Now at year's end, I have to resolve to be OK with the most recent 365-day journey of my life. I embarked on the year as an entrepreneur and second-time-around mom with a husband who maintains a busy travel schedule. To say the least, I was stretched beyond my limits, but I understand my challenges served to clear the fog.

At the beginning of the year, my baby was just 7 months old. I was two months fresh from quitting my 9-to-5 job and was training for a new career working for myself. My husband travels a great deal for work, so I felt more like a part-time wife and single mother.

There's a nine-year gap between my two children. I felt like a brand new mom all over again. I didn't realize how exhausted I'd be, having to give so much of myself in different ways to more than one child. My oldest's needs are so different than my baby's. I spent a great deal of the year learning to switch gears at any given time — sometimes on the brink of emotional breakdown because I felt like I was failing. Then, there were those days when things played out smoothly and I felt like a semi-pro. Thank God kids are forgiving, but I also thank God I made it through the year with my children healthy and happy and with no knowledge of how hard Mommy had it.

I've always known that the normal route to a career just wasn’t for me. Entrepreneurship is even more challenging for a mom. Making the transition from working a traditional schedule outside of the home to becoming an entrepreneur is different for a single person than it is for a woman or wife with a child or children. The load of responsibilities is different, and so are the major considerations.

I learned that there’s no decision I can consider or any business or financial move I can make without first considering my husband and children. In fact, I can’t even plan my day or create a schedule for running my business without taking into consideration how it all will affect my family. By happenstance, I became a day care mommy entrepreneur. It was a struggle. All the basics of running my own business became so unrealistic, like spending time on the computer, responding to emails or sourcing new clients because caring for my baby 24/7 was my daily priority.

This year taught me so much about myself. I’ve been forced to face the reality of my strengths, weaknesses and work ethic. I’ve questioned my gifts and my talents. I’ve scrutinized my every goal and desire to figure out if what I’m pursuing could be a mere hobby or newest weekend trend. I’ve asked myself a million times if what I’m striving for will truly satisfy me and if I’m doing it all for the right reasons.

I’ve always said that the difference between the next person with the same dream and me is what they are willing to do to achieve it. I’m not always the most creative: Am I willing to take some marketing courses? I’m not the greatest at math: Will I need an accountant or financial adviser or are there some resources I can learn myself to stay on track? What will be necessary to do on my own before I have an assistant, team, staff, contractors or business partners? How will my daily schedule flow? Will I need to travel?

I also learned about faith. Prayer is part of the work that’s required to successfully thrive as an entrepreneur, wife and mom to more than one child. I’ve prayed countless times, asking God to make clear what He’s called me to do. Faith is an absolute necessity.

I spent 2015 as a wife, second-time-around mom and entrepreneur — an amazing journey on so many levels! This past year, I learned planning is 100 percent necessary for leaving full-time work to become an entrepreneur. I also learned prayer is essential to the sanity needed to be everything to my husband and children. And to top it off, I've learned to prepare as much as possible — but, ultimately, life is going to play out unexpectedly a majority of the time.

With so many new releases flooding the market recently, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the new shiny things. More often than not, I end up feeling disappointed with my latest purchases. Sometimes the shiny new ones are just that — shiny and new. They draw me like a moth to a flame, and after a few dollars poorer, I will go back to the old heroes that haven't failed me throughout the years.

Meet my old unsung heroes — the ones that I know I can safely rely on and will never fail me.

1. Foundation

Bourjois Healthy Mix serum gel foundation is a little heaven in a bottle for the perfect my-skin-but-better base. It gives light coverage with a dewy finish and is great for normal to dry skin. I've lost count of how many times I was complimented on my skin because of this foundation and now you know, this is my little secret to natural, perfect-looking skin. For combination or oily skin, try Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation. (Beauty Boutique, $28)

2. Pressed powder

Thanks to my dry skin, I almost never use powder, but whenever I do, Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder would be my go-to powder. I love it so much I have continuously repurchased it whenever I run out. It sets my under-eye concealer without looking cakey, and the finely milled, silky texture melts into skin seamlessly. (Walmart, $9)

3. Dark circle concealer

A firm favorite of many, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle concealer offers medium coverage, is easy to blend and doesn't crease or highlight those pesky fine lines which, at my age, are sprouting like mushrooms after rain. Perfection? No, but it sure does come close. (Well.ca, $12)

4. Baked blusher

If you're a fan of baked blushers then you need Milani Baked Blushers in your collection. They are pigmented, easy to blend and give the most beautiful flush to your face. Trust me, these are one of the best drugstore gems that you'll ever discover. (Well.ca, $8)

5. Cream blusher

If you're a fan of cream blushers, then Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blushers will be right up your alley. These beauties recently made a huge wave again after Lisa Eldridge said she has them in her beauty kit. They are creamy, pigmented and easily blended it's easy to see why she's a fan of these blushers. (Well.ca, $13)

Next: More drugstore must haves

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6. Matt Bronzing Powder

Essence is often overlooked by many due to its very low price. While a huge majority of the time cheap price equals low quality, it's not the case with Essence Sun Club Matt Bronzing Powder. It comes with two options (blondes and brunettes), and you get a whopping 15 grams of product for such a low price! The powder is finely milled, easily blendable and the best part of this bronzer is it smells like coconut heaven. (Essence Cosmetics, $5)

7. Eyebrow-pro

The world has gone gaga for Cara Delevingne's brows, and brow gel became every woman's new best friend to get thick, full brows. If you have sparse eyebrows like me, brow gel alone will not cut it — and this is why I fell head over heels in love with Marcelle Duo Eyebrow-Pro. On one end you get a retractable pencil to fill in your brows, and on the other end, a lightly tinted gel to keep everything in place. The brilliant little tool is all you need to get the perfect eyebrows. (Marcelle, $15)

8. Color tattoo

Is anyone even surprised that this made it onto the list? Creamy, highly pigmented, doesn't crease and lasts all day without fading, Maybelline Color Tattoo is as good as high-end cream shadows but for a small fraction of the price. Whether you use this as base or for a very quick eye look, these beauties will never disappoint. (Walmart, $7)

