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Having a hard time parting with your old magazines? Don’t want to throw your money out with the magazines without getting anything back?
Of course you can donate them to a doctor’s office or hospital. But what does that leave you with other than a nice feeling? With this craft idea you still donate your magazines after you are done with them – but you get to keep something too!
To make sure you are keeping the good bits of the magazine start a scrapbook with all the pages you like. Collect articles, recipes, decorating tips and fashion clips. Once you’ve gone through all your magazines take your cutouts and organize them in your scrapbook and paste them in.
At the end of the project you’ll have all the pieces of the magazine you like, and you’ll have a lookbook that can help you solve a meal crisis, decorating dilemna or inspire your personal style.
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For every girl that’s ever dreamed of living with bright colours and bold design this one’s for you. Take the chance and make your dream place become a reality!
My wall before the colour explosion
Like most girls I had a dream apartment in my mind, but just couldn’t make it happen. Partly because I doubted that it would work out – would hot pink really look good? What if I hated it as soon as I saw it on my walls? Doubt crept in and every time I thought of painting I reconsidered.
But also, the amount of work required to fix my apartment and decorate it just like I wanted seemed so huge and impossible. How long would it take? Would I be living in a construction zone for months?
And then of course the cost was another factor. How much would it cost? Could I afford it? Was there a less expensive way to do it?
In the beginning the plan was to hire a painter. But then my fiance (then boyfriend) told me that painters could be pricey and they wouldn’t care as much as I did about the little details. And then he offered to help me paint.
So we bought all the supplies and got down to some serious work.
The first strokes - it's too late to turn back now!
The first pink coat looked amazing, but another coat was needed. The second was also great, but just not as hot as I wanted. So a third coat was put on…and it looked terrible! We used a tool that wasn’t meant to paint a full wall, and there were streaks and stripes everywhere. I tried to pretend it didn’t bother me, but I couldn’t hide it – the wall was going to make me crazy unless it was fixed.
Applying the finishing touches - again!
So we headed back to the hardware store and got more paint to cover up the last coat. We spent a few hours painting and then let it dry…only to notice the new coat didn’t match the earlier ones. The earlier coats were from paint bought at a hardware store by my office, and the last can was from the store close to my home. And they weren’t the same colour (I learned the hard way to make sure you buy all your paint from the same store!)
So we headed back to the store by my office and picked up another can of paint. And after this coat I had the perfect pink wall!
The finished wall with decorative touches - a mini pink palace!
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A personal trainer is someone who motivates you, coaches you, challenges you and also gets very close to your hot and sweaty body while you are in some very compromising positions. Can you handle it?
Recently I started working out with a male personal trainer. It was very awkward in the beginning. I’d be in the sit-position and I would wonder where he was looking. Was he having a peak? Ewwwww! As soon as I would start to let my mind wander to a dark place I would get a super creepy feeling.
But then I would look over and notice my workout partner (female) who seemed very comfortable with him. She was laughing at his jokes, smiling, working hard… and looked totally at ease.
So after two sessions we were all great friends.
And then my friend fell ill one day and couldn’t come.
It was totally different. The workout was harder, there was no laughing and as it turns out a one on one session with a personal trainer isn’t for me.
But it’s not because I think he’s creepy. It’s just because I like to have social exercise sessions and one on one doesn’t allow that so much.
So with the things that you look for in a trainer, whether you are looking for a supportive and friendly workout buddy or a strong and hard coach, it doesn’t matter if it’s a woman or a man. It just matters what you’re comfortable with.
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In Ontario fall is in full swing. The leaves have turned beautiful goldens, bright oranges, and sunny reds. The air has cooled down and the smells of summer have passed.
As sad as we all are that winter is just around the corner everyone loves the fall.
The air is clean, and crisp and as summer takes its last breath everyone in the city is out and about trying to enjoy the last bits of lovely outdoor weather.
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Recently the return of 80′s fashion is hard to avoid.
Flip through magazines and see pages and pages of clothes that are big, and bright and not particularly flattering. In stores the huge blazers with big shoulder pads and the crazy mix of colours are front and centre. And on tv celebrities seem to be soaking up the 80’s trend in large doses. But it all looks like a big fashion mistake.
And some mistakes are not worth repeating – 80′s fashion is definitely one of those. In case you are in doubt just look back in your photo album from the 80′s. Does your teased hair, blue shiny eye shadow and frosted tips coupled with your lace tights, white pumps, striped sweater dress and jean jacket look so good? Keep on flipping the pages and you’ll remember how totally ridiculous you look in most of your photos!
If you can’t resist the 80′s it’s a trend that works in moderation. There are some pieces that can be incorporated into an outfit for a fun lift, but a complete 80′s look is a big no-no.
But fun, poppy and silly 80′s music is another story though. Bring on the synthesizers and high pitched voices any day!
Photo Credit: Smarter Fashion blog
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One of the major contributors to premature aging is lines on your forehead and a furrow in your brow.
If you are wondering how much you move your forehead try a little experiment when you go home. This works well if you live with a family or roommates because you are testing how much you move your face to express yourself. If you don’t live with others go to a girlfriend’s house. Whether it’s with your family, roommate or friend it’s really important you try this as soon as you go home, as you’re more likely to be more chatty, and therefore expressive.
As soon as you get in the door go to the bathroom. Take some thick tape, like duct tape, and stick it across your relaxed forehead. Make sure the tape is quite tight and extends fully across your forehead from the right to the left side of your head. Then go out and chat normally like you would on any day. You will quickly notice how much you move your forehead and brows to express yourself. To be sure keep your tape on for fifteen minutes so you fully understand how much you move your face.
