Women’s Empowerment

Recently, I wrote for my column a piece on Women’s Empowerment - What does it mean?

I asked women to respond to these questions:

What is women’s empowerment? Do you agree that women are more empowered and in what way(s)? Is there anything in today’s society that would make you think women are less empowered and if so what is it?

The response was overwhelming on so many levels. With age, professional and geographical diversity in the women who responded, it made the query that much more interesting. The highlight for me was the depth to which women spoke on the topic. Editing became a challenge!

Respondents were from Canada, United States and the United Kingdom. There are differences between our countries but there were similarities in the way women perceive “empowerment.”  Had the net spread much farther I’m sure there would have been even more to say.

I had to ask the question because some days I hear a description of what empowerment is, and end up scratching my head pondering the validity of the statement and most often the source. I read news on women in other parts of the world who embrace their power in ways I think we have long since forgotten. The life we enjoy now is still their future, a dream in the making.

What it means to be empowered is subjective. After interviewing women on the topic I came away feeling we’ve come along way, but there is a road still ahead. It may be a good idea to look back and act as a guide for the women who are struggling to catch up.

What does empowerment mean to you?

You can see the article at TimeFinders Online Magazine:

Worldly Women

How to laugh more…

Children laugh out-loud four hundred times a day, while adults laugh only fifteen…why the gap?

I’m not really sure if this is even a true statistic, but after watching this ridiculous cute baby clip on youtube, it got me thinking.  All too often, we maintain expectations towards adults, suggesting that they are to be serious and responsible.  But why not venture out of that comfort zone and laugh a little?

Not only do many studies suggest that laughter is a powerful force that positively affects the body, but research now suggests that the breath released during a hearty laugh has been clocked at speeds as high as 170 miles per hour!  While laughter stimulates the brain and various body systems (nervous, respiratory, hormonal and muscular) - current studies have also shown that laughter helps to lower blood pressure, lighten depression, increase muscle flexion, strengthen immune systems and decrease stress!

All of this is great - but how do we get ourselves to laugh more?

Here are some suggestions:

1) LAZY APPROACH: See the movie ‘The Hangover’ - guaranteed to laugh out-loud at least 40 times.

2) ACTIVE APPROACH: Participate in the a family Outdoor Adventure Race with Lizard Adventure Travel - you’ll be required to venture outside of your comfort zone and work together as a family. (yes - another plug for my company - but you don’t want to miss out on a ridiculously FUN event!) www.LizardAdventureTravel.com

3)UNIQUE APPROACH: Host a Halloween costume party in the summer…enough said.

Green Tax Credits

So remember when I wrote this?

Specifically, this sentence:

Where’s my tax credit for doing what I can? Where are my chits for locally grown meats and vegetables? Why not start there where its something more tangible?

Well, there’s an opportunity now. My diaper service has a petition in the Canadian House of Commons to ask for a tax credit for those that use cloth diapers and/or use a diaper service, and to increase taxes on disposable diapers. I have a copy of the petition to sign and I’m asking for your help.

Simply put, the more signatures that are collected, the better the chance at having a tax credit implemented.

So here’s the deal: if you want to sign and you’re in the metro Vancouver/west Fraser Valley area (up to Chilliwack), I’ll meet you. We can have lunch, coffee, whatever and you can meet the poptart. I mean, with this much cuteness, how can you say no?

You can leave a comment or email me at rtissues (at) gmail (dot) com.

If you’re not in the metro Vancouver Area, and you’d like to sign, you can contact the Happy Nappy Service in your area and see if you can sign.

Update: I have a PDF of the petition so if you’re not local, or even if you are and you want to accost your family/friends/cloth diaper aficionados, I can send you a copy. Note: the original needs to be back to Happy Nappy in Langley by July 31.

Cross-posted at Resolving Timeline Issues

Economic downturn kicks tourism in Victoria…

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve strolled downtown Victoria to discover first-hand the rather powerful impact the economic downturn has had on various sectors of the tourism industry.  I won’t mention specific business names, but I’d like to draw attention to the areas that I’ve seen take a big hit.

One hostel owner I talked to mentioned they were at half capacity with their peak season approaching on June 25 - things just don’t look promising.  I also spoke with the Manager of a local high-end restaurant that normally hires 15 new serving staff in mid June, but due to few customers he’s only hired 1 new person!  To further emphasize my point, this restaurant manager had the time to speak with me during the lunch-time ‘rush hour’…

After meeting with some B&B owners, I soon discovered a struggling trend across their sector with customer numbers half of what they had this time last year.  They expressed hope that this was only a temporary human reaction to the widespread fear around the recent economic shift, and the common mindset of “spending is bad!”

