With the help of my Mother and youtube, I have been taking up sewing. I’m a complete amateur with a whole lot to learn but my ideas are, quite literally, BURSTING-AT-THE-SEAMS! I purchased a Brother sewing machine a while back from Costco and dug up some thrifted zippers out of storage. I got some placemats and fabric from thrift stores and thread from Walmart! I also got some raw canvas from DeSerres and here’s what i’ve made so far.
I’ve been told that inserting zippers is the hardest part, but honestly – it’s been the easiest! I definitely need to get some Fray-stop, some D rings, more zippers, some wonder clips and a rotary cutter. I’m trying to keep it all organized and put together. It’s really fun being able to combine my art with sewing. 
I also happen to have a pretty cute audience too!
-Margaux
Firstly, I wanted to thank the Royal BC Museum for allowing me to experience and review them. This is the first time I had a press pass and I was incredibly excited to finally visit.
Stepping in to this beautiful building, you can’t help but want to absorb new information and learn. I am a lover of museums, galleries and immersive experiences and this felt like all those things under one roof. Starting May 18th, they will be opening a new exhibit called “Egypt: The Time of Pharaohs”, which I would love to see. I have always been incredibly fascinated by ancient Egypt. It was under construction when we went there.
Heading up the escalator, our first stop was the Natural History Gallery. We learned about our Coastal Forest, The Seashore, The Ocean Station, The Ice Age, Climate and the Fraser River Delta.
Our next stop was Our Living Languages and the First Peoples Gallery. It is truly humbling to see the way the museum pays so much respect to the aboriginal/indigenous people.
Our final stop was the Modern History Gallery, it depicted the way the British changed the land with a full scale replica of the HMS Discovery. The details are very impressive!
We learned about our many industries including gold mining, logging, farming and more.
Next we stumbled upon “Old Town”, it’s incredibly beautiful, detailed and makes you truly feel like you are stepping back in time! The final stop was the Century Hall with all kinds of relics from the past.
This will most definitely not be the last time I visit and if you’re in Victoria, make it a must-see on your list!
For more information, please visit https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
I have started a BRAND NEW Podcast called “Autistic Speaking”! Please listen here:
And my NEWEST Youtube Series “Margaux Talks Tea”
I would LOVE if you could let me know what you think of these two new ventures!
Margaux
Disclaimer: This is my own opinion and should not reflect the brands or companies I have graciously partnered with.
I have been suffering from some of the worst anxiety lately. Sleepless nights accompanied by cold sweats, tossing and turning and waking up repeatedly. I’m irritated during the day and I want to be silent at night.
I’m wholeheartedly frustrated.
I feel like I’m someone who can relate to a fuzzy picture on an old television. Sometimes it’s in focus and sometimes it’s just completely static.
When I reach out to corporations and companies I hope my time is valued. I hope that the work I put in to it is either offered with some kind of trade like being provided a service in exchange for a review.
So here I am.
I approached one of the largest computer/tech companies.
They are trying to create a resurgence in the marketplace with products marketed to Millennials in hopes that they will be converted from silver products to colourful cubes. Oh, did I mention their net worth is 200+ BILLION DOLLARS?
Naturally, I would have expected compensation for my time. Knowing a computer is an expensive and hefty piece of equipment to offer me, I would have been happy with money that I could use to reinvest in items for my blog (a microphone?!) to better my content.
Apparently this corporation does not have the budget to pay me to essentially borrow their item and spend time analyzing it and reviewing it. I am just entirely blown away and what I’m trying to do is show neurodiverse (and neurotypical) individuals products that would enhance life. I like to interject my own humour and thoughts. I love to interact with all of you and hear your precious feedback.
Brands: Please value our time as bloggers. If you say you’re going to cross promote us, please post our content on your website and channels as well. Please provide us some kind of incentive and show us that we are appreciated. Please WORK with us.
Margaux
I’m not really here to knock the amazing work different foundations do (not all of them).
I just find it quite curious how voices continue to be silenced. I feel like there’s so many Autistic advocates who would be very interested in the opportunity to be heard by a room full of people who can make a change by donating funds.
