having to wear adult incontinence protection, and in four sessions over four months she was able to achieve her goal. Thanks to Vopni’s guidance, the client felt she became a stronger runner than she was before becoming pregnant. Aside from personal coaching sessions, The Vagina Coach offers a range of products and services from Vopni’s favourite

tool, the EPI-NO, to her newest release – Kegel Mojo - an online core and pelvic floor fitness program for women.

What’s next for The Vagina Coach? “I am working on a membership program called The Kegel Club that will help bring consistency to pelvic floor exercise for women,” she explains. She’s also increasing her speaking engagements in order to help educate even more women about the importance of pelvic health at every age.

Vopni is also excited to expand her much-anticipated annual event, Kegels and Cocktails™. It is a fun, offbeat, unconventional approach to one of the most important topics that never gets talked about: Women’s’ Pelvic Health. It’s not your average women’s health event and she regularly hears that they have changed women’s lives because of the information, the connection and the tips they have received. “Every woman needs a vagina coach and it is my mission to make that happen.”

For more information on Kim Vopni, The Vagina Coach, visit vaginacoach.com.

The Search For Better Collagen

WOMEN Inc.

Benesse Health grew organically out of a personal experience for founder, Stephanie Gust. “I remember going for coffee at a friend’s a few years back, when she began to mix in a scoop of white powder into her drink,” she recalls. “I was intrigued!”

Shortly after the coffee date, Stephanie underwent prolonged levels of stress in her previous profession, which resulted in skin and hair issues. The very thing that fixed this was Marine Collagen. “I still remember being so amazed at the benefits, I even made my husband take it for his injured knee. He couldn’t believe the results,” says Stephanie.

In love with the results she was seeing, Stephanie started to take Marine Collagen on a daily basis. She tried a wide variety of brands trying to find the perfect fit, but nothing seemed to tick all the boxes for her. Some didn’t dissolve fully; others tasted awful or were full of artificial ingredients. The most important box Stephanie was looking to tick, though, was the origin of the Collagen.

“I was after a sustainable, pure, single source Marine Collagen, free of additives, preservatives, and artificial flavors. It had to be easy to dissolve and drink,” explains Stephanie. She was frustrated that she couldn’t find exactly what she was looking for so she had a crazy idea - to create her own.

So that’s just what she did. Benesse Pure Marine Collagen provides the essential nutrients required to support optimal skin structure and promote health radiant skin. Benesse Marine Collagen is a 100% natural product, meaning it does not contain any soy, wheat, dairy, lactose, gluten, allergens, additives, preservatives, flavours, or artificial colours. It’s easy to digest and quickly absorbed due to its low molecular weight and high bioavailability. But all of this didn’t happen overnight. It’s been a long road for Stephanie creating Benesse Health from the ground up. In the midst of this journey, her son was diagnosed completely deaf, just weeks after being born. “It’s the most difficult, life altering thing I’ve ever gone through. We take such basic, but precious things for granted, and just when you think you have everything planned and calculated – your entire world can be shaken up, but for a reason. After finding out that my son would eventually hear with cochlear implants, it’s as if the black clouds blew away and the fuel and passion I originally had for creating Benesse Health was multiplied by a thousand,” says Stephanie.

Stephanie is deeply involved in all aspects of the company, even when her hands-on approach is not always conventional. For instance, she personally designed all of the branding, from the logo to the labels on the jars. “I still have the 37 label renditions that led to the final, and the thought that each one of these was at least one all-nighter is kind of crazy, but that’s what it takes,” she says laughing.

When it comes down to it, what excites Stephanie the most is that a wide range of people are benefiting from a clean, sustainable product that she created. What’s next for Benesse Health? Stephanie is currently working on a couple of new natural health products, which are also part of her daily routine.

To learn more about Benesse Health Pure Marine Collagen, visit www.benessehealth.com

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WOMEN Inc.

Preventative, Integrative Medicine Is The Best Medicine

Dr. Allana Polo believes that there are multiple approaches to one problem, and truly impressive feats are accomplished with the power of many voices. With that in mind she created Polo Health + Longevity Care, an integrative medical clinic that focuses on the whole health of an individual.

Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Allana Polo, had a big vision. She believed integrative medicine was the most valuable for the patient, and having various practitioners under one roof collaborating was what would benefit patients the most. That vision is what drove her to start Polo Health + Longevity Care.

