Rants & Raves

Healthy Diet Bootcamp: 6 Weeks to Get into Your Ideal Shape for Summer

Guest Blogger — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:37:00 GMT

Summer is about 6 weeks away, and like so many of us you’ve probably been enjoying the comfortable, cozy winter season a little too much. Now, the thought of putting on a swimsuit that covers only about 10% of your body may not seem like a fun idea, but 6 weeks is more than enough time to get you back to your pre-winter body and have more energy to boot.

How? Bootcamp.

Over the next 4 weeks I`ll be sharing key tips that have helped thousands of clients, including participants of the Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp achieve their weight loss goals. Today is our kickoff week which means no more excuses. It’s time to kick your butt to get you looking fabulous!

Bootcamp Week 1: 3 Essential first steps for successful weight loss

STEP 1: SET YOUR GOAL
Write down your goals for the next 4 weeks. What is your weight loss goal? What are the benefits of achieving this goal? Are your targets realistic? A healthy weight loss target for most is about 1-2 pounds per week. You may think that doesn`t sound like much, but remember: 1-2 pounds equals 3500 – 7000 calories, which would take a lot of sweat to burn on a treadmill. Set a target and a time frame in which you realistically hope to achieve your goal. I recommend 4 weeks, as it’s enough time to see serious results if you stay on track.

STEP 2: PLAN OF ATTACK
This is two-part. First, now that you know what you want to achieve, think about what has worked for you in the past when trying to lose weight. Did you boost your vegetables? Did you cut out refined foods and just have whole grains? Did you stop the late night snacking? Think about what was easy for you to stick to -- that was HEALTHY -- and got you results.

Here are 3 simple strategies that work for my clients:
•   Cover ½ your dinner plate with vegetables everyday
•   No 'white' foods -- i.e. whole grains only
•   Don`t eat within 3 hours of bedtime

Next, look at what has kept you from being successful in the past. Old habits die hard, so you need to come up with strategies to overcome those challenges. Have you succumbed to emotional eating in the past? If yes, have a plan. Do this bootcamp with a friend or coach who can offer you support when temptation kicks in. Instead of running to the fridge, write down how you're feeling at that moment in a journal. The action may help quell the craving and begin a record of your triggers. Later you can revisit your journal for insight into what sends you to the fridge int he first place, which in turn should help with anticipating pitfalls in the future. If all else fails, leave the house -- go for a walk or to the gym! What's most important is that you take physical action against your cravings and emotions. Don't just rely on will power here, it won`t work.

STEP 3: KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE
Keep your goal front of mind at all times, especially in the beginning stages, otherwise you`ll lose your steam and old habits will kick in. We need to break your regular pattern, so you don`t just continue on autopilot. The first week is vital in breaking a pattern, so stay focused and keep your eye on the prize. As you put days and weeks behind you, a new routine will take root and you'll be well on your way!

Coming up: Week 2 of Bootcamp – What to eat & sticking to the diet.

Looking forward to working with you!

P.s. Make sure to follow me on twitter @MariaNutrition for tips to help you stay on track

Maria

*Editor's Note: This is the healthy eating portion of Slice.ca's Get in Shape for Summer Bootcamp. Katya Mohsen, our fitness expert, will be kicking off her part of the bootcamp this Thursday, with tailored exercise routines. So stay tuned!

Maria Thomas is a registered dietitian and owner of UrbanNutrition.com.

Also by Maria Thomas

Ducking Dating Desperation

Guest Blogger — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

You’re finally over the guy whose name will go unmentioned and you’re ready to hop back on the dating wagon. But it’s been way too long since you’ve gone on a date and you’re having a hard time determining what’s a good approach for finding a fella you fancy without giving away the fact that you’re a little raw. Here are 5 ways to send out the good vibes without the desperation.

Be direct
Summer lovin’ (well, spring, too — and fall, and winter!) is all about crushing and wanting and having fun. If you’re into someone, make your intentions known. Set the wheels in motion. It needn’t be any kind of flamboyant declaration, either — send a flirtatious open-ended Facebook message, not asking any questions, just putting yourself out there. Make sure it’s something simple that puts no pressure on him to respond because, let’s be real here, this is reverse psych 101. If he is into you, you can bet he’ll be messaging you back and will make efforts to maintain the conversation stream.

Don’t be pushy
“Hi, my name is James, and I want a girl who is needy, pushy, aggressive and desperate.” Who said that? No one, ever. So, once you’ve made your intentions known, let him do the work. A gent who’s into you will be reeled in by the bait and will respond positively. (See: FB flirt, above.) Now, if you don’t hear back from him, don’t follow up and absolutely do not try to convince yourself that he didn’t get your message. Just let it be and move on to the next guy with your dignity intact. (Don’t take it personally, either: You never know another person’s situation, and their decision to write back or not is about them, not you.)

Be touchy
If your conquest responds positively to your pursuit, and you make plans to see one another in person, make sure to set a romantic, versus a friendship, tone, right off the bat. You can accomplish this by simply touching his arm in a subtle fashion, bumping his shoulder when you walk down the street, grabbing his hand (and quickly letting go) when you are making a point — basically, make some type of physical connection in order to test the waters and set the aforementioned tone. This makes it impossible for him to mistake that you might just be hanging out with him just because; this confirms for him that you have other intentions.

Say yes to set-ups
If you have friends that want to play matchmaker, let them do the work for you. (Kind of like tip #2.)Think of it this way: Your friends know you like no one else, and are likely to have a pretty accurate idea of what you’re looking for in a mate. Let go of the idea that going on a set-up or blind date is for people who can’t land their own lovers. In a best-case scenario, you’ll be (pleasantly) surprised by the people you meet. And if it doesn’t go well? Advantage: you — because, since your friends did all of the Cupid targeting, you can’t be referred to as that girl that hits on every/any guy.

Date multiple men
Oh yes mama, you read that correctly. You have not just my approval but my orders to date men aplenty. When you date more than one guy at once, you aren’t as needy or overbearing. Desperation: annihilated! Sometimes clients of mine fall prey to the spell that is the initial lust for a new guy, and spend all their free time texting, Tweeting, trying to plan dates, etc. By dating multiple men, you will not only be able to easily discern the options and variety, but also know that if things don’t work out with one guy, your feelings and spirit will be safeguarded because you didn’t give too much away to one person, too soon.

The bottom line for those of you re-joining the dating scene: Be positive, believe in yourself, and trust your instincts. If you don’t hear back from new guy #1, move on to #2 (and #3 and #4 and #10 and beyond); know when to walk away from the wrong situation. The longer you linger, the more “crazy girl” you become. That’s not good for the most important person here — you.

Jen Kirsch is a relationship expert, columnist and blogger. For quick tips and tricks, follow her on Twitter @jen_kirsch. Read her posts every Tuesday on Slice.ca.

Also by Jen Kirsch

Guinea Pig #38: Budokon Mixes Martial Arts, Yoga and Meditation

Guest Blogger — Sat, 05 May 2012 14:02:00 GMT

Mindful Movement Centre’s Leslie Parker; photo, Laura Mroz

Two problems: I need more Zen in my life, and I really need to get back into shape. Plus, I have always had a fantasy where I do a High Round Flying Lotus Kick (yes, I made that up — work with me, here) and land perfectly on one leg, as if I was a gymnast/Buddhist monk/karate expert. I figure I can tackle the problems, and maybe the fantasy, by trying Budokon, a sport/exercise that combines martial arts, mediation and yoga. Founded in 2000 by Cameron Shayne, it’s a series of precise movements that help you to focus on alignment, balance and flow. It’s like ~~Kung Fu Panda~~ everything I wanted, all rolled up together in a three-in-one combo punch: I get to kick ass and learn how to calm down, with the clear precision of a strong warrior. (Plus, Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston have given the discipline their celebrity stamp of approval, so, it’s got to be good, right? Maybe I’ll assemble my gaggle of gal pals, for a faux Charlie’s Angels team…)

The Overview
Budokon is pretty advanced. It’s all about “the way of the spiritual warrior” — translated from the three Japanese words that create the compound name, warrior (bu), way (do) and spirit (kon) — and alternates precise martial arts movements with yoga, finishing with breathing exercises to calm both mind and body. On my first try, it reminds me somewhat of dance and Tai Chi, but faster and, frankly, painful.

The Procedures
I visit Toronto’s Mindful Movement Centre and join a small class of a half-dozen or so people, taught by Leslie Parker, owner of the Centre and the only certified Budokon teacher in Ontario. The yoga mats put me at ease: I’ve seen this before, I can do this. This is what people call beginner’s confidence. We start off with “rolling waves,” which involves rolling from “downward dog” to “upward dog” in one fluid flow. It gets harder with the “dancing dog” series, where we move from a “downward dog” position, raise a leg, hook-kick it and then flip over to our side, balancing on that leg. Next, a three-part move comprised of roundhouse kick, spinning hook and cartwheel kick — which is pretty darn hard, though I think I got the general gist of it. Then, core exercises and one drill, where we mimic different forest animals (stalking like a gorilla, jumping like a frog, etc.). Finally, the wind-down: We all sit in child pose (my favourite!) and stretch while meditating and breathing deeply.

The Conclusion
If you’re interested in trying a Budokon class — and you should be! — do yourself a favour and build up to it: it’s definitely not for the novice. Having an intimate knowledge of yoga certainly helps. Because my workout regimen had lapsed, my Budokon experience kind of felt like my first-ever fitness class, where everyone else was svelte and athletic and super-competent. The exercises were excruciating; I could keep up for a while but would have to take breaks and just watch everyone else. Still, it was worth it. Perhaps the best part about Budokon is that it makes you think: You must be constantly aware of where you’re placing your limbs and how you’re moving them. More than just a new sport, it’s like learning a new language. Hmm: I wonder if they have their own word — and way — for High Round Flying Lotus Kick…

Jen Tse is a fashion stylist and writer living in Toronto. Her work can be seen in/on DAZED Digital, NOW, Ukula, Toro and Gloss.

Also by Jen Tse

The Fashion Incubator 25th Anniversary Party at the ROM

Guest Blogger — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:02:00 GMT

Last night, the Royal Ontario Museum was given the glitz and glamour treatment as a host of VIPs and fashionable types celebrated the Fashion Incubator's 25th anniversary. The non-profit organization provides financial support to small business people who want to launch their own lines. The evening included a few fashion shows (naturally) including the TFI New Labels design competition. The winner was Edmonton designer, Sid Neigum, who was awarded with $25,000 for his efforts.

This year, TFI also teamed with Barbie and 25 Canadian designers for a Barbie-inspired challenge with a $10,000-prize attached.
The evening's shows were also graced by Canadian fashionistas and TV personalities such as ET Canada's Angie Smith, Rosie Edeh, and Kim D'Eon.

Below, are our exclusive photos from last night's festivities. Enjoy!

Guess Celebrates 30 Years of Bombshell Style

Guest Blogger — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:05:00 GMT

Last week I went out to celebrate the milestone birthday of an old friend. We have grown apart over the years, but after stopping by I realized I may have to rekindle our relationship. The old chum is Guess and the occasion was the brand's 30th anniversary. Guess, known for the sultry bombshell look, celebrated with an invitation-only event co-hosted with Flare Magazine at the recently opened Queen St. store in Toronto.

In addition to cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, a live fashion presentation and music provided by New York-based DJ Brendan Fallis (who has entertained crowds for Chanel, Dior, Victoria’s Secret and Vogue magazine) the event also coincided with the launch of a limited-edition capsule collection commemorating Guess’ three-decade reign.

The Marciano brothers (AKA the founders of Guess) revisited the vaults to find inspiration for the capsule collection which combines “original styling and vintages washes with modern influences” for a collection of stylish, modern, on-trend clothes, shoes, jewellery and accessories.

The brothers re-released and reinvigorated iconic designs including the Eva vintage floral jeans ($148), the 30-year retro tee (with the original Guess logo), the Beverly Sophie gingham pant ($108), and the three-zip Marilyn jeans ($138)--the first Guess product.

Guess’ spring collection was also on display at the event and the collection was full of colour (such a welcome change after months of drab winter palettes) and I found myself falling head-over-heels in love with the sorbet-coloured skinny jeans, jewel-toned watches and neon handbags.

The limited edition 30th anniversary capsule collection is currently available online and in-stores with prices ranging from $39 to $148.

Gallery: 50 Looks From Toronto Arts and Fashion Week 2012

Guest Blogger — Thu, 03 May 2012 23:51:00 GMT

If you're the kind of person who thinks hitting up the mall is where fashion begins and ends, then Toronto's Arts and Fashion Week is not for you. But, for the truly stylish folks in the know, this smaller, more experimental 4-day event that showcases lesser-known design talent is the place to scope out upcoming trends and names on the cusp. View our exclusive photos from the 2012 shows below.

The Real Housewives of Vancouver: Season 1 Episode 6

Guest Blogger — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:30:00 GMT

You know, when this show started I was SURE the main drama would be between Christina and Jody – weren’t you? I mean, there was Christina’s bullying flashbacks and Jody’s snide comments about her lifestyle. We were all set up for a series full of their showdowns. But, I was wrong, oh so very wrong. The main issue – of course – is between Ronnie and Mary.

Last week, the two exploded at a hotel soiree, which ended with Mary kicking Ronnie out and all the other ladies abandoning her. From this viewers’ perspective, it sort of looked like Ronnie caused the snafu, but it seems like everyone – or at least Team Ronnie – has a different take on what went down.
Aaaaanyway dear drama-loving friends, here’s a rundown of what happened this week:

A Lot of Talk About the Fight
Christina and Mary meet at the beach with their dogs to go over the Ronnie-Mary fight. The way they see it, it’s all Ronnie’s fault.

“She looked like a pit bull ready to snap and chew anything that’s in her way,” Christina says.

Mary gets a little over-the-top: “It’s just not worth the agony anymore. The risk is too high,” she says. Psst: Mary, do NOT hang out with her anymore. There. Problem solved.

Meanwhile, Ronnie flies into the city to meet Jody from her oceanfront home because, “It’s way faster than boating or driving and I don’t have to find parking.” That’s precisely how I feel, I fly to meet my friends downtown for cocktails all the time.

Jody thinks Mary is bananas and should apologize for the hotel meltdown. Ronnie gets all over-the-top. Apparently Ronnie spent a long time crying over the incident and, “I know where the tears are coming from now.”

THEN Christina and Reiko work out together (well, in this instance “work out” seems like a polite term for “get tortured”). Christina is hung over and almost vomits. When the agony is over, they have a coffee and Christina gets Reiko’s take on the Ronnie-Mary conflict. Not shockingly, Reiko is obviously Team Ronnie. In her world, Mary instigated the hotel fight and seemed to plan to kick Ronnie out from the get-go.

Wait, wait, there’s more Ronnie-Mary showdown talk. Reiko, Christina and Mary go bike riding in Stanley Park. During a bite to eat afterwards, Mary alleges Ronnie called her mother and sister to tell them she thinks Mary is unstable. Whaaaaaaaat? I want to hear more about this. Reiko tries to seem neutral because she’s, you know, nice. However, her allegiance to Ronnie shines through. She is gracious enough to invite Mary to her upcoming Super Luxury Car Show runway appearance.

Wine!
Ronnie owns property in Napa and wants to launch a wine called “Rehab.” She enlists her son Jhordan to help her get it off the ground. She also drinks red wine out of a straw. Why? Who knows for sure, but if I had to guess I’d say it could be to avoid getting the dreaded Red Wine Lips. Think I’m right?

So, Jhordan and Ronnie meet with an advertising agency for help designing the label. Ronnie doesn’t warm up to the whole creative brainstorm process. She just wants a pretty label. She also interrupts the meeting to check her Facebook and tell everyone that Mary’s sister also thinks Mary is unstable. Ronnie then tells the ad people she’s been to rehab. There are a lot of close-ups of the agency folks’ unimpressed faces. I do not know how this wine business is going to turn out. But, knowing agency types VERY WELL I am 99.9% certain when Ronnie and Jhordan left the meeting, the agency folks made fun of them behind their backs.

Date With A Guy I Don’t Like
Christina meets David – Mary’s friend – for a hot date. “I don’t know if David has what it takes to keep me interested, no one ever has,” Christina sighs.
However, she seems pretty into him over drinks and even asks him how many kids he wants to have. Wow, forward. Fun fact: Christina thinks her last boyfriend tried to “trap” her into staying with him by getting her pregnant.

You know, I want to like David because I sort of love Christina and I hope she meets a nice boy. But he ruins everything for me with this line: “In my future life I’d like to come back as a female bike seat.” Really David? Really? That’s the line you want broadcast on TV? Classy.

Fashion Show!
Reiko’s cars – worth $1.5 million – are starring in Vancouver’s Super Luxury Car Show and so is Reiko. She’s strutting her tall, very fit stuff down the runway at the event. She’s practiced walking and has primped and polished herself and now she’s ready to roll.

Reiko is gorgeous and her body is so taut and perfect that looking at her makes me want to cover myself in a bathrobe, but being up close and personal with a bunch of very young models makes her nervous.

Luckily, Reiko has great friends to support her at the show and who would never, ever make something all about them and would never, ever behave cattily at an event that obviously means so much to her (#ExtremeSarcasm).

Of course, because this is TV, Mary sits down in the front row at the fashion show right beside Ronnie even though Jody whispers, “Please don’t sit next to us,” under her breath (do we think Mary heard that, or was it just for Ronnie’s ears?).

Christina Wears a Fascinator and I Love It
Reiko hits the runway and looks fantastic. Even her uber-critical mom is proud of how her daughter sashays down the runway.

And the reaction from her friends? Christina and Mary seem into it, but at one point Jody hisses about being bored to Ronnie, who nods.

Also, do you think Reiko would be 100% Team Ronnie if she heard Ronnie and Jody sniping and making comments such as:

“I don’t think Reiko’s body is a natural model’s body. Her hips are too large… She did extremely well.” – Jody.

After the fashion show, the ladies wander around and look at cars. Then they all – with the exception of Mary who’s wandering around having misplaced everyone – head to the drinks tent. That’s where Jody cackles about wanting a “Bloody Mary” and fails to let the joke go. We get it Jody and it’s still not that funny.

Eventually, Mary makes her way to the drinks station and, in a super junior high move, Jody immediately ushers everyone out and they throw Mary a seriously cold shoulder. Christina stays behind in a show of support for Mary.

Mary is a bit shaken, but thrilled Christina stayed behind.

“It makes me feel confident to win this war,” she says. Oh Mary, I don’t mind you, but I feel as though your chances of facing off against Jody and Ronnie and surviving are, well, slim.

My Favourite Lines of the Night
“Christina just looks like she’s doing a tampon commercial or something,” Reiko describing Christina’s carefree and feminine bike riding style.

“We’re very fortunate, we own a few oceanfront properties, but the problem with having multiple properties? Is sometimes it’s hard to find your kids,” Ronnie as she wanders through her properties, searching for her son.

“I imagine hell to be skipping rope,” Christina describing her workout with Reiko.

Next week is Ronnie’s birthday. I predict things won’t go smoothly. See you then!

Written by Stephanie McGrath

5 Health and Fitness Do’s and Don’t’s

Guest Blogger — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:12:00 GMT

You’re working out regularly and watching what you eat but you’re not seeing results. What’s up with that? Little things you think you’re doing right may be sabotaging all the effort you’ve been putting in. The following 5 health and fitness do’s and don’t’s might get you on track to success.

DO: Keep active 3-6 days a week
After you finish exercising, you body continues to burn calories as it recovers. The more often you exercise, the more your body works, improving your metabolism and fitness level.

DON'T: Condense your workout routine
You may think that exercising 3 hours at a time, one or two days a week, is a great way to get fit, fast. Wrong! You will fatigue quickly, work out at a lower intensity and increase your risk of injury.

DO: Eat what you love
Eating healthy isn’t enough. Keep your eye on portions and frequency of treats. Eat slowly, take the time to chew your food, and savour every single bite. Your taste buds will be happy and your body will thank you.

DON'T: Overindulge on your diet-cheat day
Mark my words: It takes one week to lose one pound and just one weekend of decadence to gain it back. Is that really worth it?

DO: Set a bedtime and stick to it
Sleep is essential for your body to recover, repair and rest. For good quality sleep, try to get at least 6-8 consecutive hours per night, and hit your pillow at roughly the same time every night.

DON'T: Pull all-nighters
Even if you have a perfectly valid reason for staying up extra-late — studying, working, or blogging (like me...oops!) — you’ll pay a bigger price than you think, literally, because your weight will suffer. Simply: You’ll eat more to stay awake when you get sleepy, and fall into a vicious cycle of sugar highs and energy crashes.

DO: Drink lots of water
Ah, nature’s balm. Water is free, in both price and in calories! It hydrates and cleanses your body. Spice it up with slices of lemon, oranges, cucumber, strawberries or other fruits or veggies of your choice. Possibly the best part? It helps keep you satiated.

DON'T: Fill up on sugary liquids
Most juices and energy drinks are loaded with sugar. You are much better off eating a fruit, to benefit from the fibre and to keep you feeling fuller, longer.

DO: Challenge your limits
For maximum results, commit to pushing hard in every workout, every time. For shape and tone, include strength training in your routine.

DON'T: Go through the motions
Same old routine and same old resistance equals same old physical plateau. And same old boring snoozefest — which is the beginning of a downward spiral.

Just a few tweaks and adjustments to your routine can make a big difference to your success! Be aware of your options and make smart decisions. Document your food intake and activities for a couple of weeks, and then look for other patterns and areas that could use improvement. Share your discoveries and successes with us here in the Comments!

Katya Mohsen is a personal trainer with over 10 years of experience in fitness and sports training. Catch her practical fitness advice Thursdays on Slice.ca

More articles by Katya Mohsen

Chewing the Fat: How to Tell Your Partner to Lose a Few Pounds

Guest Blogger — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

You and your guy have a really great thing going but — there’s always a “but,” isn’t there? —he has put on the pounds since you started dating. While you don’t want to hurt him by pointing it out, it’s been bothering you. And you only have the very best of intentions. So, is there a tactful way to broach the chub factor without breaking a heart, possibly a relationship, to boot? Here are 5 things to bear in mind.

Instead of saying, try doing.
Per the cliché, actions speak louder than words. Start initiating a more active lifestyle. Are you a yoga junkie? Tell your man you want him to join you for a fun class. Do you want to try a new workout, such as cross fit? Ask if he’ll come with you because you need the added motivation (in other words, empower him by making it sound like he’s helping you — which, in a sense, he is). Instead of driving to date night, why not walk? Or how about spending a Sunday strolling in the streets hand-in-hand, window-shopping and catching kisses? By taking action, you can have a positive impact on his physical lifestyle without even tabling the topic.

Get a scale
Sometimes, we just don’t realize how much weight we’ve put on — until we step on a scale. Sure, we do notice when our clothes feel tighter, but we can write that off by simply assuming they were in the dryer for too long. (Yes: It’s called denial.) If you live together, put a scale in the washroom. When there’s a scale on the floor in a small space, people are likely to hop on it, out of simple curiosity. The key to change is awareness; enable his insight.

Play housewife
It’s important to be mindful of where the weight is coming from. Identify if it’s from lack of exercise, excess of food or drink consumption, stress, etc. Once you pinpoint the cause, it’s easier to know where to target the changes. If the weight gain has been happening after you’ve been eating out four nights a week, why not go grocery shopping together, get some healthy foods and offer to start cooking more? Bonus: In the age of the app, there are countless solutions that offer you healthier, leaner recipes, just at the touch of a fingertip.

Go on a cleanse together
Cleansing is the new black. Why not see what all the fuss is about and do a one week cleanse together? They are meant to provide you with enough calories during your days, offer more energy, great nutrients and clear your entire system. People who commit to a cleanse see an evident weight loss, feel much better and more confident, and are more aware of the connection between eating healthy nutrients and the mind/energy levels.

Remember that you’re not his mother
Face it: We all hate when someone tells us what to do. And we hate it more when what we’re being told to do is something we know we need to do but have been procrastinating over. It’s important to remember that you’re not his mother. A relationship can’t be a dictatorship — will backfire. Don’t put him down, or reference his weight in a heat-of-the-moment argument, or make tiny digs like, “You’re actually going to eat all of that?” Negativity is an unhealthy approach, and simply isn’t fair to your other half. Be supportive — be positive — at all costs, not destructive. And be aware that sometimes, it’s a fine line between the two.

Jen Kirsch is a relationship expert, columnist and blogger. For quick tips and tricks, follow her on Twitter @jen_kirsch. Read her posts every Tuesday on Slice.ca.

Also by Jen Kirsch

The Dirty Dozen: 12 Fruits and Vegetables That You Should Buy Organic

Guest Blogger — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:00:00 GMT

The question of whether or not we should buy organic fruits/vegetables has been a hot topic for a long time. Be it uncertainty about the quality of organic vs. conventional fruits, or the amount of pesticides used, or if organics are truly higher in vitamin and mineral content, there rarely seem to be clear-cut facts at hand. And that’s without mentioning the cost: Organic foods can be triple the price. So, are they really worth it?

According to a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a U.S. not-for-profit research organization, there are indeed many and various key fruits and vegetables that are “worth” the extra dollars, for the organic category. A list of foods that the EWG labels "The Dirty Dozen" highlights specific fruits and vegetables that retain the most pesticides and, as a result, are the ones that the Group recommends buying organic:

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines (imported to U.S.)
7. Grapes (imported to U.S.)
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries (Domestic to U.S.)
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/collard greens

As you will have noticed in the parenthetic qualifiers above, this list is geo-targeted to the U.S., but you should bear in mind that Canada imports an estimated 80% of our produce from other countries, and an estimated 80% of that amount is from the U.S.

Does this mean you should never buy The Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables if you can’t buy organic?
Of course not! The benefits from consuming a diet high in fruits and vegetables far outweigh the risk of pesticides. So, the bottom line is that it is still better to have these foods than not have them at all. If you can afford the choice, though? For these specific fruits and vegetables, absolutely, choose organic.

Maria Thomas is a registered dietitian and owner of UrbanNutrition.com.

Also by Maria Thomas

On the Eve of Baby: A Treasury of Unsolicited Advice!

Guest Blogger — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Barring any unforeseen event, my wife and I will welcome our first child to the world any day now. We’re anxious, excited and a more than a little overwhelmed. People in our lives (and some complete strangers) have been offering bits of advice, some of it helpful, some of it…less so. Here are the top 5 things we hear, even from non-parents:

Get Your Sleep Now
By a wide margin, this is the number one bit of advice we get; however, while I understand the good intentions, it doesn’t make sense. How will sleeping 12 hours a night now help me in 6 months? I’m going to be tired then no matter what I do now. If sleep could be banked like that, my teenage years would have set me up for life. Seriously, I think I was awake for a grand total of three weeks between the ages of 13-17.

Everything Will Change
Really? Caring for my own flesh & blood — when that child is in an incredibly vulnerable, helpless state — is a big deal? Really? Look, I do understand that being a parent to a new-born baby is something that one must experience to truly understand, and I’m sure I’ll feel a profound sea change in my outlook, soon. Still, to all those warning me about big-time change like they’re cluing me in to some private secret: This is not really a surprise.

Make Time for YOU
With something so all-consuming as an infant, you have to make specific effort to get friend/couple/alone time. “Give us a call if you want us to look after the baby,” a very kind friend and parent to a two-year-old offered recently. “Go have brunch and feel like human beings for an hour.” On the other hand...

Spend Every Single Moment With That Child
There is the school of thought that, since our child will soon be huffily slamming doors, rolling her eyes and texting with one hand while giving us the impatient let’s-wrap-this-up gesture with the other, we should spend as much time as possible with her during the early “angelic and has no choice” phase. I guess feeling like human beings will come later?

Are you going to have a natural birth/breastfeeding/co-sleeping/placenta-eating?
First of all, I find it interesting that we’ve all accepted a limiting definition of the term “natural birth,” as if people who have C-sections are somehow violating the order of things. (Have you ever seen an animal give birth? That’s 100% natural, and it looks 100% itchy.) Even though the above questions do appear…questiony, they are in reality pointed bits of advice. At the end of each of those queries, the inquirers might as well add, “...or should I just call children’s services right now?” These are all very personal choices, and given that there’s no lack of information available on all of them, I think my wife and I are pretty capable of making intelligent decisions all on our own. Ultimately, our “plan” is to do what seems to work best for our brood. Still, for those keeping score at home, the answers to these burning questions are: hopefully; hopefully; nope; and BARF.

I’ll revisit all of this advice a few months from now, to see if I have any new perspectives — and if I have any unsolicited "advice" to give to helpless, expectant parents.

Paul Beer is a Toronto writer, actor and comedian. You can follow him on twitter @pauldanielbeer.

More articles by Paul Beer

Spring Clean Your Workout Routine

Guest Blogger — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:28:00 GMT

Spring is here and it’s time to get cleaning. Not in terms of your home (though, you should think about that), but in terms of your approach to physical fitness. Oh yeah, I can feel your enthusiasm already — not! Seriously, this is a good kind of cleaning that will leave you, your workout routine and your gear refreshed! There’s more: Cleaning in and of itself is a physical activity, so you’ll burn a few calories while you’re at it! A total win-win.

Out With the Gross
Empty out all the contents of your gym bag(s), and make sure you get everything, not just your clothes. So: the flattened protein bar that’s been stashed in an obscure pocket; the price tag from that top you bought three months ago; the jar of cherry-scented lip conditioner that now smells rancid and has cotton fuzz around the edge of the cap’s rim. Gross! Wash the things you can, including the inside of your bag. While you’re it, air out your shoes and wash your shoe carrying bag or sweaty clothes bag and your training gloves and MP3player arm band. Wash your yoga mat and air it out, unrolled.

In With the Wipes
Check all of the equipment you use to work out — or to collect dust and hang things on. Wipe down every single item and look for damage, especially where safety is concerned. Check dumbbells for cracks and sand leaks.

Out With the Old
The following goes for all your equipment and gear: If you haven’t used it in over a year, get rid of it! Sell, give, donate or leave curbside with a “free” sign. Go through all of your gym clothes; if anything is torn, repair it or get rid of it. If it doesn’t fit properly anymore and hasn’t for a while, stow it or give it away and make room for new clothes! Sift through the stack of health and fitness magazines on your nightstand. Keep any issues you really like, or even clip out the articles, workouts, recipes, etc you want to keep and save them in a binder or scan them. The great thing about magazines is that a there’s always a new issue just around the corner and, for most of them, you can get a digital subscription. Stop the clutter before it begins.

In With the New
Change up your workout routine, parts if not all of it. Try new exercises, classes or sports. Switch the days of week you exercise, or swap your Monday workout routine with Thursday’s. The change will be refreshing for both your mind and body.

Get Outside!
The weather is warming, the sun is shining. Get out of the underground paths or skywalks and even get out of the gym. Take some of your activities to the streets and parks. Get some fresh air and a dose of vitamin D, every day. Take walks during breaks. Ride your bike to work or to run small errands, or just to go for a spin. Go for a run outdoors and a stretch in the park. You get the picture.

Not only will this keep you busy and moving for a while, it will also “clean” your mental attitude about exercise; the end result can only be positive. Enjoy it, and the feeling of freedom that comes with a good cleansing, de-cluttering and change! Add your own items to it and share them with us here in the Comments. Happy cleaning!

Katya Mohsen is a personal trainer with over 10 years of experience in fitness and sports training. Catch her practical fitness advice Thursdays on Slice.ca

More articles by Katya Mohsen

The Real Housewives of Vancouver: Season 1, Episode 5 Recap

Guest Blogger — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:11:00 GMT

“All of us together, what could possibly go wrong?”

And with that statement, said in dripping sarcasm, Christina pretty much sums up this week’s Vancouver-based shenanigans.

While Christina and Jody seem to have overcome their disagreements, the Ronnie-Mary snafu continues. Let’s dig through the details of all that went on in the lives of the rich and sunglass-wearing this week:

Extravagance

Reiko has a VERY expensive hobby: collecting high-end cars. She’s all a-tizzy because her beautiful vehicles will be showcased in the Super Luxury Car Show (is that not a hilarious event name?) AND she’ll be modeling high-end designer clothes at the event, too.

The event coordinator tells us that because most of the Super Luxury Car owners are men, people will be “amazed and fascinated by the fact that this gorgeous woman has an incredible super car and she not only just has it, but she drives it.” Wow. Thanks for the pretty sexist comment Craig the Coordinator.

Stuff That Doesn’t Matter That Much

The renos at Jody’s catering business continue, but they don’t result in any hysterics or all-out friendship wars so let’s move on.

Mary introduces Christina to a man named David and there seems to be a spark. This could become interesting, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Mary & Ronnie

There are two distinct sides in this mess: Jody & Ronnie and Mary & Christina, while Reiko just seems to wish everyone would get along.

The source of the tension? A ridiculous stream of text messages that saw Ronnie calling Mary pathetic and Mary texting that Ronnie should stop mooching off men (or something).

Jody & Ronnie’s Take on Things

Over oysters and wine, Jody and Ronnie dish on the texting. Jody says she and Ronnie are buds because they’re both “up front, we’re honest” (and maybe… just a bit mean sometimes too ladies, me thinks?)

Ronnie gets fired up and says, “Mary should not mistake my kindness for weakness, from here on out I am watching.”

