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Women's Fashion

18 Shows and Movies We’re Excited to Stream in December 2020

image courtesy hulu

Including Happiest Season, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Funny Boy and Season 9 of Letterkenny.

We’ve got a lot of time on our hands right now. Here are all the movies and television shows we can’t wait to watch on streaming services—including Netflix Canada, Amazon Prime Video and CBC Gem—in December 2020.

Amazon Prime Video Canada

Happiest Season
The highly anticipated queer rom-com starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis is finally here. The two actresses play a couple (Abby and Harper) whose lives are about to get complicated when they visit Harper’s family for Christmas. Dan Levy co-stars as Abby’s best friend, and the cast is rounded out with a list of impressive names including Victor Garber, Mary Steenburgen, Aubrey Plaza and Alison Brie. The movie also features original music by Canadian duo Tegan and Sara, Bebe Rexha, Sia and others. Available December 9

The Wilds
Part survival drama, part dystopian slumber party, this thriller follows a group of teen girls from different backgrounds who must fight for survival after a plane crash strands them on a deserted island. One thing to know: these girls did not end up on this island by accident. Available December 11

Palm Springs
This sweet rom-com stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as two people who have a chance encounter at a mutual friend’s wedding in Palm Springs. Things get complicated when the pair find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other. Available December 18

Yearly Departed
This series of eulogies for the year 2020 features a star lineup of female comedians such as Rachel Brosnahan, Ziwe Fumudoh, Tiffany Haddish, Natasha Rothwell and Sarah Silverman. “After a year of societal upheaval, plague, murder hornets and banana bread,” Yearly Departed promises to “give 2020 the huge send-off it deserves.” Available December 30

Netflix Canada

The Prom
A teenage girl in a small, conservative Indiana town is fighting her high school’s leadership in order to bring her girlfriend to prom. A group of down-on-their-luck Broadway stars decide to head to the town to help with her cause, and to get themselves some much-needed publicity. The film stars Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Kerry Washington, Ariana DeBose and Jo Ellen Pellman. Available December 11

Selena: The Series
This coming-of-age story follows Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla from her childhood to her breakout turn on the music scene. It also chronicles the heartbreaking tough choices she and her family must make as they navigate the highs and lows of success, loss, love and music. Available December 4

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Adapted from a play by August Wilson, this film stars Viola Davis as legendary blues singer Ma Rainey. Tensions rise over the course of afternoon in 1920s Chicago, when the singer and her band gather at a recording studio. Chadwick Boseman plays one of the musicians in her band, in his final film performance before his death this past August. Available December 18

The Midnight Sky
This post-apocalyptic tale follows a lonely scientist in the Arctic, played by George Clooney, as he races to stop a group of astronauts from returning to Earth, where a mysterious global catastrophe has taken place. The film also stars Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, Kyle Chandler, Demián Bichir and Tiffany Boone. Available December 23

CBC Gem

Quiz
Based on the true story of Charles Ingram, a former British army major who was caught cheating on the game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, this series stars Matthew Macfadyen, Sian Clifford, Mark Bonnar and Michael Sheen. Available December 4

Funny Boy
Set in Sri Lanka in the 1970s and 80s, this film (based on a queer coming-of-age novel by Shyam Selvadurai) explores the sexual awakening of a young boy, against the backdrop of civil war between the minority Tamils and the majority Sinhalese. Directed by Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta, the film has been chosen as Canada’s submission to the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film this year. Available December 4

Alone Together: Personal Stories From the Pandemic
Selected and funded by the CBC Creative Relief Fund, several Canadian documentary filmmakers have been capturing real moments—from light-hearted to serious—of life in the pandemic. Their series of films will be made available for streaming across Canada through December 2020, beginning on December 4. Titles include Covid & Who I Am Now, which follows a young Chinese-Canadian medical student who was attacked during the COVID-19 pandemic, as she struggles with her self-identity amid rising anti-Chinese racism, and Inendi [She is Gone], which sees Indigenous activist Sarain Fox sitting down with her oldest matriarch, Mary Bell, to gather her stories and preserve her Indigenous cultural legacy during this year of tragedy. Available December 4

Crave

Stylish With Jenna Lyons
Style icon and former president of J.Crew Jenna Lyons is branching out on her own with a television show that’s part reality show and part-competition series. The eight-episode show follows her as she tackles design projects ranging from hosting mobile fashion makeovers to designing her new office to launching a new brand. At the same time, Lyons will be putting a diverse group of people to the test as they compete for a position on her new business venture’s creative team. Available December 3

Euphoria
HBO show Euphoria starring Emmy-winning actress Zendaya is releasing two special episodes ahead of season 2. The first episode, titled “Trouble Don’t Last Always,” will follow Zendaya’s Rue as she celebrates Christmas after a relapse. This episode also stars Colman Domingo’s Ali, a man who frequently speaks at Rue’s Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Broadcast details for the second special episode will be announced in the coming weeks. Available December 6

Let Them All Talk
Meryl Streep stars in this film as a renowned author on a cruise with old friends and her nephew, in an effort to find fun and happiness while coming to terms with her troubled past. The film also stars Candice Bergen, Dianne Wiest, Gemma Chan and Lucas Hedges. Available December 10

Letterkenny: Season 9
Season 9 of Crave’s acclaimed original comedy series begins streaming on Christmas Day with seven all-new episodes dropping at once. This season kicks off with the Hicks, Skids and Hockey Players attending an American Buck and Doe. Available December 25

Shameless: Season 11
The eleventh and final season of this dramedy finds the Gallagher family and the South Side at a crossroads with changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, gentrification and aging. Frank confronts his own mortality, Lip struggles with the prospect of becoming the family’s new patriarch, Ian and Micky learn to adjust to life as newlyweds, Deb embraces her individuality and single motherhood, Carl finds an unlikely new career in law enforcement, and Kevin and V wonder whether a hard life on the South Side is worth fighting for. Available December 6

The Photograph
This film starring Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield follows a series of intertwined love stories set in the past and present. When famed photographer Christina Eames dies unexpectedly, she leaves her estranged daughter (Rae) with many questions, which eventually lead her to an up-and-coming journalist, played by Stanfield. Available December 18

Felicity
All four seasons of beloved ’90s show starring Keri Russell drop on Crave on Christmas Day. The show begins with Felicity Porter, a shy teenager, asking Ben Covington (Scott Speedman) to sign her high school yearbook. What he writes is so insightful and poetic, it persuades Felicity to change the course of her future. Available December 25

Categories
Beauty

The Best Winter Coats You Can Buy on Black Friday

Because the only piece of clothing people will see this year is your coat

Well folks, it’s that time of year again. Black Friday is here and you know what that means: an opportunity to disappoint your bank account! But stop before you you feel *too* guilty about shopping (especially local), especially if what you have in your cart is a winter coat. Because honestly, a good (and chic!) winter coat is the only garment you need to buy this season.

With many of us still spending most of our time at home, let’s be realistic—the only time people will *really* be checking out your ’fit is during your weekly grocery store run. So why not invest in a super cute, but also practical coat, for whatever your winter may bring?

Read this next: Fall’s Best Loungewear Sets from Canadian Brands

Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Here, some of the best winter coats to snap up this season, including some primo Black Friday sales! *Adds to cart repeatedly*

Categories
Fitness

5 Trays That’ll Transform Your Stationary Bike (Yes, Peloton Included!) Into a Desk

From my couch to kitchen countertop to bed, I’ve turned almost every square inch of my apartment into a work-from-home desk — and my stationary bike is next.

I have a YOSUDA, but I’ve found tray tables that reportedly support laptops for just about any bike brand — Peloton, included. (I just recommend you measure your bike to know what fits!) That way, anyone with an indoor cycling bike can get a boost of endorphins and loosen up stiff knees during their work-from-home shifts.

Categories
Culture

Barack Obama Felt Like a Proud Dad Watching His Daughters Join Black Lives Matter Protests

us politics thanksgiving obama

NICHOLAS KAMMGetty Images

This past summer, following the tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other Black lives lost to racism and police violence, protestors launched demonstrations worldwide. Among the many passionate protestors fighting against police brutality were Sasha and Malia Obama. Their dad Barack explained in an interview with People just how proud he was of his daughters for taking that step to join the demonstrations.

In the expansive interview that touched on his presidency, marriage, and family life, former president Obama shared that his daughters’ decision to join the nationwide protests was one they made on their own.