Once you take the tape off your face practice saying something into the mirror without raising your eyebrows or furrowing your brow. You will quickly discover that you can express yourself easily without doing these actions because you will be opening the size of your eyes more, changing the cadence of your voice, or using your hands or body language – all means of expressing yourself without causing wrinkles – and keeping you youthful looking without botox!
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When I lived in Korea I was constantly amazed at how young the women looked. On a daily basis I would come across women that were in their fifties that were virtually wrinkle free. Their skin would be clear and even in tone, and they would have no lines on their forehead, around their mouths or at the sides of their eyes.
What’s their secret? I found out there are few. But like any good secret it’s only worth it if you can share it! So here are the tricks to getting clear and beautiful ageless skin.
Mrs. Yew - a 40 year old Korean teacher from my school
Stay Out of the Sun
Korean ladies believe that sun damage is the number one cause of premature aging. So, to protect themselves they stay out of the sun at all costs. Even on the beach you won’t find many, if any, Korean women getting sun on their faces. Instead they will tan their bodies and hide their faces from the sun completely.
Always Wear Sunscreen
Even though most Korean women avoid the sun at all costs, they wear SPF daily to make sure they are covered in case they do get some sun. And it’s easy for them. Almost every facial moisturizer has SPF in it in Korea.
Moisturize Liberally
Korean women love their moisturizers! As part of the national beauty standard there is no reason to ever go without moisturizer. Moisturizer ensures that your skin never dries out and starts to sag, or show any signs of aging. So Korean women apply it liberally every morning and evening.
Use a Separate Eye Cream
General moisturizers are not the same as eye cream. And neither is the skin around your eyes compared to the skin on the rest of your face. So Korean ladies always use their eye creams all around their eyes – even on their eyelids. Korean ladies aren’t interested in taking shortcuts and using one cream instead of two separate creams, and you can tell how well it works with their gorgeous skin.
Watch Your Facial Expressions
Ever seen a 25 year old with big lines on their forehead, and a furrow in their brow? At 25 your skin is still young and supple, but continuous pressure from raising or furrowing your brows will result in premature aging. To make sure this never happens to Korean ladies they watch their facial expressions very carefully.
So if you want to keep your skin youthful, or reverse the signs of premature aging, follow the tricks of the Korean ladies, and you’ll notice a difference within a few weeks.
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I’ve been going to walk-in clinics for twelve years now, which is far too long and not that uncommon due to our doctor shortage in Ontario ( my province).
Recently I decided it was time to find a family doctor. It has been quite a journey, but here are the tricks I found to getting a decent doctor.
Find a recommended doctor and call them regularly
I asked friends, family, posted on facebook and asked the girls at my work. I called every single recommendation……..and none of them were accepting new patients. All of them said they would be accepting in a few months. When I called back a few months later they still said no. If you keep on calling back you’ll eventually find your lucky day.
Be very nice to the receptionist
Instead of calling and saying “Are you accepting new patients?” upfront I decided to take a softer approach. I told her that someone in my office highly recommended Dr. N and then I asked if they were accepting patients – to which she said no, of course.
This is your clue to politely ask when they will be accepting patients again, to which you’ll hear “in a few months”– this is the same answer I heard from every single doctor. Then ask when they last accepted patients. In Dr. N’s case they’d just stopped.
Be patient and persistent
After getting rejected again I decided that I would be a bit more persistent. Still sounding upbeat I mentioned how hard it is to find a doctor and how I’ve called four different times and I’d love it if she could put me on a waiting list, or maybe include me on the list of new patients they just closed (wink, wink).
To my complete surprise the receptionist asked me whom I was referred by. The receptionist said she was familiar with this patient and that she’d see if the Doctor would be able to squeeze me in.
Hopefully, after my 18 month saga I’ll have my very own doctor by this afternoon!
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I’m finally doing it!
There is something I’ve been meaning to do for ages, but never manage to get around to. I even made it a monthly goal…only to let the month slip by without doing it.
But not this month.
I’m actually going to have a party and reconnect with my “lost” friends! Over the last year I’ve been working like a donkey, and spending a lot of time with my fiancé, so I haven’t been out and about socializing. Some of my friends have fallen through the cracks a bit.
To change things I’ve decided to host a party and get to know everyone all over again.
We can sip wine and eat cupcakes and chit chat all night long. Lost friends no more!
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Halloween is the best holiday! Everyone gets to be silly and put on another personality.
Last year was my first glimpse into the full fun of Halloween here in Toronto.
To prepare for the celebrations I had a group of girls over to my apartment. We had pre-drinks, and got dressed up together. There was a devil, a Marilyn Monroe type, a Mogatu garbage bag fashion fan, a club kid, Bat girl and Pippy Longstocking(me).
Walking through the halls and down the elevator in my building everyone was dressed up! There was Obama and Sarah Palin’s everyone. But the best costume was this guy dressed up as an ob tampon!
When we went out the streets and clubs were filled with costume clad partygoers. At one of the clubs there was a pack of 30 year old guys dressed like boy scouts complete with matching backpacks, pulled up socks and nerdy glasses. It was hilarious!
This year there seems to be an extra buzz about Halloween. Maybe it’s the bad economy that makes everyone want an escape but there’s lots of chatter about this years Halloween costumes, and plenty of parties planned.
But I still don’t know what to dress up as!