9. Liquid eyeliner

Don't let the dirt-cheap price fool you, because this little tube of NYC liquid eyeliner has successfully become a firm favorite of many, myself included. I would go as far as claiming this as my Holy Grail liquid liner, and the main reason why my cat eye flick is picture perfect. This highly pigmented liquid liner is the blackest of black, goes on smoothly and dries down to a matte finish. It doesn't smudge and will stay put until you remove it. But its incredible staying power doesn't equal a pain-in-the-ass removal process you can easily remove it with any type of makeup remover. (Walmart, $4)

10. Eyeliner

This beauty is no stranger in the beauty world — with many claiming it to be a dupe for Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On eye pencil in shade Perversion. I have both, and I can honestly tell you I almost never reach for Perversion — while, instead, I use Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in black almost every day. It's the blackest of black, soft but not too soft that it would break, glides smoothly across the lid without any tugging and stays put all day without fading or smudging. And for such a low price, this is a clear winner from the drugstore. (Well.ca, $7)

Next: More drugstore must haves

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11. Mascara

L'Oréal Paris Voluminous mascara will give you unbelievable length and volume without any clumps. While the simple and plain packaging might fool you into thinking this mascara is boring, it is anything but that. The wand separates and fans out my lashes beautifully and it delivers drama without making my lashes looking spidery. (Walmart, $6)

12. Mascara

Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara was released late last year, and it made a huge wave as a great dupe for Benefit's Roller Lash. I have both, and let me tell you, I much prefer this cheaper drugstore option. The wands are the only similarity between the two and Lash Sensational's formula is definitely thicker and wetter — which can be a little tricky to use initially. If you have a little patience, let the formula dry out a little — I do it by pumping air into the wand like a mad woman a few times a week — and you will have one of the best mascaras that gives your lashes length, volume and curl. (Walmart, $7)

13. Lip liner

Soft, creamy, pigmented and extremely long lasting, Rimmel London Exaggerate retractable lip liners are the perfect companions with lipstick or to be used by its own. These glide smoothly across the lips, and the creaminess allows me to easily wear it on its own. (Walmart, $7)

14. Matte Balm

It's easy to see why the beauty world went absolutely bonkers when Revlon first released these gorgeous matte lip crayons. Fast-forward to today, we are still equally, if not more, in love with ColorBurst Matte Balm. Creamy? Check! Hydrating? Check! Great pigmentation? Check! Long lasting? Check check! And psst! Bonus point: The shade Standout is a brilliant dupe for Mac's Russian Red, so close that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference on your lips. (Walmart, $9)

15. Butter Gloss

I have a confession: I have an intense love-hate relationship with lip gloss. Every time I see beautiful glossy lips, I will die a little inside and have the sudden urge to buy a new lip gloss — but I hate the feel of it on my lips. I thought the relationship between lip gloss and me was doomed for eternity until I got my hands on NYX Butter Gloss. These are the haute couture of the lip gloss world, and it's impossible not to fall in love. Opaque, glossy and the texture is neither thick nor thin without being grossly gloppy, these vanilla-scented lip glosses are perfect for any lip-product lovers. (London Drugs, $8)

What are your old favorite drugstore beauty products?

More: 38 Star Wars-inspired recipes great for any galactic gathering

Yolanda Gampp is the expert behind online baking show How To Cake It, posting new videos to her YouTube channel every Tuesday.

To celebrate the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Gampp assumed the character of "Princess Landa" and put serious pressure on parents of all Star Wars fans by creating the BB8 cake of their dreams.

Hinting at the difficulty level of the droid masterpiece, Gampp said, "If you thought Yolanda was detailed orientated, Princess Landa is a whole other level. She’s in another galaxy of detail."

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And she's right. This is no project for beginner bakers. Aside from the two ball-shaped chocolate cakes and stacks of Italian meringue buttercream, it requires a wide range of knives, circle cutters, fondant icing, silver paint and orange modelling chocolate to create the detail.

But if you think you're brave enough to attempt it, this is a cake that's guaranteed to make a hell of an impact.

Watch the video below for full instructions and to see the incredible finished product: 

More: 20 Star Wars products every geeky home needs

Three or four decades later, life has become more complicated, yet tasks have been made easier. Letters and telegrams were the only forms of communication my parents used at one time, and they were able to cope with it. Now that mobile phones, internet access and social media are in place, communication isn't supposed to be a problem. There is no way information will be missed, because everything can be accessed, everything is made available.

Why is communication still an issue? Is this the part of change that our forefathers refused to accept? They must have guessed how technology would affect family ties and how it supersedes the essence of camaraderie and togetherness.

In a coffee shop, I used to see a group of people with their mobile phones in their hands. Either they were busy playing with it or preoccupied with updating themselves in social media. They were all sitting beside each other, so I assumed they were friends. They looked like strangers because they were not really conversing with each other. Frustrating, isn't it?

There was one comic strip I have read in the newspaper where a father went to a mobile shop to have his phone checked because he said it looked like it wasn't working. The technician said his phone was perfectly fine. So, the father asked, "Then why are my children not calling me?" This is the sad truth. In this era, where technology has become our way of life, relationships suffer. The bond between parents and children, friends and colleagues, has changed over time.

While we enjoy the advantages of this change and modernization, some things are taken for granted.

Medicine, on the other hand, has had a lot of breakthroughs over the years. Organ transplants, invasive devices and computer-generated procedures are being used for a more effective and efficient delivery of care. We have prolonged and have improved the quality of life. With the latest advancements in medicine, people have more access to health care and many have benefited from this. Tuberculosis, for instance, at one stage became a killer disease during World War II, but it's now treatable with the discovery of a combination of drugs. A patient who suffered from a heart attack will have either a bypass surgery or a stent; thus, a sick heart can now heal more effectively. These and so many others advances have helped us to survive.

I've read two motivational books that are both inspiring and have had a great impact on change for me: Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson and Our Iceberg is Melting by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber. Both of these books are used to explain how change can affect our lives and how we should deal with it.