If you think it seems like a strange thing to say about someone you’ve been “best friends” with for 17 years, I’d have to agree with you.

Mary & Christina’s Version

Christina gets eyelash extensions while Mary talks about the text messages AGAIN. Mary is mad Ronnie showed them to Jody (and meanwhile, Ronnie is mad Mary showed them to other people, too).

Christina claims the texts are “disturbing” and “unfortunately I’ve had to choose sides and I choose Mary.”

As this battle wages on, things continue to get cattier and cattier. Christina wins Cattiest Comment of the Episode with this gem about Jody and Ronnie:

“They don’t have a lot in common except they each have three children by three different men.”

The Tennis Match Where Love Is Lost

Ronnie hosts a tennis match and lunch, which Christina opts not to attend as a show of solidarity for Mary. THAT is not her most strategic move, as now Ronnie and Jody gang up on Christina.

Jody prank calls Christina from lunch, pretending to be Revenue Canada (it’s dumb). Then Christina calls Reiko, who puts her on speakerphone, and explains she didn’t show because she’s upset about the whole text message business. This of course makes Ronnie nuts.

A Toast That Isn’t Really A Toast

Ronnie and Mary meet for lunch. For a while, once the whole “you texted something mean to me” / “you started it” conversation dies down, I think they might be ready to make amends. I’m wrong. As the women try to toast their 17-year-friendship, they can’t even clink their glasses together before they’re sniping at one another again. This does not bode well for the future.

Where It All Falls Apart

Mary models in a photo shoot for her scarf line at a swank Vancouver hotel (which I’m sure I’ve seen in movies; there’s a pool in the ceiling!).

She invites all the women over to the hotel afterwards for cocktails. BAD IDEA.

Some wine is consumed and then the atmosphere gets so tense that even I, from the comfort of my couch, am feeling so anxious I’m wishing I had a Valium.

We move from awkward conversations about Jody believing Mary believes she’s not Jewish (how is this cocktail talk?), to an all-out war between Mary and Ronnie. It explodes over – you guessed it – text messages.

Ronnie shrieks at Mary to “go eff” herself and Mary kicks Ronnie out. Shrieking ensues. Reiko, Ronnie and Jody start rushing out of the hotel room and yelling at Christina to join them. Oh Christina, stuck in the middle again. Eventually the desire to escape the drama is so strong, she decides to exit with them. They all pile into the elevator as Mary follows them – freaking out the entire time.

I know editing can cause one to take sides and it’s impossible to know every single subtle detail that really happened, but I must say that it’s Ronnie who seemed to be the instigator this evening – not Mary. But Jody, not surprisingly, feels otherwise:

“What happened to Mary? If that’s menopause… my poor husband.”

So, next week, we see more of Reiko’s Super Luxury Cars, things with Christina and her new love interest appear to heat up, and the Ronnie-Mary fallout continues. Can’t wait! Let’s talk next week, same time, same place.

Written by Stephanie McGrath

Related

Slice on the Scene: Fashion Cares 25 Launch Party at La Societe

Guest Blogger — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:15:00 GMT

Global New's Anne Mroczkowski and Fashion Cares Co-Chair Michael King

Fashion Cares, the charity and fashion show in support of the AIDS committee of Toronto, will be celebrating it’s 25th anniversary this fall. In honour of this, power publicist Natasha Koifman of NKPR hosted a launch party last night at Toronto’s La Societe, a French bistro-style venue in the heart of the city’s tony Yorkville area. Over the years, the splashy affair has raised millions for HIV/AIDS research and is a must-attend event for fashionistas both near and far.

Zoomer magazine editor-in-chief Suzanne Boyd

Terry, yours truly, and the stylish guests in attendance were treated to an array of appetizers including oysters, duck crostinis and gourmet mini grilled cheeses, as well as the evenings signature cocktails. A plethora of media outlets were on the scene to shoot segments and photos of bold face names like Zoomer magazine editor-in-chief Suzanne Boyd, actress Jill Hennessy of Law and Order fame, and Somali-Canadian supermodel Yasmin Warsame (Terry even got a photo opp with the beauty—I think he can officially die now!).

Fashion Cares Artistic Director Philip Ing

Fashion Cares’ artistic director, Philip Ing, explained during his speech that the event will take on a smaller, more intimate feel this year and feature special guest, Sir Elton John (Elton will also be bringing along a retrospective of his stage performance outfits). Elton's partner, filmmaker David Furnish, is in fact co-chair of Fashion Cares.

Fore more information visit the Fashion Cares website.

NKPR's Natasha Koifman (right)

Slice's Terry Wong and Flare magazine's Ryan Porter

TV Personalities Melissa Grelo and Tanya Kim

Terry and supermodel Yasmin Warsame

T.Wong and I Call it a Night :-)

Written by Nadine Sharon Anglin

Do You Want to Be Right or Do You Want to Be Happy?

Guest Blogger — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Another broken promise, yet again: You asked your other half to attend an important event with you — you even asked him far in advance — and then he booked something else for that same evening. You’re offended, hurt, and extremely angry that he doesn’t perceive your needs and make an effort to cater to them. You bring this to his attention and what’s meant to be you sharing your disappointment becomes a full-blown “he said, she said” fight. Some battles aren’t worth risking long-term anguish for (at best, potential) short-term gain. Here are three tips to help you determine which issues are worth addressing and drawing a line over, without winding in a worse off state.

Never act on impulse.

We all tend to say things that we don’t mean in the heat of an argument — things that, after the fact, we are embarrassed and ashamed of saying. Though the simple solution is to think before you speak, that’s easier said than done. Think about this, though: When you’re worked up, your nervous system is on hyper-alert. Our bodies work to protect us, so, when we get triggered, we go into fight or flight mode, increasing our heart rate and adrenaline. We need an outlet to unleash these physiological and heightened feelings — usually, the person closest to us (physically and emotionally). Well, no fight will be solved rationally when one (or both) of you is in this state. Take some time to unwind, whether that involves removing yourself from the situation, going for a walk, or having a glass of water and counting to twenty. Wait, and re-approach the situation once you have calmed down.

Instead of arguing about who’s right and who’s wrong, ask yourself: Who cares?

The goal of an argument is to both solve the issue at hand and ensure it doesn’t happen again. But nothing will be solved if the focus of the fight is who is right and who is wrong. Let go of that childish need to point fingers, assign blame and make someone else accountable, whether or not they were in the wrong. When you do that, you distract yourself from the real issue. Every time your partner brings up a past argument or tells you that you are wrong, clearly state that you think it would be more productive to talk about what’s actually going on. And keep yourself calm and in control by asking yourself the important question about right vs. wrong: Who cares? Once you realize that the bigger picture is what’s important, you’ll find it easier to rise about the pettiness.

Avoid putting your partner on the defensive.

When discussing issues that have upset you, explain what triggered you and how you felt, and offer a solution: Tell your partner you’re trying to be proactive and make sure it doesn’t happen again. You can be a bit pushy — but be polite, too. Aggression will only make him withdraw, and will likely also make you angrier. In the example at the top of this post, you could say, “I was offended when I found out that you made other plans the same day I had asked you to join me at something important to me.” This is sharing what the trigger was. “It made me feel like I’m not important to you — which makes me sad, because I love you.” This shows him how you are feeling. “In the future, I’d appreciate if you would make an effort to consider my schedule when making your own.” By doing the above, you are simply just communicating your needs. And circumventing a fight.

Don’t forget: It can be healthy to argue in a relationship, but only if you fight fairly and resolve your issues. If the same issues keep re-emerging, and you’ve tried all of the above? Well, it might be time to reassess your relationship.

Jen Kirsch is a relationship expert, columnist and blogger. For quick tips and tricks, follow her on Twitter @jen_kirsch. Read her posts every Tuesday on Slice.ca.

Also by Jen Kirsch

Eat This, Not That: Popcorn, Tortilla Chips and Chicken Burgers

Guest Blogger — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Here is one of the most common questions I am asked by clients trying to get in shape: What should I eat, and what should I avoid? It’s as if they're looking for that magic list of foods, that guarantees weight loss.

In a perfect world, losing weight would be simple. We would all eat to satisfy our appetite instead of eating with our eyes and stuffing ourselves just because food is in front of us. We would always be mindful of why we are eating — because we are hungry, versus bored, tired, sad, or various other applicable emotions/feelings/states that have nothing to do with legitimate hunger.

Well, as we all know, losing weight simply isn’t simple. If it was, then approximately two-thirds of the population wouldn’t be overweight or obese (which is the current state of things). Losing weight is a winning combination of several factors, of which diet is but one (albeit a very important one). Success includes overall health, exercise, emotional state, personal life, among others.

For many however, having a list that says “Eat This, Not That” means thinking about it less and provides a good starting point. So, for those of you are relish a good/bad list, here are three foods whereby, in choosing one over the other, you should find it easier to shed unwanted pounds.

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Popcorn vs nuts
Eat 5 cups of plain popcorn (149 calories) instead of 20-24 almonds (166 calories)

This is a category involving foods for peckish moments — they feel satisfying to nibble on while relaxing or, say, watching a movie. So, popcorn vs almonds. Yes almonds are healthy, but they do provide a lot of calories in a very small amount of food. Consider the popcorn instead. Even If you add one tbsp of butter, and have 2-3 cups of popcorn instead of 5, you will still only consume about 160 calories. Healthy bonus: popcorn is whole grain.

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Homemade corn tortillas vs store-bought potato chips
Eat homemade tortilla chips & salsa (195 calories) instead of a handful of potato chips (320 calories)

Here, two more peckish examples, though these competitors also qualify as snack-time material. Making the switch from potato chips to homemade tortilla chips is a super-easy way to save you fat and calories without sacrificing flavour. And don’t try arguing time/convenience on behalf of those guilty-pleasure, greasy potato chips: Homemade tortilla chips can take as little as five minutes to prepare.

---------------

Chicken burger vs hamburger
Eat a grilled chicken burger (350 calories) instead of a hamburger with the works (750 calories)

When BBQing or eating out, choose a grilled chicken burger with veggies instead of a hamburger with the works — this simple, tasty decision can save you approx. 300 calories. But you say you love hamburgers? OK, well, at least try to opt for fewer toppings — and remember that the extra fat and calories from the meat, cheese and “special sauce” translate into a second aerobics class at the gym to burn it off.

---------------

The bottom line here is that making simple exchanges, such as those above, can reduce your calorie intake without making you feel deprived -- a key factor weight-loss success.

Are there other Eat This, Not That suggestions that you’d like us to feature? Leave a comment -- The possibilities are endless!

Maria Thomas is a registered dietitian and owner of UrbanNutrition.com.

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Of Bathing Suits and Body Image

Guest Blogger — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:07:00 GMT

In view of the Housewives hoopla, I thought the following sentiment very apropos.

As the weather gets warmer, pools, lakes and beaches beckon, and with them, bathing suits. And with bathing suits, despair. There are only a handful of people who are truly thrilled about their appearance in a skimpy bathing suit, and those people are Kate Upton and assorted Speedo-clad Germans on vacation.

Getting in better shape is an admirable goal, and one that I’ve held on to for the past few years. Of course, recent advancements in television and burritos have made fulfilling this goal difficult. (Note to self: Pitch “BurritoTV” morning show to Food Network.) I’d like to get in better shape for general overall health and, yes, vanity. Being an actor, I’m embarrassingly eager to have my picture taken, even though every picture I’m in looks like someone posing next to the statue of the world’s tallest man at the Guinness World Records head office. (Note to self: Pitch “GuinnessTV” morning show to Food Network.)

I’m eager to have my picture taken, that is, unless I’m shirtless — at which point I become positively Amish in my aversion to cameras. What I can convince myself is a “normal”-looking torso in private is revealed to be a vast swatch of unformed pastiness when seen through the cold, objective eye of the camera’s lens.

The line between being driven to being healthier and being obsessed can be a fine one, and it’s particularly hard for women and girls. The acceptable size range for men is vast, so we can (and do) get away with a lot; women, however, are encouraged to look thin but not skeletal, voluptuous but not hefty. What happens when the nagging little voice telling you to go for a run becomes an incessant scream? What if you can never be pleased with the image in the mirror, no matter how low you get your BMI or how many crunches you do?

The internal pressure to look better mixes so easily with the external noise. If you’re about to embark on a brutal 90-day bootcamp, listen closely to that nagging little voice and ask yourself if it’s giving you orders for the right reasons. Because here’s a little secret: We (men) find you (women) attractive. That yardstick in your own mind, of how you’re supposed to look, or what circumference your wrists are supposed to be? Doesn’t mean anything to us. If we like you, we like you. And constantly obsessing about your weight is not the most attractive quality in a woman.

Barring any unforeseen event, in roughly one week I will welcome a baby daughter to the world. I’m excited, of course, but also worried for her because I know the world can be hard for girls. Being her father, I’ll always think she’s beautiful. She’s not even born yet and I know this. I just hope that when the time comes, she agrees with me.

Paul Beer is a Toronto writer, actor and comedian. You can follow him on twitter @pauldanielbeer.

More articles by Paul Beer
• Three Cheers for Having Our Own Interests!
• Making the Man: His Clothes, and You
• Infidelity Happens: But Not Necessarily to You
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7 Green Beauty Products

Guest Blogger — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:00:00 GMT

I’ve always been a sucker for eco-friendly beauty products. Perhaps it’s the herbal, woodsy or citrusy scents, perhaps it’s the clean packaging or, *gasp* the good of the green; whatever the reason, any time I use natural products, I feel better — more wholesome, cleaner. In honour of Earth Day this Sunday April 22, here are some of my favourite green beauty products, if you’re looking for an earth-friendly way to vamp up your beauty routine.

Thursday Plantation “Tea Tree Face Wash for Acne”
Nothing here but fluffy, foamy goodness. With tea tree oil as the main ingredient and chamomile to calm the skin, this face wash will transform acne-prone skin and leave you squeakier-clean than you’ve ever been since before the pimple years. Available at AbundanceNaturally.com and Wal-Mart; $15

Kiss My Face “Balancing Act” antioxidant toner
I’m usually wary of squirt bottles but I could spray my face all day with this toner because it hits me with a beautiful olfactory blast of citrus salad. Made for all skin types, “Balancing Act” refreshes skin with a medley of orange, grapefruit and lemon balm essential oil. Seaweed extract, ginger, and the antioxidants Ester C and Vitamin E round out the ingredients. It makes my face feel a bit tighter but smooth and balanced. Available at Whole Foods Market and Shoppers Drug Mart; $19

Sanctum “Hy C Recovery Serum”
A luxury spa line from Australia, Sanctum offers a very effective Vitamin C serum that’s 94% organic and antioxidant-fueled. It contains black cohesh and katu cola, to combat free radicals and promote collagen growth. Weeks later, my skin looks brighter, smoother and better. My freckles and skin imperfections are lighter, leaving a nice canvas for make up. Available at AbundanceNaturally.com; $48

Aesop “Dual Scalp Cleansing Shampoo”
I have very dry, coarse hair — it’s the texture of a horse’s mane. For the first time in my life, I found a shampoo that doesn’t dry out the ends. Rosemary leaf, chamomile bud and lavender stern with azulenes cleanse the scalp and leave my hair lustrous and soft. Aesop’s packaging has an intentional medicinal/apothecary design, as if their small brown bottles held secrets of ancient remedies concocted by wise monks. Maybe they do. Available exclusively in Canada at: The Want Apothecary (Montreal); Oliver Spencer (Toronto); Holt Renfrew (Vancouver); $25

Sweet Anthem “Parfum Concrète”
Well-designed and unique, Parfum Concrète (solid perfume) is hand-made in small batches, and uses natural oils embalmed in shea butter. This vegan-friendly perfume comes in numerous scents and amounts up to 10mL. I got “Juliet,” a heady jasmine and sambac oriental infusion with a touch of mango. Available at Sweet Anthem’s Etsy page; $12

NOW Solutions “Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
This superb serum plumps up fine lines and retains moisture, prepping the skin for moisturizer, and helping remedy loss of elasticity. Hyaluronic acid is one of the most effective solutions for absorption of facial water, and it’s entirely natural. Available at Well.ca; $19

Earth Science “Almond-Aloe Moisturizer”
For price alone, this no-frills moisturizer can’t be beat. Money aside, though, this one is, quite simply, the goods: Chock full of beta liposomes and antioxidants, it’s light, and it absorbs quickly while being super-emollient. Available at the Earth Science web site; $8

Aveda “Nourish-Mint Sheer Mineral Lip Color”
Sure, lip colour is a matter of personal taste. Still: Red Poppy has to be the best colour! It adds a punch of true cool red — a shot of real brightness, and a perfect, satiny finish for a polished face. Better yet, Aveda’s “Nourish-Mint” line smoothes lines, increases moisture and makes lips fuller in just two weeks. Available at Aveda and Civello; $16

Jen Tse is a fashion stylist and writer living in Toronto. Her work can be seen in/on DAZED Digital, NOW, Ukula, Toro and Gloss.

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The Real Housewives of Vancouver: Season 1, Episode 4 Recap

Guest Blogger — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:54:00 GMT

This week, on The Real Housewives of Vancouver, truces were made. But I feel as though we shouldn’t get too comfortable, because something troublesome is obviously brewing.

Here are this week’s highlights and a look ahead to next week’s downward spiral into drama:

Extravagance

These ladies have some cash and they’re not afraid to show it. Ronnie introduces us to her stunning tennis court that hangs over the ocean and features glass walls so the view isn’t obstructed. She’s quite modest about it though. (#Sarcasm)

“Our tennis court is probably one of the most beautiful tennis courts I think I’ve ever seen,” she says.

Reiko has a pretty (and pricey) white Ferrari and takes Jody to the racetrack where Reiko drives super fast, Jody rides in the passenger seat and hollers, Reiko uses a – gasp – port-a-potty and Jody eats a three-patty burger on camera.

What does Jody have to say about the day? “Sitting in a car going extremely fast is quite a horny experience.”

Making Music

Mary is ready to hit the recording studio again. What follows is a series of scenes involving her and a team of people drinking wine, strumming guitars, talking about lyrics that have to do with “hope” and getting excited about a “poetry in motion” lyric. I like Mary, actually, and I wish her the best. For her sake, I hope the finished single is miles better than the boozy musical brainstorm session suggests it will be.

Catty Catch-Ups

So, last week, Ronnie was mad at Mary, Mary was mad at Ronnie and Jody and Christina got into it at a coffee shop. This week, various combinations of women catch up on all the ruckus.

Mary meets with Jody to try to tell her side of the Ronnie-Mary spat, but Jody has obviously already chosen her side – and it’s not Mary’s. Among the snide comments she makes about to the would-be-comeback-singer is this little gem: “She can sing in the elevator, the stairwell, the shower, but I think her voice is done.” Ouch. She also suggests Mary try singing commercial jingles.

Christina tries to deal with the emotional beating she took from Jody by going to the boxing gym and seeing a hypnotherapist. Apparently she was bullied as a child and Jody’s mean-girling is bringing on some PTSD symptoms or something.

Competing Parties

Mia is turning 25 and Jody wants the whole world to know about it. Inside her enormous cliffside mansion, Jody preps flowers, hires a DJ and a professional lighting company to celebrate Mia’s big day. Meanwhile, Mia is moderately cranky about being expected to do work, like carrying boxes of champagne, in the lead-up to her special day.

Jody tells us this party is, “costing my husband a lot of money.” I would have to agree.

Weirdest party planning moment? When Jody hangs out with the hired DJ and jokes around with him about Mia: “I’ll sell you my daughter, I will pay you 30,000 a month to marry her.” Um whaaaaat? The DJ looks 100% uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, at Mary’s house, those who weren’t invited to Mia’s bash, (Christina and Mary and a couple of their friends), are gathering for Lebanese food whilst wearing outfits.

“It’s not a pity party, ” explains Mary, “It’s an instead of party.”

While the food at Mary’s looks tasty and those eating it keep saying how much more fun they’re having than they’d have at Mia’s bash, it’s hard to believe them. We keep seeing flashes back to Mia’s party full of cake, dancing, champagne and Marie Antoinette-style desserts.

A Showdown and a Truce

Since Reiko isn’t fighting with anybody, she declares herself “Switzerland” and suggests a dinner at Coast (I’ve been there! Delicious!) as an opportunity to get everyone together to work out their issues.

Exceeeept… Mary bails. She phones Christina at the table and explains she has a toothache and can’t make it. Ronnie starts screeching about how Mary has replaced her with Christina in the best friend role. Awkward!

The Mary-Ronnie issue isn’t going to be resolved, so next we move on to Christina and Jody. The “Queen of Mean” as Mary refers to Jody, doesn’t hold back. When Christina says she’s longing for a day of doing nothing, Jody responds, “That’s what you do every day, is nothing, no?”

When someone compliments Jody’s enormous necklace she says, “It’s going to be Christina’s chastity belt.”

Finally, Christina decides to try to end the madness and apologizes for the coffee shop fight. Suddenly, all is right with the world! Jody says she has a “soft spot” for Christina (really, since when?). Everyone jokes and laughs and seems to have a nice time. Bizarre. But don’t get too comfortable my friends.

“I think we’ve called a truce,” says Christina. “I don’t see it lasting long. I’m optimistic, but I’m also realistic. “ Hmmm… sounds ominous.

See you next week when it looks like much drama ensues and the Ronnie-Mary conflict completely explodes.

Written by Stephanie McGrath

Related

Fixed vs. Variable Mortgages

Guest Blogger — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Are you a fixed or a variable person? If you’re a homeowner, it’s probably a question you’ve asked yourself once or twice. Buying a home can be a terrifying proposition, but landing yourself that perfect “dream house” does not mean that the difficult decisions are at an end. Every time you negotiate (or re-negotiate) your mortgage, the question (re-)rears its ugly head: Should you choose a fixed or variable mortgage rate?

First, let’s clarify what each term means.

Fixed mortgage rate
Your mortgage rate and payments stay constant over your mortgage term. So, if you lock in at 5.44 per cent, this will be your mortgage rate for whatever term you’ve agreed upon with your lender. If you’re paying $1,200 per month, for example, that’s exactly what you’ll be paying until the end of your term. In fixed mortgages, interest is compounded on a semi-annual basis.

Variable mortgage rate
Your mortgage rate will fluctuate over your mortgage term. Your interest rate will change with the “prime” lending rate, as set by the Bank of Canada. For example, your rate could be Prime – [minus] 0.15 per cent. Payments in variable mortgage rates can fluctuate as rates go up for down — or they can remain constant, in which case the fluctuating rate will determine how much of your payment goes to principal and how much goes to the interest. In a variable mortgage, interest is compounded monthly.

The central “pro” of the fixed mortgage rate is obvious: stability. You know how much you are paying per month, and don’t have to worry about flip-flopping figures. The con? You are locked in, so if rates go down drastically, you won’t be able to take advantage of it. This can cost you money in the long run.

The central “pro” of the variable mortgage rate is that, in the long term, you will end up spending less on your home. Need proof? You’ll find it in the landmark research of Dr. Moshe Milevsky of Toronto’s York University, who proved with statistical evidence in 2001 that borrowers with variable-rate mortgages save money 88.6 per cent of the time. In 2008, Dr. Milevsky presented further compelling evidence: Based on data from 1950 to 2007, variable rate borrowers could expect to save money a whopping 90.1 per cent of the time. He also found that the average savings was $20,630 over 15 years per $100,000 borrowed.

The above may make it sound like choosing a variable-rate mortgage is a no-brainer. Ah, ah, ah — not so fast! The con, of course, is that changes in interest rates could significantly affect your payments. If rates go up at a time that’s inopportune for your bank account, you could be left wishing you’d locked in while you had the chance.

The historical economic statistics notwithstanding, lately some experts have been pushing consumers towards a fixed-rate mortgage. For example, a March 2012 report by BMO Capital Markets called “Time to Say Good-bye… to Variable” urged Canadians to opt for fixed-rate mortgages, saying, “There are mounting signs that the tide is indeed turning for rates, especially with the U.S. economy finally getting back on its feet. Considering the likely upward trend in interest rates as the global recovery picks up speed in 2012, this may be one of those rare periods when a fixed rate turns out to be the superior choice.”

With interest rates at historic lows, many Canadians are indeed opting for fixed-rate mortgages, in an effort to lock in a low rate and speed the repayment of their mortgages. A March 2012 CIBC poll conducted by Harris/Decima revealed that half of all Canadians polled said they would go fixed if they had to decide today, compared to only 39 per cent in 2011.

As the popularity of fixed rates grows, another question has emerged: How long should you lock in for, five years or 10? As reported by Garry Marr in the Financial Post, the 10-year mortgage accounts for only about 1 per cent of the marketplace, but that may change “as rates for the decade-long term have dropped to an all-time low, with some lenders said to be offering an interest rate of 3.84 per cent.”

With rates so low, you might want to consider locking in for as long as you can. As Marr puts it, “the 10-year represents the ultimate in security coming with the heaviest insurance premium — albeit with a much lower cost these days.”

One thing the experts seem to agree on is that choosing your mortgage model is a matter of understanding your risk tolerance. Can you afford to roll the dice? Or do you need that extra security? Regardless of your choice, always check CanadaMortgage.com to see who’s offering the most bad-ass rates.

Shelley White is a Canadian freelance writer, editor and TV producer who contributes regularly to The Globe and Mail, The Huffington Post, The Grid and Spinner.com. Shelley is also a mother of two who aspires to never again carry a credit card balance.

More articles by Shelley White
• Your RRSP Plan for Next Year — Any Time Is a Good Time to Start, Just Start Right Away
• Got Kids? Two Reasons Why You Need RESPs
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How Does a “Nice” Girl Assert Herself?

Guest Blogger — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Are you the “nice” girl? When your friends make off-colour and crude comments that don’t sit well with you, you laugh without commenting. You never send back an order at a restaurant, for fear of offending the server. When plans with friends are going to take you out of your way, you keep quiet, not wanting to rock the boat and potentially spoil the fun. If this is you, then you should consider this: While it’s all well and good to be more sugar than spice, there are certain situations that call for you to put your foot down. For your own good. The question is: If you’re normally polite to the point of being reserved, how do you assert yourself without being called the B-word? Here are four scenarios, and four solutions.

The Chatty Guy at Starbucks
The next time a guy is chatting your ear off at Starbucks or in a bar, instead of making “the face” and hoping he gets the hint, tell him it was nice talking to him but you have to get back to what you’re doing. By speaking up, as opposed to being passive, you can take control of the situation without making him feel uncomfortable for approaching you in the first place.

Family Favours
If you’re tired of getting guilt-tripped by family members who want you to do favours for them — babysitting their kids, picking them up from the airport, etc. — it’s important to not to put yourself in a position where you say yes but wish you said no, as it will build resentment. Don’t commit to doing things you don’t want to if you’re going to make them pay for it later (by complaining and whining about how inconvenient it is). If you don’t want to do something, say that it doesn’t work with your schedule and offer a solution, such as another time or a way that it can work for you. Or, say that you don’t have the time, period. If they still want the favour, they can work around your requests and should meet you (at least) halfway. Best part? Not only will you feel freer, but they will start to respect you more.

Set the Tone with Your Partner Early On
If your boyfriend keeps bailing on your family events, speak up. We teach people how to treat us at the beginning of our relationships through reward and punishment. If you let him “get away” with cancelling at the last minute, saying “It’s OK” and making excuses for him when your family asks where he is, then you are actually rewarding his poor behaviour. Next time he tries to wiggle out of something, don’t brush it off out of fear of walking on eggshells. Speak up using X, Y and Z: “When you do X, I feel Y; next time, I’d like it if you could do Z.” He needs to hear this, and the sooner, the better. As with the previous example: Once he knows where you’re coming from and what the boundaries are, he will respect you more.

Breaking Up
When you want to cut ties with that guy you’ve been dating for a few weeks, you might think it’s kinder to just slowly stop responding to his messages as quickly, stop taking his phone calls, and postponing (and re-postponing) dates. The truth is, doing this makes you look like more of a *** because you’re keeping him hanging and baffled — you’re actually teasing him. If you are certain you no longer have interest, it’s best to cut ties in a mature and honest way: Let him know that you don’t think there’s a connection. He might be offended in the immediate moment, and he might even try to convince you otherwise, but in the end he’ll appreciate the honesty and maturity.

Jen Kirsch is a relationship expert, columnist and blogger. For quick tips and tricks, follow her on Twitter @jen_kirsch. Read her posts every Tuesday on Slice.ca.

Also by Jen Kirsch
• Are You Getting What You Want from Online Dating?
• Can a Woman Pursue a Man without Seeming Too Aggressive?
• How to Shake the Single Blues
• How Do You Ditch a Toxic Friend?
• How Do You Gracefully Bow Out of Your Own Wedding?

The Real Housewives of Vancouver “Diet”?

Guest Blogger — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:00:00 GMT

Aside from TV shows that I have worked with, such as The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp and Bulging Brides, I don’t typically write articles about nutrition and television programming. But for The Real Housewives of Vancouver, I couldn’t resist.

When I told my friends I was watching the show, they gawked in shock. Maybe I did, too. But honestly, this show is filmed in Vancouver — where I live, and blog weekly as the Nutrition Expert for the Rants & Raves Blog on Slice.ca -- so I can’t deny I was curious.

Five minutes into the very first episode of the show, there was no doubt that these ladies were wealthy, but I also noticed that they all seem to be in really good shape. Which got me thinking: How do these ladies stay in shape? What do they eat? Do they cook often, or do they eat in restaurants most days of the week?

Research has shown that women who eat out five times a week or more consume about 300 extra calories per day, compared to women who eat out fewer than five times a week. Now, I have no doubt that these housewives are active — we’ve seen clips of Reiko boxing and Ronnie playing tennis (on the on-site court at her west Vancouver home) — but I’m still going to guess that these ladies eat out a lot. In the end, an extra 300 calories each day translates into pounds — and not just a few pounds: try 22 pounds by the end of one year.

So, assuming they eat out all the time, how can the Real Housewives of Vancouver stay in such lean shape? Here, three tips the ladies may very well already know, that everyone else can use to ward off the 300 extra calories when eating out.

Have salads sometimes, but not all the time
Yes, salads are healthy, but they get boring, fast — especially if you eat out a lot. Many salads also contain more calories than you can imagine: a typical mixed green salad with dressing, goat cheese and nuts can deliver more calories than a hamburger! Many restaurants will cater to specific requests, so just ask. Have a salad sometimes but also have grilled salmon with steamed vegetables and a small portion of brown rice, or try an open-faced grilled chicken burger with a side salad.

One glass of wine, not the bottle
Watch out for those liquid calories! Just like a bottle of wine can run up your bill, it can also run up the calories, potentially about 1/3 of the total calories you need in one day. If you’re having martinis or cocktails, expect the associated calories to be even higher.

Never go to a restaurant starving
Oftentimes, when we know we’re going out to eat, we don’t want to spoil our appetite, so we wait. Then, when we get to the restaurant, we’re famished and order an appetizer — maybe we share it, maybe not — our entrée and probably dessert. Feeling stuffed later? Might have something to do with the 3,000 calories you’re already feeling guilty about. Take the edge off, and keep the calorie consumption down, by having a little snack beforehand.

Maria Thomas is a registered dietitian and owner of UrbanNutrition.com.

Also by Maria Thomas

• What You Eat Can Improve Your Skin, Part 2
• What You Eat can Improve Your Skin, Part 1
• Healthy Snack Ideas to Fight the 3pm Slump
• Are You Getting Enough Iron?
• 3 Natural Energy Boosters to Help Keep You Going

How I Maximize My Tax Return

Guest Blogger — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:03:00 GMT

The days are getting longer, the average temperature is finally above zero, and everyone has a skip in her step—tax season has arrived!

Some people begrudge tax season, anticipating huge tax bills coming down the pipeline. One year, I actually owed the government money and I promised myself that would never happen again. With some planning and familiarization with available tax credits and benefits, anyone can turn this time of year from a burden to a benefit.

Wouldn’t you like to get hundreds or thousands of dollars back from the government? Well you’re in luck! I’ve compiled a handy list of the most popular tax credits and benefits you can claim against your income so that a few weeks after you file your return, you’ll get a nice cheque coming to you.

Child Fitness Tax Credit
Okay, okay, I don’t actually have children, but if I did, I’d put them in a “prescribed program of physical activity” (pee-wee soccer, T-ball) and claim up to $500 in fees.

Low Income Tax Credit AKA the Working Income Tax Benefit
Tax relief for low-income earners.

Medical Expenses Tax Credit
As if universal healthcare isn’t awesome enough, Canadians who have sustained significant medical expenses for themselves or their dependants can claim those expenses.

Tuition Tax Credit
The Tuition Tax Credits are not just for keg-standing college co-eds, I claim them for my continuing education writing courses. It feels like the government is paying me to learn stuff I actually want to learn in my spare time.

Public Transit Passes Tax Credit
Every time the TTC raises its fare, a baby angel cries. The only thing that makes me not want to curl up into a ball each month I fork over $126 for a bus pass is that I can get back 15% of the cost as a tax refund.

Contribute to Your RRSP
A personal favourite of mine, the big fat refund from contributing to your RRSP is quite satisfying. I liken maximizing your RRSPs each year to a triple-threat: your forcing yourself to save for your first home purchase or retirement, you get back some of that money The Man skimmed off your paycheck, and you get yet another opportunity to invest some cash (for more info on this, please see my ABCs of RRSPs and TFSAs article).

