Posts

Mental health on Instagram

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Have you ever scrolled through Instagram and started to feel like you were missing out on life? Or maybe you started to doubt yourself, or even hate your body? Social media can be a difficult place to navigate, especially considering that most people only post about the positive in their lives. What's more, social media is chock-full of fake or modified pictures. The picture below shows someone debunking their own sister's Instagram post about going on a hike for her health. As mentioned above, there are countless fake posts on social media, from people faking activities, trips, and body image, to people faking being rich or even having serious illnesses. These posts can easily take a toll on people's mental health. This is why, in May 2017, Instagram launched its #HereForYou campaign, encouraging people to share their own mental health journey and become advocates for healthier social media.  This campaign encourages people use hashtags like #HereForYou , #ItsOkayToTalk ...

How To Get Your Ice Cream Cake And Eat It Too

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If you're like me, you are both lactose intolerant and addicted to dairy products. Afterall, what's a few painful cramps when you get to dig into a fresh pint of ice cream? But what if you could enjoy ice cream without the pain? Dairy-free products are not a new invention. However, more and more alternatives have come out in the last few years, and there are definitely differences in quality and taste. Personally, when I eat dairy-free ice cream, I don't want to feel as though I'm on a diet and can't enjoy "real" ice cream. I want to indulge into my cravings without fear of stomach pains. And when I crave ice cream, these are my top 3 choices. #3 Ben & Jerry's Non-Dairy This dairy-free ice cream feels luxurious just by the quality of the ingredients. This ice cream is easily one of my favourite. My only issue is that the flavour options are limited in-stores.  #2 Fiasco Sorbetto This ice cream is quite different because it's not actually ice cr...

Cut The Commercials!

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Picture this: You're watching the season finale of your favorite show and it's time for the big reveal. You're at the edge of your seat when suddenly... cut to commercials. Is there anything more annoying than that? I say, stop cutting to commercials and just cut the commercials! Aren't commercials important? Yes, commercials are important to keep shows alive as they are an important source of funding. But with more and more people using ad blockers and streaming services, commercials are just not as reliable as they once were. The alternative? Product placement. How not to do a product placement As much as product placements don't interrupt a show, they can certainly be distracting. For example, in The Amazing Spiderman , Peter Parker uses Bing as a search engine. The product placement felt forced and unrelatable to most of the audience. In the sequel, Peter Parker uses Google, which connected a lot better with the audience. How to do a product placement Having pro...

The Importance of Skin Care

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Your skin protects you every day, and it's time you protect your skin back. Being young, it's easy to take your skin for granted. But the truth is that mistreating your skin today will come back to haunt you later. Once the damage is done, no product can truly reverse the effects permanently.  Effects of skincare seen on twins Skincare depends on your personal needs, but the basics are cleanser, moisturizer, and daily sun protection. At the root of good skincare is information. It's easy to get swept up by trends and packaging, but doing research and speaking with professionals should come first. Some of my favourite products: Vitamin A Retinol Renewal Night cream by Jamieson Retinol helps prevent wrinkles and promotes skin elasticity. I use this product at night because it's thick and locks in any serums I applied beforehand. Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-tight toner by Glow Reicpe This toner is gentle and hydrating, as opposed to other toners that are drying and hars...

Where to find Winter Wonderland

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Growing up in Canada means getting used to having both feet firmly planted in the snow. Winters can be harsh and we may be tempted to do as the bears do and simply hibernate until spring. Trust me, I've been there. But over the years, there's been one thing I've been looking forward to during the cold season; Saint-Côme En Glace! (Translated: Saint-Côme in ice.) Example of sculpture from past festival What is Saint-Côme En Glace? Saint-Côme En Glace is a 16 days ice sculpture festival and it is the perfect activity to enjoy on a cold winter day. In the first few days, you get to see the process of turning blocks of ice into beautiful art pieces. These ice blocks are taken from a nearby lake with the use of saws and machinery. By the end of the festival, you can walk around and admire the details put into every piece. These sculptures vary in height and style, from lifesize horses to functional ice slides. My favorite thing to do at this festival is to get a hot cup of cocoa...

The Eternal Ad War; Coke vs Pepsi

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Whether you're a coke fan or a Pepsi enthusiast, chances are you are aware of the advertising war between the two sodas. In October of 2013, Pepsi came out with a cheeky Halloween ad showing their pop dressed up as a coke can, referring to the costume as scary. Not too long after, a Coke fan poked fun at Pepsi by editing their ad and referring to the costume as a hero. The ads went viral and are still relevant 8 years later. Pepsi's 2013 Ad Pepsi pulled a smart move by using its long-standing rivalry with Coke to its advantage. This ad speaks directly to the younger social media demographic, approximately 14 to 30 years old. The festive ad serves to create more drama between the two name brands, promoting exposure and discussions about the sodas. Their ad worked so well that Coke fans took it upon themselves to respond. This means that every time Coca-Cola fans shared their modified image, Pepsi gained exposure. According to Digital Insighters , the ad reached over 24,000 share...

Ricardo; The chef that helps you cook

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Who is Ricardo? Ricardo is a family-oriented chef from the province of Québec. He's written many cookbooks addressing specific topics such as cooking with baking sheets, the ins and outs of slow cookers, and how to master grilling. What makes Ricardo so different is his ability to simplify home cooking. A great example of this would be his recipe book "Mon Premier Livre de Recettes" (translated: My First Recipe Book.) In this book, Ricardo carefully explains the basics of cooking, from learning to safely hold a knife to understanding how to correctly read a recipe. For this chef, there are no stupid questions. His helpful tips and tricks can help even the most inexperienced cook become more confidant in the kitchen. Why should I learn how to cook? Cooking is a basic skill that can make a huge difference in your life. To begin, cooking at home is a great way to control what goes into your food. In your kitchen, you are free to make substitutions and changes as you wish. Yo...