January 24, 2022

2022 Book Round Up

The best books to help you navigate life and beyond

By Sara Darling

**The Head Plan** **by Roxie Nafousi**

Step into the new year on the right foot with a journal. The Head Plan will not only inspire you through the gloomy days of January, but is a life changing 12 week programme designed by self-development coach and manifestation expert Roxie Nafousi.
This guided wellness journey inspires you to own the day, with planning tools that allow you to effortlessly organise your top goals, tasks, and self-care actions. Based on neuroscientific principles and featuring six months’ worth of undated planning pages, it’s never been easier to hit your daily goals and objectives.
As well as keeping you super organised, journaling can also help you stay positive and creative. Gratitude journals remind us of all we have to be thankful for, and creative writing offering a new hobby to keep our minds busy.

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**How to be a Boss Bitch by Christine Quinn**

Learn to how boss like the Queen Bee of Netflix's hit series Selling Sunset in this lighthearted guide to living your best life by breakout star Christine Quinn, and details her journey from high school drop out to self-made millionaire.
With tips on how women can win in business and relationships, this book is a blunt guide for girls and covers everything from succeeding in love and sex to money, fashion to fame, and everything in between. Perfect for any drama queens who are destined for success- just strap on your heels and follow the Boss Bitch guide to the top!

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**Working Meaningfully: Your Fast Track Guide to a Career That Lights You Up by Katie Redfern**

If you’re struggling with your work-life balance and start to get jittery on a Sunday afternoon just thinking of the week ahead, this book is a must read. Working is inevitable for most of us, but Author and career coach, Katie Redfern’s book is a handy online bible on how to find your passion and meaningful purpose in life. One of the key factors is the need to override our ego and look beyond money or status, and this book opens up a Pandora's Box of the driving force behind the choices we make.
Discussing boundaries, habits and attitudes, the book will help you find your direction, and will leave you feeling more confiden

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**Navigating Sleeplessness by Dr Browning**

Whether you sleep through the night or are in the sheep-counting camp, this bible by Dr Lindsay Browning has lots of practical tips to lull you or your loved ones back into the land of nod and sleep deeper, better and for longer.
We could all do with a good night’s sleep and it’s vital that we learn how to do it properly. Napping incorrectly affects how we remember (or forget), our ability to learn, be emotionally aware and form relationships. A good night’s sleep is vital to our mental and physical health, and Dr Browning uses CBT techniques to help understand the blockages, and provides solutions to some of the common sleep problems that people suffer throughout their lives. This book will help you develop a positive frame of mind so you can drift off without worrying about how you’re doing it.

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**Stay Sharp by Dr Gareth More**

Who said that playing was a waste of time? Based on the latest neuroscience, the Stay Sharp book is a puzzle book designed for the “overs” who are notoriously forgetful. Packed with a range of entertaining exercises to keep you thinking and your mind active, is broken down to chapters which will help with confidence, memory, logic and general brain fitness.
Perfect for travellers who need to have their wits about them, commuters who need a pick-me-up on the way into work, or someone with a short memory, the logic tests, mystery games and puzzles are both satisfyingly challenging and entertaining. Disclaimer: after practising these puzzles, you may never lose your glasses/car keys/mobile phone again!

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**Nodding Off The Science of Sleep by Professor Alice Gregory**

We spend a huge proportion of our lives asleep, and our sleep patterns change as we age - so if you’ve ever been fascinated on what goes on behind the eyelids when we’ve supposedly switched off, this is the book for you.
Author and sleep expert Alice Gregory gives an insightful account on how our genes affect our sleep and offers a no nonsense evidence-based way to help you sort your nocturnal activities out. Whether you’ve got over-tired kids or suffer from insomnia, there are science-based tips to help you improve slumber that will allow you to grow stronger, feel calmer, and free yourself from anxiety. Bedtime will be transformed.

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**The Breathing Revolution by Yolanda Barker**

We breathe over 20,000 times a day without thinking, but if you’ve ever felt anxious, stressed or claustrophobic, your breath has more than likely been fast and shallow, as your body overcompensates. This book by Yolanda Barker lifts the lid on your tight chest and offers practical tips on how to remain calm and serene in a seven day breathing programme, which you can dip in and out of any time a panic attack is on the horizon.
Keep it handy and it will be your go to guide, when you need some reassurance on keeping calm.

