Fashion and Beauty United Issue 1 July 2021 by FashionandBeautyUnitedWindsor

About Us It's been quite the FABU year...

The world has changed a lot the past year. When we first started FABU, it started as an idea. That idea was to highlight women in the Windsor-Essex County area with the hope to motivate and inspire others with their stories. We wanted to give these women a platform and put a spotlight on their businesses, accomplishments, and showcase the good work they are doing. We wanted to do this, especially in a year like 2020 where people needed some positivity in their news feeds. The amount of women in this community that we have featured over the past year and the feedback we have received has been overwhelming. We're happy that we can showcase the good in our community and give people that extra daily dose of motivation and inspiration. FABU has grown so much, and we're happy to grow with it. We're proud to launch the first issue of our FABU magazine that you are currently reading. If you've been following us the past year, we want to say thank you. If this is your first time with us, welcome. This is the first in - hopefully - many more issues to come. JULIANNA BONNETT Coordinator

FASHION AND BEAUTY UNITED| ISSUE 1

www.konectmag.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS WONDER WOMAN 02 EDUCATING A GENERATION WITH SHANTELLE BROWNING-MORGAN 06 SHAPING A COMMUNITY WITH SARA SHAHBAZI 09 TAKING A LEAP WITH SAWYER TELEDGY 13 CAPTURE THE MOMENT WITH KAMRYN CUSOMANO 17 EXPLORING NEW OPTIONS WITH NICOLE HASLAM 20 USING ART AS YOUR OUTLETS WITH JENNA LESPERANCE

WONDER WOMAN

24 THE POWER OF GIVING BACK WITH SWAY ATALLAH

FEATURING SOME AMAZING WINDSOR WOMEN

28 EXPLORING YOUR INNER REBEL WITH ANNIE VANRIVONG 30 SHARING BEAUTIFUL WORDS AMONGST FRIENDS

Check out Shantelle BrowningMorgan inspirational story and Shred Shops story /

PG. 2, PG.9

BLOGS 05 WHY LGBTQ+ STUDENTS NEED A SAFE SPACE IN SCHOOL 08 MAKING YOUR DREAMS A REALITY 12 FOCUS ON YOU, NOT THE DUMB SHIT 19 WHAT'S THE IDEAL BODY TYPE FOR SUMMER?

FAB FOOD FRIDAYS 16 SUGAR SPOON BAKE SHOP 26 TINA'S SUB AND GYRO STORE, MATHCA, RICO TACO

ASK THE CAREER EXPERT WITH VICTORIA RUBIO

BLOG

WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU CAN START YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

EVERYBODY NEEDS A SAFE SPACE

Victoria Rubio of VR Success Services answers your burning questions about how to be successful in what you love /

Read about the importance of why students need a safe space in school /

PG. 22

WWW.FASHIONANDBEAUTYUNITED.COM

PG. 05

Wonder Woman | June 2021 While also being the Secretary for the Essex County Black Historical Research Society for several years now, Shantelle has been a part of the Windsor Essex Annual Black History Month Kick-Off organizing committee and involved in many community events such as the 10th Anniversary of the International Underground Railroad Monument. In addition, she and three colleagues are the founders of the Black Staff Equity Alliance, and she is a member of Black Women of Forward Action, Sister to Sister Think W.I.S.E., Teachers for Global Awareness, and the Underground Railroad Monument 20th Anniversary Planning Committee. “I have also been a part of the organizing committees for the African Diaspora Youth Conference, a presenter at the annual High School Social Justice Forum, and I used to hold an annual Black Cultural Showcase while teaching at Walkerville,” she shares. While keeping a busy schedule, Shantelle shares that she sets goals and takes breaks to maintain it all. “I think of the end result, and I remember why I am doing what I am doing,” she says. “I think of how the information will impact young people while honouring my ancestors and that keeps me motivated while working on projects.” When asked what empowers her daily, she shares that her faith keeps her going. “I was in a car accident in 2016 that upended my life. I was taken to the hospital and told that I would be back to work in a week. I didn’t feel good, but I didn’t feel awful,” she shares. “That was, until two days later when it really hit me that something more was going on. I was walking to the bathroom, and my foot felt like it couldn’t touch the floor. I became very dizzy. I had to crawl. I knew then that I wouldn’t be returning to work the following week.” After tests and doctor’s visits, Shantelle learned that she suffered a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, only there was nothing mild about it. Suddenly, she was unable to teach, drive, or even walk straight. She had to wear a weighted vest for months to help with balance and walking. “It was a nightmare,” she says. She had to hire a Personal Support Worker who became family to her. “She held my hand when we went for walks, she dried my tears daily, she brought me to my daily appointments, and she made me laugh.”

