Eco- warrior Emily Hunter shares the details of her newest campaign to protect the Borneo rainforest.  She is on a mission to inspire 20-somethings around the world to fight for what they believe in.

What is Deforest Action?

Deforest Action is a youth driven campaign trying to stop deforestation.  Its first focus is the Borneo rain forest, but then it hopes to be a model replicated throughout the world.  The campaign uses a very holistic approach to conservation. It incorporates animal rights, as we are trying to protect the orangutans of Borneo.  It is a social justice fight, as we are working the local Dayak people in trying to revive their economy using a sustainable approach.  Also, trying to solve deforestation is a means for tackling our climate crisis, as one fifth of green house gas emission comes from deforestation.  Lastly, it’s a global education project involving millions of students in schools, and providing them the means to be involved in change making.

I understand you are working as a team, but what is your role in this work?

My specific role in this work is to be part of the global education project.  I’ll be working with the local schools, as well as global schools around the world, and engaging them with the issues of deforestation.  I’ll be trying to find ways of allowing them to be change makers by simply using their computer.  Part of the project is using advanced technology to allow students, from wherever they are, to actually monitor the Borneo rain forest.  We’ll be facilitating this program called “Earth Watchers”, which allows them to alert us of any illegal deforestation that is happening.

Another component of the education project is to work on small documentaries, video blogs and various media outreach.  All of the team members will be starring in a 3D documentary film called 100 Days in the Jungle, which is directed by award winning filmmakers who will be following our journey during the campaign.  It’ll be like a real life Avatar because it will be 3D in a real rain forest, with real individuals trying to tackle real issues in the world.  This will be a way to reach out to the global masses and teach them about the issues.

What inspired you to get involved with environmental activism?

Despite the fact that my parents were environmental activists and I grew up with environmental activism, I became inspired in my own way.  I really believe that there is a generational call for 20-somethings which need and have a responsibility to tackle the great crises of our time.  For me, one of the most important crises is climate change and the destruction that is happening to our very home, planet earth.  What I have been noticing in my eight years of being an activist is that it’s not the old, tired forms of activism anymore.  There really is a new generation with new tools and new forms of activism emerging.  I’ve witnessed incredible young people from all around the world use their own skills and abilities to make change in new ways, such as the power of social media and the internet for creating mass social movements.  We see this with Arab Spring, with 350.org and Earth Hour, and it is this new generational call to action is what inspires me.

If you could only achieve one thing on your trip, what would that be?

I guess I want to come away from the campaign feeling like I really did make a difference as an individual and that I really contributed something to the project.  I would particularly like to inspire the local youth, as well as the youth around the world, to believe that they can be eco-warrior too! There is power in an idea, and the idea that you can actually make a positive difference for this world – that you can actually change the destructive path that we are on – is an idea that can truly move mountains and survive the 21^st century if more of us believe.

Do you have any advice for other twenty-something’s that want to get involved?

If you are passionate about a particular issue, whether it be an environmental issue or social justice issue, my advice to 20-somethings is to get out there and do something about it.  Don’t wait for a hero to come around and solve the issue, don’t wait for it to resolve itself or become a catastrophe.  We need a generation with will, the will to act and the will to be brave and the will to take risks.  We are all going to have to take a lot more risks and give up a lot more if we want to continue to live in a world where we look forward to tomorrow.  This doesn’t mean that you need to be a traditional activist.  You don’t need to be a vegan with dreadlocks and ripped up clothes that screams on the streets in a protest, but you do need to be willing to stand for something in a world that is coming to a boiling point.  This is our time to change the world and make it what we want to see for ourselves.  Be your own activist.

Please follow Emily on the Deforest Campaign.  Check out http://dfa.tigweb.org/

Heather Jones is an amazing 20-Something woman that helps bring life into the world. She is a certified doula and personal trainer with bebo mia, which she balances with raising her two year old son. As a doula, Heather provides emotional support and guidance to pregnant women and their families before, during and after the birth experience. Not sure what a doula is? Heather clears up some misconceptions about doula care and lets us know about the busy lives of Toronto doulas.

What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
A doula is a support person during a birth; we are not a part of the medical staff. We do not do anything medically related to the labour and delivery, such as blood pressure, fetal monitoring, that is what your care provider is for. Midwives aren’t able to provide the same emotional support to the mother or couple in the same way that a doula can. A doula’s support role is tri-fold; physical, emotional and informational.

What’s your typical experience with a client?
Usually clients call us somewhere around the middle of their pregnancy, but some people call us as soon as they find out they are pregnant or a week before their due date! We meet with them for a consultation, and if they decide to continue with our care we set up their pre-natal visits. We create a birth plan, talk about what to expect during the labour, any wishes around the labour or any fears. At the second pre-natal we discuss what to expect with the first few weeks with the baby, newborn’s appearance and behaviour, as well as a lot of mom care and focus on breastfeeding. We are there for the entirety of the birth, and also make a postpartum visit to the new family within the first two or three weeks after the birth.

So what happens when the mom goes into labour?
When they reach term, which is 37 weeks pregnant, we are 24/7 on call. We like to keep in touch with them regularly because we like to know what’s going on both physically and emotionally leading up to the birth. Moms notify us as soon as they think labour might be starting, and after that we keep in touch every couple of hours until we join them in labour. We are there for the entire labour, whether it’s three hours or fifty hours we are there! Then we stay a few hours after the baby is born to help establish breastfeeding and make sure mom and everyone is comfortable. Once they are ready to have a little nap, we sneak out.

What types of births do you attend?
One of the misconceptions about having a doula is that is it is something for hippies or only people wanting all-natural births. We support and go to all sorts of births ranging from scheduled C-sections to all natural home births. The majority of births are in the hospital and many with an epidural. It’s not our birth experience; we are there to help the mother or couple have a positive birth experience for them. Whatever path they take to get there – we support them.

