Women Rock Magazine - Spring 2021

SPRING 2021 Empowering Women Everywhere

KCOR NEMOW

COLOUR YOUR FINDING GRATITUDE WORLD IN A PANDEMIC

IN A PANDEMIC

LAUGHTER AS MEDICINE

DECADENT DESIGNS

DESIGN YOUR LIFE

WOMEN ROCK

CONTENTS DECADENT DESIGNS

06 A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR WELCOME TO WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE.

10 PSYCHOLOGY OF COLOUR THE POWER OF COLOUR AND HOW IT AFFECTS OUR EMOTIONS.

BY DEE SINHA

12 LAUGHTER AS MEDICINE BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS TO INSPIRE YOU AND PUT YOU IN THE MOOD TO DECORATE YOUR SPACE

a master bath makeover

35 35

THE HEALING POWER OF LAUGHTER

BY EVA WONG

13 FEATURE

FINDING GRATITUDE IN A PANDEMIC

BY CAROLE BLACKBURN 16 DEE SINHA DESIGN

CREATING BEAUTIFUL HOMES TO LIVE IN

BY DEE SINHA

18 THE POWER OF GOLD AND DIAMONDS

8

20

THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDSHIP 10 POWERFUL REASONS WHY WE NEED OUR BESTIES.

BY DEE SINHA

ACCESSORIZING YOUR SPACE THE ART OF ACCESSORIZING. BEAUTIFY YOUR SPACE. IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS.

BY DEE SINHA

29 BECOMING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER DOING WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

BY STACEY SPARE

31 WEALTH MANAGEMENT ESTATE PLANNING DURING COVID-19

BY SANDRA DUROCHER

NOT JUST AN ACCESSORY

BY STEPHANIE DARBY COOMBS

20 DESIGN YOUR LIFE DECLUTTER YOUR PAST . THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE AND TAKING CARE OF YOU. BY EVA WONG

24 WHO'S YOUR SUPERHERO

AN INSPIRATIONAL STORY ABOUT MY NANNY, MY SUPERHERO. A LADY TO LOOK UP TO!

BY DEE SINHA

26 PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

A BOUDOIR SHOOT. FALL IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF

BY EVA WONG

WOMEN ROCK

CONTENTS 52

DECADENT DESIGNS

Features 13 FINDING GRATITUDE IN A PANDEMIC

20 DESIGN YOUR LIFE

34 PREVENTING MUSCLE LOSS

BY LYNNE JENKINS 36 TURNING 18

BY OLIVIA SINHA 37 WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN

BY DEE SINHA 38 BUDGET FRIENDLY TIPS AND TRICKS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR MAKEUP AND SKINCARE PRODUCTS

BY LISA FLETCHER 40 THE POWER OF HOME STAGING

BY DEE SINHA 42 WOMEN IN ROCK

BY DEE SINHA 44 A PASSION FOR FASHION - AN INTENSE LOVE AFFAIR

BY DEE SINHA 47 QUOTES ON ENCOURAGEMENT AND COMPASSION 48 THE ART OF ACCESSORIZING

BY DEE SINHA 51 COLOUR YOUR WORLD

BY DEE SINHA 52 DECADENT DESIGNS

BY DEE SINHA 58 MANAGING STRESS AND YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

BY SHONA DANIELS

Image Courtesy of: Eva Wong Photography

Cover Picture Courtesy of: Eva Wong Photography

63 SPRING CLEANING - A FAMILY AFFAIR

BY DEE SINHA 64 HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

BY EVA WONG

WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

MISSION STATEMENT WOMEN ROCK is a virtual interactive, online women’s magazine targeted to female audiences ages 30 and up, while maintaining the inclusivity of younger and older women of all ages.

We provide inspirational stories and articles that motivate and nurture the mind, body and spirit. We are dedicated to providing fun, knowledgeable, and meaningful content to amazing women everywhere.

The Goal of Women Rock Magazine is to empower, inspire, uplift and support all women while encouraging them to be their very best selves.

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WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

Be Inspired

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A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

H

HI EVERYONE! WELCOME TO WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE. WE ARE OVERJOYED WITH EXCITEMENT IN LAUNCHING OUR FIRST ONLINE INTERACTIVE ISSUE OF THIS EMPOWERING WOMEN'S MAGAZINE. IT HAS BEEN AN EXCITING JOURNEY OF HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND WE ARE THRILLED TO OFFER OUR READERS AN ARRAY OF DIVERSE TOPICS. WE ARE A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ARTICLES THAT INSPIRE, UPLIFT, ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL READERS OF ALL AGES.

I AM SENDING A HUGE THANK YOU OUT TO EVA WONG FOR HER PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERTISE, HER AMAZING COLLABORATION AND VERY INFORMATIVE AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN ARTICLES. I ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU IMMENSELY. THANK YOU EVA! SPRING IS A BEAUTIFUL AND CALMING TIME OF YEAR FOR ME. IT IS A SEASON THAT ARRIVES INCREMENTALLY WITH DELIVERING SMALL BUT ALLURING RAYS OF HOPE LIKE LONGER SUNNIER DAYS AND MELTING SNOW THAT REVEALS HINTS OF COLOUR AND EVIDENCE THAT OUR GREEN GRASS IS MAKING ITS WAY BACK TO US. TREES START TO FORM BUDS AND LIFE BEGINS TO GROW AGAIN IN OUR GARDENS. I START TO FEEL ALIVE AGAIN AND BECOME GIDDY THINKING ABOUT OUTDOOR BBQ'S AND PLANTING MY COLOURFUL SCENTED PERENNIALS. I BECOME INFATUATED BY SEEING MY GARDEN FLOURISH WITH COLOUR AND SMELLING THE SCENT OF FRESHLY MOWED GRASS. YES, I AM A SUMMER GIRL. AS MUCH AS I DO LOVE THE 4 SEASONS I ESPECIALLY HAVE AN ENORMOUS APPRECIATION FOR SPRING KNOWING THAT HOT SUMMER DAYS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER. AT WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! WRITE TO US WITH YOUR HEARTWARMING STORY, A TOPIC THAT YOUR ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT, OR SIMPLY PLACE AN AD TELLING US ABOUT YOUR VERY OWN BUSINESS AND WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT IT. AFTER ALL, LIFE IS SHORT AND WE MUST ENJOY EVERY MOMENT! HAPPY READING EVERYONE! DEE SINHA WRITER/EDITOR WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE EMAIL US AT WOMEN@WOMENROCK.NET

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GNI

L E H

S P R O L

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10 POWERFUL REASONS WHY WE NEED OUR BESTIES

THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDSHIP

Friends keep you mentally strong Having friends reduces stress Friends teach you more about yourself Friends can support you through tough times Friends satisfy your natural longing for love Friends can help you live longer Friends can exert a positive influence on you Friends can improve your mood Friends can combat cognitive decline Friends can boost your career Friends can keep you active

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S

EMPOWER-INSPIRE-SUPPORT

ENCOURAGE-UPLIFT-LOVE

k l a T l r Gi

FRIEND S H I P coffee ometimes having with your best friend is all you need !

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THE PSYCHOLOGY OF COLOUR

I

remember as far back as 40 years ago looking at the red velvet wallpaper and red carpet we had throughout our home when I was a kid. It was EVERYWHERE. I also clearly remember how loud it was and how it just didn’t seem right, Lol. And as much as I love the colour red today, for me, it should not be so apparent and vivid in such a small space. Accessorizing with hues of red however can be really fun and create a wow factor that pops out in its own right.

Home decorating is often looked upon as a simple matter of aesthetics, of how the room will appear. It is just functional. The supporters of colour psychology, along with myself of course, believe that the colours used within your home can have a profound effect on the emotional well being of you, your family and those of whom you entertain.

Image Courtesy of: Eva Wong Photography

COLOUR is a fundamental building block of interior design.

The colour you use to paint your walls for example isn’t just a matter of how it will look or appear, it is a tool that can be leveraged to affect emotions and behaviours.

"Colour psychology" is a powerful interior design tool that impacts the mood of a room more so than any other factor. The theory of colour psychology is that colours can affect how you feel, think and act. For example, deep red hues are associated with passion and energy, whereas cool blue shades are considered calming and serene.

If you are someone who likes the idea of using colour to create an emotionally healthy home, you should first consider the primary function of each room.

What is that specific room being used for? Different shades evoke certain emotions, so, when choosing your colours, it's important to consider the tone and mood of the atmosphere you wish to create and which colours will help you achieve this.

WHY COLOUR AFFECTS EMOTION

I love using colour as a communication tool in my interior design projects. In order to do that effectively, it's important to understand how colours behave and how they can affect our moods.

The psychology of colour is used around us every day and is an important tool for transmitting information. A red stop sign prompts you to stop and look around; a brightly coloured playground evokes feelings of joy and youthfulness.

The colours you choose for your walls and furniture have a big impact on your mood and emotions too.

Colour psychology suggests that some colours may increase anxiety, while others can boost your energy level.

And of course there are those calming colours that can have a huge impact on relaxing your mind, body and soul.

