We started our skin journeys at MD Cosmetic at the start of 2021, and we can already tell that we’re going to be regular clients for years to come! Since we haven’t been able to travel for this past year, all this time at home has been the perfect opportunity to schedule all the appointments we don’t usually have time for. We’ve been wanting to find a medical skincare clinic in the Vancouver area for a while now, and we’re so happy we connected with MD Cosmetic. We were finally able to address some of our skincare concerns and attend regular appointments for our treatment plans.

Taking good care of our skin in our 30s includes medical skincare treatments that focus on the long-term health of our skin. MD Cosmetic & Laser Clinic has been around for 20 years and they’re the best in the business! They have two locations – one in Abbotsford, and one in Port Moody which is where we’ve been going as it’s only 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Being a medical clinic, we’re in the care of doctors and medical aestheticians, experts who can truly help educate us about our skin and recommend the best professional treatments for our individual concerns. We’ve learned so much already and have had such a great experience!

Click here to book a complimentary consultation at MD Cosmetic & Laser Clinic.

Use our code ‘lezseetheworld20’ for 20% off your first treatment (excludes Botox and dermal fillers).

Steph’s Experience with Micro Needling

When we went in for our consultations, Steph’s primary concern was the texture of her skin. She struggled a lot with acne when she was younger and has a lot of acne scarring as a result. Our aesthetician recommended a procedure called micro needling which is used to treat overall skin texture, enlarged pores, scars, etc. Essentially, tiny holes are poked in the skin’s surface stimulating new collagen production! Steph did three treatments of micro needling four weeks apart, and she noticed a big improvement even after just one session. The treatment itself is quite comfortable, numbing cream is applied beforehand to make it painless. Afterward, your face is red for several days and feels a bit like a sunburn, and you’re given aftercare products to keep the skin hydrated and promote healing. It’s a very common procedure, and is one of the most popular treatments at MD Cosmetic. 

Katie’s Experience with IPL Photofacial

For me (Katie), my biggest concern at our consultations was evening out my skin tone. I really wanted to calm some of the redness which my aesthetician actually informed me is rosacea! She recommended IPL (intense pulsed light) photo facials, which are laser treatments that help treat red and pigmented skin. They’re great for tackling sun damage, rosacea, brown spots, hyperpigmentation, etc. I did three IPL treatments two weeks apart, and I really love my results. The treatment is a bit painful as I wasn’t numb (I tried the numbing cream once but it didn’t make much of a difference)! But it feels very similar to laser hair removal and is definitely manageable. There’s really no down time afterward, my skin felt a bit tight and sensitive the next day but I could continue with my regular skincare routine. IPL is also a very popular treatment at our clinic and I can see why!

Overall, we’ve had such a good experience and this is something we wish we’d done sooner. We will absolutely be continuing on as regular clients at MD Cosmetic, and we’re excited to see where our skin journeys take us! We highly recommend exploring medical skincare options as you can treat acne breakouts, acne scarring, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, early signs of aging, uneven skin tone, uneven skin texture, and so much more. Finding a clinic you feel comfortable at, with professionals who you can trust is so important. We highly recommend going for a consultation before booking any treatments to make sure that you find the right fit! 

If you have any questions about our experiences with medical skincare or about MD Cosmetic, please feel free to comment below or send us an email. You can also head to their website for more information or to book a consultation at one of their locations. 

Click here to book a complimentary consultation at MD Cosmetic & Laser Clinic.

Use our code ‘lezseetheworld20’ for 20% off your first treatment (excludes Botox and dermal fillers).

The post Our Medical Skincare Journeys with MD Cosmetic appeared first on Lez See the World.

Where we live in Vancouver, we are now entering our 3rd wave. Many provinces in Canada are heading back into lockdown and we know a lot of people are in the same position in different parts of the world. It’s important we do our part to keep the virus and its dangerous variants under control, and so we once again find ourselves looking for creative ways to entertain ourselves while staying safe.

Today we’re sharing our top 8 tips for getting through this home stretch:

Find Quiet Outdoor Spaces

There are still plenty of activities to do outside safely either by yourself or with your core bubble (distanced and/or masked). If you’re finding your usual outdoor spots are overcrowded, you might need to get creative and look for some lesser-known parks and green spaces nearby. Go for a nature walk, play a game of tennis, do an outdoor workout, go hiking, have a park picnic, or try rollerblading! Getting some fresh air and connecting with nature is a great way to lift your spirits during these tough months.

Catch Up on Award Season Films

If you’re staying home and you need something new to watch, there are so many great films out right now! Many of them are available on subscription streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Crave. Some of our must-see recommendations from this past year include Promising Young Woman, Judas and the Black Messiah, Nomadland, One Night in Miami, Minari, Pieces of a Woman, Sound of Metal, and The Trial of the Chicago 7.

