and it seemed that all at once, she was five.

Zoë has flourished over the last year.
Becoming more of herself separate from us.

I see myself in her eyes, the demonstrative affection and the willingness to drop everything and be silly for silly sake.

I see him in her thought out nature, fully engrossed ways and ability to tell people ‘how it is’ and ‘how it all works’.

More importantly, I see her.

Moved and affected by everything and everyone around her. She has taken on learning how to skate, read, write, have friendships and ultimately become more and more of herself every day.

To say we are proud of her is an understatement.
We are engrossed, overcome, blessed, challenged and inspired by her.

We delight in her.

In five more years she will be ten.
Hard to imagine the changes, the becoming, the metamorphosis that will happen between now and then and from then to beyond.

What we know for sure,

Zoë will always be a bright light as she is. All of the parts of who she is is what makes her unique. We couldn’t ask for anything else.

Our only prayer

is that she always be free in her spirit to be fully ‘Zoë’, however that is, however that grows and changes. May her spirit remain free from the expectations and standards of this world and may she step into whatever her calling may be despite what may try to come against her in her life.

Claire Fraser sits down with Autumn Grant from Flo Meditation and Wellness to talk about how the social distancing measures have affected Autumn both personally and professionally.

Grounded conversation, pups, empathy and a bit on meditation!

Insta Live Link <——

It’s not just COVID-19.

It’s everything on top of it.

It’s the deaths in the family, the tragedies in shootings, the loss of life when helicopters crash and the missing of those we cannot see.

Nova Scotia, my dear province, lost 22 people in our countries largest mass shooting.

In less than 24 hours, 22 people lost their life. An unthinkable thing. A tragic thing. A no explanation but despair thing. And we are here with our tear-stained cheeks wondering how and where do we go from here? What more will happen? How will we move from this?

It got me thinking as my heart was heavy, burdened with the death, the loss, the deep well of emotion when life is unsteady and unreal.

What do we do?

Make moves for peace.

How?

First, we listen, and we feel.

Feel the agony, the weight and the unsettledness.

Then, as the day moves, we move too. We make moves for peace.

Quiet, steady, one at a time, moves for peace.

For me, this meant:

Calling out toxic behaviour that surrounded our home.
Filling my ears with music that uplifts.
Watching media that welcomes peace such as Mr.Rodgers Neighbourhood
Almost daily chats with those who create order in my spirit.
Quiet activities, like walks, journaling, yoga & reading.
Praying.
Reading the Psalms.

What are your moves for peace?

Amy Grace sits down with Jenna Oosterholt from The Ville Caffeine Bar to talk about how the social distancing measures during the pandemic has affected Jenna both personally and professionally.

Real talk, coffee, laughter & a healthy dose of optimism!

Insta Live Link <——

Mary Poppins | P. L. Travers

A read from March I forgot to record. Mary Poppins was a blast to read aloud as a family and was a great lead into watching the Disney classic. As a parent, you start to realize that Mary Poppin’s sensibilities were always slyly put in places the belonged the most. And usually, always about the world needing to shift and shape up and letting the children, be children.

Rhythms of Renewal | Rebekah Lyons

After hearing Rebekah interviewed I quickly ordered her book. I find anyone who wants to study the rhythms of seasons, creativity and spirituality combined is someone I want to hear from. This book has not disappointed. Her approach to her faith and how she lives a more balanced life is refreshing.

Dawn of a Distant Shore | Sara Donati

The second in the Wilderness series. Dawn of a Distant Shore didn’t disappoint, although I found it a bit less engaging as the first. It’s always fun to read when characters come into my dear home and native land as Canada and even reference or come into the Halifax area. That being said, the most interesting character arc in the story for me, was the adolescent daughter. Her perspective on their journeys was always what I wanted to flip to.

We are so proud of the women we have featured over the past year and a half.

As we came to the end of the interviews we had backlogged before our provincial shut down for social distancing, we discussed how we could serve others and bring support to those we know, those we haven’t met yet, and those who follow us.