What’s the best part of the birthing experience?
That’s a tough one. I really like preparing the parents for childbirth and the post partum period through educating them at the prenatal meetings.
Then at the actual birth, it’s really great watching women feel empowered and in charge of their birth; there really are lots of choices when it comes to childbirth, and as a doula I educate couples around those choices so that they can make informed decisions. A woman that is confident in her own choices and follows her instincts and really listens to her body – that’s probably the best part for me.

What is that moment like when the first baby emerges and you hear that cry?
It’s pretty intense. Even though you have only met the couple a few times and spend a few hours with them face to face before the labour begins, it’s still very emotional. Tears are shed and there is usually lots of celebration.

What are some of the challenges with a job like this?
Being on call – especially if you have young kids yourself, like I do. It’s hard to find on call babysitters. If I am called in the middle of the night, which typically happens, then I have to arrange for care early in the morning. My plans can be interrupted, so if I’m called on a weekend and the family was going to the zoo, for example, we would have to reschedule. It’s a challenge to work around your own family life.

How do you provide support to mothers when you are personally feeling exhausted or worn out during a long labour?
You need to make sure that you are still taking care of yourself. If the mom is taking a little rest then we can rest too. It doesn’t always have to be “try this position” or giving a massage or giving encouraging words. It can also just be our silent presence that is required. There have been studies where a doula has just been sitting in the corner, not doing anything, and birth outcomes are still better because the mom just knew she was there. However, we work with a secondary doula for each client and if need be, the secondary could relieve us.

Tell me about bebo mia and how you got connected with them?
We are a great company. We do all sorts of care, everything from fertility support and nutrition, to hypno-birthing, all the way through to parenting, including grandparents and sibling preparation classes. It’s really a full spectrum service. I work for bebo mia as a birth doula, a personal trainer and as a post partum doula.
What’s great about bebo mia is that each client gets two doulas; a primary and a secondary. Most doula companies offer a doula back up if the assigned doula cannot make it to the birth. This can create a lot of anxiety for the mom because she hasn’t met or established a relationship with the back-up – it’s a stranger coming into an intimate situation. With bebo mia, both doulas go to the consultation and we share your care during the prenatal meetings so that you are familiar and comfortable with both of us, even though it is most likely that the primary doula would be at the birth.

Do you ever have resistance from family members at the birth who question why you are there?
Oh definitely, often the partner will ask, “What’s my role if we have a doula” and they have concerns that they will be pushed out of the picture. We try to eliminate any of those apprehensions and emphasize that we work with the partner and become the mom’s birth team. We are also there to support the partner and ensure that they are eating and drinking and resting. We relieve the pressure on the partners to remember everything they learned at their birthing classes because we have all that information at the tips of our tongues, such as what position to try, or if something is normal or not.
It doesn’t matter if it’s your first baby or your third, extra support around your birth and the postpartum period is beneficial to everyone. In our society we are expected to be Supermoms and we really need to take a step back and just be comfortable asking for help. There are high rates of post partum depression and negative feelings about birth experiences. I think having a doula helps eliminate a lot of those negative feelings surrounding the birth and uncertainties post partum.

I know that one of your mottos is “A Doula for everyone that Wants One”. This is a business, how do you manage to make it affordable?
Yes that is the goal. Bebo mia works with families of all budgets. We do have set fees which are on par with Toronto doulas. However, we do also take volunteer clients or can offer lowered pricing for families that cannot afford our full fee. We don’t want to turn anybody away, so we each take on a certain amount of volunteer births. All of the doulas a bebo mia are passionate about our jobs. We also offer a doula mentorship program to help new doulas through their certification. One component of certification requires attendance at three births, so volunteer clients are a good way to obtain those births for certification. It’s win-win because the families get great doula support and the doulas get an opportunity to work towards certification.

Want to know more about BeboMia? Visit their website at www.bebomia.com

Nicole Simone aka Late July is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter. Born in Toronto, Ontario she spent her early years state side in Del Mar, California. She is a three time graduate of Seneca College and York University in both arts, music and sociology respectively. In 2010 Late July released her debut EP entitled ‘Side Swept’ produced by Adrian Ellis. She is currently playing shows and working on her next record. When she is not making music, she writes Miss Late July her blog chronicling her on-going adventures. She’s here today to give us some insight into what inspires her, plus some tips and advice from the perspective of a 20-something woman in the Canadian indie music scene.

In a world filled with musicians, artists, bloggers and more, what would you say makes you unique?
You’ll never know where you will find me post to post, I could be in an abandoned graveyard, the heart of a bar on Queen West, somewhere in the Arizona desert, or I could just be in my bedroom clearing out some thoughts from the basement of my brain. I’ll post new songs, interesting things about my band, sometimes I’ll post the random people I meet from Baby Face to a local stray dog. I’m a bizarre adventurer and I blog everyday; rain or shine – even if I have to send my friend my password and say “hey! Type this”.

How would describe the Toronto indie music scene?
It’s vibrant but tough.  Someone in the industry that now lives in Nashville told me that it’s one of the toughest scenes to break into in North America because it’s the one big ‘hub’ for Canadian music.  While I think a lot of Canadian cities have wonderful additions, Toronto still seems to overshadow just by sheer population.  When you think how many acts come out of Toronto per capita compared to the US, it’s actually quite phenomenal.  Toronto’s indie scene is always coming up with something good… it’s certainly hard to keep up with!  There’s a great act playing every night of the week in this city!