Send Some Snail Mail

One perk of knowing friends and family aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, is you know they’ll be home to receive a card or letter in the mail. Bonus points if the letter is hand written or you make the card yourself! At this point it feels like we’re all getting a bit tired of FaceTime and Zoom, so why not send something special in the mail to brighten someone else’s day.

Cook or Bake Something New

After 12 months at home we’ve definitely tired of our go-to Uber Eats orders, so we’ve been working on getting more creative in the kitchen lately with exciting new recipes. Try looking up a recipe for something you wouldn’t normally make, and give it a try! YouTube is a really great resource if you need some ideas or a little extra guidance. Some of the new meals we’ve tried lately are vegan “beef” bourguignon, vegetable coconut curry, and plantain and black bean burrito bowls!

Listen to Music

When was the last time you just sat and listened to music? Like actually listened? The other day we cuddled on the couch and sang along to a 90s playlist on Spotify and it was so much fun. We loved listening to all the songs from our childhood that are burned into our memories, and it really helped get our minds off of everything for a little while. Highly recommend this activity as it’s something none of us do nearly enough!

Do Some Online Vintage Shopping

One of the things we really miss doing this year is going to thrift shops in person. It’s so much fun to sift through vintage clothing and find all the gems! Luckily there are some great online thrift stores like Poshmark and Thred Up where you can find all kinds of cool vintage items from the safety of your home. Online consignment is a great way to shop secondhand and we’ve had so many great finds! If you aren’t able to go out to the shops where you live, this is a great alternative.

Re-Decorate and Re-Organize Your Living Space

One of the the things that has really helped us over this past year is keeping our home a space that is cozy, productive, organized, and energizing. We’ve done everything from painting, to building furniture, putting up artwork, and ordering lots of plants. If we’re going to be stuck here at home, it’s really important that this is a space that we enjoy! There are so many things you can do to spruce up your home, even on a really small budget. Sometimes just moving things around and re-organizing your belongings can make your space feel fresh. Find some inspiration on Pinterest and map out a few projects to focus on each month!

Chat With New Friends on Clubhouse

Clubhouse is a new audio only social media app, where you can rest your typing fingers and just chat with like-minded individuals in different rooms. Topics range from photography, to travel, to LGBTQ+ safe spaces, and more! Clubhouse is currently available for iPhone users and is invite only as it’s still fairly new, but it’s a great way to connect with people during this time of isolation. (If anyone needs an invite you can shoot us an email and we can help you get set up!).

We hope you’re all hanging in there, and hopefully this list gives you some ideas on how to keep yourself entertained and feeling your best during these tough months. This is such a crucial time in the pandemic, and if we can all stay the course we can get through it!

If you missed our list at the beginning of the pandemic, you can check it out here.

What are some of your favourite activities to keep your spirits up right now? Let us know in the comments!

The post Our Tips for Getting Through the Home Stretch of this Pandemic appeared first on Lez See the World.

Our first interview is with Dr. Leah Tidey, a bisexual podcast host and sexual health expert! We connected with Leah over on Instagram when she reached out with an invitation to have us on her podcast The Love Doctor. We immediately hit it off and had such a great time recording our episode in 2020 (you can listen to it here!). We love how inclusive Leah’s work is of the LGBTQ+ community, and how skilled she is at having stigma-free conversations around sexual health and wellness. We’re very happy to have interviewed her for the blog and are so excited to share her great insights. Keep reading for our interview with Leah!

Dr. Leah Tidey is a podcaster, and sexual health and arts-based researcher. She is currently a post-doctoral fellow in the University of Victoria’s Theatre Department and at the University of British Columbia’s Canadian Institute on Inclusion and Citizenship. She received her PhD in Applied Theatre from the University of Victoria in 2020, where her research focused on using theatre to address social stigma of sexuality for youth and older adults. Dr. Tidey is also a sessional instructor at the University of Victoria and is currently pursuing her sexual health educator certification through Options Sexual Health. Her favourite job, however, is hosting The Love Doctor podcast where she shares research informed advice that can lubricate any conversation about sex. 

The post Interview with Sexual Health Expert – Dr. Leah Tidey appeared first on Lez See the World.

It’s been almost a full year since we stopped travelling and settled down in Vancouver to stay safe during this pandemic. We’ve never spent this much time at home in the full ten years that we’ve been together! We’re so grateful to be healthy and to have each other to lean on right now, and it’s given us a lot of really wonderful quality time as a couple. We’ve been getting creative with at-home date nights, DIY spa days, and anything else we can do to stay connected and keep our relationship strong! 

