Chapter 1: A Story Dream Like Never Before — This story was created for a writing challenge on Vocal titled “Under Purple Clouds,” with the following criteria: Write the first chapter of a magical realism story (between 600–5,000 words) that starts with the following sentence: “Every night at midnight, the purple clouds came out to dance with the blushing…

An easy and cheap self-care hack I look forward to — It’s winter. Our highly chlorinated water and chemical-laden products leech the natural oils from our skin. This is bound to leave our summer-sun-missing skin parched and irritated. I’ve always had skin more on the sensitive side, prone to allergic contact dermatitis, rashes, dryness, itchiness, and razor burn. Using a moisturizer…

And how to do it right — You have a valuable wellness product or service—or at the very least an idea for one—and it’s time for you to make your mark and bring that value to all of your potential customers. One important area that may hinder you is your visual brand identity. The wellness industry continues to grow The wellness industry is…

Yes, you can have your holiday fruitcake and eat it too. — Diet culture have you dreading the holiday season yet again? Is your excitement for your favourite dishes amongst family and friends overshadowed by guilt and looming New Years’ resolutions? Enough is enough! Let me ask you this: Do you eat like you do over the holidays every day of the…

A guide to making your spending count this holiday season — 1. Support Indigenous businesses Sequoia Soaps Proudly Indigenous made soaps, scrubs and other body products, and candles, incense and fragrance oils. Founded in 2002 by Michaelee Lazore who is Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) from Akwesáhsne and Northern Paiute from Nevada. Sequoia Soaps has been featured in Elle, Chatelaine, The Huffington Post and more.

$h!ting in the woods for 3 days can really shift your perspective — Last week marked exactly one month being married to my partner of 9 years (yay!). Our wedding was a small and intimate affair with only two dozen people. Despite this, the costs still added up and life has just been too busy, so we opted for what I keep referring…

A helpful read for students, or parents of students who are away from home — What words, phrases or feelings come to mind when you hear the word “nutrition”? Perhaps some of the ideas that pop into your mind include dieting, worry, expensive health foods, challenge, and insufficient time. Rest assured, good nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or restrictive! Good nutrition simply means…

With my personal adaptogen product recommendation — You may have heard the word “adaptogen” tossed around in the world of health and wellness as they have been increasing in popularity. Adaptogens are a group of natural herbs, specifically active ingredients found in certain herbs and mushrooms, that have the potential ability to enhance a person’s resilience to…

With a slightly embarrassing confession — Recently I was listening to an episode of Erin Holt’s “Funk’Tional Nutrition Podcast” in which she discusses being introduced by a friend as a Nutritionist who “really walks the talk.” What her friend meant by this was that Erin truly practices and embodies what she preaches in her profession. This…