I am aware that companies do this because, for the most part, it makes THEM look good.
Recently, a local Autism Centre had a lavish winter fundraiser with plenty of large companies and corporations who were quite pleased to contribute monitarily.
I was on twitter when my feed was absolutely bombarded with images of the event. My Boyfriend reminded me this was a BUSINESS FUNCTION and of course they are going to exclude Autistic individuals and that it’s more of a PR event.
I have been doing my very best to get the word out because I believe that people who are Autistic can contribute their voice to these kind of issues. When I found out about this event while it was happening I quickly sprang in to action.
Not only did I write each and every company that contributed, but I also wrote the board of directors for the Autism Centre that hosted the event. I did get one response which said I could BUY A TICKET for the event or I could become an “advocate” for this centre by making a $15 donation. Seems kind of backwards.
Please, Include us. Consider us as very knowledgeable advisors. Listen.
Margaux
To those who have struggled or continue to struggle, I am there for you.
I know how hard it is to deal with anxiety/depression/loneliness/social anxiety etc. I deal with these things often and I don’t know what life would be like without struggles.
I am so saddened that there are people out there who feel like they can exploit other people’s pain for their own personal gain.
This is the first time and I hope the last time I hear of this inconsiderate and ignorant individual. I also hope that he becomes less ignorant and learns from this gigantic mistake he made. I still believe he knew what he was doing and what the outcome would be. Seems incredibly calculated. It’s definitely a way to make the national (and international) news media.
Defending his behaviour is minimizing the pain that people suffer on a daily, weekly, yearly, lifetime basis. This person had a family. We need to honour those living and those we’ve lost.
Please seek out your local resource, family and friends for help. (I know that they aren’t always the best.)
Love,
Margaux
I grew up in an upper class neighbourhood (in Vancouver, BC Canada) in a big pink house that wasn’t much older than me with my family being the very first owners. The houses surrounding us were mostly heritage homes, few of which are still standing today.
I attended a religion-based private/community school from Nursery 3 up until the 6th grade. It was horrible and I spent nearly every day crying. I’d start my day with a sense of dread, spend the middle of the day battling with my own self esteem as those around me diminished it any chance they got. I’d come home and have one of my parents ask me how school was or what I did. It was the last thing I wanted to answer and I would get scolded for being evasive.
I then transferred to a private school and the very same problems followed me there. 6th grade and part of the 7th grade. I wanted to vanish, forever. The kids were just as cruel but they didn’t spend 9 years of their lives growing up with me- not that it made any kind of difference.
I transferred schools again, this time it was a multi-modal program with another very high price tag for me to attend (yes, the last two schools definitely cost notable chunks of change). I had made a couple of friends, but I still felt like I wasn’t supposed to be there. I wasn’t sure where I would ever fit in. This time, it was a couple of teachers that I clashed with. Mr. H – he got mad at me through my ’emo’ years for wearing a spiked bracelet. He told me it was banned and that I was NEVER to wear it again. I kept asking why? What was wrong with it? I didn’t get a solid answer. I was very upset. I went to the office and the receptionists were talking about me right behind my back. I called my Mom and within NO TIME at all she came to the school and confronted the teacher. She asked him, point-blank, if he thought it was some kind of “S&M thing” and he wouldn’t say anything! She then confronted the receptionists and they admitted they were talking about me.
I love my Mom so much, she’s always been my #1 and ALWAYS been there for me. She’s my best friend.
The second teacher, Mr. F was the art teacher. He told me once that all my art looked the same and constantly excluded me from events that were meant for everyone. It was a struggle to KNOW that i was purposely left out.
This is Part 1 of my story. If you’re interested in knowing more, please let me know.
Love,
Margaux
Thank you so much for joining me in this new year! I hope that good things are to come.
How did you celebrate your new years? My Boyfriend and I hung out at home in our pyjamas. We ate Indian food and chilled out with our Cats. For me, there’s no other way i’d rather spent the evening.
Here’s my first video of the new year, enjoy!
Navigating Life 