All this time in our condo means we have a lot more time to take care of ourselves, so we’ve been putting extra energy into our personal care routines, beauty routines, and haircare routines. It’s become something really fun to do together as a couple, and a nice way to spend intentional, quality time with one another at home. 

Haircare

Today we’re sharing a bit about our hair care routines, and the most important hair tool that we both have at home. We have completely different hair types and very opposite needs, but we’ve both been using Aquis Hair Towels for years and we love them! They keep our hair strong and healthy and reduce damage every time we use them. We recommend these towels to everyone as an absolute must-have for healthy hair!

I (Katie) have been on a healthy hair journey for a couple years now, and I’ve become obsessed with all things hair health. I’ve learned so much about how to care for my natural texture after damaging my hair for years, and now I focus on being as gentle as possible. I’m very conscious of every single product and tool I use because I know what a difference these things make, and I ensure that everything Steph and I use at home is going to be the best for our hair. 

Aquis Hair Towels

Your hair is the most vulnerable to damage when it’s wet, so a gentle post-shower hair routine is incredibly important. How you dry your hair plays a big role in hair health, and a proper microfibre hair towel is a must-have. They cut down drying time, protect colour, reduce damage and frizz, and help to define your natural texture. They are especially important for anyone with waves, curls, or coils, but they benefit every hair type! The goal is to get your hair from wet to damp as quickly as possible, without using heat or friction, which can cause a lot of damage. A quality microfibre towel can cut down on blow-drying time, or even eliminate it all together! Aquis towels gently absorb water from the hair, helping it to dry faster and more efficiently. They are so much healthier for your hair than rough bath towels, and the unique Aquitex fabric dries the hair more evenly than other microfibre wraps. 

Aquis has flat hair towels as well as hair wraps, and different types of fabric for different hair types. They offer something for every hair length and texture, and Steph and I each have different designs that benefit our hair. Keep reading for our personal haircare routines!

Steph’s Hair Routine

Steph has always had really beautiful, healthy hair. She never colours it or heat styles it, but because her hair strands are quite fine she can still be prone to breakage. She’s been growing out her length for the past couple years, so it’s especially important that she uses a gentle towel to dry her thick, straight hair on wash days. Steph loves a low-maintenance routine, so her go-to towel is the Rapid Dry Waffle Hair Wrap – she has it in ‘Moody Grey’. The raised texture of the waffle fabric is ultra-absorbent, which cuts down drying time and makes for a quick and easy routine. This design is perfect for thick, straight hair! Steph wraps her hair right out of the shower and lets it dry in the towel for 20-30 minutes. The loop and button closure keeps the hair wrap in place so she can go about her day hands-free. Afterward, she’ll take out her hair, brush it, and let it air dry for the remaining time. Her results are frizz-free, shiny, healthy hair every time with very little effort!

Katie’s Hair Routine

My hair is naturally wavy, but I’ve only started embracing my real texture over the past couple years. With over a decade working in the talent industry, my hair became so damaged from constant heat styling, colouring, bleaching, backcombing, etc. I reached a point where I just really wanted to care for my hair and get it feeling as healthy as possible, and I wanted to wear my natural texture with no heat in my routine. My waves can be pretty delicate so it’s essential that I use a quality hair towel on wash days. My go-to is the Rapid Dry Lisse Hair Towel – I have it in ‘Desert Rose’. The flat, smooth-weave design is extremely absorbent and perfect for scrunching the water out of my hair post shower. Scrunching my hair dry with the towel really helps to define my natural texture and encourage more bounce in my waves. It’s so gentle and doesn’t cause any frizz, (and we all know wavy/curly hair is prone to frizz!). I will either scrunch my hair from soaking wet for 5-10 minutes with my towel and then leave it to air dry, or “plop” my waves in my hair towel for 10-20 minutes before taking it out and scrunching. Eliminating heat from my hair routine has made such a massive difference in my hair health and I’ll never go back! 

We recently replaced our old Aquis towels with their current designs and we love them so much. They’re definitely the best part of our haircare routines and by far the most important styling tool for healthy hair! You can shop Aquis hair towels and wraps on their website Aquis.com and we suggest reading the recommendations to find which design is best for your unique hair type. Get ready to never use another hair towel ever again! 

The post Our At-Home Hair Care Routines with Aquis appeared first on Lez See the World.

Five North Chocolate

This queer-owned small business does fair-trade snacking chocolate, a perfect stocking stuffer or small gift idea for someone you love! Their plant-based products have organic ingredients, perfect for the chocolate lover in your life. They’re at a great price point and the company is certified fair trade. We’re eyeing the sampler pack!