How Instagram Live Series will work:

*unseen technical difficulties notwithstanding

On Monday’s

We will announce and introduce our feature guest of the week.
We will share the exact time of the Instagram live chat

On Wednesday’s

We will host the Instagram live interview / chat
We will share the live video on our feed post-interview

On Friday’s

We will share a takeaway from the live chat
Shower the week’s feature guest with love & support!

How you can get involved

Follow us on Instagram! <——
Join in celebrating various creative/entrepreneurial women by sharing and liking their work.
Join in on our live chats.
Share with us the various brilliant women you know and love!

For personal and professional growth with tools, I challenged myself to put together a vlog with a combination of videos from my ‘insta’ stories and newly attained Sony A77.

Although I have been around these tools for the past few years, I have not attempted to learn them or use them myself, outside of collaborations.
Past youtube videos have always been edited by my tech-loving husband.

This time… it’s all me.

(except, I admit… he did help me with the sound levels before I uploaded…)

I hope you enjoy my first crack at it.

Halley Davies

IATSE 667 Camera Assistant & Freelance Director of Photography

Halley can be found giving her whole self to her union and freelance work behind the camera, while also finding ways to honour her busy and quieter seasons through various creative outlets.

Halley is passionate about working on projects that have value to the viewer and takes great care in how she prepares approaches her work both physically and mentally.

She also happens to bring a healthy reflection in what she accomplishes and communicates, allowing herself and others to shift perspective and see differently.

MORE HALLEY

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/halleydavies/

Website

https://www.halleydavies.com/

As I look at the songs that I have gathered for this season’s playlist, I was hit with the realization of how the COVID-19 pandemic affected my choices. I was already in the process of curating the list when COVID hit our country and my province. In knowing that, there are many songs on this list that I may not have otherwise included. The few from Mary Poppins and Into the Woods, being from musicals would have been songs I would have nixed before the list was completed or left just one. But the words in those musicals, the point they are making seemed to say something to me. About unknowns and uncomfortable places.

Spring 2020 Playlist <——-

Standouts*

Clearly | Grace Vanderwall

A cross between a cover of “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash and a new song, Grace’s words in Clearly give hope in times when life is uncertain. Where can we find hope today? How can we accept what we cannot change?

8 | Billie Eilish

I love these few songs from Billie that sit on the surface of your skin and make you listen deeper.

The Blessing | Kari Jobe

I have always found peace and rest in traditional hymns and songs. This was sent to me by my Dad amidst the grief of a loss in the family and the following shock of the effects of COVID.

A Spoonful of Sugar | Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins)

With the adjustments and inability to hug those we care about, the words of this song hit me as we introduced it to our almost five-year-old. These lessons are invaluable.

Since March 19th, I have been getting up Monday - Thursday mornings at 6 am.

I pull on my robe, grab my phone & headphones, turn on a podcast and listen as I let the hot water boil for my coffee or tea.
I light a candle, sit down with my warm drink, switch from podcast to music and write.

So far, during these write mornings over the past three weeks, I have edited and arranged 21 pages of a project I am passionate about & drafted up half of a short film.

Some mornings it comes easy.

Falling out of my fingers like a waterfall.

Other mornings

I stare at the window beside my desk and seek the light that comes brighter every minute.
I have learned that there are some moments in these sessions that I should listen to my antsy body.
One of those times, I made myself sit through the two hours with cramps distracting me.
I should have taken my laptop, tea and settled on the couch. I should not have worried about the potential of being found out by my four-year-old and just embrace what needed to happen that morning.
Another time, up at all hours with a fevered child, I told my spirit that today was not the day to wake up at 6 am and force it.

Sometimes, you have to appreciate what your body, mind and soul are saying.
The skipping is about protecting creativity, not abandoning it.

Find something equally challenging and exciting for you & show up for it.

Never in our generations have we been so restricted.

Not since the World Wars have we been encouraged to stay home, confined in our movements and asked to put the needs of others before our own. This just points out the privilege that we have been born into and daily have.

As the weeks progress, people are losing their jobs either temporarily or entirely, missing out on surrounding a loved one as they die, postponing weddings and funerals, losing the opportunity to have a doula supported birth, experiencing loneliness in a new way…

This is real.

Nothing I could ever say or suggest could minimize the weight that we have to journey. So rather than minimize, here are a few prompts of things one can do to hopefully aid in peace, groundedness and a bit of enjoyment.