What would you say influences the work you do, what inspires you?
My main focus is music, photography and writing.  I encompass all of that on my blog.  Individual people inspire me.  I observe a great deal when I’m with someone, or close to a particular situation. I’m always curious about how other people feel, think, work, love, hurt et cetera. I would say I’m almost obsessed with the concept of perception. I am a big believer on instinct and first impressions. I find initial clarity charming and I tend to build off that.  The arrangement in a song, the way someone phrased something in a conversation, the lines on a persons hand.  Small details and motifs tend to hold a great deal of inspiration for me.  I adore long car trips, that’s where I do my ground work for just about everything I do creatively..  To bottom line it, the best way I can describe what inspires me is that I take what catches my eye (and other senses), I figure out what about it does, then I build my own muse from that.  The creative process, however, is always changing…

Do you have a “Personal Theme Song”? (I know I wouldn’t be able to choose just one, so feel free to list a few!)
My friend Martin rolls his eyes at me every time I say ‘this is my new theme song!’  I don’t think I’ll ever have one theme song. I certainly can look back on every year of my life and think when I was six years old Chuck Berry’s “Rock And Roll Music” was my theme song, or how when I was 16 Jeff Buckley’s “Grace” was an anthem to me.  At the beginning of this year I said that Jon Brion’s “Here We Go” would be my theme song.  It’s not exactly uplifting, but I think for someone in the middle of their twenties, I couldn’t find a better song to carry on to.

What advice would you give to a 20-something person looking to break into the indie music scene?
Be yourself and true to what inspires you.  Be inspired and let yourself be inspired.  I am a big believer in intuition, when you get excited over something that’s your innate sense to go after it.  Don’t forget the core of why you do what you love.  Further to that, make it happen. Where there’s a will, there’s a way – when you’re walking in the right direction sometimes all you have to do is keep walking. No excuses.

I’ve noticed that you are very active on Twitter, facebook & blog every day. How do you think Social Media has helped your success?
I am indeed active in social media.  I adore meeting new people and engaging in conversation in person or online.  Being active in social media gives a very different dynamic and lets me immerse myself in different scenes and social circles.  It gives listeners a way to connect with the artist and I find it kind of enthralling when I get to interact with people who listen to my music.  The blog is something I do for myself, but I really love that some people follow it.  There’s a good feeling to know that not only it’s being read but that, from time to time anyway, people resonate with it.

Do you have any tips for 20-something artists/entrepreneurs looking to promote themselves or their businesses online?
Engage, engage, engage!  Interact with people, only post about what you do 10% of the time.  People like to know you are a real live person and no one likes feeling that they are being marketed to.  Be yourself, have a sense of humor with all forms of social media and be positive. Don’t ever murk people, even vaguely – it will reflect poorly on you. Be active daily, it’s not easy but it’s important over time you’ll build a following and presence.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Villate

Certified baker and pastry chef, nutritionist and owner of Sweet Revenge Inc. shares her passion for food as well as the ups and downs of the culinary industry.

When did you start getting interested in baking?

Let’s start by saying that baking is only one facet of what Sweet Revenge Inc. is about – but a very important part, indeed! My interest wasn’t a choice, really! I was born into a culinary family and have been attending “school” since birth. Food has always played a central and primary role in how my family (immediate and extended) interacts, so I truly do come by it naturally. All of my life I’ve been drawn to food as if it’s had a spell over me, for these very reasons. I’ve seen many experience health and lifestyle difficulties with it and because of it (including myself), and that played a huge role in my decision to pursue a culinary career in addition to become a registered holistic nutritionist (RHN), personal trainer (PTS), and life coach.

I’ve struggled with food, eating, and health issues associated to poor diet choices since adolescence, potentially even before. About 10 years ago, I was at a real crossroads with my health, most notably my weight. Upon digging deeper, and consequently learning a bit about health and nutrition, I created a diet that helped alleviate my intolerances to wheat/gluten, starches, sugars, and other minor foods (though not eliminating them just yet!) I’d made it my mission to find foods that I could tolerate, but that also tasted good and were good for me; not so easy – as many that have suffered a long time with similar issues know!

From then on, I decided I COULD have my cake and eat it too (literally.) After graduating university in 2003, I went to culinary school and pursued a career in baking and pastry arts – and yes, I was the only one in my class that was allergic to everything we were making! I continued on my own time, learning the basics, and recreating/experimenting with countless recipes at home for my needs, using the best, most fresh ingredients – and always completely from scratch, making sure it not only was healthful but tasted amazing.

Last year I decided to truly “put my money where my mouth is” and go back to school to become a registered holistic nutrition (RHN). This is different than a regular nutritionist as well as a dietitian; holistic nutrition uses a mind-body-spirit approach, taking all levels and elements of a person’s life into consideration, and analyzing their total effect on the body and its systems – dealing with the root cause, not the symptom. As this is able to determine the many reasons why people develop conditions and illnesses (and yes, allergies!) – pairing it with my background in food preparation was essential and the natural next step in my professional progress. Doing so has amplified and enhanced my baking and cooking skills and knowledge ten-fold for both myself, my family/friends, and customers/clients, as I’m able to bake “around” and even help to alleviate symptoms of illness/disease. While we all love to eat, share, and celebrate with sweets and other foods – many that suffer with dietary limitations due to illness, disease, weight issues, etc. truly believe they are restricted from certain foods for the rest of their life, and suffer not only physically but mentally and emotionally because of this. It is my life’s aim, with Sweet Revenge Inc., to give this ability back to those people, to teach and educate them in healthful and mindful ways about foods and how the body works, so that they themselves can embrace foods and eating, and enjoy a natural quality of life, health, and true harmony and balance.

What kind of food training have you gone through?