For secondary school teacher and curriculum writer Shantelle Browning-Morgan, one of the main focuses in her career is educating the community on Black history to help everyone better understand the world, both past and present. Since the early 2000s, Shantelle has been one of the lead researchers and writers of the African Canadian Roads to Freedom curriculum resource support documents for the Greater Essex County District School Board. “There is an elementary document which focuses on Social Studies for grades one through six, History and Geography for grades seven and eight, and a secondary document which focuses on grade 10 History and Civics,” she explains. “In 2010, I piloted the African Studies course at Walkerville where I was able to use the Roads to Freedom document as a primary teaching resource.” ”There is not a lot of Black Canadian history taught in schools, despite a 400year presence in this country. History helps us to better understand our world, both past and present,” she says. “With such a lengthy history in Canada, I feel that it’s detrimental to everyone when the true history is not shared or taught and when all voices are not included.”

She would have days where she couldn’t even walk. She saw doubles of everything. Words jumped on the page when she tried to read, light became bothersome, and her ears often rang. Describing it as feeling like lightning bolts were coming from her forehead to her eyes, she still lives with the effects today. And on top of that, she ended up very ill from one of the medications she was taking for pain. Within months, she had lost 74 pounds and felt like she was wasting away. “My body could no longer tolerate any food. I lived off salmon, bananas, and applesauce for months. It was such a difficult time; just talking about it is making me cry.” Her days changed in an instant; they went from teaching, mom fun, community involvement, to daily appointments -- Vision Therapy, Vestibular Therapy, Acupuncture, Chiropractor, Physiotherapy, and a host of other medical appointments. It was a very dark period, with many rocky roads, and she wanted to give up many times. “I was hanging on by a thread.” But in the darkness, a cousin reached out to her, and they had a life-changing and life-saving conversation, which led Shantelle to God. “I began to find purpose in my pain and suffering, and I began to understand it. I had grown very angry with God, but I can now say that what was meant for harm, God used it for good. I am no longer the same person I was before the accident, and I am grateful for that. Everything has changed. Having so much taken away for a few years and then to return to the classroom and community work, to drive again, I take nothing for granted. These things seemed impossible to me for a few years.”

Through her challenges, Shantelle found the purpose and meaning of her suffering. “I found myself, and I grew to realize that the accident was really just a gift wrapped in a painful package.” In addition to faith, Shantelle is empowered by many other things. “My three children, my family, my friends, my mentors, my community, my students, and my ancestors. In the words of one of my favourite singers, Josh Groban, they raise me up, so I can stand on mountains, they raise me up to walk on stormy seas, I am strong when I am on their shoulders, they raise me up to more than I can be.”

About Shantelle’s other awards and accomplishments: In 2011, Shantelle was awarded the Governor General Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History for her work in the African Studies course. In addition to being a recipient of the Governor General’s Award, Shantelle was awarded The Odyssey Award from the University of Windsor in 2016 and the Sisterhood Award at the International Women’s Day Gala. In 2015, she appeared in the CBC documentary, Being Black in Canada, and was featured as an Exemplary Teacher in Professionally Speaking, the magazine for the Ontario College of Teachers. In 2020, Shantelle was featured on the 1st annual Windsor Black History Month Wall of Fame. The recognition stems from her work in teaching and sharing Black history. Some of Shantelle’s educational projects include: Breaking the Colour Barrier: Boomer Harding and the Chatham Colored All-Stars curriculum (grades 1-12), the Jackson Park Curriculum Project, the Detroit River International Education Project (a curriculum for the University of Michigan Wolverine Pathways program and an international curriculum for students in Windsor and the Detroit area), Canadian Black Lives curriculum for the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers’ Federation, ongoing revisions to the African Canadian Roads to Freedom documents, and creating a digital course for the ESL program.

the food and left. They laughed as they walked away and called the club a "bunch of f*gs". Those few instances of passive homophobia were why students started the GSA to begin with. Even though some students wrote off the club, it was not written off by the members that did attend every meeting. It was a place you could go to make sure you weren't in the crossfire of a slur or an eye roll just for being who you are. In 2021, when people might think there might not even be a need for GSA's anymore because we're at a point of progress where kids don't need them since tolerance is promoted everywhere, there is still a need now more than ever. Even though Gen Z is considered more progressive than older generations by being more open to different identities, interests, and modes of self-expression, high school can still be dangerous for students who are different.