First-Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit
When I was buying my first place, the rate at which my bank account drained of any signs of life made me physically ill, and I’ll admit it, a bit depressed. But, I have a roof over my head, so I guess it worked out. What helped me swallow the expensive pill of home purchasing was the $750 tax credit coming my way. No, that didn’t even cover my lawyer fees, but yes, I’ll take it!

Donations
I heard through the grapevine that you have up to 5 years to claim your donations, so it’s probably makes more of an impact if you let the receipts accumulate to at least $200 and then claim away. Be rewarded for your kind heart!

Art
I made my first Important Art purchase this year. Art isn’t just for rich people. Galleries regularly accommodate payment plans if you can’t afford to drop thousands of dollars in one go. I negotiated a four-month payment plan and the gallerist assured me that it’s common practice. He also gave me the heads up that my piece is part of a sought-after series and that if I wanted to donate it to a museum, I could get back the current market price from the government at tax time. How cool is that? I’m not letting go of this piece anytime soon, but it’s definitely good to know.

What are some of your most-used tax credits and deductibles?

Written by M. Alice Allen

Three Cheers for Having Our Own Interests!

Guest Blogger — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Recently, the annual NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship wrapped up. More commonly known as "March Madness," it's the greatest time of year for basketball fans: two weeks of frenzied, buzzer-beating high-wire excitement. For my wife, it is unbearable.

My wife could not possibly care less about the annual NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship in particular or sports in general. In fact, she has told me that, while having a TV on in the background typically drives her insane, basketball is the only thing she’s able to entirely tune out — which, I suppose is a good thing for the relationship — and that every single sporting event is indistinguishable from another. On our honeymoon, she was thoughtful enough to surprise me with two tickets to a White Sox game, and fell asleep during the 6th inning.

Years ago, when March would roll around, I would try to get her to fill out a bracket. I have a friend whose wife fills out an annual bracket based on how nice the school’s names sound (so, the lyrical Wake Forest would get the edge over the mouthful that is Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis). Other people base their picks on which mascot would prevail in nature (a bear would eat a turtle). Even if she picked the winners randomly, I argued, she’d still have a rooting interest in each game. She always looked at the sheet of paper as if it were covered in fire ants. Eventually, I stopped offering.

There’s a belief that an ideal woman is one who shares all the typical guy interests while being conventionally gorgeous. You see this all the time in sitcoms and beer ads, where the beautiful woman also repairs vintage Camaros and can name the entire starting lineup of the Phillies. Cue the high-fives, bros!

But, if I may address the bros for a moment: Bros, do we really want this? Can’t there be certain domains that belong to each person in a relationship? Do you really want your girlfriend analyzing your fantasy baseball team?

Don’t get me wrong, ladies: if you’re an actual, dyed-in-the-wool sports fanatic, by all means: Keep on! But just as nobody should hide their true self for someone else’s benefit, nobody should feel compelled to pretend to be a sports fanatic for the sake of appearing to be “one of the guys.”

Paul Beer is a Toronto writer, actor and comedian. You can follow him on twitter @pauldanielbeer.

More articles by Paul Beer
• Making the Man: His Clothes, and You
• Infidelity Happens: But Not Necessarily to You
• Ladies, Why? 5 Fashion Trends (Some) Men Don't Find Attractive
• Men Dodging Showers
• Four People on Slice I’m Terrified of But Can’t Stop Watching

Apps for Fitness & Wellness, Final Installment: Work Out with Zombies!

Guest Blogger — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:00:00 GMT

For the last few weeks, I've been sharing with you my latest favourite fitness and wellness apps, starting with the Nike Training Club (NTC) and then the LIVESTRONG MyPlate Calorie/Diet/Fitness Tracker. Basically, I've been trying out different health and fitness apps to spice things up, find new ways to get motivated to work out, and simply try new exercises. Today, I'm going to wrap up this mini-series with a very new and very atypical fitness app. How atypical? The name alone speaks volumes — it's called ZOMBIES, RUN!, and its website describes it, accurately enough, as "a running game and audio adventure." Well, trust me: This app will have you running without any hesitation!!

ZOMBIES, RUN!

How to get it
Website: ZombiesRunGame.com
Mobile App for: iOS 5 iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad (the latter a little big to run with); Android version coming this spring
Price: $8
Genre: Running game/audio adventure

What it does
ZOMBIES, RUN! combines your favourite playlist and an audio adventure guiding you through missions. You are "Runner 5" and you goal is to collect supplies for your home base, in a city overrun by zombies. You need to avoid and outrun them — and, basically, stay alive! Your mobile device's GPS and accelerometer track your distance, pace and time. The app lets you view all the supplies you have collected and includes social sharing options.

How it works
1) Put on your headphones, start a mission, and run! (You can choose to walk, if you prefer.) Listen and follow the story as you run, and pick up the pace when you are being chased. You'll also acquire various supplies during your run — not for real, but as part of the game's story.

2) Each mission lasts approximately 25-30 minutes. You can pause and resume your mission as needed and work your way through them one run at a time. To run longer, start another mission, or keep running and the app will go into "radio" mode, playing your playlist and continuing to collect supplies.

Thumbs down
If you pause the mission for too long, rather than resuming exactly where you left off, the app will resume at the start of a chapter; this forces you to tediously repeat some of the audio narrative and, worse, also increases your mission time. As well, this initial version of the ZOMBIES, RUN! app is not suited to indoor or treadmill running, but upgrades are expected in a later version.

Thumbs up
It's fun — it keeps you focused on something besides running and motivates you to run fast when the zombies are on your tail. The storytelling and music playing are well balanced in each mission. This app can be equally used for walking, jogging and running.

Last words
Keep in mind that ZOMBIES, RUN! is just a game — you're not really being chased! Always, always be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to traffic signals, cars, cyclists, pedestrians, squirrels, birds and anything else you may encounter in the great outdoors.

That's the end of this mini-series on apps. Let us know in the Comments if there are any apps you'd like us to try out for future mini-series!

Katya Mohsen is a personal trainer with over 10 years of experience in fitness and sports training. Catch her practical fitness advice Thursdays on Slice.ca

More articles by Katya Mohsen

The Real Housewives of Vancouver: Season 1, Episode 3 Recap

Guest Blogger — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:55:00 GMT

As we all suspected coming off the series premiere, some of the key drama of the season is most definitely going to be born from the Christina-Jody tension. One thinks she’s the proper Queen Bee, and the other likes to party with her pants off. Clearly, these two weren’t born to be bosom buddies.

So, before I ramble on and on, predicting what fireworks will fly in the coming episodes, let’s focus on this week’s installment.

Here are the highlights:

Spas & Workouts

Jody and Reiko hit the spa for some expensive (and gross) age-defying treatments.

“If I’m not careful, I’m going to look my age and that can’t happen,” explains Jody, who seems to be getting a diamond-dust facial.

Meanwhile, Reiko is having whale sperm spackled onto her face. She’s grossed out, but Jody promises that, “If you come [to the spa] every three weeks... you’ll look 12.”

So, that’s how the ladies stay pretty. And, how do they stay fit? With some serious workouts. We see highlights of Reiko in her martial arts training and Ronnie having a much calmer, low-key workout of the same type at her insanely awesome home gym (I want one!).

Mothers & Daughters

Apparently, Jody is shocked to learn that renovations are noisy and is stressed out as her catering business gets a facelift—which will impact the retail store next door. Meanwhile, her doppelganger daughter Mia announces she simply MUST go to London for a night—and Ibiza for a night to party.

Of course! I do too! I simply MUST spend a night in London!

Jody is appalled at the thought of being abandoned by her daughter for a night. “I’m a wreck, I have no voice, I can’t do all of this by myself,” she rasps.
Jody fixes the situation by calling the airline, pretending to be Mia, and cancelling Mia’s flight. Then she somehow guilts Mia into texting her an apology, although I’m not sure what for. Maybe for being so easy to impersonate?

Extravagance

Christina wants a horse. These are not cheap. She test drives a truly magnificent creature that could only look more mythically majestic were he to also have a unicorn horn. The horse’s price tag? $35K.

How will she pay? “I don’t know who’s buying this horse, I guess I’ll have to get myself a new boyfriend.”

Meanwhile, Ronnie shows Reiko and Jody plans for her 15,000-square-foot mega-mansion. She’ll be tearing down houses along the Vancouver waterfront and erecting one ginormous manse. In the meantime, she shows the ladies her husband’s extravagant man cave, which includes a climbing wall and scantily-clad photos of Ronnie everywhere. The ladies describe the mega-mansions-to-be as the, “Taj Mahal… but the Ronnie-Mahal.”

Catty Drama

Mary and Ronnie’s relationship is not in a great place—to really understate the situation. There’s a kerfuffle over Ronnie not paying close enough attention to Mary’s scarf designs; some nasty texts and accusations flung around. Apparently, Ronnie called Mary “pathetic” and said that could basically be an answer to: “Do you wonder why you’re 48 and still single?”

Ouch.

Meanwhile, Jody decides to take Christina to task for her recent birthday bash which saw her dancing around in her underwear and a T-shirt that said: “Like a Hooker But Smarter.” Photos of the bash are circulating (thanks to Ronnie) and Jody is scandalized!

Jody meets up with Christina wearing Prada slippers because she was working from bed or something. It’s strange. Anyway, she basically digs right in, right away, and starts shaming Christina for her party shenanigans and for already being married and then not-so-married, by 30.

Christina retaliates by saying something snide about Jody’s daughter Mia, which OF COURSE escalates things dramatically. Jody threatens to sue Christina if she says anything else about Mia, but this doesn’t stop Christina from telling the camera: “Yes, I was married at 25, twice, but Mia’s pretty skanky.” Oh dear.

The episode wraps up with Jody storming out of the coffee shop, Christina yelling after her that she hates Jody’s slippers, and some sobbing.

Next week: there’s a big party and two key cast members are most definitely not invited. It’s probably safe to say drama ensues. See you then!

Written by Stephanie McGrath

Related

Are You Getting What You Want from Online Dating?

Guest Blogger — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:00:00 GMT

You’re single and you’re available, but you’re way too busy to spend time looking for “The One.” Seriously, you're too busy? Contrary to popular belief, he won’t magically show up at your office, or on your couch when you’re watching the latest episode of Real Housewives of Vancouver (though that would be nice and convenient).

You need to be active and get out there. Of course, these days, out there can mean “virtually” out there — in the online dating sense. But even if you take the plunge into that world, there are so many different dating sites with so many too-good-to-be-true dating profiles -- how can you know where to find “The One”? Where are the ready-to-settle-down, baggage-free, attractive and, above all, normal types? Here are seven tips to help make sure you’re getting what you want from online dating.

Commit to it
Like relationships, for things to work out, you need to be committed. If you’re going to date online, you need to be personally invested. Don’t let one bad date knock you down and don’t give up on it when no one seems to be worth your time. The beauty of online dating is that every week — in some cases, every day and every hour — new opportunities arise.

Let go of your hang-ups about online dating
When you plague yourself with thoughts of what others will think if they happen to stumble across your profile, then you will always be resistant and wary and will never fully be open about who you are and what you’re looking for. This is a bit of a subset of the “Commit to it” point: Invest yourself whole-heartedly.

Do the research
It’s important to find a site that suits your needs and where you mingle with like-minded people. If you’re looking for something serious out of online dating, your best resort is using a dating site that costs money. In general, users of these kinds of sites are willing to make other financial investments—metaphorically, they are willing to invest in themselves, and take themselves seriously. Sound like someone you know?

Don’t play games
Maybe the reason you aren’t getting what you want online is because you’re waiting too long to get back to people, or perhaps are making yourself inaccessible in some other way. Make sure your profile is authentic, and if someone reaches out to you (and you like the outreach), respond in a timely fashion. Most importantly, don’t wait for someone to message you first. You see someone you want: Go for it. All is fair — and equal — in online dating.

Take it seriously
Look, anyone can sign up for a dating site and create a profile. It takes consistent effort to search for a partner — isn’t that why you signed up in the first place? Every hour new potential partners are joining these sites, so take a few minutes daily to scope out the latest prospects.

If you talk the talk, walk the walk
Hate to break it to you, pretty girl, but when you involve yourself in the world of online dating, you sorta, kinda, pretty much have to actually go on dates. Sending messages and get-to-know-you emails back and forth will not land you a boyfriend or husband. Just like Prince Charming won’t appear at your house, he also won’t be in your life if you hide behind the safety of the net. Go out on dates and flirt with the idea of using these dates as an opportunity to see if there’s chemistry behind all that carefully-constructed online banter.

Looks matter
I might get in trouble for saying this but, if he’s not your type and if you’re not physically attracted to him, don’t bother going on a date just “to see” if there’s something more. Attraction is very important, and if you can’t see yourself with him, it isn’t fair to waste his time. Or yours.

Jen Kirsch is a relationship expert, columnist and blogger. For quick tips and tricks, follow her on Twitter @jen_kirsch. Read her posts every Tuesday on Slice.ca.

Also by Jen Kirsch
• Can a Woman Pursue a Man without Seeming Too Aggressive?
• How to Shake the Single Blues
• How Do You Ditch a Toxic Friend?
• How Do You Gracefully Bow Out of Your Own Wedding?
• The Hardest Part of Breaking Up Is Getting Back Your Stuff
• It's Time to Start Doing Your Own Dirty Work
• The Love Factor: 8 Relationship Warning Signs
• How to Get Over Losing "The One"

Finance Bootcamp: Live Like Kim K. on a Not-So Kardashian Budget

Guest Blogger — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:55:00 GMT

When it comes to shopping, personal care and spending money on things, I have two beliefs that I abide by 95% of the time:

1. Buy quality and timeless over cheap and trendy
2. Never buy anything full price—in fact, try your hardest to purchase something at least 50% off

Quality vs. Quantity
I own about five purses and five pairs of shoes, all higher end, and quality pieces. I haven’t bought a purse in years and replace a pair of shoes, usually sneakers, every couple of years. Most months, I spend nothing on clothing!

If You Think I’m Cheap, Then Kim Kardashian is Scrooge
I once overheard a salesclerk at an upscale cosmetics counter complain about all the wealthy women who come in and fill their monogrammed purses with samples, yet never buy anything.

Then I thought back to how cheap my more moneyed friends actually were! A few years ago I took my wealthy girlfriend from Europe to a local amusement park and we ended up in the, admittedly, tacky gift shop.

“Puh, who would spend so much money on all this junk?” she sniffed, lifting up an I HEART WackyWorld t-shirt.

She’s the kind of person who will spend money on a nice meal, handcrafted Italian leather boots, or a trip to the Amazon rainforest. However, like most people who have amassed and grown a certain amount of money, she knows how and when to spend her dollars to receive the mot possible value: life-changing trips, beautiful and long-lasting clothes, and memorable experiences.

My friend and her ilk aren’t the only ones either. Celebrities are notoriously worse when it comes to demanding free stuff. Do you think they pay for their red carpet gowns, $1,000 blowouts and Louboutins? What about that hot new tote bag the paparazzi photographed that starlet carrying while she happened to be grocery shopping—do you think she paid for that tote?

No and no!

Celebs are all walking billboards with luxury brands showering them with free stuff they wear in order to motivate us everyday people to fork over hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for the same things. And, have you ever seen a D-list celeb at a gifting lounge? It’s not a pretty sight.

Your Little Black Book of Luxury for Less
Okay, you get it: spend money on quality experiences and not useless junk. But, if it’s still out of your price range, fear not. Dig deep enough and there are high-end deals to be had. Here’s my carefully cultivated list of resources to get you going:

Kijiji and Craigslist
I love purchasing jewellery and high-end furniture off of Craigslist and Kijiji. If you go into a retail store and find the items out of your price range, even on sale, examine your desired items carefully and note the details so you know how to spot the fakes. You may be able to get them, barely used and at a deep discount, on Craigslist or Kijiji (less spammy). Just be prepared to pay for authentification or become confident enough to tell if it’s the real thing.

Consignment Stores
Another oldie but a goodie, I’ve scored amazing deals, including a pair of Yves Saint Laurent pumps for twenty bucks!

Group Deal Websites
I’ll never pay over $20 for a mani-pedi again. Groupon, Living Social… the list goes on and on. Point being: use ’em!

Warehouse and Sample Sales
Use your friend Google to see what’s happening in your area.

Outlet Stores
Make a running list of upcoming purchases and arrange a road trip with your friends south of the border to some of the amazing US outlet malls. Or, make it a habit to hit up the outlet malls in your area every season.

Store Closings
A nightstand I’d been eyeing for the past year was 25% off (and it never goes on sale) at a local store that was going out of business. I was able to negotiate down the price (plus didn’t pay taxes!) because I [aid in cash and the store was closing—they were in a rush to liquidate all of their inventory.

The Hook-Up Pact
No, not that type of hook-up… Do you work somewhere that offers you perks, such as excess or deeply discounted products? Why not trade them with your friends and family who receive similar perks? Let’s hook each other up!

D-I-Y
Paining, sewing, silversmithing… why not even make a hobby of it?

Start a Purchasing Calendar
You should know what time of the year the certain items go on sale (yes, there’s a method to the madness) and learn to love to shop out of season. Here’s a quick reference for the best times to buy anything.

Plane Ticket Price Alerts
Start planning your trips and vacations a year in advance and use Kayak daily price alerts to gauge prices to know when to jump on the right one.

Written by M. Alice Allen

Session 7:
Don't Wait to Plan for Your Retirement

Session 6:
The Art of the Side Hustle

Session 5:
Finance Bootcamp: Deciphering and Taking Advantage of Your Company's Benefits Plan

Session 4:
Finance Bootcamp: The ABCs of RRSPs and TFSAs

Session 3:
Finance Bootcamp: The ABCs of RRSPs and TFSAs

Session 2:
Finance Bootcamp: Tracking Your Expenses and the B-Word

Session 1:
Finance Bootcamp: Digging Yourself Out of That (Debt) Hole

What You Eat Can Improve Your Skin, Part 2

Guest Blogger — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Last week, I talked about what to eat and drink in order to help your skin look its best. The key points were to stay away from restrictive diets, make sure to get enough calories and protein, stay well-hydrated by drinking enough fluids and, last but not least, take a multivitamin. These are the simple, key principles by which your diet can help you to maintain healthy skin.

So now that you’ve got the theory down, what does this process actually look like? How do you know if you’re hydrated, and what actual foods should you eat?

Step 1: What to drink
The question is: How can you tell whether you’re drinking enough fluids? The answer is simple: If you’re thirsty, you’re not drinking enough fluids. Bear in mind that when you exercise, you require more fluid intake than when you are not exercising. By the same token, if it’s hot out, your body will need to work harder to cool you down (whether or not you are exercising) and will require a higher fluid intake.

3 easy tips to boost fluid intake
• In the morning, have 2 glasses of water when you wake up.
• Fill a 500 ml bottle with water, and sip on it all morning.
• During the day, include other beverages for variety — all fluids count, even caffeinated drinks. (That said, don’t drink eight cups of coffee! Choose water most often.)

Step 2: What to eat
Just as a meal plan can be targeted specifically towards, say, losing weight or managing food allergies, the following sample meal plan is all about your skin. Built around key principles, it includes foods rich in nutrients that research suggests may further help keep skin looking its best.

• Breakfast: 2 slices whole grain toast with 1 tbsp natural peanut butter, a handful of blueberries and 1 (one!) non-fat Latté
• Snack: Greek yogurt & 3 heaped tbsp of low-fat granola, plus 1 apple
• Lunch: Turkey Wrap with veggies and hummous spread
• Snack: a small handful of cashews (maximum ¼ cup), plus a handful of grape tomatoes
• Dinner: Grilled Salmon, quinoa, and mixed green salad with blackberries, a sprinkling of goat cheese, balsamic vinegar and 1-2 tsp of olive oil

Maria Thomas is a registered dietitian and owner of UrbanNutrition.com.

Also by Maria Thomas

• What You Eat can Improve Your Skin, Part 1
• Healthy Snack Ideas to Fight the 3pm Slump
• Are You Getting Enough Iron?
• 3 Natural Energy Boosters to Help Keep You Going

The Real Housewives of Vancouver: Season 1, Episode 2 Recap

Guest Blogger — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:47:00 GMT

Episode two is all about Christina’s 30th (ahem) birthday and of course she toasts 30 (for the fifth time) like no one else.

Her best gay, Kevin, gets her botox as a gift, because as he remarks, “If you’ve had a hard life people don’t need to see that on your face.” His friend is a dentist but licensed to inject the face-smoothing poison. After that, he can give your molars a good scraping. Everybody wins.

Christina enlists the help of event planner Marika, who should be added to the main cast at once, because she is, in a word, fabulous.

“My parties are known for the free fall of alcohol,” she says as she marches around getting everything ready with a roller in her bangs like your auntie Merle. She’s giving Christina a splashy affair high above the Vancouver treetops and lights.

Stage. Set.

One problem: where the hell is Christina? She’s ditching everybody—first Marika at the dress fitting, then Reiko up at the nail salon, and finally Ronnie at lunch.

The housewives busy themselves throughout the day: perusing sexually-charged novelty dog t-shirts, downing custom-blend vitamin sludge, and shopping at J Brand for $1,100 jeans—which almost seems quaint in comparison to the other two, no?

But, enough of these strenuous tasks, there’s a party afoot and we see Reiko en route rocking Roberto Cavalli and Ronnie in Pucci. If nothing else, you must respect their fashion game this episode. *bowing to their glory*

The party is underway, but still no Christine. Then she dramatically arrives at 9:30! Turns out she was feeling a little bummed that day. Regardless, she looks as beautiful as Barbie come to life. Her legs are literally up to her neck and there isn’t a lick of fat on that bod besides her breasts (which are as big as regulation-sized NBA basketballs).

At the party both Christina and Mary confront Jody about her bullying in Whistler. Jody’s not trying to hear it. She basically tells them they both need therapy. Then she’s outty. She’s nobody’s Doctor Crane.

Ronnie gifts Christina with a series of mean-spirited presents including an issue of Fortune 500 magazine (so she can hunt for another husband) and a t-shirt that says “Gold Digger” (keep these women AWAY from novelty t-shirt shops already!).

Christina’s not impressed and decides she’s gonna strip down to her skivvies, don the insulting t-shirt and get her party on with her gay. The other women try to keep up with her get-down crew antics, but all they can do is dance awkwardly and gawk. Yes, Christine, show ’em how it’s done. Ain’t no party like (your fifth) 30th birthday party!

Written by Nadine Sharon Anglin

Related

Real Housewives of Vancouver: Season 1, Episode 1 Recap

Guest Blogger — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:44:00 GMT

Last night, The Real Housewives of Vancouver stormed into our living rooms with nary an “eh?” to be heard throughout the one-hour premiere. Although, it was comforting to see the signature Housewife elements still very much intact even as the series crossed the border into Van City. I’m speaking of the platinum hair extensions, the “fish lips” lip injections, and the drop-of-a-hat full on drama throw downs.

Ahhhh, all is right with the universe once again.

Without further ado, a roundup of our newest reality show obsessions:

Jody is the mompreneur, mother to Mini Me daughter Mia, and someone who’s a certified foodie. Right away, it’s obvious she’s the Ethel Merman of the North based on her impromptu Yiddish exclamations and hilarious zingers. Par exemple: “Push ups? I push my husband off of me every night. I’m ripped.”

Zing!

Next, we have Ronnie. She lives in a gigantor house and is driven around in a limo. If you thought the rich only popped out one or two kids (an heir and then a back-up heir) you were wrong. She’s a mother of 5 (!) and a self-proclaimed domestic goddess.

Following Ronnie is the fast-car loving Reiko, a mother to two lovely girls, a wife to Sunny, and a daughter to… wait for it… Keiko. They totally missed the boat on the Kardashian-style name kalling here. The kids could have been Uh-Oh-Better-Get-Maaco and Baby Jose Canseco. Instead they’re named Ashanti and Alize.

Two words: too easy.

Then there’s Mary, a former Canadian pop star who’s still sleeping with her ex-boyfriend even though he dumped her and started dating someone else—only two weeks later! Mary, Mary, why you buggin’?

Finally, there’s the drop-dead-gorgeous Christina who says, “I was married to two very irritating men, I definitely worked hard for my money.” Her best friend is, of course, the very over-the-top Kevin. Their only BFF quandary? They have the same taste in men.

The Housewives spend episode one on a girls getaway to Whistler (haha, Whistler, it’s in Canada, remember? Awesome!), which is where all the drama goes down.

Jody gets all judgmental on Christina and Mary. She tells the gentle-mannered Mary she’s gotta get her morals in check, and upon finding out that Christina allegedly had a relationship as a teen with an older gent, she says, “A 15-yearold girl dating an old man? This isn’t Thailand!”

No, it’s bloody Whistler, so the ladies continue on with their nature-filled trip and we begin to see the relationship dynamics for the rest of the series start to set: Christina vs. Jody; Mary vs. Jody; Mary vs. Ronnie; and Reiko vs. no one cause she’s too busy looking fierce as hell in her Prada curly-cue sunglasses.

Get it girl, get it!

Written by Nadine Sharon Anglin

Related

Apps to Keep You Working on Your Fitness & Wellness, Part 2

Guest Blogger — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Last week, I shared with you the first of three of my latest favourite fitness and wellness apps, The Nike Training Club (NTC). Basically, I’ve been trying out some different health and fitness apps to spice things up, find new ways to get motivated to work out, and simply try new exercises. This week, I’m going to show you a superb diet & fitness tracker: MyPlate, by LIVESTRONG.

MyPlate Calorie/Diet/Fitness Tracker

How to get it
Website: LIVESTRONG.com/myplate
Mobile App for: iPhone, iPad; BlackBerry, Windows phone 7
Price: Mobile app Lite — Free; Mobile app, full version — $2.99; Website account — Free
Genre: Calorie tracker

What it does
The companion MyPlate website and mobile applications allow you track the calories you intake and the ones you burn through activity. MyPlate contains a huge library of foods, drinks and exercises, including the calories each of these are worth (or the calories that they burn). If certain foods or activities aren’t available, you can add and save them to your plate.

How it works
1) Start by creating your profile.

2) Set your goal. You can choose to maintain your weight, or add or gain weight. Then, set your calorie goal to “automatic” and let MyPlate calculate your daily calorie intake based on your profile.

3) Enter the foods you eat and beverages your drink for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as all snacks, to track the calories you consume.

4) Enter all of your daily activities, from exercise to chores.

5) The MyPlate Calorie tracker will deduct calories consumed and add calories burned to your daily allowance.

6) Track your water intake and your weight, too.

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If you can’t find certain foods or activities in the existing list, you will need to enter the caloric and nutritional information manually. If you don’t have the information, you will need to guesstimate (you can’t leave null fields). When you add/save foods to the list, it does not always work the first time, which means you have to re-input the information until it gets logged.

Thumbs up
The mobile and website apps sync up, keeping you up to date no matter where you track from. You can track food, water, activity and weight in one place, and check on your progress. You can also schedule reminders to ensure that you don’t forget to track. MyPlateD is also available for managing diabetes.

Last words
LIVESTRONG.com offers readers and members a lot more than tracking calories. Find diet, fitness and wellness articles and tips; nutritious recipes; a fitness library — and new challenges.

See you next week with a brand new and original running mobile app like you’ve never seen before!

Katya Mohsen is a personal trainer with over 10 years of experience in fitness and sports training. Catch her practical fitness advice Thursdays on Slice.ca

More articles by Katya Mohsen

The Real Housewives of Vancouver Have Landed

Brooke Fowler — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:54:00 GMT

We met up with the ladies from The Real Housewives of Vancouver yesterday and it was ah-maz-ing! Ronnie, Reiko, Christina, Jody and Mary were all in Toronto to jump kick the excitement for the premiere of the show, starting tonight with our 2-hour premiere event at 9:00PM ET|PT!

It was an entertaining afternoon, full of laughs and fun photos! Rick Campanelli from ET Canada hosted a Q&A panel discussion with the Wives, who fielded some questions we were dying to know the answers to! Reiko admitted to owning a $10,000 custom made Ferrari luggage set, Jody was a single mom for 25 years and is now a successful business woman who did it all on her own! Ronnie was blown away by how beautiful Vancouver looks throughout the episodes (I have to agree from what I've seen in the Sneak Peek, the city of Vancouver looks GORGEOUS, like-you-want-to-move-there-gorgeous!). Christina admitted that she's not a "girl's girl" and that the reactions on the show are "genuine" and "real." Mary stated that sometimes she forgot the "cameras were rolling."

All in all, it was a great afternoon - the women were genuine, had fun-loving personalities, and were down to earth. We got some great photos of course to share with all of you! Check out our photo gallery to see some more fun snaps from yesterday's event.

Are you as excited as we are for the premiere tonight?! O.M.G!

Related

What You Eat Can Improve Your Skin, Part 1

Guest Blogger — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:39:00 GMT

We all want to have glowing beautiful skin. Mother Nature however, has other plans. She has designed us in a way, so that as we age, our skin tends to become thinner, less elastic, drier, and lets face it: wrinkled.

Now don`t get me wrong, I`m a fan of aging gracefully. As I get older, I learn more and more about myself and what matters to me, but having said that, I still want my outside to reflect how I feel on the inside. And what you eat can help!

Stay away from restrictive diets
Severe dieting can actually contribute to thin, dry, in-elastic skin -- basically, premature aging. If you cut your calories too much, or you`re not getting enough protein in your diet, this can leave you malnourished, which is directly reflected in your skin. Guidelines suggest that women 19 years and older need at least 1500–1600 calories and about 80 g of protein a day, in order for their body to get the nutrients it needs.

Staying hydrated
Perhaps one of the most important factors in healthy skin. Not only does fluid help flush out the toxins in our body, it also helps our skin appear more plump. Think of what a grape looks like vs a raisin. What would you prefer to look like? How how much fluid do you need? Well, the research flip flops a little when it comes to fluid recommendations, but as a general rule of thumb, aim for 8 cups of fluid per day. It doesn`t have to be just water -- generally all fluids count, even caffeinated beverages. Just keep the tea and coffee to 3--4 cups as your daily max.

Take a multivitamin
Although you can generally get what your body needs from food, a busy lifestyle means we don't always eat as well as we would like. A multivitamin is like insurance: it just helps fill in the gaps of what might be missing in our diets. A one-a-day vitamin will make sure you are getting all the nutrients your skin likes, such as b-vitamins and vitamin C.

Next week i`m going give you a sample of the Healthy Skin Diet, with specific foods that can help make sure your skin looks its best!

Maria Thomas is a registered dietitian and owner of UrbanNutrition.com.

Also by Maria Thomas

• Healthy Snack Ideas to Fight the 3pm Slump
• Are You Getting Enough Iron?
• 3 Natural Energy Boosters to Help Keep You Going

Finance Bootcamp: Don’t Wait to Plan for Retirement!

Guest Blogger — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:58:00 GMT

Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I wake up with a start--a cold sweat trickling down my temple. No, it's not because I have nightmares about falling, or that an axe murderer is chasing me. Nope, what keeps me up at night is the thought of not being able to retire when I’m 65.

No vacations to Florida and Caribbean cruises
No hot nights at the BINGO hall
No golf (okay, I don’t even play golf, but work with me here...)

As such, I’m constantly re-evaluating my retirement strategy. You know how some people knit or bake to de-stress? I tinker with my budgeting and investment spreadsheets, running what if? scenarios to see how much I can retire with if I contribute X amount, at Y interest rate, over Z years (we’ll get to this later).

It’s surprising to see how many of us are kind of clueless about investment and retirement planning. I have friends, men and women, with well-paying careers who openly admit to spending 100% of their income on the good life (glass condo in the sky, high-end dinners, and luxury vacations twice a year...) without a regard to retirement.

Yes, I totally believe in indulgence and the finer things in life (in fact, my next session is all about luxurious living on a budget), but it’s always a good idea to prepare for your own what if? scenarios.

When I ask some of these friends why they don’t plan for retirement, they usually reply with, “M, we’re in our 20s, relax!” or “I think my job has retirement benefits” or “I’m the sole heir of grandma Betsy’s entire estate!” or “Meh, the government will take care of me, that’s why we pay taxes!”

I know, sometimes it sounds like I’m repeating myself, but just as you could easily win the lottery, you could easily live to be 100 years old. Even if you retire at 65 (or 70, nowadays...), you have 35 years of living expenses that you will need in your non-working years. Also, don’t assume anything about the future, as we learned from the Great Recession, the good times can’t last forever, and you don’t want to be caught unprepared.

So, assuming you can’t rely on a corporate pension plan, or nana’s inheritance, how much SHOULD you put away? It depends on when you want to retire, how much money you can live on in retirement, and what you can afford to put away right now.

Assuming you have minimal consumer debt (i.e., you don’t have three maxed out credit cards), take a look at your budget to determine how much you can afford to contribute to a stable, diversified (lower market risk), tax-friendly investment vehicle, such as a mutual fund in an RRSP or TFSA. Almost all of the major bank websites have tools that allow you to calculate how much you need to contribute to retire at your desired age.

For example, using my own bank’s website, I decided that:

I want to retire at 65 years old. My only other income will be the Canadian Pension Plan and Old Age Security government benefits, which might equal a reasonable 25% of my post-retirement income, and I think I’ll need $30,000 (assuming my mortgage is paid off) per year to have a comfortable retirement.

