Resilient Women Magazine : How to ask for what you're WORTH

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THE MORTGAGE PROCESS

Tanya Appel is a mortgage broker who has been in the business for over ten years. She is the

Communications

of

and she has an extensive background in advertising, public

and event

A FEW OF KIM'S FAVOURITE THINGS

17. INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR BARB BRIGGS

Barb Briggs is a Director-Producer based in Calgary. She has worked on several independent films as a producer, writer and director, including the award winning web series HugO-Gram (Producer); The Redneck Gourmet; and recently the STORYHIVE funded web series Super Drycleaners.

Kim Hayden Chief Editor

EDITOR'S LETTER

A great philosopher and songwriter once asked the question, “Who runs the world?” Of course, the answer has been, and remains, that we do.

The impact of women on our economy and in our communities is so great. Though last year presented many professional and personal challenges to women, it also produced some of the greatest comeback stories we’ve ever seen.

October is Women’s History Month in Canada, a time to celebrate the women and girls from our past, and our present, who are contributing to a better, more inclusive Canada.

This month, we highlight some of the amazing women that are inspiring and motivating us to keep moving forward. Laura Browne shares some insight on knowing our value, and asking for what we're worth. Award-winning writer, director, and producer Barb Briggs shares her journey to becoming a successful filmmaker.

23. HEALTHY LIVING AND RESILIENCE

Karen Owoc is a clinical exercise physiologist and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation specialist who works as a medical fitness trainer and plant-based nutrition consultant. Karen shares her insights on how to optimize health and longevity, based on her own experience as an athlete and her family's history of early onset heart disease and stroke.

Here's to all the little girls, young women and women who smashed those ceilings and stereotypes — Happy Women’s History Month.

We are so thankful to our readership, as you are all strong, resilient women, changing the game in your respective spaces.

LISTEN UP: in October

Join the conversation live on Tuesdays! Kim Talks LIVE with guests on podcasts Kim Talks Resilience and 500 Doors Real Estate. Find the livestream on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Guest Date Time

Antonia Banewicz Mon Oct 3 12:30PM MST Happiness Coach and Owner of Brighter Better Days. She helps people who are feeling low or depressed find better days. She works with the Science of Happiness principles.

Petia Kolibova Mon Oct 3 2PM MST Alignment women’s coach who guides women to intuitively connect with their inner vision so they can experience personal and professional magnetism and become unapologetically abundant.

James Maaba Tue Oct 4 9AM MST James found his love for real estate during his internship on a Top-10 team at Douglas Elliman; he expanded his knowledge through a second position at a high-production office in Queens.

Jodi Wellman Wed Oct 5 9AM MST

As a speaker and facilitator, she helps her clients live squander-free lives while they’re lucky enough to still be above ground — while cleverly beginning with the “big end” in mind.

Pia Antico Wed Oct 5 7PM MST As an intuitive, Pia guides single, empty-nester women over 40 to ditch their regrets.

Em Ducharme Mon Oct 10 9AM MST Em Ducharme is a business strategist for influencers and experts looking to monetize and scale their audience through digital marketing and passive income.

Lilian Sue Wed Oct 12 9AM MST

A long-time PR coach and publicist who focuses on helping creative entrepreneurs fulfill their full potential to become global industry leaders by focusing on how to build a healthy PR mindset.

Patricia Stahl Wed Oct 12 7PM MST

Patricia graduated from Cornell University and has a Master's degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. I'm in practice in Dallas, specializing in social anxiety.

Susie Bills Mon Oct 17 9AM MST Owner of the Virtual RX Agency that specializes in helping coaches uplevel their social media marketing and gain back time to focus on what they’re great at --serving their people.

Susan Conley Tue Oct 18 9AM MST

Susan Conley has a world of expertise in the global professional services space,

decades of experience in

Khierstyn Ross Wed Oct 19 9AM MST Khierstyn is an e-commerce strategist that specializes in fast, early-stage growth for online physical product brands using Shopify

Jas Takhar Thu Oct 20 9AM MST

Kickstarter.

Soon after deciding to try his hand in real estate, Jas founded REC Canada under Royal LePage, and for over 5 years has successfully kept his team in the top 3 in the country.

Melissa Leon Fri Oct 21 9AM MST

Melissa is a twenty year finance professional and co-owner of Two Sense Consulting. Melissa is a mother of three, wife, author and Podcast Host of The Efficiency Bitch.