In 2004, author Brent Hartinger released a book titled The Geography Club about a group of queer high school students who form an after-school club to discuss what they're all going through. They decided to call it The Geography Club, a club so dull, it wouldn't draw any unnecessary attention to itself. And besides, who wants to join a Geography Club, anyway? Even though attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community have changed over the past 17 years, it still teaches how relevant safe spaces still are for LGBTQ+ youth. It brings together other LGBTQ+ students who they can lean on and share their truths and experiences, and to show them that they're accepted and that they belong. High school is a time of self-discovery. It's a time of finding out where you fit in, who your true friends are, peer pressure, etc. It can be a pretty lonely time, especially if you're LGBTQ+ or questioning. During this time of selfdiscovery, having a safe space can give youth comfort and a place to turn to with no judgement, even if meetings only run once a week. It’s also important for those students who haven't come out yet. In my high school, this safe space took the form of a GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) that met during lunchtime once a week. These meetings were not only meant for students who identified as LGBTQ+ but also for their straight allies. The club had five teachers who came to every meeting and

We've all heard the phrase "times may change, but high school stays the same". Putting teenagers with clashing personalities in one location can still lead to an unsafe environment. This is more relevant now due to the rise in cyberbullying where high schoolers use their many social media platforms to harass their peers. Students now call out and tease their peers in video game live streams, Instagram, and in TikTok videos for other classmates to see and comment on. They'll made it their mission to accept every student who even go as far as to post humiliating videos without their came through the door. It created a welcoming consent. school community to support students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. In terms of Gen Z students bullying their LGBTQ+ peers, CBC reported that "in 2019, one in four students who attended The point of the club was also to spread positivity high schools in the Greater Toronto Area, say they have and tolerance in the school, which my school been called hateful names or have been subjected to desperately needed. It wasn't long after the club comments that are homophobic or transphobic." was established that it was soon dubbed "The Gay Schools that have established safe spaces or GSA's have Club". The club was never the target for proven to create positive impacts on LGBTQ+ students. It harassment or hazing, but it wasn't without its allows those students to build trust and relationships with instances. their peers, it can make a place of comfort and safety, and be used as a way to identify which supportive adults they The club did get an eye roll whenever it was can turn to for guidance. All this ultimately leads to a brought up during the morning announcements. "What do they do in The Gay Club?" I remember a better learning environment where students have higher student in my homeroom ask, to which their friend self-confidence levels and better grades, which benefits students in the long run. lazily retorted, "Gay stuff". This was when I knew the club was written off and Overall, everyone wins when there's a safe space where students can attend whenever they feel like there's deemed "uncool". nowhere else to go. GSA's provide an area of support, so students know which teachers and peers to turn to if things The club once decorated the halls with balloons get tough, either at school or at home. When students feel with smiley faces on them to spread kindness. Those balloons were taken down by a student as supported, it can impact their grades and their overall selfesteem. soon as they were put up. During Spirit Day - a day to wear purple to show support against bullying and bullying-related suicide – the GSA organized a potluck during lunch. Anyone could participate in the potluck as long as they wore purple.

High school can be a vulnerable time. The world might not be a kind place, but a little support and some kind faces can go a long way. LGBTQ+ students belong.

If you’re a student or a teacher, here are some resources Two male students wearing purple showed up for on GSA’s and how to start one in your school. the free food, but once they found out that it was organized by "the Gay Club," they turned down https://bit.ly/3wZ8z1y

Wonder Woman | June 2021

SHAPING A COMMUNITY WITH SARA SHAHBAZI For Educator and Instructor, Sara Shahbazi, she has learned through her experience that no matter where you find yourself in the world, being an educator is a multifaceted role built on relationships and being responsive to the voices and needs of the students and people within the community. While currently working as a Sessional Instructor at the University of Windsor's Faculty of Education in both the Bachelor of Education Program and Graduate Program, Shahbazi shares that Windsor is a unique place to live and work because it is home to a wealth of knowledge, experiences, cultures, and languages. To Shahbazi, it's a place where each student (child and adult learners) adds value, texture and meaning to the learning environments they are a part of. "I always carried with me a passion and love for learning. My desire to continue into academia grew while studying in the Concurrent Early Childhood Education program at the University of Windsor," she says. "Throughout the five years, I had the opportunity to engage in specialized learning, surrounded by my cohort, professors, and mentors. In that time, I attended St. Clair College's Early Childhood Education Program, where I first learned about the significance of play in stimulating and shaping child development and learning. This was a pivotal moment in my learning because it sparked my interest in how children learn and make meaning of the world." While obtaining her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Master of Education (M.E.D), Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Arts and Early Childhood Education Diploma, Shahbazi explains that teaching at the faculty has brought her the freedom and flexibility to connect with our local community. "All educators bring to the forefront experiences that shape their practice; for me, my personal, professional, and academic experiences have greatly transformed my way of thinking, reflecting, and doing," she shares. "As a sessional instructor, I apply a philosophy that bridges knowledge and skill with experiential learning through a social constructivist lens." Describing herself as passionate, reflective and intentional, Shahbazi shares that what empowers her daily: "I have thrived from the relationships I have made, the path's I have followed, the failures I have overcome, and the goals I have sought," she states. "But most of all, it has been my relationships with my students at the elementary and post-secondary level that drives me. It is their trust in me, their voices, experiences, feedback, curiosities, and growth that continue to inspire me to evolve as an educator and academic; this is how my journey was paved and continues to be unveiled."

