Winter 2016
For Today's REAL Woman
To the Mountaintops and beyond!
SAVING LIVES
Extraordinary Women!
​
​
​
​
​
Now Trending!
So, if you are a trend follower, get together your bold, biker, army attire with big flower prints and Futuristic chokers (if not the biggest, boldest, choker your grandmother ever owned), 'cause it's all about EXAGGERATION this Fall/Winter! Let's also remember the Bowie boots (from the 70's) or your biker boots from the back closet. Tear the left shoulder off your top as it's a one sleeve trend, this season. Oh! And your fur is busting! if not draped across your body like they did in the 40's. As for your purse? Well, it's worn any which way you find convenient; just ensure the straps are chunky chains, fancy guitar straps or PINK! Pink is the colour of the season. Get it on every chance you can (couple it with mustard and you've got the look down pat)!
Did we forget to mention metallic, vinyl, as well as long, HUGH sleeves with evening gloves?
Our personal faves are the flouncy dresses paired with cropped pinstriped (or army) blazers - with flats! LOVE IT. This is a Go Big or Stay Home Season. Get out there and BE BOLD!
3 Picks of the Season
Faux Fur Worn
How You Prefer
Patent Plats- yea 70's !
EXTREME Granny Chic
Stranger in My Head
We have a tendency to give away our power when it comes to dealing with "professionals," in this society.
​
We allow our doctors, be they Western practitioners or Naturopathic, complete reign over our physical well being; we allow corporations to sell us cancer causing poisons they identify as food; we allow governments to spend with frivolity then complain about rising taxes; we also take our hard earned dollars and hand them over to institutions that gouge us to HOLD them for us - checked your banking fees, lately? When will we STOP trusting strangers to "know/do better" for us than we can, when it comes to managing our selves?
Granted, health professionals spend many years honing their skills to become experts on the body: knowing how it functions, how it can break down, and how it could be repaired. Corporations spend millions researching and refining our food to feed an ever explosive population. Government officials are committed - some even take an oath - to ensure a democratic society with order and a stabilized (if not FLOURISHING) economy. I don't know about you, but, I have done NONE of these things.
Maybe, that is the problem. We have not committed the time, effort or dollars to specialize in these fields, so, are grateful to those who have.
We are so grateful, we respect - even idolize - their expertise. We respect and idolize such professions because we have been taught that their effort is something to BE idolized. But, let's face it, we are so busy in our day to day lives, we are thrilled to hand our SELVES over to others who will - in essence - take care of us because taking care of our selves, in many instances, requires more time, more energy, and more COMMITMENT than we are willing to spare.
But, SHOULD we be so easy? Should we not MAKE the time to get more than one opinion, conduct some research about what goes in our body, have a voice and take action toward what WE want for ourselves, our family - and our community?
​
Where does the trust of strangers end, and responsibility for our SELF come into play?
My husband and I decided to build an investment house, but we struggled to identify the best way to coordinate financing. Sure we had "ideas," but, we were uncertain of our BEST option - the most financially feasible route to take. Alas, we were only slightly concerned. We were only slightly concerned about financing for several reasons: interest rates were at a ridiculous lifetime low, we had a good balance set aside for this building purpose, AND, we had a fabulous mortgage broker we knew would guide us toward our best option.
​
As if she could read our minds, Our Mortgage Broker called, reminding us that our mortgage renewal was around the corner - were we going to roll into the next five years (which we had done since meeting her). We were happy with the bank she originally found for us - of course, why wouldn't we be - our variable interest rates had dropped like a lead balloon since purchasing our home.
​
Once we shared our plan as well as our confusion with her, our lovely, friendly, mortgage broker assured us, she would find the best solution for what we wanted. Surprisingly, she provided said solution days after our conversation. An occurrence that never happened in the past, as once we agreed to renew our mortgage we never heard from her, again, until the next renewal date (five years later)!
Regardless, her solution required switching institutions.
We hesitated. We were still contemplating our options.
She encouraged us to think about her suggestion, quickly, as our mortgage was due in April (this was February) and it would take time to coordinate our change.
A week later she called, again. What was our decision? Still, we hesitated.