Formally, I attended 2 years of culinary school at George Brown City College in Toronto, during which I became an apprentice within the Ministry of Ontario’s rigorous apprenticeship training program to be a baker/patissier. I diligently participated in this apprenticeship program for 4 or so years (in tandem with school, which is required) choosing to work and experience many and various large-scale places (mass quantities of non-food being produced) in addition to the tiniest of country-road kitchens (making fresh and from-scratch pastries every morning) in both pastry chef and baker roles (very different – and both very grueling!) Several times over the last few years I’ve been certified and re-certified in food safety and handling, and after meeting all the government requirements for completing my apprenticeship, I obtained my Red Seal – the official certification for chefs – and am a certified and professional Pastry Chef and Baker.

When did you start Sweet Revenge Inc.?

In conjunction with culinary school and my apprenticeship, in 2004 I decided to throw my chef hat into the ring (starting small at that point) and began baking for family, friends, and some other clients, using the name Stephanie’s Bakeshop (only to make it more professional looking at the time.) Over the first year, I realized I did want to pursue a private business, but didn’t want to have my name tied to it in the title (I had dreams of being quite big!) so I changed the name to a name that I felt represented what I was trying to do – bake in the face of dietary restrictions, and help people have their cake! In 2006, I formally changed the name to Sweet Revenge Custom Bakeshop. Growing still, and in many different ways, I recently decided to tweak the name to Sweet Revenge Inc. As I’m preparing to offer a variety of services all within the same healthy umbrella (holistic nutritional consultation, coaching, and education; personal fitness and education; healthy food preparation and education; and of course – a custom bakeshop!) I feel that this name really encompasses a traditional feel with an assertive and confident approach to health and well-being that I want to convey.

What are some of the challenges you face as a baker and an entrepreneur?

I have big dreams with both the business I have, in addition to what I feel I’m meant to accomplish in this life and for our society’s advancement. Challenges have been many – mainly since I feel that I’m the “creative” behind my endeavour, and am lacking the practical business protocol and know-how to really move things forward positively and productively. In addition to the challenges of creating a start-up business, I’d say the true main roadblock is financing.

With the state of our economy, and my having been gathering my credentials over the last few years, and ingredients, machinery, and rent being as expensive as it is – money is the only true obstacle that’s standing between me now and the successful, booming, and busy storefront bakery that I’d like to have. I’m in the market for serious investors and even partners to help bring these dreams into reality.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into baking as a career/hobby?

If it’s your dream, your passion – don’t let anyone stand in your way. The culinary industry is not for the faint or weak of heart; it’s long and often grueling hours, dangerous and hazardous to your health, and mentally, emotionally, and sometimes physically abusive; I’ve had a few bosses that could make Gordon Ramsay falter!

That being said – I wouldn’t take my experience back in a heartbeat, but then I had my larger vision and purpose of helping the world to keep me sane and comforted when things got a little too hot in the kitchens and bakeries I worked in. If you love food, and your goal is to help bring food and people together, that is more of a hobby – and again, there’s passion there to override the unsavory bits of industry. If this still doesn’t help you to make a decision, then I’d say start small; get a part-time job, or volunteer at a local restaurant or bakery, and see what it’s like before you jump in head first. If playing it safe doesn’t suit you – and you want a real taste – hotels and big-time restaurants are always willing to hire inexperienced workers on dish duty! If you’re lucky (and one in a million are) – you’ll find a nice, small bakery or restaurant where the owner and employees interact and work as equals, almost like a group of friends; after all the places I’ve worked, and all the miles I’ve logged, this is what I’m aiming for with Sweet Revenge Inc. one day; in a few years, look me up!

What has been your favourite baking project to work on so far?

I could say that it’s one of the amazing cakes and goodies I’ve been so fortunate to make (NKOTB was cool!), yet nothing compares to the experience I had with a 60th wedding anniversary cake I made a few years ago. It was commissioned by the daughter of a lovely couple for the dinner party they were having to celebrate, expecting about 40+ people to attend. I recall the cake was carrot, a particular favourite of her father, the “groom”, although he was a diabetic; her mother, the “bride” often didn’t eat dessert, as she always felt poorly after doing so, and as a result, hadn’t eaten baked goods in over a decade or so! The daughter spoke with me for a while about this, and she relayed that her mother abstained from dairy, gluten, and large quantities of sugar – could I still make this cake? Of course, I told her. I did my best, and it turned out perfectly. Knowing I was facing a tough critic (the daughter even told me not to get my hopes up, although she was crossing her fingers!) I delivered the cake and hoped for the best. A few days later, I received a glowing email from the daughter – both her guests and her father enjoyed it immensely (no adverse reactions), and to her astonishment and disbelief – her mother had not one but two slices that evening, and asked to take the few remaining slices home for herself as it tasted just like how her mother used to make it for her (obviously this was okay!) The email thanked me profusely, as this served to make the celebration all the more special for the entire family and guests in the know. She has been a client of mine since, and I’ve recreated that cake each year, as with their anniversary, it’s become one of their special family traditions. Knowing I helped her overcome her food issues made all my hard work completely worthwhile; I’m so grateful for being able to be a part of their special date!

What’s your favourite and least favourite part of the business?

There’s so much I am grateful for. Namely – that I get to choose to follow my passion everyday, and that I continue to want to do so. Being in the industry isn’t my aim – doing what I love, sharing it with as many as I can, and spreading around good energy and well-being is. I don’t like the competition that there is out there, but then – I see what I’ve got going right now and what I’m aiming to do as so specific, the market isn’t quite there yet, so I’ve still got some time and a niche for myself and my business. That excites me, and keeps me going, too. I love making pretty things, and knowing they’re good for you is almost like a secret I’m dying to tell! Being able to share them, teach others how to make them, and share my tricks and tips is a gift; continuously being allowed and asked to be part of others celebrations and sharing, I’m so grateful and lucky to be able to experience this with each item that leaves my kitchen. All in all, I’m grateful for the fact that I keep making the choice to give this creative and loving part of myself to others, in addition to the desire to truly want to see people healthy and well, and however I can make the dots connect is what keeps me interested, motivated, and inspired.

