10 Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gifts
10 Last-Minute Mother's Day Gifts Calling all procrastinators, Mother’s Day is this Sunday! Yes, even though it feels like we only just turned our calendars to May, we are approaching Mom’s weekend already. Not sure what to get the amazing women in your life? Read on for some ideas from our last-minute Mother’s Day gift guide that will really make your mom feel special and appreciated on her day this year. SkinGear LED Face Shield Give Mom a glow-up with this LED Face Shield and experience all the benefits that LED light has to offer, right in the comfort of your home. This cordless, hands-free technology is designed with efficiency and convenience in mind. LED light therapy has multiple health benefits and this face shield features three different light modes! BLUE light: to kill bacteria, treat acne and regulate natural oil production. AMBER light: to reduce dark spots, hyperpigmentation and promote even skin tone. RED light: to stimulate collagen and elastin, and to minimize redness and wrinkles. Price: $138.50 on sale Where to Buy: Shop for the LED Face Shield online SkinGear BESO Lip Mask & AMOUR Eye Mask (10 Pack) Introduce Mom to the newest duo to join the SkinGear squad. The Besos Hydra-gel Lip Mask is ultra-hydrating and is infused with nourishing ingredients designed to soften, smooth and restore lips for a visibly plump effect. Pair it with Amour Eye - the ultimate eye treatment! Formulated to instantly refresh the under-eye area, reduce dark circles, and soften fine lines and wrinkles to reveal a luminous youthful glow. Price: $33.74 Where to Buy: Shop SkinGear online Dr Teal’s Melatonin Collection Treat Mom to ultimate relaxation with Dr Teal’s NEW Pure Epsom Salt Melatonin Sleep Soak and Foaming Bath. Infused with beneficial vitamins, minerals, essential oils and Melatonin to restore and rejuvenate both mind and body while promoting a better night’s sleep. Price: $9.99 each Where to Buy: Shoppers Drug Mart BRÜMATE Winesulator Gift Set This is the go-to giftset for wine lovers! Summer weather is approaching and what could be better for your Mom than sipping some wine and relaxing by the pool? Great to travel with to the beach or on camping trips. BRÜMATE’s winesulator holds a full bottle of wine and will keep your Mom’s favourite Pinot Grigio at the right temperature for 24 hours. This giftset comes with two matching Uncork’d XL wine tumblers for easy sharing. With so many different colours and designs to choose from (you can even customize your own giftset!),
5 Ways to Get Your Teen Off Their Screens
5 Ways to Get Your Teen Off Their Screens By Rayyan El-Baf Do you have bored teenagers roaming around the house? Without other activities like sports and clubs that normally keep them busy, their go-to boredom beater is probably being on their phones or playing video games. And, let’s be honest, we are likely on our phones more than we should be ourselves, simply because we are bored too. So what else can teenagers do to beat those boredom blues? For some inspiration, here are five activities that your teens (and you) can enjoy without looking at a screen. Learn a new Skill Teenagers typically run on a very specific schedule between school, extracurriculars, homework, socializing and hobbies. Amid the heavy schedule of their lives, it may be difficult for teens to engage in current or new hobbies. The pandemic and lockdowns have given everyone a lot of newfound free time; so why not learn a new skill? Hobbies that don’t include screen time could vary from painting, drawing, learning how to play an instrument, knitting, cooking, or learning a new language. Learning a new skill is a great way to engage your teens’ minds while stuck at home. Complete a puzzle Puzzles are great for the sake of passing time. Lockdowns may make the day seem laboriously long and completing a puzzle is a great way to make time fly and activate your critical thinking skills. These puzzles can be done individually or together as a family if you want to make a day out of it. Family members can also complete different puzzles and then compare them after completion. Puzzles can vary from classic 1000-piece jigsaw-themed puzzles or Rubik’s puzzles. Get Moving If you have access to a front yard or a backyard, this is an excellent opportunity for teens to get exercise with outdoor sports and activities. Shooting basketballs or kicking a soccer ball is a fun activity to get their bodies moving. Other sports such as football and softball can be played among siblings or between parent and teen. If your teen doesn’t feel like exerting themselves, why not do some chalk art on the pavement! Family Games Being in lockdowns creates a strong sense of loneliness and isolation. Engaging as a family to play board games, card games, and other family games is a fun way to pass time, socialize, and curb the cycle of isolation. You can engage in classic card games and other
3 Mompreneurs Making a Mark