Celia Barsby Mon Oct 24 9AM MST

Celia Barsby is a Creative Visionary and now your personal Cosmic Soul Guide. Celia creates a safe space for women seeking inner joy and connection to their own wisdom.

Kenya Lee Mon Oct 31 9AM MST

Kenya Lee is a Registered Nurse, Artist, Author, and Women’s Empowerment Expert with a passion for helping young girls and women thrive in life.

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THE MORTGAGE PROCESS

BY TANYA APPEL

I've been in the mortgage industry for over ten years, and in that time, I've seen a lot of first-time home buyers make the same mistake: get ting too excited about what's out there without really understanding the math. A pre-approval is so important because it helps you understand what you can actually afford. And that's not just the purchase price of the home, but also the taxes, the insurance, the maintenance, etc. With out a pre-approval, you could end up in a situation where you can't actu ally afford the home you've purchased, and that can be a real nightmare.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Know who you are

2. Know what you want

3. Know how you want to do business

4. Do your research

1. Know who you are When it comes to real estate, it is important to know who you are as an individual. This means understanding your personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as your goals and values. Once you have a good understanding of yourself, it will be easier to navigate the ever-changing landscape of real estate. In addition, it is also important to be clear on what you want out of a real estate agent or broker. Are you looking for someone who is knowledgeable and can offer guidance, or someone who is more hands-off? Asking yourself these types of questions will help you find the right fit for you.

In addition to knowing who you are as an individual, it is also important to be clear on your budget. This means understanding how much you can realistically afford to spend on a home, as well as any associated costs. Once you have a clear understanding of your budget, you can start to narrow down your search to homes that fit within your price

range. In addition, it is also important to be aware of your financial limitations when it comes to taking out a mortgage. By understanding your budget and your financial limitations, you can avoid any finan cial surprises down the road.

2. Know what you want

The second step in the process is to know what you want. This means being clear about your goals and objectives, and having a good understanding of the market and what is available to you. You need to be clear about what you are looking for in a property, and what you are willing to compromise on. It is also impor tant to be realistic about your budget, and to have a clear idea of what you can afford. Once you know what you want, you can begin to narrow down your search and focus on properties that meet your needs.

The third step is to start your search. This means looking at properties that meet your needs and budget, and contacting real estate agents to set up viewings. It is also important to research the area you are interested in, and to find out as much as you can about the market. Once you have found a prop erty you like, the fourth step is to make an offer. This means negotiating with the seller to try and get the best price possible. If your offer is accepted, the fifth and final step is to move in and enjoy your new home.

3. Know how you want to do business

When you're looking for a mortgage broker, it's im portant to find someone who you feel comfortable with and who you feel confident in. The best way to get to know a mortgage broker is to schedule a con sultation, either in person or over the phone. This will give you an opportunity to ask questions, get to know their process, and see if they're a good fit for you. It's also important to make sure that you're working with a licensed professional who has the experience and knowledge to help you navigate the mortgage process.

4. Do your research

When you're ready to start looking for a mortgage broker, it's important to do your research. You can start by asking friends and family for recommendations, or by searching online for reviews. Once you've found a few mortgage brokers

that you're interested in, be sure to schedule a con sultation so that you can get to know them and their process. 5. Ask questions When you're meeting with a mortgage broker, it's important to ask lots of ques tions. Find out about their experience, their process, and what kind of guidance they can provide. You should also ask about their fees and how they typically work with borrowers. By asking questions, you can get a better sense of whether or not a particular mortgage broker is the right fit for you.

By following Tanya's advice, you can set yourself up for success in the mortgage process.

For more on this topic and perspective, check out this episode From Corporate to Mortgage Broker: How Tanya Appel Made the Switch and Thrived on my podcast 500 Doors Real Estate Podcast.

Connect with Tanya Twitter: @TanyaAppel LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tanya-appel-443b8a6a Instagram: @instaappelgram

Pumpkin Bread

INSTRUCTIONS

first five ingredients and set aside

together dry ingredients

dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture

until smooth

in large loaf pan for 50 minutes or a muffin tin for 30 minutes

times may vary so be sure to

with a toothpick in the centre and

pick comes out clean

can add raisins and nuts. For dessert option serve with whipped cream cheese or a cream cheese buttercream.