Your home should be your sanctuary, so it’s important to understand the emotional impact a colour will have in that space in which you live.

Here are some things to take into consideration when choosing a colour palette.

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warm colours

Warm colours include shades of red, orange, and yellow. In general, these colours are energetic and active, with relatively positive connotations. ed: Red is associated with passion, love, and lust. It can also be associated with warnings and danger, or even with anger (hence the term “seeing red”). Red can have a physiological impact on people, too, including raising respiration and heart rate. You will also however see red often used in restaurants as it is said to increase ones appetite. range: Orange is energetic and positive. It’s association with autumn leaves and seasonal transitions can also make people think of change when they see it. Orange is also associated with warnings, though less strongly than red.

R

O

ellow: Yellow is considered the happiest hue in the

spectrum and is closely associated with sunshine Y colour and with hope. It can also be linked with caution though.

cool colours

Cool colours on the colour wheel include shades of blue, green, and purple. Generally speaking, cool colours are more calming and relaxing than warm colours, though specific hues can have different properties. lue: Blue is calming and also represents honesty and loyalty (hence its popularity in so many corporate branding colour schemes). Blue can be associated with sadness and loss too, however depending on context. This beautiful colour is also linked to peace and even spirituality, hence the reason why most people love vacationing next to a body of water. as it is known that the water tends to lift our spirits and we feel a sense of freedom from our busy daily life just being next to it.

B

reen: Green can represent new beginnings and growth, as well as nature. It has some of the energizing properties of yellow, while also carrying over some of blue’s calming effects. Green is associated with affluence , money, and stability, particularly in darker shades. This tranquil colour can also promote good luck, health and oddly enough, jealousy. Researchers have also found that green can improve reading ability.

G

urple: Purple has long been associated with luxury, power, extravagance, ambition and royalty, but also with mystery and the occult. Lighter purples, such as lavender, are more romantic and associated with Spring. This beautiful and sometimes intense colour also represents independence, devotion, peace, pride and….MAGIC.. Who Knew? Lol....

P

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LAUGHTER AS MEDICINE

By Eva Wong

When faced with the harsh realities of life, some people reach out to their friends for support and guidance, while others seek out professional help through therapy and counselling. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to healing from emotional trauma or dealing with major stressors in life. For me, I turned to humour as my way of healing.

I remember watching “Patch Adams'' in the theatre where Robin William’s character would make his patients laugh so they could have moments where the focus was not on their pain. It is still one of my favourite movies by far. When I was young, I used to act silly and clownish as a way to diffuse any intense moments. It had worked 90% of the time. It was natural to make fun of my siblings’ misfortunes, and mine as well.

Last year, I was dealing with an ugly separation, which created extra emotional trauma, adding to the years of a bad marriage. I found myself binge-watching comedies as my escape from reality. I fell in love with a series called, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” on Amazon Prime and found a couple of really amazing female comics on Netflix, such as Ali Wong, Cristela Alonzo, Wanda Sykes, Iliza Shlesinger, and Whitney Cummings. I highly recommend them to my girlfriends. However, the number of male stand-up comics far exceeds the number of females. It is another field that is male dominant.

A Couple of years ago (in 2016), my girlfriend who was an amateur stand-up comic, recommended that I give stand-up a try.

She found me to be funny, especially with the way I could twist a tragic situation into something oddly hilarious. I had never thought of becoming a stand-up comic until she mentioned it. She planted that seed in my head and I felt that a time would come when I would be ready.

Instead of jumping into stand-up, I joined Toastmasters in May 2018, to overcome my fear of public speaking. I did a speech

almost once a month, but the fear never went away. I just kept on going and in the process of delivering my speeches, I regained my voice.

In 2019, I left my marriage of almost 12 years. The next 1.5 years was nothing short of hell, on top of the Covid lockdowns.

Besides a group of supportive friends, comedy had helped me through my darkest days. I laughed at comedians making fun of their dysfunctional lives, which filled me up with ideas on how to put a good twist to the tragedies of my life.

On March 10, 2021, I delivered my first stand-up at Eddy’s Diner in Ottawa, produced by a lovely lady named Janelle Niles. It was such a fun experience and I am hooked. I could tell my stories with a twist of dark thoughts and humour without worrying about the judgement. It is a very therapeutic process even though it is not for everyone. I told myself, “this actually saves me from a big therapy bill!”

My friend, Carole Blackburn said, “when you can laugh at your own circumstances, it shows that you are healing.” It is an accurate observation from her. Instead of allowing myself to be miserable, I chose to heal through humour, using laughter as medicine for me and others.

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Finding Gratitude in a Pandemic Article by:Carole Blackburn Gratitude in a Pandemic It can be difficult to imagine a hopeful

The unknowns and the what-ifs of our

future in the eye of the pandemic

current state are often unanswered or

storm. From the information we hear

skewed

in the media to the conversations that

opinions. There is a lot we do not have

are

control

happening

in

our

homes,

the

by over

interpretations right

now,

and

and that

biggest questions we ask ourselves

feeling of helplessness at times can be

come from a place of fear.

tiring.

We Still Have to Live Life

We hear and use terms like COVID

How can we overcome this? Will life

fatigue, and ZOOM fatigue which is

ever be the same as it was? How much

very real. We know that our mental

more of this can I handle?! It’s hard to avoid

these

(and

many)

valid

questions. We think about them even

health is carrying the burden we have.

There

is

a

global

sense

that

our

collective energy is low.

when we are not aware of them.

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Finding Gratitude in a Pandemic The reality is that we have a responsibility to take care of ourselves. To take care of our loved ones and to take care of those who need us, whether it is in our community, in our schools, in the work that we do, or beyond.

Even though we have to be personally responsible for the greater cause, we still have to live life and be equipped through it all.

Taking Into Account All the Good Around Us I often get asked what advice I would offer people who are really struggling right now. Regardless of the situation, I believe that we need to take a rest from the heaviness and focus on the blessings we already have. Even if it’s just for a moment or two a day.

To take a step back and really think about good things that are already happening in your life is a way to be present and intentional in your life, right where you are.

Studies

have

shown

that

spending

time

in

gratitude each day can lower stress levels. We shift the focus away from the challenge. Instead, seek what is real and evident right now. All that we are blessed with.

Spending time in gratitude and sharing kindness have an effect on us that we often take for granted. When you think about When you take intentional time each day to not only acknowledge what you are grateful for but why

you

meaning

feel of

possession.

that the

Both

gratitude,

goodness in

the

it

that

literal

exposes is

sense

in and

the your the

figurative sense as well.

The Rewards of Gratitude Spending quiet moments in an intentional state

We are looking beyond the problem or the

of gratitude not only helps to lower stress levels,

challenge. We can see the details of our lives

but also opens your mindset to a more positive

that have always been there. They have so

outlook on life. Slowly but surely, you will focus

much love and light and goodness right in

on the small and subtle things that we seemingly

them.

tend to overlook. As a result, they have new meaning

because

experiencing

life

we with

emotional load to carry.

are less

seeing of

a

–

–

Mindful and intentional time of gratitude each

and

day, each week, and each month will create

feeling

mental

more space to attract the abundance of life we all desire.

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Finding Gratitude in a Pandemic

Start the Day in a Space of Gratitude To see results, we must take responsibility for taking action. Starting your day with a mindfulness

practice

and,

in

this

case,

spending time in gratitude helps to set the tone for your day.

Take 5-10 minutes before the busyness of your day takes off and write down 2-3 things in your life that you are grateful for.

Go

deeper

and

explain

why

you

feel

blessed and grateful for what came to your mind.

For example: It can be a person (or people). Why do you appreciate them so much?

It can be your home. Why do you feel your home makes you feel good?

It can be your health. What is it about your

health

acknowledge

that in

a

you good

want and

to

positive

way?

Simple steps towards your personal care start in a place of openness, gratitude, and the desire to see the world as a much better place – all starts with you. Small positive habits will become a part of your lifestyle. Also, they will contribute to your overall health and wellness, even in a time of uncertainty.

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D

INDUSTRY >

CREATING BEAUTIFUL HOMES TO LIVE IN

Dee Sinha Design is a leading residential design and decor firm based in Ottawa serving the greater Ottawa area. We offer friendly, practical, beautiful and most importantly unique design and decorating services to each and every one of our clients.

At Dee Sinha Design we have over 20 years of experience in the Interior Design and Decorating field. We pride ourselves on listening to our clients' needs and making their space reflect who they are. We believe that your home is a very important part of who you are and it should emulate who you are are how you live. At Dee Sinha Design we know how important this is to our clients.

Whether you are looking for simple design ideas to give your home a fresh new look, a colour palette selection to brighten up your space, or ideas on designing and renovating a room there is no job too big or too small here at Dee Sinha Design. We are only too happy to help you no matter what the design challenge. We can make your dreams come true!

Downtown Ottawa Home Staged and Sold in 1 Week

We apply academic background and professional experience with sensitivity to our customers’ ideas, needs and preferences, to achieve their satisfaction. We here at Dee Sinha Design have a reputation for creating extraordinary style and catering to every detail to ensure our clients’ houses become their homes, their sanctuaries. It is all about our clients needs and desires and what makes them happy. We pride ourselves on listening to what they need practically and aesthetically and turning it into the dream that they envisioned!