“I didn’t have to give them a lot of advice because they had a very clear sense of what was right and what was wrong and [of] their own agency and the power of their voice and the need to participate,” Obama told People. “Malia and Sasha found their own ways to get involved with the demonstrations and activism that you saw with young people this summer, without any prompting from Michelle and myself, on their own initiative.”

He added that his daughters weren’t looking for attention and he “could not have been prouder of them.” However, he doesn’t foresee his daughters following his path in politics, but he does notice how eager they are to make a change in this world and how different young people’s interests are today compared to his peers when he was growing up.

“I think they’re going to want to have an impact and their friends feel the same way,” he added. These days, young people’s priorities have shifted. “It’s interesting when you talk to them in groups, the degree to which, compared to young people when I was coming out of college or you know even 20 years ago, I think people were much more focused on their finances and the perks of a job. And these kids are really focused on — how can I do something that I find meaningful, that resonates with my values and my ideals? And that I think is an encouraging sign for the country.”

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Women's Fashion

Halima Aden Announces She is Quitting Modelling

halima aden
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Halima Aden, the groundbreaking hijabi model, announced that she’s quitting the fashion industry, citing pressures to compromise her religious beliefs. It’s a major announcement from the model, who was one of the first women who wore a hijab to be signed to a major modelling agency. Aden shot to fame in 2016 after appearing in the Miss USA Beauty Pageant, and went on to front covers for international fashion titles and walk runways for the world’s biggest brands. The 23-year-old was also the first hijabi model to cover Sports Illustrated.

Aden took to Instagram Stories to share a number of posts outlining her decision. She called the fashion industry “a hot mess” and detailed the “highs and lows” of her four year career. “I can only blame myself for caring more about opportunity than what was actually at stake,” she wrote, noting that she missed prayer times when working, and worked with stylists who did not understand modest fashion or how to style the hijab. Aden also specifically touched on an American Eagle campaign in which she had jeans styled on her head. “Why did I allow them to put jeans on my head when at the time I had only ever worn skirts and long dresses? I was just so desperate back then for any ‘representation’ that I lost touch with who I was.”

The model said she had revelation during COVID, after spending more time at home – “[I] finally realized where I went wrong.” Aden shared various shoot imagery in which her hijab did not cover her shoulders or chest, or where it was hidden from view. Of these shoots she said they were “essentially erasing my hijab completely.” Aden did however praise Rihanna for the shoot she featured in for Fenty Beauty, writing, “[Rihanna] let me wear the hijab I brought to set. This is the girl I’m returning to, the real Halima.”

Aden noted that while she’s taking a step back, she’s not leaving the industry entirely – but rather she has new clear boundaries that she will not deviate from. “If my hijab can’t be visible, I’m not showing up,” she wrote alongside images that showed her wearing a hijab which covered her shoulders and chest. “This is the standard moving forward if you want to work with me. Come correct or don’t come at all. Nothing less, nothing more.” She continued, “These spaces were always predominantly white, so you are already at a disadvantage for simply being YOU in a workplace that never considered someone of your background. We can’t give up, but it’s good to remain mindful.”

Today, the model wrote that now she can “sleep in peace” after announcing her decision. “Wow this is actually the most relief I felt [sic] since I started in 2016. Keeping that in was literal poison.”

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Video

73 Questions With Yara Shahidi | Vogue

In sunny Los Angeles, activist and gifted thespian Yara Shahidi answers 73 rapid-fire questions. Yara talks about being the new Tinkerbell, her pineapple allergy, her classic record collection, the existence of ghosts and standing up for what she believes in.

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ABOUT VOGUE
Vogue is the authority on fashion news, culture trends, beauty coverage, videos, celebrity style, and fashion week updates.

73 Questions With Yara Shahidi | Vogue

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Fitness

Meditation Teacher and Actor Logan Browning Says It’s Totally Normal to Get Distracted Sometimes

Meditating is a great way to practice mindfulness and manage stress in your daily life, but if you’ve never done it before, getting started can definitely be intimidating. I’m relatively new to meditating myself, and I often find myself getting distracted by my thoughts.

According to meditation teacher and actor Logan Browning, this is a totally normal experience, even for seasoned meditation practitioners. “All of those thoughts and things that happen — like distraction, if you get bored, whatever it is — that’s not something that’s unique to one person,” she told me in a phone interview before her Chase Sapphire meditation event.

“I think there’s maybe a mysticism around [meditation],” she said. “Sometimes people, when it’s their first time, they’re sitting down thinking, ‘Oh man, all these other people are able to quiet their mind, but my mind is so busy because I’ve got a lot going on.'”

In those moments, Browning encourages perspective — everybody has a lot going on, and you can actually make the distracting thoughts part of your meditation.

For Browning, it’s the worrying about getting distracted that often becomes the distraction. Instead, if you find your mind wandering, let yourself notice the thought and then try to bring yourself back to an anchor, be that your breath, a phrase, or your physical body.

This advice goes back to the Dear White People star’s definition of mindfulness. She described mindfulness as “recognizing, allowing, and just altogether noticing everything that is in the present moment and not trying to fight what it is, even if it feels uncomfortable.”

Another thing beginners might not realize about meditating is that there are so many different ways to do it. Beyond a sitting, breath-focused meditation, Browning suggested a walking meditation or even something as simple as grinding fresh beans for your morning coffee and paying extra attention to the scents and textures around you.

Ultimately, she wants people to understand that meditation and mindfulness are accessible to everyone.

“It doesn’t have to feel like you have to be some master yogi or super fit,” she said. “When I was growing up, I thought that in order to do yoga, you had to be skinny, blonde, and in yoga pants. And then in order to meditate, you had to be someone from the East or in a different part of the world to really get it.”

Through the meditation videos she posts on her Instagram and conversations like this one, Browning hopes to shatter those stereotypes and make mindfulness more approachable.

Click here for more health and wellness stories, tips, and news.

Image Source: Chase

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Culture

How Joe Biden’s Plans to Tackle the Student Debt Crisis Could Help You

democratic presidential candidate joe biden speaks on his "build back better" clean energy economic plan

Chip SomodevillaGetty Images

When President-elect Joe Biden steps into the White House this January, he’ll be taking on a nation in crisis. Millions are unemployed, climate change has contributed to this year’s record-breaking natural disasters, and communities are working to tackle the systemic racism permeating every one of our institutions.

As Biden works to revive an economy that’s faltered due to the coronavirus pandemic, he’ll also be faced with another mess: our nation’s student-loan debt. As of this February, Forbes reported there were a total of 45 million borrowers in the United States who collectively owed nearly $1.6 trillion in student-loan debt, making it the second highest consumer debt category. The average amount of student-loan debt is $32,731. The average student loan payment? $393. And, as Biden has noted, a disproportionate number of adults who fall behind on their payments are Black, contributing to and resulting from the country’s persistent racial wealth gap.

But how does he plan to tackle this particular issue? Biden has been transparent about his support for some kind of student-loan debt cancellation and has laid out his plans for higher education reform. Though there’s still the question of how far he’s willing to go and what he can actually get done while in office, as Forbes reports, “It’s unclear whether Biden or Congress will cancel student loans, how much student loan debt would be cancelled and when student loan forgiveness would happen.”

Ahead, more of what we do know about Biden’s plans and how they could affect you.

If you’re a person with student loans to pay off…

…Biden supports forgiving $10,000 of your debt. More specifically, he’s voiced supported for a bill proposed by House Democrats called the Heroes Act, which calls for forgiving $10,000 of student-loan debt as pandemic relief, including private student loan forgiveness for “economically distressed borrowers.” However, passing this type of relief bill could depend on how Congress stands when Biden takes office, more specifically whether Democrats are able to win both runoff elections in Georgia this January and secure a majority in the Senate. Though some in Congress have suggested Biden cancel student-loan debt with an executive order, a process that could result in legal challenges, he has yet to stay whether he would try.

If you don’t have student loan debt yet…

…but are planning to borrow in the future, Biden’s plan could help. According to his proposal, Biden wants to provide people with two free years of community college or job training and make public colleges and universities tuition-free for families with incomes below $125,000. He’s also proposed investing $18 billion into Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), “equivalent to up to two years of tuition per low-income and middle class student,” per his website. Biden also wants to double the maximum value of Pell grants.