KIM'S CHRISTMAS WISH

A tea

floral

HOW TO ASK FOR WHAT YOU'RE WORTH

Laura Browne is a certified business coach with more than 20 years of experience in global human resources and management development. She has trained and coached female leaders from Fortune 100 companies and is a regular contributor to Forbes. Her straightforward and actionable advice has helped women in all stages of their careers achieve their goals.

Laura helps her clients identify areas of opportunity and develop strategies for success. She is also the author of the book The Confidence Code for Girls: Taking Risks, Making Mistakes, and Becoming Your Best Self.

Kim: I am excited because I think today and moving forward, everybody wants to make more money. Why shouldn't we? So where I'd like to start is just diving right in a little bit of that origin story. I am in Phoenix, Arizona, and it's over 100 degrees today. So I am loving it. I love the heat because I grew up in New York, loved it, spent years in California. But I decided I want to be where the sun shines all the time.

So what brought me here? So it was years and years ago, and I was working in human resources, and I remember thinking, I want to make more money. I I remember talking to my boss at the time we went into the conference room, and I started saying, I want more money. And he shut me down immediately. I mean, he said no so fast, and I don't remember the rest of the meeting. I just remember being so upset and so embarrassed because I just thought, oh, my gosh. He basically told me that I'm terrible and maybe I shouldn't go back to work.

He didn't say any of those things. He just said no. And so that night, I talked to a friend of mine, and again, I was feeling really bad for myself and I don't know that I can go back to work and all this other stuff. And she said, well, what did he say? He said no.

Why did he say you weren't going to go raise? I said, Well, I don't know. He didn't tell me. So she said, well, you've got to go back and ask. So I'm getting chills just thinking about it because it was so hard for me to ask.

So the next day I went back and I asked again. And he said, oh, well, obviously you're not going to go raise until it's raised time. And that was the first time

I realized, yes, my company had raise time, and it wasn't for another three months. And he said, oh, in three months you'll get a fine raise. Now, what I did do then? It was smart.

I said, well, can you tell me what I need to do to get the best rates possible? And he said, oh, you're fine. I said, no, I want the best rate possible. So we talked about it, and in three months I did get a great raise. But that sort of started me on the whole journey, like realizing, wait a minute, what do I need to do and how do I need to ask?

And I started telling my friends about this and other people, and I started thinking, I need to understand this more. So that was a huge step for me.

So ever since then I was like, I can make money. This is really fun. That first job was made such a differ ence to me.

I think that every parent should ensure their child has a job at 16. I think it's a great idea even if it's only three 4 hours a week, you start looking and you see the money and you go, oh, I had to work x amount of time to be able to buy this. It starts putting a real understanding as to what things cost and what the value is in it.

Kim: Why are you here today?

I'm here because I don't want just me to make more money. I want everybody to make more money. Be cause once I was in human resources for years and years and years. So I know what goes on behind the scenes and I know that there are plenty of people in companies that make more money than others.

And it's really annoying because I would see these people that were really loyal and really good at their jobs and many of them were now not all women, but many of them were women and they wouldn't ask. And so the people that got the raises were first of all the

ones that asked, okay? And the ones that made it clear and also the ones that the company was worried about losing. And so I hate to say this, but a lot of times when you have these really loyal, especially female employ ees that say I will stay here, I will stay here, when the boss thinks about how do I spend my extra money, it's not to those people because they're not worried about them. If you have basically told your boss I am here for forever and I love my job and I love my job, then you're not going to get the extra money.

I want to help women to understand just a couple of small things that they can do because talking about money is so uncomfortable. I don't know about you, but basically I was taught that nice girls don't talk about money. And we certainly don't ask for a raise.

I mean, gosh, we should be lucky that our companies are giving us money. That's not true. We work, we are valuable, and we deserve to make money. And a lot of times we deserve to make more money than we make now, but we don't mention it. And so nobody is there.

Nobody is going to hand you money. Nobody's going to toss you money if you don't. So I'll give you an ex ample. So I was working with somebody, and she went to get a new job, and I was telling her how she should negotiate. And basically I said, okay, when you get the offer, thank them and tell them what a great job, that you know you're the right person, and reinforce that.

And then pause and say, is there any flexibility? And then stop talking. Don't say, but I'll still take the job anyway, it's okay. So she said, I don't know. That's go ing to work.

And I said, give it a shot anyway. So she said, is there any flexibility? And the woman immediately said, oh, yeah, there is. And then they went on. She got a 15% salary increase.