According to the calculator, if I start contributing to a Retirement Savings Plan at age 30, expect 2% inflation and an investment return at 6%, I’ll need to start putting away about $660 a month that will equal $1,160,263 in 30 years.

At my current income, $660 is rather a lot, until I realize that I spend more than that on entertainment, restaurants and nights out. If I arrange to have $330 taken off of each biweekly paycheque, then I’ll be forced to save the money.

Lower income workers might be discouraged to save, but if someone has the skills to stretch their incomes now, then that person should have no problems applying their resourcefulness and frugality to a smaller retirement income. Bottom line: don’t wait to start saving and investing for retirement.

Whether you’re self-employed, or a company-woman, saving for retirement outside of a government or company plan will ensure that you have your own safety net in retirement.

Written by M. Alice Allen

Session 6:
The Art of the Side Hustle

Session 5:
Finance Bootcamp: Deciphering and Taking Advantage of Your Company's Benefits Plan

Session 4:
Finance Bootcamp: The ABCs of RRSPs and TFSAs

Session 3:
Finance Bootcamp: The ABCs of RRSPs and TFSAs

Session 2:
Finance Bootcamp: Tracking Your Expenses and the B-Word

Session 1:
Finance Bootcamp: Digging Yourself Out of That (Debt) Hole

Making the Man: His Clothes, and You

Guest Blogger — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:23:00 GMT

Slice readership ladies with boyfriends/husbands, here’s an activity: Imagine you’re going to a fancy event where you’re expected to dress up, but there’s no explicitly stated dress code (ie. black tie). Assume you know all the pertinent details of this event, like day vs. evening, indoors vs. outdoors, etc. Now picture what you’d wear to this event. You can probably imagine yourself in a few options.

Here’s the question: Would you trust your boyfriend/husband’s choice of attire?

I have a feeling that many of you would probably say either ‘no’ or ‘hell no.’ You’d want to at least vet his choices, if not actually pick them out for him.

Why do so many women have such little faith in their men’s fashion sense? Presumably you were ok with the way he dressed during the courting phase, or were at least able to look past the puka-shell necklace and B.U.M Equipment half-shirt, to see the charming man within. What changed?

Men are kind of in a difficult spot when it comes to fashion sense: Too little, and their fed-up wives start laying out outfits in the morning, mommy-style. Too much, and they’re branded fussy, vain, narcissistic.

I have a friend whose successful, highly intelligent husband is now so paralyzed with indecision at the prospect of dressing himself that he automatically defers to his wife. She wants him to look nice, and enjoys using her considerable fashion sense to make outfits out of the options provided. He enjoys having one less thing to worry about in the morning.

My own wife rarely chimes in with clothing suggestions, but I can certainly feel times where she’s steering me toward certain things or subtly vetoing others. For example, the other day we were getting ready for a party, and I announced I’d be wearing a certain sweater. ‘Again?’ my wife asked. Sweater got the night off.

If you’re going to protest that you simply know and care about fashion more than your sweet, lunkhead hubby, consider this: What if your boyfriend declared himself the expert in all things fashion-related and dictated what you wore? This would make you furious, no?

Of course, the fact remains that a lot of guys are clueless about clothing, and this aggravates or embarrasses their partners. So, I suggest a two-fold solution that saves you from the mutually embarrassing experience of laying out outfits in the morning and puts him on the path to sartorial self-reliance:

1) Get him a subscription to a men’s magazine — one that you don’t mind having around the house. They’re always packed with clothing stuff, as well as interesting articles and pictures of women frolicking. The clothing is always preposterously, hilariously expensive ($3000 shoes?!), but will hopefully steer things in the right direction.

2) Conspicuously compliment the clothing of other, well-dressed men. Now, be reasonable about this. Don’t watch the Oscars and compliment every tuxedo you see. And it’s probably best to not include friends or co-workers in your survey. Feeling a pang of jealousy towards your wife’s admiration of Ryan Gosling is one thing; it’s something entirely different when Chet from the office looks really good today. I’ll add that if your tastes run towards “Saturday night at Karma nightclub on the Jersey Shore,” you should probably just keep that to yourself.

Paul Beer is a Toronto writer, actor and comedian. You can follow him on twitter @pauldanielbeer.

More articles by Paul Beer
• Infidelity Happens: But Not Necessarily to You
• Ladies, Why? 5 Fashion Trends (Some) Men Don't Find Attractive
• Men Dodging Showers
• Four People on Slice I’m Terrified of But Can’t Stop Watching
• Winter Girlfriends: A Paul Beer Investigative Report
• Getting My Toes Did: Am I Now Less of a Man?
• Don’t Call it a Man Crush

Apps to Keep You Working on Your Fitness & Wellness

Guest Blogger — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:06:00 GMT

I’ve been trying out some different health and fitness apps to spice things up, find new ways to get motivated to work out, and simply discover new exercises. I’ve picked three of my favourites to review and share with you in a three-part series. First up: Nike Training Club, aka NTC.

Nike Training Club

How to get it
App for: iOS 4 iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Price: Free
Genre: Workouts

What it does
The NTC app is loaded with workouts. The exercise moves are shown via video and photo sequences, and you choose how you want to preview it. NTC regularly adds new workouts, including ones lead by some of our favourite female athletes. All the workouts and demos are downloaded to your device, allowing you to use it anywhere, anytime. Wi-Fi or data usage is required.

This app is super-easy to use. It walks you through the workout routine and coaches you through each exercise. It’s like having your own personal trainer! You can also set your music to play while you workout.

How it works
1) Choose your goal: Get Lean (cardio drills), Get Toned (light weights & intervals), Get Strong (increased weights & reps), Get Focused (short workouts to target specific areas)

2) Choose your level: beginner, intermediate or advanced

3) Choose your workout. Lengths vary from 15-45 minutes. You can browse through the exercises of each workout, viewing the demos before you begin the workout. Previewing it this way will help you select a workout and prepare you for what to expect when you start.

4) Set your music (optional)

5) Just do it! The training coach will guide you through the moves, keep you on track of time and provide some technique tips along the way. If you don't know how to do a move, simply watch the video demo, and then resume your workout.

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There are more than enough workouts to keep you interested and challenged. The free bonus workouts provided help grow the library. You can also earn NTC rewards, a great incentive to keep working out! The more you workout, the more rewards you earn. As you reach milestones, you unlock new content — training tips and advice from pro-trainers, recipes and more workouts, including more styles of activity, from yoga to kickboxing.

Thumbs down
The one thing this otherwise terrific app doesn’t do is allow you to build and save your own routines by selecting and combining moves from the entire library. Nike, take note!

Last words
The NTC is a must-have fitness app. Use it for all your workouts or add it to your mix. Use it at home, at the gym, in a park or on business travel and vacation. You won’t have any reason, or excuse, to skip a workout.

Come back next week for another app review!

Katya Mohsen is a personal trainer with over 10 years of experience in fitness and sports training. Catch her practical fitness advice Thursdays on Slice.ca

More articles by Katya Mohsen

Project Runway All Stars Recap: And the Winner Is...

Alicia Cox — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:01:00 GMT

Well friends, Project Runway All Stars has come to a predictable -- and satisfying -- end. Did Austin, Michael or Mondo win the grand prize? And were you surprised?

Mondo Guerra, the runner-up from last season (that's season 8 if you're counting) walked away with the biggest prize in PR history after his 6-piece therapy-themed collection was deemed the winner. This recapper wasn't too sure about Mondo's attitude at the onset of the season, but his deft eye, skill, and talent won me over. Scroll down to read our exit interview with Mondo, but first -- let's get to the clothes!

Austin's eponymous collection was first and his description was so perfectly him it veered into parody, "She's an 18th century vampire who now resides in Williamsburg and borrows clothes from her dandy Hasidic friends." I couldn't help but be reminded of Bill Hader's recurring Stefon character on Saturday Night Live. That vampire is the perfect clientele for New York's latest hot spot, Gunk.

Opening look: those have to be the hardest pants to wear. What is it with Austin and hip-embellishments? (Remember the Miss Piggy challenge?) I also thought the shade of pink he chose lacked sophistication. I'm just not a fan of candy pink and black for grown ups.

This lacquered lace dress was a favourite of all the judges, and mine as well.

I loved the print on Austin's ballgown and the fact that he was also thinking peplums, just like many designers on the S/S12 runway. Was there too much volume on the bottom? Yes, but a statuesque star like Charlize Theron could pull this off with aplomb.

The final look was another favourite of mine -- Austin's bridal vision. It was beautiful and Georgina Chapman stated, "I could see a million women wanting to get married in that dress." It had a slightly Bella-marries-Edward vibe and I loved the black touches.

Next came Mondo's collection and while I loved the blouse and the styling immediately, I wasn't a fan of the decal on the skirt.

This little shift might be hard to pull off if you have hips, but it's the details in the padded shoulder and collar that I love.

This was Mondo's bonus look and it was one of my favourites for the sheer wearability. I'd like that outfit in my closet, please!

Guest judges Tommy Hilfiger and Neiman Marcus fashion director Kenn Downing loved these wide-leg pants.

Wait -- THIS is my favourite look. I loved Mondo's self-made Rorschach print, the body-con sheath, the sexy low back and the band of red. Get in my closet!

This printed gown was a nice change of pace and I disagreed with AngieL when she said it didn't fit the collection. It continued the circle theme and the black, white and red palette and was a great piece to end the show.

Michael's Seregeti-safari collection...well, let's just say that if Michael Kors had been on the judges' panel this year, I don't think designer Michael would've gone there. There wasn't anything overly wrong with it, it just didn't have any originality or personality. There are many great, established designers who do safari well -- Kors, Ralph Lauren -- so I thought it a misstep on Michael's part.

The clothes looked comfortable, but I agreed with Isaac when he said that the choice of prints lacked sophistication.

I loved this long-sleeved sheath. It was tailored impeccably and the print referenced zebras and cheetahs without being too literal.

This was Michael's favourite outfit -- it's separates, which I love.

He closed with his bonus look, a Michael-Costello-classic draped, Grecian gown. Pretty, but no surprises there.

Mondo spoke to the media after his win and was delightful. Find out what he has to say about his relationship with Michael, the pressure of returning so quickly after placing second, and when you can buy his clothes at Neiman Marcus.

Slice: You had a lot of fans and press coming into All Stars who wanted to see you triumph after placing second on season 8. Did you feel added pressure to win?

Mondo: Yes, it was really living up to the viewers in a sense of Project Runway and the response to the outcome of season 8. I had to really get out of that headspace, it was really haunting me through this entire season. Lifetime did a poll and 95% said I should have won, that’s ver, very intimidating and scary. It was definitely a pressure cooker.

Slice: Michael warned Austin that you do your best stuff when you’re in a dark place. Do you agree?

Mondo: I think that as creative people we all go to that place sometimes, even as human beings. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we have a camera in front of our faces so it’s really easy to scrutinize behaviour. Seeing it on TV gives me time to reflect on how I approach my process. I know it's something I have to work on. It doesn’t have to be that way, but for some reason I do do it that way and it’s something I’m working on.

Slice: What was your favourite challenge?

Mondo: My favourite challenge was the Broadway challenge because I love Broadway. It was a lot of fun designing for a character, you can get into the story and express yourself.

Slice: Favourite guest judge?

Mondo: Nanette Lepore. She was wonderful, she was so good to work with. She was very opnioinated about the tin can with the string, but I got to prove that you don’t have to sketch to be a designer or win a challenge. And the dress I designed sold out.

Slice: Do you recall a piece of advice or critique you received that still resonates with you now?

Mondo: When I was having a really rough day [pre-finale] and I declared a day off in the work room, Georgina Chapman came in, she’s just wonderful. She mentioned that she could relate going to that dark place and separating yourself [and said] that it was OK to revisit something you already experienced. I tapped into that, I took those words and revisited those happy places. Georgina was the reason I continued to work on the final collection. So that really gave me the courage and motivation to keep on working.

Slice: Is Neiman Marcus running this collection or will a separate one be designed?

Mondo: It’s going to reflect the therapy collection with definitely some tweaks. It has to be reality-based for the customer, so there’s some editing happening. It’s very true and honest to what I showed last night, though. We hope to make it available for Fall 2012.

Slice: Do you have a favourite piece from your mini-collection?

Mondo: I loved the Rorschach-inspired dress, it was a lot of fun because I got to use my artistic skill to create my textile.

Slice: You and Michael are obviously close, do you still keep in close contact?

Mondo: Of course, I talk to Michael all the time. He is my best friend. If we lived close we’d leave our partners and become an item. Ha!

Slice: What would you like to say to your fans?

Mondo: First I don’t call them fans, I call them friends. Their honesty is really appreciated. I love that we’re all sharing an experience together. Thank you for the conituned support -- when we have dark days and when we have bright futures, it can get a little scary, but as long as we all stick together it’s going to be OK.

What did you think of All Stars? Were you suprised by Mondo's win? Which piece was your favourite?

Watch the finale now.

Can a Woman Pursue a Man without Seeming Too Aggressive?

Guest Blogger — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

You like him. He very well might like you. But you don’t want maybes — you want to get the wheels in motion. Of course, you can just come up with a flirty little one-liner, or any excuse to contact him. Perhaps you’re even confident enough to ask him point blank if he wants to grab drinks.

But perhaps you’re also second-guessing yourself. What if asking him for drinks comes off a wee bit aggressive? A mite desperado? Ideally, he’d profess his undying love for you; traditionally, the guy always chases the girl.

Well, times have (supposedly) changed. Still, can a woman ever really pursue a guy, and if so, how can she do so without scaring him away? How do you go after — and get — the man you want without coming across too strong?

Find out if he is single and available
Homewrecker is not a label anyone wants and it doesn’t do karma any good. Before you reach out, confirm his relationship status, whether it be asking mutual friends or checking online.

Be available
Books on ‘The Rules’ say you should never be too available, but with social media and all the over-sharing that many of us partake in, he may think that you’re spoken for when really you’ve been single and looking for the past number of months. If he knows you’re single, he might just do all the work on his own, so whether you allude to it, or dare-to publicly update your status, you can equip him with the simple fact that you’re fair game.

Play it safe
I’m all for hiding behind social media to initiate a love connection, but options like BBM or Facebook live chat, or worse — a phone call — put him on the spot, and might catch him off guard. If you are Friends on Facebook, send him a private message. Make it short, sweet and subtle. Instead of asking whether he’s single or if he wants to go on a date, or even just talking about the type of girl(friend) you are, simply start off with small talk. Check in more and more frequently, to see how he’s doing. Leave your conversations open-ended so he can choose to write back if he wishes, but doesn’t feel any pressure. You should be able to judge, based on his responses, or lack thereof, whether he is interested in pursuing the conversation (or anything further).

Be patient
Patience is the name of the game, here. If you don’t hear from him — particularly in the social media situation above — do not bombard him with follow-up messages asking why he hasn’t communicated. There is nothing that screams desperate more than a lady who can’t be patient. If you never get a response? Don’t dwell; just move on. We can’t control others, but we can control how we react.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
I’m not saying go off and date a whole hockey team (though that might be some people’s fantasy in the making), but don't bank everything on this one potential guy. If he doesn’t get back to you, or if things don’t go how you had hoped, it will bring on feelings of rejection and greater disappointment. Be open to pursuing more than one man at a time, so long as you are interested in them as well as leave your options open.

Jen Kirsch is a relationship expert, columnist and blogger. For quick tips and tricks, follow her on Twitter @jen_kirsch. Read her posts every Tuesday on Slice.ca.

Also by Jen Kirsch
• How to Shake the Single Blues
• How Do You Ditch a Toxic Friend?
• How Do You Gracefully Bow Out of Your Own Wedding?
• The Hardest Part of Breaking Up Is Getting Back Your Stuff
• It's Time to Start Doing Your Own Dirty Work
• The Love Factor: 8 Relationship Warning Signs
• How to Get Over Losing "The One"

Video: Jessie Farrell Chats About Music, Self-Revitalization and More!

Terry Wong — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:18:00 GMT

I recently caught up with Canadian Country Music Award winner, Jessie Farrell, to chat about music, motherhood and more. After speaking with her, I learned that not only is she a singer, songwriter and producer, but she's also a new mother, wife and owner of her own juice bar! She wears many caps with great ease and represents a modern day woman that has taken control of life and made her dreams come true. I got her to share some of her simple tips about how she revitalizes and rejuvenates herself--check out the video below to see what Jessie had to say!

Here's the music video for Everything to Me!

We have two autographed copies of Jessie Farrell's latest cd, Love Letter, to giveaway. Email webmaster@slice.ca with your answer to the following question: in the video above, what drink does Jessie like to sip to help her refresh and rejuvenate herself? See complete giveaway rules here. Good Luck!

Related

Infidelity Happens: But Not Necessarily to You

Guest Blogger — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:11:00 GMT

A commonly held belief about relationships says that women should just accept the fact that men will always look at other women, because men are wired to be more visually aroused. Ancient hunting instinct, and all that.

I think that’s crap. Women should accept it because all of us, men and women, are wired to be visually aroused, to one extent or another. I recently read a deftly tantalizing article from the perspective of the “Other Woman” (Esquire) which pretty much lays bare (ha) what we all already know: women cheaters are just as common as men cheaters.

Ladies, are you telling me that all men become asexual blobs the moment you fall for one guy? That the sight of Channing Tatum (21 Jump Street, 2012) or Jon Hamm or George Clooney or whomever no longer interests you? Heck, those guys interest me.

But you wouldn’t say physical beauty is all there is to attraction. Of course not. Same goes for your man, whom you just caught glancing at the cute waitress.

Yes, I’m talking about relativity innocent double-takes that may increase with the sudden reappearance of short shorts and sundresses this time of year. True infidelity is a whole different ballgame. It requires action, premeditation, crossing a line. And just as there’s an enormous gap between you swooning over Robert Pattinson and having an affair with a pale, malnourished English gent, the fact that your man admires other women does not necessarily lead to a relationship-obliterating affair.

The fact is, we live with the knowledge that both women and men are wistful about, question the values of, grapple with, fear, idealize and rescind on the value of high fidelity everyday. I can’t say for sure, but I suspect a lot of women out there know that they could be the “Other Woman” or have themselves an “Other Man” in about as long as it takes to send a text message.

The game is to keep an even score with that knowledge. Taste its empowerment and you're off on a perilous ride; catch a glimpse of the paranoia it can bring and it's a swift slide to psycho hose beast land.

Psycho hose beast: Jackie Christie. Married to former NBA player Doug Christie, she has maintained a white-knuckle hold on the man, vigilantly guarding against the “Other Woman.” When Doug was playing for the Toronto Raptors, she once attacked a female fan who was asking for an autograph. “It scared me, because my voice sounded like a demon,” she said about the confrontation in a New York Times article entitled “The Great Whipped Hope.” Doug claims to have not made eye contact with another woman since he got married. There was even an urban legend that Jackie wouldn’t let a female doctor give Doug the Heimlich maneuver when he was choking in a restaurant.

While this seems to work for these two lovebirds (inasmuch as Stockholm Syndrome counts as “working”), crippling paranoia is not an integral ingredient in a healthy marriage, last time I checked. Goes without saying: neither is cheating.

Paul Beer is a Toronto writer, actor and comedian. You can follow him on twitter @pauldanielbeer.

More articles by Paul Beer
• Ladies, Why? 5 Fashion Trends (Some) Men Don't Find Attractive
• Men Dodging Showers
• Four People on Slice I’m Terrified of But Can’t Stop Watching
• Winter Girlfriends: A Paul Beer Investigative Report
• Getting My Toes Did: Am I Now Less of a Man?
• Don’t Call it a Man Crush

3 Step Mini Workout for People On The Go

Guest Blogger — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:29:00 GMT

Are you always on the go, rushing around, traveling on business or just busy taking care of everyone but yourself? Try this quick, 3-step fitness combo you can do just about anywhere, in 15 minutes!

Step 1
Start with a quick 3-minute warm up; something to get you moving, to start to lift your heart rate, and loosen you up.

Warm up suggestions -- choose 1 or mix & match 2-3 of the following:
•   Walk up and down stairs
•   Dance around to your favourite song
•   Walk lifting knees to chest
•   Jog lightly on the spot
•   Sun salutations

Step 2
Choose and combine two cardio boosting exercises and two strengthening moves, and alternate between sets of cardio and strength exercises. Repeat the entire routine three times or only twice if you are strapped for time.

Cardio suggestions -- 30-45 seconds per set:
•   Jumping jacks
•   High knee run: lift knees as high as you can, running as fast as you can
•   Jump rope: no rope, no problem! Just pretend you are holding one
•   Side shuffles: 4 times to the right and 4 times to the left, repeat
•   Ski jumps: jump side to side, feet together, as fast as you can
•   Tuck jumps: jump lifting both knees to chest, doing as many as you can

Strength suggestions -- perform 10-12 reps per set
•   Squat with heel raises: starting from a standing position, squat then rise with heels lifted off floor.
•   Push-ups: from floor or from incline against a bed or counter top.
•   Crunches
•   Walking lunges: standing up, step right leg forward to lunge, then step left forward to join the right, repeat alternating legs.
•   Plank-crunch: from plank position (on toes or knees) bring one knee in toward opposite elbow, reset and repeat on other side.

Step 3
Take 3 minutes to stretch and voila! You've executed a work out in 15 minutes!

Katya Mohsen is a personal trainer with over 10 years experience in fitness and sports training. Catch her practical fitness advice Thursdays on Slice.ca

More articles by Katya Mohsen

Project Runway All Stars Recap: Episode 11, Pre-Finale

Alicia Cox — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:05:00 GMT

No eliminations on Project Runway All Stars this week as the final three designers -- Austin, Michael and Mondo -- find out that they have four days to create a mini-collection of five looks with a budget of $3000. It sounds rather rushed and I'm a bit disappointed that we aren't going to get a proper All Stars finale with full collections, but it certainly adds to the drama.

The designers take a trip to the Marie Claire offices where Joanna rocks some amazing architectural heels and gives some sound advice. Mondo asks her opinion on where theatrics fit into a runway show and she wisely says, "I don't think it's essential as long as it's authentic."

With one hour to sketch and one hour at Mood, the designers fall into familiar patterns. Austin dreams up a detailed description, coining the inspiration for his collection as, "a modern day rock star meets a Hasidic gentleman." He also wants to make a wedding dress, which I'm excited to see. Michael goes with something non-surprising, an African safari theme. You know, Michael hasn't shocked me once this season. Mondo says, "I feel dead inside." and wants to quit. No surprise there either.

After not coming up with any ideas in his workroom, Mondo finally starts working on a collection called therapy, because the whole experience has driven him crazy. I think it's clever, and more original a theme than Michael's, but I worry that he'll get too theme-y.

Of course, there's a twist: the designers have to create a sixth look using scraps of fabric from past challenges as well as 24 hours with an eliminated designer for help. The pairings were rather interesting, I thought. Austin chose Anthony, a solid match in terms of aesthetics and glamour. Mondo went with Mila, which made sense when he praised her technical and sewing skills. Michael chose April out of what seemed like left field, but then again I didn't see season 8 with Michael, Mondo and April -- he obviously has a connection with her.

So who will be crowned the winner of Project Runway All Stars? I'd put my money on Mondo, who has won four challenges to Austin and Michael's two a piece. Then again, that would be the predictable outcome, no? What do you think?

Come back next week when I'll have an interview with the winner!

You’re Doing Everything Right — So Why Is Your Relationship All Wrong?

Guest Blogger — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

There’s trouble in paradise, and you’re baffled because you thought you were just about to be crowned girlfriend of the year: You haven’t nagged; you’re true to your word; you treat him well; and you even let him man the remote. On paper, you’re doing everything right. So why doesn’t it feel that way? If you really are doing everything right, why is your relationship all wrong? Here are four important points to consider.

Don’t lose yourself
When many of us get comfortable in relationships, we often let go of our pre-coupled up routine. We go to the gym less, in order to spend more couple time. (Um... Why can’t you go to the gym together?) We see our friends less, individually and in groups, and we end up doing more double dates — or not going out at all. Remember that one of the reasons you captured your man’s attention, and his heart, is because he fell for you. So, don’t forget about yourself. And don’t forget about your friends, and your hobbies, and your life. Maintain your independence in your relationship, to both avoid suffocating him and becoming someone you’re not.

Stop trying so hard
Sometimes, the harder we work at a relationship the more issues it crates. For example, if you are needy and always want to spend every waking moment with him — and, worse, you complain every time you’re apart — you won’t make "with you" the place he wants to be. When people feel nagged, they feel attacked and become defensive. If you are trying hard to get him to do something, try to take a different approach — give him some space. Even though your intentions might be good, if you pressure him, it can make him feel cornered and uncomfortable.

Don’t let your thoughts get the best of you
The truth is that you very well might be a great, compatible and, dare I say, enviable couple. But when you spend too much time together, it’s easy to over-analyze each and every thing he does and says. If he’s spending all his time with you, chances are he cares very much about you. Stop trying to create problems, not to mention look for them. It’s OK to wonder here and there if he’s giving you enough attention — but think of all the times he is attentive and you might realize those thoughts are misleading you, while selling him short. Instead of looking for the wrong, realize how right things are.

Don’t force the wrong relationship to work
Hate to break it to you, little lady, but if none of the advice above leads to a change for the better (for you), he might not be the right match. In a balanced and healthy relationship, the partner observes, acknowledges and appreciates the good. If you’re doing things that you think he might appreciate, and getting no response, you may be misreading his needs. In a partnership, it’s important to predict each other's needs and take care of them before the other needs to ask. Perhaps what he needs in a relationship is different from what you need, and maybe it will always be that way. If that's going to drive you crazy, then this isn't going to work.

Jen Kirsch is a relationship expert, columnist and blogger. For quick tips and tricks, follow her on Twitter @jen_kirsch. Read her posts every Tuesday on Slice.ca.

Also by Jen Kirsch
• How Do You Ditch a Toxic Friend?
• How Do You Gracefully Bow Out of Your Own Wedding?
• The Hardest Part of Breaking Up Is Getting Back Your Stuff
• It's Time to Start Doing Your Own Dirty Work
• The Love Factor: 8 Relationship Warning Signs
• How to Get Over Losing "The One"

Finance Bootcamp: The Art of the Side Hustle

Guest Blogger — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:00:00 GMT

I’m writing this article as I rush out the door for a marathon St. Patrick’s Day celebration. No, I will not be partaking in green pitchers of lager, Irish folk dancing on bar tops or singing Danny Boy. Nope. However, I will be facilitating this pseudo-holiday. You see, I spend my weekends moonlighting at a popular downtown bar.

Yes, I have a professional degree, a great 9-to-5 job (career, if you will), and I’m hurtling towards 30, yet instead of passing my weekends spending 100 bucks at the club, I now make money off of the weekend-warrior industry. I still get to listen to great music and throw a great party. Only now, I’m leaving the club sober, dignity intact, and cash in my pocket.

Besides the college and university students employed at watering holes all over the city, there are countless bartenders, servers, hostesses, barbacks, coatcheckers and security staff with full-time jobs who have learned the secret to speeding ahead financially: making down payments in cash, crushing student loans, and saving for sabbaticals in exotic locales around the world.

The secret they’ve discovered is the Art of the Side Hustle.

In this post-recession economy, the cat’s been let out of the bag: real wages are simply not keeping up with the cost of living. Not by a long shot.

The big lesson here is that we cannot solely rely on external forces (the government, companies, Prince Charming…) to act as a financial safety net; we have to rely on ourselves.

This is where the side hustles come in because the more sources of income that you have, the less you rely on any one of those sources. Plus, you’ll be able to pay off your debt faster, save to start your own business, invest, or take your dream vacation.

How Do I Get One?
How does one obtain a side hustle? The answer is a lot of introspection and some elbow grease. Think about your current skill set. What are your strengths? What would you like to learn more about? Make a mental list of all of the answers and hopefully, some side hustle ideas will start to emerge:

Love lattes? Why not apply for an evening or weekend shift at your favourite café? Love fashion? Apply for a part-time position at your favourite clothing shop.
Do you have a lot of experience in a trainable skill? Become an instructor.

You might be thinking, “Yeah, I could use the extra money, but how am I supposed to find a second job? Between my career, family, social life and hobbies, I have no time!”

Well, if you get a side hustle in your field of interest, then you are still spending time on your hobby. Plus, if you’re serious about paying off your debt, saving for a home, or that yearlong sabbatical in Costa Rica, then you’ll have to roll up your sleeves and start knocking on doors, reaching out to your network and cold-calling to find that side hustle. It can be time consuming and even frustrating, but coming that much closer to your goal is worth it.

How Could I Possibly Manage Everything?
“But how do you manage it all?” Is another common question I get. The answer is to remind yourself that it is temporary and that you’re working towards an important life goal. Also, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy your side hustle, your new co-workers or what you’re learning, which should make actually showing up a lot easier.

From a time management standpoint it’s not going to be easy at first. Sometimes it’s downright hard. I mean, you already have so much on your plate with your other job, family, relationships, personal projects… you will have to sacrifice some time until you’ve reached whatever goal you’ve set for yourself to achieve with your new side hustle. I’ve missed countless girls’ night outs, concerts and even just spending time at home with a glass of merlot. But you know what? I have only a couple more months until the season is over and my side hustle is done, money in the bank and then I can go to dinner with friends again, only this time around, I won’t have to rely on my credit card or dip into savings.

Maybe one day soon you’ll run into me at the bar, standing by the hostess desk, taking coats, or carrying bottles, and you’ll know that I’m doing it all happily, getting closer and closer towards achieving my own goals.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Wha? The side hustle made me say it...

Written by M. Alice Allen

Session 5: Finance Bootcamp: Deciphering and Taking Advantage of Your Company's Benefits Plan

Session 4: Finance Bootcamp: The ABCs of RRSPs and TFSAs

Session 3: Finance Bootcamp: The ABCs of RRSPs and TFSAs

Session 2: Finance Bootcamp: Tracking Your Expenses and the B-Word

Session 1: Finance Bootcamp: Digging Yourself Out of That (Debt) Hole

Yummy, Healthy Snack Ideas to Help Fight the 3 p.m. Slump

Guest Blogger — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Who hasn’t faced a 3 p.m. slump? It’s that mid-afternoon time of day when you find yourself either heading to the closest Starbucks for a caffeine pick-me-up, or scrounging around the office looking for leftover muffins from the morning meeting. It’s also that time of day when cravings tend to kick in — and when we’re really desperate, even the vending machine (ugh!) starts to look good.

Can the 3 p.m. slump be curbed? Is there anything we can do to stop it from taking us over? Of course there is!

The key to kicking the mid-afternoon crash is rooted in snacks. Not just any snacks — they have to be snacks that satisfy your taste buds and your appetite. Some of us are satisfied with baby carrots and cottage cheese. To those individuals, I say congrats. But some of us so crave caffeine or sugar (or both) that the craving seems to take us over, until we finally give in and buy that double chocolate macadamia nut cookie and vanilla frappucino. To those individuals, I say you’re putting the guilty back in guilty pleasure.

How to course-correct? Start by thinking about what you typically crave when the 3 p.m. slump hits. Is it sweet? Salty? Crunchy? Every taste has a (tasty!) solution.

IF YOU CRAVE SWEET...
Greek yogurt with a handful of blackberries
Loaded with protein, Greek yogurt also offers a little bit of sweetness, sure to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. Bring a 500g container to work and leave it in the office fridge, to save having to lug it with you everyday. Blackberries are delicious and complement the yogurt beautifully.

IF YOU CRAVE CRUNCHY...
Pistachio nuts in the shell, and a sliced apple
It’s classic apples and crisp. It can satisfy the crunch, plus both components transport easily. Pistachio nuts in the shell (versus shelled) will take you much longer to eat, and ½ cup pistachios in the shell have only 170 calories, compared to 465 calories in ½ cup of the shelled pistachios!

IF YOU CRAVE SALTY...
Cheese and crackers
For some reason, many of us are convinced that cheese and crackers are not good for us. Not the case at all! Just make sure the cracker you choose doesn’t have a list of ingredients a mile long. Try the Wasa or Triscuit brands, which have simple, basic ingredients. Plus, keep your portion of cheese to about an ounce, or about the size of a golfball. Even better, try one of the lower-fat cheeses.

Just remember: Don’t try to be too righteous for your own good by bringing something you feel you should eat but don’t really want. Because it won’t work. Bring something that you will enjoy, and that is still healthy: That will keep your energy levels high, and help you coast through the afternoon, slump-free.

Maria Thomas is a registered dietitian and owner of UrbanNutrition.com.

Also by Maria Thomas
• Are You Getting Enough Iron?
• 3 Natural Energy Boosters to Help Keep You Going
• 3 Things to Trash From Your Diet Today

3 Natural Energy Boosters to Help Keep You Going

Guest Blogger — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

No matter how much energy we have, we all wouldn’t mind a little extra. I swear there just aren’t enough hours in a day! I’m sure many of you busy ladies pack too much into 24 hours (guilty!) and the last thing we want is to be caught in what I call “the 3 p.m. crash and burn,” where it seems that only a jolt of sugar or a kick of caffeine (some days, both) will get us moving again. How do we keep our furnaces burning without burning ourselves out in the process? Here are three beverages and foods to include in your diet that will keep your energy levels (almost) on par with your ambitions.