“We all have our limitations as physicians,” explains Dr. Polo, “and most patients benefit from the integrated approach having all bases covered with a Naturopathic Doctor, a Medical Doctor, and psychologists or clinical counsellors. I felt it was really important to support both mental and physical health, so I thought, why not make it convenient and house everyone in one place.” This approach has allowed Polo Health to create a dynamic team that truly makes the patient feel cared for.

“The clinics where I worked prior to opening Polo Health helped shape the practice I wanted to run,” explains Dr. Polo. “Not only was I able to see first hand what worked and didn’t work from a business perspective, but more so what worked and didn’t work on the patient’s behalf.” She was constantly hearing frustration from patients who had bounced around from medical doctor to medical doctor. The patients didn’t feel heard or adequately cared for. They were sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.

To bridge the gap she saw in the medical industry, Dr. Polo has created an amazing centre that fosters functional and integrative medicine. It’s a fresh take on the traditional medical model that paves the way for the future of medicine.

The goal of Polo Health is to empower their patients. “That’s when the magic happens,” explains Dr. Polo, “when patients feel informed enough to grab hold of their health to make necessary changes to lead a strong and vital life.”

Dr. Polo and her team work together to look at preventative medicine as opposed to reactive medicine. They try to find out why something is happening, instead of offering a bandaid solution to their patients. They pride themselves on getting to the root cause of a symptom, condition, or health complaint.

Beyond medical services, Polo Health also offers many complementary services, like IV vitamin therapy, prolotherpy for pain, acupuncture, and cupping. They have a wide variety of aesthetic services too, because when you feel your best you also want to look your best.

Patients love Polo Health because the practitioners take the time to listen. There is no such thing as a five-minute appointment. They are looking for dialogue. They want to know everything about you - all of the details. As Dr. Polo says, “it’s about support, encouragement, and empathy.” Her practice focuses on building lasting relationships and community, not on the number of patients they see in a day.

“Using a balanced integrative and holistic approach we want to inspire, empower, and motivate you to achieve infinite health, vitality and longevity,” says Dr. Polo.

If you are facing medical challenges or looking to change your life for the better, Dr. Allana Polo and the team at Polo Health + Longevity Care would love to meet you.

Visit polohealth.com for more information.

Autoimmune Condition Inspires All Natural Luxury Skin Care Line

During a lengthy battle with an autoimmune condition, Shannon Lifance decided to rid her life of all toxic products. She was shocked to find out her skin care was one of the products she had to toss. Unable to find truly natural, anti-aging skin care, she set out to create her own.

Shannon Lifance has one goal: to

create the most potent and effective skin care possible! As a result of past debilitating health issues, Shannon directed her energy and focus to cleaning up what she was putting on and into her body. Incorporating her BSc education with extensive training in Cosmetic Formulation and years of experimental trials, Shannon was driven to take luxury skin care in a clean direction and LIFANCE is leading the way.

As the Clean Cosmetic Chemist, Shannon is thrilled to provide clients with the most powerful anti-aging skin care products available today. Shannon formulates with rare Phytonutrients and Bio-Actives such as Oils of Orchid, Caviar, Cucumber Seed, Plum and Acai as well as Botanical Stem Cells, Peptides, Hyaluronic Acid, Marine Collagen and Elastin. These are powerful Botanical and Marine ingredients that reduce redness, minimize pores and fine lines, gently exfoliate dead skin cells, nourish dry skin and enhance your skin’s elasticity. “It’s about providing

your face with the love and attention it deserves!”, Shannon explains.

At Lifance, we ensure that our clients experience luxury in each and every bottle. And it shows. We love hearing from customers who are ‘beyond excited’ about how Lifance transformed their skin or solved a skin issue. “As the formulator, this is truly rewarding,” she explains.

“I have full control over the ingredients and their concentration levels”, explains Shannon. “Our focus is on powerful anti-aging ingredients.” As she writes each formula, she prioritizes the maximum percentage on luxurious ingredients that matter – LIFANCE products have no room for fillers or unnecessary ingredients.

Today, there are lots of natural skin care products to choose from but few incorporate serious botanical and marine anti-aging ingredients. This is how LIFANCE stands out. When you look at a LIFANCE ingredient list, you will find these powerful ingredients

at the very top in the highest concentrations.