If you make $25,000 or less a year…

…and Biden was able to put his plan in place, you would no longer owe payments on your undergraduate federal student loans, and you wouldn’t accrue interest on those loans.

If you make more than $25,000 a year…

….Biden wants to change how much you pay per month. According to The Cut, many people with federal student loans are on an income-based repayment plan and must pay 10 to 20 percent of their discretionary income toward their loans per month. (Discretionary income is your income minus taxes and essential spending, like rent and food.) Under Biden’s plan, people who make more than $25,000 a year would only pay five percent of their discretionary income, and after 20 years, the remainder of the loans “for people who have responsibly made payments throughout the program” would be completely forgiven. However, for both of these plans to work, Biden might need congressional approval to change how forgiven loans are taxed.

If you work in public service…

…Biden has proposed creating a program where people earn $10,000 of undergraduate or graduate student debt relief for every year of national or community service they complete for up to five years. If you were to work in a school, government, or other nonprofit setting, you’d be automatically enrolled, and you would also qualify for relief if you have up to five years of prior service. (In his plan, Biden also acknowledges that the current federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is “broken” and aims to fix it.)

If you were scammed by a for-profit college…

…you will probably finally receive assistance. According to the New York Times, under the Trump administration, “the government program meant to forgive the federal loans of cheated students has all but stopped functioning,” leaving thousands of relief claims in limbo. Biden, on the other hand, wants to return to the “borrower defense” program and forgive student-loan debt for people were deceived by for-profit colleges or “career profiteers.” He also wants to require for-profit colleges to “prove their value” to the U.S. Department of Education before gaining eligibility for federal aid.

If your student-loan bills are currently paused…

…it’s unclear what’s going to happen next. Throughout much of the pandemic, there’s been a temporary freeze on federal student-loan payments, but it expires at the end of the year, and President Trump has yet to say whether he will extend it. (With the current freeze, federal student-loan payments are temporarily paused and not accruing interest, and there’s been no collection on defaulted debt, according to Forbes.) Though Biden has not said whether he will extend the rule through executive order, he could do so once he takes office and even make the relief retroactive to the first of the year.

If you have private loans…

…you’re in a trickier situation. According to Forbes, most proposals reference cancelling federal student loans, which covers a majority of the national student debt. The outlet reports that while “conceivably, Congress could forgive federal student loans, private student loans or both” in some capacity, private loans are more complicated, and if student loans are cancelled, they will most likely be federal loans.

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Women's Fashion

Four Canadian Jewellery Drops We’re Excited About

Photography by JG + SHI.

For treating yourself, or your friends.

Whether you’re searching for something to gift yourself or someone else, Canadian jewellery designs will hit the spot. Here are a few new #shoplocal launches that are sure to pique your interest.

Ora-C just launched a new line as a “tongue-in-cheek” homage to strange times

Photography by JG + SHI.

Boasting an eclectic rendering of whimsical bows, Montreal’s Ora-C has fashioned a collection of wearables “inspired by the romantic escapism one may seek to feel alive and whole. Reminiscent of Renaissance artifacts after the Dark Ages, each creation is as regal as it is hopeful,” as the brand’s founder, Caroline Pham, puts it in the line’s lookbook.

The “This Is Knot A Bow You” pieces vary in price from $85 for a cheeky “lefty” ear cuff named after the famous left-handed Renaissance man, Leonardo Da Vinci, to $260 for a statement necklace made with Zing Jiang Jade.

Hestia introduces its limited-timing November Moment

Photography courtesy of Hestia.

Every last Tuesday of the month, Toronto-based fine jewellery brand Hestia presents a “one of a kind piece and price” for customers to snap up. For November, you’ll find the hand-made, 14 karat gold Jupiter hooped earrings available for $680. Be quick, though – this deal is only available for a two-day time span.

As Hestia’s Creative Director notes in a statement about the occasional drops, the fleeting availability reflects how “moments evoke milestone emotions” that are surprisingly delightful but not meant to last.

Winnipeg’s Bronwyn Butterfield is about to launch a new snake-themed collection featuring an expanded category offering

canadian jewellery
Photography courtesy of Bronwyn Butterfield.

Métis-identifying accessory artist Bronwyn Butterfield will drop an array of pieces this coming Monday, November 30th at 6pm EST, including brooches, bolo ties and necklaces in addition to a selection of her beloved beaded earrings. Priced in the range of $110-$230, the new line is the first time Butterfield is offering the reptilian motif outside of custom work.

“This collection is a reflection of my love for street style and contemporary fashion,” Butterfield says. “I love seeing snake imagery in tattoo designs, paintings and more. Indigenous peoples and our art is something that is often viewed in the past by society, whether that is subconscious or not. In my mind, this collection speaks out against that. I love being able to carry on cultural traditions such as beading – a process often viewed as historic – to create pieces that specifically align with contemporary fashion [and] streetwear.”

Sonya Lee is collaborating with female makers on a new pin design

canadian jewllery
Photography courtesy of Sonya Lee.

Updating a classic embellishment by incorporating contemporary shapes and capitalizing on the of-the-moment concept of collabs, Vancouver accessory brand Sonya Lee‘s latest offering is a quirky Kilt Pin designed in partnership with Kara Yoo. “Developed out of the desire to support and feature other designers in our community, the Kilt Pin pin is a collectable and customizable item that will feature different charms as we collaborate with other brands over time,” says Sonya Lee founder, Stephanie Ibbitson.

For the first iteration of the pin, a sterling silver style was crafted with fellow Vancouver-based jewellery designer Yoo, who uses recycled elements in her work. And don’t let the name limit you – as Ibbitson points out in a press release, “It is also multifunctional and goes beyond weighing down the top flap of a skirt and is great for general attaching and accessorizing of blazers, scarves and blouses.”

Categories
Fitness

These Self-Care and Gratitude Journals Make Super Thoughtful Holiday Gifts

Truth be told, you don’t need more than a pen and paper to practice journaling and reap the stress-relieving, mindfulness-promoting benefits. But, journals specifically catered to self-care, wellness practices, and gratitude with prompts and insightful exercises may help you keep the habit. They also make beautiful, thoughtful, and caring gifts during this unprecedented holiday season.

From books to document your meditation practice to planners that track both to-dos and feelings, here are seven worth wrapping up.

Categories
Culture

Inside Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry’s ‘Quiet’ First Thanksgiving in California with Her Mom Doria

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan are enjoying a special Thanksgiving at their new home in Montecito, California, with Meghan’s mom Doria.

“They are going to have a quiet dinner at home and are looking forward to celebrating their first American Thanksgiving in the States as a family,” a source close to the couple shared with ELLE.com.

meghan, harry, and archie last october

Meghan, Harry, and Archie last September

PoolGetty Images

The couple and their 18-month-old toddler Archie, who is now walking and toddling around, spent last Thanksgiving in Canada before moving to Los Angeles. Meghan and Harry told Malala just last month that they have been able to enjoy all of Archie’s milestones. Harry shared they “were both there for his first steps, his first run, his first fall, his first everything,” with Meghan adding: “And it’s just fantastic because I think in so many ways, we are fortunate to be able to have this time to watch him grow and in the absence of COVID, we would be traveling and working more externally, and we’d miss a lot of those moments… So I think it’s been a lot of really good family time.”

Meghan is an incredible cook and you can bet she’ll be trying out some of her favorite dishes, possibly some from her Together cookbook.

“They plan to enjoy a home-cooked meal with traditional Thanksgiving dishes, including recipes made with fresh vegetables from their garden, “ the source told ELLE.com

The couple have recently settled into their beautiful home overlooking the Pacific near Santa Barbara, and have been spending plenty of time with Doria, who is also incredibly close to Prince Harry.

The Sussexes have been incredibly busy setting up their Archewell non-profit but have also have been actively giving back to the community, many of whom have been struggling due to COVID-19 pandemic. On Easter Sunday, the Duke and Duchess handed out meals to the vulnerable community in West Hollywood with Project Angel Food, many of whom are home bound and have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Duchess was aware of Project Angel Food’s work from growing up in the area, and has always been inspired by the incredible impact they have on the community. Her mom, who is a frontline worker herself, had mentioned that they were in great need of support during this unprecedented time,” a source told ELLE.com at the time.