1. Pumpernickel bread
Pumpernickel is a dense bread that’s not only filling but also offers the benefit of being a food type with a low glycemic index (GI); by comparison to a slice of white bread, pumpernickel won’t cause your blood sugars to spike. The benefit here is that you get a smooth rise in energy levels, versus the quick burst and crash that a refined, high-GI food would yield.

2. Green or black tea
Tea has many health benefits. It’s rich in antioxidants, and can actually reduce the risks of certain types of cancer. With regards to energy, staying well-hydrated is essential to keeping energy levels up, and it doesn’t have to only come from water — tea counts, too. You may be thinking, “But tea has caffeine, which is a dehydrating agent — so won’t it just postpone the 3 p.m. crash and burn?’ Yes, tea contains caffeine, but it has about 50% less caffeine than a cup of brewed coffee (unless you steep it forever and squeeze every last drop out of the tea bag). Basically, tea is a great option for helping you keep alert without giving you the jitters.

3. Pumpkin Seeds
Frankly, I could have listed all nuts and seeds as a great food for energy because, as long as you stick to a 1/4 cup serving, nuts are a perfect combination of healthy fat, protein and carbohydrate. I’m singling out pumpkin seeds specifically, though, because women tend to face higher risks of iron deficiency, which leaves us feeling low-energy no matter what we eat or drink. Pumpkin seeds have the bonus of providing a significant amount of iron — 6.4 mg per serving, which is approximately what you would get from six ounces of steak!

Last but not least, one of the most important things you can do for boosting energy is AVOID OVEREATING. Yes, I know it’s tough when you are hungry and getting ready to sit down to a plate of one of your favourite dishes but, unless you want to take the chance of slipping into a food coma after clearing your plate, just take a deep breath and tell yourself you can have more later. Your energy levels will thank you for it.

Maria Thomas is a registered dietitian and owner of UrbanNutrition.com.

Also by Maria Thomas
• Are You Getting Enough Iron?
• 3 Things to Trash From Your Diet Today
• Oscars Glamour Sent You Dieting Again? How Dieting can Make You Fat

Project Runway All Stars Recap: Episode 10

Alicia Cox — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 02:04:00 GMT

Well, I can't say that I'm surprised by the final three Project Runway All Stars. Are you? It became rather easy to predict once Rami was shockingly eliminated too soon back in episode 6. Still, there was a moment at the end when I thought the designer who did go home might be saved...let's get into it, shall we fan-friends?

This week's challenge will test the wearability, budget skills and mass-market appeal of the designers as they are tasked with designing a ready to wear look for designer Nanette Lepore on a strict budget. The winning look will be made and sold in Nanette's stores for a specific price point to be determined during the challenge. (Pssst the winning look -- let me just let the cat out of the bag, it was Mondo again! -- is already sold out in NYC.) The profit from each sale will be donated to savethegarmentcenter.org, a cause near and dear to any New York designers heart, I'm sure. To the runway!

Austin's fuchsia swing coat is pretty enough to land him in second place. The colour is great, but all the judges thought it was a dress! I could see their mistake, the fabric was way too light for outerwear. Still, it was feminine and glamorous and in keeping with Austin's aesthetic, especially as it cost $500. Only ladies who lunch can afford a raincoat at that price.

Michael did another low front and even lower back caftan -- yawn. He chose a vibrant, bold pattern in a totally trendy colour, but it reminded this recapper of J.Lo's Versace Grammy dress. And I knew he wouldn't win once Joanna Coles asked him, "How do you wear a bra with this?" It seemed more like a beach cover-up, and an expensive one at that. The final price? $380. Michael ended up in the bottom two.

Mondo's lack of sketching ability probably gave poor Nanette Lepore a bit of a fashion heart attack, don't you think? She said it looked like a "tin can with a string coming out." She wasn't wrong, but it only makes me admire what he creates even more when you see where he starts. It's truly all in his head! I wasn't sure about his pattern mix at first and I admit I'm getting tired of his constant Debbie Downer attitude, but his dress was cute, on trend, it could look good on women with a little meat on their bones and it was the most affordable at $300. Mondo wins again!

Kenley made a cute dress with a twee print -- quel surprise. It was too high-necked by far (especially after she sketched a keyhole cut out) but other than that, the dress itself was a great, figure-flattering fit. I wasn't a fan of the oversized peacock pattern; I think it would've suited a tote or sweet pair of shorts better. And $350 is a bit much for something with messy seams and a childish print. Kenely found herself in the bottom with Michael.

Was Kenley's dress worse than Michael's caftan? Is a caftan really a commonly purchased ready to wear item? Although I expected Michael to win, I'm not sure he deserved to make it through if we're basing it solely on this challenge. When AngieL said she could see Kenely with a little store and she could picture the client perfectly, I thought Miss K was going through. Then again, guest judge Nanette Lepore pegged Kenley perfectly when she called her "haughty."

Michael was saved to create a collection and Kenley was sent home. I spoke with Kenley -- on the fly as she was at work -- about who she's rooting for (no surprises there), her favourite challenge and what she's doing now.

Q: Why return?

Kenley: I thought it would be a good opportunity to get myself back out there and kinda have fun with it this time around.

Q: How does it feel to get so close and not make it?

Kenley: It was a bummer! You work so hard non-stop with no sleep or barely any sleep and then you don’t make it. It would be disappointing for anyone who went through that process.

QFashion pet peeve?

Kenley: I don’t really like it when girls dress really slutty.

Q: How did Joanna differ from Tim?

Kenley: I loved working with Joanna. She’s an editor of a fashion magazine -- I mean that’s the best opinion to get as a designer, you want an editorial opinion.

Q: Who are you rooting for?

Kenley: Austin. Austin’s strength is feminine and ethereal, Mondo’s strength is print, Michael’s is draping.

Q: What was your favourite challenge?

Kenley: I liked the lighting challenge, it was cool because it was something I’ve never done before.

Q: What’s next for you?

Kenley: I just put a TCM [Turner Classic Movies] interview up on my Twitter, I’m working with cosmetic companies on lipsticks and stuff like that. I have a band called Jetblack Bullseye and our show at The Knitting Factory [in NYC] is almost sold out. I’m doing a lot with music. I took a long break from design and that’s one of the reasons I did the show. Because I was out of design for a year and I wanted to get back into it.

Next week is part one of the finale -- whose collection are you most excited to get a peek at? Are you surprised that I'm awaiting Mondo's genius? Let's chat in the comments!

Toronto Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012: LINE Knitwear

Guest Blogger — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:52:00 GMT

Knitwear and Canadian weather go together like hot cocoa and marshmallows and John Muscat and Jennifer Wells, the designers behind contemporary, premium knitwear label LINE Knitwear, presented a warm and snuggly yet stylish and fierce fall/winter 2012 collection at Toronto's World MasterCard Fashion Week.

Each season, Muscat and Wells are tasked with the challenge of making knitwear seem fresh and new and each season they rise to the challenge. This time around the duo reinvented some cold weather classics including the Fair Isle print and your grandma’s favourite cottage couch throw.

While the collection’s palette was heavy on browns, greys, blacks and winter whites, hits of royal purple and deep coral in all the right places kept the pieces from blending into the background. The aforementioned Fair Isle print was given the abstract treatment and used on asymmetrical capes, mini dresses with exposed zippers and cozy boat-neck sweaters—all worn with pencil thin stilettos. Grandma’s cottage throw was re-envisioned and appeared on the runway as a geometric, arts and craft-y sweater with contrasting zigzag patterned sleeves.

Muscat and Wells also played around with various fabric pairings. While some of the combinations had me scratching my head—the leggings invasion, detachable collars (which will probably feel stale next winter), the perplexing wrap-front trousers and the even more perplexing loose silk trousers with pleating on the inner thighs—the fingerless leather opera gloves with tufts of fur on the knuckles (meek fashionistas need not apply), and the belted leather bomber with the draped knit front had me mentally creating my winter wardrobe savings plan in my head. Loved it!

Septembre Anderson is a passionate journalist, blogger and fashion enthusiast who lives, works and shops in Toronto, ON. Her work has appeared on FASHIONMagazine.com, FILLERMagazine.com, HuffingtonPost.ca, and in Sway magazine. Read her posts every Wednesday on Slice.ca.

Read More from Septembre

5 Fitness Tools to Boost Your Workout

Guest Blogger — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Many exercises can be performed without equipment and provide excellent results. Still, many workout regimens can be improved by adding tools and accessories to create more options and new challenges for your body. Some of my favourite workout tools require little space to use and to store. Most of them travel well to the gym, park or hotel. Even better, all of them are inexpensive, ranging from $10-$60, and can easily be found in sporting goods stores and fitness equipment shops. Here are my top five.

Yoga mat
BENEFITS
• Provides clean surface for yoga and other floor activities
• Non-slip surface allows you to focus on your poses, rather than your footing
• Easy to carry and to use anywhere
LOOK FOR
• Comfortable thickness for your elbows, knees and spine
• Non-slip, easy to clean material
PRICE: $20-$60

Resistance tube
BENEFITS
• Creates smooth resistance that increases as the tube gets stretched
• Gentle and safe for your joints and muscles
• Assists with stretching, and increases range of motion
LOOK FOR
• Solid, well-secured handles
• Level of resistance (thickness): light to medium is a good start
• Length of tube, 4’ – 6 ’ — the taller you are, the longer the tube should be
PRICE: $10-$25

Jump rope
BENEFITS
• Full body and cardio conditioning, and improved agility, balance and endurance
• Jumping rope 10 minutes burns as many calories as running 20 minutes
• Light and easy to carry; use it anywhere
LOOK FOR
• Adjustable length to fit to your height (you may need to cut it)
• Thin, medium-weight rope
PRICE: $10-$30

Stability/Swiss ball
BENEFITS
• Adds core stability and balance training to any exercise, improving abdominal and back strength
• Increases level of difficulty for most exercises that can be performed on the floor or standing
• Great for assisting with stretching and yoga
• Can double as an office chair
LOOK FOR
• Right fit: While seated on a well-inflated ball with bent knees and feet on the floor, hips need to be at least a little higher than knees
PRICE: $20-$60 (depending on size, thickness, quality)

Medicine ball
BENEFITS
• Add weight to any workout; engage multiple-muscle groups, including your core
• Improve range of motion and coordination
• Fun to use with a workout buddy, adding dynamic strength training
LOOK FOR
• Appropriate weight for your fitness level
• A size and texture you can hold/manipulate comfortably in both hands
PRICE: $15-25 (depending on size, weight, material)

What exercise equipment do you like to use? Which one will you try next? Let us know in the Comments!

Katya Mohsen is a personal trainer with over 10 years experience in fitness and sports training. Catch her practical fitness advice Thursdays on Slice.ca

More articles by Katya Mohsen
• Excuses, Excuses: What We Tell Ourselves to Get Out of Exercising, Part 1
• Excuses, Excuses: What We Tell Ourselves to Get Out of Exercising, Part 2

Toronto Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012: Greta Constantine and LOVAS

Guest Blogger — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:20:00 GMT

LOVAS Fall/Winter 2012
Wesley Badanjak, the talented designer behind clothing brand LOVAS, has the business of fashion down pat. He has become widely known throughout the Canadian fashion scene for his wearable, well-made, tailored designs in an industry where ‘safe’ and ‘sellable’ are four-letter-words.

For his fall/winter 2012 collection, Badanjak presented a diverse collection of office-friendly separates, outerwear and modest cocktail dresses and gowns that oftentimes seem inspired by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s though Badanjak cites Brenda from Margaret Atwood’s The Year of the Flood as his inspiration.

Badanjak left no fabric stone unturned and python-printed chiffon shared the runway with ombre tweed, cobweb knits, sequined fabric, chenille jersey and crepe de Chine in black, cobalt blue, grey and a deep burgundy. But despite all the colour and fabric excitement the collection fell a little flat for me. While Wesley’s knowledge and application of fashion business acumen is great for sales it often comes at the expense of creativity and excitement. The parade of cobalt, burgundy, grey and black felt repetitive instead of cohesive and the clothes felt more like something you have to buy to adhere to your office’s business casual dress code and less like pieces you buy with enthusiasm and wear with glee.

With that being said there were a few standout pieces including an ombre tweed skirt suit and a cobalt python-printed chiffon shirt.

Greta Constantine Fall/Winter 2012
One of the advantages of being a fashion writer is the ability to witness the growth and evolution of a brand first-hand (even if it is just from the sidelines) and I’ve been lucky enough to witness the journey of Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong of Greta Constantine. I’ve seen Grecian-inspired jersey dresses and gold lamé jumpsuits and for the fall/winter 2012 collection the evolution continues.

The pair’s most recent fashion show opened with a kaleidoscopic parade of jewel-toned colour (which was a welcome respite from the usual all-black everything palette of the fall fashion season). A racially diverse selection of models marched out wearing trousers and light turtlenecks in head-to-toe shades of cobalt, navy, Kelly green, bright red and winter white with matching nubbly knit cowls and vests made by the talented Dylan Uscher.

The Jersey Boys, as the Canadian fashion industry has dubbed Kirk and Stephen, expanded on their trademark draped jersey dresses and included full-skirted skate dresses with exposed backs, body-con dresses that hugged curves and gave peeks of skin and mini dresses with strong shoulders. The duo seemed to be playing with contrasts and the materials – including soft knitwear and edgy leather – reflected that duality.

“We’re presenting our own vision of femininity,” Pickersgill told Spiro Mandylor of It’s All Style to Me. “It’s tougher, darker, and in some ways menacing. While the silhouettes are more severe in some respects, a prettiness runs through the collection.”

Greta Constantine is a clothing brand in motion and I can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings.

Read More from Septembre

Finance Bootcamp: Deciphering and Taking Advantage of Your Company's Benefits Plan

Guest Blogger — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 02:20:00 GMT

Congratulations on your new job (or on holding down your current one!). You are now the proud holder of your company’s benefit plan.

Your company’s senior team and Human Resources department has worked hard to develop an employee benefits plan that falls within their budget and helps keep employees as healthy and secure as possible. Your employer has held up their end of the bargain, now it’s your turn to hold up yours: get to know your benefits and take advantage of them as much as possible.

Common Health, Life and Other Group Benefits

Health Insurance: Medical and surgical services incurred abroad, in province and in country are at least partially covered by your benefits plan. Phew! Don’t forget about RMT massage reimbursements – see you at the spa!

Drug Benefits: No, not those kinds of drugs, prescription drugs. The difference in having to spend $60/month on medication, versus $5 or less will make a noticeable difference in your budgeting.

Vision Care: Many companies will reimburse their employees at least $150 every two years towards contact lenses and eyeglasses, plus eye exams. For those of us who are not four-eyes, feel free to use this benefit for prescription sunglasses, after all, who wants cataracts?

Dental Care: This covers preventative (cleanings), basic (fillings) and major (crowns) restorative services. Tip: give your dentist a copy of your dental benefit plan (I still have a hard time determining what a ‘unit of scaling’ is…), this will allow them to work with you on how you can maximize your plan to make the most of their services at the least cost to you.

Hospital & Extended Heath Care Services: Knock on wood you don’t find yourself seriously injured, but if you are, this benefit can pay for the costs of the ambulance hospitalization, medical procedures and at-home nursing care that the government doesn’t cover.

Life Insurance: Did you know that your job would actually pay out life insurance to someone of your choosing (your ‘beneficiary’) if you die?
This means more peace of mind for you and loved ones.

Travel Insurance: Before you buy that supplementary travel insurance, find out if you and your family are already covered through your employer. Why pay twice?

Long Term Disability: Were you injured on the job? Off the job? Research to what extent you are covered in the event that you get hurt and cannot work for an extended period of time.

Employee Assistance Program: If you’re feeling stressed out, or are dealing with a personal crisis, professional help might only be a phone call away. Many employers also offer counseling services to their employees and of course, this all 100% confidential. In this new, fast-paced, high-stress work environment, I encourage everyone to make use of this service.

Employee Pension Plans: Allows you to buy into a group plan managed by an external fund manager (or team of fund managers). Many companies offer matching programs, that is, for every dollar you contribute, they’ll contribute a certain percentage. My advice here is to contribute the maximum amount, especially if matching is offered. Hello free money!

After three years at a previous job, I left with thousands of dollars stashed away in LIRA (Locked-In Retirement Account) thanks to my employee pension plan and matching, and trust me; I barely noticed the deductions off of my paycheque. There are horror stories, especially in the U.S., about entire pensions being wiped out, but those are extreme examples that I wouldn’t recommend you let influence your decision to contribute. However, whether your employer has a pension plan or not, I strongly recommend contributing to an RRSP outside of it, as to not leave your retirement 100% in the hands of someone else.

Employee Stock Purchase Program: If your company is publicly listed on the stock exchange, chances are, there must be some opportunity to purchase some stock, at either a discounted rate, or with special provisions. An example of a special provision would be purchasing the stock at market value, and being guaranteed to be able to sell it either at or above purchase price. This means you’ll never sell it at a loss.

Other Benefits: These vary by employer and can include educational tuition reimbursements, athletic (i.e. gym) reimbursements and 24-hour legal service access.

Whether you’re a new or long-time employee, I strongly recommend requesting and reading any benefits material available, pestering HR with a million questions and participating in any benefits workshops that HR might moderate. These all could translate to thousands of dollars in savings and little to no cost to you.

Written by M. Alice Allen

Session 4: Finance Bootcamp: The ABCs of RRSPs and TFSAs

Session 3: Finance Bootcamp: The ABCs of RRSPs and TFSAs

Session 2: Finance Bootcamp: Tracking Your Expenses and the B-Word

Session 1: Finance Bootcamp: Digging Yourself Out of That (Debt) Hole

Four Weddings Canada: Recreate The Winning Wedding - Episode 10

Beach Babe — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:50:00 GMT

Valentina’s matrimonial lap of majestic luxury, scooped up all the points winning her a honeymoon in paradise. Here’s how to lap up the same praise and recreate this winning wedding.

FOOD
Sparing no expense for her guests’ stomachs, Valentina featured an antipasto bar, pasta course, steak, and an ice cream dessert! Room for cake anyone?

Splurge: While steak is a meal fit for a king, it’s not always the preferred taste for the entire court. For a little bit extra ask your venue or caterer to offer your guests a choice on the day between a premium entrée of either beef, chicken, or another deluxe dish variety.

Steal: Let one delectable dish rule them all and sacrifice variety for one heavy hitter. If premium cuts of meat aren’t your idea of putting on the ritz, make a splash with specialty sauces and garnishes to give your dinner a tailored flavor.

VENUE
While a romantic manor is a great base, this venue’s ambiance was all about décor. Rich coloured flowers draped over candelabra centerpieces, and a throne-style love seat for the newlyweds were dramatic touches for a grandiose affair.

Splurge: Bring in custom furniture to suit your theme – tufted ottomans, beaded throw pillows, lush colored chaises, or aged antiques will transform any space into a wedding wonderland.

Steal: Rent a focal point like Valentina’s candelabras to add to your flowers for centerpieces – you can still send guests home with the blooms, just tell them to leave the larger, heavier, staging pieces behind.

DRESS
With a one shouldered, tiered-ruffle skirt, drop waist gown, Valentina was a drop dead gorgeous modern bride; but that didn’t stop her from opting for a tea-length tulle gown with a champagne sash fit for a princess to finish the ball.

Splurge: Find you have multiple personalities when it comes to your dress choices? Let both sides of beautiful you shine through! A long train is stunning for your journey down the aisle, but a tea-length, ballerina length, or cocktail length dress will be key in letting loose with your honey on the dance floor.

Steal: Make it a two for one deal with a convertible dress, or switch up your look by swapping accessories like a fun pair of shoes, fancy sash, or a different piece of hair couture!

OVERALL
This was a big party with big personality - Valentina had entertainment with ballerinas and soccer ball tricksters, but it was the beautifully wrapped bombonieres of Mardi Gras inspired dominoes that stole the show and gave this celebration a soul de carnival!

Splurge: Make big impressions with accessories! While Valentina selected a variety of beautifully ornate masks, consider bobbles or accessories like cufflinks or ties for guys, and earrings or hair accessories for gals.

Steal: Perhaps size doesn’t matter, but a beautifully wrapped gift box looks like Christmas morning to any guest. Simple do it yourself boxes with a pretty ribbon makes for picture perfect presentation for whatever delight it holds inside.

Written by Four Weddings Canada

VIDEO: Watch the full episode from Episode 10 of Four Weddings Canada here!

How Do You Ditch a Toxic Friend?

Guest Blogger — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT

You have a friend who you’ve been friends with forever, who knows all your secrets and is the first to share others’ secrets. Though she's been a fun friend, maybe even a great friend, you realize that lately she does more harm than good. She’s competitive, often questioning you and making you justify yourself. She’s the only friend in your circle who causes drama. She brings negativity to your life. To put it bluntly, she’s a grade-A witch with a capital B. Still, the idea of ending the friendship feels next to impossible, not to mention downright terrifying. If you do want to ditch your toxic friend, here are four strategies.

Stop making plans with her
She can only bring drama to your life if you let her. Instead of complaining about her to other friends (in the process, risking being toxic yourself), take control and simply stop putting yourself in that position. Next time she asks to make plans together, tell her you’re busy. Don’t make up bogus excuses, either — that’s shady. “Busy” is good enough, and honest enough, and it leads to step two…

Unofficially brush her off
Some people would say the right thing to do is break up with your toxic friend in person, giving her an explanation. I think that’s a risky move, one that could empower her more than she deserves. I also understand the reality of how hard it actually is to do that. Instead, wean her off: stop immediately responding to texts; don’t post inside jokes on her Facebook wall; simply, slowly, pull away. In time, you guys can (probably) have a face-to-face about what went wrong. For now, because you can never predict a toxic person’s reactions, it’s best to avoid her altogether.

Let go of the fear
Before we attempt a difficult action, we tend to obsess about that action, making the idea of doing it seem harder than is actually the case. Our minds often come up with extreme worst-case scenarios that rarely happen. It’s psychological self-defense: by expecting the worst, we find it easier to handle the not-worst. Think about all the times you’ve procrastinated out of what amounts to fear of failure, but finally followed through and felt immediate relief? Once you take affirmative action against your friend’s toxicity, guaranteed you’ll feel a huge weight off your shoulders.

Tune her out
Yes, there’s a good chance she will say stuff about you to others, some of whom are your friends. Likely, she’ll be aggressive about it — after all, she’s the toxic type. Still, what a great reminder that is of why the decision to remove her from your life was the right decision. And you know what? Let her do what she wants. Others will see her comments for what they are, and see her for the person she is. Few traits speak more of one’s character than back-talking. Remove all triggers — including editing your Facebook settings — so you’re not confronted with hearing what she’s saying or doing. Like the saying goes: out of sight, out of mind. Better still, you’ll no longer be out of your mind over this negative situation.

Jen Kirsch is a relationship expert, columnist and blogger. For quick tips and tricks, follow her on Twitter @jen_kirsch. Read her posts every Tuesday on Slice.ca.

Also by Jen Kirsch
• How Do You Gracefully Bow Out of Your Own Wedding?
• The Hardest Part of Breaking Up Is Getting Back Your Stuff
• It's Time to Start Doing Your Own Dirty Work
• The Love Factor: 8 Relationship Warning Signs
• How to Get Over Losing "The One"

Are You Getting Enough Iron?

Guest Blogger — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Do you feel like your energy levels are consistently low? Are you the one in your group of friends who’s always catching a cold? In either of those cases, or both, the cause could be as simple as your iron levels not being where they should be. Low iron levels can result in diminished energy and impaired immunity. And get this: Approximately 20% of women are iron deficient. So, what can you do if you think you may be one of them?

Step 1: Visit your Doctor and get your ferritin levels checked
Ferritin is the storage form of iron in your body. If you have a history of iron-deficiency anemia, or find your energy levels are just not what they used to be, consider getting your ferritin levels checked. (An aside: low ferritin levels are also associated with hair loss in both males and females.) Often when doctors order bloodwork, they only check to see if you are anemic — which is to say, if you have low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. But those markers can remain within their normal ranges even when ferritin levels are plummeting. You need to specifically request that your doctor check your ferritin levels; only then can you be properly advised as to whether or not an iron supplement is appropriate for you. WARNING: Never take an iron supplement without a doctor’s specific recommendation — high ferritin levels are very dangerous.

Step 2: Boost iron in your diet to boost ferritin levels
Clients usually tell me that, when it comes to iron, the first food they think of is a big, meaty steak. Yes, beef contains iron — but what if you’re not a meat eater, or you’re just not in the moooooo-d (sorry, couldn’t resist) for steak? Here are some other foods that will help you boost your iron:
* Oysters and mussels (they have more than double the iron that beef has!)
* Pumpkin seeds
* Lentils
* Kidney beans
* Cooked spinach

With the vegetarian options, make sure to have these foods with a serving of vitamin C, as it will help boost iron absorption. Try this recipe for sautéed spinach with garlic — it’s easy to make, and 1 cup provides over 50% of the iron your body needs in a day (100% of what men need). Plus, as an added bonus, it has as much calcium as 1 cup of milk.

Maria Thomas is a registered dietitian and owner of UrbanNutrition.com.

Also by Maria Thomas

Men Dodging Showers

Guest Blogger — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:51:00 GMT

It’s overwhelmingly touching to have friends and family gather to share in the excitement of an imminent newborn, and to share in relieving the oftentimes alarming cost that comes with that child’s arrival.

So does it make me a bad guy to not want to attend any baby shower, ever?

Not having to attend showers of any variety is supposed to be one of the great benefits of being a man. In exchange for dying sooner, we get to pee standing up, and we never have to sit in a big circle and watch someone open gifts.* I think that’s fair.

*The above stereotyping of a typical baby shower is gleaned from movies I have seen, plus showers described by my wife. Which passes for fact-checking these days.

When I heard that my wife, pregnant, will be having not one but two baby showers, I immediately thought, “How nice of our friends and family.” Then: “I wonder if those free Sunday afternoons fall during March Madness?” (Actual order of those thoughts may have been reversed.)

So imagine my surprise when my wife tells me she expects me to be present, in one form or another, for both of these events. Now, one of them involves me hanging out with other menfolk while the actual shower action happens elsewhere in the house. I guess they want us to be close by in case of, I don’t know, a bear attack. This is fine. But for the other one, I’m right there in the mix, cooing over onesies and playing games.

I tried to bargain. “Can’t I just make an appearance at the end, like I did for the wedding shower?” I asked. That arrangement, I felt, had worked perfectly: I was able to breeze in after the cupcakes were served and the ladies were a little tipsy on chardonnay, tell a few jokes, thank everyone, and flee. The perfect compromise, right?

No such luck this time. My wife made the indisputable point that it’s my baby as well, and that this particular shower is being thrown by my family. So, I’m currently booked for an afternoon of whatever it is that happens at a baby shower.

Here’s a question for the women out there: Do you really want your babydaddy at your shower? Is it important that he share the experience with you? That the homonyms ‘presents’ and ‘presence’ meet by the coffee table? And is it bad form if he keeps his coat on, lingers by the door and noisily jingle his keys the entire time?

Paul Beer is a Toronto writer, actor and comedian. You can follow him on twitter @pauldanielbeer.

More articles by Paul Beer
• Four People on Slice I’m Terrified of But Can’t Stop Watching
• Winter Girlfriends: A Paul Beer Investigative Report
• Getting My Toes Did: Am I Now Less of a Man?
• Don’t Call it a Man Crush

How Do You Gracefully Bow Out of Your Own Wedding?

Guest Blogger — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:08:00 GMT

The elegant invites have been sent, the stunning white dress is hanging in your closet and the day of your dreams, your wedding day, is now just around the corner. And…you’re having some serious doubts if he’s actually the one.

Is it pre-wedding jitters, or is there a bigger problem? Are your eyes already wandering? Are you actually happy?

If the soul-searching answer is no, facing the thought of pulling the plug on your upcoming nuptials can be terrifying. You’ll be immediately worried about disappointing your parents, family and friends, as well as the inevitable gossip that will ensue.

So: How do you gracefully bow out of your own wedding? Here are six things to help you cut your losses and get on with your life on your terms.

Accept the circumstances
There really is no graceful way of extricating yourself from what amounts to a bad situation. And face it: This one’s pretty bad. There will be lots of chatter in the community about what went wrong, and there’s nothing you can do to control that -- word of mouth is vicious; people love to hear bad news. Still, stay focused on your goal: if your heart isn’t in it, calling off the wedding is the right thing to do. Come to terms with this, and stop fighting it. The worst part will be breaking the news. Once you're over that hump, things will get easier.

Don’t hide behind technology
First, you need to break the news to your fiancé; next, your parents; next, your maid of honour (for her and only her, over drinks is fine — and feel free to have a bunch if you’re both comfortable). But the point is, do it honestly: Do it in person. Explain why it’s not going to work out and emphasize that your decision is made. Answer all questions, but dig in and stay true to your heart. In the moment they might not understand, but in time, they will. Regardless, you must be strong.

Inform invitees
Guests should be informed as soon as you know the wedding is off; honour their schedules. The ideal way to let guests know would be to send out a mass email from your parents’ email address; alternately, you can snail mail a notification. (By the way: this does not constitute hiding behind technology, as the group in question is large.) For the phrasing in your notification, feel free to come up with a witty poem with your now-ex — well, if he’s up to it — to add some light to the somewhat grey news. If the two of you can see clearly to show a unified front, particularly when you share the “bad” news, you can pre-empt numerous judgmental questions that might come your way.

Return the gifts
The right thing to do is to return whatever gifts you may have already received to the gift-givers. This one is pretty self-explanatory.

Do right by your bridesmaids
Your bridesmaids are your best friends and closest female relations; the girls who you asked to march by your side are people who mean so very much to you, as do you to them, and they will absolutely understand your situation. But these are also the little ladies who spent an arm and a leg for all the events leading up to your big day, not to mention the money they had to drop for the bridesmaids dresses. Etiquette dictates that you should at least offer to reimburse them for part, if not all of the cost of their dress. (Hopefully you chose a tame colour and design, so all is not lost on their end.)

Think about an alternate ending
One of my favourite quotes is from Orson Welles, and it just so happens to apply here: “If you want a happy ending, that depends of course on where you stop your story.” A wedding planner told me about a client who called off the wedding with four days’ notice but couldn’t get their money back (everything was already paid out), so the ex-couple decided to go ahead and still have a party for family and friends. They even managed to turn it around and make it the focus of one of their parents’ anniversary. It wasn’t an “I do,” but they still made sure it was a big ’do, and that’s pretty cool (however unlikely).

Jen Kirsch is a relationship expert, columnist and blogger. For quick tips and tricks, follow her on Twitter @BlondeBronzed. Read her posts every Tuesday on Slice.ca.

Also by Jen Kirsch
• The Hardest Part of Breaking Up Is Getting Back Your Stuff
• It's Time to Start Doing Your Own Dirty Work
• The Love Factor: 8 Relationship Warning Signs
• How to Get Over Losing "The One"

Project Runway All Stars Recap: Episode 9

Runway Diva — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:30:00 GMT

What did you think of the light challenge, Project Runway fans? This recapper was left feeling kinda in the dark -- pun intended -- by all of the designs on the runway, much like with last week's flag challenge. The designers were tasked with creating an innovative, avant garde outfit using $100 worth of fabric and $300 worth of lights of all types, shapes and sizes. Guest judge Pharrell Williams, "the best dressed man in the world," will dress one of his artists in the winning outfit, which I thought was rather vague. Who are these artists of his?

Mondo's "last minute" creation was first with its exagerrated sweetheart neckline that resulted in ginormous pointy bosoms. It lacked his usual polish, although I do give him points for sewing the string of lights into a track and feeding them through. He wound up in third place, which means he'll be back, hooray!

I thought Jerell was on to something by using the fibreoptic lights because they looked so cool and I loved the way they moved. But, that black skirt left the judges cold and he landed in the bottom 2.

I liked Kenley's -- and for second week in a row! The upholstery fabric as jacket was genius, she pulled off tricky proportions and although at first I thought using the glow tape to create a pattern wouldn't be enough, it really stood out on the runway.

Austin was inspired by the idea of a fairy tale and, appropriately enough, entwined fairy lights in his tulle creation. I didn't think it was going to be enough, but to the top 2 he went with Kenley. I quite liked the headdress that looped around the model's face -- it reminded me of the diva Palavalaguna from The Fifth Element.

Finally, Michael's samurai-inspired outfit was not his best work. It lacked finesse and I agreed with Georgina when she said, "Do it properly or don't do it at all," regarding his sloppy tape work.

Jerell's long black skirt and awkward "grandma" styling, to quote Pharrell, cost him a spot in the top 4. But you know what? We spoke with him and he's just as upbeat, hilarious and positive as he was on the show. Find out what he hard to say about returning to the show and men in skinny jeans.

Q: Why did you decide to join the All Star cast?

Jerell: Being on the show the first time was such an amazing, life-changing experience. My passion is fashion, if you get a second chance at a once in a lifetime opportunity, I say get it girl!

Q: What did you think about the judge's criticisms?