“At LIFANCE we practice ‘Clean Chemistry’, perfecting ingredient combinations and respecting the unique properties of each one,” Shannon explains. “I found that certain ingredients were powerful on their own but extraordinary together.”

As LIFANCE continues to grow, Shannon loves the opportunity to integrate new ingredients into her formulas. “We just received Orchid Oil and Orange Blossom Enzymes at the lab,” says Shannon, “it’s so exciting!”

What is next for Shannon and LIFANCE? As the company continues to grow, she is looking forward to expanding distribution channels in Canada and into the USA. She recognizes truly natural high-end skin care is very hard to find and her hope is that woman and men who value quality, natural skin care, will have LIFANCE as a choice.

LIFANCE is proudly Canadian and Cruelty-free.

Keep your eyes open for LIFANCE Skin Care’s newest line, The Intense Collection, launching soon.

To learn more and to purchase LIFANCE Natural Skin Care products, visit lifanceskincare. com or find them on Facebook and Instagram @lifancenaturalskincare

A Passion For Whole Body Health Inspired The Best All-Natural Deodorant

We are all striving for love, joy, and health in our lifetime; and not only health, but vitality. Experience has shown that the way to achieve this is by making conscious choices about what we feed our minds, our bodies, our souls, and yes, even our skin. DOM’S DEODORANT has created a chemical-free all-natural deodorant that’s good for you and the earth, lovingly made on Canada’s West Coast.

Meet Dominica Sweet, the creator of DOM’S DEODORANT. In 2008, the universe sent her an unconventional gift that set her on a different life path - Hodgkins Lymphoma. Managing this disease for the past 10 years has taught Sweet to make healthier choices for her family and herself and to let go of things that no longer serve this purpose. “I became more aware of not only what I put in my body but also what I put on it,” explains Sweet.

As part of a commitment to a more holistic lifestyle, Sweet consciously began to choose personal care items that contained simple, natural, organic ingredients. But when it came to deodorant, she tried nearly every ‘natural’ product on the market but none really seemed to work well for her.

So, she began blending simple, natural ingredients from her kitchen that her body ‘understood’ and that really worked to

inhibit the bacteria that cause odour. And with that, DOM’S DEODORANT was born.

Since your body is meant to sweat as a natural cooling and detox mechanism, Sweet did not want to inhibit that natural process. DOM’S is not an antiperspirant and will not clog your sweat gland ducts. The low baking soda plus dietary magnesium formulas ensure amazing irritation-free odour protection, all while allowing your body to naturally cool and get rid of toxins.

Sweet is committed to using organic plantbased ingredients that have gone through the least amount of processing. By focusing not only on the ingredient but also on the processing of each ingredient, DOM’S DEODORANT helps you limit your exposure to harmful chemicals.

DOM’S DEODORANT is not your typical ‘pit stick’; it’s a cream that comes in a pot and is applied by your fingers. But why a cream? “Why not?” asks Sweet. “We

moisturize the rest of our bodies, so why not give our underarms some deserved attention and get to know our anatomy.”

DOM’S is also considerate of the environment - their glass jars are infinitely reusable or recyclable. Plus, Sweet has consciously chosen not to use beeswax in her formulas, a common ingredient in other natural deodorants. Instead they chose to stay vegetable-based, because the bees could use our help too.

In a world where you can’t always control what harmful substances you are exposed to, why not take control where you can, like what you feed your body and your skin on a daily basis. With DOM’S you can make the switch to a natural, organic deodorant that really works while respecting your body and the planet.

For a list of DOM’S retailers, visit domsdeodorant.com.

Co-Creative Sex: A New Paradigm in Connection

An intense introspective journey to heal her own sexual energy led Julie Archambault on a path of healing and inspiration. This spurred a need to help others, which is why she started Co-Creative Sex, new paradigm in understanding the connection between sex, relationships, and personal growth.

WOMEN Inc.

Julie Archambault has a dream to bring consciousness to the world about what is really going on with sex and our sexual energy. “I’m excited about the impact this can have on people’s lives,” she explains.

“I think a lot more people struggle with sex than we think. Just think of all the people that give up on sex. Think of the people that find themselves in toxic relationships. Think about the people who can’t manage their sexual energy. Think about all the power dynamics that play out in sex, and all the insecurities that come with sex. It is huge. Most people experience some sort of stress because of their sexual struggles.”