Right now, everything is dependent on me and my schedule. Although it’s planned for the future (perhaps the very near future!) I don’t have the ability to have a paid assistant or help as yet, so if I get sick, or I need time off, my business suffers. This makes vacations tough, and scheduling things weekly even tougher. That being said – I love what I do, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’m intending to have financing available to expand, both in having help and having a bustling storefront at some point, so that will release some of the pressure I’m currently dealing with, and my schedule will become less of an obstacle between me and complete success.

What else would you want people to know about baking and your business specifically?

Through all the experiences and experimenting that I’ve been through, (in addition to learning what doesn’t work!) I’ve been able to heal myself and my body from the issues I set out on this journey with 10 years ago, and am excited to share what I’ve learned! I know our world is a finicky, jaded society – used to treats loaded with butter, eggs, and refined sugar and flour. News flash: Preservatives, artificial stuff, and mass quantities of refined “fake foods” don’t belong in my bakeshop; organic, whole, and healthy fresh foods and ingredients do. I bake and prepare foods with the finest, freshest ingredients – always completely from scratch, that’ll get your taste buds asking for more. While healthfulness is almost always besides the point when speaking of sweet eats, I also know how the body works, and how and which foods need to be combined to lessen the body’s workload. I specialize in gluten-free, low-glycemic (almost sugar-free and diabetic friendly), and dairy-free goodies and sweets, yet I’ll take on any challenge if that means putting a smile on someone’s face, making a stomach happy, and helping to bake them a happy memory.

I maintain that my business is “old-fashioned”, and even “retro”; in effect, Sweet Revenge Inc. doesn’t sacrifice quality and taste, and uses the values and tenets from when food was real and baking, food preparation, and domesticity was respected. Literally, like mom (and grandma) used to make; whether you suffer from allergies, illness, disease, or are a vegan (or for you sugar-loving traditionalist!) Sweet Revenge Inc. is your key to an enlightened, indulgent, sweets-filled future!

What sparked the creation of your first book, Stuck in Downward Dog?

The idea for Stuck in Downward Dog came from the feeling I think many women go through in their 20s, in the transition from being a student to being an “adult” and dealing with the changes that go along with that transition. I thought the juxtaposition of yoga and cosmetic surgery – both popular trends while writing the book was interesting and a metaphor for the main character, Mara’s life.

How did you take it from just an idea or a draft to the bookstore shelves? And how long did this process take?

Late 2004: I started working on the idea that would become Stuck in Downward Dog in my spare time. My boyfriend at the time (who’s now my husband) asked me if I had a plot and a deadline. I had neither. And he suggested that unless I got at least one or the other, I might never finish  the novel (smart guy, that one!) I took his advice, set myself a three-month deadline, wrote the first draft, and sent it out to agents.

January 2005: I submitted a revision to an agent interested in me, went off to get married, and when I came back she signed me as a client. We worked on a few more revisions of the book until she felt it was ready to send out.
September 2005: We sent the book out to publishers and we accepted an offer from Key Porter for North American rights.

January 2006: I started revisions with my editor.

May 2007: The book officially hit bookshelves in Canada.

September 2007: Stuck in Downward Dog came out in the U.S.

What was the most surprising thing you learned about the book publishing industry that you did not know before Stuck in Downward Dog?

How long everything takes – see the above timeline! Now, I’ve become somewhat more accustomed to it, but the first time around, it was impossible for me to understand that my editor might have my draft for three months without being able to look at it because she had 37 other books ahead of mine in line to be edited. I’m not a particularly patient person by nature, which I think is good because it gives me the drive to work quickly, but it makes the waiting periods difficult.

What sparked the idea for your new book, Love Struck?

I wanted to write about the dynamics of relationships, and how they can be different when you’re married versus when you’re single, particularly when dealing with infidelity. I started thinking about if there’s ever a case of unfaithfulness that’s forgivable – and that’s when the idea of “Forgive & Forget” came to mind as a theme.

Was the writing and publishing process for your second book easier or harder than the first?

Writing and publishing my second book was SO much easier! It has really been a dream. In July 2008 I wrote a two-page synopsis for Love Struck. My editor said she liked it and so I write a more in-depth chapter by chapter outline and four sample chapters. I gave it to her in September and by November she approved it and Key Porter made me an offer to buy Canadian rights. I wrote the entire novel over the Christmas holidays while I was off work and sent it in early January 2009. I worked on revisions for the next few months and by last summer, the book was finished, and ARCs were printed in September.

What were some of the biggest challenges you had to overcome throughout your career as an author?

I’d love to be a full-time novelist, but the reality is that it’s rare to reach that with just one novel (unless you happen to sell movie rights). Even Dan Brown needed his second book to make his first a huge success. So the biggest challenge is making the time to write after a full day of work. I’m lucky that I was recently able to leave my full-time magazine career to teach part-time, which allows me a lot more time to write. But in the beginning, it was a lot of hard work with little free time for fun. But I had to do it because I knew it was the only way to get published.

Have you started thinking about/working on your third book?

I’ve started to think about it –  but I’m superstitious, so I don’t talk about the book until I have a book deal.

Inspired? Me too! Well, lucky for you Chantel also teaches workshops on How to Write Your First Book and How to Get Published.

Andrea Belvedere was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women of 2009 (at just 22 years old!) and is currently the VP of Business Development for the Ryerson Entrepreneur Institute. Here’s her advice for starting your own business and becoming a successful entrepreneur.

What sparked your interest in entrepreneurship?