Change can be scary if you don't know where you are heading. Uncertainties can build up anxiety; thus, resistance is highly expected. Most of us are just too afraid to get out from our comfort zones. There are situations where change is worth a try if we only look at it from another perspective. Change, whether we like it or not, will constantly take place. It's not the change that matters, it's on how we look at it and how it will affect our way of life.

We always assume that being different from the norms will make us unloved and unacceptable. If it makes us better individuals, why should we care if we are different from the rest?

Embrace change if it is for the common good. Resist it if our worth and values are being compromised.

More: Heartwarming video shows how age changes your outlook on life (WATCH)

A group of skateboard fans called Church Brigade have teamed up with Madrid street artist Okuda San Miguel to convert Santa Barbara church in Llanera into a rainbow-coloured skatepark.

It's been given the description "the Sistine chapel of skateboarding", which is pretty apt.

Think half pipe instead of pews; ollies instead of prayers and an explosion of brightly-coloured murals on the walls and ceiling.

It’s taken five years for Church Brigade to see their project through to completion. "It was pretty much in ruins when we started the project," said Ernesto Fernández Rey. "The walls were stained, paint was peeling and there was dust everywhere."

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According to The Guardian, the church was built in 1912 and was once frequented by workers from a nearby munitions factory. However, when the factory closed down following the Spanish civil war, the church found itself empty.

It was Fernández Rey who first came across the empty building, and considered using it to house a business. But his passion for skateboarding took over, and the fact that the area receives 200 days of rain a year was also a major factor.

Initial efforts to raise money to build a ramp turned into a massive project, which took a big step forward when Okuda San Miguel approached the group to ask if he could paint murals inside the church. "I fell in love right away," he said in a video interview about the project.

The artist then took charge of fundraising, setting up a crowdfunding space and recruiting corporate sponsors. "It’s like my personal Sistine chapel," he said.

"It’s a big surprise," said Rey of the incredible transformation. "But it is a really beautiful place to spend some time."

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And in my neighbourhood theatre, full-grown adults have started showing up in droves, dressed as everything ranging from Chewbacca to Obi-Wan Kenobi.

As Star Wars: The Force Awakens opened in theatres across Canada, one thing became clear — Star Wars fever had a firm hold on Canadians. Looking at everything Canadians are sharing on social media, you can draw a few conclusions about the state of Canada's Star Wars obsession:

If you underdressed, you were out of place

If you went to the opening night in civilian garb, you probably felt a lot weirder than those dressed like storm troopers or giant hairy space aliens.

Some of you, can't contain your enthusiasm

Believe it or not, some people don't know the plot of Star Wars. Don't spoil their fun!

More: Star Wars Characters then and now

If you didn't arrive super early, you likely faced unexpected challenges

Getting into the movies on a regular opening night is challenging enough, but on the night of the Force Awakens, there are plenty of other unexpected challenges to consider, like getting detained by Storm Troopers en-route to your seat.

Star Wars mania doesn't age discriminate

The Force Awakens brought together fans of all ages, as the adults amongst us got to check out our favourite characters' return to the big screen and kids got to experience the wonders of 'Star Wars' for the first time.

More: Harrison Ford injured on set of Star Wars, expected to survive

The bigger the disguise the better

If you were sitting by your neighbour of ten years at The Force Awakens opening night, you probably wouldn't even know it. Sometimes everyone needs to shake things up and channel their favourite alter ego.

I traveled for work, accompanying many tourists around Italy. From north to south, we visited the most famous cities, but also explored villages that sometimes aren't a part of normal tours. The contact with the people gave me an infinite number of points of view just like many questions that for some may have been obvious, but to others were only a starting point for new insights.

Being a tour leader teaches me daily to listen, to meditate and to never stop learning. Museums and cities, although visited many times during this year, were able to show different shades and stories every time when I was regarded with curious eyes and a hunger for knowledge.

This year, for the first time since my daughter was born, my husband and I were able to carve out a space completely for us, which ended up being a romantic evening for two, just a couple hours away from home a real weekend dedicated to us. We chose a farmhouse in the countryside because it was a way to regain our balance away from the sounds and noise of the city.

During those days spent in Tuscany, nature provided us with the relaxation we had forgotten during our daily lives. We met so many people who were proud of their origins, but able to open themselves to the world through the knowledge of new places.

Places can give you what you need. The beauty of travel is to learn from the places you have visited this is the most precious gift that the world can give you. You just have to know how to listen and sometimes interpret. And so it has been my 2015.

Fans and cast members took sides after allegations of sexual harassment were brought to light. Reportedly, co-star Hunter King complained to producers that Muhney had groped her breasts on two separate occasions, and she would go to the police if the actor wasn't fired.

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That story has never been confirmed by King or CBS. Muhney even refuted the charges in January 2014 on his Twitter page.

Now a just-released September 2013 interview with Jim Romanovich of the Radio Retropolis podcast is shedding new light on possible reasons why Muhney was let go from the daytime series. The 40-year-old actor is quite frank about the politics of the show and how he refused to play the game behind the scenes.

Was Muhney nothing more than a thorn in the producers' sides? Romanovich's interview doesn't do any favors to the former Veronica Mars star's case.

The key point in the interview seems to be his sticky relationship with longtime Y&R star Eric Braeden, who played Victor Newman on the series.

"The thing about Eric is he doesn't take s**t from anybody. He's known for that," Muhney said in the 2013 interview. "He's been around enough years for that to be known."

Braeden certainly deserves respect on the set, but it sounds like Muhney was looking for that same level of consideration.

"I haven't been around as many years for that to be known, but it's also a fact with me. He knows I don't take any s**t from him either and I'll call him on it and he'll call me on mine," he said. "We're like that in real life with each other. I don't need to be his best friend and hold hands and skip down the street on the weekends and go shopping together."

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That on-set tension carried over to their real-life relationship, because Muhney decided to put up a barrier between them. He didn't want the father-son dynamic to cross over after the cameras stopped rolling.

"Where I cut it off with Eric is that I can't look for him to be a father to me," he explained. "I can't expect the kind of advice on the side, behind the scenes, or on Twitter, or in an interview where he might be speaking to me. We're just two grown men who are co-stars."