Instead of going against the human intuition to SAVE, I figured it was time to leap onto the bargain train and offer services and products that fit what’s left of the deflated vacation budgets, and focus on the new buzz phrase…”STAYCATION”.

Here on Vancouver Island, we are lucky as we’re surrounded by natural beauty and can create a ’staycation’ that could be passed off as a pretty sweet vacation.  Take for example a day trip out to Goldstream Provincial Park, where you hike Mount Finalyson and capture photos ‘foreign wildlife’ (bald eagles, turkey vultures and owls) that soar up above.  Then on the way home, stop by Thetis Lake Regional Park for a refreshing dip in the infamous waterholes.  If swimming isn’t your fancy, take in some Canadian history at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse for only $3.40/per person! The ideas are endless…

To help peak you’re creativity during tough economic times, check out: www.localsknow.ca

This website features fantastic local hotspots - where you can “discover the Canada you don’t know”.  For those that aren’t diggin’ the hiking and swimming and would rather sip wine samples on a sun-kissed patio overlooking a winery…join us on Sunday, June 21, 2009 for the Wine, Cider and Honey Tour-Tasting: www.LizardAdventureTravel.com to reserve your spot on the Lizard Bus!

Beer, wine, cider and endless food samples…need I say more?

On Sunday, May 31, 2009 the Island Chef’s Collaborative hosted their 2^nd annual Local Food Festival. Over 1000 ‘foodies’ filled the picturesque grounds of the National Historic Site, Fort Rodd Hill where the delicious event was hosted (about 20 minutes outside of Victoria on Vancouver Island).

Chefs from the finest restaurants on Vancouver Island cooked up all sorts of treats and raised public awareness of the importance of local food and supporting local farms. In addition to sampling some tastes of the Island, we learnt how to grow our own food, composting techniques and the ethical harvest of seafood.

If you’re interested in food issues and up for sampling a wide selection of beer, wine, cider and mead from the top breweries and wineries on Vancouver Island – I recommend you check out this festival next year.

The Lizard Bus from Lizard Adventure Travel will be offering a shuttle to this event, so you can sample all you like while still getting a safe ride home. Check out the Island Chef’s Collaborative website in April 2010 for the food festival details slated for May 2010 (http://www.iccbc.ca).

For the ‘foodies’ that are looking for something sooner, we are hitting up the local wineries and cider houses in Saanichton this Sunday, June 21, 2009. Leaving Victoria at 10am and returning around 6pm. Further details and to reserve your spot on the Lizard Bus: www.LizardAdventureTravel.com

In closing…I discovered that White Bark Ale from Driftwood Brewery is amazing on a hot summer day!

An Ode to a Sometimes ODIOUS Vancouver

Is it feminism’s fault or do people just not give a shit?

I think in Vancouver..people just dont’ give a shit.

My cynicism knows no bounds these days.

After witnessing the lack of care or concern for the mother duck and 9 babies trying to cross South East Marine Drive the other day….how people seemed to think it was okay to mow em down and or not slow down at all…the self obsession obviousy is rampant around here.

The squirrel carcasses are enough testament to that too.

I mean I get it…urban wildlife.  So what?

But I really do boggle at people who live here and never look around them. Are never aware of their TRUE surroundings.

They might TALK about the beauty…but they truly do not ‘get’ what sort of amazing environment they live in and truly do not respect the nature they so blithely yammer on about.

Nature for many Vancouverites is beaches and ski hills..with no real thought to what LIVES around those beaches and ski hills.

I boggle at the people who just don’t simply look up at the Herons or the Eagles soaring overhead.   In fact instead you hear about people who trash the Heron nests.  How sad.

At Everett Crowley Nature Park a man said to my mom that he didn’t know Eagles lived around here.  In Vancouver.    Look up.

I have always felt that people who don’t show care or empathy for nature, animals - wild or pets, can not be very nice people.   And can’t be good examples either.

Is it okay to teach your kids to squish bugs?  Is it okay to teach them that you can get rid of your pet as soon as it is boring or inconvenient?

What does that say about your opinions on things more human?

In my opinion it all adds up.

Can you care about being ‘green’ and not give a crap about the urban wildlife we share this city with?

Do we care about the people around us?

Do we notice the people around us?

I wonder.

Back to the bit about Feminism.   I asked this because I took the Skytrain downtown yesterday.  Haven’t done that in a while..and I realize why - public transit will ALWAYS suck in Vancouver.

People don’t know how to use it.