Doria influenced Meghan early on, and it has inspired her in her humanitarian activities. Meghan and her mom would volunteer at soup kitchens in Los Angeles to help the needy and homeless, and the Duchess carried on that work at the St. Felix Centre in Toronto while she was an actress on the TV show Suits.

More recently, Harry and Meghan were again handing out school supplies and food to those in need nearby the community in Los Angeles where Meghan grew up.

The couple have had a challenging year since stepping back as senior working members of the Royal Family at the end of March to lead a more private life. Just yesterday, Meghan revealed in a very personal, very brave essay that she and Harry tragically miscarried in July.

This will no doubt be a bittersweet Thanksgiving for the family, but the couple will certainly be creating special new memories with Doria and a growing Archie.

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Women's Fashion

11 Brands You Can Feel Good About Buying From on Giving Tuesday

image courtesy of goodee

Shop for everyone on your holiday list AND donate to charity—it’s a win-win.

2020 has been a tough year for businesses big and small, but particularly for nonprofits who rely on donations to get their life-changing work done. Help them get the funds they desperately need by doing your holiday shopping on Giving Tuesday (December 1) when brands of all stripes promise to donate proceeds of their sales to various philanthropic organizations and charitable causes across Canada and the United States.

Goodee
Next Tuesday, Goodee will be donating 10% of all sales from that day to four charities at the forefront of social and environmental justice in the US and Canada: Sunrise Movement, The Ron Finley Project, Harlem Grown and Earth Guardians. In addition, they will be donating 1% of all their 2019 proceeds to the charities, which were also selected for their focus on BIPOC communities.

Sonos
The audio company is donating 10% of its Giving Tuesday profits (up to $230K CAD) through Sonos.com to participating nonprofits around the world such as SMASH Seattle, Music Heals Us, Jazz Foundation of America, and Guitars for Vets. Sonos will also be dedicating 100% of its ad space on Sonos Radio to nonprofit organizations to give them a platform to raise awareness for their causes on Giving Tuesday, and has pledged to continue the initiative by dedicating 5% of its ad space to nonprofits that align with Sonos’ social impact mission moving forward.

Vitruvi
On Tuesday, December 1, Vancouver-based essential oil company Vitruvi is launching a Home Sweater, designed by artist Deun Ivory, founder of the body: a home for love. 100% of sales of this limited-edition sweater will go to this nonprofit organization, which helps Black women heal from sexual trauma.

giving tuesday canada
photo by Santiago de Hoyos/ vitruvi

Chatters Hair Salon
This Giving Tuesday, Chatters Hair Salon—whose online store carries hair tools, products and accessories as well as items for face and body—will be donating 10% of all online sales to Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada, up to a maximum of $25K CAD.

Arc’teryx
In an effort to minimize environmental impact and keep clothing out of landfills, athletic apparel brand Arc’teryx is offering gift cards to customers who trade-in their used gear for new items during the month of November. On Giving Tuesday, the company will donate $10 for every item traded-in to Protect our Winters, a climate-focused non-profit.

John Hardy
Jewellery brand John Hardy, whose pieces for men and women are handcrafted by artisans in Bali, will be donating 20% of its sales on Giving Tuesday to The Conscious Kid, a nonprofit group dedicated to education, research and policy organization focused on equity and promoting healthy racial identity development in youth.

SophieGrace
Calgary-based womenswear brand SophieGrace will be donating 10% of all sales on Giving Tuesday to women’s shelters across Canada.

Therabody
Not limited to Giving Tuesday alone, Therabody has partnered with Project (RED) this year offering limited-edition red versions of their PRO, Elite, and mini Theragun. A portion of the proceeds will go directly to the (RED) Global Fund, which helps provide access to lifesaving HIV/AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

giving tuesday canada
image courtesy therabody

Smash + Tess
On December 1, Vancouver clothing brand Smash + Tess (along with other sponsors like Indigo and AG Hair) is donating gift boxes containing mother-and-baby essentials to moms whose babies are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at BC Women’s Hospital. The following week, on December 7, Smash + Tess is hosting a virtual fundraiser via Instagram Live benefitting the BC Women’s Health Foundation and their Her Mind, Her Health initiative, which funds research, treatments and technology that help new mothers experiencing reproductive mental health concerns. People tuning in to the IG Live can donate to the initiative for a chance to win one of 10 gift boxes for themselves. Smash + Tess will also host a 24-hour fundraising sale on select products, starting at 3pm PST on December 7. For every purchase, 20 per cent will be donated to Her Mind, Her Health.

Nordstrom
This Giving Tuesday, Nordstrom Canada is making it easy for customers to give back, with a series of offers that benefit their charitable partners Operation Warm, which provides brand-new winter coats to children in need across North America, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, which provides mentoring to youth in communities across Canada. Their initiatives include Virtual Santa Chats, a private 15-minute Zoom call with Santa for $20, with 100% of the proceeds going to their charitable partners, a gift card initiative that directs 1% of all gift card sales to nonprofits across Canada and the US, and the donation of a portion of the proceeds from sales of their BLISS plush throw to Operation Warm.

Foodiepages
As a way to support local female entrepreneurs across Canada, Toronto-based gifting company Foodiepages is launching a Gratitude Gift Box on Giving Tuesday. The limited-edition box showcases 10 women-owned small businesses and includes Canadian-made wellness products for restoring inner balance and adapting to stress. 15% of Gratitude Gift Box sales that day will go to Nellie’s Administration, a shelter and advocacy platform for women and children.

Categories
Beauty

IFWTO Starts Today and You Can Shop These Incredible Indigenous Designers

The biennial showcase of Indigenous fashion has gone digital for 2020, and you can now shop the curated marketplace of emerging and acclaimed designers online

Created by Indigenous activist and artist Sage Paul in 2016, Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto is a biennial showcase and celebration of Indigenous designers and artisans from around the country. This year’s four-day event—which was originally planned for the spring before being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic—has gone completely virtual with the launch of a new website that will house its previously IRL marketplace as well as panel discussions with fashion industry experts and runway presentations and that were filmed back in August.

While it’s certainly disappointing that the lockdown has meant we won’t be able to see the presentations live this year, the silver lining of IFWTO’s new digital iteration means that a wider audience can now view—and shop!—creations by artists and brands like Lesley Hampton, Mad Aunty, Catherine Blackburn, Running Fox Beads and many more.

Read this next: Here’s Why This Indigenous Business Owner Said No to a Dragon

Here, we’ve rounded up a handful of our favourite items on sale at this year’s marketplace, on from November 26 to 29. What better way to #shoplocal this holiday season than to support an Indigenous designer?

Categories
Fitness

Forget Milk, I’m Washing Down My Cookies With Health-Ade’s Holiday Cheers Kombucha

Every December, I begin my holiday kitchen residency — a month spent living between my kitchen island and stove, creating everything from gingerbread cookies to peppermint bark to spiked eggnog. I’ve even dedicated a Christmas playlist and apron to the occasion.

Despite my excitement, my stomach doesn’t find this to be the most wonderful month of the year. Everything tastes great going in (except for an occasional burnt sugar cookie!), but one person can only indulge in so many sweet treats before their body starts to speak up.

So I try to supplement my baking hobby with gut-healthy foods and drinks, like Health-Ade’s Holiday Cheers Kombucha ($48 for a 12-pack).

I’m not claiming kombucha can cure stomachaches, but the fermented drink has been shown to improve digestion, decrease bloating, and help with gut inflammation — and I feel it works for me.

While I’m picky about kombucha (I find some taste way too vinegary!), Health-Ade’s Holiday Cheers flavor passes my taste test. Ginger is the star of this show, but notes of vanilla, allspice, and chocolate lend the blend a sweet and warm balance. The recipe will complement most holiday treats, and the green-and-red packaging works with my kitchen aesthetic, too.

I’ve even been known to bring Health-Ade’s Holiday Cheers Kombucha to holiday parties on nights that I’m assigned as the designated driver. The crisp, bubbly flavors are hardly bland and actually make for a great conversation starter. And although all gatherings are on Zoom this year, don’t be surprised if I (virtually!) cheers to the season with my favorite glass bottle in hand despite not needing to drive — it’s that good.

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Health-Ade's Holiday Cheers Kombucha

Health-Ade’s Holiday Cheers Kombucha

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Categories
Culture

When Is The Masked Singer on This Thanksgiving Week?