Pals Socks

This brand is both LGBTQ-owned and woman-owned, and they make super cute socks for both kids and adults! A really fun gift idea for anyone on your list, and they have lots of great patterns to choose from. All of the designs are mismatched pairs and they’re so creative!

Alder New York

This queer-owned brand does skincare and haircare products that are all vegan with clean ingredients! A great gift for the skincare lover on your list, they have a lot of items in a variety of price points. Everything from stocking stuffers to gift sets! A perfect self care present for the holidays.

Nona Vegan

This vegan, queer-owned brand is one of our faves! They do amazing plant-based sauces that have become a staple in our kitchen this year. Their three flavours are super versatile and everything is gluten-free, cruelty-free, and good for you! A perfect gift for the foodie in your life!

Queer Candle Co

This brand is owned by a queer couple, and they make gorgeous soy wax candles with homegrown herbs and dehydrated fruits. Such a wonderful gift idea for the holidays, they have both individual candles and seasonal bundles! There are lots of scents to choose from and everything is handmade. We can’t wait to order one of these for ourselves!

Automic Gold

If you’re looking to buy some beautiful jewelry for someone on your shopping list, check out this queer-owned jewelry brand! All of their pieces are made with reclaimed gold, and they have so many gorgeous designs. A perfect gift for someone special, or if you want to treat yourself over the holidays. They even do custom designs!

Sigil Scent

This one is definitely more of a splurge item, but this queer-owned business does fragrances that are 100% natural, vegan, and cruelty-free. They do four gender-neutral scents that would make a really special gift for someone! Such a beautiful idea for the holidays.

We hope you find this list helpful! Wishing all of you the very best for the holiday season.

Do you have any great queer-owned holiday gift ideas? Leave them in the comments below!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this blog post may be affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you, we could make a small commission through your purchase. We only recommend products and services that we truly believe in, and the income generated goes toward creating more content on this website for you to enjoy for free.

The post Queer-Owned Small Businesses – Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Lez See the World.

Buff Experts

This Canadian brand was co-founded by a Black woman and they make the most incredible plant-powered body care products! Our personal favourites are the Jojoba & Apricot Body Oil, and the Camellia & Avocado Hand & Nail Cream. All of their products are cruelty-free, most are vegan, and they focus heavily on clean ingredients. They’re at a great price point for stocking stuffers, or you can put together a little package for a great gift idea. A perfect little self-care present for someone you love! 

Land of Daughters

This Indigenous brand is Metis and woman led, and they make gorgeous candles and home goods! A perfect gift for the holidays, everything they sell is handmade in Canada. Their candles are made with 100% soy wax, lead free cotton wicks, and are both vegan and cruelty free. We’ve ordered several as gifts and they make such a perfect present for friends and family. There are plenty of scents to choose from so you’ll be able to find something that suits anyone!

Mumgry

For the foodie in your life, check out this Black-owned Canadian brand that makes incredible nut butters! Everything is plant-based, low in sugar, and high in protein. Good for you snacks! A perfect gift for a stocking stuffer or something to go under the tree. They even have a mini trio pack that we’re eyeing for someone on our list! 

Mini Tipi

Another amazing Indigenous brand that is both Canadian and woman owned, this company makes the most beautiful blankets! All of their products are made in Canada, featuring Indigenous-inspired patterns and designs. They also sell beautiful shawls, bags, and mittens, as well as items for babies and kids. Such a beautiful gift idea! We’re definitely eyeing a blanket for ourselves, they would be perfect for road-trips, beach days, and campfires.

Devi Arts Collective

This beautiful Canadian jewelry brand is Black-owned and woman led, with everything handmade in Vancouver. They use sustainable materials like recycled gold and silver, and ethically sourced gemstones. Their designs are gorgeous and so unique! They have earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets, with plenty of options in various price points. A great gift idea for the jewelry lover on your list! 

The Yukon Soaps Company

This Canadian brand is Indigenous-owned and operated in the Yukon Territory! They make gorgeous soap bars, essential oil blends, and other bath and body products. Perfect stocking stuffers and gifts for friends and family! The company uses local plants in its product formulas, and beadwork of local Indigenous artisans. The Yukon is on our travel list and seems like such an incredible part of Canada, this brand really seems to capture its magic.

Clarkes Tea

Another amazing Canadian brand, this one is Black-owned and woman owned! They do organic teas and wellness gift boxes, perfect for the tea drinker on your shopping list. These would make great little stocking stuffers or a perfect present. The price point is very reasonable with a variety of options for different taste preferences. We’re personally eyeing the ginger root tea!

