Karen Khunkhun: Lessons on Motherhood, Communication, and Following Your Dreams
Karen Khunkhun: Lessons on Motherhood, Communication, and Following Your Dreams by Arianne Granada March is Women's History Month, and what better way to celebrate than by shining a light on a trailblazing woman in the media industry? For over 20 years, Karen Khunkhun has been a beloved fixture of Vancouver's morning radio scene. From her humble beginnings in the promotions department at CFOX to her current role as a co-host of one of the city's most popular morning shows, Khunkhun has become a trusted voice for thousands of listeners across the region. Early Career and Finding Her Calling Khunkhun's broadcasting journey began at Vancouver's Co-OP Radio while she was still a university student. From there, she moved to the promotions department at CFOX but it wasn't until she joined the famous Larry & Willy morning show as a traffic reporter that she found her true calling. Despite her initial nerves, Khunkhun quickly adapted to the fast-paced world of morning radio and became a beloved part of the team. She adds, "I used to listen to the CFOX morning show, and they were my favourite morning wake-up show. And I was so nervous because I was like ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t work with Larry or Willy like this. It’s too much!’ Once I got over all the nervousness and just being so scared, I started and that was kind of my way in and I’ve been there ever since." Her infectious energy and quick wit soon landed her other exciting opportunities, including stints at CityTV's Morning Breakfast Show and CTV News as a weekend weathercaster. While she may love both fields, she admits there's something special about each one. Radio provides a comfortable and safe space for her to research and prepare, while TV offers the thrill of being on the spot and performing. Each separate industry has taught me so much and it brought a lot of joy to my life like I sometimes even at this stage, I just kind of feel like “Wow.” Adapting to Change As the pandemic swept across the world, Khunkhun had to leave the familiar studio environment behind and work from home. At first, the prospect of being separated from her colleagues was daunting. But as Khunkhun settled into her new routine, she began to appreciate the silver linings of this unexpected change. I always think I'm such an extroverted person. I love being social, I love going out and about, but honestly, it all
3 Laser Treatments to Help You Glow Up This Year
3 Laser Treatments to Help You Glow Up This Year By Rachel Naud Aging is weird. Sometimes, how we feel on the inside doesn't reflect back to us when we look in the mirror. While inside, I felt like a vibrant, youthful woman full of life and vigour, when I looked in the mirror, all I saw was tired-looking dull skin. As a woman in my 40s, I don't expect to look the same as I did when I was 23. But I also want to look ¸— and feel — the best I can at any age. It was perfect timing when I was invited to a media event at MC Beauty in Toronto to learn about the MOXI laser. Marie, the owner of the clinic, walked me and other writers through the process and showed us inspiring before-and-after images, while also displaying the fast and effective procedure on a live model. (To see my full MOXI journey, click here.) The MOXI laser was the second laser treatment by Sciton that I have tried and I wouldn't hesitate to go for a third. The results you get from laser treatments are unparalleled. Thanks to the MOXI treatment, my skin is brighter, smoother and rejuvenated. If you want to put your best face forward in 2023, you may want to check out these treatments for yourself. BBL HERO Laser Treatment Looking for a way to rejuvenate your skin and treat various skin conditions? You might want to consider Sciton's BBL HERO treatment. Sciton's BBL HERO uses BroadBand Light (BBL) technology to improve the appearance of the skin and treat various skin conditions. BBL HERO is considered the gold standard of light therapy. It's also known for being the most robust and powerful broadband light available. BBL HERO is suitable for anyone looking to improve the appearance of their skin and can treat a range of conditions including acne (active and associated discoloration), sun and age spots, freckles, cherry angiomas, rosacea, telangiectasia, uneven skin tone, general redness, and lax skin. It only requires minimal downtime. After treatment, you can simply put on a little tinted sunscreen to hide the redness and go about your day. BBL HERO is also a fast treatment, with the ability to treat an entire face in just four minutes. It is generally only necessary to undergo one or two treatments to see results, making it a convenient and effective option for improving the appearance of
Bria Singleton as Bobbi Kristina in Whitney Houston Biopic