Jerell: I pretty much agreed with the judges. It was actually a fun challenge and [getting cut] is part of the game. You know there are going to be wild crazy-ass challenges and you have to push yourself. Had I ever worked with lights? Of course not. Had any of us? No. There isn’t time to second guess yourself and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. A long skirt and strappy sandals with socks? My mom taught me better than that!

Q: Any regrets?

Honestly no. I’m a very fun loving go with the flow kind of guy. I believe everything happens for a reason. It was absolutely cool. I had fun, which I think is really important. At the end of the day it’s a TV show. Of course it’s an amazing opportunity but you can’t take it too seriously.

Q: Who are you supporting now?

Jerell: I think they all have strong points of view. At this point, may the best man or Kenley win. I’m happy for all of them, do the damn thing! Even though Austin had some trashy *** to say about me this season, I love him. He’s such a genuine person. Under the Golden Girl sequins and diva persona, he really is a real person.

Q: What's next for you?

Jerell: I just launched my line Hot Catastrophe, Jerell Scott For Everyday Consumption, available on my website jerell-scott.com. It’s at a price point that everyone can afford. My background is in extremely expensive clothes -- to keep it quite real, I can’t afford my s**t either! This is something real people can rock.

Who do you think will make it to the end and be crowned the first winner of Project Runway All Stars?

Read All the Recaps

Finance Bootcamp: Hello, My Name Is_____, and I'm a Shopaholic

Guest Blogger — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:30:00 GMT

Has “shopping” ever been listed as one of your hobbies? Like, on a dating site, or your Facebook profile? At what point does shopping shift from being a fun hobby to a destructive habit?

If shopping for stuff in one’s leisure time is a source of 100%, unadulterated pleasure, with no consequences (except maybe the accumulation of clutter), well then this post isn’t for you. However, if after the initial rush of endorphins, shopping leaves you broke, in debt and angry at yourself for your lack of control, then welcome to my world. Or rather, my world before I kicked my shopping habit (addiction). In Boot Camp Session 1, I alluded to my extravagant spending on an entry-level salary, nearly driving myself to homelessness and starvation after I couldn’t pay for my groceries (okay, an exaggeration, but not totally far off the mark). Well now I want to tell you how I kicked shopping addiction after hitting financial rock bottom.

Looking back to those fun, yet rocky times, I now realize how much shopping for clothes and accessories compensated for how incredibly lonely I was and how hard I tried to fit into that whole “downtown” image. I remember sitting alone in my bachelor apartment bored, so I’d don my overpriced comfy boots, logo purse and big sunglasses to wonder around my favourite malls and shopping districts waiting for something to happen, hoping to meet somebody new. Instead, I’d come home with a half-dozen shopping bags.

After almost two years of this, and the declined credit card fiasco at the grocery store that forced me to reprioritize my life, I made the conscious decision to cure my shopping addiction.

So, for your reading pleasure, I’ve condensed the process into an easy, step-by-step guide I like to call The 12 Step Shopping Recovery Program:

Step 1: Admit that you have a problem.
Be honest with yourself, it’s the only way you can move forward.

Step 2: Believe in yourself that you can overcome this.
As your Boot Camp instructor/motivator, I’m telling you: you can beat this addiction!

Step 3: Acknowledge that you will have to make some changes.
It’s not going to be easy, but the things that are worth it never are.

Step 4: Look deep inside yourself to find what could be triggering your overspending.
For a friend of mind, it was her well-off parents always bailing her out as a student, so by the time she got to “the real world” she had no clue that credit cards didn’t pay themselves off (I’m not joking). For me, it was definitely my breaking off a long-term relationship, shortly after I moved to the city.

Step 5: Admit that your human, and humans aren’t perfect. Forgive yourself.
’Nough said.

Step 6: Commit to change and improving yourself and situation.

Step 7: Seek to address your issues.
After recognizing the triggers you have to make a conscious effort to stop them. For me, it was learning to be comfortable alone so I don’t have to be tempted by highly-populated shopping centres. Self-help books, counselling, or simply just acknowledging your triggers can help.

Step 8: Make a list of creditors and anyone you owe or may have taken advantage of.
Who have you borrowed money from? How much do you owe your cell phone provider? Make a list and...

Step 9: Apologize and start paying them back.
If you can’t pay them back all at once, work out a payment schedule.

Step 10: Be aware that change doesn’t happen overnight.
The compulsion to spend will crop up now and then. Recognize when this happens and learn to control it.

Step 11: Replace your “destructive” hobby with a “constructive” one.
I re-visited my old passion for fiction writing. I started writing short stories, and even the first draft of a novel!

Step 12: Give back.
Volunteering for an organization I care about has made me realize that even without all the great “stuff” I’m incredibly privileged to have had the opportunities that I have. I’ve also met a ton of new friends.

If you find that after a few months it’s still difficult to control your spending, there are groups and organizations out there to give you the support you need. Debtors Anonymous and Credit Canada come to mind.

And remember, shopping in itself isn’t a bad thing, but once it starts chipping away at your emotional and financial health, it’s time to reassess if you should continue to list it as simply a “hobby.”

Written by M. Alice Allen

Session 3: Finance Bootcamp: The ABCs of RRSPs and TFSAs

Session 2: Finance Bootcamp: Tracking Your Expenses and the B-Word

Session 1: Finance Bootcamp: Digging Yourself Out of That (Debt) Hole

3 Things to Trash From Your Diet Today

Guest Blogger — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:21:00 GMT

After ten years as a Registered Dietitian, I’ve learned that the words ‘Healthy Eating’ mean different things to different people. For some, it means following a vegetarian or vegan diet and avoiding all animal protein. For others it’s the complete opposite.
I tell my clients that the key to healthy eating is really about variety and building your plate around foods that will provide you with the most bang for your buck. This is one of the main reasons why as dietitians, we feel like broken records repeating the same message: eat your fruits and vegetables.

We do it because research has shown their ability to fight cancer, heart disease and obesity. Having said that, does it mean you can’t have other foods you enjoy? Of course not! It’s ok to have dessert sometimes, and the occasional slice of pizza isn’t the end of the world, BUT...

Though I strive to stay as inclusive with a diet as possible, there are a few foods that are on my ‘DO NOT EAT’ list, because they do more harm than good. The following three foods should be trashed from your diet because they provide little to no nutritional value, are associated with an increased risk of disease, or are really just not worth the calories and fat:

Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are a caffeinated blast of ‘drinkable’ calories. Research has shown that we don’t effectively replace calories we eat with calories we drink. The American Academy of Pediatrics actually advises against the consumption of energy drinks for children and adolescents. Instead, have a cup of tea—its calorie-free, lower in caffeine, and can potentially boost brain health, particularly if you have green or white tea.

Anything with Trans Fats
Trans fats are like a facelift for food. Instead of letting a food age as nature intended, trans fats stabilize a product so it looks the same years after it was bought. Although they extend a food's shelf life, they can shorten ours. Trans fats are associated with heart disease and are typically found in processed foods, such as cookies, crackers and baked goods. If you see the words hydrogenated fat or vegetable oil shortening in the list of ingredients of a product, pick another brand.

Processed Meat
Processed meat is what I like to call convenient meat at a cost. Not only does two slices of ham provide half our daily limit for sodium, it also contains something called nitrates, which several studies have associated with increased risks of cancer. Food companies are aware that we are conscious of these ingredients and you may be able to find nitrate-free meat at your local deli. However, if they don’t have them available, ask for roast chicken or turkey that is lower in sodium and has been baked, instead of ham.

Written by Maria Thomas, Registered Dietitian and owner of www.urbannutrition.com

More by Maria Thomas:

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Photos: Converse Spring/Summer 2012 Preview

Terry Wong — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 23:54:00 GMT

Earlier this week, I checked out a preview of the Converse spring/summer 2012 collection and I was delighted to discover a vast range of fun and funky styles that will definitely appeal to everyday fashionistas and sneaker pimps alike. Along with all of the classic colours, some of the new colours for this upcoming season include electric blue, canary yellow and a few muted options for those who prefer a more subdued colour palette. The styles and shapes found in this collection include the classic low and high tops, ballet flats, boat shoes, mesh walking shoes, flip flops, cut-away sandals, and many more.

For lovers of this iconic shoe that are looking to make a statement with their footwear, the traditional version of this sneaker gets a bit of drama added in the form of multiple tongues (five to be exact). This shoe is all about street cred and the wearer can't ever possibly get tongue tied (HA!).

Another exciting detail that is introduced in this collection is a double layered high top that folds down to reveal a separate colour way beneath which helps to give a pop of colour to any outfit. I can totally see these sneaks being paired with a skinny jean or a pair of leggings for an edgy, alternative look.

Converse is also known for their creative collaborations and you can look forward to seeing cool designs from John Varvatos, Jack Purcell, Marimekko, DC Comics and the music group Gorillaz. I LOVE the whimsy and graphic elements of the Marimekko, Gorillaz and DC Comics collaborations and in my book, you can't ever go wrong with bold prints and cartoon characters on your feet. I've also been a huge fan of the John Varvatos collections for the past few seasons and for spring, a double zipper is the new sexy detail introduced to this line.

DC Comics Collaboration

Marimekko Collaboration

John Varvatos Collaboration

Overall, this spring collection definitely has something for everyone and Converse shoes are a simple and stylish way to add some fun, rock n' roll edge to any look. See more from this stylish collection in the gallery below and let us know which styles you're loving!

Related

Four People on Slice I’m Terrified of But Can’t Stop Watching

Guest Blogger — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:05:00 GMT

I am man enough to admit that a handful of Slice hosts frankly terrify me. Still, I just can’t help but spend hours upon hours watching them, every week. (Let’s just say that I’m just glad I can see them but they can’t see me.) Here’s how they get to me, and why I can’t stop getting some of them.

GAIL VAZ-OXLADE
(Til’ Debt Do Us Part, Princess)

WHY I'M TERRIFIED: First of all, Vaz-Oxlade is one intimidating surname. A ‘z,’ a hyphen and an ‘x’? That’s Bond villain material! But the real reason Gail scares me is down to her take-no-prisoners approach to personal finance — really the last taboo, isn’t it? I recently bought an expensive humidor because I needed a place to put some expensive cigars I bought. But I don’t really smoke cigars! DJ Vazzy Ox would tear me apart!!

WHY I CAN'T STOP WATCHING: Yes, Gail’s budgeting advice is sound and informative, but the real pleasure comes in her completely gobsmacked expressions when an unemployed princess insists on continuing her twice weekly massage schedule. You tell her, Gail! *Looks nervously at humidor*

TIM GUNN
(Project Runway All Stars)

WHY I'M TERRIFIED: Oh, that withering glare. That tone. That...Gunn. Imagine running to pick up a prescription while wearing Zubaz and an old No Fear T-shirt and bumping into Tim? “This worries me,” he’d say. Well, it worries me, too. Terrifying worry. I wear an impeccably tailored suit every day because of the chance of running into Tim Gunn.*

*Not actually true, though I am available for sponsorship opportunities.

WHY I CAN'T STOP WATCHING: When he looks at designs in progress, Gunn’s advice and guidance is always pretty spot-on, even if it comes with a mix of shocked disbelief and skepticism. Also, I always look forward to the heartfelt little speeches he gives to freshly booted contestants before he tells them to clean out their workspace. He’s like George Clooney from Up in the Air, but with spectacles, and way dapperer!

ABBY LEE MILLER
(Dance Moms)

Photo via Houston Press

WHY I'M TERRIFIED: Oh boy, where to start… Abby Lee Miller fears no one. She’d tear a strip off Barack Obama if Malia was a student and not Roger-Rabbiting correctly. The world of dance is a brutal, grueling world, and Abby does not give a damn if your feet hurt Missy, we’re going again. Step! Change! Spin! Spin!

WHY I CAN'T STOP WATCHING: In a world of confusion and indecision, it’s actually exciting to see someone so completely convinced that they’re correct and willing to bulldoze anyone who disagrees. Also, I’m afraid that if I say anything too critical here, Abby will find me.

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER
(The Real Housewives of Vancouver)

WHY I'M TERRIFIED: This show hasn’t even premiered yet and already I’m terrified. There’s one woman, Christina, who claims that her main source of income is two divorces. (She also claims, unprompted, that she’s 29, so perhaps a grain of salt is in order.) We’ve enjoyed the prowling, battling ladies of the various U.S. Real Housewives shows for years, and now they’ve come to our shores. Next time I am in Vancouver, I plan to avoid all ritzy restaurants midday. Lunch never ends well with these ladies, and I wouldn’t want to get hit by a flying glass of chardonnay. (Is that a Chard shard?)

WHY I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH (STARTS APRIL 6): I want to see the subtle differences between U.S. and Canadian ladies of leisure. (I expect more kayaking.) Also, I consider this my patriotic duty: Why import hysterical behavior when we produce some of the world’s finest right here at home?

Paul Beer is a Toronto writer, actor and comedian. You can follow him on twitter @pauldanielbeer.

More articles by Paul Beer
• Winter Girlfriends: A Paul Beer Investigative Report
• Getting My Toes Did: Am I Now Less of a Man?
• Don’t Call it a Man Crush

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Reunion Show Recap

Guest Blogger — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:20:00 GMT

Three hours… I watched THREE HOURS of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunion show last night. They laughed, they cried and were generally quite entertaining. There were some shockers, some clarity on what is really going on with Kim Richards and some insights as to who really, really, really doesn't like whom.

Here are the highlights of what I saw, learned and wondered about in my epic RHBH evening:

Who Came Off The Best

Lisa: calm, funny and relatively rational
Camille: quiet, calm and apparently now at-peace with her messy Kelsey Grammer break-up. She says she's been 'humbled' since last season
Brandi: hilarious, honest and crass – the one real voice in a sea of botox it seems.

Who Came Off The Worst

Adrienne: uptight, crabby and outright mean to Lisa.
Kyle: touchy, defensive and immature.

I won't add Taylor to either of those lists, her situation is too messed up and sad to categorize it as 'best' or 'worst'. Kim isn't on either list either, since she had her own, special, 'solo' interview.

Who Really, Really Doesn't Like Each Other

Adrienne and Lisa: Although these two are neighbours, things got ugly between them at the reunion. Lisa was furious Adrienne suggested she might have sold gossip to the tabloids and Adrienne thought Lisa was mean to her personal chef or something. It was quite lame. These two aren't gonna be having any sleepover parties anytime soon.

Brandi and Kyle: Ever since the wretched Game Night, these two have been on edge. During the reunion, Kyle calls Brandi ''Angry Spice'', which is just kind of dumb. The whole Game Night mess comes up again and again and none of us really care all that much. In the end, Brandi seems like a foul-mouthed fun gal, while Kyle seems like an uppity party pooper.

Other Highlights

Adrienne gets mad at Lisa for describing her self-designed footwear as a 'little fat shoe'
We see part of Mauricio's bum in a highlight reel
'We weren't swapping spit or anything,' says Camille about her raunchy dance routine with Brandi in Vegas
Some of the ladies are annoyed by what LISA'S DOG was tweeting about the show. Seriously! A DOG. Get over it.

And that, dear RHBH-lovers, is a wrap. I, for one, can't wait to see what happens in Season 3!

Watch the reunion show online now!

Stephanie McGrath is a writer whose work has appeared on the Huffington Post, in the Toronto Sun, on CBC's Definitely Not the Opera and... lots of other stuff. She loves TV and anything to do with pop culture, even though she studied some philosophy and other important things in university

Excuses, Excuses: What We Tell Ourselves to Get Out of Exercising, Part 2

Guest Blogger — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:19:00 GMT

The list of excuses not to work out stretches on, but for every one, there’s a good reason to drop that excuse and just start working out. If you missed our top four excuses to not work out (and how to beat them), check them out. Here, with admittedly a bit of fun with counting, 10 more:

Excuse #5: I need to lose some weight first.
You’re joking, right? Please tell me you’re joking. Exercise helps you manage your weight! While a well-balanced diet will also help you to shed excess pounds, exercising goes much further and will actually change the shape of your body. Mixing cardio and strength training burns calories, improves heart fitness, and tones and defines your shape. Combining healthy eating with activity will get you lasting results that you can see and feel, faster.

Excuse #6: I travel on business a lot.
So what? You have the one thing you need no matter where you are: your body. There are a bunch of exercises you can do using only your bodyweight; you don’t even need to pack running shoes for most of them. Try: push-ups, planks, squats, burpees, yoga, jumping jacks, walking, running, etc. (OK, for running, you will need the right shoes.) The point here, is: Just pick some of these exercises and do them. As little as 10-20 minutes a day while you’re away is always, always better than nothing.

Excuses #7-14: I have a headache, stomachache, earache, toothache, stuffy nose, sore throat, cramps, allergies, etc.
Sounds like you are suffering from acute hyperexcusitis. Lucky for you, the cure is simple: sweat it out. If you are “under the weather” but can pretty much maintain your regular activities? Then you can exercise, too. You may not run as fast or lift as much weight, but you’ll get through it and your aches will subside, at least temporarily. You’ll also feel better both while you are working out and for a couple of hours after. (Note: If you are stuck in bed, have a fever, or are injured, then take the time to recover.)

Now you have nothing but great reasons to add physical activity to your lifestyle. If you’re still not convinced, I suggest you take some time to really think about what is stopping you. Be honest with yourself and try to figure out what you need to do to move past it. Or just step out of your comfort zone and try one thing — you might surprise yourself, and it might lead to even more good surprises. See how it goes and let me know!

Katya Mohsen is a personal trainer with over 10 years experience in fitness and sports training. Catch her practical fitness advice Thursdays on Slice.ca

More articles by Katya Mohsen
• Excuses, Excuses: What We Tell Ourselves to Get Out of Exercising, Part 1

Your RRSP Plan for Next Year

Guest Blogger — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:02:00 GMT

Whoops: Leap Day has come and gone and once again, even with that extra day this year, you neglected to contribute to your RRSP.

This is perhaps not a disaster, but if you were planning on it, missing the deadline means you won’t be getting any of those sweet RRSP deductions when you file your taxes for this period. Also, unless you’ve been socking away cash into mutual funds or your mattress, you’ll have done nothing to build up your retirement nest egg.

But no use crying over split milk. As a matter of fact, no time like the present to invest in some personal financial calcium: Right now is a great time to formulate your RRSP plan for next year, and here are three simple and painless steps to going about it.

1. Do it automatically
Contribute to your RRSP fund weekly or monthly by setting up an automatic withdrawal from your bank account. That way, you make sure that it happens, and you won’t even miss (or notice) the $50 or $100 coming out of each paycheque. Little efforts make a big difference in the long run.

2. Let your employer help you out
If your workplace offers a group RRSP plan, take advantage of it. Not only will it create enforced savings (as it comes off your paycheque automatically), but some employers will top up your contributions. Free money!

3. Repurpose your windfalls
If you do get a tax refund this year, add it to your RRSP fund instead of blowing it on an impetuous splurge. Same goes for your bonus, or an inheritance, or any other unexpected cash windfall. You’ll be pleased with yourself come 2013 when your RRSP contributions are wrapped up long before the deadline.

There you go: easy as one, two, three to run your RRSP.

Well, easy as one, two, three… unless you shouldn't be. Because you might be surprised to know that there are indeed certain circumstances where you might be better off opting out on this kind of investment. Here, three reasons why you might want to put your money somewhere other than an RRSP (still, consult with your financial advisor before making this kind of alternate-strategy decision):

You’ve got substantial debt
If you’re carrying a hefty amount of consumer debt, your interest rate is likely higher (and possibly significantly higher) than any return you could hope to get from an RRSP.

Some financial experts even advise that you pay off all debt, including your mortgage, before buying any RRSPs; then and only then, max out your contributions. This is very much a disposable-income, later-in-life strategy. (Remember: some experts suggest it, not all experts. For this course of action, it’s crucial to ask yours for her/his opinion — and politely request substantiation.) If you want to do your own research on this plan of action, check out David Trahair’s book, Enough Bull: How to Retire Well Without the Stock Market, Mutual Funds or Even an Investment Advisor.

You haven’t bought an RESP
If you have children, you would be wise to contribute to their education through the registered education savings program before contributing to your own RRSP. For example, if you have a new baby this year and contribute $2,500 to that child’s RESP, you can get $500 from the government through the Canada Education Savings Grant program. That’s a 20% return, even before your investment income — a lot better than you’d get from an RRSP.

You’ve got a tax-free savings account
Many Canadians have tax-free savings accounts, and some financial experts advocate their advantages over RRSPs. The dollars and sense, so to speak, is too complicated to explain here but, again, it’s always a good idea to consult your financial advisor before embarking on this type of investment plan.

Shelley White is a Canadian freelance writer, editor and TV producer who contributes regularly to The Globe and Mail, The Huffington Post, The Grid and Spinner.com. Shelley is also a mother of two who aspires to never again carry a credit card balance.

More articles by Shelley White
• Got Kids? Two Reasons Why You Need RESPs
• Deep in Debt? Here Are 5 Ways Out
• Coping With the Bills: A Roadmap to Financial Recovery

Four Weddings Canada: Recreate The Winning Wedding - Episode 9

Beach Babe — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:37:00 GMT

Amber’s wedding really entertained the bride judges, enough to take the luxury Honeymoon! Here are some tips to help you create your own winner of a wedding!

FOOD
The bride judges loved Amber's tasty cupcakes, and you too can serve your guests these tasty, bite-sized treats.

Splurge: There are so many gourmet cupcake purveyors these days-find a local bakery, or seek them out online. The flavours are endless, and you can go for a few cakes in each flavor to make everyone happy!

Steal: If you have friends who are handy in the kitchen, cupcakes are a pretty basic project that most people can master. Anyone with a steady hand can mix icing in your signature colours, and pipe your initials on top. Presto! Easy, affordable monogrammed cupcakes.

VENUE
Amber got married in a beautiful train station that has since been converted into a venue. The venue was full of old world charm, and Amber jazzed it up by incorporating fall colours into her décor.

Splurge: If you find a historic location you adore, but it hasn’t been converted into a venue, never fear! If you ask the owners, there is a chance they will rent it out to you for the night. You’ll have to spend more to bring in your own tables, décor and catering but you’ll have your dream venue so it will all be worth it!

Steal: Do like Amber and find a historic site that has been converted into a venue. That way, they will already have pre-existing packages for you to choose from. You may lose a little creative control, but it will be worth it for the pennies you save!

CEREMONY
The bride judges loved Amber and Lee’s personalized vows. They were moving and touching to the couple, and everyone in the church could feel those sentiments.

Splurge AND Steal: Hand written vows are a fantastic idea, and the best part is they suit every budget! It may seem daunting if you’re not a writer, but as long as you are honest and let your heart sing, you’ll do a fantastic job! For a fun twist, don’t share your vows before the wedding day, they will be a wonderful surprise at the altar.

OVERALL
It was impossible not to be wowed by Amber’s entertainment! She was a multi-tasking bride, showing off her waltz and hip hop skills in one night! But the flash mob made the biggest impact, not only was it a fun surprise for the guests, it got everyone ready to boogie the night away.

Splurge: Hire a professional dance troupe to be a part of your flash mob. You and your fiancé can join them for a couple rehearsals to learn the moves, and then sit back and know that your flash mob will knock everyone’s socks off with their perfect choreography!

Save: Ask your bridal party, friends and family to be your back up dancers! Choreograph a series of simple, repeated movements that anyone can learn. Make it as silly as you want! Throw in some robot, some booty shaking, even some Running Man! Make sure you give everyone plenty of rehearsal time, and consider making an online video with the moves so people can practice at home.

Written by Four Weddings Canada

VIDEO: Watch the full episode from Episode 9 of Four Weddings Canada here!

Get the Look: 5 Style Icons of Colour

Guest Blogger — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:10:00 GMT

1. Rihanna
If I were to describe Rihanna in one word I would pick ‘mutable.’ The good girl, gone bad has changed her look almost as many times as she’s changed her hair. Whether she’s channeling the sweet island girl within, or a rocker with an elegant edge, one thing that remains constant is her ability to wear each style with ease and confidence. To nail Rihanna’s tough-girl look without going over the S&M edge try luxe studded accessories.

Forever 21 Ring, $4
Simons Necklace, $22
SPLURGE: Noir Jewelry Bracelet, $314

2. Solange Knowles
Being the little sister of that international superstar is no easy feat but Solange Knowles handles the challenge just fine. She has asserted her individuality, unique from that of her glitzy sister (and the rest of the human population), by embracing a unique aesthetic that is entirely her own. To achieve Solange’s quirky, earthy look opt for bright colours and mixed prints with an earthy undertone.

ASOS Lipsy Dress, $89
Boxing Kitten Skirt, $79
Old Navy Blouse, $25

3. Grace Jones
Before there was Rihanna, Lady Gaga, or even Madonna there was the often-imitated but never duplicated Grace Jones. The Jamaican-born singer, model and actress wore her strength, sexuality, androgyny and eccentricity like a badge of honour and took no prisoners. To get her fierce look opt for sunglasses with an attitude.

Nasty Gal Sunglasses, $40
Urban Outfitters Sunglasses, $14
Le Château Sunglasses, $18

4. Josephine Baker
For a woman who is best known for the clothes she didn’t wear the burlesque dancer and singer Josephine Baker sure managed to leave a lasting impression on the fashion elite. Miuccia Prada is one of her high fashion fans and for her Spring 2012 collection for Ms. Prada took inspiration Baker’s infamous banana skirt from her performance at The Folies Bergère in France. Avoid looking like a over-stocked fruit bowl by wearing an artful mix of produce inspired accessories.

Juicy Couture Bracelet, $98
Ring Aldo, $12
Necklace Mango, $20

5. Diana Ross
While the first lady of the Supremes has proved herself to be a veritable style chameleon over the years she is best known for her glitzy glam goddess look. Ms. Ross never met a draped flowing gown or sequined jumpsuit that she didn’t like and we love her for it. While her mane of loose curls is difficult to achieve, her sultry look is a little more attainable. Go for floor-length, Grecian-inspired gowns and lots of sequins.

ModCloth Dress, $60
Le Château Dress, $190
SPLURGE: BCBG Max Azria, $296

Read More from Septembre

Finance Bootcamp: The ABCs of RRSPs and TFSAs

Guest Blogger — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:18:00 GMT

It’s that time of year again—the RRSP contribution deadline! This Wednesday, February 29th is the last day to contribute to your RRSPs for the 2011 tax year. In this post I’ll give a quick rundown on the difference between RRSPs and TFSAs, as well as my personal preferred strategy for how to utilize both for a maximum return on your investments.

So, What’s An RRSP, Anyway?
A Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), allows you to stash up to 18% of your gross income (or up to $22,450, whichever comes first). And, here's the important part: this can be done tax-free each year.

However much you decide to contribute to your RRSP in a given year is taken off of your gross income and the government refunds you the difference from your new tax bracket. Any capital gains from your RRSP can grown tax-free as well, until you are ready to withdraw funds, at which point it’s eligible for income tax.

The benefits of the RRSP include reducing your tax bracket and allowing your money to grow tax-free, and faster.

The drawback of the RRSP is that if you want to access the funds before retirement, you will have to pay income tax on whatever amount you withdraw.

There's one exception: if you use your RRSP funds towards the purchase of your first home (through a little something called the Homebuyer's Plan—yep, they'll let you save up to $25,000 towards the down payment of a home), you have 15 years to pay back however much you withdraw.

Outside of this though, you won't be able to access your cash without paying penalties.

How Does The RRSP Differ from the TFSA?
The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), also allows you to save and invest cash. What's the difference? The money you contribute isn’t tax deductible, and any capital gains inside your TFSA is not subject to taxes. At all. Ever.

Each Canadian is eligible to contribute up to $5,000 per year. What you don’t invest can be rolled over into the next year’s maximum. This means that if you haven’t started taking advantage of the TFSA yet, you can contribute up to $20,000 this year, that's $5,000 for each year the TFSA has been available (since 2009).

Which One is Best, the TFSA or the RRSP?
The ongoing debate is which one of these two glorious options is better. Here is my personal take: if you’re a young professional and/or in a higher income bracket and are planning on purchasing your home within the next few years, go ahead and contribute to your RRSP first. Your tax refunds will be larger and can be re-invested into your RRSP to quickly pad your condo down payment fund. Think of it as a forced savings vehicle since you’ll be less tempted to access the funds before you’re ready to make the big purchase.

However, if you’ve already purchased your home, or you anticipate needing to access your funds before you retire, your income is small enough that a tax refund wouldn’t be especially huge, then I say, why not invest in both? Contribute as much as you can to your RRSPs (you’ll thank yourself when you’re 65) and then use the tax refund to contribute to your TFSA. This way, you’re making your money work double-time for you by first making an initial contribution, then re-investing your big fat refund cheque in yet another tax shelter. Nice!

Ideally, you should clear any outstanding debt before using this strategy, or even making any big contributions to either of these vehicles. But, even enlisting the help of a financial representative to have $30 a month taken out of your bank account towards an RRSP is a great first step if you aren’t quite ready to take the full plunge.

And remember, the sooner you start saving and investing in these two tax-advantaged programs, the better!

Written by M. Alice Allen

Session 2: Finance Bootcamp: Tracking Your Expenses and the B-Word

Session 1: Finance Bootcamp: Digging Yourself Out of That (Debt) Hole

Project Runway All Stars Recap: Episode 8

Runway Diva — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:44:00 GMT

There are only six All Star designers left on Project Runway -- Austin, Mila, Michael, Kenley, Mondo and Jerell -- and so therefore the runway should be getting stronger. I was disappointed this week, how did you feel? Mondo and (gasp!) Kenley were the only designers who presented completed looks. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

AngieL met the designers on the grounds of the United Nations building where she presented them with six flags and a choice. Mondo went first due to his win last week and he chose Jamaica and then Michael, to no one's surprise, who chose Greece. Austin chose the Seychelles, Jerell chose India, Mila chose Papua New Guinea and last, Kenley chose Chile. The designers had to be inspired by the colours of the flag and the dossier (Mondo's word) of info on the culture.

Mila got camera time right away -- you know, it really does become predictable. The more Mila we saw, the more it seemed like a set up. She didn't want anything too tribal? That seemed to be a major point of the challenge. You want it to be super modern? Think about the culture and inspiration!

Joanna laid some truth on Jerell's too-literal "doll in a costume from a tourist shop on your way out of Delhi," she's to the point, that Joanna!

To the runway and super chic guest judge designer Catherine Malandrino, whose engaging French accent made even bad news sound like bon mots.

Jerell's Indian-inspired garment was far too costumey, both in execution and styling. That headband is way over the top and the tucked in green chiffon seems last-minute. Like Georgina said, Jerell needed to edit.

Kenley's dress was cute, I will admit. The mix of prints and colours with that saucy side ruffle was youthful and sexy -- a vibe I haven't seen her accomplish yet. It was too short, for sure, but I could see the Chilean spirt. I did give a little cheer of Finally! when Isaac called Kenley out during judging for making the same dress week after week. Hooray! Someone noticed! (Even if it seemed that Kenley herself didn't. Was that genuine surpise?) AngieL reminded Kenley again on the runway. We'll see if she listens next week!

Austin, Austin, where did your taste go? I thought this dress was elimination worthy, if not fit for the bottom two. The colours were all wrong, it looked unfinished and raggedy and his model just didn't look graceful. What's with that bad fake tan? He didn't seem inspired by the relaxed, beach culture of the Seychelles and focused too much on the primary colours of the flag. Austin has been a bit uneven lately, and I hope he can keep up with the likes of Mondo.

Mondo's sleek black jersey gown seemed to evoke the confidence and curves of a Jamaican woman. It fit beautifully -- I think clung is the right work, actually. And I didn't mind the literal colour story on the back strip. It was graphic and modern without being too heavy-handed. His dress said first place to me -- and the judges agreed.

Mila's odd multi-layered dress was, as Isaac put it, "disturbing to look at." A lot of the time Mila's clothes seem effortless and minimalist, but this week you could see the strain all over that dress. I couldn't tell you what Papua New Guinea was like looking at that dress. Isaac got communism, I got Orwell's 1984.

Michael's gown was, as all the judges called it, beauty pageant. That tacky blue bow "looked like it belonged on a Christmas present," said AngieL (which isn't that mean, but you could tell she thought it was a zinger). The back was way too low and overall this dress lacked imagination. Still, it was the third from the top -- or fourth from the bottom.

Mondo was named the winner while minimalist Mila and overembellished Jerell were in the bottom two. Mila was sent home, which wasn't a huge surprise. It was hard to see Mila grow because she stayed so true to her vision. She's like Kenley in that way -- both women stick to their guns, but this is a competition based on adapting. Will a man win the All Stars season?

We spoke with Mila about

Question: What did you think of the judges feelings about your outfit?

Mila: I couldn't see how they couldn't appreciate my risk-taking and also I feel that perhaps my design was too conceptual. I didn't agree with most of what they said frankly, if i had more time I could have fine tuned it to their liking. You sort of have to pick what you're going to be most inspired by. I absolutely was inspired by that country contrary to what [the judges] thought.

Q Clearly you stand behind your look -- do you felel that someone else should have gone home?

Mile: I do stand behind my look. My interpretation of this country is that they march to their own beat and they're avant garde. Usually, I'm able to look at things objectively, I know my design was not so great on the Broadway challenge and it was my least favourite of everything I had done on all stars. Last night I felt that Austin or Jerell could have been eliminated before me. I wasn't a fan of Kenley's design; I felt that it didnt't reflect the culture. I was shocked I was eliminated.

