AlishbaZarmeen

 by AlishbaZarmeen

First all-female spacewalk temporarily a no-go by NASA because there aren’t enough spacesuits

This breaks my heart but I understand. The problem is that only 11% of NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration identifies as women that’s why you can’t find a “broad range” of ready-to-wear suits. We should fix it ASAP though.

This is an important feat for women’s empowerment. As a little girl, my dreams of being an astronaut were shattered by the country I was raised in. I wouldn’t allow any other young girl to go through that feeling. NASA, I’ve loved you since the day I could spell “Earth” and I really want you to fix this ASAP. ?

CNN has reported:

NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch were set to make history Friday as the first all-female crew to conduct a spacewalk at the International Space Station. Now, Koch will instead be joined by male astronaut Nick Hague due to spacesuit fit issues.

NASA has only one spacesuit size medium available at the station, the agency announced Monday.
As part of Expedition 59, the astronauts were set for a series of three spacewalks to complete work on the ISS. On March 22, Hague and McClain conducted the first in the series. McClain and Koch were set to go out together on Friday to continue work on installing powerful lithium-ion batteries for one pair of the station’s solar arrays.

 

“However, after consulting with McClain and Hague following the first spacewalk, mission managers decided to adjust the assignments, due in part to spacesuit availability on the station,” reads a statement from NASA.
“McClain learned during her first spacewalk that a medium-size hard upper torso — essentially the shirt of the spacesuit — fits her best. Because only one medium-size torso can be made ready by Friday, March 29, Koch will wear it.”
McClain and Koch will both be making history during this mission by being the 13th and 14th women to perform a spacewalk.

As for the third spacewalk in the series, McClain is tentatively scheduled to be joined by Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques on April 8.
The NASA website shows the spacewalk will last about seven hours.
McClain and Koch were part of the 2013 astronaut class, half of which were women, and came from the second largest number of applications NASA ever has received, more than 6,100. The most recent class of flight directors was also 50% women, NASA said.

McClain was on the ISS as part of Expedition 58, while Koch blasted off into space on March 14 to reach the station for Expedition 59 and 60 along with Cmdr. Alexey Ovchinin and Hague. This is the first time in space for McClain and the first spaceflight for Koch.

Spacewalks are held for a number of reasons, according to NASA, including doing work outside a spacecraft, conducting science experiments and testing new equipment. Astronauts also conduct spacewalks to fix satellites or spacecraft that are already in space, instead of having them brought back to Earth to fix.

in Goals 0 comments
 by AlishbaZarmeen

Why be a Dreamgirl?

A Dreamgirl is:

A woman who has been hurt but is ready to fight back.

A woman who has found love and is ready to celebrate it.

A woman who has lost love and is ready to find it within herself, for herself.

A woman who is scared to look in the mirror but want to appreciate herself.

A mother.

A cop.

A lawyer.

A CEO.

A flight attendant.

A pilot.

A grandmother.

A student.

A teacher.

A self-made go-getter.

A woman who is only now beginging to understand who she is.

I know it’s hard to be your authentic self. Let me explain how I know this:

In the begining, all those years ago, when I started photography as a business and my focus shifted from art to the bank, the first piece to go out of the window was authenticity.

It was all about, if I said what xyz “successful” photographer is saying or did what xyz is doing or offered what xyz is doing, I will make it out there.

It was all about self-doubt and a lack of trust not just in myself but also in the audience I wanted to work with — that I have to adjust to what I *think* they want instead of me knowing that what I can offer from deep within is actually exactly what they *need.*

But last year, I decided to shut down all that noise. I introduced the confidence that I have always had with the academic side of things into my business and art. I stopped watching and listening to what others are all about and started focusing on what Alishba has to offer which is unique. And I quickly found out that it was my voice, relatability, passion, and deep understanding of what makes women powerful that is irreplacable and something no one can every copy or take away from me.

Someone recently brought this to my attention that xyz is trying to imitate me, down to my word choice and articulation. And I just laughed.

Why?

Because imitation is the best form of flattery 

But also because I am a deeply secure person. Anyone who has met me will tell you the same thing. So it’s only natural that I feel secure in my work, too. I know what attracts women to trust me and work with me is a unique set and combination of living my authentic self, delivering what I expect to receive, and going above and beyond with staying married to my inner voice and ideas that I am naturally and intellectually drawn to.

A feminist. A skeptic. A science geek. An artist. A mother. A lover.

And this is why I attract the very best of women — these women are DREAMGIRLS. Because they have trusted me with bringing their dream to life and when they let go off that first wall of strong guard, throughout all the clicks of the camera, together we discover POWER and that’s why when we look at the images together, we laugh and we cry knowing that we have given ourselves a gift that can never be replaced.