Hitting New Notes: Bria Danielle Singleton as Bobbi Kristina in Whitney Houston Biopic By Arianne Granada Growing up, Bria Singleton was a Whitney Houston fan — her music was a mainstay in the Singleton household. Today, in a full circle moment, the rising star and actress portrays Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, in the biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody. We sat down with Singleton, to talk about how the film honours Houston's legacy and the challenges and valuable lessons she learned along the way. On Being Bobbi Kristina Taking on the role of Bobbi Kristina in the Whitney Houston biopic was a new and significant challenge for Bria Singleton. "It was such an experience because this is like a job where I haven’t had a lot of auditions for a character based on a real person," says Singleton. "I’m portraying a real person so this was an entirely new thing and this is the biggest project I've ever done." Singleton approached the role with a unique perspective, determined to find the real Bobbi Kristina behind the cameras and avoid any negative portrayals in the media. She shared, "I researched a lot on Bobbi Kristina but I tried to steer clear of what everyone was wanting to portray of her in a negative light. I wanted to find the Bobbi Kristina that was behind the cameras and just try to search for that type of conflict to where I could just get something more authentic." In her search for a deeper understanding of Bobbi Kristina, Singleton says she also found similarities between herself and her character. "I’d say that Bobbi is a lot more patient, to be honest. I think we're both very patient, but we're also very understanding, always available to help anyone and just very supportive people." Her Full-Circle Moment as a Long-Time Whitney Fan Growing up, Bria Singleton was surrounded by Whitney Houston's music. "I've been a fan since birth. My mom raised us on her. She's one of those people who was always present, never in the background. My mom used to make us watch The Bodyguard when we were young, and she still does. We'd rewatch it sometimes and just listen to her music while going on a drive, on our way to school, and waking up to it. She was just always around." Playing Bobbi Kristina in the Whitney Houston biopic was a personal and enlightening experience for Singleton; it was a full-circle moment
5 ways to make the holidays stress-free for tweens of divorce
5 ways to make the holidays stress-free for tweens of divorce By Alicia Robertson Feeling anxious about how to get through the upcoming holiday season without too much drama? You’re not alone. While the holidays can be an incredibly joyous time, they can also be extremely challenging for families who are navigating divorce—especially when you’re determined to maintain the holiday cheer for your tweens. With careful planning and consideration for everyone’s top priorities and feelings, you can still achieve a stress-free holiday for you and your tweens this year. Make sure your legal agreement is inclusive of everyone’s needs The most important starting point is with the legal agreement that you and your former partner draw up when working through your divorce. Don’t rush through this step! Take your time to make sure that your final draft is truly inclusive of everyone’s needs, which will help ensure that everyone has a really positive holiday experience. Spend time discussing and determining everyone’s priorities: yours, your former partner’s, and your tweens’. Focus on the experiences that matter right now, but remember that over time, new family traditions may emerge and that the holiday season will look different at different ages and stages for your family. Remember that this is a legal document, so you want to be as specific and clear as possible. As parents, it’s your job to enforce this agreement when necessary, especially if your tweens get upset about the plans you’ve set for the holidays. In this situation, the best thing you can do to support your tween is to listen and validate their feelings—using statements such as “thank you for sharing your feelings and desires. This is not easy and how you feel and what you want is entirely reasonable. Let’s figure out how we can work through this together”. Care for your own emotions first In order to support your tweens through the emotions they’re going through during this tough time, you have to first focus on your own emotional self-care and healing. Start by having an awareness of what new feelings are coming up for you, such as grief around the loss of family traditions, not seeing the extended family you love, etc. Try to stay out of the victim mindset and flip that script by reminding yourself that you’re not losing or missing anything. You’re safe, well, happy, free, and you can make positive choices for yourself! You'll be better equipped to meet your tweens'