She said, well, if I hadn't asked, why didn't she just offer me more money? And I'm going to tell you right now, HR, and interview people. And I just saw this on post on LinkedIn that it's not their job to tell you you're not making enough money. It's not their job to say I could get you next to $10,000. It's your job, so you're the one that has to ask. It's really interesting that you're saying that be

cause I just recently saw Lonnie Love, who is from the Real and all those TV shows, and I think she's come dian, very good talk. Actually, I was in Phoenix. I saw her in Phoenix three weeks ago.

She had a quote that will stick with me for the rest of my life. "A closed mouth never gets fed."

Kim: We're going to be diving a little bit into the why, but I want to create the foundation so people know your value that you bring. So you have 20 years ex perience and ten books. Walk me through a little bit about this path for you because we know that we're seeing the great resignation with women over 40. Oh, yeah. And coming from corporate and moving into entrepreneurial is really scary for a lot of people. There's no instructions that come with this. You have to find a leader to follow like yourself. So share with us a little bit of your journey, discovering the path. Well, so this is really interesting that you say that, be cause I was purely a corporate person. I just figured I would live my life in corporate. Well, life doesn't al ways go the way you expect. I was working at a small company, and I wasn't really happy.

And I was working from home then, which was kind of unusual. And I was sick. I was really sick. And so I finally got up and I checked my voicemail message, and I had been laid off by voicemail from this com pany. Yeah, in retrospect, I should have known things weren't going that well, but I thought, oh, it won't happen to me. I was part of the layoff. I was the sole provider for my family. I had a little kid, I had a mort gage. I did not have a choice. And so basically, I looked for another job.

And the quickest way for me to get another job was to be a contractor at a company. And suddenly I was like, I'm a contractor, and I only work for a certain number of hours and I can do other stuff on the side. I was like, I love this. And so I started looking for other gigs. And so I was an entrepreneur for years and years and years, and I did training and I did coaching, and I did all sorts of things, and it was really fun. And then I decided, you know what? Maybe corporate life is good. And I dipped my toe back in the corporate life again, and I realized it was okay and it's good for a while, depending on your boss. But what I learned

from that whole experience, because now I'm back in entrepreneur, what I learned from that whole experi ence is you are responsible for your career. Because again, early in my career, I thought, my boss will take care of me.

And some bosses did true. My boss will take care of me. First of all, number one, your boss is really busy, especially today. Your boss may have ten other people. They're responsible for a whole bunch of other projects.

And I tell you what, your boss is really worried about their job and they're not as worried about you and sometimes they don't even remember what you do. So when I got laid off, I was like, man, I am the only person that is responsible for my career choice and my career success. And that brings it to sort of today when I tell women, don't wait for your boss to hand you the wonderful money and the raise and the 3% increase or whatever it is. You need to work with your boss and you need to make it clear you need to be the CEO of your career rather than just sit back and wait for your company to do something nice. Because sometimes they will and sometimes they won't.

A CLOSED MOUTH NEVER GETS FED.

Kim: And sometimes you could get laid off and some times you'll get a big old bonus. But don't leave it to chance. As you said, open your mouth. If you don't open your mouth, things are not going to happen for you. And a lot of times, because of the way our brains are wired, we think the worst. Yeah. So immediately it goes to the worst, because there's a reason for that. Our brains are trying to protect us. So don't ask.

So even before we do that and we assume if we think about the other person, we assume the worst, and we

tell all these stories, and we convince ourselves of it, see, I know I can't get a raise, or I know I can't do this, or I know I can't get that project. And unless you talk like you just said, unless you open up the conversa tion, you have no idea what's true. Yes, this is my personal belief, and I know, yes, my hair is pink. I do look at the entire world through rose tinted glasses. I do believe that 95% of human beings out there are doing the best they can.

Kim: There's no malicious intent. So the only thing you're afraid of is the things that are unknown. So do open your mouth and ask. And obviously, this is part of your why, over these 20 years, you start building this. I don't want to keep talking about it. I want women to be able to do this. I want it not to be an issue, but it still is. So that's what keeps me going. You know what? You got two choices in life. You can either smile and make things happen or you can just get out of my space. Those are your two choices.

So I was actually giving a presentation on how to be happier at work today. I didn't think about that as a choice, but I talked about you have choices. You can be happy or you can choose to not be happy. I'm going to use that later on. The very first thing, smile. Always smile. Smiling, it changes the muscle memory of the face and it affects your psychology. And you know what? It is one of these empowering amazing gifts. If you're walking down the street smiling, and you smile at somebody and they smile back at you, and you made.