MAKE YOUR DREAMS A REALITY Are you a dreamer? What are your dreams? Are they small, big, or too large and too complex? Whether you have a dream or not, the dreams you have are there for a reason: to be realized as a part of fulfilling your life purpose. For many people, making their dreams a reality is something they don’t see possible or obtainable because they don’t see how it will ever come true. They just can’t see how taking time to plan out and make that dream realistic could ever work. Have patience! Although your dreams have not been fulfilled yet doesn’t mean they never will be, you can still make your dream a reality. Of course, you can’t force dreams to happen, but you can take steps towards analyzing them. Maybe you’ve always had a dream to travel to Paris, have you done anything to make that dream become more real? Are you saving money weekly? Are you doing your research on reasonable places to stay? It all takes a planning strategy to obtain your dreams and if you want to move forward with making your dreams a reality, you need to take the first step into making it happen. Step 1: Overcoming your limiting beliefsThe beliefs we end up holding about ourselves is what ends up framing our daily actions. If you believe you will never go anywhere in life, never have success, never feel the joy that happiness can bring, you will forever be stuck in that state of mind and that will hinder you from moving forward with making your dreams a reality.

Self-doubt is a constant and repetitive pattern we have all developed that makes us stay in the same spot for years, it riddles our bodies with such fear of stepping out of our comfort zone that we don’t believe we can every pursue a dream we have. I've got one question for you, do you want to continue living your life in a bubble or do you want to step out of it and become the person you’ve always envisioned yourself to be? Step 2: Get over your fears of failure and disappointmentFailing is a part of life, the faster we fail the faster we learn. Never fear failure for its there to help you grow and failure brings you closer to your goal. Failure is a lesson and with that lesson you will learn not to make the same mistake next time. Step 3: Take ActionDreaming is vital to helping us realize our authentic selves and what we really want out of life. Using techniques like creating a vision board, planning, prepping, and strategizing what we want to do will bring us one step closer to making our dreams a reality. But ultimately, like Nike says, just do it! Stop holding yourself back and do what you’ve always wanted to do, you will be shocked to see how much you fall in love with your life once doing this for yourself.

Wonder Woman | June 2021

"If you make your passion your career, you will never work another day in your life." Photo by: Wren Photo Lab

For owner and Head Coach of Shred Shop Wellness Complex, Sawyer Telegdy, her mission is to make already strong men and women STRONGER.

With being located at 815 Erie Street East, Windsor, Telegdy is surrounded by four inspirational women, Amanda, Sadra, Kyla and Laura, who have helped shape Shred Shop into what it is today.

Years ago, while working as a manager at Starbucks, Telegdy wanted to climb the corporate ladder, but it wasn't until she heard the phrase, "If you make your passion your career, you will never work another day in your life," that things in her life changed.

"The Shred Shop is my opportunity to give each of you a place of salvage. A retreat from everyday life," she says. "A break from the chaos and business of balancing all that we must in our day-to-day activities. This is your place, your shop. Your opportunity to leave life at the door and indulge in pushing some physical and mental boundaries."

From that point on, she decided to take her ten years of Figure Competition experience, personal one-on-one coaching and small group training experience and hit the books. "I enrolled in mobility classes, nutrition programs, and everything in between. From kettlebells to spin bikes, from Olympic lifting to fascial stretch therapy, if my body could do it, I needed to learn about it and earn a certificate to prove it," she shares. "I left Starbucks and joined a big box gym as a personal trainer. I had the motivation and the experience; I just needed to know the business side. How do I make money doing what I love? What are the legalities? It is important to know and think about besides the easy part - how to help clients achieve their goals." After two years, Telegdy established her name, her brand and had already helped hundreds of members learn to love their bodies along the way. "I was outgrowing the provided space to host classes quickly, so I branched out on my own," she explains. "By October of 2018, 3230 Jefferson Blvd was Shred Shop's first, humble 2,300 square foot home. With 16 bodies being our class limit, as I was the only one coaching while Amanda handled the back of house operations - we quickly outgrew that space within the first seven months of operating."