Keep a Schedule

Whatever you do, don't slip into a non-scheduled life. (unless it’s the weekend) For me, it's a mix of time slots I upkeep for my work & a running list of daily activities that I do before the day is out. (daily chores, workouts, lessons with the preschooler)

Identify Professional Projects

Kick-starting new professional goals and projects That you can work on at home can be motivating and something to boost confidence.

Identify Personal Projects

Taking on my daughter's pre-school activities, enjoying the Home Edit mini-challenge, Spring cleaning, and preparing for her 5th birthday are ways to keep me occupied.

Get Relational

Relationships require an intentional back and forth. It takes work. Being able to identify those who are invested in the back and forth and creating a routine or natural rhythm of communication during this time of social isolation can do wonders for your heart. Currently, this means 'face-timing' with a good friend every Monday night when we would have been on my couch and watching a show. Now we do it separately while still experiencing it together. 'Facetiming' grandparents, always telling my aunt when I finish a book, staying close with my cousin while we grieve our grandfather and journey this uncertain time across the country from each other.

Move Your Body

In Nova Scotia, we have been told not to leave our communities and seek out nature, but are allowed to walk in our own neighbourhood, to limit the community spread of COVID-19. Thankfully, this means my daily walking routine is not limited and getting out for fresh air, distancing myself from neighbours that also walk that route has been an excellent time for me to separate from the emotions. Youtube and the broader internet is full of free and subscription-based workout videos of every kind. Personally, I adore Popsugar & Yoga With Adrienne.

Prepare food with Intention

Every meal matters. Turn on music, set the table, light candles, prepare with creativity. Eating alone or with those in your house in an atmosphere brings so much joy.

Document

Some do this by taking photos on their phones for Instagram, others by video and others by journaling. However you document your thoughts and experiences; do it. It's a form of therapy.

“In every job that must be done,
there is an element of fun.
You find the fun and Snap!
The job’s a game.” - Mary Poppins

I didn’t realize that as we introduced our almost five-year-old to the musical Mary Poppins that the songs would become something of a little lesson to our hearts. Finding our lives restricted and altered by a death in the family and COVID-19 pandemic shutting our provinces and cities down on unprecedented levels.

There is an air of unknowns and worries. There are also many things that I am doing to further my work.

I have made a few commitments this spring to help me with the honouring of and getting a handle on specific projects I have on the go.

Getting up at six am four mornings a week and writing for two hours.
Learning how to use a Sony A77.
Learning how to use Final Cut Pro editing software.
Setting aside time for the creative muscle to be challenged differently: daily walks, ukulele and piano practice, weekly baking.

If there were an overarching intention for this new season of Spring 2020, it would be to embrace my love for creativity. To renew how I interact with it in all, it’s forms. In all it’s expressions.

“The honey bee that fetch the nectar
from the flowers to the comb
Never tire of ever buzzing to and fro
Because they take a little nip
From every flower that they sip
And hence
They find
Their task is not a grind.” - Mary Poppins

Homework | Julie Andrews

Written with a literary and sleight of hand with wit, Julie Andrews, along with her daughter, craft each chapter to give the reader a full perspective of the personal and professional aspect of Julies Hollywood years. I find in her age, Julie reminds me of how my paternal grandmother used to talk. It could be the British and proper influence with stringing sentences together, or it could be the sly snarky two cents that Julie adds for the reader to hear. (Which, my grandmother often didn't leave to question) Whether I found threads of my grandmother in this memoir or just the comforting voice of a woman whom I watched in my childhood, it was a read that was timely during a time that has been full of emotion, loss and unknowns.

Becoming Mrs.Lewis | Patti Callahan

Still working my way through this book, it reveals a fictional but fact-based take on the woman who became C.S.Lewis' wife. Without knowing much about C.S.Lewis' personal life, this is a surprising read.

The Art of Money | Bari Tessler

Always ready to look at our financial wellness in a new way. Bari posses new ways to assess how your finances, be them secure or severe, can become a freeing experience.

Do Less | Kate Northrup

A book packed with ideas on how to look at life differently with different exercises. In retrospect, this read was a significant lead into the COVID-19 season.