Q: The situation between Kenley and Kara seemed to really get to you in the wortkroom. How do you feel that was covered on the show?

Mila: I obviously feel that they wanted to create a story out of that and its unfortunate people might have thought I was jealous or a sour puss because of the camraderie. There's nothing wrong with being friends, I developed friendship on the show, too.

Q: What's next?
In the imediate future, I have a FW 2012 collection showing in LA and I'm trying to secure a spot in LA Fashion Week. And working on a movie in costumes, I am very lucky to have been asked to contriube to Star Trek, it's right up my alley and it's awesome.

Q: Who are you rooting for now?

Mila: Out of the designers left, I feel that mondo is the strongest designer, so that's who I'm rooting for.

What did you think of this week's show? Who are you rooting for?

Watch Project Runway All Stars Episode 8

Last Week's Recap

Oscars Glamour Sent You Dieting Again? How Dieting can Make You Fat

Guest Blogger — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:05:00 GMT

As per usual, the Academy Awards did not pass without a red carpet "heavy" with fabulously lean celebrities. For many people, these glamour plates work as triggers to immediately start on a diet.

First, we set our rules: no desserts, no eating after 6pm, no carbs, and no [insert your favourite food here]. Then we race to clean out our fridges of unhealthy foods, and start stocking up on oatmeal, chicken breast and vegetables, determined to achieve our goals this time around.

But naturally, life happens. We get busy at work and we miss our mid-morning snack we’ve so dutifully prepared ahead of time. A week later, it’s our best friend’s birthday, and we tell ourselves it’s a special occasion, so we’ll get back on our diet tomorrow. Two days later we’re invited out to lunch with our coworkers and we eat a burger and fries, because we have a craving and feel we’ve been "pretty good" thus far. Two weeks later, we've only lost 3 pounds, and we’re missing all our favourite foods.

Before we know it, we’re back to our old eating habits and we’ve regained the few pounds we had lost, plus a few extra. What happened? where did all our determination and will power go? It went out the window as soon as we said those 5 innocent words: I’m going on a diet.

Trying to start a very restrictive diet cold turkey can actually lead you to gain weight. Counting calories, replacing our favourite dishes with bland, tasteless substitutes ,and starving ourselves in order to fit into a pair of skinny jeans is just not a good solution, especially for the long run.

Instead of deciding to go on a diet, decide to focus your energy on specific lifestyle changes; realistic changes you can stick to, that will allow you to achieve your ultimate goal in a reasonable amount of time, and help you maintain the results.

Choose 3 lifestyle changes that are simple to implement and stick to these changes for 4 weeks. Keep it simple to start, such as…

•   I’m going to cover half my dinner plate with vegetables every day
•   Instead of snacking on crackers or cookies after dinner, I’m going to have a cup of tea
•   I’m going to bring lunch to work every day instead of buying lunch

By focusing your energy on your 3 simple lifestyle changes, in 1 month you can lose approximately 5 pounds... without dieting!

Written by Maria Thomas, Registered Dietitian and owner of www.urbannutrition.com

Oscars 2012: The 10 Worst Dressed

Guest Blogger — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:03:00 GMT

Sure, it's just nice to be nominated, but deep down inside they all want to win--on the red carpet that is. We scoured the photos from last night's Oscars and these are the 10 dresses we deemed the worst. Did we get it right?

Written by Nadine Sharon Anglin

Oscars 2012: The 10 Best Dressed

Guest Blogger — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:15:00 GMT

The stars come out at night! Here's our list of the 10 best dressed from last night's Oscars red carpet. Did we get it right?

Written by Nadine Sharon Anglin

Finance Bootcamp: Tracking Your Expenses and the B-word.

Guest Blogger — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:22:00 GMT

Once upon a time, every other Friday, when I got paid, the money would be gone in one or two days, and if rent was due, I’d be back in the red mere minutes after logging into my bank account. Does this sound familiar to you? Why does this happen?

Two reasons:

1. You do not have a clear picture of what you spend every week or month and

2. This leads to an unrealistic spending plan (my homegirl Gail Vaz-Oxlade prefers “Spending Plan” to the awful, nasty b-word, “Budget.” Quite frankly, so do I), one that does not match up what you think you spend to what you actually spend.
There is a way to remedy this, and I’m going to be honest with you, it’s not particularly sexy or cool – it’s Expense Tracking. For a minimum of three months, write down every single purchase you make.

Tools to Track Expenses
I’ve tried what feels like every available tool out there to help me track and organize my expenditures. These tools can be broken down into four main categories:

1. Blank notebook and pen. There’s no shame in going old school. Record what you bought, how much it cost, and the date of purchase.
2. Spreadsheet. This is my favourite choice for flexibility and because I’m very at ease working with them.
3. Software. I’ve heard good things about Mint.com and Quicken.
4. Smartphone apps such as MoneyTracker and iExpenseIt.

Experiment with the different methods until you find one you like, and start tracking your expenses immediately.

Tracking Expenses, Keep At It!
The hardest part of tracking your spending is sticking with it. What helped me initially was on-boarding my two best friends, who were also shopaholics. We all agreed that for three months, we’d track our spending in a shared Google doc and call each other out if we weren’t keeping it up. It worked out well, even though there were some lapses, and at the end of three consecutive months we had enough intel to clearly see where our money was going. It was akin to seeing the world through the eyes of a newborn.

You mean, I spent $600 a month on dining out! My friend Betty bought FOUR different purses in the span of two weeks! My other friend Meredith pent $250 in taxi cab rides per month!

Oh, that’s where the money went every month.

The Budget Spending Plan
Forcing yourself to face your own spending habits can be a humbling and often embarrassing exercise but, and you’ll hear this from me a lot: you’re not the only one.
Don’t beat yourself up. Be proud that you’re actually doing something about it. Besides, now that you know where you’re (over) spending, you can formulate a Spending Plan based on your activities, lifestyle, goals, and personality. Basically, you want to cut down (or out) any ridiculous spending, but leave room in your budget (within reason!) for things that you like to do. For example, if don’t want to give up your weekly Girls’ Night Out, then perhaps limit spending to $25 per outing and get creative with how to stretch that money.

Try as hard as you can to stick to the spending plan, even if it means using the “envelope system” of putting your budgeted cash into different envelopes at the beginning of the month and spending till depleted (surpluses can go to savings, or be carried over). Of course, every month your spending plan will probably be tweaked until you settle on one that works for you, so just remember, it’s not set in stone and you can adapt it to flux and change that happens in your life. The whole point is to be in control of your spending and after a while, you’ll see how much more in control of your life you become.

Written by M. Alice Allen

Star Treatment: 10 Oscars Beauty Tricks Celebrities Depend On

Guest Blogger — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:47:00 GMT

On Oscars night, stars look beautiful and polished from the minute they step onto the red carpet until the wee hours of the night. No matter how many hugs and kisses, glasses of champagne and acceptance speech tears, celebrities always look fresh from start to finish. Here are 10 tricks makeup artists use to create picture perfect faces at the Academy Awards.

1. SMOOTH SKIN: The best starting point for perfect makeup is healthy, luminous skin. A gentle exfoliating scrub buffs off dead skin cells leaving radiant, smooth skin and creating a perfect canvas for makeup. Try Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub, $41.00. Follow up with a hydrating serum that brightens and evens out skin tone. Try Kimiko Beauty Junsei Serum, $84.00.

2. FOUNDATION PRIMER: To keep skin looking fresh for hours on end, a foundation primer is an absolute must. The lightweight gel creates an invisible layer on the skin, smoothing out surface texture and making foundation go the distance. Try Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, $36.00.

3. EYE PRIMER: The evil eyelid ‘crease’ can be the cause of ruin a few hours after applying perfect eye makeup. Using an eye primer before applying colour prevents eye shadow from moving around and increases the longevity of your look. Try Laura Mercier Eye Basics, $24.00.

4. SETTING POWDER: To keep skin looking flawless but not obviously so, a loose setting powder is crucial. Loose powder is pressed onto a large powder puff, and then pressed and rolled over the face. Using a powder brush in a circular motion, lightly buff into the skin. Try Make Up Forever HD Microfinish Powder, $30.00 with Make Up Forever HD Microfinish Puff, $9.00.

5. BLOTTING PAPERS: A practical and effective way to eliminate shine during the night is by using blotting papers. They can be used as often as needed and unlike pressed powder won’t build to form a thick layer of makeup. These thin, little pieces of paper are super oil absorbent, and when pressed onto the face remove unwanted shine without disturbing makeup. Try Sephora Collection Matte Blotting Film, $10.

6. EYE BRIGHTENING PENCIL – Ever wonder how stars’ eyes look so sparkly and clear? A soft beige or peach coloured eye brightening pencil applied along the inner rim brightens tired looking eyes. Try Tarte EmphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener, $18.00.

7. PREP LIPS: Feathering, smudged or spaghetti sauce lips are never sexy, especially on Oscars night. To prevent any colour mishaps, a drier concealer is lightly applied all over the lips followed by a light dusting of powder. The natural lip line is traced and lips are filled using a lip pencil. Lipstick is layered by applying several coats and blotting with a tissue in between. Try Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, $28.00.

8. CONTOURING: We all think celebrities are natural beauties who have perfect bone structure, right? Wrong! Makeup artists cheat with contouring to shape perfectly chiseled faces. Cheekbones, brow bones and the bridge of the nose are highlighted with a light-reflective powder while the sides of the nose, hollows of the cheeks and jaw line are blended with a darker, semi-matte powder. Try Smashbox Step-by-Step Contour Kit, $45.00.

9. EYES WIDE OPEN: Big, beautiful eyes are enhanced by curling the lashes, applying multiple coats of the blackest, black mascara and adding false lashes. For the most natural looking luscious lashes, individual falsies are placed along the lash line with an emphasis on the outer corner. Try MAC 30 Lash, $18.00.

10. LIPSTICK NOT TEETHSTICK: No matter the shade of lipstick it should never, ever end up on your teeth. Before hitting the red carpet stars will place an index finger into their mouth and close their lips around it. They simply pull their finger out to capture lipstick from the inside of the lips for a quick and easy way to prevent embarrassing smudges.

Louise Griew is a professional makeup artist who lives and works in Toronto.

5 Oscars Hair Predictions and Tips to Try Them at Home!

5 Oscars Makeup Predictions and 6 Products to Help You Get the Look!

Paul Beer Laments: I Want To Be a Housewife Who Lunches

Guest Blogger — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:35:00 GMT

It goes without saying that much of the appeal of the various ‘Real Housewives’ shows is a kind of lifestyle tourism. We get to watch these people live ignoramously privileged lives who fall victim to the same petty conflicts we all face (and then some). We get to peer into how the other half (or 0.1%) lives, while safely judging their behavior, judgement and taste (nightmarish, questionable and non-existent, respectively) from our sofas.

While the Bentleys, the vast McMansions, and the vacation homes are fun to gawk at, they really don’t do much for me*. What I find myself most envious of is a luxury these people blithely enjoy on a daily basis: the long, boozy lunch.

Much of the action of any ‘Real Housewives’ episode involves the ladies enjoying a four crantini lunch at a nice-ish looking restaurant before getting into a shouting match. They meet to discuss the planning of their new sketchy-sounding charity function, to talk behind the back of another housewife, or to ‘clear the air’ about a previous lunchtime spat. The air never gets cleared, it just fills with more stink-eye and flying vodka.

In this economic climate, is there a greater fantasy than the two hour lunch? Most of us not married to a hedge fund manager spend our lunch hour wolfing down something partially re-heated at our desk (reading hilarious, informative Slice.ca!) or in some godforsaken food court, hoping we don’t run into someone from the office. If we actually find our selves at a real-ish ~~pub~~ restaurant (someone’s birthday or goodbye lunch), much of the time is spent fretting about getting back for the ever-looming meeting and quibbling over the bill. If you dare order a beer at lunch you run the risk of finding an AA pamphlet from HR on your desk the next morning.

Real Housewives don’t have to worry about such things. They can start lunch off with cosmos before polishing off an entire bottle of Beaujolais. They can spend a few hours commiserating about how much of an absolute bitch Ramona has been, or loudly accusing each other of being fake. Real Housewives can afford to spend $40 on a main**, and not eat it. They don’t even have to worry about being banned from a restaurant. With all the screaming, drink-tossing and table flipping, what does a housewife have to do to get kicked out of a dining establishment?

Also worth considering: How much raw footage does the production company have of middle-aged blond women eating lunch? It’s got to be thousands of hours at this point. Somebody should do a study of the mid-day eating habits of the rich and volatile.

*Notable exception: The Grammar’s Hawaii vacation home -- sweet Fraiser Crane, that’s a nice spot. Kelse, I’m a big fan. Call me.

**Ever notice that we never actually see them ordering food unless they mis-pronounce something on the menu?

Paul Beer is a Toronto writer, actor and comedian.You can follow him on twitter @pauldanielbeer.

Read More from Paul

Four Weddings Canada: Recreate The Winning Wedding - Episode 8

Beach Babe — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:22:00 GMT

Diana’s mantra was “Go Big or Go Home” and her big taste has got her going on a luxury honeymoon with a first place finish.

VENUE
Bringing her guests out the extra mile out of the city – Diana’s secluded venue had lots of space and extensive grounds. While her outdoor ceremony was blown away with high winds and rain, her back up indoor space was much appreciated by all of her guests. Vaulted, high ceilings, and crystal chandeliers were opulent and fitting for her blinged out theme, complete with purple carpet entrance, lush purple table linens, and tall glass centerpieces set to stun!

Splurge: Grandeur at its finest means lots of space - from corner to corner, floor to ceiling, and with extensive grounds for you and your guests to enjoy. Make sure this venue has equally big character – with large crystal chandeliers, and crown moulding fit for royalty; then add your own pop with silky fabrics, and blinged decals on chairs and in place settings and centerpieces. To go the extra mile, find a secluded venue where you and your guests can have the entire venue to yourselves; the privacy is definitely worth a little extra travel time.

Steal: Work your way to creating the illusion of more space! Opt for tall, glass centerpieces and put them on a lush table runner in your accent colour, but leave the base linen as white. The light, white tablecloth will brighten the space to create an "airy" feel, while the runner will tie in your colour with silky sheen.

FOOD
With a love of Italy, Diana’s dinner flavours included an antipasto buffet appetizer, and a sinfully filling full course meal of pasta and risotto, veal, a seafood plate, a lemon sorbet to cleanse the palette, and a delectable dessert of apple-cinnamon filled pastry a-la-mode.

Splurge: Make sure you have appetizers a-plenty (think buffet style!), and a variety of deluxe menu options that leave the typical chicken and beef in the barn to find their plate another day.

Steal: First make the tough choice between quantity or variety – choosing either simpler foods in abundance is, or a lesser amount of specialized plates will cut the cost of such a dining affair. Also always choose foods that are easily accessible, local, and in season.

DRESS
Diana looked regally stunning in her one-shouldered ball-gown, showcasing a beautiful natural waist and silk ruching, and a feather light frilled skirt.

Splurge: A full-skirted ball gown, with layers upon layers of fringe will provide graceful movement and have you looking like you’re walking on a cloud!

Steal: Save costs by cutting down on decals. Also compare tiered-piece skirts in a variety of fabrics and fringe styles – which may offer the same aesthetic at very different prices.

OVERALL
Above décor and extravagant dishes, Diana provided her guests with the stylings of professional ballroom dancers, and a “purple carpet” photo booth, complete with props to make any paparazzo giggle with delight.

Splurge: Book a performance by professional dancers – complete with stunning attire, and see if you can even book them for a group lesson at the reception to get all of your guests on the floor! Follow it up with an old school photo booth that will send your guests home with copies of their cheeky prints.

Save: Build your own photo booth with a patterned sheet or wallpaper, and silly-fun props a-la dollar store! For music-accompanied entertainment – call all of your talented friends, or convince your hubby to make up your own spoof dance to entertain your guests. You will have the rest of your happy lives together to live it down.

Written by Four Weddings Canada

VIDEO: Watch the full episode from Episode 8 of Four Weddings Canada here!

5 Oscars Hair Predictions and Tips for Trying Them at Home

Guest Blogger — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:34:00 GMT

Personally, I think Oscars hair is art. When upwards of three hours is spent manipulating each strand into a gravity defying ‘do...well, for the sake of the hair stylists, let's just hope the celebrity likes it when it's done.

The Oscars is the pinnacle of glamorous hairstyles and this year, celebs are delving deep into vintage inspired styles with an updated edge. Here are five looks that will be sure to impress at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Tumbling Tendrils

Hair worn down can be just as exquisite as a complicated updo – think timeless beauty Veronica Lake. Soft, cascading curls are the epitome of feminine hair. The key here is finding the perfect balance between overdone and underdone. Using curling tongs, curl hair under and towards the head. While hair is hot, secure each curl with a large Velcro roller. Let cool and remove. Comb hair with a wide tooth comb and spray with a weightless finishing spray. Try Kevin Murphy Session Spray, $22.

Making Waves

Nothing is more glamorous than flapper-style finger waves. Stars will be wearing finger waves soft and tousled. To get modern finger waves, hold curling tongs vertically and curl one-inch sections of hair in the same direction around the head. Working in sections, smooth with a boar-bristle brush and spritz with shine spray. Try L’Oreal Professionnel Crystal Gloss, $21.50.

Beautiful Baubles

An easy way to shnazz up a classic hairdo is by adding a dazzling accessory. Rhinestone encrusted antique clips, blingy headbands and feathery fascinators add the ultimate finishing touch to captivating styles. Throw a thin twinkly headband into your hair for a super easy way to glam up your style. Check out Juicy Couture’s Rhinestone Headband, $65.00; Claire’s Ring of Bling Headband, $16.50.

Sexy Side Parts<

Whether hair is up or down, slick or soft, we’ll be seeing dramatic side parts on the red carpet. Elegant and feminine, the deep side part is versatile and allows for hair to be worn in many different styles. Using a tail comb, part hair above the arch of the eyebrow and style as desired.

Slip and Slide

Another style that celebs will be soaking up is ‘the slick’. The shiny, slippery accents seen on Spring runways will be toned down and modified for the red carpet this year. A high shine gel combed through hair makes a traditional chignon current. Try KMS Hairstay Styling Gel, $10.95.

Louise Griew is a professional makeup artist who lives and works in Toronto.

Excuses, Excuses: What We Tell Ourselves to Get Out of Exercising

Guest Blogger — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:41:00 GMT

I spend a lot of my time trying to encourage people to lead more active lives. In my quest to help people make positive changes I hear a lot of excuses... and more excuses... and blah, blah, blah. Some sound reasonable, some are absurd and all can be offset by the benefits of fitness.

Just so you know you're not fooling anybody, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favourite excuses, and show you how each one is in reality a reason to get more active.
 
Excuse #1: I need to get in shape before attending a fitness class.
Ridiculous! Do you wash, trim or style you hair before going to the hairdresser? No! The point of a fitness class is to get you in shape! Simply find out which classes are better suited for beginners; pick one and just go!

Excuse #2: I'm too busy and stressed out right now. I'll start when things slow down.
Seriously? Things don't slow down, there's always something going on. You need to take time to look after your health and wellness; no one else will. Exercise, whether it's yoga or spinning or weight training, relieves stress. Plus, it gives your mind a break from all the thoughts and worries racing through, leaving you calm and collected and better able to focus. Morning, lunch, after work or late evening, choose a time that works with your lifestyle.

Excuse #3: I'm too tired and don't have the energy to exercise.
Newsflash! Exercise boosts your energy; not only right after your workout, but overall. It's a fantastic pick me up, especially when you feel sluggish or restless. At night, you will fall asleep more easily and your sleep’s quality will improve. In the morning, you will wake up rested and ready for your day.

Excuse #4: I'm still sore from last week’s training.
Get over it and get moving! Your muscles will welcome the increase in blood flow and oxygen. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the soreness dissipates once you start moving. It is important to note that you do need to give your body a break every week. You should give your muscles one day to recover between weight training sessions. After that, sore or not, stick to your workout plan.

We covered some of the basic excuses; enough for you to take a good look at the real reasons for why you keep avoiding your health. Not enough to get you moving? Stay tuned for part two: excuses 5-14. Your excuse is in there somewhere...

Katya Mohsen is a personal trainer with over 10 years experience in fitness and sports training. Catch her practical fitness advice Thursdays on Slice.ca

Marni for H&M: Get Ready for the Collabo of the Year

Guest Blogger — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:45:00 GMT

Tick tock, tick tock. The clock is quickly winding down and it’s almost time for the Marni for H&M collection to hit stores nationwide on Thursday, March 8. I stopped by Trump International Tower and Hotel yesterday for the preview and was pleasantly surprised with their stylish offerings.

Versace for H&M brought customers over-the-top, hyper-sexy, more-is-more prints and designs. Lanvin for H&M gave shoppers ladylike elegance and lavish glamour. This year, the Marni collection taps into our wild, adventurous sides with womenswear, menswear, and accessories that offer classic, iconic Marni to the high street crowd.

At first glance the capsule collection looks like a hodgepodge of your grandma’s favourite prints and fabrics but upon closer inspection the method to the madness reveals itself. Bold West African-inspired wax block prints, shining metallic brocade and quirky stripes and polka dots are artfully turned into sheath dresses, cropped pants, voluminous midi and maxi skirts, loose summer-ready shorts, tailored dress shirts and fitted pencil skirts.

*GASP*

And the accessories. I N-E-E-D them all. Beautiful lacquered corsage-like necklaces, plastic and woven straw totes, chic Spartacus-esque metallic leather with rope sandals, chunky bracelets, sequined collars, printed silk scarves, and plastic petal drop earrings would all be the perfect finishing touches for an airy summer dress or classic jeans and a tee.

And there’s something for the boys too. Marni at H&M offers menswear staples with subtle (for Marni) prints and a utilitarian aesthetic. Chunky knits (but in the summer?), two-tone shirts, printed shorts, anoraks. In addition to menswear, Marni also offers accessories including bags that you may want to steal borrow from the bf.

Once again, H&M and its collaborators have created a collection worth lining up for. Will you be braving the crowds for Marni mania when the collection lands in H&M stores? Which pieces will you be buying?

Read More from Septembre

5 Oscars Makeup Predictions, and 6 Products to Get the Look!

Guest Blogger — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:02:00 GMT

Anticipation is high with the 84th Annual Academy Awards only days away and let’s face it, the buzz is not surrounding the acceptance speeches. The most exciting thing about the Oscars (for beauty buffs like me anyway) is nit-picking the looks! While we may never have the opportunity to glam up in quite the same way, we can certainly draw inspiration from red carpet makeup styles and use them to shake up our own beauty routines.

With a modern twist on old Hollywood glamour as top contender, here are five makeup trends we are likely to see at this year’s Oscars. And, the nominees are…

Luscious Lips

Inspired by the flapper looks of the ‘20s and ‘30s, lipstick is a simple and elegant way to make a statement. We’ll see rich blood orange, tomato red and deep raspberry worn matte, as well as blotted, wine-stained lips in darker crimson and scarlet. Don’t worry, you needn’t have Angelina’s lips to pull off bold colour on your pout – a beautiful red stain can compliment full and fine lips alike. Try Revlon Matte Lipstick in 006 Really Red, $10.99; Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in Fig, $5.99.

Flawless Face

Less is more with luminous, natural-looking skin. Gone are the over-bronzed beauties and sun-kissed complexions we’ve seen for years. Barely there makeup looks fresher and more youthful than pancake-thick foundation that covers everything. Apply a sheer foundation only to areas that really need it. Try Giorgio Armani Cosmetics Luminous Silk Foundation, $65.00.

Elegant Eyes

Eyes will be toned down and subtle this year – note, this does not mean boring! Lightweight, translucent eye shadows worn soft and smoky on lids and along lower lash line make eyes sparkle and pop. Add dimension with a cream shadow in champagne, pewter or mushroom. Try NARS Cream Eye Shadow in Corfu, $28.00.

Bold Brows

Many of us don’t notice a star’s eyebrows unless they are super-dramatic or non-existent. A well-defined, fuller brow makes a huge impact and can make or break an otherwise beautiful look. Eyebrows filled and shaped naturally using a lasting wax/gel formula are a winner. Try Laura Mercier Brow Definer, $24.00.

Creamy Cheeks

Complementing the fresh-faced skin will be luminous, neutral cheeks. Applied with the pads of the fingers, cream blush in a pinky brown hue won’t interfere with bold lips or brightly coloured gowns, but will add that touch of radiance and dimension to the face. Try Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera, $33.00.

Louise Griew is a professional makeup artist who lives and works in Toronto.

Project Runway All Stars Recap: Episode 7

Alicia Cox — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:15:00 GMT

This may have been my favourite episode this season for two reasons: I'm a huge Broadway musical fan and Mondo's garment was the Business. The Ultimate Business. I had so much love for Mondo this week.

The challenge was to design a costume for a character in Godspell who is rich and ostentatious. The winning designer gets have his or her Broadway debut by getting credit in the program. It's a huge deal and Austin and Mondo seemed the most excited. "Fricken major," was Mondo's exact comment.

Before we get to the runway, I have to send a huge Get Over Yourself, Girl to Kenley. Her comment, "I don't make mediocre, half-assed pieces. I do every piece beautifully with a wow factor. It must be so annoying to those other designers," seemed a bit delusional since she hasn't won a challenge yet. So when she ended up in the bottom three, I was secretly gleeful. (Well, not that secretly, I am writing a blog...).

Guest judge Sutton Foster, a true Broadway star and Tony award winner, gave strong, thoughtful feedback to everyone. Invite her back please!

With only seven designers left, Jerell was safe as the middle man which left Mondo, Michael and Austin in the top and Kenley, Mila and Kara in the bottom.

Michael's dress was very pretty, but I couldn't help but wonder how the actress was going to feel wearing a backless garment. The designers all met her, she was lovely but, like most of us, not model size. A gal needs some support!

Kenley's jacket turned out beautifully, and I was as happy as Joanna that it was her first polka-dotless week (hold the phone -- those are sheer polka dots under that coat, sigh), but overall her "East Village thrift store" inspiration just didn't hit the mark. Georgina was disappointed, rightfully so, because Kenley totally missed over-the-top luxury the character is supposed to convey.

Austin bounced back from last week's snoozefest with a Marie Antoinette-inspired costume that captured the character, although not my imagination, personally. Still, it was a strong piece and landed him a second place finish.

Poor Kara. She seemed to be really struggling this week and her outfit reflected that. It just didn't stack up against the other costumes and she was ultimately sent home.

Mondo was next and did he ever nail the challenge. His costume was so gorgeous and appropriate -- I know that's not the most glamourous adjective but it's the most accurate. The styling! The feathers! The flats! The flow! Even though he struggled with his inspiration and had to go to a "dark place," Mondo really redeemed himself from last week (although I didn't think he needed any redeeming).

Mila's mismatched costume didn't instill any confidence that she can use colours other than black, white and red -- and Sutton Foster said her model looked like a, ahem, lady of the night!

Although Isaac said that this week was Kara's best work ever -- really? -- she was eliminated and Mondo, of course, was named the winner.

Find out what Kara had to say about being friends with Kenley, whether she thought Mila should've gone home in her place and who she's rooting for now.

Q: Let's talk about your relationship with Kenley. It received so much air time!

Kara: Well, you know the thing is that you're naturally drawn to certain types of people. Kenley and I just really gravitated towards one another and we were really each other's sounding boarod throughout the whole thing. I think Kenley is a really special girl and we were just honest and open with each other as were other designers. We each had someone we connected with, it's not unusual.

Q: Did you know Mila had such a hard time with it? Did she say anything to you?

Kara: No one ever expressed it in our presence. Some people work quiet and some people work louder. It's just different personalities. I think Mila doesn't open up easily. Kenley and I are just fully spirited, the two of us. Maybe [the other designers] disapproved that we were louder than they hoped. But you can't fine tune the workroom to suit yourself, that's one of the challenges of [the program].

Q: Do you think Mila should've been sent home?

Kara: When I look back on it, Mila's is obviously the worse of the two. I don't know how the back end sort of works and how the judges make that decision. The judging is such a long, in depth process and we get such a small amount of it [on TV]. On the runway I didn't think I was going home and neither did anyone else. No hard feelings, every week it's someone else's turn.

Q: Who are you rooting for now? Kenley?

Kara: I love Austin and Kenley, we were a tight knit little group of besties. I think Michael, Mondo and Austin are really just very in key with what's going on. They seem to adapt the best in this circumstance. May the best man or woman win.

What did you think of this week's episode? Who are you rooting for? I'm solidly team Mondo, though I'd like to see Jerell to step up his game and push himself. Let's chat in the comments!

The 10 Worst Oscar Dresses Ever

Guest Blogger — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:00:00 GMT

The 84th Academy Awards are a few days away and while we spent yesterday reminiscing about the style winners over the years, today we have no choice but to put the offenders on blast. Here are 10 of the worst Oscar dresses we've ever seen. *shudder*

Written by Simone Paget

For more great Oscar coverage, visit the Awards Night site now.

NYC Fashion Week: Favourite Fall 2012 Trends

Guest Blogger — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:00:00 GMT

Above: Calvin Klein

Another season of New York Fashion Week madness has come to a close and the "Glitterati" have moved on to prepping for Oscar's big night. Retailers and press alike have already begun to descend upon the showrooms of the star designers of NYC Fashion Week for closer inspections of the looks that were presented and to begin predicting what is to be coveted, and what you'll be wearing this fall.

The shows were surprising in their offerings and proved to be a bit contradictory to the staple New York City uniform. In past seasons, sleek, impeccably tailored pants ruled the runways, but this season, designers offered up dress-centric collections. Hem lines fell below the knee and buzz words like graphic, structure, minimal, luxe, and a return to lady-like dressing ran through my head as I viewed the collections. Here are my faves of the week:

Above: Calvin Klein

Francisco Costa's fresh take on merging minimalism with structured proportions was magical at the Calvin Klein show. Costa took the heaviest, most masculine fabrics (leather, wool, etc.) and made them look light, polished and perfectly feminine. He paid close attention to the waistlines of dresses and coats and he applied a masterful cinching application which resulted in simple silhouettes with lots of volume at the bottom. Although extremely modern, there were certainly nods the the '50s. The star of the show for me was a polished leather dress which I think every well-heeled girl will want to have in their wardrobe and it's the perfect offering for going from desk to dinner this fall.

Above: Proenza Schouler

Another fashion week standout for me was the Proenza Schouler show. One of the trends touched on in their fall 2012 presentation was menswear elements, but of course true to form, Jack and Lazaro applied this trend with a twist (ie. over-sized boxy jackets rendered in satin and leather and a hand quilted varsity jacket embroidered with feathers). The designers sort of re-imagined your grandmother's evening wrap or shawl within these oversized jackets and every feisty little vixen will want to throw one over their cocktail frocks with mad abandon for conventionality and resulting in perfection! The pair also touched on the voluminous trend offering high volume pleated trousers for day and evening. My runway to reality tip is to pair full leg trousers with a fine gauge shrunken cashmere top for day, or for evening, try matching these subtly masculine shaped pants with an uber feminine embellished tank.

Above: Derek Lam

Lady-like ease sums up Derek Lam's offering for fall. He masterfully incorporated '60s influences, high tech modern applications and tailoring with artisan embroidery. The result, a smart yet quirky wardrobe that will appeal to a broad audience. This collection addresses staples that every girl goes on the hunt for when shopping, but turns the volume up a few notches on the glamour factor. For the gal that doesn't want to be tortured by 6-inch heels (yet finds flats boring), Derek Lam has a solution--spunky little Oxfords offered up in gilded gold, black and white. They are the perfect shoe to pair with trousers or one of the season's hot trends, floral embroidered pencil skirts.

Above: Jason Wu

Jason Wu is notorious for designing poised vintage attire, so his fall 2012 collection was a true departure from the expected. He traded in pretty party frocks for sleek sexy Chinese embroidered dresses with masculine military influences (which were slightly reminiscent of an iconic Gucci collection seen during Tom Ford's reign). The most interesting aspect of his collection was the use and placement of fur on coats and jackets, perfect for keeping warm and staying chic in the fall. Other statement pieces were red and black crystal embroidered gowns and cocktail dresses--perfect for ringing in the new year!

Harold Jay Melvin is a designer, stylist and purveyor of chic. He divides his time between globetrotting to source and shape the hottest trends, sitting front row at some of the worlds edgiest runway shows, providing style guidance to some of music, fashion and nightlife’s elite and most recently creating costumes for TV and Film.

Read all of Harold's blogs on slice.ca.

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Finance Bootcamp: Digging Yourself out of that (Debt) Hole!

Guest Blogger — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:45:00 GMT

If you find yourself literally swimming in past due bills, trust me, you’re not the only one – the average Canadian’s non-mortgage debt is over $25,000!

Fresh out of university and in my first “real” job, I racked up $11,000 worth of credit card debt in just one year (what do you mean I can’t afford $500 shoes on my entry-level salary?). When my credit card was declined while trying to buy groceries, I realized that I had to change my ways, or face financial ruin.

You might say, “Quit being such a Buzz Killington and live a little!” Okay, but do you want to wake up at 60 years old, and realize that you have absolutely nothing saved for retirement?

What happens if you’re laid off?
What if you need to take a leave of absence to care for a loved one?
What if you date a musician!