I was always a natural leader, and when I was in high school, I took an entrepreneurship course to try something different. As part of the course we got to run a venture, I took charge of it and long story short, I was the president of my entrepreneurship class for two consecutive years and headed the ventures. That really sparked my interest in entrepreneurship and got me thinking about what I wanted to do later in life. In my first semester of first year, I got involved with SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) Ryerson, and that reinforced my positive thoughts about entrepreneurship. The experiences with SIFE made me realize that I want to run my own business one day; I’m determined to make that happen.

What skill set is required to be an entrepreneur?

I don’t think there’s a specific skill set as much as I think there are certain characteristics. Entrepreneurs are driven by their passion for their idea and doing what they love: you won’t find a successful entrepreneur who wasn’t passionate. Entrepreneurs are incredibly hard workers. They don’t know what a 40 hour work week looks like; they know they need to put in the time it takes to get things done. Entrepreneurs are problem solvers, they see opportunities and issues, and create solutions. Finally, entrepreneurs have to be a mix between confident and humble: confident enough to persevere and sell others on their idea, but humble enough to know when to ask for help.

What advice would you give to someone hoping to start their own business?

Get critical feedback on your idea. Everyone thinks their own ideas are revolutionary – sometimes they are, sometimes we need a wake up call or to be redirected. How do you know if your idea really is a good one if you don’t get feedback on it? How can you build a team if no one knows what you’re doing? Friends and family are great for providing supportive feedback – but find people with relevant experience that will give you objective, candid feedback. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or admit that you don’t know something. It’s OK to make mistakes – the hardest part about experience is that the lesson comes after the test. Asking questions, seeking support and building a team are all important aspects of the development process.

What has been your favourite project to work?

Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) Canada. When the opportunity came up, I wanted to make it happen right away. SAGE was directly in line with what I was doing and it was an opportunity to provide high school students with the same great experience I had while in university. It’s still small and growing slowly, but seeing the positive impact it’s having is so rewarding.

Where do you see yourself (and your career) in 10 years?

I see myself owning my own business. I don’t know what that looks like yet, I do know I’m excited to make it happen.

Wagner is head of one of the leading organizations in Canada for youth-based anti-genocide advocacy and activism. Find out what this 20-something and Billy Zane have in common, and how you can get involved.

What inspired you to join STAND?
I joined the University of Western Ontario chapter in the winter of 2006. I had taken a class about genocide, and was learning about the atrocities that were happening in Darfur, and felt I could not sit by and watch. So I joined up with my fellow students at Western who were forming a Stand chapter. I was involved predominantly in the Advocacy component with the chapter, and then joined the National team about a year later, just before I graduated from my undergrad to help organize Stand’s first National conference. I was in charge of setting up meetings with Parliamentarians for our delegates, which turned into the role of Parliamentary Engagement Chair, which led to Advocacy Director, and now for the past year and a half, Principal Director of the organization.

What are some of the projects or campaigns STAND is working on currently?
Stand is launching our latest campaign Stand for the Dead at the beginning of February across the country. When you join Stand for the Dead, you represent one person who has died in Darfur – you represent their life and their story. While standing for the dead, we ask you to speak for the living. To speak out for those who are still in the midst of a crisis. We provide you with the tools to act – by calling 1-800-Genocide, or simply filling out a form on our website which allows you to email a member of parliament directly. Our goal is to create a further groundswell of support across the country and to raise consciousness about Darfur and genocide, specifically asking people to take a simple step and act.

How has STAND been involved with the film tour of Darfur?
We are launching the campaign with the Darfur film tour in 10 cities across the country. Stand was approached by the Darfur production team last summer. The team wanted to partner with an anti-genocide advocacy organization in Canada to use the motion picture to raise awareness about the crisis. We thought this was a fantastic way to encourage people to think about Darfur, and to encourage people who may not otherwise get directly involved in the movement to take part in an advocacy-oriented event. We decided to pair the National Film Tour with the launch of our Stand for the Dead campaign – the night of the screening in each city marks the beginning of the campaign. More information about the film tour, including dates and locations, is available here: www.standcanada.org/darfurfilm

What has been your most successful campaign so far? And why was it successful?
Stand’s success can be evaluated on several different fronts, and three major campaigns or events come to mind as being extremely important for me. The first was our 2008 Federal Election Campaign “Speak the Name” – if a candidate spoke about Darfur, we spoke about them, on our website, on our newsletter, to the media. We had 92 supporters, 51 of whom were elected. A second series of events that come to mind are our annual Day for Darfur rallies which consistently draw hundreds of participants, politicians, activists and community leaders, and raise the profile of Darfur in the media. Our 2007 rally was paired with a series of Op-Eds published in the National Post about Darfur. The third series of events are our National Conferences that bring together Stand advocates from across the country once a year to share ideas, lessons learned and work together.

What have been some of the most challenging obstacles you’ve had to overcome working with an activism organization?
As a volunteer-run, youth-based organization, our youth and fluidity can be both an asset and a challenge. Our volunteers move on to jobs and other positions, which leaves us with frequent turn-over. Having the enthusiasm and fresh ideas of new volunteers, however, is inspiring and has made us as successful as we are – everything we have ever accomplished as an organization has been the doing of the energy, passion and determination of our volunteers.

What advice would you give to someone looking into starting an advocacy organization?
Feel passionate about what you are advocating for – at the end of the day, it needs to be the thing that you find the most compelling, or the most disturbing, or the most meaningful in the world. That will keep you inspired. Gather a core group of trusted colleagues around you who will be good sounding boards and will offer you their honest opinion. Ask for help. Be nice – you will find friends and allies in the most unusual of places. And just keep going – you will encounter obstacles, nay-sayers, logistical difficulties, you may feel that the world is apathetic, but if you keep going, one person will hear you, and that makes the world of difference. Your movement will grow.