3 Mompreneurs Making a Mark Inspiration can come from the unlikeliest of sources but for these three women, inspiration sparked from their journeys to find happiness, health and organization in their daily lives as moms. Shantelle Bisson, Adriana Gentile and Justine McDonald are three women entrepreneurs making an impact in the lives of those needing support to reach their goals. These women are experts in helping others achieve their best. Learn how each of these moms is making her mark. Shantelle Bisson Short story bio about your business My parenting book, Raising Your Kids Without Losing Your Cool, and the products I’m currently creating to work in conjunction with the book/brand, came about because I’m actually not very good at keeping my cool! I’m a total Type-A, on-the-spectrum-OCD kind-of gal, and I find everyday tasks like parenting teens, moving, aging and breaking up to be pretty challenging. So, I had to do something to help myself get through life with more joy, peace, and fun. Enter me writing my first book, which will become the beginning of a series of life books to assist others in getting through this thing called life, or to help other people start off their parenting journey with more preparation, confidence and a lot less angst. How you came up with it The way I came up with the Without Losing Your Cool brand was from me getting my girls to adulthood with my cool still intact. I realized that if somebody like ME could get to the other side of that difficult, challenging, ever-changing part of life, then I can and should help others do the same! I have witnessed friends entering the unknown part of parenting years and knew I could support them through it and even help them enjoy it at the same time! I am also a master at moving. I’ve done it 25 times in the almost 33 years I’ve been married to my husband. I actually LOVE moving and renovating and organizing. I’m always amazed to hear other people say that they don’t! From things in my life that I have done well and things I enjoy doing where others do not, I felt that creating a business centered around helping people master their time spent in uncomfortable, new and unchartered parts of their lives was a no-brainer. Why it's important? I believe letting people know that it’s okay to lose their cool while they’re in the
Teen Activist Hannah Alper Sets Sights on Changing the World
Teen Activist Hannah Alper Sets Sights on Changing World Hannah Alper, a 17-year-old advocate and blogger, is out to change the world. Her work has impacted many lives through her insight on climate change, social justice and anti-bullying. She has not only written a book titled Momentus, but she also speaks at conferences and TED Talks around the world. She also recently appeared in a documentary called CitizenKid: Earth Comes First, which raises awareness of climate change issues and empowers kids to take action. “I never thought that I was too young (to become an activist), I just did it,” she said when asked about her many accomplishments as a young teen. INBETWEEN sat down with Alper to talk about her experience as a blogger, activist and motivational speaker and what she plans on doing next. In your blog and in your social media you are able to portray endless positivity. To what do you owe this enviable trait? My parents have always taught me to be a passionate and positive person. I am always called passionate, positive and optimistic. With all of the issues going on today, I could not do what I do without bringing positivity. There are so many things that we can do even though there are a lot of problems in the world. But we can be that change together. What is your biggest motivator? My parents. They have been to Washington and Kenya with me. I can talk to them about the issues I care about and share my experiences with them. I would also say that those young people that make a difference in the world also motivate me. They make me feel as if I am not alone and that there is always something you can do to make a difference. In a world where social media is on the rise and many young people are starting to gain their own voices, what would you say to young bloggers who want to make a difference? Keep going. I truly believe that social media is the biggest and best tool that we can use to change the world. If anyone is struggling with getting people to pay attention and join a movement, you need to keep going. We always need more people to share what they care about and social media is one way that we can begin that change. Social media is a truly incredible place and kids often
10 Teen Slang Words You Should Know
10 Teen Slang Words You Should Know Every generation has their own, unique way of influencing language, like creating slang that only their peers will understand. Today, as Gen Zers enter teenhood, many Xennials and Millennials will be hard-pressed to understand exactly what on earth they’re saying. With new cultural reference points and trending speaking styles coming from celebrities, shows and memes – basically, the Internet – now may be the time to follow in Oprah and Gayle’s footsteps and freshen up on your teen slang. “Slang is, by definition, just informal language. In that sense, slang shouldn’t be considered “degraded language” but, rather, a variant of the predominant variety used by a community of speakers. From a sociolinguistic perspective, adolescents are generally the primary drivers of language change. They are more daring and creative with regard to language and they innovate much more than do speakers in other age brackets. This tendency to innovate language is part in parcel of the cognitive development that teenagers experience during adolescence, which sees them asserting their independence from their family unit and forging strong social