By Char Nair

These women never put themselves first because they are always putting their family's needs first. They are super heroes who vow to protect their family and they go above and beyond to nurture their child. These strong women hold us in their arms when we feel sad and they calm us down with their words of wisdom when we have broken hearts. Without saying one word, these incredible women can look into their child's eyes and understand their whole story. They are the shelter when a storm hits and they are the guiding light in the darkest of times.

These brave, courageous woman that I am referring to are none other than our wonderful mothers. They carried us in their bodies for nine months and nurtured us into the individuals we are today. Being a woman, mothers dedicate most of their energy in taking care of their home, their children and working to help support the family. Mothers give so much and take so little; therefore, they deserve to be commended, not only today, but every day.

On this special day, I would like to say thank you to all the moms around the world for being the inspiring women that they are. Happy Mother's Day!

While having a cup of coffee with a couple of my girl friends, we started chatting about the topic of forgiveness. Now these girls, as do I, have quite a bit of experience in this area. But like them, I wondered, can you really forgive if you can't forget?

If I think back to the amount of forgiving I've done in the past, I can honestly say I haven't forgotten any one of those situations. But what I have learned is that saying "I forgive you" takes you a long way. You start to feel more content with your life and the people around you. Some of you may feel like forgiving is one of the hardest things to do. It's only natural because you are human and you are bound to feel like this. Although you may still feel the emotional damage that was once afflicted upon you, it's necessary for you to forgive in order to gain spiritual growth and pardon the grudge.

What do we gain from forgiving? No matter how bad it hurts, forgiving someone can actually just be the closure you need to gain new perspective for your own life. Holding a grudge against someone does not reward you with anything but anger. If you allow anger to control your life, you can become a depressed and lonely person.

By Char

When I come to a dead end in a chapter of my life, I think one thing, roadblock. As life takes us down a miraculous journey, we often tend to ask one question, "Why me?" Could it be destiny? Could it be what God has written for us? Or could it just be, that the choices we make send us down the roads we consider "bad." Either way, we sometimes lose sight of what good may come out of it, while walking down these shaky paths.

Everyone has been there and it's nothing to be ashamed about. If life were perfect, how would we learn to grow? Just for a second, think about a situation that you've been faced with and you felt like it was the worst thing in the world. Now think about what you've learned from it and how you've grown from it. If you didn't go through it, would you have ever learned what you did to the extent you did? You have the ability to feel the way you want and make the choices you want, so ultimately, in the end, the result is yours to choose.

By Ranka Burzan
It’s that time of the year again when people are getting frustrated, tired and overwhelmed just thinking about which gifts they should give to their family and friends. Christmas can become a challenge when families are on a budget and expectations are high. There are ways to make the holidays meaningful, memorable and less stressful. Stores are full of decorations, glitter and gadgets. Everything is colourful and desirable. We are tempted to buy everything for our family and friends. Our society is consumer oriented and love seems to be measured by how much money we spend on gifts for others.
Another issue with shopping impulsively is that family members end up buying thoughtless gifts that nobody wants or needs. The perfect example of a thoughtless gift would be a basket of cheap lotions and potions for your 80-year-old grandma. The families of seniors need to realize that grandma needs somebody to clean her home, tend to her garden or wash her car. I urge all my clients to create memories with their families by having dinner together, going to a show, travelling or seeing a movie. In 10 years of business, our clients have donated hundreds of unwrapped and unused Christmas gifts some more than a few years old!

By Sonia Kahlon- Dhaliwal

It is time to put your sun-kissed bronze look away and time to embrace luscious colours and rosy cheeks. This fall 2012 is all about deep wine with rich chocolate undertones!

With just a little bit of time left to get into the holiday spirit, you can bring the drama back by ditching any misconceptions related to makeup. Time to GO BOLD!

Keeping a fresh face and a clean look is always a beautiful way to look elegant and classic, so choose your foundation colours wisely. This fall, try a natural light foundation and for that extra glow, apply a light dusting of high-definition powder to your T-Zone for a perfect finish.

Dressing those luscious lips with rich enticing plums, berries, burnt oranges and chocolate colours is essential to your everyday look this season. Whether it’s a wedding, special occasion, going out with your girl-friends, or out on a date night, dress those lips up in rich, opulent colours.

Nothing is sexier than bold brows. Use a taupe brow pencil this season and be confident as the bold brows can really be the whole look.

Smoky eye shadow pallets are again the rage this fall. Dark romance this autumn is in the air! Walk in soft greys, emeralds and glitter that compliments those dark lips. Finish off with dark black cat eyeliner and dramatic lashes with full-on volume.

By Anne Khan
There are always tonnes of fashion trends, some of which can apply to day-to-day life and some of which are completely ridiculous. All of us love to wear clothing that shows our personality without looking over the top, as some runway items can. Whether you are looking for something comfy and hip or something dressy for a party, you might find that right outfit here as we reveal the top fashion trends of the summer.

Colour Blocking
This trend has been around for awhile but has become more and more popular. Colour blocking is a pairing of different bright colours that complement each other. Since these dresses usually don’t have a lot of different patterns, it can easily be dressed up for a party with some heels or could be kept casual with a pair of cute flats. Either way, you’re sure to get positive attention from colour blocking outfits as it screams personality.

Floral
Floral outfits have been a hit in recent years and if you think this trend is over — think again! The key to pulling this look off is not to mix too many different floral pieces together. Try a floral top with jeans or a floral skirt with a solid colour top. This will make your outfit look well put together rather than a scattered idea. For summertime, a great floral colour is lavender. It’s bright and subtle, and will provide you the perfect “girly” look.

High-Low Mullet

By Christine Connelly and Sonya Kapoor

Let’s all remember to make Mother’s Day special in some way, and appreciate the love and sacrifice that our mothers have made. After all, being a mother is a round- the-clock job, 365 days a year, with no time off and not many thanks. It's one of the hardest jobs that anyone could have – but it's also one of the most rewarding.
Some of you are mothers and some not yet. Those who are can realize it better how special the mothers are. According to Wikipedia: “Mother's Day is a celebration honouring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May.” This year in Canada, it falls on May 13. It feels like motherhood is something that needs to be celebrated everyday. Showing gratitude to our mothers is never enough.
Not sure how to make her feel special?