People still block doors, don’t move down the trains.  People try to get on before anyone gets off.  People can barely figure out how to line UP for a bus.  It still seems to end up a free for all.

Nobody actually knows how to function in the public world….interacting with OTHER PEOPLE!

And it took 3 stops for someone - a WOMAN - to ask if I - a heavily pregnant woman - would like a seat on said train.

The very butch woman who stepped on the train with me was VERY quick to jump into the last remaining courtesy seat and every young man lounging in the seats around me didn’t so much as give me a glance.

I didn’t even register on their radar since I was obviously not hot or young.   I was just in the way.

And so I wonder if it boils down to simply confusion or again..just not giving a shit.

Do people worry that women might get offended by being offered a seat?

DO people get offended when offered a seat?  I never do!

It is like offering to hold open a door or elevator.  I do it out of politeness.  Regardless of age or gender.

If someone on public transit looks like they need a seat and I am okay…they can have mine.

No problem.

But people sure hide behind their iPods and sunglasses these days.  No eye contact.  Nothing.

People drive without awareness of their surroundings.   The cyclists can attest to that.

People walk without awareness of their surroundings.

And we wonder why we have poor customer service.

We wonder why there are so many car accidents.

We wonder about all the people who just vanish.

No witnesses.

I find it all rather sad.

Movies Under the Stars

Last night we took the kids out to the only drive in left in the Lower Mainland.

The Twilight Drive - In…used to be the Hillcrest but had to move to its location now on 260th St. and Fraser Highway.

We haven’t been since last year but I do hope we make it out again thi summer.  It is so worth the drive.

The Drive-In is a family run business and they do a fantastic job.

The place is spotless.   The washrooms alone are amazing.  Big and Clean!!!

And the food is pretty darn good too!   I had a cheeseburger and it was like homemade and super quick, even with a crazy line up…the place was PACKED.

Gone are the days of drive-ins filled with smooching teenagers…the PRODUCT of those steamed up cars now run the place.

It is FILLED with FAMILY SIZE cars filled with moms, dads and kids AND dogs….all like us with blankets and camp chairs and pajamas.

I am sure for the residents of Langley and Aldergrove, attending shows there is a regular occurence, but if you want bit of fun or want to sit through THREE movies for the price of one….it is worth the drive.

We only stuck around for the one show this time, …it was late enough for our kids.

Warning: Mom Type Post - For Baby Shopping!

Okay Lower Mainland moms and businesses catering to mom’s and babies.

I need some recommendations for a few bits and pieces that will help me in my space crunched home full of kids, dogs, cats and soon baby.

I need a good caddy/carry all for diaper supplies..you know..to keep the creams, talks, wipes etc in.

I don’t have a change table or nursery….so any ideas for keeping me organized when changing bums would be great.

Any good changing pad ideas would be great too.

Am still shopping for a good diaper bag also.

I have an old ring sling and liked it well enough, but would be happy to hear about others available and who like what.

For those businesses that sell this stuff….am MORE than happy to do reviews of any of the products I need or think I need for this child, so supplying me good jpegs and so on will make it fun for all of us.

Oh also wanting to avoid ordering cloth diaper supplies online…am in need of Tote Bag large and small for my soiled cloth diapers, and the cloth diaper liners as well as those cool flushables…so if you have a good store that I can visit….AWESOME!

Share your secrets with me!

Sistah’s Are Doin it For Themselves

The one thing the Internet has been great at - for me anyway - was showing me how many enterprising women there are out there.   

Women are taking control, creating their own businesses, staying on top of trends and jumping in where they can showcase their skills and qualifications.

In Vancouver, this seems to be very true and very real.

I am in awe of the enterprising women I keep meeting here.

Thank you to things like TWITTER!

Thanks to twitter, I have discovered more women - moms and non moms who have embraced the internet and ‘Social Media’ to use for their own needs..both personal and business.

Two moms who found me on twitter had the opportunity to speak at a MOMCAFE event - yet another organization I would not have heard of unless through Twitter.

MomCafe is a great organization for networking.  They seem to be VERY professional and have great speakers and great topics.

I was quite humbled to be in a room full of savvy business owners, etc to listen to Sue Sinclair of Raspberry Kids and Annemarie Tempelman - Kluit of YoYoMama, speak about their experiences with Social Media, Twitter, Facebook and the many other sources out there.

Having chitchatted online and in person with both ladies, I LOVE their approach to social media and what it can do for them and their businesses.

They get it.

I mean they really get it.

There has been a bit of rumbling going on in cyberspace lately…not so much about web-based businesses but about sites - specifically mom bloggers - that do reviews about products for business.

