Crave Original NESTING Brings Laughter and Love Just in Time for the Holidays
Crave Original NESTING Brings Laughter and Love Just in Time for the Holidays by Sarjae Irving A new Toronto-based series, NESTING, is set to be released on Crave on December 22, just in time for the holidays! The series was inspired by the stars and creators, Anna Hardwick and Rosa Labordé, and their personal story. NESTING is an eight-part, short-form, provocative, funny, and unflinching web series that explores fertility, friendship, the housing crisis in Toronto, and a mysterious little thing called love. According to Hardwick and Labordé, the name NESTING is derived from the desire to fertilize, as birds do in a nest. “It’s everything, the desire for a home, a family, and just feeling safe,” Labordé says in an interview with InBetween Magazine. In the series, the two had no house, no partner, and no baby. On the bright side, they have each other! Hardwick & Labordé, who are actual friends and not just on screen, display their connection in the search for a community in Toronto. “Both of us are from the Ottawa region, so the search for a community in Toronto is really big for us and also amazingly is what the show is all about, an extension of creating community” Comedic Quest for Family and Home In each episode, they clumsily and comically set out on a hunt for a baby daddy to fertilize their drying-up eggs, all while searching for affordable housing to nest in, so they can co-parent in their version of a family. Throughout each episode, Labordé idolizes the concept of a “Tiny House” movement, which highlights some of the differences between the two. When asked about this concept, Labordé said, “Today, we have a housing crisis that is so acute that I wish people would acknowledge that it’s problematic and is making people’s lives challenging.” As an alternative solution, Labordé believes that tiny houses would be great. Slowly and surprisingly throughout the series, Hardwick & Labordé’s platonic friendship begins to feel romantic. Hardwick and Labordé both have traits that support the other. Hardwick is a fashion stylist who loves clothes and is an extrovert — the risk-taker in the friendship. Labordé is a poet and often more reserved. However, she has bad financial management. With all things considered, the two hold each other accountable and grounded. NESTING is intended to suit a wide target audience within and outside of Toronto, anyone who craves love, friendship, and family. Emmy
8 Santa-Approved Last-Minute Christmas Gifts
8 Santa-Approved Last-Minute Christmas Gifts By Sarjae Irving Christmas is around the corner and you thought you had everything under control. However, you somehow lost a few weeks to school functions, work parties, neighbourhood get-togethers, cookie swaps, and other holiday events, and now you're in full-on panic mode. You need gifts. And fast. If you think you need a good old-fashioned Christmas miracle to pull it all off, don’t worry we are here to help. LG StanbyME Rollable Smart Touch Screen Dads are some of the hardest people to shop for, but most dads love a tech gift. The LG StanbyME Rollable Smart Touch Screen is not only great for Dad but for the entire family. It’s rollable, allowing you to move it from one room to another due to its wireless design — you can use it to watch movies, do a workout, follow a recipe and more! The screen is fully adjustable, you can tilt and rotate it to your preference and the LG StanbyME also plays well with your other devices and can connect via NFC, AirPlay or through USB or HDMI ports. It has an easy-to-use touch screen which is great for opening apps, pausing videos and more! When the screen is out of reach, a handy remote lets you stay in control from the comfort of your seat. Additionally, it will last up to three hours on a single charge. You can pick this up at lg.ca Cineplex Holiday Gift Bundle The Cineplex Holiday Gift Bundle is an excellent gift to give. If you spend $50 CAD or more on a Cineplex Gift Card, you get a holiday gift bundle for free, which has up to $60 CAD in movie extras including free admission, free popcorn, and movie ticket upgrades! Pick it up at any Cineplex location or at cineplex.com Green & Black’s premium organic chocolate For stuffing stockings, chocolate is a must! Green & Black's premium organic chocolate has a new smooth line, just in time for the holiday season. The line bridges the gap between dark and milk chocolate and includes Plain and Mint 50% Cocoa flavours, boasting a five on the intensity scale, which is a perfect stepping stone for chocolate lovers interested in transitioning to higher percentages of cocoa, while still experiencing mid-range intensity and sweetness. The entire Green & Black line has so many delicious flavours you’ll be snacking throughout this festive season. These can also make great hosting
Navigating the Holidays After Divorce: 3 Steps to a Fresh Start
Navigating the Holidays After Divorce: 3 Steps to a Fresh Start by Sarjae Irving While Christmas is often filled with joy, love and family celebrations, it can get complicated when navigating a new divorce. Every Hallmark movie might idealize the holidays as a picture-perfect season but the reality is separation is a part of many Canadians’ lives. Still, this doesn’t mean you still can’t have an amazing Christmas with your family — it’s just that the transition from shared household to divided festivities requires proper planning to ensure a positive experience for all involved. Here’s how. Be Proactive The first tip on navigating the holidays is to take a proactive approach and create a schedule, says Dr. Vinita Puri a Toronto-based registered Social Worker, Accredited Family Mediator, Coach and Consultant with expertise in educational training and group facilitation. “Preparation and mutual respect is key when creating an effective co-parenting schedule, especially around the time of the holidays,” she says. The schedule could include sharing the actual holiday, for instance, one parent gets the child on Christmas Eve and the other on Christmas Day or alternating the holidays each year. Another tip is to practice self-care. “You’re also trying to navigate loss, pain, and grief. Self-care is extremely important when going through divorce and even more so stressful around the time of the holidays,” says Dr. Puri, who also encourages newly divorced parents to set expectations. “This way, the child/children are aware and understand that this is the new reality,” she says.