Telegdy explains that their success has come from a multitude of things. "First and foremost, word of mouth carries the most weight. Our members love their experience here and are constantly bringing their friends to join in. Secondly, we definitely emphasize our social media accounts and feature live streams of our classes as well as member Spotlight to keep our community engaged in what we're doing here," she shares. "We also believe very strongly in social media marketing and purchase online ads frequently. The fitness industry is very different in the fact that you need to see it, hear it and feel it to really understand if it's something you want to do and if it's something you will stick with, which is why video marketing is so important for us." For more information on The Shred Shop Wellness Complex and Sawyer’s amazing team, check out their website below: www.shredshop.ca

Do you ever find yourself focusing on things that are so useless and distract you from the things you need to get done? Yeah, we all know what this feels like, but sometimes it’s hard to shut off that secondary voice in your head telling you to focus on that little thought. Unfortunately, we live in a world where most of us focus on stuff that isn’t important at all, but we expect to get things done. And then we realize that we’ve wasted valuable time that we can’t get back. Life is as short as a breath, and it should be lived fully with every moment because each new day is a gift. The problem with most people is that we believe that the future holds all the things that we’ve ever dreamed of. We never think about the now and acknowledge that those dreams can be made a reality quickly if we just stopped giving so much attention to the bullshit.

It may seem like a hard thing to grasp, but it’s not. First, you need to stop focusing on insignificant things. Then, once you can get over that hill, you will be able to take control of your life and do the things you have wanted to do for years. With just a few steps, you can get there: Step one - realizing when you’re focusing on something you have no control over. Step two - once you know that, use your inner voice to tell yourself to switch over to something more positive and focus on the now instead of the past or future. Step three - put yourself in the mindset of what today brings you, not tomorrow. Step four - layout your goals for the day and what you aspire to get finished. Step five - shoot for the stars! Even if you think you can’t get out of the mindset of focusing on stuff that you can’t control, remind yourself you can do it and be proud of your progress every step of the way.

Wonder Woman | June 2021

CAPTURE THE MOMENT WITH KAMRYN CUSUMANO At Stay Open, Photographer and Owner, Kamryn Cusumano’s mission is to spread female empowerment and allow others to embrace their true authentic selves. Offering photography and digital marketing services, Stay Open is a brand that helps professionals, businesses and entrepreneurs with branding photography and digital marketing services. “In 2019, I turned my parent’s basement into a photo studio and started booking clients,” she shares. “Looking back I had such a ridiculous set up, but I made it work somehow. These days, I’ve upgraded from the basement to a studio space which is where I am operating out of now.” While stating Stay Open is a personal mantra of hers, Cusumano explains she is still unpacking the meaning. “I created it so I could be myself for a living,” she says. “I offer services to help others along their paths to achieving their dreams, discover their inner power, and align closer with the person they were meant to be.”

Cusumano shares that she always wanted to be an artist, but didn’t picture photography to be the medium. “When I was studying journalism, we were taught how to use our DSLR cameras and I remember getting really great feedback from my images,” she says. “In the summer, I started practicing and taking friends out for photoshoots, and after sharing my work I began booking clients. It happened very fast.” Describing herself as guided, filled with purpose and faith, Cusumano says that we all have a calling and if we are brave enough to answer the call, we can have it. “I am so grateful and blessed to be able to do this work and have such incredible clients who make what I do so meaningful. I am empowered by my amazing clients who show me what vulnerability looks like every time they step in front of my camera.” For more information on Stay Open, check out Kamryn’s Instagram page @stay____open.

Fab Food Fridays Giving

Local

Food

A Spotlight

You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces - just good food from fresh ingredients. Julia Child

Sugar Spoon Bake Shop For five years, Owner of Sugar Spoon Bake Shop Loredana Froio has been putting in her own little spin on all of her sweet creations. With a burning passion for creating, Froio incorporated her love for baking with the business degree she obtained at the University of Windsor and decided to take a plunge into opening her own bakery. “My inspiration was wanting to have a place that people can walk in and find fresh and delicious hand made baked goods that they can pick up on the spot without having to place an order,” she shares. “From my personal experience I always remembered getting invited to a dinner or friends house and just wanting to pick up a box of treats to bring and there was never anywhere to go besides the grocery store.”

Offering macarons, cupcakes, cakes, cookies, brownies, vegan options, and many assorted desserts, the options are never ending. “At Sugar Spoon, you can find a LOT! Most people are most surprised but how many different things we offer on a daily basis,” she explains. “For example, everyday we have 12 flavours of cupcakes, brownies, five flavours of cookies, scones, butter tarts, 10 flavours of French macarons, carrot cake slices, cannoli, lemon and custard cream horns, dessert cups, tiramisu cups, three kinds of bars, five different types of keto desserts, five flavours of vegan cupcakes, packs of mini cupcakes, and extra cakes in our cake fridge at the front of the store for people who need a cake in a hurry.” Located at 3131 Forest Glade Drive, Sugar Spoon has become a gem in the community for so many people.