Thanksgiving this year is going to be a weird one. With COVID-19 cases surging around the U.S., large family gatherings are better done over Zoom. But when you’re done muting your drunk uncle and teaching your great-aunt how to use gallery view, you can switch off your laptop, turn on the TV, and watch The Masked Singer, an equally silly activity, but a comforting form of entertainment.

That’s right. Fox switched its singing competition from Wednesday to Thursday this week, just for a special Thanksgiving episode. The regular panelists, Jenny McCarthy, Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke, and Nicole Scherzinger, will all be on the show tomorrow, joined by guest Jay Pharoah.

“It’s an all-new holiday extravaganza,” the preview teases, while showing an image of Jeong walking around with a turkey hat on his head.

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This isn’t just a fun Thanksgiving special, though; there will be winners and one loser. It’s the Group C finale, and we’ll see performances from Jellyfish, Broccoli, and Mushroom. There are only two spots left for the “Super Six” semi-finals, which means someone is being eliminated tomorrow night.

“I don’t like this part; it’s Thanksgiving,” McCarthy says in the promo. That’s funny; that’s exactly what I say every year when someone in my family makes an out-of-touch political joke at the dinner table.

Anyway, here’s what you need to know about the new schedule and remaining competitors on The Masked Singer, as season 4 winds down.

Is it going to be on at the same time as the usual show?

Yes. Different day, same time. You can tune into Fox at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Thursday, November 26.

What happens after tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night is the Group C finals, which means after tomorrow, there will be no more groups. We’ll move on to the Super Six, three of whom, on November 2, will be unmasked in a special two-hour episode, per Entertainment Weekly.

When do we finally get a winner?

It looks like this show is not done with fun holiday specials; there’s reportedly a sing-along holiday episode scheduled for Wednesday, December 9. Then, the two-hour season finale will reportedly take place on Wednesday, December 16.

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Categories
Women's Fashion

Changemaker Sage Paul on Building a Future for Indigenous Design

As the founder of Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto (IFWTO) and a thought leader in Canada’s style space, Sage Paul has made great strides for Indigenous representation within fashion: She facilitated an unprecedented capsule collection featuring eight Indigenous labels in partnership with Quebec retailer Simons that launched this past spring; she’s a member of the Program Advisory Council for Toronto’s Ryerson School of Fashion; and she teaches an Indigenous fashion course, which she created, at George Brown College (also in Toronto), where she studied fashion design.

As is the case for many groundbreakers, it took time for Paul to find her way. “I didn’t really see myself in the industry — not because I felt excluded but because I felt that it was unattainable,” she says. “I didn’t have the financial resources to pursue design, for example. And culturally there was a disconnect.”

Paul’s perspective began to shift after she became involved with the imagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival; she designed costumes for works that were screened between 2005 and 2008. “I saw Indigenous people creating films with our stories,” she says. “It really transformed my understanding of how a medium that so often misrepresents us could be used as our lens.”

Paul has also employed her design prowess as a means of artistic communication; she has shown works at the Gladstone Hotel and, more recently, the Art Gallery of Ontario. But it was a 2012 solo exhibition at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre that would prove the most fateful: She connected with the renowned cultural hub years later to tell them that she had an idea for what would become IFWTO — a multi-day event that launched in 2018.

Paul, who identifies as an urban Denesuliné tskwe (“woman” in Dene), conceived of IFWTO after spending time working within her ancestral community of the English River First Nation in Saskatchewan. She says that engaging in traditional practices like indigo dyeing and hide tanning sparked an idea for a showcase that reflected the diverse yet unifying Indigenous craftwork that can be found across the country.

For the upcoming all-digital IFWTO, Paul and her team have produced brief films featuring BIPOC performers that will air over the course of four days, displaying clothing and accessory collections from 16 designers. The schedule will also offer pre-recorded panel discussions for public viewing and micro-meeting opportunities that will afford designers interactions with retail buyers and press. And a marketplace will aggregate offerings from multiple artisans and brands, giving a “see now, buy now” kind of appeal to items that are labour-intensive in construction and often imbued with cultural significance.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the whole affair is the art show devised in collaboration with Mohawk multimedia artist Skawennati. “We’re putting together an exhibition using her Second Life-world app, Tech Island,” says Paul of the compelling component that she hopes will push people just far enough out of their comfort zones. “We are digitally rendering the work of seven artists who were originally supposed to be showing live and creating a virtual space where people can actually go into Second Life and walk around.”

One of Paul’s strengths is the ability to urge others toward an unfamiliar though promising direction. For the Simons x IFWTO project, she insisted that the designers be paid in advance of work completion, which isn’t standard procedure. “That’s one thing I’ve learned: It’s OK to ask the industry to change the way it works,” she says. “I know that we asked them to do things they weren’t used to, and it completely shook up their infrastructure. But it was exciting to be able to come and say ‘Can we look at it this way?’”

Categories
Fitness

12 Foods That Can Help Naturally Boost Your Intake of Vitamin C

If you’re looking for a nutrient that supports your immune system, fights inflammation, and even helps your skin age more gracefully, then you must get your hands on some vitamin C. Yes, the vitamin that is the shining star of citrus fruits can do wonders when it comes to supporting your overall health. And while the vitamin C you get from popping a pill appears to be utilized and absorbed in the human body just as well as the natural form found in food, getting your daily dose of C from your diet instead of a supplement is often preferred in the medical community.

Why? A supplement only delivers that one nutrient. Eating a whole food (like an orange) not only gives you a boost of vitamin C, but it also fuels your body with other vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, fiber, and beneficial compounds that play a larger role in keeping you healthy. Furthermore, food-derived vitamin C is associated with decreased incidence of numerous chronic diseases. And perhaps most importantly, isn’t biting into a juicy orange much more enjoyable than swallowing a horse pill every day? Here are 12 foods, including those yummy citrus fruits, that can help you get your fill of vitamin C.

Categories
Culture

The Crown: Who is Derek ‘Dazzle’ Jennings?

Poor Princess Margaret (Helena Bonham Carter) has a rough time of it in the new season of The Crown, in particular in the seventh episode, “The Hereditary Principle.” In the space of that single episode, Margaret has a medical scare that requires lung surgery, is demoted from her royal duties, and discovers a devastating secret about her family. But before any of that, she endures a major romantic disappointment in her relationship with Derek “Dazzle” Jennings (Tom Burke), a young priest she’s developed feelings for. For reasons that soon become clear, she’s barking up the wrong tree. Here’s the true story of Dazzle and his relationship with the princess.

Who was Derek Jennings?

Derek Jennings was born in 1946 and worked as a senior civil servant in the British Government’s Department of the Environment. In 1984, he quit his job to take the Holy Orders and become a Catholic priest. He was a notorious and popular figure in London, with a wide circle of friends including the actor Alec Guinness and Princess Margaret. After completing his training in Rome, Jennings returned home and ultimately became the chaplain at King’s College London, per Metro.

Upon his death in 1995, The Times wrote in its obituary (per Radio Times) that Jennings’ death “deprives London’s religious life of one of its most eccentric comets…he would turn up at country house dinners, theatre festivals, auction houses and modest student gatherings, always yearning to argue the toss, always with an admonitory finger at the ready, always loyal.”

Did Princess Margaret consider converting to Catholicism?

Onscreen, Margaret and Jennings’ relationship comes to a dramatic close when he tries to convince her to convert to Catholicism, and she refuses out of loyalty to her family, before telling him she never wants to see him again. There’s no evidence that Margaret and Jennings ever had such a falling out in real life—in fact, she was one of the last people to see him before he died in 1995.

But the rest of this storyline comes from the truth. According to several reports, Jennings really did try to convert Margaret—and in at least some versions of the story, she considered it. Biographer Noel Botham claimed in his 2002 book Margaret: The Last Real Princess (per Radio Times) that Jennings believed Margaret wanted to convert, but Margaret felt unable to go through with it because it would be a betrayal of her sister. Queen Elizabeth is the head of the Church of England, so Margaret converting would have been seen as a potentially devastating snub.

Botham also described a dinner party in 1988 where Jennings brokered a meeting between Margaret and the Catholic Cardinal George Basil Hume. Per the Catholic Leader, Jennings said Margaret described the evening as “one of the most rewarding, fascinating and satisfying nights of her life.”

Was Princess Margaret romantically interested in Jennings?