Muhney admitted that he had to put up an "emotional wall" with Braeden and that "it's been the hardest to do with him over everyone" because a part of him was looking for a father figure. That's when the former soap actor revealed the dents in his armor.

"I've never spoken about this with him, but perhaps there's a sense of, 'If you're going to be a son to me, respect me like one.' At the same time, I'm a grown man and I'm not your son," Muhney shared. "So there's a little pushing and poking and prodding, but it's all relevant to what we do."

At the time, there were rumors going around that Muhney was trying to push Braeden off the show. Even though he denied the claims, it’s clear that there was a lot of tension happening between them while he was on Y&R.

Besides Braeden, he also complained about the nominating system for the Daytime Emmy Awards, because he felt like it was unfair. He took it upon himself to try and fix the process. However, his revelation seemed to take a dig at his fellow co-stars.

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"I had to make this decision early on — did I want to make friends at work or did I want to go to work? A lot of these soap actors, they've been in since they were young or they've been in for so long, they don't have a life outside of soaps," he said. "There are a few healthy ones who have outside lives. I don't need to make friends at work here. I also don't mind rubbing people the wrong way and being honest [about the broken voting system for awards]."

The outspoken actor said others supported his fight against the awards show, but there was a "bully crew" who were fine with the status quo because "it worked for them, G*******t." He believed many cast members were afraid to ruffle any feathers.

Even with these revelations in the Radio Retropolis interview, there is still a cloud of mystery as to why Muhney was let go. Was it the harassment allegations or was there more going on behind the scenes that fans weren't aware of? His open conversation with Romanovich proves he wasn't scared to speak his mind and that might have cost him his job.

Couples already entrenched in a fertility treatment program may find it exacerbates an already stressful season. Appointments can begin to seem tedious and time consuming. The important thing to remember in this situation, as in others, is that it’s only natural to feel these things during the holidays. After all, there are trips to be planned, activities to be scheduled, food to cook, presents to wrap and work to be done — who can keep up with it all? The reality is the season brings stress in different forms, but this stress can be managed with several key coping skills.

Here are a several key coping skills:

• Taking a “vacation” from infertility treatment
• Focusing on the good things
• Trying to maintain healthy habits, like eating a balanced diet and exercising
• Using relaxation-response training
• Reconnecting with your partner, learning to communicate and telling your spouse how you need to be helped
• Making sure you are on the same page as your partner when it comes to making decisions, including how you would like to respond to questions and how much information you want to share about your infertility treatment. When asked, “When are you going to have a baby?” remember that it is OK to reply, “Nine months after we get pregnant!”

Remember to know your boundaries

Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of it all, we forget to take care of ourselves. Although not always readily apparent, this can augment stress. Treat yourself and your partner to something that will release your tension, like taking time out for yoga or a relaxing couple’s massage. Be sure to reach out to other childless couples — their parties will be adult focused. If necessary, shop for gifts online to avoid all of the mall madness. Most importantly, stay in touch with others who are experiencing the same thing. They need you the way you need them.

You know your limits — and your body — better than anyone, so don’t feel guilty about not participating in traditional family events. Don’t feel guilty about being angry or crying. These are natural, human responses to stressful conditions. Rely on your partner and address each other’s needs.

When to seek professional help

If you are experiencing feelings of sadness, depression, persistent feelings of worthlessness or guilt during the holidays, you may want to see an infertility counselor or therapist. Likewise, feelings of anger, irritation, agitation and constant worry, thoughts of death or dying, changing in appetite, trouble sleeping or loss of interest and motivation may also be signs indicating a need for professional help. Whatever approach you choose, just remember to be aware of your own personal needs and be patient, kind and understanding with your partner.

Lastly, remember the holidays will pass and a new year will soon begin.

Dr. Minoos Hosseinzadeh is happy to answer any of your questions about infertility. Please email her at drhosseinzadeh@fertilityinstitutesd.com, visit Fertility institute of San Diego or follow her at @FertilitySD.

I know everybody loves the magic of Christmas, and Christmas is totally magic, people. It must be, because every year, we miraculously forget last year’s meltdown because it was taking too long to pry the armor — err, packing material — off of your kid’s new toys. We forget the fact that watching your kids open gifts on Christmas morning was freaking painful because you and your partner polished off two bottles of wine and stayed up until 3 a.m. trying to make sense of the 4,504 steps necessary to assemble a junior Batmobile.

It’s okay to fantasize about a blissfully picture-perfect Christmas morning: happy children playing with their new toys while the parents contentedly sip steaming mugs of coffee or cocoa. The family snuggled up on the couch together watching It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s even okay to hope… but let’s get real. That image that’s living in your head is probably nowhere close to what your Christmas morning will actually look like. For example: 

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Fantasy: You will gently shake your kids awake at 8 a.m. and wish them a Merry Christmas. They’ll bounce out of bed full of sunshine and cheer, and you’ll joyfully troop downstairs as a family to open presents and bask in the glow of togetherness.

Reality: Your kids will either wake you up at 4:30 a.m. or you’ll have to drag their butts out of bed for family Christmas time. The latter will become your reality once you hit the surly tween/teen years. There is no happy medium.

More: 11 Gifts for teens that are $20 or less

Fantasy: You’ll take fabulous, share-worthy pictures of everyone in their matching Christmas jammies.

Reality: Making it past 9 a.m. on Christmas morning with no spills, stains or potty accidents is highly unlikely. And if by some miracle you manage to assemble everyone for a picture without a wardrobe malfunction, at least one person will refuse to look at the camera. Someone will roll their eyes or cry (it will probably be you). If you manage to assemble everyone for the perfect shot, your camera will choose that moment to malfunction.

Bottom line, if you want a great picture of everyone in their Christmas jammies, start in October or invest in Photoshop.

Fantasy: Your kids will love everything that awaits them under the tree and display appropriate gratitude and manners.

Reality: Be prepared for comments like “this isn’t what I wanted” or “this is lame.” And crying.