This was when our friendly, supportive, buddy transformed into an impatient, abrupt, stranger...We had to hurry with a decision as she had vacation plans and wanted to complete our paper work before departing! We would still have time, she assured us, to review options and change our minds, if necessary. We puzzled over the sense of rushing into an action - if there was still time to deliberate - just for her to complete paperwork that might have to be undone upon her return. When we stated this, she confessed that our completed paperwork would be one less thing on her mind while vacationing. Well, (and here it comes) we TRUSTED her to be working in our best interest, and wanted her to enjoy her vacation as opposed to worrying about little ol' us, so, we signed the paperwork to switch banking institutions.
​
Twas about a month before we heard from her, again. Within that time, we did not know if she returned from vacation? Fell ill? Or if we had a new mortgage, as well as a new bank.
After much ado, including: our previous bank consultant calling us and begging that we not change institutions; and strangers calling, requesting personal information when we had NO idea who they were - referred to us by Our Broker; and MANY unanswered questions to Our Broker about protocol, and process, as well as, what did our previous bank consultant mean about her (the broker) receiving five thousand dollars for us switching banks, unnecessarily - and DID we switch banks unnecessarily? Could we have saved fifteen hundred dollars and a whole lot of frustration?! In spite of such confusion, we TRUSTED that Our Broker acted in our best interest.
​
The catch with our situation (we later learned), was, my self-employed husband (who did not solely submit tax returns to Revenue Canada), usually submitted his Statement of Income late(r than the rest of us... here's where I remind you of an integral point when asking the bank for money: without an accurate account of one's income, one tends to be - UNDERVALUED)!
​
As it took approximately fourteen months for my husband's tax documents VERIFYING HIS INCOME be completed, forwarded to Revenue Canada then returned to us, three issues arose: Second, requesting borrowed money with our mortgage renewal, meant, we had only THREE months for all documents to be submitted. Third, said documentation submitted would be valid for SIX months, ONLY... requests made post six months meant re-doing the process (gathering and submitting the same updated? documents) all over again.
​
You see where I am heading with this... Our Broker did not mention either tiny FACT to us before, during, or after initiating our process of switching banks (and asking to borrow money). She told us we needed to hurry to get our documents in, but she never expressed the URGENCY of timelines and deadlines! It was only AFTER providing her with the long awaited tax assessment, and asking her to "continue" her negotiation on our behalf that we learned of Our First Issue: Our Broker COULD NO LONGER represent us as she promised she would because the three month threshold of submitting documents had (long) passed - marking the end of our transaction AS WELL AS the end of her service with us. Psych!
​
It was ONLY during a desperate call to our new bank manager that we were bestowed with the above facts...
You see, in spite of our ten year relationship, we did NOT know our mortgage broker; she did not know us. HAD SHE taken the time to know us (ya know, asked us a few extra questions?) MAYBE she would have understood my husband's tax filing habit, and MAYBE she would have thought it more prudent that we remain with our previous bank - on a one year closed, for example - saving us a WHOLE lot of drama, frustration and heart feelings toward her! Maybe.
​
But, here is the flip side and the most important piece to our situation, had WE taken the time to do more research - learned what questions we needed answered (Googled: questions for your mortgage broker, for instance), WE would have known to say, we'll be ready in a year, once my husband's income statement is processed... conceding to ignorance is unacceptable, now a days with SO MUCH information on the internet!
We know that now. Which is why we will use a mortgage broker, again, in the future - just not her.
As for her? We no longer have heart feelings.
The experience proved exhausting, but, we learned, our hesitation and our unanswered questions meant WAIT. STOP! Our instinct really did know better. We finally get that, now: WE are responsible for choices that affect our lives! No one else. 'N that's fine with us.
Quickies
Must you speak it to understand?
Gluten Free Version.
Plate, and ENJOY your multi-ethnic meal!
Sibling kidpreneurs, Madison Star and Mallory Iyana, wanted to see fun and interesting beauty and body care products for young people their age - tween to teen age. Finding other products out there less than par, they decided to... create their own???
I had first seen these incredible young women on Shark's Tank.
They blew my mind!
​
Witnessing their confidence, poise and infectious charm, I could not help wondering
about their mother and what she must have been thinking through the
ENTIRE process of her daughters' adventures. I mean, how did she find the time, the
encouragement, the patience, the perseverance and the AMBITION?!
​
I was in such awe witnessing the sheer maturity of her young women, I had to talk to her.
​
I have to say, communicating with her was as refreshing as watching her young women stand before those dragons, and hold their own.
​
Here's a tiny peek into the psyche of Momager, Viara Iyadunni:
​
​
QBM: What went through your mind when your daughters first mentioned their idea?
