Lifestyle
For the lives that we love, and everything that comes with it.
A Letter to a Bad Mother
You were neglectful and abusive from even my most early of memories. You were too young to have children. You had already had one and given her up for adoption. You had an abortion in between that child and myself. You were too young and dumb to know what was good for you, or me.
Courtney BoulayPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesBurn the Makeover Movie
There’s a lot of things I don’t miss about the noughties; low rise jeans and Juicy Couture velour rank amongst them. but the trend I most despise is the Makeover Movie. Also, here’s a disclaimer for the guys in the back; yes, being a feminist and an “ugly” teenager who had to wait till she was eighteen until her first kiss influences my opinion on this. It’s not that I “wouldn’t have a problem” if I was hot, it’s a case of I wouldn’t be the target audience. These movies are a goldmine of daydreams for nerdy teenage girls who harbour unobtainable popular crushes (*raises hand in admittance). They feed the mentality that “it’s not me, it’s my face/body/fashion/anything that makes up my identity and if I change it he’ll fall hopelessly in love with me and I can design the interior of our castle.” The makeover movie is a sub genre of teen films that follow a basic formula: Girl is unattractive, she likes boy who is attractive, witty sidekick persuades her to undergo a makeover, she is suddenly attractive because she now has make-up, contact lenses, and clothes that fit, boy likes her back, happily ever after. The thing is this template sells us fantasy dressed up in a high school guise; in the real world, a lovely, yet slightly plain looking girl who gets a "makeover" will look pretty much the same and odds are, the guy she likes will probably not glance her way regardless of what she wears. The problem is the makeover plot relies on and improbable event happening, but frames it in a realistic setting. The movies should be labelled fantasy as their plot lines are akin to Cinderella landing the cover of Sport Illustrated because the Prince found a girl who the glass bikini fits. But we bask in these films of the fantastical without any care for their source. Like the Miller's daughter in Rumplestiltskin, the director appears to turn the straw of everyday life into gold and we choose not to question his methods. This impossible feat is a trick of the eye; deep down we know this, yet we hold the counterfeit gold to our chests and wish we could afford the real deal.
Yes, I Am a Teen Mom
I want you to take a moment to think about the words 'teen mom'. What do you see? Is it Juno, in her skirt-jeans combo? Or Farrah, Maci, and Amber as background noise as you scroll through your phone? Maybe there's even a family member you think of.
Kindle FyrePublished 7 years ago in FamiliesA Light In the Dark
Dear Naomi, When you were born, I felt the entire universe change and things started to align, I felt myself change. I was no longer just a normal person living her everyday life, just another number on a paper or screen. Suddenly, I was Aunt Britt, the person who would spoil you rotten and give you everything your parents said you couldn't have. I was the person you would go to when you couldn't tell anyone else your secrets without judgement, or the person you turned to when you had no one else. I was going to be the person that made you laugh until you cried, I would wipe away any tears you shed, happy or unhappy. I would make you smile and feel safe and I would make you feel important. I would do all of that and then some, because at that time in my life, no one was doing any of that for me.
Brittney HeathPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesBeing a Parental Figure 5 Years Late
I never once thought in my life that at the young ripe age of 23 I would be an old lady. I rarely go out to party with people, I'm usually under a strict routine for bed and we only have our daughter a few weeks at a time. When we don't have her, I'm even less likely to go out and 'live it up' and here is why.
Friendliest Cat Breeds
While cats may be polarizing creatures among the general public, with all the crazy cat videos on Youtube, what else are we to think? However, cat lovers would beg to differ, and claim that their feline companions are just as loyal and loving as dogs. Here are the ten friendliest cat breeds that are sure to warm right up to new owners or perfect strangers.
Alexandra FreidlPublished 7 years ago in Petlife8 Things That Are Awesome About Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an awesome experience that is short and can go really quick if you just roll with it. There are many things that people tell you about, but there are many things that you will discover as you allow your body to change.
Regina Stone-GroverPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesWhy The Handmaid’s Tale Hits a Little Too Close to Home
Since Handmaid’s Tale debuted this year I have been glued to the screen as soon as a new episode comes on. At first, when I tuned in, I thought it was another remake of the original book, The Handmaid’s Tale written by Margaret Atwood. I soon found out that the idea behind the book was still there but the TV series was set in modern day. I think what fascinated me so much about the terrifying things going on in the show was the idea that something like that could easily happen in the world today. In the TV series, it’s the United States that has been transformed into the dystopian world of Gilead. Thankfully, at least in the show, Canada hasn’t totally lost their mind. Yay us!
Kimberly LovePublished 7 years ago in Viva