Fantasy: After the opening of presents, your family will enjoy a special holiday breakfast that you spent at least 45 minutes preparing (think French toast casserole or homemade cinnamon rolls). After breakfast, you’ll snuggle up and watch Christmas movies and enjoy each other’s company.

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Reality: Your small humans will want nothing to do with whatever culinary masterpiece you’ve created. In fact, the more effort you made, the more likely your child is to reject it and demand Cheerios. Regardless of age, kids will watch Christmas classics for about 37 seconds before rolling their eyes and sighing loudly, whining for Team Umizoomi or asking if they can go to a friend’s house.

My advice? Go with the flow and enjoy what you’ve got: every loud, sticky bit of it. It might seem a little cheesy, but if you have kids, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without tantrums, attitude, snot and poopy diapers that leak through onto your baby’s cutesy new Snoopy Christmas jammies. While it probably doesn’t hurt to hope for a picture-perfect Christmas, go in knowing expectations aren’t going to match reality.

Someday, you’ll laugh at those holiday photo fails… really, you will. Until then, know that it’s perfectly acceptable to splash a little bit of butterscotch schnapps in that hot cocoa. 'Tis the season, after all.

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But upon peeking through the glass at Untitled & Co. Store, many were like shocked to discover that the seasonally-attired female mannequin and her children were not enjoying a nice holiday roast, but instead victims of domestic violence.

"The holidays can be a confusing time for women in abusive relationships, especially when there are children involved," says Charlene Catchpole — the chair of the Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses, the group who created the window scene in partnership with the Yellow Brick House shelter — in an interview with Adweek.

"Many women put on a good face and project an image of stability to keep the holidays a happy time. Our hope is that this campaign will break the lingering culture of silence that exists around violence against women.”

Thankfully, for women in Alberta, the Legislature just passed a new domestic violence bill into the law books this month, which should make life just a little easier for victims of domestic violence as the holidays approach. Bill 204 enables victims of domestic violence to break their leases early and forbids landlords from penalizing them.

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Changes to domestic violence laws

The NDP’s Maria Fitzpatrick helped gain traction for the bill, sharing a story of her own battle with domestic violence, leaving tears in her fellow politicians' eyes.

She spoke of beatings, black eyes and broken bones, and recalled being raped by her husband, who’d threatened to kill her daughters. She says she was unable to escape the brutal situation she endured in the 70s, as the apartment she and her husband shared was in her name — she was scared that if she broke her lease she’d have difficulty finding another place to live.

 “The trap was being set and I was the game,” said Fitzpatrick. She stressed that she would be “horrified” if any of her colleagues voted against the bill. They all unanimously voted to pass it.

These changes come at a time when many Canadian provinces have seen increased rates of domestic violence. Andrea Silverstone, co-chair of the Calgary Domestic Violence Collective, tells CBC that calls to her organization shot up by 40% this year.

Following a year of brutal, high profile crimes against women across the nation, Manitoba recently introduced new legislation as well that would make it easier for courts to grant domestic violence victims protection orders.

"The status quo needs to change because we can and need to do more," Maddie Laberge — a woman whose sister Camille Runke was a homicide victim earlier this year — told CBC.

"Intimidation can no longer be a tool abusers use to scare women into coming back to them. Fear of bodily harm (even death) for oneself or for family members cannot be tolerated. We have an opportunity, and an obligation, to make our communities safer."

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Most cats hate everything about travel — their carrying case, getting jostled around, the loud noises. My cats in particular are not good travelers. Even when we have to drive all of five minutes to take them to the vet, they are not happy campers. Cats in general are just more sensitive to a major change to their environment. If you have indoor cats like I do, the experience is all the more jarring.

However, there are plenty of ways to make traveling with your cats a lot less painful for both them and you. It's all about preparing appropriately ahead of time and making sure everyone knows what's involved, depending on the kind of traveling you're doing.

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Before you travel

Talk to your vet

Depending on where you're going, your cats may need new vaccines. This is especially true if you're headed overseas. You'll also want to schedule a checkup to make sure they're in good health. The only thing worse than traveling with a stressed-out cat is traveling with a stressed-out, sick cat.

If you're flying

You'll need to submit a health certificate to the airline within 10 days of departure. Be sure to check the specific pet policies of the airline you're traveling with as well.

If you must fly with your pet, choose taking it with you into the cabin rather than sending it in cargo if you can.

Get a proper carrier

It's important when traveling long distances with a pet that it has enough room to stand up, stretch and move around. This goes for whether you're flying, driving or taking a boat. However, if you are flying, you'll want to make sure whatever carrier you get is USDA approved for shipping. Also, it's important to note that Persians and Himalayans are restricted from flying in cargo, but really no pet should fly in the cargo hold as it leads to many pet injuries and deaths every year.

More: A 'Cat-pack' is the perfect way to let your cat see the world (PHOTOS)

Prepare the carrier

Before you leave the house, make sure the carrier is as comfortable as possible for your cat. It helps to put a towel or sweatshirt that smells like you in the bottom, along with a few favorite toys. It's also smart to prime the carrier with a pee pad since the upped anxiety could lead to an accident. You may also want to spray Feliway or another synthetic pheromone to keep your cat calm, especially pre-flight. A few drops of Rescue Remedy also helps.

You'll want to leave the carrier out a few days before traveling, especially if it's new, so your cat gets used to it. You may even want to take a few short trips with your cat in the car so it can have some experience with travel before your longer trip.

Day of travel

By car

1. Feed your cat at least three hours before getting in the car. This will limit any throw-up incidents on the road.

2. Secure the carrier with a seat belt or similarly strong apparatus. Make sure your cat can see you or someone comforting through the carrier, but for safety reasons, keep it in the backseat.

3. Feed and provide water for your cat at the times you normally would at home. An easy way to provide constant water without making a mess is to attach a hamster water bottle to the carrier. If you can, let it out to walk around the car for a little playtime.

4. If you have to leave the cat in the car for any length of time, make sure to crack the window but don't let it out of the carrier. You should never leave it in the car for longer than a couple of minutes as temperatures can rise quickly in a car, no matter the weather outside.