Archambault started down this path because she was determined to figure out why sex and relationship issues were such a huge theme in her life. What she found fascinated and inspired her to look to help others struggling with sex and connection.

“As I worked through my stuff, I became aware that I was a highly sensitive person, that I picked up on a lot of energy from my environment and from the people around me. As I was processing everything, learning about better energetic boundaries, what became clear was that it was also a blessing. It meant that I had the capacity of tuning into

people’s experiences and help them find out what was holding them back.”

Archambault became a certified Akashic Record Consultant, which allows her to read her clients soul life to understand what is getting in the way of a healthy and vibrant sexual energy.

It was then that Archambault had an ‘ah-ha’ moment, “I realized that sex wakes up our unprocessed emotions. This is why sex has the potential of healing us. Once it comes up to the surface, you can actually process it and release those emotional blocks that lay dormant in your body.” She also realized that this processing could be fast tracked with the tool of the Akashic Records.

The Art of Co-Creative Sex programs are designed to heal her client’s sexual energy, weed out the toxic programming, and help them embody their fullest human potential. Through one on one coaching, or group sessions, Archambault guides her clients to a new plane of understanding.

“I equip my participants with tools to start seeing their sexual roadblocks and learn to process them,” explains Archambault. “When you learn to do this, your sexual energy flows naturally, just like a river.” Her specialty is to help people see beyond their blind spots. And it’s really resonating with her clients - they have been surprised and delighted with the results. Difficult dynamics completely disappear from their lives.

Co-Creative Sex offers a really safe, very efficient, and fast solution to people’s issues. Clients wake up to what is really going on

for them and when this happens, so much potential is accessed simply from a place of consciousness. With programs being offered online, anyone in the world can participate in the Art of Co-Creative Sex.

What does Archambault see for the future of Co-Creative Sex? “I am on the brink of publishing Fifty Shades of Connection: From Violently Disconnected to Blissfully Connected Sex,” she explains. “It’s a book that brings the reader across the sexual spectrum while learning about a kaleidoscope of sexual biographies and healing journeys with sex.”

“My dream with this business is to contribute to the boosting of consciousness around what’s really going on with sex and our sexual energy. I think it can really change the landscape.”

For more information on Julie Archambault and her Art of Co-Creative Sex Program, visit cocreativesex.com

WOMEN Inc.

Sassy Shirts Encourage A Love For Mother Earth

During a yoga and meditation class, Henrietta Devine was inspired. You see, she always wanted to do something on her own; she just didn’t know exactly what that something was. Her yoga teachers unknowingly planted the seed that day to what would become TAGULAN, a Vancouver-based t-shirt company inspiring children and adults about agriculture in an urban environment.

Henrietta Devine knew she didn’t want to continue with her full-time corporate job. She loved it, she was great at it, but she didn’t feel fulfilled. She wanted to do something more, something different, something with purpose. It was during a yoga and meditation class that she decided she had to do something that connected people. But what?

Not long after that yoga class, Devine was in her community garden, pulling carrots from the ground. A young kid toddled over and was disgusted that her hands and the vegetables were covered in dirt. “I told him there were buried treasures in the ground and he can put his hand in the dirt to dig around for potatoes,” explains Devine. “He seemed really excited and was well on his way to getting his own buried treasure when his mom came running over and yelled for him to stop. She didn’t want her son to dirty his clothes.”

This struck a chord with Devine. “How can we have become a society that doesn’t let our children explore, be curious, and feel nature around us?” she wondered. “How have we become so disconnected?”

She knew then this was the something she needed to do. She saw most children living in urban areas didn’t know where their food comes from or that food like carrots and potatoes are grown in the ground.

“I come from a long generation of farmers on both sides of my family,” explains Devine. “Both my parents left their home country to come to Canada to give themselves and their children a ‘better life’. But living in a city, I would never experience life on the farm like my ancestors; yet at the same time, I know that generational knowledge cannot be lost on me. It is with this purpose we support and create education about agriculture for children living in urban areas.” And with that, TAGULAN was born.

Devine has created a line of super-soft t-shirts, tanks and comfies for adults and children with silly and sassy sayings about food, gardening, and Mother Earth. Sayings like, ‘Don’t Kale My Vibe’, ‘Peas Donut Squash Bugs’ and ‘Egghausted Spring Chicken’, are just a few of her favourites.