Gift the Unexpected: 3 Unique ‘Gifts for Good’ Ideas that Help Children Worldwide
Gift the Unexpected: 3 Unique ‘Gifts for Good’ Ideas that Help Children Worldwide by Fred Witteveen My family, perhaps like yours, has an annual holiday tradition. Every year, no matter where we are, we make the same Christmas breakfast. We prepare our special crepes, the recipe handwritten on a stained decades-old 3x6 card. As a family, we have moved often and even relocated abroad for a time. Change is a constant for us, but so are those pancakes. My daughter, now 28, grew up on them; I figure she downed hundreds over the years before leaving her now empty-nester parents. As a result of COVID last year, we spent the holidays miles apart in New York and Toronto. Even quarantine could not stop us; we laughed together as we flipped crepes made with our special recipe over Zoom. Holiday Traditions Children everywhere love traditions (parents, too), and traditions make memories. Celebrating Giving Tuesday (November 29) is a tradition in our family, too. It marks the largest global movement of generosity and signals the start of the holiday season. If you're writing up your family's holiday wish list this year, consider including some 'gifts for good' that will make a lasting difference to vulnerable children worldwide and create a new family tradition. Children Believe is a charity that supports more than 1.2 million children, youth and community members annually. They release their Gifts for Good catalogue every year. It features gifts that can help break the barriers to education that millions of children, particularly girls, endure in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nicaragua and Paraguay—countries where Children Believe serves. All 54 gifts featured in the Gifts for Good catalogue will support children and their families to overcome the challenges they face, not only during the holiday season but all year long. Here are three of my favourite picks that I hope might make your family’s list this holiday season, too. Goats – the Gift Of All Time? Being the GOAT – what younger generations recognize to mean the “Greatest Of All Time” – may be an accolade given to sports stars, but we think real goats are the “Gift Of All Time”. Why? Goats have proven to be useful in developing countries as a source of milk, fertilizer, and income for vulnerable families. Parents can use these funds for their children’s school fees and supplies. You can help a family for a year by giving a goat ($100 per goat, $250
Virgin River’s Jenny Cooper on Juggling Motherhood with Acting
Virgin River's Jenny Cooper on Juggling Motherhood with Acting by Arianne Granada You might see her as a familiar face on television. Jenny Cooper has played prominent roles in crowd-favourite shows like Grey's Anatomy, Open Heart, 24, Law and Order True Crime: The Menedez Murders, Scandal, NCIS, and CSI: Miami. Currently, she is starring as Joey Barnes in the Netflix series Virgin River, which is based on the long-running series of novels by New York Times bestseller Robyn Carr. When she's not starring on Virgin River, Jenny Cooper is raising her three kids in Los Angeles with her husband. We had the chance to talk to Jenny about how she balances work and family life, and she gave us some pretty insightful tips for anyone else trying to figure out how to do it all. Tell us a bit about your character in Virgin River. Joey is Mel's older, protective sister who, when the series started, seemed like she had it all together and was there mostly to support Mel. But we have seen through subsequent seasons that she was hiding a lot from her sister, including the state of her marriage. Virgin River has tackled issues like postpartum depression, cancer, sexual assault, pregnancies at an older age, grief, and domestic violence that many women and parents could relate to. Do you think this openness and honesty to real-life situations contributed to the show’s success? It's so hard to say what contributes to any show's success or failure. In our case, it feels like it was the right show at the right time. There's so much unrest in the world right now, I think our audience wants to believe that a place like Virgin River actually exists, with people who are kind and generous towards one another. And it seems like the larger issues that are tackled in the show work in part because of the beautiful performances of the cast, because of the love people have for these characters, and, as you said, because many of us have experienced these kinds of challenges, so it's always inspiring to see someone work through a dark time and come out on the other side. Joey is Mel’s sister and go-to person for advice. What can you say about their sisterly love and how do you think they maintain their strong bond despite their distance? I think they have the kind of relationship where they are always at the forefront of each