By plane

1. Cats and small dogs are usually permitted to fly in the cabin with you, but make sure their carrier is approved by the airline.

2. Your cat's carrier will need to pass through the x-ray machine at security check. Make sure you either have a leash to secure it outside the carrier or request a secondary screening that will allow it to remain in the carrier.

3. You will have to keep your cat in its carrier under the seat in front of you for the duration of the flight, but if you can, check on it from time to time.

4. You should keep a bottle of water and an eye dropper so you can occasionally shoot water into its mouth to make sure it's well-hydrated.

5. Keep treats and food with you so you can feed your cat at its normal mealtimes. You may also want to have some Rescue Remedy on you to calm it down if it gets upset.

More: People on the Internet are organizing their cats, and it's purrfect (PHOTOS)

Maybe it’s the glimpse we catch in the rearview mirror while driving or an unexpected encounter with ourselves on FaceTime. It can be the cute clerk’s form of address, conveying respect for someone older than herself. However our midlife moment shows up, one thing we can be sure of: It will change us — forever.

For me, it was the “dreadful selfie” experience. Four frustrating attempts to get the picture right, blaming my phone, its camera and the light. Then it happened. There was a sudden silence screaming into this frustrated noise, commanding me to pause. I took a deep breath and sat down to have a closer look. Yes, I did zoom in — pitilessly. I could hardly see through the veil of tears, but it was too obvious to not get it: It’s time to let go of my youth. It’s gone!

In a society that prioritizes beauty, youth and sex, the midlife experience tends to get reduced to what we are loosing: youthful looks, grown-up kids, aging parents and trusted partners.

"Hurray, finally 50!" I don't think so. We habitually cringe at the mere thought of getting there.

It certainly takes some effort to penetrate midlife’s “disguise” and see it’s blessing; but, wow, is it worth it!

Midlife, like no other phase before, has the potential to become not only a good time, but the best time of our lives! We are called to finally get rid of all that is not us, after half a life of spreading ourselves all over the place trying to accommodate everybody else’s needs and compensate for our lack of self-respect. We have never been so clear about who we are and who we are not; we have never been so experienced in so many areas of life and we have never been so aware that it’s now or never, a real healthy kick-in-the-butt urgency, one of midlife’s most precious gifts.

We need to face this challenge and do the learning it necessitates. It takes courage, honesty and commitment, but it will take us home to our core and connect us to others on the same path.

I have put together a midlife toolbox with seven instruments to promote our homecoming. They are meant to be lovingly experimented with, not forcefully applied. Self-care is the new drive; it’s key to the midlife endeavor.

1. Mindfulness: Strengthen your inner observer

Take time to meditate, to pray and to do mindfulness exercises — whatever your path might be. The main point here is to establish a non-judgmental inner awareness that allows us to start gathering experiences that are deeply our own, untarnished and authentic.

2. Self-awareness: Focus on your focus

We need to become aware, minutely so, of what our motivation while making decisions might be. Is it fear driven — usually related to “them” — or is it vision driven? Let’s take time to feel what’s going on inside of us and strengthen our alarm signals whenever anxiety is taking over. “What if” questions are a strong hint that there might be the wrong power at work.

3. Facing facts: Confront yourself with the reality of transience

Let’s not shy away from movies, books and articles dealing with death. We have no harder evidence than this: there will be a final encounter with every single person to whom we’ve ever said “hello." Embracing this will eventually help us to live life less fear driven, but rather with more appreciation and consciousness.

4. Gratitude: Be perceptive of beautiful moments

These moments are the jewels in our heart's “treasure box.” They are the resources that make our life so special and worthy! We will be able to call on them again in more difficult times. Beauty and mystery are all around us; it takes willingness to perceive them.

5. Intuition: Trust your gut feeling

Did you know that we have a “second brain”? No joke! In his book The Second Brain, Dr. Michael Gershon gives evidence of extensive neurons lining our guts, which correspond with our big brain in the skull. The “gut feeling” is usually the first judgment we make on a very intuitive level, which means that it’s not yet manipulated by your rational thinking. Let’s become increasingly aware of what our gut is telling us — and observe its relevance. We will start trusting.

6. Empowerment: We do have a choice

The capacity to choose empowers us to shape our lives. If we want to stop being a victim, we need to stop blaming and search fervently for the space, however tiny, where our personal power comes in. The first question in any problematic situation should be this: Can I change anything? If yes, let’s do it. If no, let’s not waste time lamenting and rebelling; acceptance is the remedy of the moment that transforms the picture and invites the unexpected.

7. Support: Find a trusted community

I consider this last step to be among the most helpful. Having organized sisterhood retreats with the sole aim to share ourselves and celebrate who we are, I have experienced the healing power of genuine connections growing in an atmosphere of trust. These kinds of encounters may happen anywhere; we can attract them by being vulnerable and allowing others to see our scars. It won’t take long before we get the “Oh, you too?” reaction — the music of opening hearts.

Once we start using these tools, our internalized battlefields will gradually fade away as our unique landscapes emerge. No more “beautiful” versus “ugly,” “good” versus “bad,”  “young” versus “old” or “success” versus “failure." All that counts is this: Is it real?

The best I can be? Midlife makes it very clear.

Purely me.

Now, I simply recycle my annual resolutions the three "Rules of Life" I try to follow year round. I don't completely ignore the New Year's resolution tradition. In fact, I find this is the ideal time of year to renew my commitment to my "Rules of Life," which, sometimes, let's be honest here, can waver now and then.

1. Eat well. Sleep well. Move lots.

Inspired by author Michael Pollan's seven words and seven rules for eating, Eat food, not too much, mostly plants, I have condensed my practice of self-care from the specific (for example, thinking I need to maintain a strict diet and a certain number of minutes of exercise a week) to the general. It is much simpler to strive for a healthy lifestyle that involves the three things I need to maintain good health good food, sleep and exercise.

2. Regrets: bad. No regrets: good.

I have a few regrets, that is that continue to linger several years after the event that triggered the regret has long passed. This, to put it bluntly, sucks.