Where do you envision STAND in 5 and 10 years from now?
Stand has grown substantially in the past 5 years – we now have over 40 chapters in high schools, colleges and universities across the country, and a National team of over 50 volunteers. I envision these numbers growing substantially within the next few years, particularly as our mandate continues to evolve and grow. We began as a Darfur-specific advocacy organization, and have now broadened our mandate to include genocide more generally. Our goal as an organization is to make stopping genocide a cornerstone of Canadian foreign policy, and that when genocide does occur, that Canada reacts swiftly to it. Darfur has been our example for this mandate and we will see that continue and grow as Stand continues to grow.

For more information on how you can get involved visit www.standcanada.org.

Photo courtesy of Jen Grantham.

Sammie Kennedy never joined a sports team in high school, so at 22 when she embarked on a fitness makeover she faced some big hurdles. Here’s how she went from out of shape to starting a national fitness trend with her company Booty Camp Fitness.

1. Before we talk about your business tell us about the lifestyle makeover you embarked on in 2005/2006.

Back in 2004, I remember one day looking at my body and just not being happy with what I saw. For my 2005 New Year’s Resolution, I decided to be serious about getting fit and feeling great. My boyfriend at the time introduced me to a book called Body for Life and since I’d never really been to a gym before, he showed me around and how to use the machines.

Within a few short months, based on eating healthy and working out regularly, there were positive and huge transformations in the way I looked and felt. I was hooked on fitness! (Funny for the girl who’d never even done so much as play on a sports team in high school!)

Colleagues and friends asked how I did it so I decided to get certified as a personal trainer so I could help others with their health and fitness goals. Since then I’m proud to say that fitness didn’t end up being a forgotten resolution, it’s been a successful lifestyle change!

2.Tell us about competing in the FAME Fitness Model Competition. How does a competition like this work? And what was it like behind the scenes?

Fitness modelling competitions are exciting and challenging at the same time. A great deal of training prep goes in to making sure you look your absolute best on the day that you are in front of the judges. Nutrition and exercise become KEY components of your day-to-day life.

There are typically two rounds: a swimwear/ bikini round and a theme-wear round. In each category you are placed on stage in groups of about eight competitors. Each competitor is given their own opportunity to walk to the front and showcase their physique (kind of like a runway walk while making sure to show yourself from all angles).  Then all of the competitors will be called to the front of the stage together to showcase their physique in four set poses (front, back and each side).

The competition is fierce in the sense that all women look fantastic however behind the scenes there is a wonderful camaraderie. Most women can be seen socializing back stage, helping each other adjust suits, apply swimsuit glue and last minute tanning products. There is an incredible buzz and everyone is thrilled and honoured to be in such great company.

3. What are some of the most common fitness obstacles and how do you overcome them?

A common one I see is doing the same routine day in and day out. It’s easy to get comfortable with certain machines or regimens, but for your body to respond continually, you need to shake it up regularly – add an incline to the treadmill, increase weight and decrease reps, use a new machine altogether! That way your body (and your mind!) don’t get bored.

So many women tend to avoid working out with weights. I know ladies, sometimes it can be intimidating to “cross over” to the other side of the gym, but weight and resistance training will make a significant difference to your work out! You’ll improve your muscle tone and definition, making you look fit and lean instead of just ‘skinny’. Also, muscle burns calories at rest so it’s to your advantage to incorporate resistance training to your routine – you’ll be burning calories even when you’re not actively working out!

Finally, make sure you do fitness that you actually enjoy! It’s not fun to continually do something that’s like a chore. Leaving work to go to the gym simply isn’t fun for a lot of people. Gather up a group of girlfriends and come to Booty Camp, join a team – I play dodgeball and that’s how I do my cardio but I’m still having a great time! You’re far more likely to stick to something you get pleasure from doing.

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Stay tuned for my Booty Camp Diary launching on April 5th (and watch me make a fool of myself trying to get in shape).

Sammie Kennedy never joined a sports team in high school, so at 22 when she embarked on a fitness makeover she faced some big hurdles. Here’s how she went from out of shape to starting a national fitness trend with her company Booty Camp Fitness.

4. You’ve said that hiring a personal trainer is your number one piece of advice for getting fit fast. What are some of your other tips for getting in shape quickly?

When I was training to compete, having a personal trainer worked well for me, but group training is an affordable option where you still get the benefits of a personal trainer’s expertise. Plus there’s the fun of being in a dynamic group environment charged with music and energy! Having someone lead your exercise routine is a great way to really push yourself. It keeps you accountable and slacking off isn’t an option! A trained professional can make sure that your routine is varied so that you get a full-body workout.

Also, just because you’ve started exercising doesn’t mean that you can now eat whatever you feel like – the saying ‘you are what you eat’ came from somewhere! Concentrate on getting fruits, veggies, lean proteins and lots of water. Be sure to avoid processed and refined foods. With all the marketing of ‘low-cal’, ‘no sugar’, and snack-packs that only have x amount of calories, it’s tricky to know what’s truly good for you and what’s just a quick-sell gimmick. Educating yourself on how to read food labels and actively shopping the perimeter of the grocery store will help you get healthy and fit.

5. What changes (if any) did you make to your diet?

I am naturally inclined to eat rich and sweet foods. I really enjoy my treats. The biggest change that I had to make to my diet is cleaning it up on a daily basis. Sticking to whole healthy foods (foods as close to their natural state) and cutting out the excess creams and fats. As a matter of fact, cutting out dairy almost altogether has really helped me personally to stay lean as dairy tends to bloat me.

Essentially I have learned to listen to my body about what foods it thrives on, and what foods give me the energy to exercise and compete. I stick to lots of veggies and lean proteins like chicken.  I also make sure to get my whole grains (steel cut oats) with some fruit in the morning to help give me energy throughout the day. Vitamins and minerals are important to thrive so getting it in through your diet rather than supplements is key (i.e. fruits, veggies).