5 Ways to Have Philly Fun With Your Teen
5 Ways to Have Philly Fun With Your Teen By Rosalind Stefanac If you’re looking for a walkable American city filled with history, fantastic food and fun, Philadelphia will not disappoint. With some of the most historic sites in U.S. history—and plenty of places to “hang”— Philly proved to be a perfect blend of learning and adventure for a recent weekend with my teenage son. Where to stay Stay downtown for easy walking access to a multitude of parks and free historic sites, such as the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall (where the U.S. Constitution was created), and the infamous Rocky (Balboa) steps and statue (more on that below). We loved the atmosphere at the iconic Notary Hotel, which is located in Philadelphia’s former city hall — a building that dates back to 1926—and features all the modern amenities, including a 24-hour gym and a fully stocked tuck shop for late-night snacking. It’s also a block away from the Reading Terminal Market, a food bazaar sure to please every appetite. What to eat You can’t not try a Philly cheesesteak in Philadelphia. We walked the aisles of the Reading Terminal Market to find these delicious sandwiches topped with thinly sliced steak, caramelized onion, and melted provolone cheese. With more than 80 other merchants there, we also filled up on soft pretzels, tacos, cannolis, cookies and donuts made fresh before our eyes. Open at 8 a.m., the market is a great place for breakfast too. For a memorable dinner, a Mexican-inspired feast at the funky Condesa was also a big hit with my teen (and me). What to do #1: Philly fun at Franklin Square As one of the city’s original open space squares, it centres around a 180-year-old fountain and classic carousel and hosts a variety of events throughout the year. While there we explored the Philadelphia Lantern Festival with more than 30 brilliant displays illuminated by tens of thousands of LED lights and plenty of cool photo ops. #2: Take a segway tour Philly offers some fantastic tours by foot, bike, bus and boat, but we opted to see the city’s most iconic spots via Segway with Philly Tour Hub. Following a brief training session, this mode of transport proved to be an exhilarating way to tour a variety of Philly neighbourhoods. If you’ve never ridden a Segway before, go for the shorter, 60-minute tour to avoid sore legs from all that balancing. #3: Channel the champ Burn off some steam by running
6 Reasons to Visit Mexico’s Marvellous Yucatán State
6 Reasons to Visit Mexico’s Marvellous Yucatán State By Rosalind Stefanac A recent trip to Yucatán State proved that there's so much more to Mexico than sandy beaches and ocean views. In fact, venturing inland on the southeastern Yucatán peninsula revealed so many historic gems, along with scenic retreats that offered a blissful escape from crowds and the hustle of everyday life. In planning your next adventure down south with your tween, teen or solo, here are six reasons to put Yucatán on your radar: Cenotes are so cool These nature-made, deep-water wells (or sinkholes), surrounded by rock formations, date back thousands of years. They're filled with fresh water fed by rain and underground currents. Most of Mexico’s more than 6,000 cenotes can be found in the Yucatán peninsula. At the Zazil Tunich in Valladolid, you descend 20 metres down into a cavern to reach the cenote where you can swim in the refreshing waters (average temperature 75-degrees Fahrenheit). Here you can opt for a guided tour that includes a traditional Mayan purification ceremony. It’s magical! It’s Taco Tuesday every day! All that swimming in cenotes is sure to spark your appetite. Luckily Yucatán is home to some of the best tacos on the planet — at least in my opinion. Be sure to try the cochinita pibil (shredded pork shoulder or loin), a popular taco filling in the region. They usually serve it with lettuce, pickled red onion, tomatoes, avocado and habanero chilli. At the Kinich in Isamal, you can even watch the staff hand-roll fresh tortillas before your very eyes. It doesn’t get fresher than this. You can be one with nature (literally) At the high-end Oriundo Luxury Nature Villas, which opened this June in Valladolid, every detail in the guest rooms has been designed to harmonize with the surrounding jungle. Not only are the materials all natural but you’ll find trees growing throughout the indoor space, and plenty of windows overlooking the lush green foliage. If you’re on a tighter budget, the area has plenty of haciendas with accommodations surrounded by lovely outdoor spaces ideal for nature exploring. The architecture is awesome In Merida, Yucatán’s pedestrian-friendly capital city, you'll find colonial history evident in most of the colourful and lovingly restored mansions, many of which are open to tourists. I took a guided tour of the stunning El Minaret, which was built in 1908, and is also known as the watchtower of Merida’s centre. Aim to be there