Life has taught me when I am faced with a difficult choice, decision or fork in the road, I need to ask myself this: Will choice A or B leave me with regrets? Sometimes it is hard to predict an outcome, but simply asking the question provides the time, space and, hopefully, insight to come up with a solution to a dilemma. While this approach works for me, I often use the "regret" question to positive feedback with my clients in my social work practice.

Ultimately, I strive to live my life so that there are very, very few regrets.

3. Be kind.

As a child, I was taught typical good manners: "Please," "Thank you" and lots and lots of "Excuse me." Consequently, I find it quite easy to maintain good manners with the general public except, of course, for those my 23-year-old son calls the shitty people of the world. In those scenarios, my motto is:Ignore and escape.

Have you noticed that it is much harder to show day-in, day-out kindness to the people you love? It is often our partner, our kids, maybe an elderly parent or a sibling, whom we snap at and show impatience and irritation.

Just being mindful of this phenomenon will often create change. An apology or two helps. My children have heard this speech a couple of times: I'm sorry. I'm cranky due to (job, weather, finances pick one) and I shouldn't be taking it out on you. I will try to do better.

It sounds so simple, but simple kindness matters more than we realize. Kindness glues couples together and makes each of us feel valued, appreciated and, most importantly, loved.

As a bonus, Rule No. 3 often ensures that Rule No. 2 holds true and that regrets are far too few to mention.

1. Remember the Night (1940)

Spend the night with an unlikely pair — pretty shoplifter Lee (Barbara Stanwyck) and her sentimentally sweet prosecutor John (Fred MacMurray). When John can’t arrange a trial date for Lee near the holidays, he takes her home to spend Christmas with his family. A forgotten gem in the collection of classics, Remember the Night is a heartwarming story about enjoying the simple pleasures in life: time with loved ones.

2. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Take an enlightening journey with George Bailey (James Stewart), a man who loses sight about what life is all about. After he wishes he had never been born, an angel arrives on Earth. Through flashbacks, he shows George just how many lives he has touched. Powerful and profound, It’s a Wonderful Life is a comprehensive masterpiece that encourages you to live gratefully every day.

3. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Experience the magic of New York City at Christmas time. Department-store Santa, Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn), teaches a little girl (Natalie Wood) to have faith, even when told not to believe in Santa by her no-nonsense mother (Maureen O’Hara). After Kris is put on trial for claiming to be Santa, he proves to a world of nonbelievers who he truly is. Tender and touching, Miracle on 34th Street will remind you you're never too old to believe.

4. The Bishop’s Wife  (1947)

You’ll be touched by Dudley (Cary Grant), an angel who brings subtle joys to his spiritual holiday duties. While guiding a bishop to raise money for a new cathedral, Dudley sweeps the town off its feet, including the bishop’s wife. A charming film about one’s capacity to influence others, The Bishop’s Wife is an allegorical holiday staple about the importance of giving back.

5. White Christmas (1954)

Head up to a cozy ski lodge in Vermont with successful song-and-dance duo Wallace and Davis (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye). After they pick up a performing sister act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen) in their travels, together they try to save an old friend's failing inn. They'll show you the true meaning of Christmas, while entertaining you every step of the way in White Christmas.

So light your tree, grab some cookies and cozy up on the couch with one or all of my Christmas picks. They’re guaranteed to bring you some holiday cheer this season.

What’s your favorite Christmas classic? I’d love to know. Share your choice in the comment section below.

But now, the former reality star ditched her California blonde hair for something a little more rich for the winter.

And she's twinning with her hairstylist!

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"Clearly, I'm obsessed with @kristen_ess," she captioned the Instagram shot of her new hair.

This isn't the first time the 29 year old has played with her hair. She's played with lengths for years, from long, beachy waves to shorter bobs, and she's also dyed it pink, but this marks the first time Conrad has completely flipped her look.

It's surprising she picked red, given that she once told PopSugar that red wasn't her color.

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"We have never gone like red-red. I have had a warmed red [color] before. I can't really do red hair; my skin tone doesn’t agree with it. I did it red when I was in high school, and it was a bummer," she told the website earlier this year. "We did a chestnut brown a few years back. It was fun! It was a nice change, and it was during Winter, so it made sense. But I feel like I don't really feel like myself without blond hair."

Guess she really is obsessed with Kristen. And we have to say, that shade of red totally agrees with her!

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That's one of the first things Thinx CEO Miki Agrawal says in the introduction of The Week, a 15-minute mini-documentary produced by the company known for its functional and sexy period underwear.

And it's so true, no matter your ethnicity or culture.

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But even with our common connection, talking about periods is still taboo in many parts of the world — and women in some countries are even cast out of their homes during menstruation.

"What's so sad about people being shamed for getting their periods and how the female body works is that none of us would be here if it weren't for how the female body works," Jackie Tohn said in the video. "So that that is sort of a shaming as opposed to a celebration is just mind-boggling and baffling."

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In the film, Agrawal and famous women — including Tohn, actress Sophia Bush and model Joy Bryant — share their own awkward period stories. Then, the Thinx CEO offers a history on periods, along with tips on how to end stigma in our daily lives — and why it matters.

"It's all so technical and creepy the way they talk to us about [periods]," Bush says in the video, "that the lining of the uterine walls is sloughing," she said. "That's... gorgeous."

It's a must-watch, no matter your age.

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More: How to create the perfect blank canvas for eyeshadow

Tips and tricks

Wipe. Always wipe the liner applicator before applying it to the eyelid. Do so by running the liner on the back of your hand or use a tissue. Removing any excess liquid allows for better product distribution, even product flow, smoother application and eliminates potential clumps and mess.

Use pencil. Not completely confident to brave liquid liner alone or have shaky hands? Use a similar colour pencil liner to help sketch the line you want to achieve. The pencil liner acts as a guide. Trace over it with the liquid liner.

Foolproof aids. Using the edge of a business card or clear tape can help you achieve the perfect line and flick. Place either the card or the tape following the line of the lower lashes in an upward and outward direction. Apply the liner along the top of the card or tape, then remove the card or tape to reveal a perfect clean line.