LOVE YOUR HOME WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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LET THE MUSIC PLAY Dining room turned Music room WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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THE POWER OF GOLD AND DIAMONDS

BY STEPHANIE DARBY COOMBS

I wake up in the morning to a new day. It usually begins with fresh coffee, a quick shower, hair and make-up, and the usual rummage through my closet for that perfect outfit to correspond with the weather outside or my changing mood. Whatever outfit I finally decide upon, the final touches are usually the same: a spray of perfume, and then the customary fishing through my jewellery box.

What to wear today? Gold hoops?

Diamond studs? Or some simple, pretty silver earrings that look like daisies?

Does this sound like you? For centuries, women have used all forms of jewellery to adorn themselves. Whether made of bones, flowers, or shells, or silver or gold, the gratification we get from wearing our favourite jewellery is the same. There is something about that final touch that makes us ready to begin our hectic day.

The act of selecting that special piece of jewellery is something we can all relate to. We all love to wear clothes that make us feel good about ourselves. Like clothing, our jewellery makes us feel as beautiful on the outside as we are on the inside. It is part the full image we want to portray of ourselves as we begin our busy days as Moms, as hard-working career women, or as determined students.

But the jewellery we wear is much more than just accessories to our daily outfits. It evokes so much more feeling than anything with which we adorn our bodies. As we glance down at our fingers, our sentimentality can overwhelm us.

www.thegoldsmith.ca

FOR THE LOVE OF JEWELRY

Our engagement rings, remind us of promises made, and our wedding bands—promises kept. Anniversary rings give us confidence, and confirm a love that is forever, giving hope for many more good years to come. The special birthstone ring, given to us from a parent long gone, brings back memories of our childhood. A gold bangle created from our grandmother’s old jewellery, brings a twinkle to our eyes as we re-live fond memories.

And the family ring we wear shows a stone for each child we bore, and loved, and, maybe even lost. So much emotion is tied to our jewellery that it’s no wonder we consider it so precious. Our jewellery is irreplaceable. And its value is much more than any dollar sign attached to it. Given this fact, it is not surprising that more women today are looking to purchase custom jewellery for themselves as opposed to buying straight out of a showcase full of mass-produced items.

So why is that? The answer is simple.

We want more. Women today are looking for jewellery that does have more meaning to them—that speaks to them in every stone. They want jewellery that is as different, unique, and as special as they are, and that represents their individuality. They want a ‘one of a kind’ ring to commemorate a special relationship with their partner, or a symbolic pendant to spiritualize a loved one who has passed.

more than just an accessory

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S

o how does a woman these days go about getting such a special piece of jewellery made?

They need to do their research and find a good jeweller who will listen attentively to all their thoughts and ideas, and work with them to incorporate what they envision, with what is possible.

I am a jewellery designer at The Goldsmith—a longstanding, small, family –run jewellery store in St. John’s, Newfoundland since 2006. I, and my husband, Melvin Coombs--a professional jeweller with more than twenty-five years’ experience—have helped many people all over our province to create custom jewellery that will withstand the test of time.

With our 3-D computer designing program we show our customers detailed images of the pieces we are creating for them, modifying here and there until our customer’s dream piece comes alive on our computer screen.

We would love to help bring your ideas to life as well.

With the current pandemic, and lockdowns all over the country, there is no need to venture outside your comfortable home to create that special ring or pendant you have been thinking about. With today’s technology, reaching out across the country has never been so easy.

Today’s woman wants to adorn herself in the power of gold and diamonds. But she needs a jeweller who will really listen to her needs, who will give her advice on stones and structures, and give her answers to questions she has not even thought of yet. Mostly, she wants a jewellery designer who will give her the special service and respect she deserves as they begin the exciting creation process together.

She needs a jewellery designer whom she can trust to create that precious piece of jewellery that will adorn her body, and be held close to her heart.

~ JEWELLER ON SITE ~ 15 Rowan Street, Churchill Square, St. John's, NL www.thegoldsmith.ca sales@thegoldsmith.ca (709) 368-4653 WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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DESIGN YOUR LIFE

BY EVA WONG

DECLUTTER YOUR PAST

Detach the past from your new life by removing objects that tie to any negative events or emotions.

DECORATE YOUR SPACE

Create a space that is welcoming and calming that brings you joy. Use elements that reminds you of a happy place with positive vibes and energy.

DESIGN YOUR LIFE

Set goals and actions for the life of your dreams. Listen to your voice and follow your passion.

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DESIGN

YOUR LIFE

ARTICLE BY EVA WONG

In 2019, I ended my marriage of almost 12 years, which had wilted for a long time with no hope of reviving it. The process of the separation was like a walk in an endless pitch-black tunnel. I just didn’t know when I would find the end. Life was even more challenging as I had to work on selling the matrimonial home while working and taking care of the kids full-time and preparing for the move during the first Covid lockdown. At the same time, I did not want any sympathy from my friends or family, nor did I have the time to feel sorry for myself because my kids look up to me for their strength to help get them through this turmoil. They could sense my stress and tiredness, but I reminded them that things would get better. This constant reminder with the hope that things would get better was not without basis. I am a natural optimist and that was why I stayed in a loveless marriage for so long.

Now I am using my optimism to create a better life for myself and my kids.

"Now I am using my optimism to create a better life for myself and my kids" First, I allowed myself to grieve my broken marriage like grieving a loss of a loved one - years of denial before acceptance. I questioned myself of my decision, but always ended up acknowledging that I have done all I could to make things work. With acceptance, the process of healing starts with removing my past from my present and future.

DECLUTTER YOUR PAST

In March 2020, Ottawa went on full lockdown while I was busy packing up a 3 bedroom house for our new space. The matrimonial home had felt more like a prison to me for the last 7 years, where I slaved for hours cooking and cleaning but still couldn’t get the place in order. The walls were bare except for a few family portraits. I couldn’t be happier to leave this

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"The healing began when I started to let go of the past and make space for a new life that I had always envisioned." place behind, because it was a place of despair and loneliness for many years. I donated many things that no longer serve me or my kids’ needs, so I would not carry anything with unwelcomed reminders of my past into my new place. The first thing I got rid of was the bed and the sheets.

I realized that in order to live a new life, I must leave the past behind and start fresh. I reminded myself that there is no future in the past. Letting go was the easier part, but dealing with the effects of trauma seemed to be a much harder process. When I removed objects that constantly reminded me of the trauma I had faced, I started making room to create new memories of hope and love.

The healing began when I started to let go of the past and make space for a new life that I had always envisioned. It was the most painful process because these are the moments when I was constantly re-living the trauma as I was trying to analyze my life for the thousandth times.

DECORATE YOUR SPACE When I first moved into my rental unit with just a sofa, the kids’ beds and a whole lot of toys, I was determined to create a clean comfortable home for my kids in spite of my financial challenges at that point. I refused to let my kids feel the financial aftermath of the separation, as they had been through so much already. Most of all, I saw how some people were stuck in a “poor man” mentality even when they were doing quite well financially.

Choosing to raise my kids to believe in abundance might be the most hopeful message I could pass on to them.

In my mind, the new space would have a coastal and mid-century theme with shades of blues and teal. For the first few months, I went on Facebook Marketplace in search of household items that would fit the theme. The lockdown had driven up the prices for home goods, even the used ones. Ikea and other furniture stores were in shut-down, and I could only order from Wayfair when I couldn’t find used ones.

"Choosing to raise my kids to believe in abundance might be the most hopeful message I could pass on to them."

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It took me the whole summer to slowly put everything together, even though there is still much work to be done. I assembled my bed, the tv media console, my dining table, kids' bunk beds, changed the shower faucet, and most of all, hung up some wall arts. Now I feel this is a place I am excited to come home to everyday. It is welcoming and calming, where I feel inspired to dream of a better future full of hope and love.

DESIGN YOUR LIFE Now that most of the objects of my past have been left behind and my new space is beautifully decorated, I have created a home where I can dream and design the life I want for me and my kids.

Designing my life starts with dreams that lead to goals and actions. Although my business has taken a hit due to Covid, I am determined that it will pick back up when this is over. Meanwhile, I am taking this time to pivot my business, improve the weaker areas of my workflow and strengthen my craft.

"I couldn't have come this far without my friends' loving support. Their support and encouragement continue to fuel me and push me to reach for my dreams even when I was feeling unmotivated."

With these goals in mind, I surrounded myself with likeminded friends who are supportive and endearing in their own ways. I couldn’t have come this far without my friends' loving support.

Their support and encouragement continue to fuel me and push me to reach for my dreams even when I am feeling unmotivated.

This might sound a little "wishy-washy", but I try to remain grounded so I can keep on working hard for the better to come. I know not to seek out instant gratification but put my energy and dedication into what drives me forward. My biggest motivation right now is to travel with my kids back to Fiji and show them where I grew up. There is so much to see outside of North America. Our little adventures in life have just started.

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W H O

’

S

Y O U R

S U P E R H E R O ?