Films / TV Series of Note

The Marvellous Mrs.Maisel S03 - For the exceptional talent and collaborative mediums in the art of storytelling
Veronica Mars S01 - For the review of an early 2000's TV show that stands the test of time. Although filmed with those kitschy drama methods, the plot and character development stand.
The Farewell - An American raised Chinese granddaughter grapples with her family's choices in dealing with her ailing grandmother.
Mary Poppins - Our March family movie, which seemed perfect for ushering in Spring.

Aren Morris

Fine Arts Specialist, Facilitator, Writer, Mom & Wife

Aren can be found working with schools to create space for students to explore fine arts, facilitating the 'Creating Space' retreats, while also embracing her role as a wife of fifteen years and mother to two young boys.

Aren is wholehearted about channelling creativity in all that she does as an arts specialist, writer, and especially as a mother where she takes great care and energy in helping to create an atmosphere for her children to grow and discover who they are.

She also happens to carry a fantastic ability to ground herself in the present moment and find words and concepts to share that bring awareness, creative ideas and insight to the surface of all that she does and to everyone she interacts with.

MORE AREN

WEBSITES

https://sites.google.com/gnspes.ca/fineartspecialists-halifaxwest/

https://www.facebook.com/creatingspaceretreats/

INSTAGRAM

https://www.instagram.com/finearts_haliwestfos/

As the world digests a new challenge, a collection of favourite things never hurt anybody….Take pleasure in the little things around you in all this uncertainty.

Succession Sheet Music

If you haven’t heard the theme music for the Television Series Succession, one quick listen will tell you why I have been working away this season at this piece.

Radiance Perfecting Serum - Pearlessence

A Christmas gift. I love it for it’s packaging and how it makes me feel after I apply it.

Grey Notes Pillow | Indigo

I’ve had these pillows for a while and due to our home Reno last year and issues I had to pack them away. I since replaced the inserts with non-down inserts and am happy to have them back on our couches and chairs.

Sand & Fog Candle | Cinnamon Noel

I couldn’t get my hands on a local soy candle maker for the holiday season, so I went off my usual resolve and bought this one. I am still trying to mostly buy Soy / natural candles.

The Fiery Cross | Diana Gabaldon

While reading the fifth instalment of the Outlander Series, I am also watching the fifth season of the hit Starz television series in order to study how books to television series adaptations occur.

Light Foot & Wolfville 2014 Sparkling Wine

We adore not just the wine but also the business of Lightfoot & Wolfville. They honour the history of the land they occupy, the culture of farming and winemaking and also those who consume their product are able to see and be apart of honouring that culture by becoming more aware of the natural rhythms of each season. Saving this for a special time.

Winter | An Anthology

Another book in the season anthology series collective by Melissa Harrison. Love reading the little poems and excerpts as the season progresses.

Brown Purse | Modcloth

For one solid year, I searched for a proper replacement for my last favourite brown purse which bit the dust early 2019. Finally found this and it is filling the hole for me.

Reading Light |

Women in Film & Television Atlantics ‘Women Making Waves’ Conference sets the bar

for what it means to connect, find solidarity and hone in on one’s own personal and professional directive.

Every single woman (and man) who attends this conference brings their own unique skills and experience to the table. To witness this communing and celebrating what each of us brings is something I continue to be amazed by. This year was no different.

Highlights of the Conference

Friday Workshops

This is the first year I have been able to attend the add on workshops that kick start the conference. I had so many personal and professional takeaways from my time in the sessions I attended.

Really I’d Never Considered That! A Career Strategy Session with Sharon McGowan

Sharon approaches the industry in a unique and relaxed way. She is passionate about the work and also practical in her thinking about it. She does have an immense amount of experience behind her, which I believe is also why she can approach the journey with insight as well as a healthy dose of practicality. My take away’s from Sharon is the tenacity and how she doesn’t approach the industry with a clad iron fist of ‘now or never’ but with consistency, love for the work and showing up to continue pushing boundaries that have come against women for decades.