PR folks have been courting the mom bloggers in an almost unprecendeted way, sending them on trips, lending them cars, and shipping out tons of products in the hope of glowing reviews.

There are a bazillion review sites out there..some are very professional and others are more personal.

And now the FTC in the US is wondering about how regulated this should all be.

On top of that, many non reviewers  and reviewers are out there are speaking THEIR minds about what they think about the review bloggers, ethics, and so on…it has gotten quite heated.

Anyway, the opinions vary from STOP THE REVIEWS to THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ALL TYPES OF BLOGS, and I am somewhere in the middle.

People do fear the saturation of blogs and websites in general that just are selling products.  I can’t really see that happening.

Blogging and the non-monetary usage of the web is hear to stay.

Business sites and so on have been around for ages and will carry on too.

We all find our niches.

We all use the web for our own needs.

The blurring and merging of the two that we see now is because of sites like Twitter and Facebook.

I gotta admit I am sick of the barrage of tweets demanding I check out someones latest giveaway.  I have started unfollowing a LOT of review sites because of that.  I am also hesitant in following any purely business tweeters because of this.

Folks like Sue and Annemarie get this.  They realize that places like Twitter are ‘community’ based.   People network and post because it builds ‘connections’ and not just business connections.  That is what LinkedIn is for.

For them, social media is about reaching out in as many ways as you can.  Friendship is just as important as pushing a sale or adding members, etc.   Connection building for them is about community building.   

Connecting to people via social networking can’t be a one way street.   It has to be a back and forth and work on many levels.

I think this is especially true when dealing with mom’s and women in general.  Women  - even in business - tend to reach out in a more personal level.

I think that is why women of all stripes have really embraced social networking and blogging.

It works for us.

Twitter works best for those that follow back.  It works even better when you speak to people about more than your latest post, deal, sale and so on.

Showing awareness of WHO you are tweeting to is really the key.

No matter why you tweet or blog, being aware of you potential readers, thinking about them makes you a lot more readable.

And, as events like MomCafe and the impromtu  VANCOUVER MOMS NIGHT OUT proved, community building online leads to community building offline and IN REAL LIFE!

Vancouver is chock a block with ‘tweet ups’ and ‘Meetups’….If you want to meet bloggers, or social networkers, you name it…you will find them….especially on Twitter.

And we all know that connecting in real life can lead to all sorts of opportunities….new friendships, employment, business contracts or contacts….the possibilities are endless.

I feel truly blessed by the friends I have made through the internet.

I also have been inspired and am filled with confidence in myself, my writing, my blogging because of the connections and all the potential I see out there.

People bemoaned the loss of community due to our hectic and spread out lifestyles.

People feared that the internet would produce billions of antisocial loners…instead it has in many ways rebirthed the concept of community.  

People ARE connecting again.

It is up to you to use it all to your full advantage.

I just wanted to add the ‘SlideShare’ for Sue and Annemarie’s presentation…

http://www.slideshare.net/suesinclair/slideshare-moms-are-all-a-twitter

BlogHer ‘09 R U Going? Not Going? Never Heard of it?

For Lower Mainlanders this is the year to hear all about it.

 

LOCATION DETAILS ARE NOW UP AT BLOGHER…. 

You don’t have to be a mom or a woman to be interested in BlogHer.  You could just be interested in meeting MORE local bloggers around the Lower Mainland…

 

Mr. Lady of Whiskey in My Sippy Cup IS the BlogHer Diva for Vancouver this year and is (as we speak) pulling together a PRE BLOGHER Get Together on June 13th for those that either are attending or want to just talk about why they are not or SHOULD attend.

Remember, BlogHer is not a ‘mommy blogging’ club.  It is a community of WOMEN BLOGGERS of all kinds and the conferences are an amazing meeting of minds and estrogen.

However BlogHIM’s are invited too!

I went last year when BlogHer was in San Fran.   I loved it, but as a normally quite shy person, found it all a tad overwhelming.

I wish I had made more arrangement to meet/find/hookup with people that I knew as the aloneness could be quite stressful.  That said, I did meet awesome people IN REAL LIFE and many took me under their caring wings and made sure I wasn’t lonely or freaked out…too much!

But pre planning…very important I think.

Sooooo if you are interested in attending this pre BlogHer invitational, please join the group on BlogHer and read up and let Mr.Lady know if you are attending etc.

As a side, I would love to see here in comments how many members and visitors to WCW have either a)never heard of BlogHer b) are part of the network c) have attended the conference or d) are interested in that conference OR e) interested in a similar conference up HERE!!!