Skwalwen Botanicals

Another incredible Indigenous-owned business that is Canadian and woman owned. They do beautiful botanical skincare products with organic ingredients like facial oils, body butters, serums, lip balms, and more. There are lots of items that would make great stocking stuffers, or bundles that would be perfect gifts! Tons of options for the natural skincare enthusiast on your shopping list!

We hope you find this list helpful! Wishing all of you the very best for the holiday season.

Do you have any great BIPOC-owned holiday gift ideas? Leave them in the comments below!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this blog post may be affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you, we could make a small commission through your purchase. We only recommend products and services that we truly believe in, and the income generated goes toward creating more content on this website for you to enjoy for free.

The post BIPOC-Owned Small Businesses – Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Lez See the World.

K9 Sportsack

For the dog owner in your life, we cannot recommend this brand enough! We have two K9 Sportsack carriers and are currently eyeing their travel pop-up tent. They make so many amazing pet products that have become absolute staples in our life and we are huge fans. Our dog Theo loves his carriers and we use them all the time on hikes, bike rides, and even regular walks when he gets tuckered out. They have been such a huge help for when we’re travelling with him, and he’s always so happy when we use it! The brand has tons of information about which carrier is right for what kind of dog, as well as all the details you need around sizing. We have a code if you’d like to get a discount on your purchase, just use ‘LEZSEETHEWORLD’ for 10% off!

S’well Bottle

One of our all-time favourite purchases are our S’well Bottles. We each have several bottles in different sizes, and we’ve bought many more for our loved ones. They are truly the best insulated and reusable bottles out there! We recommend the small 9oz size bottle for travel, and the 17oz medium size bottle for every day use. Steph also loves using the 12oz traveler style as a coffee thermos! The bottles can keep beverages cold for up to 48 hours, or hot for up to 24 hours. These are a perfect gift for literally anyone on your list!

My Kitsch 

I’ve been very into hair health this past year while learning to love my natural waves, and My Kitsch is one of the best hair accessory brands I’ve come across! One thing that is so important (especially for textured hair) is to opt for soft materials that won’t cause damage and frizz. I ditched my hair elastics and replaced them with satin scrunchies and I’ve already noticed way less breakage. For other wavies and curlies, how you sleep is also very important! Sleeping with a satin pillowcase or sleep cap will help extend your style and your hair will be far less frizzy in the mornings. I also have a satin eye mask, which I love and bring everywhere with me. We have a code if you want a discount on your purchase, use ‘LEZSEETHEWORLD’ for 15% off if buying directly through the Kitsch website!

Herschel

One of our fave brands (and a Vancouver company!) is Herschel. They do amazing bags and we each have several sizes and styles! Their hip packs are a great purse alternative, Steph uses hers every day and they’re perfect for travel. We also love their backpacks and duffel bags, and they have so many different styles and prints to choose from. We both have their passport holders and card wallets as well, great gift ideas for when we can all travel again!

Biird

If you read our recent post about our current favourite sex toys, you would have seen us raving about our Obii from Biird! It’s a perfect option for a first time toy, and is great for use either solo or with a partner. Its unique and versatile design is what really sets it apart for us, and we truly cannot recommend it enough. A fun gift idea for your significant other or for yourself! We have a code if you want to get a discount on your order, just use ‘LEZSEETHEWORLD10’ for 10% off!

Air Fryer

If you follow us on Instagram you’ve probably seen that we are quite often raving about our air fryer. Our best purchase of 2020 which has made staying at home much easier, we use our air fryer ALL the time. Especially great for plant-based foodies and vegans, there is so much great stuff you can do with it. We seriously air fry everything! It’s definitely worth the investment in our opinion, and won’t be a kitchen appliance that will sit in the closet collecting dust. Whoever you buy this for will never stop thanking you! 

Tripod

For the photographer in your life, this tripod is the ultimate gift. We’ve gone through many tripods and this one is the perfect combination in our opinion because it folds up small into the perfect travel size, but is still sturdy and well made! We bring it on every trip with us and use it every single time we take photos. We’ve recommended it to so many friends and everyone who gets it tells us how much they love it. Every photo lover and camera geek needs a great tripod! 

We hope you find this list helpful! Wishing all of you the very best for the holiday season.

Do you have any great holiday gift ideas? Leave them in the comments below!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this blog post may be affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you, we could make a small commission through your purchase. We only recommend products and services that we truly believe in, and the income generated goes toward creating more content on this website for you to enjoy for free.

The post A Few of Our Favourite Things – Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Lez See the World.

Biird

Right now, our top choice is our Obii from Biird. The design is unique, high quality, quiet, and versatile, and this women-led European brand is very inclusive and pleasure positive. We definitely recommend this one as a great option for a first time toy! It can be used solo or with a partner, and it’s truly such a creative pleasure product. The brand ships worldwide in discreet packaging. Check them out here and use our code LEZSEETHEWORLD10 for 10% off! 