To all my Dreamgirls, thank you 

And to you, I can’t wait to see you in the studio xo

in Reasons to do a boudoir shoot 0 comments
toronto boudoir vancouver photography angel wings beautiful victoria's secret pinup
 by AlishbaZarmeen

Victoria’s Secret Inspired Angel Wings Photoshoot in Toronto – Why I Offer These Sessions

It’s quite simple:

In and of itself, these Victoria’s Secret inspired angel wings are an example of beautiful and expensive craftsmanship. On their own, they are just majestic ostrich feather luxury prop items that spark curiosity and wonder.

toronto boudoir vancouver photography angel wings beautiful victoria's secret pinup

However, when a woman wears these and has her photos taken in these, one or both of the following might happen:

Feeling your own powerful existence

We had a very special session in the studio recently where a lovely woman came to us to cure her heartbreak. She called to book the session because she was feeling hurt and betrayed. Once we treated her with extra TLC, gave her an experience she would never forget, and presented her with her beautiful photos, she broke down in tears feeling recharged and healed.

She saw herself stand tall, powerful, and was able to appreciate her true reflection which was temporarily obscured by the feeling of hurt and sadness.

toronto boudoir vancouver photography angel wings beautiful victoria's secret pinup

She’s looks like a phoenix rising from the ashes!

She brought the full force of her personality to this angel wings boudoir photoshoot and that made these feathers come to life.

Realizing you are as beautiful as you always wanted to be

A mom of toddler twins and a 6 month old was in the studio this week for the angel wings boudoir photoshoot I offer in Toronto. She told me she had never, ever liked full-body shots of herself. But when she saw her photos after the session, 80% of the images she ordered were full body shots! If a pair of these wings is what it takes to make you see your own beauty, then all my investment is worth seeing the smile on your face. Remember, it’s not because of the wings that you are beautiful. It’s because of you the wings come together in the picture.

Toronto boudoir Vancouver photography angel wings beautiful Victoria's secret pinup

So, really, this is not so much about the fact that Dream Boudoir Photography owns a pair of one-of-a-kind wings. It’s about you being a Dream Boudoir Photography DREAMGIRL who makes these inanimate come ALIVE.

The pride of my photography and my studio is not these wings. The pride of my photography is being honored with the trust women like you put in me to capture you — and I cannot wait for you to grace these wings with the gift of being photographed on you.

See you in the studio xo

 


in Preparing for Boudoir Photography / Reasons to do a boudoir shoot / Uncategorized 0 comments
 by AlishbaZarmeen

Secret to women’s health? A Girls Trip, Says Science

Guy drama, the time commitment children take, high-pressure jobs, and overall exhausting demands of the world that we live in — the cure to all of it is to take some time out for yourself. There is nothing better than a change of scenery with a group of women who know how to have a grand old time!

So right now is the best time to grab your girls and start planning an epic and luxurious girl’s trip! And to top it all off, all of this is confirmed by science!

Here are the top 5 reasons how a girls’ trip can improve women’s health:

Your Sanity Depends on It

According to research, when you spending time in friendly social settings increases your oxytocin production. Oxytocin is called the “love” hormone because of which we feel good and joyous every time we are with our loved ones. This increase in oxytocin strengthens all of your relationships and is also responsible for reduced pain (like forgetting the traumatic labour and birth pain the second we hold our babies!). Spend more quality time with your girls, get super healthy — what a great deal!

Stopping yourself from creating close friendships is actually bad for your health:

When we lack meaningful interpersonal interaction and relationships, it affects our health as bas as having ¾ of a pack of cigarettes. DAILY. Holy! This was revealed in a study conducted by Harvard researchers!

Consider it Self-Care because your girls will protect your heart. LITERALLY!

You might be making time to do yoga a few nights a week or giving yourself pedicures with Netflix on Sunday nights is your jam. Whatever self-care ritual might be your calling, it is equally important to spend meaningful and close time with girls who get you!

The same Harvard study states this in no uncertain terms that spending caring and happy time with a close circle has shown improving health all around, “for example, they’ve found that it helps relieve harmful levels of stress, which can adversely affect coronary arteries, gut function, insulin regulation, and the immune system. Another line of research suggests that caring behaviors trigger the release of stress-reducing hormones.”
A healthy heart and a happy gut — let’s go grab that wine on the coastal Santorini, girlfriend!

Your girls know you best


No matter how lovely your romantic relationship is with an amazing partner who really seems to “get” you, the understanding and insight that comes from a group of women who have lived experiences you can relate to has a deep, irreplaceable value. Especially if it’s friends you have a long history with, it means you can be 100% yourself with them and never have to worry about being judged or rejected. The feeling is purely amazing.