“It may be difficult, but these steps can be taken to ease the transition, along with surrounding yourself with loved ones and creating new traditions.” Plan to attend or not The concept of honour and shame may be a cultural factor that newly divorced parents take into consideration when it pertains to invitations to holiday events that involve both parents. In essence, there is still a lot of stigma and shame around divorce in many communities. “If divorced parents are a part of the same circle where people accept that divorce is normal and that people may no longer be compatible, the divorce should not be a hindering factor of whether to attend a holiday event,” says Dr. Puri. She further emphasized that once the divorced parents themselves are willing and able to control their emotions, she would encourage both parents to attend and/or continue to host holiday gatherings. Practice Self-Care When trying to navigate the holidays as a newly
Top 6 Gifts for Everyone On Your List
Top 6 Gifts for Everyone On Your List by Rachel Naud It’s here! It’s the busiest time of the year and to make it easier for you, we’ve hand-selected a list *and checked it twice!* of amazing gift ideas for everyone on your list from toddlers and tweens to teens and more! la Vie en Rose For those cozy moments by the fire or during meaningful gatherings with loved ones, la Vie en Rose has the perfect gift – luxurious and comfortable PJs. They come gift-ready and beautifully wrapped in a variety of prints and fabrics. There's nothing better than wrapping yourself in a brand-new cozy robe, and with more than 30 options to choose from, you can find the perfect one at your local la Vie en Rose. Paw Patrol Lookout Tower When it comes to snagging the season’s hottest toys, Toys R Us has got you covered with an amazing selection and fantastic deals. Whether you're on the hunt for Play-Doh, Hasbro games, or more, you can score up to 40% off on select brands. Plus, the store will price-match everything in the Toy Book until December 24th. One of Toys R Us' top picks is the Paw Patrol Lookout Tower. This tower is a dream for any Paw Patrol fan, complete with two Chase action figures and one police rescue cruiser—everything they need for a high-speed rescue mission. For an extra dose of excitement, bring the kids to the store for demos of top toys like this one. They're welcome to test the toys out for themselves. Grab it in-store or online at toysrus.ca Schick Hydro Sensitive Razor Everyone wants to look and feel their best, especially over the holidays. These grooming gifts from Schick are great for everyone in the house, including men and women! The men can get the Schick Hydro Sensitive because this razor is designed to pamper and care for your face, with cushioning gel pools and Skin Guards on every blade to protect against irritation while crafting your look. The 7 gel pools are enriched with aloe and Pro-Vitamin B5 to soothe and hydrate your skin for maximum comfort. The women can get the Schick Hydro Silk set because the curve-sensing blades give a close shave with a heavier, premium metal handle for grip and precision. The set also includes two refills and 3 of the Schick Hydro Silk Touch-Up razors. You can grab both of these sets at major retailers
4 Trendy Gift Ideas That’ll Impress Your Tweens and Teens
4 Trendy Gift Ideas That'll Impress Your Tweens and Teens by Rachel Naud Tweens and Teens can be hard to shop for with fads that come and go faster than those eye rolls they give you on the daily! This season, surprise them with everything they’ll love whether they’re fashionistas, sneakerheads, gamers or more! For the Gamer With the holiday season just around the corner, who else is looking forward to their annual family reunion? The Nintendo Switch system is a great way for the entire family to play together. The Nintendo Switch – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle is a perfect choice, featuring a Nintendo Switch with the fan-favourite game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a 3-Month Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership. Fun fact: did you know that you can double your courses in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? Well, you can with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass DLC! This downloadable content (available separately) adds a whopping 48 extra courses, including the crowd-favourite – Mute City. You can grab The Nintendo Switch - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle at most major retailers and nintendo.ca for $399.99 – a savings value of just under $90! You can download the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass for $32.99. For the Athlete For the ultimate sneakerhead in your household, we have the hottest new shoe to add to their holiday wish list. Gift them the Curry 11 Future Curry from Under Armour and the Curry Brand. The UA Intellilknit makes it lightweight, comfortable, and breathable and the flow cushioning provides comfort that is super light, bouncy and has insane grip. And for those teens constantly on the move, the Under Armour Unstoppable ½ zip sweater is an ideal choice for a cool and cozy look. Its breathable and comfortable design makes it suitable for different occasions, whether your teen wants to work out or spend some time with friends. Check out both of these items at ua.ca. For the Trendsetter Winter is all about the accessories. ‘Tis the season to rock those stylish hats, gloves, and earmuffs, and Joe Fresh has the perfect holiday lineup. Not only are these accessories stylish, but they also double as fantastic gifts and stocking stuffers for the fashionista teen on your list. Joe Fresh offers a variety of on-trend styles: from the classic charm of pearl gloves and berets to the playful vibes of their lavender sequin gloves and beanie combo. And of