Nomi Tang

Another current favourite of ours is our Nomi Tang ‘Better Than Chocolate’ vibrator. It’s a very classic, non-intimidating vibrator toy. It’s small, quiet, and waterproof! This woman-owned brand has won numerous design awards, and has plenty of different toys for all needs. With lots of selection there’s definitely something for everyone! They also offer discreet worldwide shipping. You can see the full collection here.

Lulu Toyz

Last but not least is our Lulu Toyz wand. This small start-up makes a variety of vibrators and massagers, all very high quality and well reviewed. We use the Lulu 11 and we love it! A great option for a classic wand vibrator, all of the designs are cordless and some have a feature that will remember your preferred settings. You can check out their selection here.

There are so many great options out there for different needs and preferences, and plenty of amazing brands to support. We asked our community for personal recommendations and everyone shared their favourite sex toy companies! Here is a list of more brands to check out:

Wet For Her – Designed by women for the queer community!

Magic Wand – Best selling massage wand of all time.

LELO – Luxury toy brand.

Satisfyer Pro – Very LGBTQ+ inclusive company!

Blush Novelties – Huge selection of products.

The Womanizer – Very pleasure positive brand.

Vush – Working to reduce stigma around self pleasure.

There is still so much work to be done when it comes to de-stigmatizing queer sex and female pleasure. One of the best things we can do is have open conversations and normalize these topics in our every day lives! 

Did we miss anything that should be on this list!? Let us know your favourite sexual wellness brand or your favourite toy in the comments below.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this blog post may be affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you, we could make a small commission through your purchase. We only recommend products and services that we truly believe in, and the income generated goes toward creating more content on this website for you to enjoy for free.

The post Lesbian Sex Toys – A Roundup of Our Current Favourites appeared first on Lez See the World.

Stream Broadway Musicals and Plays

Broadway HD has an incredible line up of plays and musicals available to stream. They have a 7 day free trial you can take advantage of to get your broadway fix!

PBS is also streaming broadway productions for their Broadway’s Best event. They also have a plethora of other incredible content available for stream, including a collection called Great Performances with incredible orchestra and opera performances. Other specials that are worth checking out are the Black Culture Connection, a collection of stories and films highlighting Black history and culture, and Rise Up: Songs of the Women’s Movement. Subscriptions are available for $5 per month or $60 annually. Please note, PBS content is only available in the US, however a VPN will allow you to watch from anywhere.

Youtube also has a collection of streaming musicals to buy or rent such as  Billy Elliot the Musical, Into the Woods, Newsies, and free streams such as Rent.

The MET Opera is also doing nightly streams of the iconic Opera performances from their collection. The performances stay up for 20 hours from the time they’re released, so be sure to check out the schedule!

On the Boards offers more obscure theatre and dance ranging from experimental pop operas to contemporary dance films. They are offering free streaming until the end of April! According to their press release, here’s how you can access content for free:

• Choose a performance on www.ontheboards.tv
• Pick the 48-hour rental option, then add to your cart (you can do this with as many films as you like)
• Go to checkout
• Enter your name and email address
• Use the promo code ARTATHOME20

Join the Virtual Show Tune Sing Along Party at Marie’s Crisis

One of our favourite spots in NYC is a tiny gay piano bar called Marie’s Crisis. The basement bar is packed nightly with theatre enthusiasts who belt out show tunes with the accompaniment of a talented staff pianist. Since gatherings in the city have been banned, the staff at Marie’s Crisis have been live streaming nightly sing along parties! To get into the party, simply join their Facebook group and catch the live stream from 4pm – 9:30pm Eastern. Also, be sure to check out this article to find the pianist schedule and Venmo info so you can still tip!

Take Virtual Museum and Gallery Tours

Google Arts and Culture has teamed up with hundreds of iconic museums and galleries to bring the spaces to us while we can’t go to them. Now you can visit the MET, the British Museum, MOMA, the Van Gogh Museum, the Tate, the Smithsonian, Anne Frank House, the V&A, the AGO, Museo Reina Sofia, and many others from the comfort of your home!

“Hang Out” With Friends and Family on a Video Conference Call

Since we can’t gather in person, why not connect digitally? Zoom offers a free video conferencing plan for calls up to 40 minutes long. In February they lifted the 40 minute cap for people in China, so hopefully they will do the same for customers worldwide.

Order Take-Out from Your Favourite Restaurants

The number of restaurants available to order from via delivery services like Skip the Dishes, DoorDash, Foodora, and Uber Eats, has been growing immensely through all this as establishments are looking for ways to continue serving their customers. These delivery services are taking extra measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone, including no-contact deliveries becoming the default. If you’ve never used these services before, be sure to sign up by clicking on the links above and you’ll get a discount on your first order!

