September is a time for renewal. Let us know how you're spicing up your life this fall
We want to know – were you inspired to start a September resolution this year? Did you decide to take up a new skill, or revisit an old one? Finally take the time to change something significant in your life? Tell us why or why not.
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CBC
13 hours ago
- CBC
Cote First Nation rug maker says craft is hard on the hands, but a balm for mental health
By day Chastity Shingoose McNab runs a drywall and taping business called Extreme Trappers Taping, but by night she creates unique customized rugs for a growing Indigenous clientele. "The main thing for me is when people have a smile on their face when they see my rugs or how happy they feel when I deliver a rug," said Shingoose McNab, who is based in Edmonton. While she currently lives and works in Edmonton, Shingoose McNab is from Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan, about 880 kilometres east of Edmonton and 230 kilometres northeast of Regina. Two years ago, she sought a hobby to support her mental well-being and discovered the art of rug making. Since then, she has created over 20 rugs, all with different shapes, designs, complexities and colours thanks to learning from tutorials on YouTube and TikTok. She makes her rugs by tufting — a craft where yarn is pulled through a base by hand or machine to create different patterns and designs. Though she was interested in rug making for a while, she didn't pursue it until her partner encouraged her. "It actually wasn't supposed to be like a business. Like, it was only supposed to be a hobby like to help myself and my mental health," she said. Hobby helps mental well-being As an adult, Shingoose McNab said she has dealt with anxiety, so she was looking for an activity to keep her mind occupied from over thinking. "I was really in a really big rut and I was like, 'I just need to do something,'" she said. But tufting turned into something much bigger than she expected, she added. Once she bought the materials and tools needed, she took off. Shingoose McNab said each rug takes 50 hours or more to create, and she puts a lot of hard work into each rug. "It's a lot on your back and with the gun always moving and shaking, it moves like a tattoo gun," she said. "I've worked so hard to where I got bruising on my knuckles because of how my hands were moving on the cloth for so many hours…so it is pretty tough." Her first rug was for her partner's eyelash business. "When I first started, like, I was so nervous and nothing was going right. Everything was going wrong," she said. Her partner told her to take her time, and go smudge with her then try again after that. That's exactly what she did, and it worked. When it was finished, it was shared online on social media which got attention from people and organizations. Commissions pour in Over the years Shingoose McNab has seen commissions for her work come in from First Nations communities, businesses and people from social media. Cote First Nation Chief George Cote had a rug created for his office with the nation's emblem on it. "It's a beautiful rug," he said. "I have it hanging in my wall in my office." He said when people come into his office they have nothing but nice things to say, and he's proud to tell them it was made by a community member. "She really loves her work, and she puts a lot into it," he said. He said all First Nations entrepreneurs across Canada need to keep honing their craft and showcasing their skills. "It's a tough market out there, and a lot of companies are piggybacking on First Nation opportunities. I'd rather see our own First Nations people being recognized and supported in all the work they do, because it means a lot more," he said. "Don't give up, just keep working hard. The more marketing they do, the more successful they will be." Shingoose said she wants to start teaching youth to help them channel their mental health struggles into something positive. "Life can get hard, but you know there's always better days ahead," she said.
National Post
16 hours ago
- National Post
5 back-to-school bags we love for fall 2025
Article content Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content Whether you are dreading or rejoicing at the thought of back to school, the fact of the matter is, it's just around the corner. Article content Article content Among all the assorted gadgets, gizmos and gear that are required for the return-to-school time, a reliable bag is pretty near the top of the list. To help you grab a good one, we've rounded up five of our favourite back-to-school bags (most sourced from Canadian brands!), from simple backpacks to chic leather finds. Article content A colourful backpack like this Roots Junior style can put some fun into back-to-school. Made from recycled fibres, the bag is lightweight yet durable. It features two zippered compartments for storage and organization and it can fit up to a 15.6-inch laptop. Bonus points for the fact that this Canadian-designed backpack also features a 'rain flap' to help keep school goods dry, you know, for when the weather inevitably turns grey. Article content Don't let the name of this back-to-school bundle from the Montreal-based brand Lambert fool you into thinking this minimalist tote is only good for holding lunch. The zipper-top Hollie style is roomy enough to carry far more than just that soggy sandwich. Plus, we love the added organization of the Brooke pencil case to keep all your writing tools (or chargers?) in one easy place. The two practical pieces are made from a recycled polyester blend for a sustainable spin. Article content Article content Billed as a 'College Starter Pack' by the brand, this school-ready bundle from Coach is sure to send your university-bound student off in style. After all, few things feel as grown up as a chic wallet that matches your handbag (if you know, you know). Available in a variety of colours, including a classic black, white and dark brown, the set includes a Maggie Tote Bag, which can be worn in hand or on the shoulder, as well as a Snap Wallet. Both pieces are crafted from a sturdy pebbled leather, so they will last. Article content This limited-edition backpack from the Vancouver-headquartered brand Herschel Supply Co. nixes the need to ever ask, 'Did you remember your …?' again. The transparent backpack style allows you to check (and recheck) that your favourite student has all their daily essentials on board. True to the company's functional design approach, the see-through multi-compartment bag even comes with a water bottle pocket. Article content Monos Expandable Carry On Article content While a suitcase might not immediately come to mind when thinking about back-to-school bags, there are sure to be some students whose return to school requires the packing of more than just the day-to-day needs. Enter this roller suitcase from the Vancouver-based brand Monos. The Expandable Carry-On suits several travel needs in one. It can be left unexpanded for carry-on allowance during a quick weekend away, or it can be expanded, adding more than an inch and a half to its capacity, for longer trips home. Article content
National Post
16 hours ago
- National Post
Beauty Buzz: The 3 best beauty products we tried this week from Rare Beauty, Annabelle, and ILIA
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content Article content They say: A new blush formula from the brand ILIA that offers buildable, lightweight colour, while also promising to blur the appearance of pores and smooth skin's texture. Skin care-focused ingredients such as edelweiss extract and wing kelp extract address hydration and firmness. Article content Article content Annabelle Brow Fixing Gel Article content They say: A new line of eyebrow gels from the Canadian makeup brand Annabelle, the brow-taming formula tints, controls and even strengthens (thanks to ingredients such as niacinamide and provitamin B5) brows for up to 12 hours. Article content We say: As far as brow gels go, this one is as easy as they come. The small packaging and petite applicator wand mean it's both simple to apply and highly portable. (We love midday brow touch-ups!) Available in a few shade-matching tints, our tester preferred the clear gel, which offers a no-muss-no-fuss brow gel grooming option. Article content Article content Article content They say: The new eau de parfum release from the Selena Gomez-founded brand Rare. A 'warm and spicy' scent, the sweet fragrance plays with delicious notes such as caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, pistachio and more. To support the fragrance launch, the company has also released a line of Rare Fragrance Layering Balms that allow you to boost the notes you're most into, to both help make them more prominent — and to create a just-for-you take on the scent. Article content We say: This fragrance sits firmly in the gourmand category, according to our tester. Its warm notes of vanilla and caramel proved the most prominent on her skin, while the slightly spicier elements such as sandalwood came across as more subdued. Boasting decent staying power, it's a wearable, likable day-to-night addition. Article content