Wonder Woman | June 2021

EXPLORING NEW OPTIONS WITH NICOLE HASLAM Owner and Operator of Ivory Cole Designs, Nicole Haslam prides herself on bringing her authentic designs, creations and products to life. Offering handmade crystal boards, bowls, trays, coasters and much more, what separates Haslam from other artists is that her motivation is out of this world. “I am someone who has never been able to sit still or stop for one day. I work every day and love it so much,” she says. “Creating is part of me and I truly love what I do so much and seeing the reactions of my customers when they receive the product is my second favourite part other than creating. Everything I make is truly me and comes from my brain and creativity and is truly uniquely my own.” With her main job being in the travel industry, when the pandemic hit, Haslam got temporarily laid off from her job. “After being temporarily laid off I couldn’t sit still for more than a month and started creating something of my own,” she shares. “July 2020 is when I first launched, I’ve always been a very artsy and creative person and that’s what inspired me to start creating.” While obtaining an education in Psychology and Social Work, before finding her love for handmade crafts, Haslam was deeply involved in dance. “I went for my post secondary education but moved to Mexico at the age of 18 to fulfill my dance career and did I ever,” she states. “From performing in music videos, commercials and movies, to dancing every genre you can think of, producing, choreographing, creative and directing I’ve done it all . Dancing led me into my travel life, I have lived in three countries, two provinces and eight cities!” Describing herself as giving, adventurous and motivated, Haslam’s advice for anyone out there is to just go for it. “So many questions go through your head but I told myself, if I make one sale, well then great, and if I don’t, I tried and it wasn’t for me. In my case it was everything and it’s amazing. You have to take the leap or you will never know,” she says. “Ask questions, something I never did when I started. I knew nothing about resin work when I started and did so much research and trial and error before I got the hang of it. It takes time, just keep your head up and you’ll get there.” For more information on Ivory Cole Designs, check out her Instagram page @ivorycoledesigns

What's the ideal body for summer? Short answer: there isn't one. As spring quickly approaches, it seems as though people are eager to shed the extra pounds they've gained during the winter and begin setting their sights on swimsuit season and working towards their "beach body", where people will strive to get to their ideal body to look their best. Since it's summer, you might start seeing posts or articles popping up that mention the steps to achieve your perfect summer body, what diets you should use, and how much you should tan. There are even tips on how to look less bloated on the beach, so your stomach looks as flat and acceptable as possible.

As publications push us to live out our Baywatch fantasies, there shouldn't be this much pressure in trying to have the "perfect body". But, unfortunately, these articles only add an extra level of selfconsciousness that might not have been on everyone's radar. Is all this effort essential to look presentable in a bathing suit? Is my body good enough? With that said, if you like the challenge and enjoy setting fitness goals for yourself, then reaching your "beach body" goal can be an excellent way to keep a fitness routine and stay motivated. But for everyone else who's looking for some fun in the sun, just know that you shouldn't feel intimidated or feel the pressure of needing to look a certain way.

While some people work towards trimming belly fat and gaining tight abs for the hotter months of the year, we should also promote body comfortability, no matter what your body type is. Be yourself, have fun in the sun, stay hydrated and wear sunscreen and just let loose. Summer is only three months, so take advantage of it by living your best self. Stop worrying about having the perfect summer body and letting the term "beach body" seem like something you must have. Every body is a summer body as there's no one way to look at the beach.

Wonder Woman | June 2021

For Owner and Artist of Jenn’s Resinn, Jenna Lesperance, her primary mission when it comes to putting her art out to the world is allowing people to express their creativity through her. While growing up, Lesperance and her mom always did arts and crafts with her sister, and as for as long as she could remember, she has always loved doing anything where she was able to put her creative mind to the test. “The resin art that I currently do started as Christmas gifts for my family, I made an ashtray for my brother-in-law and a set of four coasters for my dad and stepmom, and my grandparents,” she shares. “Making resin pieces and knowing that people are putting their trust in me to make a custom piece for them really inspires me and pushes me more to keep doing what I love. Also, seeing people’s reactions and emotions when they receive their order makes my heart happy.” With her art offering something that someone could love and cherish for life, Lesperance explained that even though she just makes custom resin art, her favourite part of having a small business is allowing people to express their creativity. “Every piece I make has love, care, patience, and thought put into it. My art is here to offer people something they might not be able to find in a big box store, whether it’s from a dog tag to a heart dish, or even a wine bottle and glass holder,” she says. “By being in the small business community for such a short time, I’ve discovered Windsor is very supportive, and to be able to contribute to this community is an amazing feeling.”