B Y When

I

think

about

D E E the

S I N H A

word

My nanny fostered as many as 10

“SUPERHERO” I think of my nanny,

small children at a time which I’m sure

“NANNY TOBIN”, my grandmother on

wasn’t easy at the best of times.

my Dad’s side. A very sweet little lady that was no taller than 4’11”, short

Children brought joy to her life, a life

curly light brown hair, a colourful

that she lived confined to a wheelchair

personality and a force to be reckoned

everyday for the last 25 years of her

with. I think of how she survived 25

life. These kids kept her busy, kept her

years of her life in a wheelchair and

laughing, and kept her spirits alive.

still smiled every single day. My nanny

She bathed them, fed them and tucked

evoked

and

them in at night. She felt great

passion. Goodness in that she never

fulfillment in nurturing and caring for

had a bad word to say about anyone,

these precious and vulnerable little

kindness because she gave so much

souls. Little Souls that were given up

of herself to everyone around her, and

for reasons unknown to most but cared

passion because she had a soft spot

for so gently by “my nanny”. My nanny

for little kids. She absolutely adored

however, being the saint that she was,

children, so much so that she ran a

never judged those moms who felt that

foster home out of her own tiny little

they had no other choice but to

house. A home that she cherished, a

surrender their little ones to strangers.

home that brought her so much joy

They of course were fighting their own

being surrounded by the ones she

demons hoping they too would not be

loved.

judged.

When I think back on all of those

Once finished, we got to choose which

I miss playing card games with my

precious times I visited with my nanny,

colourful set we wanted to fashion for

favourite person. I would sit with her in

I smile. I smile big. I have such fond

the cold winter months ahead.

her bedroom as she snuggled up

memories

goodness,

of

kindness

my

beautiful

amongst her cozy colourful blankets.

grandmother. I remember sitting on the

This tradition every year stands out

We would play for hours, 120’s of

end of her bed and watching her knit

quite vividly for me in particular as I

course! It was her game of choice, her

hats, scarves, and mittens. Knitting

had a very special relationship with my

favourite.

was her absolute favourite pass time.

nanny. She understood me as we were

She would have an array of wool

very similar creatures. We connected

Her smile would light up a room and

colours sitting in a huge woolworths

in a very special way. She was a very

her laughter resonated and shook the

bag (her favourite department store).

gentle soul and I cherished her deeply

house. She was delightful and fun but

She would knit for weeks, starting in

as a young girl, as her granddaughter.

yet a force of energy at times.

the Fall.

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my nanny, my superhero She had a stubborn side that was surprisingly funny. My nanny ran a tight ship at home and rightfully so. She had more than 15 people living in her house at times. She was the Captain of her ship and she ran it quite well.

A SMILE THAT LIT UP A ROOM

Thank you Nanny Tobin. Thank you for being you. Thank you for being my hero, for teaching me to be me, for helping me understand goodness and kindness and how giving can impact your life in such a deep profound way.

I miss my Nanny Tobin. I miss her tremendously. I miss her wise advice, I miss her female companionship. I miss her smile. She will always hold a very special place in my heart.

She taught me so much. More than I every realized. I smile every time I think of this beautiful lady and how she really was an undeniable pillar of strength. I continue to draw from her indisputable strength today. My Dad often tells me of how much I remind him of his mom, “Nanny Tobin”.

A Profound truth I believe. A fact that I am very proud of.

I carry your heart in my heart.

Love you always and forever, Your Granddaughter Dee xoxo

NANNY AND POPPY

WRITE TO US! TELL US ABOUT YOUR SUPERHERO! WE WOULD LOVE

TO

FEATURE

YOUR

HEARTWARMING

STORY IN ONE OF OUR FUTURE ISSUES OF WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE! EMAIL US AT:

women@womenrock.net WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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Cheryl Gandier Rocking at 50

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PERFECTLY IMPERFECT ARTICLE BY EVA WONG

IMAGES COURTESY OF EVA WONG WONG PHOTOGRAPHY 'Cause all of me loves all of you Love your curves and all your edges All your perfect imperfections' ~John Legend

My one true love in life is boudoir photography and it has remained one of my favourite genres. It goes beyond capturing beautiful women in lingerie and sheets. Boudoir photography has the power to heal women and change how they see themselves. It can be an empowering experience for women to see how beautiful they are in someone else’s eyes, and in this case, through my lenses.

Many women grow up feeling not pretty enough and start comparing themselves to the perfectly photoshopped images on the magazines. The pressure to be perfect became their inner voice and they consistently feel not good enough.

When I first heard John Legend’s song “All of Me,” which is dedicated to Chrissy Teigen, I fell in love with the idea of this person who would love me like John loves Chrissy. The lyrics of the song are simply a declaration of love for her while encompassing her imperfections on top of her perfect qualities. Secretly, we all want to be loved that way. Women, as well as men, want to feel accepted and desired by their partners.

The truth is, we cannot become desirable, when we can't see ourselves as such. Our tendency to dismiss compliments while internalizing every criticism is doing us more harm than we realize. We project our insecurities onto others and think the worst of ourselves.

In my experience, the most beautiful women tend to be their worst critiques.

They can easily pick out the little flaws that only they could see. Maybe someone mentioned that once in their entire lifetime, and that was enough to create a wound that never heals.

Growing up, I was quite tanned and muscular from playing outdoor sports.

My family didn’t hesitate to point out how unattractive it was for a girl to be tanned and muscular. My best friend was my blessing in disguise because she constantly told me how she had wished to be muscular and have my tanned complexion. She was sincere about it and her opinions shaped my confidence more so than my parents'.

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"We should be our own John Legend, and fall in love with ourselves the way we want others to love us."

When I moved to the U.S. at the age of 15, I stopped all sports and gained an immense amount of weight, which destroyed my selfesteem.

After I had lost 50-lbs, my self-esteem didn’t heal instantaneously because mentally, I was still feeling like an overweight blob of jelly. I couldn't see myself as beautiful until I was in my late 30s. By then, I had two kids and a jiggly belly from birthing them. I wondered why it took so long for me to learn to love and embrace myself.

When I talk to my clients, they reveal their inner self-critique and that really blow my mind. Why on earth would these kind and gorgeous women think so harshly of themselves? Through each little conversation, I found their words to be a reminder that I had been just as harsh on myself as they are. These words we use on ourselves would never be used on our friends, but yet we have the ability to self-sabotage.

I learned that we go through life to find that one true love, but I hope everyone finds their true love in themselves. We should be our own John Legend, and fall in love with ourselves the way we want others to love us, loving our perfect imperfections. If we can’t love ourselves that way, we can’t show the people around us how we should be loved.

Photographs of the beautiful Cheryl Gandier celebrating her 50th birthday. She absolutely rocked the session. She is beautiful in and out.

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Becoming a Small Business Owner

BY STACEY SPARE PHOTOS BY EVA WONG PHOTOGRAPHY

W

hen I started in the accounting profession more than 20 years ago, I had no idea that all the twists and turns would lead to where I am today – a small business owner.

My journey began in a very traditional manner. After spending several university work terms with a mid-sized public accounting firm, I joined that firm full time upon graduation.

I was first exposed to the accounting side working with small businesses to do their bookkeeping for the year end, prepare the financial statements, and corporation income tax return. The firm would have a tax pool each busy season. I was chosen each year. I fell in love with tax. It likely happened before then at university but working in it really solidified that decision. I was able to join the tax team which formed my knowledge base in those early years of my career.

For my next role, I worked with a big firm in the high technology tax group where we filed tax returns for clients to apply for their scientific research and experimental development credits. I progressed from senior to senior manager in a four-and-a-halfyear period. I loved meeting new clients and hearing their stories. However, becoming a senior manager, I missed getting into the details of a project, so when an opportunity came up as a tax analyst at a high-tech company, I made the change.

I went through a couple of quarter ends before it was announced that the company was being acquired. I was heartbroken. I was enjoying the work and the group of people I was working with. It was a very short period of time but to this day I keep in contact with several of those co-workers and many have referred me clients which launched my small business.

With no position for me in the new company, I joined the tax group of another high-tech company. I call it my introduction to six degrees of separation. As I would meet employees and we would talk about our backgrounds, there was usually someone we would be connected to. To this day, it gives me confidence to speak with new people and on many occasions, we find a mutual connection.