At the same time, if I completely deprive myself I’ll go totally bonkers so I allow myself one cheat day a week (until about 4-6 weeks before I compete) to have some sweets or some small treat like a vegan baked item.

6. How did you come up with the idea for Booty Camp Fitness?

During 2007, I ran a personal training company where I specialized in working with women who lived in condos. It was April and I was working out with one of my clients in the condo gym and just thought, ‘Wow, it’s so gorgeous outside right now, I’d love to take our workout to the park where we can get fit and enjoy the great weather at the same time.’ Since I had a packed training schedule (there weren’t enough hours in the day for me to see as many clients as I’d like!) I thought to take a group of ladies to Music Gardens Park in Toronto and run a boot-camp style workout. I put up a few posters in my neighbourhood and within 24 hours the session sold out. I posted another session and that sold out within 48 hours. There were no other women’s-only boot camps in the city so I knew I’d found a niche market and within three months I was hiring instructors!

7. How did you take your idea from just that to a full-fledged successful enterprise?

It really happened quite organically.  I had started my own boot camp downtown for my own personal training clients and waiting list and it rapidly grew in popularity.  Before I knew it and within only four months the demand for my camps had exceeded the time available in my schedule.  The only natural solution for all these ladies that now wanted to get into the camp was to expand and begin training new instructors to provide the same services that I had begun to perfect. I essentially doubled in size each quarter for the next two years and enhanced the program regularly because the demand was just there.  It really came down to meeting that demand and it’s been an absolutely thrilling ride.

8. What were some of the biggest challenges you had to overcome as an entrepreneur?

When I began as a new entrepreneur so there were a lot of instances where I had to get outside of my comfort zone and push through some challenging situations. It is very easy to allow fear to overcome logic as a new entrepreneur. For instance, when the cities began to charge us a lot of money to use the parks and we had to appear in court for various fines as we fought to be considered equals to the sports leagues as far as permit rates.

As a company grows and you expand your services there are always new challenges to face.  I have had to learn to leave emotions out of business and think outside the box to find creative solutions to these various challenges. Learning to trust my instincts and always push forward was my biggest challenge as an entrepreneur and now I am tasked with teaching and passing this on to my immediate staff and licensees.

9. What advice would you give to someone either wanting to start their own fitness-based business or becoming a personal trainer?

It’s interesting when you start a fitness-based business; I got into it because I love interacting with clients and helping them achieve their goals. As Booty Camp grew though, I had to spend less time instructing and more time working on the business itself. While I am still heavily involved with program development I now get the rare opportunity to instruct but I’m not as in-the-field as I thought I would have been when I first started the company. So always remember there may not be the opportunity to be as hands-on once you start focusing from a business management perspective.

I would simply say that whatever you choose to do as a career, make sure that you are passionate about it. It is that passion and enthusiasm that will drive you to learn more, expand your horizons and find solutions to any challenge that may present itself and make you a great success.

To find out more about Booty Camp Fitness or Sammie Kennedy click here.

Make-up artist and owner of theOriginalFace shares how she launched her career, her own business and her tips for success.

When did you start getting interested in make-up?

I used to want to be a performer. When I took musical theatre in high school I never got any leads but everyone would love the way I did my makeup for the shows and I would end up doing about 10 girls makeup every show. Aside from that, when I was young my aunt had this amazing drawer of fun makeup pieces that I would rummage through every time I would go over.

What kind of training have you gone through to become a make-up artist?

I graduated from Sheridan College in 2003 after taking their two-year Cosmetic Techniques and Management Program. Since the fall of that same year I have been working with a high-end cosmetics company that does training four times a year, which keeps me updated on current trends and new techniques in the industry. Also, I find one of the best ways to learn more is to work with people who have more experience and observe them and listen to their advice.

When did you start your company, theOriginalFace?

I registered my business name in spring 2003 and now I do makeup for films, photoshoots, fashion shows and weddings. I also offer seminars and private lessons.

What were some of the challenges of launching your own make-up artistry business?

There is a stereotype for every profession. Being aware of what people think about what you do and making sure that you blow them away with exceptional knowledge, professionalism and quality.

What advice would you give to someone starting their own business?

Invest in your product and make sure you have the time to do everything that you have committed to by the deadline. If you’re planning on making something, whether it be a physical product or a service, invest in making it the best quality.

4 more small business tips from Stacey:
1. Talk about it
2. Take courses and research the industry
3. Talk to successful people in the field and listen to their advice
4. Find your niche market.

What has been your favorite project to work on so far?

Currently I have started offering makeup seminars that are for everyone. It teaches: Male Makeup and 3 Classic Looks for Women.

The Course Teaches How to Save Money through Professional Discount Programs, Keep Skin Healthy, Use Products and Tools like the Pros, Experiment with new Techniques, Look Amazing on Camera and be able to Show Up as a True Beauty.

How do you find new clients?

You just have to go out to events where your target market is with your card and talk to people. Ask them what they do and tell them about you. Networking has always been a great tool. Put together a portfolio of your work. Tip: its better to have 10 great professional pictures than it is to have 30 amateur photos.

What’s your favorite and least favorite part of the business?

I love being able to help people achieve their vision with makeup, interpret ideas and brainstorm on the best way to express who they are on the inside on the outside. I love working with creative people in different fields and along side other artists.

My least favorite part of being a makeup artist is the stereotype of a makeup artist that needs to be broken down with each client prior to beginning a creative working environment.

Is there anything you would want people to know who are considering becoming a make-up artist?

- Research the career prior to choosing it
- Makeup is expensive
- The hours are long
- Practice
- Volunteer
- Work on a portfolio
- Always try to be professional

To learn more about Stacey Laureyssens and theOriginalFace check out www.theoriginalface.ca Photographer Dahlia Katz, Makeup Stacey Laureyssens, Model Stacey Laureyssens