It’s hard to make out time to hangout with your girls but you will have no regrets

We all wish we had more than 24 hours in a day, so it is understandable how daunting of a task it may seem to getaway for a girls’ trip. But it’s not impossible! Pop a mini vacay in your goals for the year, maybe plan a special night one week to hit the best restaurant, go out for ice-cream and pizza like your used to in high school! Or even host a little potluck at your apartment. All the minor details of how to do it will disappear and everything will fall into place once you are committed to taking out time to plan new adventures and taste new wines with the very best of the girls group there ever was!

What’s more? We have taken away all the planning off your hands anyway! All you need to do is grab your tickets, pack your bags, hop on the plane, and meet us in SANTORINI!

Yup, you read it right.

This September, all my Dream Boudoir girls are off to Santorini, Greece for a luxury GLAM VACATION like no other! Check out the details here and let’s enjoy the very best of what the Island has to offer us!

in Uncategorized 0 comments
 by AlishbaZarmeen

Women Who Travel Make the Best Girlfriends

Traveling is not about collecting stamps in a passport or doing it only for the Instagram fashion fad. At its core, traveling the world is all about gaining insight, unique perspectives, and discovering who you really are. Women who have traveled know this to be true in their hearts, and that’s just one of the many reasons why they make the best partners, spouses, and girlfriends.

Here are some of the reasons why no one can resist dating a well-traveled woman:

She’s always thankful for everything she has:

Travelling makes your humble. When you see that there are people living in extremely difficult conditions, it makes you truly appreciate what you have. From running water to three meals a day, a women who travel are the women who are grateful for all the little things in life.

She will turn everything into an adventure:

Tourist attractions and cliché routes, she’s done it all. But real wanderers know that the most beautiful experiences aren’t the jam-packed tourist traps, but things like the random conversations you strike up with the locals at a market or picking up foreign foods from the hole-in-the-wall mom & pop shops. Those are the lessons that teach a woman that anything can be an adventure with the right attitude.

Her Stories will keep you fascinated:

Something deeper than keeping up with the celebrities or gossip, a well-travelled girl never needs to blabber on about nothing or make meaningless small talk. She’ll always have lots of real wisdom, stories, and insight to share.

She will always appreciate beauty in all its forms:

Traveling lightly is the mark of a good traveller! Knowing exactly how much makeup and clothing options she needs and what to leave behind makes her embrace her and others’ natural beauty.

She’s always in a great mental state:

Traveling is exhausting. To say nothing about dragging suitcases across airports and up stairs to walking around town to trying out surfing and scuba diving, AND warding off any uneasy situations, it takes a tough girl to make it as a traveler. You can be certain she’s sharp both mentally and physically.

She knows what she likes:

Seeing different cultures and exploring different ways of approaching life, from foreign foods to foreign philosophies, an explorer girlfriend has seen it all; she knows what she wants. This confidence helps women forge strong, health relationships.

She gets the most out of life:

Travel is expensive, and that means she’s figured out how to make it happen! A girl who travels is, by necessity, a financially savvy girl who knows how to prioritize her unique experiences and make her life work for her!

She appreciates the simple things in life:

Sunsets. Clear skies. Breeze waves. Mountain hike view. The sand beneath her feet. A woman who prioritizes travel, you can be sure that she’s not stuck-up; she knows how to appreciate the truely finer things in life.

She knows how to be comfortable in unchartered territories:

Whether it’s being in a country where she doesn’t speak the language or trying local delicacies she has never heard of to making friends with strangers, she has the confidence to be sure of herself in the most uncomfortable situations.

She knows that she has a lot to learn:

The more you see, the more you learn, and the more you realize how much is out there that you don’t know. That humility is a great quality to have in a partner.

She understands the meaning of friendship:

It is likely that she has travelled in groups more than once in her life. This shows that she understands how important it is to dedicate time and energy in to creating friendships and interpersonal relationships. This is an important quality in a partner because you want them to be your best friend before anything else.

How about a Girls' Trip to SANTORINI ISLAND?

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR SANTORINI GIRLS TRIP


If you are a woman who loves travelling, we have taken away all the planning off your hands! All you need to do is grab your tickets, pack your bags, hop on the plane, and meet us in SANTORINI!

Yup, you read it right.

This September, all my Dream Boudoir girls are off to Santorini, Greece for a luxury GLAM VACATION like no other! Check out the details here and let’s enjoy the very best of what the Island has to offer us!

in Featured / Reasons to do a boudoir shoot 0 comments
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