My early days at the accounting firm followed me in everything I did. I would often see my former co-workers and it reminded me of what I really enjoyed – working with the smaller clients and making a difference. I truly believe everything happens for a reason so I don’t do a lot of “what ifs”, but at that point, I said what if I went back to the firm. I returned on a contract basis which eventually led to a full-time position in the tax group. It was great to WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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Becoming a Small Business Owner

be back working with people I had worked with 12 years before. However, having young kids and working in the tax season became “taxing” on me so I needed to take time with my family.

incredible journey. There are times I wish I had started this path sooner, but then I would have missed out on some of the steps along the way that have been part of who I am today.

article by stacey spare

During that time, a dear friend asked why I didn’t start my own practice? The more I thought about it, the more I loved the idea. So, I did it. In August 2017, with the support of my husband, I started my tax and accounting practice. I reached out to everyone I knew to let them know I was going out on my own. It has not been easy but it has been so rewarding to build my practice one client at a time. My practice has grown mostly through wordof-mouth referrals. It has been an

MY BUSINESS IS WHERE IT IS TODAY BECAUSE OF THE CONNECTIONS I HAVE MADE OVER THE YEARS AND THE RELATIONSHIPS I AM ABLE TO BUILD WITH MY CLIENTS. PHOTO COURTESY OF: EVA WONG PHOTOGRAPHY

I HAD MANY PEOPLE SAY TO ME WHEN I STARTED MY BUSINESS THAT I WAS BRAVE TO DO WHAT I DID. I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY – I JUST KNEW THAT IT WOULD WORK OUT IF I WORKED HARD AND KEPT BELIEVING THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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Estate Planning During COVID-19

THE FAMILY DISCUSSIONS TO BE HAVING NOW ARTICLE BY: SANDRA DUROCHER COVID-19 has created an environment where concerns for

inflection point where people are both motivated to think

our loved ones’ health and economic well-being are both

about estate planning and have the time to actually do

top of mind. It’s also made many of us appreciate that

something about it.

we’re not invincible, and sometimes we can’t control the future. This resonates closely for families who have either

If I’m thinking about succession planning, where

lost a family member or are concerned about an elderly

should I start?

person in their life.

In many cases people begin by talking to their family With that in mind, we are seeing an increase in questions

about what they think might be best, and that’s often a

about how to create a will and how to protect your

good place to start. That said, it’s a prudent idea to

family’s financial well-being. The other dynamic right now

approach these sensitive discussions with some

is that many people are at home, some with much less to

knowledge in your back pocket, before getting too

do than normally, especially for retirees who might

specific with your plans. For example, people can go

otherwise be travelling away from Canada. Interestingly,

through exhaustive conversations with family members

for many people, one of the key reasons for delaying the

about who will act as executor under their will, only to

creation of an estate plan is lack of time. However, if you

find out that the person they originally asked to act will

do have time, and are spending more time with loved

probably not be able to because they re a non-resident of

ones – whether at home or virtually – we are at a unique

Canada. So, it is helpful to know some basic principles, WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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taxes, and common laws in your province before starting

way to preserve family harmony after parents pass

the process.

away is to treat children as equally as possible.

Is there any difference in how women approach estate

Although “fair doesn’t always mean equal” – if children

planning?

feel that one sibling has received assets worth more than another, there is a very high likelihood of

Estate planning is very personal, and it’s difficult to

resentment. The other problem with getting too specific

generalize based on gender. For most mothers, however,

is that if you sell an asset that’s meant for one child but

first and foremost they want to ensure their children are

keep an asset that’s supposed to go to another, you

“taken care of.” As children get older, the concern often

could cause significant after-tax inequities. So, we

revolves more around family harmony. This is another

usually recommend to simply divide an estate equally

instance where it might be a good idea to speak to an

between children if that’s feasible, but then make sure

estates expert before creating too specific a plan. There

the estate is large enough to ensure that they can each

are situations where people have invested a lot of time in

take what they want from the estate. If one of the

deciding which child will receive which piece of land or

children is going to want a particularly valuable asset

which personal effect, only to learn that generally tax and

(e.g. a vacation property), then you need to ensure there

estate experts don’t recommend getting too specific with

are sufficient funds for the other child or children,

“things” in a will. From experience, we find that the best

sometimes by insuring the difference.

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Ultimately, the important thing to keep in mind when having these conversations is that it’s your parent’s money, and for the most part, they can do whatever they want with it (so long as they have met all legal obligations to their spouse or dependents). And in most cases, you don’t need to ask to see their investment statement, so you don’t need to pry too much. But if they haven’t done anything about it, your questions may prompt them to

Article by Sandra Durocher

think about it.

A proper estate plan covers many additional considerations than what we’ve shared here, and every family situation is unique. It's important to speak with an experienced tax and estates lawyer, especially for more complex family dynamics, such as blended families.

However, if you’re concerned that you don’t want to start “running the clock” per se with a lawyer, a great place to begin the discussion is with your financial advisor.

Written and published by IG Wealth Management as a general source of information only.

I’m concerned about my elderly parents these days, especially my mother. But it’s an awkward conversation to have. How can I break the ice?

Some suggested openings for the conversation could be: I’ve been reading a lot about long-term care facilities, and I want to make sure that if you ever need to go into one, you’ll have the money to afford the type of care you want – have you reviewed this issue with your financial planner? Have you projected how much it will cost to get the type of care you’ll need?

If you were to become incapacitated, do you have a power of attorney in place so that someone will be able to act on your behalf? Do you have a POA for Dad in case he loses capacity first?

Have you reviewed your insurance? Mom, if Dad were to die first, would you have enough to support yourself?

Have you both reviewed your wills? Have they been reviewed by an estates lawyer? advisor.

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HEALTH | FITNESS

SOME EXERCISES TO PREVENT SARCOPENIA Strength Training Equipment can be anywhere from bodyweight to cat litter jugs to bands to dumbbells or barbells or a combination of all of these.

Pushing & Pulling Pushing, Pulling, Staggered stance, Overhead, Hinge, Rotation and Carrys.

Photo of Lynne Jenkins Courtesy of Eva Wong Photography

Rotation Any twisting exercises, for example, wood chops, seated twisting (Russian twist, bicycles, single-arm chest press, and rows with rotation

PREVENTING MUSCLE LOSS

By Lynne Jenkins Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle tissue as a natural part of the aging process. This process begins around our 4th decade, and once we are in our 8th decade we may have lost up to 50% of our muscle mass.

Hinge Hinge movements include any bent over exercise as well as deadlifts, squats, proper pickup of objects

Hinge Shoulder press (single arm, double arm), triceps press

So you can see how important it is to start building muscle mass through strength training now! Note, that you are never too old to start building muscle mass, older adults in their 70’s and 80’s who are performing strength training exercises are training their bodies functionally to empower themselves with confidence to perform daily tasks of living, staying independent, and most importantly preventing falls, which is very prevalent in older adults especially those who are more sedentary.

Those born between 1965-1979 (currently 42-56) are statistically the group who have the highest level of physical activity and lowest prevalence of overweight, however, also report lower levels of satisfaction with work and family life along with the highest levels of stress and loneliness compared to their older counterparts.

This is a perfect storm in the sense that making time for exercise can become a lower priority. Knowing now that we begin to lose muscle mass in this age group, it’s important to start strength training (if you are not already).

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HEALTH | FITNESS

STRENGTH TRAINING Benefits of strength training: Increased muscle mass Stronger bones Joint flexibility Weight control Balance Fall prevention Independence Confidence

If you are new to strength training, Trainingtheolderadult.com recommends starting with 20 minutes of resistance work every other day.

Whether you are new to or are already including strength training in your exercise program, include the following actions as a guideline.

It’s important to keep your program balanced and functional.

Including the following actions in your program consistently and as part of your lifestyle, you will prolong the life of your muscle mass as you age, which as we spoke about earlier is very important to ward off sarcopenia, therefore enabling you to stay active in your life, confident and strong.

Pushing, Pulling, Staggered stance, Overhead, Hinge, Rotation and Carrys.

You could perform this workout as a circuit (perform 1 set of 8-10 of each exercise one after the other, rest and repeat 1-2 more times) or straight sets (2-3 sets of 8-10 each exercise, rest in between sets).

Note: Some of Information for this article is from trainingtheolderadult.com and functionalaginginstitute.com

25

Photo of Lynne Jenkins Courtesy of Eva Wong Photography

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are You in control of You

Things I’ve Learned as an 18 Year Old By

Olivia Sinha

S

ometimes we feel like staying in, not getting out of bed, eating some comfort food and binge watching an entire Netflix series. It’s okay to have quiet days to just relax and to not do anything. It's important for us to have this time to ourselves. However, we can turn some of these days into self-care days as well.

Maybe you don’t feel like going anywhere, but sometimes it can cause your personal responsibilities to pile up, making you feel overwhelmed. Having time to yourself is one thing, but helping yourself to feel good in the meantime is also extremely important. Give yourself some time to sleep in, but when you get up you can wash your face, apply one of the “skin rejuvenating, make yourself glow” face masks that we all collect and end up having a million in our vanity. Or maybe make yourself a coffee, a tea, a smoothie, and a breakfast that makes you feel healthy and full. Little things like this give you the jumpstart that you didn’t know you needed, and contribute to improving your mental health. Making a habit of doing something small yet helpful for yourself each day will gradually build your motivation to do more and more.

Now, don't overwork yourself, you and only you are responsible for what you do for yourself. Whatever you think you can take on healthily, do it. If you make a plan for tomorrow, for example running an errand that you've been putting off for some time , don’t get it in your head that if you don’t do it then you are unproductive, take it in baby steps.

Wake up, play your favourite music and take a long shower and sing your heart out. Then, make something delicious that gets your day started on the right track.

P

ut on an outfit that makes you feel comfy, or maybe you're in the mood to wear those new jeans you've been dying to style! Get yourself into a positive and productive mindset with these little things that you can do. Now you've got the entire rest of your day to decide what needs to be done...perhaps that errand we discussed earlier.