Refine. Erase mistakes and sharpen the line by cleaning rough edges with a cotton bud dipped in Garnier Micellar water (£3).

Determine eye shape. It is important to know your eye shape and play with varying thickness, angles and lengths to determine the right liquid liner look for you. For example those with monolids, where the eyelids hide eyeliner, need to create a thick arch with the liquid liner so when the eyes are open there is a defined liner look.

More: The best coloured eyeliner for your eye colour

Mastering the technique

Tight line

Tight lining is the foundation of using liquid liner. It is perfect for no-makeup natural-looking makeup. The tight line creates a fuller lash look which defines the eyes.

How to: Hold the liner parallel to the lash line and create small strokes at a slight angle, going from the middle of the eye outwards in between the lashes. Always start in the middle as this is where the line usually thickens. Smooth the liner carefully from the inner eye outwards to connect the small strokes creating a straighter line.

Kitten eye

The kitten eye extends the tight line and provides lift to the eye without a dramatic effect.

How to: Do the same as you would when you tight line but, with a slight flick of the wrist, extend the line upwards following the curve of your lower lash line. When lining the upper lash line ensure the strokes are not too big. The strokes should not be wider than the final line thickness you want to achieve. From the end of the extended line, go back from the point towards your inner corner to create the slightest triangle and fill in.

Cat eye

The cat eye (or winged liner) follows the same principles as the kitten eye but with a bit more oomph.

How to: Create the foundation of the kitten eye then build upon the thickness and length. Always start with small strokes then smooth out the line by thickening as desired. To avoid uneven eyes, make sure you are always looking straight into a mirror to match both sides and adjust the flick to suit your eye shape.

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What’s better than cake? One that practically makes itself after only 10 minutes of prep time, that's what. This easy (and super-decadent) treat uses just a few simple ingredient shortcuts, like boxed cake mix and chocolate pudding, and bakes up so perfectly in your slow cooker.

It's a great recipe for entertaining, since you can get it started before guests arrive. I love serving this during holidays, when our whole family is over, since I don’t have to keep an eye on it while it is doing its thing and then just top it with fresh red berries and either ice cream or whipped cream when it's ready.

Easy slow cooker lava cake recipe

Serves 10 – 12

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 3 hours | Total time: 3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 (15.25-ounce) boxed chocolate cake mix
• 3 whole eggs
• 1-1/4 cups water
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 (3.9-ounce) package chocolate pudding (not instant)
• 2 cups milk (any type — skim, 2 percent, etc.)
• 1-3/4 cups milk chocolate chips
• Fresh berries, for garnish
• Ice cream or whipped cream, for serving

Directions:

1. Spray the bowl of the slow cooker generously with nonstick cooking spray, and set aside.
2. In a bowl, prepare the cake mix as directed on the box, then add it to the bowl of the slow cooker.
3. In a separate bowl, prepare the chocolate pudding as directed on the box, then add that to the slow cooker.
4. Finally, add the chocolate chips, and place the lid on the cooker.
5. Set the timer to cook on high for 3 – 4 hours, or cook until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with slightly sticky crumbs.
6. When ready to serve, spoon into bowls, and serve with ice cream and red berries.

More slow cooker dessert recipes

Slow cooker peanut butter-chocolate cake
White chocolate-blueberry bread
Slow cooker pumpkin pie

So, what is a single person to do during this time of the year if she wants to embark on a journey to find a special someone? Most people who have been through this process might see the challenges in dating in a modern world around the holiday season; a date for New Year’s makes most singles cringe. Remember, it’s OK to go solo too.

Singles are bombarded with online dating websites and apps galore. How does one navigate this ever present barrage of possible dating opportunities with ease and success in finding a possible relationship? Let’s take the stress out of dating during the holiday season! To begin, there are a few steps that each person needs to ponder before they set out on their dating adventures.

Think about what you seek in a partner and if you would date someone with qualities that you possess? It is a thought-provoking question that all singles should ask themselves if they are thinking about entering the dating scene during the holiday season — or anytime actually. If you do not display the characteristics you seek in another, your journey begins with some self-reflection. You need to be able to work through the uncomfortable feelings and rejection to find success in the dating world.

A positive and optimistic approach to dating coupled with an insight into identifying feelings, maintaining confidence and creating healthy relationships will be your greatest tools.

Tip one

Keep your spirits lifted by being around friends and family during the holiday season. Support from your friends in established relationships is a great way to talk about your thoughts and feelings about a date. Get advice from some of your friends in healthy relationships or marriages. Ask them what makes their relationship work? Be around and celebrate with those people you cherish and get their thoughts. Positivity is great. Seek support from singles embarking on the same journey; being able to have support of someone in a similar situation will be great to share ideas.

Tip two

Embrace and engage in appreciating what you enjoy about the holiday season alone. If you enjoy spending time solo, you will be able to better appreciate the companionship you are seeking. Find a hobby: art, photography, reading, journaling or taking an online class to learn a new skill. Sit at your desk with a holiday hot cocoa or cup of tea and read and research different dating websites and apps or events you can join — or find some holiday events to be part of. Socialize; it’s a great time of the year! Get excited for your dating adventures.

Tip three

Have realistic expectations; the holiday season is a time where lots of people are busy and traveling. If you decide to begin dating through online sites, remember that patience is a virtue! You might need to begin the planning stages and start to meet new people after the new year if you feel like people seem busy or rushed during December. Remember, it’s not the quantity of those you are seeking but the quality. Be thoughtful in your process for meeting new potential dates and take into account that the holiday season might mean more people traveling in and out of your city.

Tip four

If you meet someone around the holidays, it’s OK to feel awkward about not knowing if you need to invite this person to your holiday event or even purchase a gift. Go with your instincts and what feels most comfortable. Maybe meeting someone new during the holiday season means it is too new of a relationship to exchange gifts. Cards are simple, so consider sharing a greeting card. Talk to them about this! I bet they feel the same, and it opens up sharing and conversations.

Try some of these tips or maybe be inspired to get out there and date with ease!