How to Create a Binge-Worthy Show in the Era Of Global Streaming with Amy Cameron

Having the opportunity to interview Amy Cameron for the Tidings a month before her coming allowed me the knowledge of what this woman brings to the table. Insight, discernment and a passion for the creative drive. You can see that with all the work she has done in the past and all the work she is pushing forward now lines up with her values and determination to create projects and storytelling that gives a hearty edgy wink while also making us think deeper than the mere surface.

Spotlight Conversation with Meredith MacNeill: Playing the Game While Changing the Game

Meredith made us laugh and she also made us think. I was most surprised and elated by her because admittedly I am behind in watching her sketch comedy and previous work. Her story is a story that although we might not all have, we can all relate to it. To hear her carve out space for the many elements of her life both personal and professional is refreshing and something we all need to hear again and again. It makes me less ashamed to have put my young daughter a focus the past few years and celebrate that by honouring my desire and need to be her primary caregiver I will also be able to grow into the professional and woman I need to be.

Musical Chairs Networking Lunch

This is the second year of the musical chairs networking lunch, (where everyone is given two numbers on two different coloured papers, sits at one table that corresponds to one number for the first twenty minutes of lunch and then a second table the last twenty mins.) Although I was hosting a table this year, I still gained the benefits of it. I would never have met the women and man who sat at my table if not for this unique way of getting us talking, connecting and celebrating the work we do.

The IOM Media Ventures Wave Awards Celebration Dinner

Ending the night with friends and, new connections with food drink and celebrating the work of others is all apart of creating a healthy and dynamic growing industry. A lot of exhaling was happening around the table I sat at & I was so thankful for that time.

THANK-YOU

To have something in the Maritimes with this amount of accessibility is phenomenal. From the New Waves program which introduced me to the industry, to writing for the Tidings here and there, joining the board, finding my way and connecting with women who want to see me grow and be challenged has been life-changing. We have so much to thank the founding members for spearheading this WIFT chapter form the very beginning. If anything, I hope to lift up and celebrate as many women as they continue to do.

Top centre - Clockwise: Pink Winter Jacket | Old Navy, Ukulele | Christmas Gift from Auntie Jasmine & Uncle Tyler, Claw craft | Kiwi Craft (subscription christmas gift from Tai Ma, Marie Blue Striped Long sleeve | H&M Christmas Gift from Auntie Heidi, Cheeta Sweater | Christmas Gift from Mimi & Yeye, Hedgehog family | Indigo, Dance ribbon | Melissa & Doug, Skate graphic Shirt | Old Navy, Red Plaid Pyjamas | Old Navy, Black Pants | Old Navy, Flower embroidered Jeans | Old Navy, Socks "| Old Navy, Graphic Shirts | Old Navy, Graphic Pants | Old Navy, All About Feelings | Usborne Book, Valentines | SuperStore, Magentic Book | Christmas Gift from Auntie Nicole, Skates | Second Hand, Early Concepts / Pre School Books | Amazon, Pink Ombre Pants | Old Navy, Magnetic Friends | Melissa & Doug Gift from Grandma & Grandpa, Markers & Crayons | Home collection, 90’s Polly Pockets | From my childhood

So much growth has happened for our little since Autumn 2019.

Being so close to turning five has developed her into a deeply creative, bookish, imaginative and social being. We love seeing these changes and part of those changes are captured here in adding a few of the activities that she has been learning and enjoying.

New To Her

Pink Winter Jacket | Found at Old Navy and has served us well in the cold months.

Blue Striped Marie the Cat shirt | A gift from Auntie Heidi who has indulged zoë in her love for all things Disney & Aristocats.

Hedgehog Family | Our Valentine gift to Zoë this year. She loves imagining with anything small and creating stories with them.

Magnetic Book | A gift from Auntie Nicole that literally is played with almost daily.

Ombre Pink Pants | An old navy find that has become her favourite.

Ukelele | Christmas gift from Auntie Jasmine & Uncle Tyler. A learning curve for her that she picks up and explores.

Still Going Strong

Crayons / Markers | The hours that she uses these is endless.

Skates | Although we will need to replace them for the next Autumn due to her feet growing, these figure skates have held up perfectly for Zoe to learn with.