Mom: The word 'brilliant' flashed before my eyes!
QBM: What did you feel in your chest/ heart (when they presented their idea to you)?
Mom: Pride! I was so proud of them. I am all for entrepreneurship and the fact they wanted to create something to help young girls feel beautiful was the best part about it.
QBM: WHY did you trust them to take the risk?
Mom: My parents trusted and supported me in EVERYTHING I've gone after in life, so, I owe my children that same level of commitment as a parent (gave me). Secondly, they are very responsible girls. On average, whatever it is they go after, they do so with everything in them.
QBM: Do you see yourself as lucky?
Mom: Absolutely! Highly Favored! I look at the odds and possibilities and realize that we have found ourselves in a lot of situations that people said where impossible to get/accomplish but, here we are in those 'impossible to get to places.' We are the fortunate few. We are grateful and humbled by each opportunity. We don't take it lightly.
QBM: What are the top three things moms usually say to you?
Mom: 1. How?
2. You're an inspiration and
3. Thank you for giving my girl a great product just for her.
​
QBM: What are the top 3 things kids usually say to you?
Mom: Can I be a part (of your business)?
How can I start my own business?
You inspire me.
​
QBM: What would you like every parent to know?
Mom: It's not easy but it's well worth it. Make the sacrifice and believe.
​
QBM: What do you think every young entrepreneur should know?
Mom: The impossible is possible.
​
QBM: Do you think kids today are different from when YOU were a child?
Mom: Absolutely, but, in a good way. These kids are quick!
​
QBM: Had you any idea about the work necessary to realize these dreams?
Mom: I knew it would be a very involved project, but, it's a little more than I anticipated but again all of the sleepless nights are worth it.
​
QBM: Would you have done it, had you known?
Mom: Yes, I love a challenge, I love being pushed beyond what I consider was my limit.
​
QBM: How did you get start up funding?
Mom: The girls sold pencils and artwork at school and I pulled every dime I had from a project that I was working on at the time we started and gave it to the girls' biz.
​
​
Incredible support system!
Parents just a note of how to help your children get from dream to reality.
BELIEVE in them; prep for MORE sleepless nights; encourage them - not just TO but - BEYOND their limits, and KNOW the impossible IS possible. Love that line.
​
Click here or on the logo. Check out this fab kidpreneur idea. And while you are at it, purchase something for the young girl or boy on your list this Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Tet, Eid - or just because you think they are FABULOUS!!
​
Recap and YOU
Previously on QBM, we had a brief run through about human life beginning, developing and thriving in Africa. The oldest bones of our DIRECT ancestor was found in current day Ethiopia, but, we learned some fascinating facts about the Sahara actually being lush and plentiful once upon a time, supporting all sorts of life including aquatic, and being a thriving hub for human existence .
​
We also read that the nearby Nile supported the life of humans as well as migration through Africa. We know humans were busy traveling, sharing, creating civilizations not just communities, and were actually quite genius - far beyond our small minds could fathom. Due to cave drawings, fossils and discovered artifacts, the human presence is well established in our Mother land.
We even began to learn who our oldest relatives are who remained in Africa, the Bushman People. They, like many indigenous people we know, are experiencing stolen lands, the dismantling of traditions and way of life, are basically being shoved aside by "Modern Man" in the name of "progress" - oh, and greed. Soon we will have a wider understanding of their rivals and extended families, learning more about Who We Are and From Where We ALL Hail.
​
To embellish our understanding, the next step is conducting a more detailed search into our past, beginning with ourselves and from where we , personally, originate. This may begin with family research, looking into official records - but for those whose records may be less than available, a DNA test may prove informative.
This is the next step to knowing YOU.
​
Maybe, as we continue the discussion of the original people of Africa, we will see our selves.
​
I submitted my DNA to Ancestry.ca though there are several other professionals who offer this service - some delving deeper into our history discovering much more than from where our ancestors originated. The detail of this search will depend on what information is desired, like health history, for example.
​
It is extremely exciting waiting for details of the unknown.
Let's get even more connected!
Speaking of Holidays!
How about THESE Ideas?!
​
HURRY!
Don't know what a Fitbit is?
You should ! And that special someone is
probably DYING to receive one!
We know, They are supposed to be for kids, But, BIG kids around the office are going CRAZY for this new craze, too!
Consensus is we ALL would love a FREE night out!