A difference in that one second, you made a differ ence. You have no idea how bad that person today was or how good it was, but you just made them smile. I think that's great. Yeah. That's my mission in life.

Kim: I hope everybody out there is getting a really good feel around here. Everything that Laura has to offer and everything she has accomplished. And know that having a child that you are striving to make the world a better place for you truly do put your heart into what you're doing. So quote I love hearing quotes and why they inspire. Share with me your North Star quote. My favourite quote is from Eleanor Roosevelt, and it's do one thing every day that scares you. And I always try to think, what do I not want to do today?

What's frightening? Sort of like, I don't know, being on a podcast or something might be a little like, out of your comfort zone, because if you just stay in your comfort zone, you're not going to change, you're not going to grow. So I'm always trying to push and do new things. So that's my favorite quote, do one thing.

That's awesome. I absolutely agree with that. Growing pains means you're growing. And so being uncom fortable, I personally love.

Maybe not at the exact moment, but I love being in a room of women who intimidate me just a little bit. Just a little bit, because it means I'm not the smartest. There's something I can learn, and my time is being well served. Yeah. It's always that pushing, that growing.

In today's world, we are going to replace your prices are not going to come down. You're still going to have to buy your groceries. Statistically, based on our cur rent rate of inflation, if you made an average income of between 60,000 and $80,000, you need to be generating another $4000 to $600 a month right now in order to afford the same basket of groceries.

Kim: So next time you have an opportunity that you don't even see or know that's there, you seize the op portunity to get the money you're worth. Is that right? That is right. The one thing I would suggest is start early, because, again, don't wait until it's raise time and your boss is sitting in front of you giving you a raise. It's too late. Human Resources already agreed to it. Start four months early. So start today, start now. Start thinking about it. Start asking. Maybe your boss is already thinking about giving you a raise. So give them the question and help them to start working on it so you can make more money. Give them permission to treat your right.

Connect with Laura Instagram: @careertipsforwomen Twitter: @LauraBrowne7 Facebook: @Career-Tips-For-Women LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurabrowne/

HOW TO LAUNCH A SUCCESSFUL PODCAST

BY KIM HAYDEN

If you're thinking about launching a podcast, you're not alone. In recent years, podcasting has exploded in pop ularity, and it's now estimated to be a 94 billion dollar industry by 2028. With so many podcasts out there, you might be wondering if there's room for yours. The short answer is yes— there's definitely room for your voice in the podcasting world. Here's everything you need to know about launching a successful podcast.

1. FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR PODCAST WILL BE ABOUT.

The first step to launching a successful podcast is figuring out what your podcast will be about. What are you passionate about? What do you want to share with the world? When you find your niche, that's when things really start to come together.

2. CHOOSE A CATCHY NAME AND CREATE COMPELLING ARTWORK.

Your podcast name and artwork are what will first catch people's attention, so you want to make sure they're both catchy and eye-catching. Once you have a name and artwork that you're happy with, it's time to start thinking about format and content.

3. CHOOSE A FORMAT AND START PLANNING YOUR CONTENT.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to format and content for your podcast. Will you inter

view guests? Will you do solo episodes? What kind of topics will you cover? Answering these questions will help you start planning the actual content of your episodes.

4. FIND THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND EDITING SOFTWARE.

In order to create professional-sounding episodes, you'll need the right equipment and editing soft ware. There are tons of great options out there depending on your budget and needs, so do some research and find what works best for you.

5. HIT RECORD AND HAVE FUN!

Now that you've done all the behind-the-scenes work, it's time to hit record and have some fun! Re member, the most important thing is that you enjoy yourself and stay true to your vision for the show.

Podcasting is a great way to connect with people all over the world who share your interests— but before you hit record, there's some work to be done behind the scenes. By following these simple tips, you'll be well on your way to launching a suc cessful podcast that reflects your unique voice and vision . Happy recording!

INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR BARB BRIGGS

Barb Briggs is a director, writer and producer based in Calgary. She has worked on several independent film and television productions including Finding Normal, Tic Toc, The Healing, The Prize, Weeds in the Garden, as well as award-winning series Hug-O-Gram and Super Drycleaners She was a director/ producer on two seasons of Homes & Lifestyles Canada, is a published writer, and the founder of Asvoria Media Inc.