connections with peers. Peppering their everyday speak with slang terms known primarily or exclusively within the peer group helps to solidify the new social bonds”, says Jennifer Dorman, Instructional Designer in Didactics at leading language app Babbel. So you can get down with the kids – linguistically, at any rate –Dorman shares some of the most popular teen slang today, along with definitions: Skrrt: Rapidly leaving / expression of excitement The easiest way to wrap your mind around this term is to think of the sound a car makes as it’s driving away at high speed, with its wheels screeching. It’s pronounced similarly to ‘skirt’, but usually in a high-pitched tone, and was first popularized in rap songs to convey the rapper trying to get away from something, or someone. Waste man: Worthless person A waste man is a negative term to refer to someone who makes poor decisions, acts poorly or is not doing much with their lives. Finsta: Fake / Fun Instagram This term is another attempt by teens to deceive their parents and was originally used to refer to a ‘fake Instagram’ account, which would be used for posts you don’t want your parents, or wider family, to see. The meaning has since grown to include any secondary or fake item, like a second Twitter account, or a secret phone. Cancelled: No longer relevant Frequently used when speaking about celebrities who are considered no longer relevant, or have said or done
10 Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gifts She’ll Love
10 Last-Minute Mother's Day Gifts She'll Love Buying for the mothers in your life can be hard. That’s why we’ve chosen 10 gift ideas for the women that do so much everyday. By Rhiannon Ness 1: Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, $499, dysoncanada.ca Spoil your mom with the best in luxury hair care. This hairdryer saves time and leaves a sleek finish compared to a regular dryer, so mom can get right back to her busy schedule! It relies on its power to dry hair fast instead of just using extreme heat, making this a healthier and quicker alternative to a regular hair dryer. 2: Breville Smart Tea Infuser Compact, $199, breville.com The Breville smart tea infuser does all the hard work for you. It knows the proper temperature and steep time your mother’s favourite tea needs, so she can just set the timer and go! 3: Casper Hybrid Mattress, $925+, casper.com Maximize your mom’s sleep by getting her one of these mattresses. They’re comfortable and limit the body pain that is usually caused by other mattresses. The mattress features temperature-regulating technology to prevent overheating, as well as upgraded support technology to address aches and pains for the most comfortable sleep. 4: Cute mom mugs, $14, chapters.indigo.ca For the caffeinated mother, these mugs show your appreciation for everything that Mom does (and she’s reminded every morning!). 5: Bite Beauty lip set, $39, sephora.com For the makeup lover, this Bite Beauty lip set contains three lipsticks, a lip balm and a lip mask in a travel pouch. Bonus: they’re cruelty-free and made in Canada! 6: Tropical iced tea set, $39, davidstea.com Kickstart summer with this iced tea kit from David’s Tea. The kit includes three teas, a spoon and a steeper so your mom can indulge in these tropical iced teas on a hot day. 7: Conversations with my Momby Lark Crafts $14, chapters.indigo.ca This collaborative journal is something you and your mom work on together. It features guided questions to get you talking about things you might never have mentioned before. This book is a conversation between each other and is something you’re both bound to cherish. 8: Pandora charm bracelet, $75, Pandora.net A Pandora charm bracelet is something you can add to every year. There are Disney charms, mom charms, grandmother charms, mother-son charms, mother-daughter charms—charms for every occasion and every mother! 9: Drunk Elephant Littles Kit, $110, sephora.com This Drunk Elephant skincare set is great for all skin types. Whether your mom’s skin concerns are hyperpigmentation, aging skin or dullness, she will be sure to love the products
6 Decor Items for Their Dorm
6 Decor Items for Their Dorm Make your teen’s dorm room feel like home with these fun finds sure to liven up their new space! From sprays to water clocks, we have handpicked a diverse list just in time for back to school! Room Spray This will become an instant favourite for your teen. Refreshes any dorm room with the sweet scent of fall. $7.50 at Bath and Body Works Neon Lights A wonderfully bright addition to any study space – choose from a cat, a heart and a cupcake design. These neon light decorations feature modern LED technology for a warm steady glow. $22 at Indigo stores Calendar Chalkboard Perfect for organizing the week, your teen is sure to appreciate having this in their dorm room. Includes rose gold clips at the top for mounting notes. $34 at Urban Outfitters Water Clock For the teen majoring in environmental studies! This clock uses water to run and batteries and electricity are never needed – only tap water. $33.80 at Amazon.ca Floor Pillow These are essential for gatherings with friends or late-night study sessions. Comes in an assortment of fabrics and colours. $59 at Urban Outfitters Lap Desk Whether your teen likes to lounge on the bed or the floor, this lap desk is perfect for laptops or notebooks. $24 at Indigo stores.