Sharing that her art represents her passion for creating, Lesperance states that being given the ability to customize pieces for people and seeing their expressions when they see the final results keeps her going. “What my art represents about me is the different types of styles I come up with. I am a person who has a hard time with routines, and I prefer to change my routine more than often, so having that type of lifestyle shows in my art because each piece I create is different from the next. There are so many different ways to work resin, so I try to exceed my limits to the best of my ability,” she says. Describing herself as loyal, genuine, and creative, Lesperance said what empowers her the most is the many boss women in her life who she strives to be like. “The amazing people in Windsor who are a part of the art or small business community inspire me. The close friends I have made through this community, the people in my daily life who tell me they are proud of me and want to see me succeed with my business, every single person who has ever placed an order with me mean the world to me. That is what keeps me going,” she said. “What keeps me going through my days is my amazing support system of a boyfriend, the support I have from my close friends, the fact that I have come so far from a mental place that I did not enjoy being in and that through my art I can express myself and use it as a hands-on therapy.” If you’re interested in ordering a custom piece by Jenna, check out her Facebook page at Jenn’s Resinn or her Instagram @jennsresinn.

@julianna_bonnett_media Julianna Bonnett Media

Wonder Woman | June 2021

THE POWER OF GIVING BACK WITH SWAY ATALLAH For Owner and Operator of Sway&Co, Sway Atallah, it has been her ultimate mission to help women around her rise up, from breaking barriers of inequality to surviving hardships. When Atallah began her Women's Activewear Brand, it was nothing more than a dream, but it soon became a reality when she wrote it down on paper. "It was in the middle of the pandemic, in the midst of winter. I was up into the wee hours of the night with a newborn; the thought of doing something so empowering and so much hard work seemed like perfect sense," she shares. "I am a mother to two beautiful little girls. So the thought of being their example of what women are made of made everything come together that night." Offering different types of women's activewear, Atallah's brand is all about comfort meeting fashion. So whether you are heading out to complete your errands, ready to get a sweat session in, or simply lounging - they have you covered. Sharing that she always feels her happiest when she can give back, Atallah explains that although her company may be new, she is consistently counting her blessings and ready to jump into action when the opportunity arises. "Back in December, we sold our "Mariam Shirt" with $5.00 from every purchase going to a family in need that holiday season," she says. "We were able to double our count towards the end as we were able to give a family a nice Christmas. Then, in March, we created a shirt called "Call me FIERCE!". All proceeds from that shirt were put into gift cards along with a bag full of shirts to be

Photo by: Melissa Hunter Photography

donated to the Hiatus House in Windsor Ontario."

While not stopping there, Atallah felt that mental health was at an all-time high amid the pandemic. "We have opened our DM's on both Instagram and Facebook for anyone who feels they need someone to talk to – absolutely no judgement, just a listening ear," she states. "We are not mental health professionals by any means, just another woman who knows what it's like. If you need a friend, we are there for you, anytime." When asked what empowers her daily, Atallah explains her empowerment comes from her family. "My husband is my greatest supporter. He believed in my dream and did not hesitate to help me build my empire," she says. "My drive and motivation come from my little girls. I want them to grow up to be strong, independent women. Although they will have dreams, those dreams will need to be actioned to turn them into goals – then celebrate their success." To check out Sway&Co, go to their website at swayco.ca

Mathca How hungry are you now? For this Fab Food Friday we are featuring Mathca! Located on 12058 Tecumseh Rd. East, this Breakfast/ Dinner/ Virtual Reality restaurant is the new place to be! Serving up some delicious breakfast foods including, all you can eat waffles, crepes, omelette, pancakes, desserts and more, this restaurant is the perfect getaway for any family to not only stuff their faces, but to make education fun! With their dinner menu serving up some tasty Shawarma, Shish Tawook, Shish Kafta, Falafel and more, this place is what you NEED!

Rico taco These delicious tacos have been the talk of the town! For this Fab Food Friday we are featuring Rico Taco Mexican Street Eats, located inside of Gatsby's Restaurant on 4033 Tecumseh Rd. East. Featuring many explosive and mouth watering tacos, burritos, beef birria's and more, Rico Taco is your go to place when you want a relaxing and comforting meal.