In The Crown, we’re introduced to Jennings as he breaks the news to Margaret that he’s about to take Holy Orders. It’s an intimate exchange, and Margaret is clearly interested in Jennings as more than a close friend. When Jennings declines to kiss her, she assumes it’s because of the church and his vow of abstinence. But soon, in a truly indelible scene, it’s made clear that Jennings is, in fact, gay.

The queen watches with an expression of polite incredulity as Margaret talks mournfully about how she and Jennings can’t be together because of the priesthood. “That’s the second reason he was never the right man for you,” Elizabeth nods. Confused, Margaret asks what the first reason is, to which the Queen gently tells her that Jennings is “a friend of Dorothy…famously so.”

Jennings was indeed gay in real life. The Reverend Richard Coles, a longtime friend of Jennings, is quoted at length in the Radio Times: “He was of course gay, although—incredibly—he thought this was a secret known only to a few,” Coles wrote in his autobiography. “He found intimate relationships impossible or very difficult, so the celibate status he was obliged to adopt by the discipline of the Roman Catholic Church suited him.”

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Categories
Beauty

Diptyque’s Limited-Edition Baies Candle Is Back for Black Friday

As far as I’m concerned, the holidays are synonymous with candle season. I mean, what better way to spend the most wonderful time of the year than with a large glass of mulled wine, Home Alone on repeat, and at least three candles ablaze? If you too want to restock your candle collection for the colder months ahead, Diptyque is releasing its iconic Baies scent in a beautiful, limited-edition packaging in honor of Black Friday.

Diptyque

Limited-Edition Baies Candle

With a library of dreamy, delicious scents, Diptyque has been in the upper echelon of candles since its founding in 1961. (The brand is also beloved by Meghan Markle!) A tangy medley of blackcurrant berries and rose, Baies is one of those versatile scents you’ll want to light up 24/7, 365 days a year. The limited-edition packaging features a graphic design of a dreamlike garden, and 15 percent of the proceeds from each candle will be donated to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Whether you want to get started on your holiday shopping or simply treat yourself to a new candle, this is literally the gift that keeps on giving. Diptyque’s limited-edition candle, which retails for $78, will only be available from November 27 to November 30 on Diptyque’s site. So add this candle to your e-cart pronto, then shop more Diptyque candles, below.

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Categories
Women's Fashion

A Roundup of Holiday Movies and Where to Stream Them

image courtesy apple

Including a brand new Christmas Special from Mariah Carey.

The holidays this year are far from merry, but that might be more reason than ever to seek out the comfort of our favourite holiday classics, best enjoyed from the couch in our pyjamas with a cup of hot chocolate in hand. To help make this time of year without loved ones near a little bit better, we rounded up all the holiday movies streaming on various platforms, such as Netflix Canada, CBC Gem and more.

Apple TV+

Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special
Mariah Carey is back with another holiday special, this time accompanied by Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson. “Faced with a holiday cheer crisis, the North Pole knows there’s only one person who can save the day: Santa Claus’s great friend, Mariah Carey,” explains a press release about the film. Combining “musical performances, dynamic dancing and groundbreaking animation,” this promises to be a holiday extravaganza like no other. Tiffany Haddish, Billy Eichner, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, Misty Copeland and Mykal-Michelle Harris also co-star. Timed with the film’s release on December 4, the soundtrack will be available exclusively on Apple Music the same day, and all other platforms on December 11. Available December 4

Netflix Canada

In addition to holiday classics and musicals like A Very Murray Christmas, Mariah Carey’s Merriest Christmas and The Holiday, Netflix has a slate of new original content available on the platform to stream now. Choose from Dash & Lily, which chronicles a romance unfolding between two young strangers alone on Christmas in New York; Jingle Jangle, a family musical starring Forest Whitaker as a legendary toymaker and Keegan-Michael Key as the trusted apprentice who steals his most prized creation; and Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, a story about family, love and Christmas spirit starring Christine Baranski and featuring original music by Dolly Parton. For the complete list of holiday movies streaming on Netflix Canada, here.

Crave

In addition to beloved classics like Home Alone, Love Actually and Miracle on 34th Street, find newish films like Last Christmas, starring Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding and Emma Thompson; plus dark takes on the genre such as Black Christmas, a feminist remake of a cult Canadian slasher film from 1974. Browse Crave’s collection of holiday films here.

Amazon Prime Video Canada

Holiday-themed titles on the platform include Love Actually, Home Alone (1 and 2), Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas, A Christmas Carol and A Norman Rockwell Christmas Story.

Disney+

Find plenty of family-friendly options on this streaming platform including Big, Frozen, The Santa Clause and new holiday special High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special (available December 11). In addition, there are some new titles on the platform such as Noelle, starring Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader, and Godmothered starring Jillian Bell and Isla Fisher (available December 4). Browse the full selection here.

CBC Gem

Stream nearly 100 festive titles on CBC Gem, including National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Scrooged, Jingle All the Way, Elf and White Christmas, as well as animated films bound to keep kids entertained for hours, such as Frosty the Snowman, Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol and Kung Fu Panda Holiday. See CBC’s schedule of holiday programming here.

And although Happiest Season starring Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis and Dan Levy will not be available on any streaming platforms, it will be available to purchase on demand in Canada on November 26.

Categories
Life & Love

The Danger in Alek Minassian’s Autism Defence

As an autistic person, I’ve seen first-hand how the willful misunderstanding and manipulation of an autism diagnosis negatively impacts our community

I was diagnosed with autism at 27. There are a number of complex and intersecting reasons why it took so long, but the short version is that I didn’t fit any of the stereotypes of an autistic kid when I was growing up in the 1980s and ’90s. I certainly exhibited a number of textbook symptoms—overwhelming sensory sensitivities, narrowly focused interests in subjects like the Titanic, painful struggles with socialization—but I was also a girl (boys are diagnosed with autism at four times the rate) and empathetic to the point where I once felt so deeply for a fictional character that I cried until I vomited. 

Like most aspects of autism, our relationship with empathy is oversimplified and misunderstood. The common stereotype that no autistic person can experience empathy is regressive and hurtful, but efforts by some people in our community to combat it by claiming that all autistic people feel too much empathy haven’t been entirely helpful either. The reality is that our empathy is as individual as we are: Some autistic people, like me, experience what is called hyper-empathy; others can experience empathy similar to what non-autistic people do; and some do not experience empathy at all—but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t care or that they’re “bad” people. (In fact, I often find that less-empathetic autistic people are better at acting on their logical interest in doing what is right for their fellow humans than I am when I get overwhelmed by feelings and shut down.)

One of the reasons that I started writing about autism is because I wanted to expand people’s concept of what autism is and do my part to prevent the next generations of kids like me from falling through the cracks. As a result of my work, I started to develop a following of autistic people from around the world on Twitter. And through that community, I myself became the beneficiary of autistic empathy when tragedy struck my city. On April April 23, 2018, as news of a van attack in Toronto that left 10 people dead and 16 injured spread around the country and then the globe, people started to check in on me. My autistic friends and followers on Twitter knew that I was in Toronto, and wanted to make sure that I was OK. When I confirmed that my loved ones and I were safe, our conversations turned to horror about the events, grief for the victims and their families and concern over reports that the suspect, Alek Minassian, was likely influenced by the incel community online.  

Read this next: Marc Lépine Didn’t Want to Kill Women, He Wanted to Kill Feminists

In the days that followed, our concerns multiplied, as the media began to report that Minassian might have an autism spectrum disorder. A familiar fear crept into our conversations: the fear that, once again, the diverse and complex existences of autistic people—already woefully underrepresented and misunderstood—would be flattened into a debate about whether or not we’re unfeeling monsters. You see, this wasn’t the first time we’d heard this story: There is a developing pattern in which (usually relatively privileged) men attempt to blame their violent and criminal actions on an autism diagnosis, and the rest of us get painted with the same brush thanks to their craven exploitation of antiquated autistic stereotypes. In 2017 an autistic man on trial for rape claimed he misinterpreted the situation; Australian TV presenter Don Burke has attempted to blame accusations of harassment against him on autism; in his 2011 memoir, Julian Assange tried to hand-wave away his rape allegations by quipping that he is “a little bit autistic”; and just last month an English judge took a teenager’s autism spectrum disorder diagnosis into account when sentencing him for posting bomb-making instructions on neo-Nazi forums and downloading indecent images of children.