Her films have played around the world in Canada, the US, and the UK.

Barb Briggs Director, writer and producer

Barb received her training through the Whistler Film Festival Digital First Lab, Women in the Director’s Chair, the National Screen Institute, and the Indepen dent Production Fund. She has been the recipient of multiple grants and fellowships including TELUS STORYHIVE, the Harold Greenburg Fund, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the National Film Board, and the Alberta Media Fund to name a few.

Her most recent films Indifference and The Choice, were released this year.

Kim: How did you get into filmmaking?

It definitely was not a straight line into filmmaking. I’ve tried my hand at quite a few different jobs and careers, from working in restaurants, garden centres and retail, to researcher, interior decorator, event planner, international development, communications manager, writer, and executive director of various charitable organizations. Underneath all of these I had a passion for gathering stories and the arts. Books and movies have always been a huge part of my life. From the time I learned to read, I could always be found with a book in hand and a pile more to read, and every Friday was movie night. It’s probably a bit cliché, but stories allowed me to live vicariously

through someone else, to visit faraway or magical places, and to go on adventures.

After having kids, I wanted to do something more creative so I enrolled in a visual design program and turned to photography. For the next ten years I focused on documenting and capturing moments in time and place. While compiling a photo documen tary on local organic food growers, I found myself wanting sound and motion but had no experience working with video. Volunteering had always been a way for me to learn, so I found a feature film that was looking for a Unit Stills Photographer. This placed me in the unique position where I was free to move around a set and observe all the aspects of the filmmaking process.

From there I was hooked. I participated in as many workshops and mentorship programs as I could before venturing into making my first short film as writer-director. I found that all the experiences I had up until this point came together in a perfect set of skills for filmmaking.

Since then, I’ve produced, written and directed multiple short films, award winning web series, music

Scene from Barb Briggs' film, Indifference.

videos, documentaries and 36 episodes of ½ hour lifestyle content.

Kim: Where do you get your ideas for your films?

I tend to draw inspiration from my childhood and dayto-day experiences. The first film I made was based on an experience I had when I was about six. We won this giant bear at a fair and that night my brother and I swore we saw it move on a swivel chair. I turned that memory into a story about imagination, reality and fears. Other sources of inspiration include music, things I hear my kids say or do, current events and history.

Kim: What are you currently working on?

I just finished a short film entitled Indifference, which is doing a festival run. It received an honorable mention at the Women X Film Festival in the UK, and will be playing at the Toronto International Women Festival and the Central Alberta Film Festival. Indiffer ence follows Lindsay, a middle-aged, married, mother that does most of the physical and emotional labour for her family and her marriage, on one day in her life. The film starts with Lindsay buying a gift for her hus band in the hopes of having an intimate evening with him. When she arrives home, she faces a mess and both her husband and son are wrapped up in their own worlds to notice the house and her. This results in an argument – an argument that isn’t new to the couple. She decides to keep the peace and proceed with her plans for a romantic night. But much like ear lier, she doesn’t get the response she was looking for.

Kim: What do you hope to achieve with this film?

My primary goal is to evoke an emotion with the audience and share a story that I think is quite com mon amongst women, but often overlooked. As a middle-aged, married, mother of two, this could be my story – and at times it has been my story. This film is essentially a very personal exploration of married life. It draws not only on my own experiences, but those of a number of women I’ve had conversations with. A common thread through these conversations has been a sense of complacency and indifference that can grow in a relationship over time. There’s not a specific event or action that can pointed by, but rather a series of daily occurrences that wear away at the relationship and individual identities. When you

add in idealized versions and expectations of what a mother, wife, romance, etc., “should” look like, it can make for a strong sense of failure and isolation. What I’ve found interesting is that despite all the mixed feelings, many of these women persist and stay in the relationships. Even though the film ends on a sad note, it is only meant to show a moment in time. I’ve found that the majority of films about relationships focus on the start – that romantic stage where every thing is bright and happy – or the end of a relation ship – showing the demise of the relationship and the resulting fallout. For this film I wanted to show that in-between stage. That daily grind. We don’t know what Lindsay will do the next day. We only know how she feels at this particular moment.

Kim: What’s next for you?

Right now, I’m putting my energies into writing. I have a few projects on the go including a limited series based on the true story of a mass murder in a small town in Alberta in 1959, as well as two feature films – a family adventure type film, and a psychological horror.

Kim: What advice do you have for other women looking to enter filmmaking?