Borrow Free Digital Books from Your Public Library

Many public libraries have extensive digital collections in addition to their physical ones. The Vancouver Public Library has a wonderful catalog of e-books, audiobooks, digital magazines and other resources such as the Lynda tutorial series, which has amazing courses on photo and video software. The Toronto Public Library also has an incredible digital library as well as online book clubs and resources for small businesses. If you’re a resident of NY State, you can apply for a virtual library card and borrow e-books and audiobooks from the New York Public Library’s massive collection. Sadly, since their branches are currently closed, there is no way for non-residents to take advantage of their 3 month visitor card, but if you live in New York this is a great perk! Be sure to check out your local library websites to see if they have similar programs!

Take an Online Fitness or Dance Class

With gyms and studios closed, many trainers and instructors have taken their classes online! You can take dance classes with Debbie Allen, do a yoga class with Adriene or Boho Beautiful, follow a circuit training workout with Performance Institute on Facebook live, or a HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout with FITSQR on Instagram.

Virtually Ride the Rides at Disneyland and Disneyworld

Let’s be honest, this is a good resource for any time! Check out this collection of Disney ride videos!

Watch Aquarium Live Streams

What’s cuter than sea otters floating hand in hand while they nap? And what’s cooler than watching sharks swim around? If you’re at the point where all you can handle is watching animal videos, then check out the Sea Otter Cam at the Vancouver Aquarium and the Shark Cam at the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto!

We hope that everyone is hanging in there, wherever you are in the world. Hoping you all stay safe and healthy while we wait this out. Sending our love! If you have any other suggestions, please leave them in the comments below.

The post 9 At-Home Activities to Get You Through Self Isolation  appeared first on Lez See the World.

One of the primary reasons we have the financial freedom to travel so much, is because we work for ourselves. We have both been self employed for all of our adult lives, and have built multiple businesses around our different skills and interests. Steph has worked as a sports coach, a strength and conditioning specialist, an athletic camp director, an independent baker, a video editor, and a web master. I (Kaitlin) have worked as a dance teacher, a fitness instructor, a freelance performer, a choreographer, an independent model, and a digital content creator. We have both leveraged our work experience to make our “jobs” as flexible as possible, and that means that we can make travel a huge part of our lives.

We hear a very common goal from the people in this community, and it’s that everyone wants to find a way to travel more. Our biggest piece of advice to make that happen, is to take control of your work, and make it work for you. Whether that means starting a side hustle on top of your regular job to earn extra funds for travel, or going entirely freelance with whatever you do to make your schedule more flexible. There are so many different ways to make it happen, and it’s never been easier to work for yourself. Start an online business, start freelancing on the side of your job, build a brand, grow your idea, make something happen! Keep reading for our top tips on how to branch out and work for yourself.

EDUCATION

Whatever it is you want to do, educate yourself and continue educating yourself! Seek out as much information as you can, and never stop learning about what it is you’re interested in doing. It’s the best way to spark an interest, organize your ideas, and fuel your passion, and it’s the easiest thing you can do to get started right now.

Take an Online Course

When we decided to start this blog, we already had a lot of the skills we knew we would need. We’re confident with writing, photography, and building a website. But we wanted to launch this blog as a business, and so we educated ourselves by taking an online course from one of the biggest bloggers in the travel space, Nomadic Matt. We learned so much and it gave us the confidence to fully dive in! Whatever it is you want to do, find an online course or a class to take, and set yourself up for success from the beginning.

Read Relevant Books

Another great way to educate yourself, is to read! Find books on business, productivity, entrepreneurship, etc. and set aside the time to dissect them. Some of our favourites are The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris for work-life balance, The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday for determination and resilience, and You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero for overall motivation and personal growth. There are amazing books out there on every subject you can possibly imagine, so whatever it is you’re interested in, get reading!

Listen to Podcasts

Podcasts are an amazing way to educate yourself. There is so much accessible information out there on every subject, and you can listen to them while you’re driving, on a flight, or just doing chores around the house. It’s an amazing way to receive the information you need, and there are so many great podcasts out there on a variety of topics. Search within your niche, and start listening until you find something that really resonates with you.

BUILD A BRAND

Whatever your business is going to be, you will need to build a powerful brand in order to succeed. Maybe you’ve decided to start a business as a general virtual assistant, or you want to start an Etsy shop and make original products, or cut together videos for corporate clients. Whatever it is, building a solid brand from the very beginning is going to make your business thrive! Define your goals, sketch out a business plan, and get to work.

