Jessica is a mom of two from Calgary, Alberta. She is finishing her bachelor’s degree in Human Resources and Labour Relations at Athabasca University, although she is hoping to eventually pursue her dreams of becoming a psychologist. In her spare time Jessica can usually be found writing or curled up with a book and a cup of coffee.
Distance learning is hard. Studying from home takes enormous amounts of self-discipline, motivation, and perseverance—even more so for those of us who have children. As an AU graduate with two children, I discovered some tips and tricks along the way to manage the chaos of studying at home with kids. Plan Ahead This is probably… Read more »
Artist: Franklin Zoo Album: The Dandelion Child On October 1, 2021, progressive rock quintet Franklin Zoo will be releasing their third full-length album, The Dandelion Child. According to Franklin Zoo, The Dandelion Child offers a fresh and uncompromising sound, emotion of life lessons, and existential noise. “The album consists of six long, progressive songs,” reads… Read more »
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) estimates potential permanent closures of up to 222,000 small and medium-sized businesses, depending on how the situation evolves. That’s 21 percent of all Canadian businesses. The corresponding job losses would range between 962,000 and 2,951,000 Canadian workers. While most of us are struggling financially… Read more »
Artist: Fences Album: Wide Eyed Elk Ensemble American indie rock singer Christopher Mansfield, aka Fences, has released a new album—Wide Eyed Elk Ensemble. “While singer-songwriter Christopher Mansfield has made a name for himself via a steady string of critically acclaimed solo releases and collaborations with the likes of Tegan and Sara, Macklemore, Death Cab for… Read more »
Now that COVID-19 restrictions are easing throughout Canada, many of us are making plans to travel again—at least within the country. Traveling with young children can be intimidating, especially if you’re preparing for a long car ride. My kids and I frequently drive over six hours away to visit family, so I’ve had plenty of… Read more »
I will preface this article by saying that my five-year-old son is autistic and non-verbal. Prior to becoming his mother, I was extremely ignorant when it came to people with disabilities. That is not to say I was ever impolite or purposefully discriminatory, but that I never gave the issue much thought. I never considered… Read more »
Artist: Marc Ribler Album: The Whole World Awaits You Marc Ribler, self-proclaimed singer-songwriter-musician-producer-director, has just dropped his new solo LP, The Whole World Awaits You, via Wicked Cool Records. Ribler is a seasoned musician, performing in dive bars since he was fourteen. Prior to his role as musical director and guitarist for Little Steven & The… Read more »
We all know that technology is addicting and can wreak havoc on our mental health—which is why I try to practice digital minimalism. Digital minimalism doesn’t mean going completely off the grid (something that seems impossible in today’s world—especially if you’re an AU student). For me, digital minimalism meant taking a hard look at how… Read more »
Artist: Jennifer Nettles Song/Music Video: Oh, What a Beautiful Morning Album: Always Like New Grammy Award winning country singer, Jennifer Nettles, has just released her new album Always Like New, alongside a music video for the single, “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”. If you don’t know, Jennifer Nettles was part of country-duo Sugarland that performed… Read more »
Artist: Sylas Dean Album: American Dreeming Sylas Dean has released his debut EP, American Dreeming, available for streaming everywhere you get your music. An east coast native from the small town of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, Sylas packed his car and drove clear across the country with hundreds of songs in his arsenal to reinvent himself… Read more »