For Devine, TAGULAN was such a natural connection from her childhood and how she wanted the world to be for her kids that all the pieces fell into place easily. And to this day, everything they do at TAGULAN happens naturally, organically, without haste, but with ease and intention.

The printed t-shirts Devine creates are simply a means to TAGULAN’s bigger goal, to inspire young minds to understand and feel the importance of taking care of Mother Earth.

“I’ve watched my children flourish in the outdoors and in community gardens. I’ve seen the joy on their faces as they plunge their hands in the dirt and the pride when they eat the fruits of their labour. I think

everyone could benefit from this connection to food. In my mind, it is the cornerstone of healthy living.”

“The best part of doing my business is seeing the expression on faces when someone reads one of our shirts,” says Devine. “They will literally laugh out loud because they get the humour or sassiness of what we do.”

Check out TAGULAN’s super soft apparel for adults and kids at tagulan.com

Express Your Inner Beauty with LOLO Jewellery & Accessories

LOLO Jewellery & Accessories designer and owner, Lorena Ponis, has a simple philosophy, “jewellery is an accessory that expresses one’s inner beauty without words.” This principle is what guides her business creating beautifully Canadian-designed pieces.

For Lorena Ponis, the urge to create

has been part of who she is her entire life. “At a young age I always wanted to have my own business,” explains Ponis. “I started my first venture at eight-years-old, baking cookies and selling them to the teachers at my school. My goal was to raise money for hungry kids. I always loved creating new things to share with others.”

While she pursued a career in international business, the desire Ponis had to create and run her own company never left. “I started making children’s jewellery for fun,” she says. “A few friends carried the pieces in their store, and then people started asking if I made jewellery for adults. Before I knew it, things took off. I quit my full time job six months later to focus all my attention on LOLO Jewellery & Accessories.”

The style and designs of LOLO are subtle, yet bold, fashionable, timeless, and always cool and classy. LOLO is a mixture of current

and classic designs that can be worn as everyday pieces and into the elegance of an evening. “All of our pieces are designed locally in Vancouver. Most of them are made in Canada as well.” Ponis also works with a talented team who handcrafts some of her designs in their workshops in Mexico and India.

Beyond being beautifully designed, a number of LOLO’s pieces incorporate healing properties, or carry a special meaning. The striking Blue Chalcedony Oval Hoop earrings, for example, restore balance and stability in times of stress. Or there’s the stunning strawberry quartz bracelet that signifies intensions of love, gratitude, and generosity. “I love working with stones that have their own meaning and purpose,” explains Ponis.

What’s next for LOLO? Ponis is excited to introduce leather handbags to her collection. They are on-trend, yet classic, and a great everyday piece to add to any wardrobe. Keep an eye out for jewellery pieces with a pop of

colour and a bolder design too. “I love designing with metals and creating simple yet eye catching designs. The leather handbags are another passion of mine. Working with new materials reenergizes and motivates my already existing passion for design,” she explains. “Creating accessories for a new season is exciting knowing that LOLO customers will have the latest additions to add their collections.”

She is also working on exiting new collaborations and has goals for giving back to the community. As Ponis puts it, “I believe when our business grows we need to share and give back in every way - small or big - that we can.”

“We all admire beautiful things. To be able to create something that is beautiful and share that with people is so rewarding to me and I am forever grateful”.

Find LOLO’s jewellery and accessories at LOLO.ca.

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WOMEN Inc.

How a Grateful and Loving Heart Promotes Healing and Wellness in Others

Daniela Fisher has always followed her heart. In fact, everything she does comes from a grateful and loving heart. Her company, Naturally Given, is no exception.

Naturally Given was created out of love. Daniela Fisher’s belief in energy, the Law of Attraction, and helping others infuses all aspects of Naturally Given, an Aromatherapy and Healing company.

“I believe that we all have a gift,” exclaims Fisher, “and our life purpose is to discover it and share it with the world!” That is exactly what she has done with Naturally Given.

Naturally Given was created to support emotional healing through handmade products that improve health, vitality, and emotional serenity. “Our products are a combination of Chakra, Crystal, Colour and Flower therapy designed for a specific healing purpose,” explains Fisher. “Use them as part of a daily routine to enhance your overall health or the health of your pets.”