Time to Go

Pants | Unseen here there are countless pairs over the winter have worn out in the knees. The grey graphic pair as an example. A typical thing for young kids, but something to keep on top of none the less.

*Not pictured here: last year’s snow gear, a few extra pyjamas & the various worn pants that have either been tossed due to inability to repair or kept for spares.

Erica Meus-Saunders

Creator / Storyteller / Founder of Storybook-Entertainment

Erica can be found working at Screen Nova Scotia as their membership coordinator, while also running and growing her recently launched platform, ‘Storybook-Entertainment.’

Erica is passionate about the large format and possibilities in storytelling and is continually finding new ways to bring various communities, cultures and creative mediums together.

She also happens to bring a sense of thankfulness and appreciation for the collaborations she is apart of and seeks to uplift and celebrate others in every corner of her work.

MORE ERICA

Story-book Entertainment Platform

https://story-book.ca

Story-Book Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/storybook.ca/

Erica’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ericameuss/

Top centre - Clockwise: Grey Dress | From the bestie Jasmine, Brown Satchel Bag | Modcloth, Brown oversized turtleneck sweater | H&M, Brown Silk Long Sleeve | Suzy Shier, Serum | Christmas present from Jasmine, Blue Sweater Dress | La Vie En Rose, Winter Anthology Book | Amazon, Black turtle neck | RW&co, Blue Silk Pyjamas shirt | La Vie En Rose, Roots Joggers | Roots, Star Sweater | Aerie, Best Dressed Nail Polish | OPI, Blue Jeans | The Gap, Black Long pants | RW&Co, Licorice Nail Polish | Essie, Mixed Media Black Pleather Pants | RW&co, Black and White Plaid Long Sleeve Shirt | RW&co, Candle | Winners

This Winter went by incredibly fast.

We had a brilliant Christmas break which allowed us to feel comforted and reminded us of the good times when life got tough this winter with the hard process of losing a family member. This winter I was able to curate a few more cozy items to comfort and warm me on the coldest days…

New to Me

Black & White Plaid Long Sleeve | A great relaxed weekday wear that can also be dressed down. Glad to finally have plaid back in the wardrobe that feels more like me.

Brown Pleather Purse | A long-awaited replacement for a favourite purse that fell apart (5 years of solid use) and I had to get rid of last year. This isn’t an exact replica but it just as nice and I am glad to finally have replaced it.

Blue Silk Pyjama Shirt | My mom keeps me equipped in the cozies. It’s this thing we do, so this Christmas when I expressed a love for that pyjama shirt it made it’s way to me on Christmas day. Love that she still finds joy in pyjama gift giving. It’s a fun thing to look forward to.

Blue sweater dress | Bought the burgundy dress before Christmas. I have worn it like crazy. When the blue one was still in-store and on sale, I grabbed it. Love the shape, love the blue, love the pockets. A perfect simple item for dress up or dress down.

Still Going Strong

Grey Dress | Second hand from my bestie Jasmine, this gray dress continues to be a lovely little piece to add for a date night, meeting or just any winter event.

Roots Joggers | Nothing is nicer than slipping on joggers at the end of a workday. Love them.

Black Pants | My city long black pants from RW&co Along with the pleather black are my go-to. Always an easy grab.

Time to go

A White Sweater | Not pictured here, was a cheap white sweater that my mom and I bought last year as a filler in my wardrobe. Underlining the concept that cheap sweaters have no place in the wardrobe unless you already realize it’s just for a month or two. It didn’t stand up at all. I loved the cut, but cleaning it ruined it and it just didn’t hold up at all.

For my interest and light professional development, I took up ‘The Beautiful No’ by Sheri Salata, Executive Producer of the Oprah Show, for five years.

Entering into my journey in the film and television industry the last four years as a writer and producer have me interested in taking in the stories of others who have journeyed into the film industry later, rather than straight from university.

Sheri comes into her experience as a producer after an eclectic series of professional roles and choices.

What I learned from this book:

• Everyone hits moments where they are entering a new chapter of their life and need to re-evaluate. No matter how successful.

• Making the next right choice matters over worrying about what you haven’t done yet.

• If something is telling you that you want something, it’s probably not wrong; it just may not be the right time yet.

• Welcome the no’s and keep going.