I would say go for it! Tell your stories and share your experiences in your unique voice. I didn’t move into film until I was nearly 40 years old and I often have to work with much younger people that have more time and energy than I often do. I try not to compare myself to them as I’m on my own journey. Yes, there will be lots of ups and downs and you will likely face rejection, but stay true to your voice and your vision. And bring cookies. Cookies always help break the ice on sets!

View some of Barb’s work at www.asvoriamedia.ca. Her film Indifference will be screening at various film festivals in 2022/23 and will be made available online after it has finished its festival run.

Connect with Barb Twitter: @BriggsBarb Instagram: @BriggsBarb LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/barb-briggs-8b9b4a7

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DIY HARVEST BOTANICAL WREATH

BY ELLI JESPERSON

As Fall fills the air, so does the nostalgic feeling of leaves changing and sweater weather. Encourage your creativity and learn techniques on how to make a Harvest Wreath with selection of dried botanicals with this DIY from Small Flower {floral studio}. Your everlasting wreath will give you that warm cozy feel ing year after year.

SUPPLIES

• Wire wreath form or willow frame

• Mixed foliage (fresh product with different textures)

• Mixed dried flowers and foliage, if you are making a winter wreath you may have pinecones, berries and other festive items

• Wire paddle or wax covered string

• Glue for finishing touches (use with care)

Additional items you may want to add:

• Ribbon, twine, or special accents from your own craft closet.

1. GETTING STARTED

• Be sure to cover your workspace with plastic or paper to protect it from being damaged.

• You will be working with fresh products as well as dry products. The fresh product will shrink, so be sure to wrap the wire completely around each bundle until it is secure.

• Take some time to prepare by cutting your greens into manageable sizes so they are ready to be added to the wreath form.

2. ADD GREENS

• Securely tie the end of your floral wire to the wire ring and bind the first bundle of stems on, wrapping tightly.

• Use one hand to hold the stems flush with the wire ring. Using your other hand, wrap the stems with your floral wire paddle.

• Moving in one direction around the ring, gradually build up the number of stems you attach to the wreath.

• Lay a small bundle of greenery on the form, and wrap floral wire on a paddle tightly around the stems three times.

• Remember, you will keep the wire attached until you have added your last bundle of greenery. Do not cut it until the end.

• Add another bundle, overlapping the previous one by half; wrap the wire around the stems. Continue adding bundles until you reach the starting point.

• Add your layers slightly to the left of center and then with your next addition adding your bundle slightly to the right of center. This gives a kind of weaving effect that create a nice fullness to your wreath (like fish scales).

3. ADD FLORALS

• Have fun with this step—this is where you make the wreath look fuller and add colour! Once you have some greenery attached, you can add other textural fill and flowers to your wreath.

• You can use floral glue to hold the delicate flowers in place. Note: The floral glue can take some additional time to dry.

• Once you’re near the end, you may want to change the direction of your placements to soften the look of the wreath.

4. FINISHING TOUCHES

• Once you’ve used all the foliage you’d like to, and when the entire form is covered, tie off the wire, leaving a few extra inches before cutting the end. Cut the wire and tie it off securely. Be sure to add a loop for hanging!

• Resist the urge to add or go back to an area of the wreath that you have already completed. When you are finished designing, hang the wreath on a blank wall, then step back and evaluate. Is there anything that needs to be added or taken away? If so, go back and add or remove elements as needed.

• After placing the wreath in your desired location, you’ll want to know how to care for your wreath so it lasts as long as possible. Indoor wreaths that are protected from direct sunlight should last you two to three years, while outdoor wreaths will have a shorter lifespan.

Elli Jesperson is an acclaimed florist based out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She has been in the floral industry for over 30 years and owns Small Flower {floral studio}. Get your botanical wreath kit or check out her upcoming floral workshops by visiting smallflower.ca

HEALTHY LIVING AND RESILIENCE

WITH KAREN OWOC

If you're a woman who's been told to diet and exercise more but you're not seeing results, this article is for you. Karen Owoc will share how you can optimize your health and longevity by making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle.

It may come as no surprise that the types of food people eat can have a profound impact on their health.

Karen Owoc is a clinical exercise physiologist who has focused her career on using food and exercise to treat, manage, and prevent disease. Karen is a guest speaker on lifestyle medicine and has been a weekly TV health expert on Kron4 News in San Francisco for the past four and a half years, speak ing on all aspects of health in over 200 television interviews. Certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, Karen focuses on the fascinat ing findings of human longevity and the cente narian lifestyle.