Tina's sub and gyro store Serving up tasty Greek food, submarine sandwiches, chicken, salads, fish and more, Tina’s Sub and Gyros Store is the best place to stop in for a delicious bite to eat with your family and friends. Located on 11899 Tecumseh Road East in Tecumseh, this little Greek shop offers a variety of Greek dishes at a great price. Despite COVID, they are still available for takeout services while working on their regular hours, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and closed Sundays. Trust us, you are not going to want to miss out on their mouthwatering gyros, salads and baklava!

THE ART OF SILVER DM US FOR ORDERS

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Wonder Woman | June 2021

EXPLORING YOUR INNER REBEL WITH ANNIE VANRIVONG When Owner and Operator Annie Vanrivong created her brand Wolf & Rebel, she knew she wanted to offer an experience that would leave her customers' senses buzzing with excitement. From the smells to the colours and even the different brands showcased in-store.

Offering a small pet section with treats, toys and vitamins for cats and dogs, greeting cards, accessories including backpacks, blue light glasses, tons of beauty and skin products and a whole wall of just sheet masks, Wolf & Rebel has something special for any person.

Established in 2018, Wolf & Rebel was originally an idea that came to life because Vanrivong was looking for a way to make income on the road.

"I think generally our vibe is much different than a lot of stores in Windsor. From our bright coloured walls and funky décor," she says. "We intentionally wanted to do that. Not to necessarily stand out or 'be different for the sake of it, but because I wanted to bring a fun, fresh energy to the city. I was inspired by other shops during our travels and definitely by stores in East Asia. Shopping is an experience, and it should excite all your senses. It's not about customers coming in and purchasing. It should be about creating a connection with them and offering products that they'll feel good about bringing home."

"We were in the middle of converting a full-sized school bus into a tiny home, we called that adventure Runaway Expedition, and we planned to travel across Canada and eventually the US," she shares. "So, I need a form of income that I could do easily while travelling and wasn't too difficult to mail and store." After realizing that there were not many people in the area that she knew who were offering modern styled keychains with snarky sayings on them, Vanrivong decided to create some hand-stamped keychains of her own. "Flash forward to October 2020, we had already come back from travelling on the bus, and I saw the empty building was still available, and I just went for it," she explains. "We like to think of our shop as a safe place for everyone. We have been told that it has been therapeutic because of the smells and the positive energy. But my main vision for the shop was to also combine it with a type of hangout, study space for students and other makers."

Describing herself as creative, determined, and curious, Vanrivong shares that creating empowers her daily. "Being able to develop new ideas and products and ways to interact is my happy place when it comes to business. And seeing the positive effect it has on others is what keeps me motivated," she explains. "Just knowing that maybe a tip I shared or a conversation I had on my IG story inspired someone in any way is the best feeling." To learn more about Wolf & Rebel, check out their website at www.wolfandrebel.com

Wonder Woman | July 2021

SHARING BEAUTIFUL WORDS AMONGST FRIENDS For Owners and Creators of Beautiful Words, Deanna Fougere, Kate Hahn and Kath Hanes, their goal is to connect with local organizations and give back to the Windsor-Essex community as much as possible. Created and established in the summer of 2020, Beautiful Words is a for-profit social enterprise and the first company to carefully craft and curate bookmark questions that facilitate meaningful reflection and conversations about books. “We are named for the ‘Beautiful Words’ found in stories that inspire and connect us. Our Book Banter bookmarks were created to enhance the reading experience - whether it be for readers to personally reflect on the story, chat with their friends, join book clubs, read to their children, and/or meet as professional teams,” explained Fougere. “We strive to build communities of passionate readers who read, reflect, and connect with the stories they read and the people around them.” After their company came out of a need and want for their own personal book club, the owners wanted their book club discussions to enhance their reading experience. “We found that the questions provided in the back of the books were not helping us get there. They were too detailed, too specific - we wanted more from our discussions. We wanted each conversation to build on the next,” shared Fougere.

“So, we decided to create our bookmark with questions to help guide our reading and conversations. As we used the bookmark, we began to internalize the questions and develop a sophisticated yet familiar way to engage with books. We saw the benefits and we wanted to share them with others.” As proud partners with the Windsor-Essex Community Foundation, for every Beautiful Words bookmark sold, 10 per cent of the proceeds go to the Windsor-Essex Community Foundation to support literacy through various non-profits and charities in the local area. “To ensure we maximize our community outreach, all books are purchased locally at Biblioasis, Windsor’s largest independent bookstore and publishing house. Biblioasis has also graciously agreed to provide books at a discounted cost to help with the program,” says Fougere. ”We believe it is important to support as many other local businesses as possible!” For more information on Beautiful Words or how you can get a hand on one of their colourful bookmarks, check out their website at www.wearebeautifulwords.ca

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