Get a Logo

Whatever your business is, it’s essential to have a professional logo. This is something you’ll use on your website, on your social channels, on your business cards, and more! While it may seem easy to create a logo yourself, having a business logo designed by a professional can make such an enormous difference. It’s an investment that is well worth the cost, and will help you establish an influential brand for your business. When we wanted a logo for Lez See the World, we used a service called 99 Designs. We were actually able to host a design contest which gave us access to a number of professional designers, and they all created logo ideas based on our brief. We could narrow down the results, and then make small changes with our favourites until the design felt perfect. We ended up choosing a design by an incredible female designer, who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and was really passionate about our message. Her design perfectly embodied what we were looking for, and we couldn’t be happier with the results! If you don’t want to host a contest, you can also just work one-on-one with a designer to create a logo for your business. We highly recommend 99 Designs. Click here to check them out!

Build a Website

Every business needs a website, and it can be pretty simple to set one up yourself depending on your needs. If your business requires something beyond your skills, you can always hire a web developer and designer to bring your vision to life with their technical expertise. To create a website you will need a hosting service, as well as a platform to build with. Hosting is basically what will make your website accessible on the internet. BlueHost is a great service to start with. They are secure, reliable, and one of the largest web hosts out there with reasonable prices. Click here to get started with them. Then you will need a platform to help you build your website. Depending on what type of website you need for your business, different platforms are great for different things. For instance, this website is built on Wordpress because it’s primarily in a blog format. We’ve also built websites for other businesses on Squarespace because they have a very visual format and are great for portfolios! Choose a platform that works best for YOUR business, and start building!

Establish Your Social Media Channels

After you have your logo and a website, you should establish your brand on social channels. A good place to start is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Each platform serves a different purpose, and all of them have their own benefits when it comes to growing your business and engaging with your community. Facebook is a visual platform that works great for photo and video content. Twitter is wonderful for building community, and is a good way to connect with people one on one. Instagram is also a very visual platform, with a variety of features that are beneficial. And finally, Pinterest is both a social platform and a search engine, being a great way to drive traffic to your website when used effectively.

PROMOTE YOUR SERVICES

Now that you’ve built a brand for your business, it’s time to promote your services. Whatever it is that you do, you need to get the word out to as many people as possible and allow it to grow. It can be hard to self promote, but if you truly believe in what you’re doing, and you’re passionate about working for yourself, you’ll find a way!

Tell Your Friends and Family

Start by telling the people in your personal network about your new business venture. Our friends and family members are often going to be our biggest cheerleaders, so let them cheer you on! Call up those closest to you, and fill them in on what you’re doing. Spread the word at family gatherings. Email friends and tell them how excited you are about your new business. Start with the people you trust, and they can help spread the word to their friends, families, work colleagues, and so on.

Print Business Cards

You may think that business cards have gone out of style, but a lot of people actually still use them and ask for them! When we were getting ready to attend a conference last year for Lez See the World, the number one piece of advice we kept reading was to bring business cards. They are still a very valuable way to promote your services, so it’s worth the investment of printing cards with your logo and contact information. We love using VistaPrint for business cards (and all of our other printing needs!). Their prices are amazing, they have frequent sales, and their customer service is top notch. Click here to check them out.

Promote Your Business on Social Media

You’ve already established your brand on different social media channels, and now it’s time to use them to promote your business! Use Facebook to create a business page, and you can even use a scheduler to schedule your posts. Share the posts from your business page to your personal profile every once in awhile, so your personal network can see what you’re up to with your business. On Twitter, follow other people who are in your business niche, engage with their content, and start making meaningful connections. On Instagram, post regularly to your feed, use stories to show a behind-the-scenes look at your brand, take advantage of story highlights, and create a great bio with a link to your website. On Pinterest, pin regularly, and do some research on how to use it the most effectively for your business, because it works so differently from other social media platforms! If social media isn’t your thing, you’re going to have to find a way to get into it. It is ESSENTIAL for any modern business.

If you have any questions about starting a business or working for yourself, please don’t hesitate to ask! Yes it’s a lot of work, but it’s also extremely rewarding. We are both so in love with being self-employed and being entrepreneurs, that we have never looked back. We’ve been able to build a life doing the things we’re passionate about, and we have the freedom to create whatever we want. If we can do it, so can you. There is endless opportunity to create the life of your dreams. You can have more time and flexibility to travel, and do the things you love to do. We promise!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this blog post may be affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you, we could make a small commission through your purchase. We only recommend products and services that we truly believe in, and the income generated goes toward creating more content on this website for you to enjoy for free.

The post 9 Tips on How to Build a Brand and Work for Yourself     appeared first on Lez See the World.