There is a popular saying in autism communities that if you know one autistic person, you know one autistic person. I would never presume to speak for every autistic person on the planet, but I think it’s more than fair to say that these men do not represent the majority. In fact, the conversations I had with my autistic friends and followers after the van attack were emblematic of most autistic people I know: Many can’t bear the thought of hurting others. Many of us can feel empathy for others, sometimes overwhelmingly so. Many of us care very deeply for other humans and for fairness and justice, regardless of whether we experience or demonstrate empathy in the same ways as our non-autistic counterparts.

And yet, two and a half years after that horrific day, we are faced with the same fears about stereotyping as autism has become a major point of discussion in Minassian’s trial, which began on November 10. Minassian has asked to be found not criminally responsible for 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder. Part of his defence includes a report from forensic psychiatrist Dr. John Bradford, who found that he has “an autistic way of thinking” that is “severely distorted.” 

Of course, it’s a defence attorney’s job to find any means they can to reduce their client’s sentence, but I believe that Minassian’s lawyers and Dr. Bradford, who does not appear to be an expert in autism, are acting shameless and irresponsibly. There is no evidence that indicates that autism makes a person uniquely violent, or that it renders someone incapable of understanding their actions. (There is research that suggests that autistic people might be more likely to be radicalized by online hate groups, but that’s an entirely different and far more nuanced conversation.)

Read this next: How Post-Secondary Students of Colour Can Feel Safe At School

Organizations like Autism Canada and Autism Ontario have released statements on the trial to that effect, denouncing the misrepresentation and manipulation of an autism diagnosis, and calling for a broader and more informed perspective. “Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social impairments and difficulty inferring the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of others. It is not characterized by violence or lack of a moral compass,” Autism Ontario stated. 

The organization went on to point out that ascribing complex issues to autism alone leads to further stereotyping: “Much too often when a person is diagnosed as autistic, their actions are examined exclusively through that lens without considering the broader picture of other influencing factors on the whole person. This is demeaning to everyone.”

Some of Minassian’s former special-education classmates have also strongly condemned the attempts to tie his crimes to his autism. It’s heartening to see, but I still worry that, regardless of the eventual verdict—and regardless of the number of well-meaning albeit imperfectly informed reports on the backlash to the autism defence—the damage has already been done. Minassian’s defence is being presented by lawyers and experts who have, at best, demonstrated a complete misunderstanding of autism. That defence is then being reported in the media (that I know, both as a writer and as someone who has been interviewed about autism for various publications and programs, has a very limited understanding of autism) and these stories are then being consumed by a public whose knowledge is, from my perspective, often even more superficial and suspect. (Among many other examples, I have had people try to explain to me that I can’t possibly be autistic, because I don’t look like the one other autistic person they’ve met. I’ve also had strangers on the internet message me to tell me that I’m ruining my husband’s life and should never have children, because it’s impossible for me to love another human.) Long after our collective attention has been diverted from this trial, the inaccurate and insidious ideas that have been passed through these layers of ignorance will continue to have an impact on the lives of an already vulnerable population.

The lingering idea that autism alone can make a person violent and dangerous, and the idea that autistic people can’t experience empathy—and that those who don’t experience empathy are dangerous and incapable of caring about others in alternative ways—affects everything from the way that people treat us socially, to our employment prospects, to whether we are able to access autism testing and services at all. In my own experience prior to my diagnosis, there was no one in my life—not even educational and medical experts—who knew enough about autism to see it in me. Which meant that no one recommended me for testing, and I spent almost three decades unable to understand a major aspect of my life—or access any properly informed therapy that might help me deal with my issues and make my life a little more manageable. 

Read this next: I Spoke Out About Feeling Unsafe At Work During COVID—And Got Fired

Minassian’s defence, and other cases like his, are also a drain on the already limited resources of autistic communities. All of the time and energy that autistic people and our allies must put into once again refuting harmful stereotypes is time and energy that we can’t dedicate to improving the quality of autistic lives. Every time we are forced to explain that autism isn’t inherently dangerous is time we cannot dedicate to trying to expand people’s concepts of what autism actually is and the diverse identities and experiences of the people who have it. And every time autism is used as a singular reason for a crime that clearly has more complicated and insidious motives and explanations is time that we cannot spend talking about the ways in which some autistic people can be more vulnerable to online hate groups—and what can be done to break this pattern and prevent tragedies like Minassian’s van attack from happening again. 

Categories
Fitness

Are Your Periods Irregular or Even Absent? Here’s When You Should Talk to Your Doctor

Pexels / Polina Zimmerman

Missing a period can be scary, or exciting, depending on your life plan. But skipping over that time of the month doesn’t always mean you’re pregnant. In fact, it’s totally normal to miss your period every once in a while — and far more common than you think.

“We typically assume a 28-day cycle as ‘normal,’ but in reality, it’s normal for periods to come anywhere from 21 to 40 days,” Jennifer Conti, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn, host of The V Word Pod, and a medical advisor for Modern Fertility, told POPSUGAR. Between 9 and 14 percent of people who menstruate have irregular cycles.

Dr. Conti explained that, when pregnancy is off the table as a potential cause, environmental factors like stress — both emotional and physical — or diet could also be to blame for a missed period. Your period should return to normal once those issues have been resolved, she added. However, if you’re having irregular bleeding that’s not linked with birth control, or your period doesn’t go back to normal, you should talk to your healthcare provider to rule out any underlying conditions.

Your doctor may recommend hormonal birth control to help regulate your periods, Dr. Conti said. If that’s not a path you want to take, they may also be able to suggest some lifestyle changes that could help get your irregular periods under control.

Categories
Culture

All About Dylan Meyer, Kristen Stewart’s Screenwriter Girlfriend

As Kristen Stewart and Dylan Meyer’s relationship crosses the one-year mark, things between them are stronger than ever. It’s a decidedly new chapter for Stewart, who opened up in the latest issue of InStyle, about being “sort of cagey” in previous relationships. Meyer and Stewart were first romantically linked last summer, but the couple actually met six years before on a movie set, Stewart told Howard Stern last November. They later reconnected at a birthday party for a mutual friend. “The day that I met her, all bets were off,” Stewart remembered. “I was like, ‘Where have I been and how have I not known you?’ She’s been, like, living in LA alongside my life somehow but not ever converging?”

The actress, who will play Princess Diana in an upcoming movie, even told the radio host she’s ready to propose. Ahead, everything we know about Meyer, including her screenwriting career and how she and Stewart are spending quarantine.

kristen stewart dylan meyer

JAPZ, JOGA, GEDUBACKGRID

Meyer is a screenwriter and actress.

Stewart told Stern that she met Meyer on a movie set six years ago. While she didn’t specify which one, Meyer has written and co-starred in multiple films and TV shows. She co-wrote and executive produced the 2016 Netflix movie XOXO, starring Sarah Hyland. She penned episodes of the sci-fi series Miss 2059. Meyer also wrote the short films Loose Ends (2015) and Rock Bottom (2019), which you can watch right here:

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As for her acting credits, Meyer has appeared in short films including The Death and Return of Superman (2011), Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling (2015), and Jem Reacts to the New Jem and the Holograms Trailer (2015).

The couple began dating after Stewart ended things with model Stella Maxwell.

Rumors about Meyer and Stewart’s relationship began last August when the pair was seen kissing on a New York City stoop. The sighting came less than a month after Stewart was photographed kissing on-off girlfriend Stella Maxwell on a yacht in Italy. A source told E! at the time that while “it will always be very easy for Kristen to fall back with Stella,” she’s focused on her new relationship with Meyer.

celebrity sightings in paris    june 13, 2017

Maxwell and Stewart in 2017.

Marc PiaseckiGetty Images

“Kristen is spending time with Dylan and very happy about it,” the insider told E! News. “She was seeing Stella for a little bit while it worked, but now she has moved on with Dylan.” The source added, “Kristen isn’t holding back at all and loves being with her. They are moving quickly and always together.”

Stewart confirmed the fast-paced nature of their romance during her November interview with Stern, revealing to him that she told Meyer she loved her two weeks into dating. “It was like really late, and we were in some shitty bar, and her friends were there or whatever, and they like walked out, and I was just like, ‘Oh man, I’m so f*cking in love with you. Done,'” she recalled. “It wasn’t like a thing, and also it was like so obvious. It just is.” Stewart later added of their connection, “We’re both from L.A. and we really love L.A. We’re both kind of like, scumbags. We both felt like trolls as kids. We’re so similar but different. She’s a writer; she’s brilliant.”