U

niversity students, you may have some classes to attend, and homework to be done, so plan for that in a way that lets you spend some time taking care of you.

The psychology behind self-care is knowing your limits, and taking on what you mentally and physically feel like you can do. Don’t push yourself or feel down on yourself if you don't complete the tasks you have to do. That’ll only set you back to square one. However, starting from square one is okay now that you know what you can do to help yourself out again! Try your best to pace each day according to you and your needs, and if you need to tell yourself, "You know what it’s okay, I’ll try again tomorrow", that’s perfectly okay. Having friends and family who support you is very important, however you need to support yourself and make sure you're dependable for your mental and physical health. As women, there is a ridiculous amount of societal standards that social media and other sources make us feel that we need to meet, but as hard as society makes it, you need to do your best to ignore that.

At the end of the day, if you are feeling good about yourself and you did what YOU need to do for yourself, that’s all that you can ask of yourself. Know your limits, understand yourself, slowly build yourself according to your standards...and no one else's. You’ve got this.

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WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN By: Dee Sinha

We

as women, are strong, resilient, tough and powerful but it takes bravery to break down and ask for help. As women we stand tall, we are devoted to our families, our friends, our work, but we sometimes forget about ourselves.

We are the backbone for our families and we pride ourselves on being the strong one, the dependable one, the devoted one.

There is no doubt that we are a pillar of strength but we are not made of steel. We have a heart, a huge heart, but one that aches from time to time still trying to heal from a bruised heart that may or may not get the better of us at times.

B ut make no mistake, she doesn’t

play the victim. She doesn’t give in to the sadness yet fights it, she stands tall, she smiles and continues to find her strength. She is focussed on her loved ones, her passions and the ones that motivate her, the ones that keep her smiling. But asking for help IS a sign of strength.

Its ok to break down. Its ok to fall from sadness. We sometimes take the weight of the world on our shoulders and its ok to not be ok. Its ok to sink to the ground, to cry out and ask for help. It takes a very strong woman to admit that she needs help and an even stronger woman to accept it.

N o matter what, you can’t hide from

yourself. Its ok to let your true self shine. It’s ok to not be ok. It’s ok to ask for guidance as life can be hard at times. We are not perfect people but we do our best to strive to be.

So, lets continue to walk this journey of life and be confident in ourselves, smile through the sadness, stay positive in who we are and surround ourselves by our true friends, amazing families, and inspiring people, people who lift us up, empower us, boost our spirit and make us feel good. Because after all we deserve nothing less.

Help is always available for us. Take care of you!

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LISA FLETCHER A SKINCARE QUEEN

BUDGET FRIENDLY TIPS AND TRICKS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR MAKEUP AND SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Article By Lisa Fletcher

H

ELLO my name is Lisa and I am a self proclaimed beauty junkie. I love all things beauty related.. skincare, fragrance, makeup and haircare to name just a few. With this great passion comes countless purchases and one tiny problem.. where to store them? And believe me the struggle is very real.

W

hile I’ve already admitted to my penchant for beauty products, I will go one step further and indulge you in the somewhat embarrassing fact that my bathroom vanity once looked like the shelves of Sephora exploded on it.

Creams, lotions, beauty tools, makeup, among other things used to sit on my bathroom counter and hog prime retail space. “Used to” because I have since discovered the art of organization and I am ecstatic. Keep reading and I

will share with you how I finally managed to contain the very products that contributed to my beauty chaos without breaking the bank.

U

SED CANDLE JARS I don’t know about you but I am a sucker for a beautiful candle and in recent years have discovered the brand Voluspa not only do their candles smell amazing but the jars that they come in are stunning. These come in so handy after they have totally finished burning as a place to store my makeup brushes. I simply wash them out and place them on my vanity , they are just too pretty not to and my makeup brushes have an elegant home.

This will work with any empty candle jar you wish to use.

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LISA FLETCHER A SKINCARE QUEEN BUDGET FRIENDLY TIPS AND TRICKS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR MAKEUP AND SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Article By Lisa Fletcher

L

AZY SUSAN While you may relate a lazy susan to kitchen organization , I can assure you it is as equally versatile for makeup organization. I like to use it to display multiple bottles of nail polish and the fact that is spins makes choosing a colour easier.

A lazy susan would also be a good choice for displaying pretty perfumes.

C

LEAR ACRYLIC BINS These are really great for storing anything that may come in a larger size or bulkier packaging. Think hair products, body lotions, bath and shower products etc. I tend to keep these under the sink in the bathroom so they are tucked away out of sight but are easily accessible when needed.

S

TACKING CLEAR ACRYLIC DRAWERS I am not exactly a pro when it comes to organizing but I have delved into it enough to know what a key tip to remember is to utilize any vertical space and stacking drawers will do just that! I am a fan simply because they give you ample room to store just about anything to lipstick , gloss, blush, and bronzer to shadow , liner and lashes , even skin care. The clear acrylic makes it easy to choose what products you want to use without having to fight your way through a million products. Sounds like a win win situation to me!

M

ASON JARS In my opinion, mason jars are the most underrated when it comes to versatility and cost effectiveness, in and out of the kitchen. It wasn't too long ago when I thought I would channel my inner Martha Stewart and impress my family by making copious amounts of delicious home made jams. Off I went to the nearest box store to stock up on cases of mason jars to home the jam I was so sure I was going to make. Fast forward 2 months later and the story is a little different. The jam didn’t get made and the jars are collecting dust in the basement sigh…

I

could have easily returned those jars to the store but decided to keep them and get creative by breaking out the craft supplies to turn the jars into pretty storage containers for a few miscellaneous beauty items.

It’s a pretty “bang for your buck” project as I only paid about $12.00 for all the jars. While the thought of organizing may sometimes seem worse than the deed itself, it's always a good idea to think outside the box when it comes to organizing and storage ideas.

Take a look around your home and take notice of any items you could repurpose for your beauty supplies. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by what you may find and to that I say “happy organizing!”

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THE POWER OF HOME STAGING Article by: Dee Sinha

STAGE TO SELL!!

A

re you getting ready to sell your home? Staging is one of THE most important steps for selling your house. Getting your home ready for other people to see can be an overwhelming thought. We at Dee Sinha Design can help stage your home to make it sell faster AND for more money!

Home Staging is a proven method that helps sell your home. Typically, home owners should expect a 5% or more increase in their selling price as a result of staging, and see the average days on the market cut in half. Homes which are staged

sell 65% faster and are known to make a home owner more money in the end sale., but it will also save you money because your home will sell more quickly resulting in a higher resale price and no additional monthly carrying costs.

~PUT MORE MONEY BACK INTO YOUR POCKET~ WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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THE POWER OF HOME STAGING

CRUCIAL STAGING TIPS CLEAN UP ANY DEBRIS OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME ADD PLANTERS WITH FLOWERS CLEAN FRONT DOOR AND ADD A BEAUTIFUL WREATH DE-PERONALIZE THE INDOOR SPACE CLEAN LIKE YOU'VE NEVER CLEANED BEFORE STAGE WHERE IT COUNTS GET RID OF CLUTTER GO NEUTRAL PATCH AND REPAIR FOCUS ON FRESH REARRANGE FURNITURE LET THERE BE LIGHT

SOLD IN 2 WEEKS Call Dee Sinha Design today for your Home Staging Needs! www.deesinhadesign.com 613 983 1412

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WOMEN IN ROCK MAKING ROCK HISTORY B Y : D E E

S I N H A

JANIS JOPLIN

MEMPHIS MINNIE

When I think about rock'n'roll, it always fascinates me how many women have conquered their dreams of being a rock star! It is absolutely amazing how many talented women there are in this very competitive industry. I still get chills every time I hear Janis Joplin singing “Piece of My Heart”, he first female rock star, a true blues singer, a legend in her own right. This powerhouse sang the blues with such passion it brought tears to my eyes. Her raspy voice just resonated. Her talent was undeniable. But her life cut so short. She lived a life of grit yet had fallen from grace.

She blessed us with her God given talent and I am so thankful for that.

Rock and Roll began with the blues and Lizzie Douglas known as “Memphis Minnie”, a very talented singer/guitarist (predominantly active throughout the 1920’s-50’s) was one of its biggest stars. She could “pick a guitar and sing as good as any man I’ve ever heard” said Bill Broonzy ,an American singer/songwriter/guitarist. Memphis Minnie was a successful music artist for 3 decades recording over 200 songs, some of her best known being “Bumble Bee”, “Nothing in Rambling” and “Me and My Chauffeur Blues”.

Born June 3rd 1897 and living until August 1973 Memphis Minnie has certainly left a legacy that will remain for generations to come.