5 Tips to Raise a Resilient Teen
5 Tips to Raise a Resilient Teen By June Rousso, Ph.D. Teens today are faced with so much rapid change along with everyday academic and social demands. All of these demands can be very stressful at times. Our bodies naturally react to stress with a fight, flight or freeze reaction. However, we also can use our thoughts and emotions to develop resilience and better manage stress. This is where resilience comes in. But how to build it? Here are some tips for parents guided by the words of teens themselves from ChildResilient.org, a student-run non-profit organization born out of the pandemic. Tip #1: Encourage a strong sense of self in your teen. If you have a sense of who you are, you can easily direct yourself towards and away from situations — even toxic ones. As parents, give more choices when you can, and encourage your child not to be influenced by social conformity. While it is natural to want to be liked by others, it's also important to live by your own will. Let them learn to think independently, regardless of the good and bad opinions of others. Help foster resilience as well as build your teen's self-confidence by encouraging this kind of independent thinking. Tip #2: Don’t dwell on the past, especially the bad life experiences. While you never want to dismiss your child’s feelings, dwelling on the past prevents building up the strength to move forward in life. Children, especially teens, can be so sensitive to how they might have been judged in the past. Past opinions don’t matter and they need to learn to do things for themselves. Strengthen your teen's sense of self by teaching them not to be swayed by public opinion. With ongoing emotional reactions to stress — such as depression and anxiety — it is important to remind your child that these feelings are not all of who they are, which helps to keep your teen resilient. Tip #3: Explain that making social comparisons is natural, but overdoing it hinders being a resilient teen. When we compare ourselves to others, we usually come out on the short end of the stick or take on an arrogant attitude of feeling better. Communicating that there will always be people with more of something in some way is one message, but teens can also learn that these same people can serve as role models and be inspirational. At the same time, despite the social comparisons,
Paula Jiven Explores Musicality in The Duality in Me
Paula Jiven Explores Musicality in The Duality in Me By Tanishq Desai Swedish rising pop sensation, Paula Jiven is kicking the doors down with her radiant creation of original pop music on her debut EP, The Duality In Me, out May 6th. Curating a sonic world that is truly her own, Paula steps out of one phase of life and into another by discovering her sound and sharing the creation process behind songs that she’s been writing since she was 13. Now, the singer/songwriter is ready to reveal her multidimensional musicality to the world with her dreamy pop synth moment. At the age of 13, you performed at Sweden’s Got Talent and got a Golden Buzzer from the judges. What was the build-up like from the moment a young Paula Jiven picked up a violin on SGT and getting a golden buzzer? “So yes I started playing violin at the age of three, and at that point, it was more so just something for fun. I had so much fun practicing how to play, and ooh I got better, but for many years it was just something that I did like how other kids played football. And I guess at some point it started becoming more of a form of an expression. I started singing as an art form, and by the time I was on Sweden’s Got Talent, I was writing my own songs but I was not ready to release them in any way." "It was so scary, even playing them for my own family. But I did that show because I wanted to get into the music industry and I wanted to be able to build some contacts. Get my name out there and that’s kind of what happened with that golden buzzer. I honestly blacked out when that happened, of course, I was so happy and excited like yeah we finally did that. But usually, on these artistic journeys, it’s not all about the moments, it’s about the build-up to it. When it happened I was just like okay good, that worked out, next step and I think we need to see more of that in the creative industry like I did that. ” Since then you have been very careful in selecting the writers and producers you work with on your music, is there a specific process that you apply when you pick collaborators for your projects? “Basically, I’ll do sessions. And