Karen's work is personal to her, as she lost her mother to ovarian cancer when she was pregnant with her first child. After her mother's death, she realized that there was a lack of positive, science-based information available on health and well ness, so she created a blog and website to fill that void. Karen's goal is to help people understand the emotional trig gers that lead to unhealthy eat ing, and to provide them with tools to cope with those triggers in a healthy way. She believes that this is the key to unlocking a longer, healthier life for everyone.

Because of her love for sports and family history of early-onset heart disease, Karen focused on a ca reer path where food and exercise are used to treat, manage, and prevent disease. She just released her first book on functional longevity, “Athletes in Aprons: The Nutrition Playbook to Break 100”.

In her book, you can learn what it takes to keep your heart, body, and brain working optimally, and discover why it's never too early or too late to start. In fact, even if you already show signs of aging and

chronic conditions, these effects can change. That's because lifestyle matters. Today Karen shared some of her tips for optimizing health and longevity.

Chronic diseases and disability, such as heart dis ease, dementia, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, and osteoporosis, were once synonymous with old age, but after over fifty years of research by the U.S. Na tional Institutes of Health (NIH), and Karen believes you can prevent or at least control certain diseases through the way you live.

Old habits die hard, though. Changing your habits is a process that involves several stages. Sometimes it takes a while before changes become new habits. And, you may face roadblocks along the way.

Adopting new, healthier habits may protect you from serious health problems like obesity and diabetes. New habits, like healthy eating and regular physical ac tivity, may also help you manage your weight and have more energy. After a while, if you stick with these changes, they may become part of your daily routine.

Here are some tips for opti

mizing health and longevity:

1. Recognize emotional triggers for eating

2. Keep a diary of cravings

3. Find alternative coping mechanisms for stress

1. Recognize emotional triggers for eating In order to recognize emotional triggers for eat ing, it is important to keep a diary of cravings and what situations or emotions were present when the craving occurred. Once triggers are identified, it is important to find other ways to cope with the emotions that do not involve food. This may include exercise, meditation, or other activities.

2. Find other ways to cope with emotions

There are many other ways to cope with emotions besides eating. Some people may find that exercise helps to relieve stress and tension. Others may find that meditation or other relaxation techniques help to calm and center the mind. Still others may find that journaling or talking to a trusted friend or fam ily member can help to process and release emo tions. Find what works for you and stick with it!

2. Keep a diary of cravings

In order to keep a diary of cravings, it is important to first be aware of when you are having them. Pay attention to when you are feeling the urge to eat, and what you are doing at the time. Are you stressed? Lonely? Bored? Anxious? Keep track of these feelings in your diary, along with what you are craving. This will help you to identify patterns and triggers for your emotional eating. Once you are aware of when and why you are having cravings, you can start to work on finding other ways to cope with these emotions, instead of using food. This may take some time and effort, but it is worth it to break the cycle of emotional eating.

If you find that you are having cravings more of ten than you would like, there are some things you can do to help reduce them. First, try to eat regular meals and snacks throughout the day, so that you are not getting too hungry. This will help to prevent those extreme cravings that can be hard to resist. Second, make sure to get enough sleep and exer cise, as both of these can help to reduce stress and improve your mood. Finally, try to find other ways to cope with your emotions, such as talking to a friend, journaling, or listening to music. If you can find healthy ways to deal with your emotions, you will be less likely to turn to food for comfort.

3. Find alternative coping mechanisms for stress

If you want to stop emotional eating, the first step is to become aware of when you're doing it. Pay at tention to the times when you have a sudden crav ing for food, and try to identify what's going on in your life at that moment. Are you feeling stressed?

Anxious? Lonely? Once you know what your triggers are, you can start to work on finding other ways to cope with those emotions instead of using food. This

may take some time and effort, but it's worth it to break the cycle of emotional eating.

There are many other ways to cope with stress and emotional eating besides food. Some people find that exercise is a great way to release pent-up energy and tension. Others find that journaling or talking to a friend can help to clear their mind and sort through their feelings. If you're struggling to find alternative coping mechanisms that work for you, don't be afraid to seek out professional help. A therapist can assist you in exploring the root cause of your emotional eating and developing healthy coping strategies.

Watch the interview now! youtube.com/c/KimTalks

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