The pair went Instagram official in October 2019.

Although Stewart herself doesn’t have a public Instagram, Meyer shared a first glimpse into the couple’s relationship last October. She posted a black-and-white snap of a polaroid where the couple can be seen kissing. “Find me under the covers hiding from the happiness police. 🖤,” she captioned the post.

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Six months later, Meyer shared a birthday tribute for Stewart on the ‘gram, writing, “It’s my absolute favorite person’s birthday and I’m wishing everyone the volume of beautiful feeling I feel toward her. It’s a short ride on this earth, spend your time with someone that inspires you to be the best version of yourself and lights your shit on fire.”

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Her Instagram aesthetic is cats and nature.

When Meyer isn’t gushing about Stewart, her social media is filled with a ton of nature and animal photos. You’ll find pictures of her cats Zsa Zsa and Snack in various scenarios, as well as outdoor shots from around Los Angeles.

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Stewart says she’s ready to propose to Meyer.

The couple may keep their romance private, but that doesn’t mean things aren’t serious between them. During her November interview with Stern, Stewart got very candid about her feelings toward Meyer. She told Stern that she “can’t f*cking wait” to propose to Meyer and said she would “absolutely” get married.

“Yeah, I want to be, like, somewhat reasonable about it, but I think good things happen fast,” Stewart continued, telling Stern she has a plan for how she’ll pop the question. “I can’t say right now, because she’ll find out.” Stewart also said that her matrimony plans weren’t “tied to any weird sort of convention; it’s just, like, when you know, you know.”

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They’re spending quarantine together.

Meyer and Stewart have been keeping a low-profile during stay-at-home orders, but they made a rare outing this June for a coffee run in L.A. The Daily Mail captured photos of the couple wearing casual gray and black outfits, masks, and sunglasses while on their errand.

The outlet also published photos of the couple participating in a Black Lives Matter protest in Los Angeles earlier this month, following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others at the hands of police.

Most recently, sources told E! that Stewart and Meyer attended an intimate baby shower for Emma Roberts and Garrett Hedlund. (Stewart and Hedlund co-starred together in 2012’s On the Road.) They joined the likes of Camilla Morrone (Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend) and Lily Kershaw to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Roberts and Hedlund’s son.

Stewart has used Meyer’s Instagram.

Stewart, who next stars in the lesbian holiday rom-com Happiest Season, doesn’t have a ‘gram. However, she used her girlfriend’s platform to urge people to vote in the upcoming election. “I turned the mic over to Kristen because she had some things to say and doesn’t have her own account. Happy #nationalvoterregistrationday!” Meyer captioned a selfie of Stewart in a “VOTE” tee on September 22. Kristen wrote, via Meyer’s account:

“I never do this but for anyone who has not registered to vote please take this opportunity to feel HEARD. And not hopeless. I am voting because I WANT to believe in our country. Because I believe in climate change. I believe in systemic racism. I believe in freedom of speech and the right to assemble. I believe in gun control. I believe that women have a right to make choices about their own bodies. I believe people have the right to live and love and identify however they feel in their hearts without fear. I believe that people care about each other. So try and have a lovely Tuesday and vote for your fucking lives.”

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Beauty

Endometriosis Changed My Life. So Why Did It Take 11 Years to Diagnose?

I was 14 when my period started. That same year, the pain started, too. For the next decade of my life, I’d miss work and school, skip birthdays and holiday parties, sleep through weekends and cancel plans, curled up with a heating pad trying to soothe the persistent ache I felt in my pelvis. I’d visit doctor after doctor who would dismiss my pain as insignificant or nonexistent, failing to realize how deeply it was shaping who I was and how I existed in the world.

author at age 14

The author at age 14.

Courtesy of Elana Ross

Then, at 25, it took just one doctor—a doctor who listened—to finally give me a diagnosis: I had endometriosis, a disorder that causes tissue resembling the lining of your uterus to grow outside of it. I had a single procedure to finally remove those lesions, and post-surgery, it felt like a new beginning, a type of freedom. But I was still overwhelmed and scared. I wondered: Who would I be without my pain?

The first time I ever sought help for my severe period cramps, my general practitioner immediately mentioned endometriosis but told me there was nothing she could do. As it worsened, my OB-GYN dismissed the possibility of the disease because my pain was more frequent than just during my period. By now, I’ve had an endocrinologist tell me that endometriosis “is less understood than cancer,” but back then, sitting in the doctor’s office, it felt silly to disagree with a medical professional. The power dynamic doesn’t favor the patient, and it’s easy to feel like you have to shut up and accept what they say.

Whenever I sought help from gastroenterologists and new OB-GYNs, they’d find a reason not to treat my pain and send me on my way. While I wanted to find a solution, I listened to doctors tell me over and over that what I was experiencing “wasn’t that bad,” that it was normal, all in my head, and not worth the work to diagnose. I was demoralized and, at times, felt like I must be crazy.

So I gave up. I knew something was really wrong, and believed I knew what it was, but I decided to just live with it. I was, by all appearances, healthy. Yet I was living with chronic pelvic pain, its various mental and physical side effects, and a persistent feeling of resignation. I stopped talking about how I felt; there are only so many times you can complain before it consumes how people view you—and how you view yourself. I labeled myself as whiny, lazy, fat, introverted. I couldn’t tell where the real me stopped and my pain began.

I was also angry, and I kept getting angrier. Perhaps most importantly, I started a new job at Planned Parenthood. I was fighting every day for people to have control over their own bodies and their own health, working to make sure they had access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. It made me realize I had completely stopped fighting for myself. Now I had a job with great insurance, a team that was willing to cover for me so I could take time off, and a women-led senior staff who listened when I said I needed to deal with my pain. So I did.

the author before her operation

Before my laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgery done to treat endometriosis.

Courtesy of Elana Ross

I worked to find a pelvic pain specialist who believed in me. I received a clinical diagnosis of endometriosis and had it successfully treated through surgery. In the end, I had only one lesion; one of the many mysteries of endometriosis is that the number of lesions you have doesn’t correlate to how much pain you’re in. While I knew this, a part of me still felt illegitimate, like I didn’t actually require surgery, or that I couldn’t have really been hurting that much.

During my laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgery done to find and remove the endometriosis lesions, my surgeon also took out my appendix as a precaution, as he does with every endometriosis patient. When the toxicology reports came back, I received a second blow: I had also been living with chronic appendicitis. I was furious, knowing that if I had chosen the first surgeon I met with, who never once mentioned removing my appendix, I could have completed the entire process only to be left with another ticking time bomb and its resulting pain. I was also relieved; finding out I also had appendicitis gave me validation that my pain had been real. Appendicitis was also something that people could understand and sympathize with—it’s mainstream.

But that relief felt traitorous to my own experience. People with endometriosis are often told they’re overreacting, that they’re wrong about what they feel, and they don’t need—or deserve—a diagnosis. I heard it from the medical community, from my friends and family, and eventually, I internalized it. To write off my pain as simply a result of the appendicitis would discount the bravery it took to fight for my diagnosis and treatment. It would also be false—my endometriosis pain was real, and it was agonizing.

People with endometriosis are often told they’re overreacting, that they’re wrong about what they feel, and they don’t need—or deserve—a diagnosis.

My experience is part of the too-long history of women’s pain being ignored, even by female doctors. That disregard is even more true for women of color; a 2017 survey showed that 32 percent of African Americans reported being discriminated against when going to a doctor or health clinic, a huge contributor to our national maternal mortality crisis. And unfortunately, well-meaning OB-GYNs often don’t have enough training with this particular disease. As part of the 10 percent of women who have endometriosis, my diagnosis timeline of 11 years is about the national average.

Now that the pain is gone, I’ve started to reassess who I am without it. I think I’m still an introvert. Maybe I’ll choose to be busier, more social, or maybe I won’t. But after 11 years of confusion and discomfort, I do know that I’m tenacious, persistent, and resilient. I can see, finally, that I am truly strong. I stared down a maze of medical hurdles and social ignorance and screamed: “Someone fix my fucking uterus.” And it wasn’t my pain talking. It was me.

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