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**Strong, Calm and Free by Nicola Jane Hobbs**

Instead of promising yourself you will start a sweaty gym to work off those Christmas calories in the new year, why not consider getting bendy? Strong Calm and Free is a beginner's guide to self love and mindful living through yoga poses and meditation.
Author, teacher and holistic counsellor, Hobbs has devised a ten week journey, consisting of easy to follow yogic flows and mindful meditations that you can dip in and out of at any time of the day. With over 50 yoga poses and 20 easy-to-follow sequences broken down to easy to follow poses illustrated with pictures, you may not know what an Asana is before you start, but with practise you’ll be a pro in no time. Along with helpful tips for chilling out in all areas of your life, by the end, your stress levels will be reduced and your life enriched.

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**Books That Matter**

For a gift that keeps on giving, the Books That Matter subscription box does what it says on the tin. Every month, a carefully curated (sustainable and eco-friendly) gift box will be delivered to your door, containing a selection of goodies and a noteworthy female author.
You can subscribe for one, three or six months and every month provides a themed fiction book and gifts from independent female creatives which centre around representation, diversity and marginalised voices.

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**The Sustainable(ish) Guide to Green Parenting by Jen Gale**

Having kids does not mean you can’t care for the planet, but there’s a tightrope on how to bring up your family whilst remaining as green as you’d like.
Author Jen Gale has devised a stress and guilt-free selection of purse-friendly eco-ideas for raising your kids- whether they be newborns or teenagers, and there are tips on nappies to school uniforms to family holidays. It doesn’t patronise and tell you how to parent, it is a vital go-to guide for anyone wanting practical advice on sorting facts from fiction, and lets parents know what options are out there, and then encourages them to find positive changes that work for them.

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@gabby_bourne

Hi Gabrielle! Thank you for speaking with us today! Congratulations on your role in ‘Air’ we are looking forward to hearing all about the film and your role as Tiffany. But first of all please can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about you?

Thank you for having me! My friends and family call me Gabby. I grew up in Belgium, London, New Jersey, and Connecticut - a random collection of places I know. I was in Europe for 10 years and the US for 8. When I was 18 I moved to Los Angeles for college and made a home here. My dad grew up in Southern California and all his family is here, so it has always been the place I wanted to end up. I met my husband in college at USC - I was a BFA acting major and he played volleyball, and has since become a team USA beach volleyball Olympian, We now have a 3 year old daughter together. I’m currently working on balancing all of it - being a mom, acting, writing, DIY renovating our home. It’s a lot - but I’m feeling more fulfilled than ever before.

1. Again congratulations on your role in ‘Air’. Please can you give us a brief synopsis of the film and your role as Tiffany?

The movie tells the story of Nike in the 80s and how the Air Jordan line came to be. I play Tiffany, a secretary in the Nike office. There is a lot on the line for the company as they fight as a whole to keep their basketball division in tact. At the center, Sonny Vaccaro is desperately trying to find a way to make a deal with Michael Jordan. Tiffany’s desk is right outside of Sonny’s office, and she is often at the brunt of him not having a secretary. Taking his calls, messages, him asking favors of her etc.

2. What drew you to the role of Tiffany? Do you relate to her at all?

I love the role, but even more than that I was drawn to the opportunity to work opposite such an incredible cast and with Ben Affleck as a director. Working with Jason Bateman is definitely a career highlight. What more could you want as an actor!

3. ‘Air’ has an impressive cast! How did you find working alongside Matt Damon and Ben Affleck?

It was such an amazing experience. I was in awe watching Matt work. He just has something so special, and I got to watch him make real magic. I had a great time working with Ben. He’s such an actor’s director so that’s always fun. It was a really collaborative set and it just all ran so smoothly. And what an incredible story we got to tell. Definitely my favorite set experience to date.

4. Were there any funny/memorable behind the scenes moments we can know about?

There are some scenes that take place in the Nike office where it’s supposed to be raining. We shot everything in an office building in Santa Monica, and they had a rain machine set up on the roof of the building, coming down in the atrium. They did such a good job making it realistic but it was supposed to be really heavy to achieve what they were going for, and California is just not built for that amount of rain. The drainage system wasn’t up to par and it started flooding, so they had to ease up and wait to continue shooting until things dried out. That was my first time seeing one of those in action! Having grown up in London I find the rain really soothing, so I was enjoying every minute.

5. You have starred in some great films what have been your favourite projects and why?

This one definitely tops them all. I had a great experience working on the film “Girl on the Side” directed by Tori Time. She’s such a talented filmmaker, and a friend of mine, and I was a producer on the film as well as acting along side her, and it was just such a wonderful experience. We had an all female crew, and it’s such a beautiful story. Another favorite project to work on was my webseries “Mack of all Trades”. I wrote and produced this one, and brought together my dream cast and crew. I’ve really enjoyed being involved on the production side of things too. This one was great to work on because it’s a comedy, loosely based on some experiences I had as a female handywoman and finish carpenter. So we all just had loads of fun with it.