TINA TURNER Tina Turner, an absolute Rock Goddess, born in Tennessee, a powerful woman, a woman of class, strength and true character. An actor, singer and songwriter, a lady of many talents. Tina Turner, now 81 also known as The Queen of Rock overcame an abusive life, a life of sadness but still feels very proud of who she has become today. I feel so privileged to know her music, as she is one of my absolute favourite musicians. Her compelling voice makes me smile and dance every time I hear her sing “What’s Love got to Do with it”, which stands as Tina’s biggest hit, peaking at number 1 for 3 weeks is one of my all time favorites. Tina Turner, Another powerhouse, an Icon, a Superstar who has struggled through life but came out on top. I’m very excited for Tina’s new documentary simply titled “Tina” as the singer looks on and talks about overcoming her painful past and how she has finally found happiness.

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WOMEN ROCK!!

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A PASSION FOR FASHION

So, I can tell you right away that fashion, for me, has been a true love of mine from a very young age. As a preteen I dreamed of having the most current trendy styles. I felt that it would define me, make me popular, maybe more of my peers at school would talk to me, befriend me. Well, it turns out that wasn’t the case. I’ve realized now as a grown woman; material things don’t actually define who you are at all. It’s who you are on the inside that defines who you are.

FEEL BEAUTIFUL FEEL CONFIDENT FEEL POWERFUL FEEL INSPIRED FEEL EMPOWERED FEEL PROUD Image Courtesy of: Eva Wong Photography

THE STYLE SECTION

an intense love affair

Image Courtesy of: Eva Wong Photography

I just happen to love fashion simply because it makes me feel good, more confident, happy. I love playing dress up. I love putting on that perfect new beautiful silky blouse with those cool desirable new skinny jeans I found on sale. It makes me feel powerful like I can conquer the world lol. And of course, finishing it off with a sexy pair or heels and some bling just makes it all that more sassy. I mean I get giddy when I find that perfect little summer dress and of course a fun hat to compliment. l I can honestly say that putting on that perfect outfit, whether it’s a cozy matching flannel pj set or a sexy little party dress, makes me feel good. Good in the true sense of feeling good, content.

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The majority of us love fashion, different styles of fashion, but nonetheless, fashion. As every new season comes with a playful new trend, we get excited about how we can experiment with these beautiful new styles and colours. Fashion gives us a way to portray our personalities, our playfulness, our sense of style. While some people think fashion is materialistic and vapid, I think its something that we create, an intense and emotional bond with. It becomes a part of us. Fashion is Fabulous.

Image Courtesy of: Eva Wong Photography

This past year has been like no other of course, with this crazy pandemic, and then on top of that enduring yet another cold winter. Of course, it doesn’t help that I am not a winter girl although I do try to embrace it as much as I can… well not really lol. Shopping for me has been a life saver. Online stores have made a killing off of me. I’ve spent a little more than usual this winter but very happy with my purchases. Being happy is what counts right? I mean we only live once. Weathering a harsh winter and suffering though a pandemic, and gaining some weight has not been easy! I have justified my purchases as you can tell lol. It’s the little things in life that you have to enjoy. Feeling happy and content is extremely important. Do what makes you happy! Do what works for you.

CRAZY ABOUT HATS Ok so yes, I am a crazy hat lady. What can I say. I LOVE hats. I love looking at them, I love wearing them, I love that they make me feel silly, playful and at the same time, classy. I love all colours and styles. And I absolutely love how they make me feel. I feel all grown up when I wear a hat lol. Hats give me attitude, like… badass lol.

Nothing can bring me down when I wear a hat. It’s my thing. Let it go! Lol The moral of my story is… Do what makes you happy. Do it because YOU love it. Don’t worry about what other people think. Don’t let other people hold you back. I’ve been there, done that. Somebody once said to me “you don’t look good in hats”, and of course I believed them. I wouldn’t put a hat on for years. Even during the harsh winter months I was reluctant to wear a hat. Lesson learned and never listen to negative thoughts, as it doesn’t define who we are. Be confident, be strong, be resilient. Because we are our own best friend. Do what makes you happy. <3 WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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THE POWER TO HEAL! SSENIPPAH ERUP FO GNILEEF A

SNOITCENNOC ETAMITNI EKAM SREWOLF FLOWER POWER

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QUOTES ON ENCOURAGEMENT AND COMPASSION

01 02 03 04

IF WE HAVE NO PEACE, IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE FORGETTEN THAT WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER. - Mother Teresa EVERY TIME YOU SMILE AT SOMEONE, IT IS AN ACTION OF LOVE, A GIFT TO THAT PERSON, A BEAUTIFUL THING. - Mother Teresa

PEOPLE, EVEN MORE THAN THINGS, HAVE TO BE RESTORED, RENEWED, REVIVED, RECLAIMED AND REDEEMED. NEVER THROW OUT ANYONE. Audrey Hepburn

PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID, PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID, PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL. Maya Angelou

THERE IS NO GREATER AGONY THAN BEARING AN UNTOLD STORY INSIDE OF YOU. - Maya Angelou

ONE'S LIFE HAS VALUE SO LONG AS ONE ATTRIBUTES VALUE TO THE LIFE OF OTHERS, BY MEANS OF LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, INDIGNATION AND COMPASSION. - Simone De Beauvoir

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THE ART OF ACCESSORIZING ITS ALL IN THE DETAILS

Accessorizing really is an art. It is a way to express who we are.

An avenue in which we can tell a story. A way of adding grace to your space. Accessories can make or

break

a

room.

They

act

as

finishing touches, details, It is a way of expressing who we are by infusing shapes.

colour,

texture,

and

The key to a lustful accessorizing experience is doing what feels instinctive to you, with a conviction to unify your space.

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The thrill of finding that perfect accessory!

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ACCESSORIZING YOUR SPACE!

a must do!

pretty in pink WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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COLOUR YOUR WORLD 5 COLOUR TIPS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR WORLD "COLOUR CAN TRANSFORM THE FEEELING OF A SPACE".

1. FOLLOW COLOUR TRENDS GORGEOUS TREND COLOURS ARE ANNOUNCED EVERY YEAR BY THE PAINT INDUSTRY. YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO GO BY THE BOOKS HERE BUY MAYBE CHOOSE ONE OF THE TRENDY COLOURS THAT APPEALS TO YOU AND ADD IT TO A ROOM . YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT HOW IT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR SPACE.

2. BE BRAVE WITH COLOUR ADDING A BOLD COLOUR TO YOUR HOME CAN BE A LOT OF FUN. DON'T THINK THAT YOU ARE LIMITED TO ONLY A VASE OR TOSS CUSHION. BE BRAVE AND ADD A STUNNING COLOURFUL ACCENT CHAIR OR A COLOURFUL PIECE OF ARTWORK

3. LOVE MONOCHROMIC COLOUR SCHEMES CHOOSE A COLOUR THAT YOU LOVE AND SELECT LIGHTER AND DARKER SHADES OF THAT COLOUR. IT IS AN AMAZING WAY TO CREATE A VERY SERENE SPACE. MOST MONOCHROMATIC COLOUR SCHEMES ARE BASED OFF OF NEUTRAL COLOURS BUT OF COURSE YOU CAN CHOOSE ANY COLOUR THAT YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH.

4. BEIGE IS NOT THE ONLY NEUTRAL THERE ARE SO MANY NEUTRALS TO CHOOSE FROM. WHY NOT ADD SOME GOLD, SILVER, OR BRONZE TO YOUR SPACE? BUILD ON THESE ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS NEUTRALS FOR A VERY SERENE YET BREATHTAKING SPACE

5. EXPLORE NEW COLOUR PALETTES PAINT IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO CREATE A HUGE IMPACT WITHIN A SPACE. CREATE A WOW FACTOR WITH A NEWLY PAINTED ACCENT WALL, A CHALK PAINTED PIECE OF ANTIQUE FURNIUTURE OR EVEN PAINT YOUR CEILING A SOFT RESTFUL COLOUR OF CHOICE. WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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DECADENT DESIGNS

A master bedroom retreat

A downtown Ottawa condo gets an exotic makeover I have to admit, I become giddy every time I think about this condominium makeover. This beautiful couple dreamed of having a romantic, natured inspired bedr. Well that‘s exactly what they got.

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SIMPLE AND ELEGANT

A SMALL FOYER GETS A BIG MAKEOVER! ACHIEVE AN IMPACTFUL FOYER BY PLACING A SIMPLE CONSOLE TABLE WITH AN EYE-CATCHING MIRROR! WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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KEEP IT COZY! a sweet place to chill :-)

ELEGANT BLUE AND WHITE WING CHAIRS PAIRED WITH PRETTY PINK ACCENTS MAKE FOR A CUTE GATHERING NICHE

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CREATE YOUR FOCAL POINT

CREATE A RICH CONTRAST BY MARRYING AN ESPRESSO STAINED BUFFET WITH PRETTY BRIGHT YELLOWS AND SOFT CREAMS

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AN ENCHANTING CHALK PAINTED ANTIQUE DRESSER PAIRED WITH PRETTY BLUE VASES, CREAMY HYDRANGEAS AND A WROUGT IRON LANTERN MAKES FOR A BEAUTIFUL FOCAL POINT

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A DREAMY DRESSER

A

beautiful narrow antique white dresser paired with a sunburst round brushed gold mirror set the tone for this very cozy master bedroom.

Gorgeous accessories including rustic gold finshed candle holders add heightened intrigue.