Fisher loves working with healing crystals. “Working with crystalline energy helps the body to find it’s natural rhythm,” says Fisher. “Crystal healing is basically the ‘laying on’ of

stones of different vibrational rates onto the body in order to effect healing and change.” Fisher has expertly selected special combinations of healing crystals. Looking for some grounding? Try setting your intentions by holding tight to the Root Chakra Pouch with black tourmaline, red jasper, and tiger eye crystals. These crystals help transmute negative energy back to positive. You will feel peaceful, protected, and secure.

For happy vibes, the citrine, pyrite, and gold stone in the Solar Plexus Healing Crystals Pouch will provide mental clarity, confidence, and courage.

Why are chakras so important? “The chakras are energy centers that exist within the ethereal body. Energy flows in and out moving on a circular clockwise motion. When the seven chakras are opened and balanced, they create life force and wellbeing,” explains Fisher.

In addition to chakra crystals, Naturally Given carries a line of pure aromatherapy chakra essential oils, for diffusing, misting, or rolling on your body. “My blends were formulated to enhance openness and balance of the seven major chakras, which they are related to the physical and emotional body,” says Fisher.

Naturally Given also caters to our fourlegged pals. Products like her 100% plantbased Fresh Again, Body Wash for Pets, are some of her customer’s favourites. Customers call her

products ‘magical’.

“One of my customer’s dogs has arthritis,” explains Fisher, “she bought our Mother Nature’s Love Joint & Muscle Balm. Her dog loves the balm so much that as soon as the jar is opened, the dog appears and extends her legs, in anticipation of the balm application.”

“She even limps less!” says Fisher with a smile.

Everything about Naturally Given embodies Fisher’s joy and kindness. She loves to give back. “A portion of the proceeds from every Naturally Given PETS product sold goes toward The Humane Society International Canada foundation to help save animals from all over the world,” says Fisher.

“Seeing our customers emotionally balanced, happy, and achieving wellbeing is our optimal goal,” explains Fisher. “I just can’t put into words, how much joy it brings me to help others.”

To learn more about Naturally Given, visit www.naturallygiven.com.

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Award-Winning Day Spa Pampers Guests and Nurtures Staff

To say 2002 was an eventful year for Nicole King is an understatement. She birthed her first child and a new business: Casbah Day Spa. Taking on either one is a feat, but to do both in the same year gives you a taste for King’s strength and tenacity.

Nicole King’s dream was to open a spa. She wanted a place that would nurture employees and pamper guests. Fast-forward to today, King’s dream has been realized - then some! Casbah Day Spa has been named one of the top 10 BC Spas by BC Living, they were a top finalist in Surrey Business Excellence Awards and they’ve been named Best Spa by the Peace Arch News Readers’ Choice Awards for several years. Beyond the numerous awards, Casbah Day Spa’s guests love them.

Guests consistently tell King how relaxed and rejuvenated they feel after spending time at Casbah. Exclaims of “great experience,” “incredibly relaxing,” and “best facial ever!” can be heard from guests as they leave their appointment.

“We are a small business family of educated and sincere women who know our clients and community and take pride in the products we use and sell,” says King. She credits Casbah’s commitment to education as one of the reasons for their success. “Education is very important at Casbah and is one of our core values,” she explains. “We seek highly educated and experienced treatment providers who combine their knowledge with the desire to treat and comfort our guests.”

In an industry that is constantly changing, King understands the importance of always learning, always adapting, and always staying at the top of her game. “Our team members love what they do and it shows in every treatment,” she says, proudly.

The fast-growing spa and wellness industry is always changing with new treatments, products and technologies. Casbah was the first “spa” in the lower mainland to offer laser hair removal and IPL treatments. “We wanted to take a more clinical approach and offer the results people want,” explains King.

Casbah offers both spa and medi-services. They range from pedicures, manicures, and waxing, to facial spider vein removal and microneedling.

King has also created some innovated spa packages. Try the Golfers Recovery Package after a tough day on the links. Or hit the spa after you’ve hit the trails and enjoy the Semiahmoo Trail Package, which includes a west coast wrap and Casbah signature pedicure.

King looks back fondly on everything she has accomplished with Casbah, “with over 17 years of success in the spa and wellness industry, it has been a wonderful opportunity to grow as a leader and mentor for over a 100 successful women.” She’s also excited

for the future, “I’m happy to be part of an industry that I know will continue to flourish,” says King with a smile.

To book an appointment or to find out more about Casbah Day Spa’s services, visit casbahdayspa.com or call 604-542-4772.

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