6. How did you get into acting? Was it always something you wanted to do?

I started acting in 5th grade at the American School in London, we had a drama class as part of our curriculum. I loved it so much that I started taking an acting class outside of school in London every Saturday. My teacher, Sasha Leslie, happened to be an agent and started sending me out on auditions. When I moved back to the US for high school I kept up with it, doing theater in school and also driving into New York City every weekend for acting class. It just became something that I loved so deeply. It felt good to connect with other people and characters through telling stories. I’ve never really doubted whether it was something I wanted to continue to pursue as a job, I’ve just continued to go for it as the passion remains.

7. What is a piece of advice you can give to those looking to break into the acting world?

Live a full life outside of acting and find other things that fulfill your creative bucket. It’s not something that feels super satisfying in the beginning, so I think the best way to make it long term is to pursue happiness outside of it, so you can be happy while working towards the dream. This way it’s sustainable long term, and you don’t have to feel in a rush to find success. Find a side job that fills you up rather than eats you up, the way that DIY and building does for me. And start writing for yourself. No one will write a more perfect part for you than you will for yourself.

8. We are very intrigued by your renovation and DIY skills! How did you get into it?

It started as a way to supplement my acting career. I had become interested in wood refinishing when I attempted to DIY my kitchen cabinets in my first apartment out of college. That ended up being a fail, but then I succeeded in my second kitchen when my husband and I bought our first house. My uncle gave me my first miter saw, taught me how to build a picture frame, and it just kind of spiraled into a huge passion for me. I started doing little projects here and there, and when I no longer wanted to bartend as a side job, I decided to start refinishing furniture for people, which turned into building custom furniture and doing handywoman work as well. I had a dream of renovating a fixer upper all myself, and two years ago that dream came true when we poured all our money into a run down duplex that needed everything you could possibly think of. I’ve just been learning as I go!

9. We would love to see some before and after snaps of your recent home renovation! What is the best DIY tip you can give?

The best DIY tip I’ve ever heard and the mantra I now live by is “everything is figure-outable”. It’s so easy in the beginning to get discouraged when something inevitably goes wrong or when it gets frustrating. But there’s always a way. All of these things are doable, and if someone else can figure it out then so can you. Every problem is solvable. Everything is figure-outable. One tiny step at a time, makes everything feel easier.

Kitchen: I designed and built / installed this kitchen myself using Ikea cabinets and Semi Handmade fronts. I also tiled the backsplash (this was my first time tiling!)

Dining room: DIY chair rail and picture frame moulding in the dining room.

Dining nook: I DIYed the built-in bench and shelving for this dining nook.

Living Room: I build this electric fireplace surround and floating hearth.

Laundry: I transformed this water heater closet into a washer/dryer closet.

Hallway: I DIYed this built in using birch wood and cane webbing for the door

Kitchen 2: I designed and installed this kitchen myself using Ikea cabinets and semi handmade fronts.

Bathroom: I DIYed this half shiplap wall and designed this bathroom.

10. Do you prefer acting or DIY? An unfair question, sorry!

This is an impossible question!! Acting has always been my number one, but at this point I don’t know if I could go without DIY. I’m so grateful to have two passions let alone one, and I feel like they work really well alongside of each other. They are both such huge elements of happiness in my life. I love getting to work with other actors and be on a team when it comes to making movies and tv. But I also love being a one woman show with DIY, not having to rely on other people and just being able to accomplish things at my own pace and how I want. That’s an unsatisfying answer but it’s all I’ve got.

11. Do you have any further acting or DIY projects coming up that you can tell us about?

I’m working on writing a pilot right now! It’s “Mack of all Trades,” following the same character as my webseries but a bit of a different tone and world. Think Netflix’s “Love” or Hulu’s “Dave”. Mack is a handywoman and finish carpenter, navigating the world of being a female in a male dominated trade. I’ll be playing Mack. On the DIY front, I’ve finished the interior of our duplex and am moving to the exterior! I’m currently doing my first stone veneer on the exterior of the house, and after will be transforming the back patio space. Really excited for all of it!

AIR

AIR tells the incredible story ‘Sonny Vaccaro’ and Nike as they pursue basketball rookie Michael Jordan, and creating a partnership that revolutionizes the world of sports and contemporary culture. In the film Gabrielle brings to life ‘Tiffany,’ Matt Damon’s ‘Sonny Vaccaro’s’ right hand woman. What originally was supposed to be a shoot lasting a few days, quickly turned into almost a full month of filming after seeing her chemistry with the cast on set.
Stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon

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