Contributors
/Meet the inspiring contributors in this issue
Spring Contributors
For this issue, INSPIRE ME magazine asked each contributor how they strive to find balance.
Lori Carter is a gardener, nature lover, baker, pursuer of living sustainably and supporter of local products and businesses. Natural areas around her and elsewhere are also incredibly important to Lori, including how people and communities interact with nature, growing plants and food. Born and raised in Nova Scotia, she transplanted to the west coast 14 years ago to explore all that the west has to offer, including the incredibly long growing season of Vancouver Island. Her heart is in Nova Scotia and her hands are in the soil of Victoria, British Columbia.
Being outside in a garden or nature fulfils me. Breathing fresh air, taking in natural colours, feeling earth beneath my feet, whether it's in a garden or forest, brings me peace.
Read Growing Self-Compassion by Lori
Kaleigh Chiasson currently lives in Halifax N.S., with her husband, two-year old son, and their loyal pets, dog Lenny and cat Lucy. Kaleigh’s background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Applied Health Services Research, and 10+ years as a Personal Fitness Trainer and Lifestyle Coach.
To find balance, in her free time Kaleigh enjoys playing with her son and pets and exploring outdoors, cooking, reading, and pilates.
Read Spring Cleaning For Your Mental Health by Kaleigh
Chef Dany Duguay is the owner and founder of Caper & Olive Catering Co., offering curated catering, plated dinners, grazing tables, and a creative, professional, and unforgettable culinary experience. Dany’s passion for cooking started in her grandmother's kitchen where she learned the beauty of spreading love to her friends and family through her food. Her first cooking appliance was an Easy Bake Oven which allowed her to explore her creativity and experiment in the kitchen.
Dany graduated top of her class at George Brown College. She’s had experience in the hospitality industry since 2001 with a primary focus on catering. She also has extensive pastry expertise having owned and operated a cake business for five years in Ontario. Duguay moved to Halifax in 2013 and feel in love with the city’s hospitality scene. She also works on recipe development, product shoots, press trips and retreats.
The biggest thing that I do that grounds me and centres me is Stephane [her partner] and I usually just pack up and go somewhere for a few days. We go out and we eat good food and we drink good drink and that always seems to be what I need to feel re-energized.
Find Chef Dany’s recipe for black bean stuffed sweet potatoes here
Anais Guimond is an Interior Designer and owner of Nis Interior Design, as well as the Founder and CEO of Atlantic Cirque Ltd, a school of circus arts established in 2002. Since graduating from the Interior Designer course at the Vancouver Interior Design Institute with an additional certification in Home Staging & Property Styling, Anais is living her passion for design with every new client and project while continuing to oversee the daily operations of Atlantic Cirque, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship.
Balancing entrepreneurship with Atlantic Cirque and Nis Interior Design, motherhood, along with time for friends and taking time for myself is all about proper scheduling and knowing what to prioritize when.
Read more on how Anais strives to find balance
Read Top 10 Home Decor Trends You'll See This Spring by Anais
Sonya Labonté is a professional organizer in Moncton, NB. Through her business, Simple Organization Solutions (SOS) she can help you create a personalized organizational system that will work for you and your home. Through both in-home and virtual sessions Sonya will show you how simple and beneficial organization can be.
I usually am able to find balance by making myself a priority to step back and take a breather. I usually do this by going for a walk or jotting down on paper all that is going on in my head. Once I can make sense of it all, it’s easier to prioritize and then tackle it all.
Read Sonya’s Three Spring Home Organizing Solutions
Sara Mills and her partner Brent are Atlantic Canada’s travel ambassadors and the tour du force behind the travel blog Dashboard Living. When they're not sipping local wine, adventuring through the maritimes and collaborating with brand partners, they're building marketing strategies for their clients. As Canadian travel & lifestyle influencers, happiness advocates, professional foodies, and on air-personalities known for sparking wanderlust they're also proud to spread their message of “collecting memories, not things”.
Through the ups and downs, through the chaos of life, through injuries and illness - the great outdoors has always been my steady, reliable, non-judgemental companion. It’s where I turn when I feel happy, sad, frustrated, angry, excited… it’s where I go for help… it’s where I find clarity...and it’s where my strongest relationships have been built.
Read Six Reasons Getting Outside is Good for the Soul by Sara
Find The Best Outdoor Adventure Gear curated by Dashboard Living
Megan O’Keefe is the owner of Crafts with Megan. She started her business in 2013 and even though it is considered her 'side-hustle' she pours her heart and soul into her business. She loves creating new things and helping others find their creative side, through easy and fun crafts and DIY's.
I truly try to find balance in my life by making sure I take time for myself (and not feel guilty about it), whether that is putting on some music and getting in my craft room or sitting down and relaxing. Doing the things that make me happy so that I can take that happiness and share it with others. I feel the most fulfilled when I am able to step back and relax with my family. Having my business (even though it is busy at times) allows me to do that.
Read Getting Crafty and Creative is Good for the Soul by Megan
Kaitlyn Ross loves living in Nova Scotia, being surrounded by the ocean and raising a family in the country. Adventures with her husband and two sons are her favourite ways to spend her days. She grew up in Pictou County, Nova Scotia and attended Saint Mary’s University. She was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2008 after a life wondering why she felt so sick all the time.
When it comes to balance I’ve learned this the hard way more than I care to count. So let’s repeat this over and over- balance comes from you. You set boundaries, you know what triggers you, you know your limits, you know what brings you joy, you take care of others, you make sacrifices, you cry, you get worn out, you know what promotes growth within, you set the pace, you never give up and you are always there for yourself. So take care of YOU.
Read Kaitlyn’s opinion piece on Living with Crohn’s Disease
Rebekah Streeter is the founder of Voda Curated Experiences. As a mom and creative professional, Rebekah has learned first-hand the importance of self-care. Her goal is to show people that even the smallest acts of self-care can make a difference in your life and to take the guesswork out of how to care for yourself. Rebekah strives to provide a way for people to pamper themselves that they can do anywhere and anytime. And for people to know that, while they may have set backs, they should never feel guilty for taking time for themselves.
We prioritize everyone and everything above ourselves because we don’t believe we are worthy. I felt discouraged spending time on Social Media, seeing influencers who had the time and the money to do what I perceived as the only types of self care: working out, losing weight, pampering myself with clothes, products, and trips to the spa. But I was wrong.
Over the last 5 years, I have worked on focusing on small rituals that help me stay positive. These small steps have slowly started to change my life and I want to share those practices with others. I want to help people find quick and easy self-care practices that work. I create luxury products and experiences that foster feelings of joy, connection and relaxation. I want to make my customers feel like kings and queens.
Read Mindful Stretching for Wellness and Relaxation by Rebekah