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Managing Stress and Your Immune System Taking Care of You

By: Shona Daniels Registered Holistic Nutritionist

5 Ways to Naturally Reduce Stress & Support Your Immune System If you’re anything like me you’ve been feeling more stressed than usual over the last year and we’re not alone. Nearly 8 in 10 adults have said that the COVID pandemic is a significant source of stress in their life and 55% of people are feeling more stressed since the pandemic has started.

Types of Stress

Positive, beneficial stress is very different to distress which can have negative consequences on health. Some people thrive in stressful situations, they perceive it as a challenge that requires optimal performance. Good stress or stress that allows you to thrive is known as eustress.

The stress response is that fight or flight response you feel when you’re in danger or when things get stressful. It’s natural and actually a good thing in acute situations. Your immune activity is stimulated in an acute stress response, preparing for wound healing and fighting infection should it be required. Acute stress is short lived. Once you’ve escaped the danger your parasympathetic nervous system, your “rest and digest” system, kicks in. Your body returns to its normal state, breathing and heart rate slows and your body systems come back into balance.

Chronic stress can arise easily in today’s fast paced, constantly connected world. We are being exposed to new or heightened stressors due to the pandemic, worrying about vulnerable family and friends, job security and home schooling. Your body reacts to these stressors as it would if you encountered a wild animal, but the chronic nature of these stressors doesn’t give your parasympathetic nervous system a chance to bring your body back to its natural resting state.

Stress and the Immune System

Chronic stress can lead to an impaired immune system, making you more susceptible to anxiety, depression, burnout, digestive issues and a long list of other health issues.

In these unprecedented COVID times we need to actively mitigate chronic stress and support optimal function of our immune system.

Every person is different in how they perceive stress and in their individual stress reaction to situations.

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Managing Stress and Your Immune System Taking Care of You

Shona Daniels

Every person is different in how they perceive stress and in their individual stress reaction to situations.

It's important to understand that even the strongest of immune systems will not stop you from contracting COVID 19, following guidelines on social distancing, masks, and hygiene is key.

Similarly, everyone is different in their preferred coping mechanisms, you just need to find what works for you. As a Registered Holistic NutritionistTM and wellness professional I consider nutrition improvements, lifestyle changes and enhancements to the mind-body connection.

Let’s explore some ways to naturally reduce your stress and support your immune system:

1. Nutrition Your body has higher nutritional requirements during times of stress, here are a few things to try: Reduce the number of processed foods you consume Eat nutrient dense whole foods such as vegetables, seeds, nuts and whole grains Increase your consumption of eggs, fish and liver which contain B vitamins to support energy production Try flaxseed, a good source of Omega3 fatty acids which is beneficial for optimal nervous system function and brain health.

Vitamin D is key to the immune system, it helps to regulate the immune response.

Deficiencies in Vitamin D have been associated with increased susceptibility to infection.

The best natural source of Vitamin D comes from being outside in the sunlight but in our Canadian winter this isn’t easy and 32 % of Canadians need to increase their Vitamin D levels. Although we can increase our consumption of fatty fish and milks fortified with vitamin D, getting sufficient Vitamin D from food sources alone can be difficult.

Vitamin D and fish oil supplements can be a way to ensure you’re getting recommended levels of Vitamin D.

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Managing Stress and Your Immune System Taking Care of You

Shona Daniels

2. Sleep A good night’s sleep, of around 7 to 9 hours, can be restorative and strengthen the immune system, better equipping you to fight infection. Prolonged sleep deprivation is a stressor on the body and chronic stress can either hinder falling asleep or cause that 2-4am waking, a common sign of increased stress levels. Sleep and stress have a cyclical relationship; stress disrupts sleep and disrupted sleep is a stressor.

To maximize restorative sleep: Get to bed by 10pm Start a sleep routine Make your room quiet and dark Stop looking at screens an hour before bed Relax before trying to sleep.

Epsom salt baths before bed can help with sleep. Soak and allow the body to absorb the magnesium which can help induce sleep.

There has also been some research showing that taking probiotics at night before bed improves the quality of sleep – this is something that I find works well for me.

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Managing Stress and Your Immune System Taking Care of You

Shona Daniels

3. Exercise Regular moderate activity has numerous proven benefits, it can help combat stress, aid in weight loss and increase our feeling of wellbeing as well as enhancing our immune system.

Keep your exercise routine to one that is appropriate for your current level of fitness and the time you have available.

Walking is a great option and the intensity can be varied to meet your needs Yoga is also great for stress busting as well as strength and flexibility Over exercising can cause or exacerbate inflammation in the body, acting as a stressor and having a negative impact on your immune system.

Trying to stick to an overly rigid training schedule or meet unrealistic expectations can be demoralizing and stop us from exercising at all – moderation is key, especially if you’re already feeling stressed.

Try getting outside while you exercise - being out in nature can make us feel grounded and reduce our stress levels.

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Managing Stress and Your Immune System Taking Care of You

4. Explore Mindfulness Mindfulness practice can help us change how our mind and body responds to stressors we encounter and our out-ofcontrol worries. Mindfulness doesn’t have to be a formal meditation practice there are other more informal ways to try mindfulness, it can be as simple as attuning and being present in the moment I realized that mornings were a time when

Shona Daniels

I worried about the day ahead, ruminating over things I couldn’t control.

Now I make an effort to practice mindfulness during my morning shower; using all my senses to focus on the present rather than letting my thoughts wonder. I think about the feel of the heat of the shower, the sounds of the water and the smell of my shampoo. Just google mindfulness techniques for a host of other suggestions.

“WE CAN'T CONTROL EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS BUT WE CAN CHANGE OUR EXPERIENCE OF THOSE THINGS” – ANDY PUDDICOMBE

5. Gratitude Journaling Developing a gratitude practice has been shown to reduce stress and ongoing research is showing it can also have physical benefits including a strengthened immune system.

It may seem counter-intuitive to start writing about what you are grateful for during a pandemic when life can be so unpredictable and stressful. Focusing on the positives in your life and actually taking the time to write can interrupt the negative ruminations and show you a new perspective.

To fully benefit from journaling, it is important to: Take the time to put pen to paper Think through all areas in your life Try not to repeat the same items on consecutive days.

Making gratitude journaling part of your regular sleep routine can reduce bedtime worry and improve sleep quality.

Shona Daniels is a Registered Holistic NutritionistTM and wellness professional who is passionate about stress resiliency and helping you meet your health goals.

Check out her website www.wellnessandwalking.com for more information.

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A SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST SPENDING TIME TOGETHER A FAMILY AFFAIR

GETTING READY FOR SUMMER

CLEAN YOUR EXTERIOR WINDOWS FOR A CRISP CLEAR SPARKLING VIEW. CLEAN UP YOUR FENCE

BY WASHING WITH A HOSE AND RAKING LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS AWAY FROM IT. YOU MAY EVEN WANT TO GIVE IT A FRESH COAT OF SEALANT IF NEEDED. POWER WASH THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME TO WIPE AWAY GRIME AND STAINS. PAY EXTRA ATTENTION TO THE TOPS AND BORDERS OF WALLS WHERE INSECTS LIKE TO NEST. PRUNE SUMMER BLOOMING TREES AND SHRUBS. TRIM BACK PERENNIALS AND PULL OUT LAST YEARS ANNUALS.

THESE OUTSIDE CLEANING TIPS CAN REALLY MAKE LIFE EASIER AND STRESS FREE. MAKE IT A FAMILY AFFAIR WHERE EVERYONE HAS A TASK TO ACCOMPLISH. OF COURSE YOU WILL WANT TO REWARD YOURSELF AND EVERYONE ELSE WITH THEIR FAVOURITE ICE-CREAM OR SWEET TOOTH! :-)

DON'T FORGET YOUR GARAGE! A DILIGENT SWEEP , DECLUTTERING OLD UNUSED JUNK, CLEAN SHELVING AND ORGNIZE GARDENING TOOLS. WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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HAPPY MOTHERS DAY Dear Daughter, My dream is for you to reach for your dreams, To be courageous and adventurous, To love and be loved freely, To be strong and stand up every time you fall And to know that I will always be here for you Love, Mommy

TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW YOU WILL BE MORE DISAPPOINTED BY THE THINGS YOU DIDN’T DO THAN BY THE THINGS YOU DID DO.

"Mothers hold their children's hands for a while, but their hearts forever."

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STAY TUNED FOR OUR SUMMER ISSUE OF WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE TO BE PUBLISHED IN JUNE OF 2021

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

SEND US YOUR STORIES, SUGGESTIONS, AND COMMENTS TO WOMEN@WOMENROCK.NET

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN ADD WITH US PLEASE CONTACT US AT WOMEN@WOMENROCK.NET FOR DETAILS WOMEN ROCK MAGAZINE

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CHERISH EVERY MOMENT

2O .ON EUSSI

OO.6$ • 0202 REBMETPES

FAMILY TIME IS A PRECIOUS GIFT

HAVE FUN! FAMILY IS WHERE LIFE BEGINS AND LOVE NEVER ENDS DANCE

LAUGH

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