You need a personal finance strategy. This bootcamp will help you develop one.

So, how do you get on track to start rapidly paying down your debt? When my credit card was declined at the supermarket, I left my purchases at the checkout counter, sulked back to my apartment, tail between legs, and devised a plan of action:

Step 1. Figure out exactly how much you owe, and to whom
I wrote down exactly how much I owed, to whom, and the minimum payment amount. At this point, you might decide that your debt is so huge that seeking assistance from your local banking representative, or a credit counsellor is necessary.

Your banking rep or credit counsellor can give you more options for paying off debt, such as applying for a consolidation loan to cover your debt, and then making a single payment towards that loan. A consolidation loan combines all of your debt together so you only have to make one monthly payment at a more reasonable interest rate. A consumer proposal is another more extreme option where by you reach an agreement with your creditor and only pay part of the original debt. Bankruptcy, often called the last resort solution, is another option whereby you become insolvent. With bankruptcy, your credit rating will be negatively affected and you will have difficulting obtaining credit in the future. If you decide to go through any of these three routes, kindly skip to Step 4.

Step 2. Prioritize your debt and invoke “Operation: Snowball”
Which bills have been overdue the longest, and which ones have the largest balances? Once you determine these, you can then apply the Snowball Method of paying down your debt. The Snowball Method of debt repayment works like this:

Make the absolute minimum payment on all of your outstanding bills, always and on time. This will prevent your credit rating from complete obliteration.
Start with your smallest debt, and make aggressive payments towards it, while still making minimum payments on all other bills.

Once your smallest debt is paid off, attack the next smallest debt until it’s paid off, while still making minimum payments on all other debts.
Repeat the process until you hit the home stretch of paying off your most daunting bill last.

There are different strategies for paying down debt, but I prefer the Snowball Method because it focuses on small wins: breaking down your debt-repayment into manageable and more achievable pieces. This process is much less intimidating than facing a pile of bills and not knowing where to start.

Step 3. Cut out or minimize immediate expenses
Stop your debt from accumulating at the rate that led you to this mess by immediately cutting and minimizing expenses wherever you can. For me, this meant:

Cancelling my cable
Reducing my cell phone plan
Suspending my fancy gym membership for a few months and taking long walks instead
Cutting out the $5 lattes. Now, I keep a box of tea bags, ground coffee and my French press at the office
Bringing my lunch as much as possible. One of my favourite tricks is to keep instant soup cups, trail mix, and granola bars in my desk at work for the days I can’t bring myself to pack a lunch
Avoiding boozy nights out with the girls for a while (winter hibernation is a convenient excuse)
Getting roommates

Later on in this bootcamp we’ll review how to track expenses so that you have a clearer picture of where your money is going every month, and making the necessary adjustments to minimize expenses, or as I like to call it, optimize spending.

I know, I know, confronting your debt looks like a scary, gargantuan task, but it doesn’t have to be. Just remember that you’re not alone and by taking steps to get your finances under control, you will feel more empowered and in control of your own life in general. The confidence and calm you’ll gain once you start working towards financial security will trickle into every other area of your life as well, from career, to family to relationships.

Welcome to bootcamp.

Written by M. Alice Allen

The 10 Best Oscar Dresses Ever

Guest Blogger — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:00:00 GMT

As we gear up for the 84th annual Academy Awards it's high time we addressed the most important Oscar question of them all: who wore the best dress? Some will argue that as soon as Hollywood became hip to services of professional stylists, the originality went out the door in red carpet wear. We respectfully disagree. In fact, we've gone through the archives and pulled what we feel are the 10 best Oscar dresses ever.

Did we get it right?

Visit the Awards Night site for more great coverage.

Written by Simone Paget

Babymoonin’, Aw Yeah

Guest Blogger — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:33:00 GMT

Last week, my seven-months pregnant wife and I got up at the absolute crack of dawn to head to the airport and stand in line.

Then we flew to Cuba!

We decided to take what some refer to as a ‘Babymoon.’ We just called it overdue. We had been meaning to travel to Cuba for quite some time, as I've always wanted to see the country, particularly Havana. Thanks to the looming arrival of Baby Beer, that plan was fast-tracked.

We settled on a very nice all-inclusive resort in Veradero. It was lovely, relaxing and full of great weather. But it was not how I imagined my first visit to Cuba would transpire.

To give you an idea of exactly how deluded I was, here’s how I imagined my life-imitating-cinema-cliches would go:

I rent a flat (or a sprawling 50’s style bungalow) in Havana, there is a 1958 Cadillac Fleetwood at my disposal, I drive around with the window down smoking a Montecristo, making a daily stop at Parque Central’s ‘Hot Corner’ to discuss béisbol before sipping mojitos at a local Rumba bar, where I am of course, a regular. I would also have a nickname like ‘Pablo Cerveza.’

I don’t speak a word of Spanish and therefore have no idea how I imagined any of this plausible. (Also, you'll note that in my badass movie, my pregnant wife ended up on the cutting room floor.)

Of course, the reality of what transpired was not at all bad. It just took some time for the selfish, immature part of my brain (most of it) to yield to the smaller, but slowly expanding realistic, mature, loving part, the one that saves me from myself on a regular basis. Once that happened, I realized that relaxing one-on-one time on the beach with your lady is exactly what a babymoon should be.

According to Wikipedia, the term ‘Babymoon’ was coined in 1996 by ‘childbirth educator’ Sheila Kitzinger. Originally ‘babymoon’ referred to that period of time immediately following the birth of a baby, when mother, father and baby could be together before the father returned to work. Over the years, however, it has come to refer to a vacation taken by expecting parents as a final hurrah before that baby comes along and ruins everything forever. There are websites that specialize in planning a babymoon, suggesting destination that offer things like pre-natal massage and private yoga lessons.

But could those places offer what our resort did on our second night?

That’s right. Please note that the sign does not say ‘Michael Jackson Impersonator,’ or ‘Michael Jackson Tribute’ But: Michael. Jackson. In. Concert. And you know what? They delivered.

All things considered, I would absolutely recommend a pre-natal getaway. Even though my Cuban experience checklist remains unfulfilled, and an all-inclusive is not exactly the best way to experience a country (it’s a great way to experience frozen daiquiri's, however) it can be a good, relaxing time for just the two of you and the tiny creature kicking one of you in the solar plexus from the inside.

Paul Beer is a Toronto writer, actor and comedian.You can follow him on twitter @pauldanielbeer.

Read More from Paul

Got Kids? Two Reasons Why You Need RESPs

Guest Blogger — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:12:00 GMT

Having a child puts a lot of new responsibilities on your plate. Feedings, sleep schedules, spit-up, onesies, milestones, colic -- all of a sudden, your brain is so crammed with new information, it might seem impossible to keep on top of it all.

However, there's one important thing you can do for your child that has nothing to do with breast pumps and baby yoga (hear that, dads?). Annual contributions to RESPs should be at the top of your to-do list (and possibly grandma and grandpa's too).

If you are a parent (or you're about to become one), no doubt you've heard about registered education savings plans. It's a way to save money for your child's post-secondary education. But do you really know why they are of benefit to your child? Here, two reasons why any concerned parent should get on it, ASAP:

1. Free money from the government!

Yes, indeed, this is the number one reason to get an RESP for your little one. On the first $500 you save annually in your child's RESP, you will get a Canada Education Savings Grant. This will get you:

-- up to $200, if your net family income is $42,707 or less

-- up to $150, if your net family income is between $42,707 and $85,414, or

-- up to $100, if your net family income is more than $85,414.

Also, when you save more than $500 annually, the Canada Education Savings Grant could add up to $400 on the next $2,000 saved. In total, your child can get up to $7200 over the course of their lifetime. (Plus, your child might be eligible to receive up to $2000 through the Canada Learning Bond, depending on your family income.)

All you have to do to get the grant is to get a SIN number for your child and open an RESP account with a bank, credit union or other financial services provider (here's a list of RESP promoters and the type of grants they offer). The RESP provider will apply for the grant on your behalf.

2. Tax shelter!

With an RESP, investment earnings are sheltered from tax while your child's investment fund grows. The income does become taxable once it's withdrawn to pay for university or college, but only under your child's name. Since students usually have low to no income, the taxes amount to very little.

But what if your child decides not to enroll in post-secondary education right away? The RESP can stay open for up to 36 years. If little Jimmy becomes a rock star and never goes to college at all, the money you contributed is returned to you and grants can go to any post-secondary school-bound brother or sister. If no other sibling can use it, it goes back to the government.

One important note about RESP investments: what you invest your RESP money into is completely up to you, but remember that if you get too risky, you could lose it. Unless you're confident in your nose for cash, you might be better off sticking with GICs, high-interest savings accounts or other low-risk investments (talk to your financial services provider about your options).

Make it an annual ritual to contribute to your child(ren)'s RESP -- maybe on their birthday or around the December holidays. When grandparents or other family members give your child a monetary gift, add it to the pile, or set up a monthly contribution from your bank account. It's pain-free savings that (hopefully, if you've raised them right) your kids will thank you for, someday.

Written by Shelley White

Four Weddings Canada: Recreate The Winning Wedding - Episode 7

Beach Babe — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:04:00 GMT

Lisa Marie was in it to win it, and her "Game Day Glamour" knocked it out of the park. Take a knee, and read on for some wedding day coaching from this MVB (most valuable bride)!

VENUE
Lisa Marie’s venue was all about big windows, high ceilings, and the occasional fireplace; but what really had this tall order in winning order was her strategic colour scheme. Also, bonus points went to Lisa Marie for decorating the often forgotten church. You can always move the decorations over to the reception after your grand, bubble filled exit.

Splurge: Get the great room with big features like windows and high ceilings, and incorporate your colour scheme everywhere with class! Let it add sparkle to your flowers with coloured gems or colour the flowers themselves. Use it for the wrapping on your favours, and dramatize your head table backdrop and guest tables with fabrics and linens in your signature colour.

Steal: If you can’t swing customizing everything to feature your colour, pick one element in the colour and get as much of it as you can. Whether it’s finding an affordable flower in the appropriate colour and featuring it throughout your venue, or doing the same with candles, lights, bling or centrepiece stones. Buying one item in bulk will allow you to negotiate a discount, and still spread the love of colour!

FOOD
Blue martinis mixed a-la-ice sculpture was a sinfully delicious way to keep the colour scheme going for both eyes and taste buds, and though Lisa Marie’s dinner may have been relatively simple, she packed a punch in the extras! The judges thought the cake cutting before dinner was a nice touch – a tradition that is often missed by many a guest too busy on the dance floor. It also meant the cake could be brought back to the kitchen and served up as the moist and delicious red-velvet dessert. Finally a midnight buffet of poutine and smoked-meat sandwiches was a tasty shout-out to the French Canadians, and the fist pump finale to this bride’s festivities.

Splurge: Interactive stations are the key – colour schemed drinks mixed up with ice sculptures or dry ice, and a midnight table with a cultural flair or one of your very favourite snacks done gourmet are a guaranteed home run.

Steal: Pick your favourite, simple go-to snack and see if your venue will let you bring it in on your own – whether DIY or delivery style. You may be able to save set-up and inflated prep costs.

DRESS
While the sweetheart neck suits the trend, Lisa Marie’s trumpet style gown was truly unique, lavish with pick-ups and a couture blend of fabrics.

Splurge: Opt for a true trumpet style gown that blends complimentary layered fabrics from the bust to bodice, with a full trumpet train with plump pick-ups.

Steal: A solid fabric dress will save you costs but keep the shape, then you can play with chiffon, organza or tulle to emphasize just the base or train of the skirt.

OVERALL
To keep this party hopping, a live band really kept the energy up, and had the guests twisting to party perfection.

Splurge: Go live band all night long… well feel free to give them a little break once in a while.

Steal: Feature a friend’s band for a set, or have a musician play a few tunes before really opening up the dance floor.

Written by Four Weddings Canada

VIDEO: Watch the full episode from Episode 6 of Four Weddings Canada here!

Project Runway All Stars Recap: Episode 6

Alicia Cox — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:43:00 GMT

That was an interesting episode, was it not PRAS fans? I was just as surprised by Austin's oblivious slide into elderly socialite wear as I was by finding out which unfortunate designer went home. Let's dive in!

The designers each chose a tote bag from AngieL containing a note with a season written on it. The designers had to team up, but not work in teams, to create a sportswear garment made for a weekend getaway themed to their season. What a cumbersome set-up -- why bother with those tote bags if they have no bearing on the garments? There will be one high score and one low score and the eliminated designer will be chosen from the bottom four. Got all that?

The pairings were: Kara/Austin = Spring, Kenley/Mondo = Summer, Mila/Rami = Autumn, Jerell/Michael = Winter

The bit of workroom dramz this week came courtesy of Michael, who was accused of being inspired a little too heavily by Jerell's truthfully awesome winter coat. Michael started with a fuzzy bolero, but quickly turned to a black/grey swing coat that was awfully similar to Jerell's, belt or no belt. I was team Jerell, not only because I'm a fan of his aesthetic, but because I think he was right and Michael should have just owned up. There's nothing wrong with being inspired, but admit it!

Joanna and the majority of the designers seemed to agree with Jerell. I loved that Joanna called a team chat so that she could better gauge the situation brewing. Well done!

The runway had some high and low points as well as a snoozer or two (I'm looking at you Kenley!).

We opened with Kara and Austin doing Spring. Sometimes Kara's Aussie insouciance really appeals to me and sometimes it just comes off as rather beginner. I liked her colour palette and wondered why the judges, including perennial guest judge Cynthia Rowley, didn't seem to dig it. I don't know what happened to the Austin who did punky youth so well last week. Yes, those high-waisted khakis were well-made, but everything -- the floral print, the ruffles, the sweater set, the styling -- screamed monied octogenarian. Not surprisingly, Kara won and Austin was sent to the bottom.

Kara, left & Austin, right

Next up we have my other favourite, Mondo, and Ken...zzzzz *head hits desk.* I think Kenley is talented; she does her 40s pin-up thing consistently, her clothes are well-made and there's definitely a market for her aesthetic. This recapper is bored to tears, though, and if I see another Peter Pan collar, I'll scream. I don't know a woman over 21 who would wear such a large polka dot print on a baby blue romper. But the judges disagreed with me. AngieL said she'd wear it! Cynthia clearly didn't get Mondo's 50s rockabilly, mixed prints with pops of neon look. What?! Mondo's model looked modern and Kenley's looked like a pre-teen. I totally called that one wrong -- Kenley was deemed the winner of the Summer challenge.

Kenley, left & Mondo, right

I thought Autumn was the second weakest season after Spring. Mila had the right idea with her cape, but the fabric didn't look luxe enough. Her look, like Kara's, seemed basic to me. Rami's coat was a gorgeous colour and I appreciated that it was fashionable and comfortable. But that chartreuse, Frankenstein-stitched turtleneck was really too bad to overlook and the colour story just didn't hit the right mark (though I loved those burgundy booties with the blue). To the bottom 4 he went while Mila was the third lady to make to the top.

Rami, left & Mila, right

Winter is coming. Sorry, I love PRAS, but I'm a Game of Thrones fan, too. Winter came in the form of big swingy jackets from Michael and Jerell with the distinction being that Jerell's strong bohemian aesthetic made his outfit instantly covetable and cool. Michael's jacket was well-made, but Isaac called it when he pinpointed that Michael's leggings and heels combo wasn't classy at all. I'm glad Jerell got his validation when he was named the winner.

Michael, left & Jerell, right

The bottom 4 were quickly reduced to the bottom 2 -- Austin and Rami -- and Jerell was named the winner with Kenley (?) coming in second.

Jerell's winning look

Rami was ultimately eliminated, which I found surprising considering his strong tailoring skills and the fact that Anthony pegged Rami to win last week in his exit interview (I admit to thinking that Anthony had some inside knowledge about the winner that he was secretly trying to convey).

I spoke with Rami about what was different this time around, the judges, and working with Madonna (!) -- plus find out what question he couldn't legally answer!

Q: How did the PR experience feel different to you this time around?

Rami: I think my passion is always genuine towards my work. I always put 150% into everything that I do. I think it's important to take into consideration the very, very short time we were given for challenges. That was definitely cut in what felt like half in comparison to the original season...but that wasn't really an issue necessarily because I was able to tackle that correctly. I think there were a lot of things [this season] beyond the designers power and control, but I can't get into that unfortunately.

Q: How did you feel during judging? Did you agree with any of their comments?

Rami: Honestly, I disagreed with a lot of the judging on the other designers -- the girls were on top and the boys were on the bottom. It's a good story I guess. I feel Georgina was the fairest judge, I was very pleased with the things that she said because I feel she judged me fairly. I respect her work and admire her as a designer. It was interesting to me that my top became the main focus. I don't think my outfit was necessarily the worst. I worked hard and it's not easy to match up suede sleeves with constructed shoulder pads and suede and fabric.

I think Cynthia's review of Mondo's was ridiculous. It didn't sit well with a lot of people, including myself.

Q: Anthony said last week that he wanted you to win. Did you two become close?

Rami: I love Anthony, he was the best thing that came out of the show for me. He's an amazing guy, he's an original and he's so much more than you got to see on the show, obviously. We became really, really good friends on the show.

Q: Who are you rooting for now?

Rami: Let's see...um...ah...because of things I can't legally talk about I just won't comment on that.

Q: You filmed a pilot for a reality show -- can you tell us anything about it>

Rami: I'm currently filming a pilot, I can't yet talk about it because it's still in develpment. I can talk about the designs I made for Madonna's dancers for the Superbowl show though. It made my year. I designed the six dresses for the Roman ladies who brought Madonna on for Vogue. It was an amazing experience. It's definitely a dream come true and a validating experience as well.

We wish Rami all the luck in the world, but with Madonna under his belt and his obvious talent, I don't think he'll need it!

What did you think of Episode 6? Let's hash it out in the comments!

Watch Episode 6

Award-Winning Makeup: Celebrity Style & Makeup Artist Paul Venoit on What Goes Into Oscar-Ready Faces

Guest Blogger — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:29:00 GMT

Canadian-born Paul Venoit is an internationally acclaimed master of beauty and style, dividing his time between celebrities, fashion campaigns, and media appearances. He's glammed up faces on Look-a-Like, a show transforming ordinary people into celebrity look-a-likes, appeared on Canada's Next Top Model and can be seen on talk shows all over North America. I caught up with the busy man on his way to NYC, to talk hot makeup trends expected on this year's red carpet, February 26th.

Elana Safronsky: How do you choose a look for an event like the Oscars?

Paul Venoit: For a grand event like the Oscars one has to take into account the celebrity's personal taste: their dress for the evening, colouring and their desire to own the carpet. It takes more than liner and lipstick to sell a look. They have to feel comfortable and confident to look their personal best. When all the elements are properly aligned, you have a win!

ES: What's the most prevalent look for makeup right now? What's hot?

PV: The '20s are hot; a return to old glamour with a modern twist. Hair is loosely finger waved, lips are bold in reds and oranges or in some cases neutrals, and are paired with nude skin, flushed cheeks and defined eyes. Bring on the false lashes ladies... it's all Glamour!

ES: How long does a typical makeup job take for something like the Oscars?

PV: Typically 2-3 hours for both hair and makeup. For an event such as the Oscars, all day touch-ups are common, with artists remaining on standby to ensure the celebrity is always photo ready for the paparazzi. My job goes well beyond the initial hair and makeup application, often stretching well into the evening from the carpet through to the after parties. There is a point however when I hand over the lipstick and off they go into the night!

ES: How do you apply foundation for such high-pressure events? How to ensure it lasts, looks good in photos and face-to-face? Tricks?

PV: Freshly cleaned skin, primers and med to full coverage foundations help to ensure the makeup stays in place for the long haul. Properly setting the foundation with powder is key... no short cuts allowed!

ES: How about lipstick? How do you ensure it lasts?

PV: YSL just came out with a "lip-stain & gloss" all-in-one product that I am sure we'll be seeing a lot of. The product delivers stain and gloss and comes in a variety of shades from light neutrals to bold reds and oranges. This is one of those products you'll have to try to believe!

ES: Can you explain the phantom white powder under the eyes and on the nose phenomenon? What is that? And why haven't all makeup artists learned their lesson by now?

PV: Likely the result of someone rushing through a touch up... Although extremely unfortunate, I'm sure that makeup artist and the publicist will be more sensitive to the time allotted for touch ups moving forward.

ES: What's one makeup habit to avoid when doing a look for an event such as the Oscars? A faux pas or no-no?

PV: Using a new artist you haven't worked with before... this can be disastrous!

ES: Do men wear makeup to the Oscars? What's typical for a male look?

PV: Freshly groomed hair, eye brows, skin and nails are essential. Concealer, anti shine and a little bronzer can go a long way on the carpet for Hollywood heavy hitters like Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Everyone wants to look their personal best for the cameras, the exposure at this event is phenomenal.

ES: What's one trick for long-lasting makeup -- a trick for all occasions and seasons?

PV: Proper application is key to making your makeup last. Primers, long-lasting lip stains, liquid eye liners and waterproof mascara help to ensure makeup lasts the long run!

ES: What's your favourite red lipstick?

PV: I really like Cruella by Nars. With bold lips being so popular again this season, I suspect we'll be seeing plenty of red mouths at this year's Oscar's.

ES: I hear nude skin in? Which celebs are known for wearing the least makeup, letting their natural beauty shine?

PV: As you've heard, nude is the new black! Charlize, Angelina and Jennifer Aniston are excellent examples of how good skincare and a little lip gloss can go a long way.

ES: Whose makeup do you love, usually? Any celebs you think nail their look?

PV: JLo, hands down. Her hair/makeup and wardrobe are always on point! I taped an episode of Rachael Ray with JLo last year and not only is she the nicest lady but she has her finger on the pulse of all that is hot in fashion and beauty.

Catch up with Paul Venoit on twitter at @venoit.

Written by Elana Safronsky, Lifestyle Editor

12 Super Flattering Lipsticks to Try Now

Guest Blogger — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:08:00 GMT

While you’re never truly dressed until you’ve accessorized, nothing says polished, put together and, most of all, Valentine’s Day like a perfectly painted pout. But achieving the Holy Grail of beauty—flawless lipstick application is up there with the expertly applied winged eyeliner—can be a little tricky to achieve.

Fear not because expert help is here. I asked Grace Lee, Maybelline New York’s lead makeup artist for Canada and a 15-year beauty industry veteran, for tips and tricks for flawless lipstick application and the best lipstick shades for women of all complexions.

Step 1: Moisturize. While creamy moisturizing lipsticks do wonders for dry, chapped lips it’s best to have a nice, smooth canvas to work with. Before applying lipstick exfoliate your pout with a toothbrush and lightly apply a lip balm. Grace recommends Maybelline Baby Lips because “it softens, moisturizes and protects.”

Step 2: Apply a Lip Liner. Lipstick and fine lines around the mouth go together like oil and water. Apply a lip liner to keep your lipstick from feathering or bleeding and to “achieve precise, beautifully drawn lips,” says Grace. Trace your lips with a lip liner that matches your lipstick using short strokes.

Step 3: Apply your lipstick of choice. Fill in your lips with lipstick. Carefully. Start at the center of your upper lip and move your way to the outer corner and then swipe your bottom lip. “You can also blot with tissue and then apply another layer for staying power,” says Grace.

“There is no right or wrong when matching colour and skin tones,” says Grace. “I believe all women can wear all colours. It's a matter of comfort and style. If you feel like rocking a fuchsia lip with pale skin and red hair —I say go for it and wear it with confidence!”

While Grace does not believe in limiting women’s lipstick options based on complexions there are a few lipstick looks that she‘s feeling for Valentine’s Day.

“I do love rich berry tones on dark skins,” she says. “Olive tones look great in corals and for pale skins, pinks in varying tones look great.”

Rich Berry

Coral

Pink

Red

Read More from Septembre

Top 10 Movies to Watch on Valentine's Day

Guest Blogger — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:03:00 GMT

Whether you're spending Valentine's Day with your special someone or your best girlfriends, here are our top 10 movies to put you in a sweet mood.

The Wedding Singer
Robbie (Adam Sandler) and Julia (Drew Barrymore) develop feelings for each other even though Robbie is a cheesy wedding singer with terrible hair and Julia is engaged to someone else. This is the film that got hopeless romantics everywhere wishing that someday their beloved would serenade them over an airplane PA system.

Pretty in Pink
This 1986 brat-pack love story tells the tale Andie (Molly Ringwald) a smart, savvy girl from the wrong side of the tracks and Blane (Andrew McCarthy) a spoiled but sensitive rich guy who fall in love despite social differences. The two must choose between each other and peer pressure in this heart-warming, pink filled, John Hughes flick about teenage love.

Singles
Set against the backdrop of the Seattle alternative music scene of the 90’s, Singles follows a group of twenty-somethings as they fall in and out of love and deal with modern dating rituals. The film is worth watching just to see Matt Dillon play Cliff - a comically IQ challenged, long haired rock musician who falls for Janet, a grunge chic clad Bridget Fonda.

P.S. I Love You
Holly (Hillary Swank) is in love with Gerry (Gerard Butler) her good natured, guitar toting, Irish husband. Gerry is the perfect spouse. So perfect that when he passes away, he leaves her 10 posthumous messages intended to help her move past her pain and into a new life. This film should be creepy but it’s actually really sweet. If it doesn’t have you reaching for the tissues you might want to check your pulse.

Love Jones
When Darius Lovehall (Lorenz Tate) and Nina (Nia Long) meet at a poetry reading, it’s love at first sight. However, “The course of true love never did run smooth” and the two characters embark on a love affair full of complications. The undeniable chemistry between Darius and Nina and the swoon worthy poetry they write for each other has you rooting for this couple until the very end.

When Harry Met Sally
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal play two best friends who eventually realize they have feelings for each other. This movie is the blueprint for what we wish would happen every time we fall in love with our friends. If only real life always worked out as perfectly as this romantic comedy.

Amelie
Amelie is a wide-eyed girl from Paris who decides to help the people around her with her own unique quirky brand of “pay it forward” justice. Along the way she finds love in the form of young man with an equally idiosyncratic sensibility. It’s impossible not to fall in love with this movie that’s full of whimsy, magic & Paris!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Have you ever fallen in love with someone, had your heart broken and then wished you could have the whole incident erased from your mind? This is exactly what happens in this quirky romance that stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as oddballs who fall in love, break-up, have their memories erased, only to find their way back to each other in the end.

Annie Hall
In this Oscar winning film about opposites that attract, Woody Allen plays Alvy Singer, a neurotic New York comedian who falls in love with ditsy Annie Hall (played by Diane Keaton). Annie Hall serves up it’s share of witty one liners and a love story where life imitates art, as Keaton and Allen began a real-life relationship during the making of the film.

Roman Holiday
Audrey Hepburn is pitch perfect in this comedy about a sheltered princess who goes AWOL from her royal duties while visiting Rome and falls for an American journalist played by a dapper Gregory Peck. This 1950’s fairytale brings about daydreams of whizzing around the streets of Rome on a moped with your arms wrapped around a handsome stranger.

Written by: Simone Paget

Photo credit: IMDb

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Episode 18 Recap

Guest Blogger — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:55:00 GMT

Hawaii Part 2 – Male Ducks are Prettier than Women Ducks

The sun is shining, one-liners are zinging and the drama is so blinding it threatens to give us sunstroke as the Housewives spend another episode in Lanai, Hawaii.

Mauricio’s birthday extravaganza continues and seems to mainly revolve around Kim-related strife.

I’d have to say that Brandi and Lisa emerge as the shining stars of this episode. While the others pout and fuss and snipe, Brandi and Lisa enjoy raunchy jokes and wacky hijinx. They’re oodles more fun to hang out with than Kyle and Kim–no doubt about it.

So, since this entire episode revolves around Kim, her not-so-pleasant boyfriend Ken, and the way Kyle reacts to the situation… I thought I’d give you the basic breakdown and–while I’m doing it–prove that Lisa and Brandi are the fun ones.

Kim and Ken Drama

Kim and Ken finally show up–36 hours late–and check into a room that is OF COURSE next to Kim’s judgmental sister Kyle.

“People are late sometimes, people miss plans. It happens,” shrugs Kim.

“The male ducks are prettier than the women ducks,” says Kim. Um, no. I have no idea what that has to do with anything. But it is a real quote.

Kim and Ken go to dinner with the gang and are very evasive as to why they missed their planes. At first there were stories that Kim forgot her license, couldn’t find her passport, and then couldn’t find her keys. Then, they decide to tell everyone that Ken had to work. Since he’s retired, that turns out to be a stupid story.

Mauricio (still super hot in case you were wondering) makes a speech about how, on his birthday, he’s reflecting on how it’s so important to be “true” and honest. It’s a not-so-subtle dig at Kim.

He tries to get Kim to “fess up” to the real reason she and Ken missed their flights.

“There’s nothing to fess up to Maurice,” says Kim, who gets her brother-in-law’s name totally wrong.

Kyle cries, again. The lady needs to quit it with the waterworks.

Next Day: the gang waits for Ken and Kim. They’re all supposed to hop on a boat and go snorkelling, but the crazy lovebirds are nowhere to be found.

Lisa and Kyle track them down in their hotel room and wake them up. Ken mumbles something about missing the alarm. Long story short? The boat takes off without Kim and Ken.

Kim and Ken eat shrimp while the others snorkel and Kim says the words “everything happens for a reason” about 15 times (yeah, I don’t know what that means either).

Super awkward moment alert!! Kim and Ken make their way to dinner with everyone. Paul and Adrienne talk to Kim privately as Ken walks behind them and tries to pretend–for her sake–that they like Ken. Ken misreads the situation and huffs over. Paul says “we were just talking about you.”

“I know you are and I don’t like it,” complains Ken, who gets all aggressive. Adrienne makes a hilarious “this guy is a loser” face at the camera. Awwwwwwwkwaaaaaaaard.

At dinner, Kyle starts harping at Kim about missing flights again.

Eventually, Kim and Ken leave in a huff. Kyle cries. Happy birthday Mauricio!

Why Lisa and Brandi Are Awesome

Lisa keeps fretting that she or Kyle might overhear or accidentally see Ken and Kim “humping” (I love that she uses the word “humping”).

When Lisa tries to help Kyle wake up Ken and Kim, she gets her butt stuck on the balcony. It’s funny.

Brandi is the voice of reason. Need proof? “I suspect there’s some sort of substance abuse going on,” she says of Kim (No. Kidding). She also says “It’s about time Kyle called her out on her s***,” which is also true.

Oh–and Lisa and Brandi make some light-hearted naughty jokes and laugh and enjoy themselves while everyone else pouts. That alone makes them super fun.

I think Lisa says it best with this line: “I didn’t want to like Brandi; I gave it my best shot. For some reason I find her very funny.”

In Other News…

Taylor cries to Dana about the end of her marriage.

Camille gets one line in the whole episode: “I’m starving, I didn’t eat lunch on the boat.”

Paul and Adrienne hold hands, which apparently they don’t do very often.

Watch episode 18 in our video centre now

Four Weddings Canada: Recreate The Winning Wedding - Episode 6

Beach Babe — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:39:00 GMT

Julia’s DIY wedding brought out big scores by calling in big favours and saving big bucks – taking the win in this episode. Here’s how you can recreate her day, tailored to your own budget.

VENUE
There was no banquet hall for this bride - Julia’s out of the ordinary venue was a huge clincher in securing her number one spot. A white mansion with regal pillars and filled with antique delights set a charming base tone that was a hit with all the judges.

Splurge: Book a roomy estate with lots of space, already furnished with grand time pieces. To really splurge have flower arrangements strategically placed and incorporate your colour scheme in fabrics – like accenting throw pillows, or find complimentary antique frames to showcase your menu and seating arrangements.

Steal: Instead of booking an entire estate, do things on a smaller scale with only a room or two. Leaving the rest of the venue open to other functions will mean that your sharing the cost for running the venue for the day. Accent the space with do-it-yourself décor – like votive candles and glass bowls, accented with ribbons and stones; which can be put together by scavenging your local dollar store.

FOOD
The roast beef was all the rage at Julia’s wedding – prepared specially by her very own Cowboy buddy; here’s how to have your guests tippin’ their hats to you.

Splurge: Forget the classic chicken or beef selection and have a caterer re-create or duplicate one of your favourite recipes for a signature-wedding dish. Be particular about ingredients and side dishes and definitely ask for a taste test. Your guests will appreciate a savoury dish made especially for the day with a personal touch and flavour!

Steal: In true Julia style, call in the recruits and favours and have your cooking savvy friends or fam prepare their specialty dishes for your guests’ enjoyment. Don’t forget about dessert – both an apple pie and cake DIY were the sweet finale at Julia’s wedding, pleasing to both taste buds and bank statements.

DRESS
Julia’s dress was big and beautiful, with an eye-catching lace back that left a daring hint of exposed skin that had our judges impressed and in awe.

Splurge: Go for a princess gown with all the trimmings – a full taffeta silk skirt, with playful bustles and a crystal-beaded, lace up corset top. For that daring peek-a-boo back, have a tailor bring in the back so that you have a wider gap to lace; also ask for loopholes that are spaced further apart, which will spread open up the space between laces.

Steal: To cheat Julia’s exposed back – skip the extra tailoring and go down a size! Choosing a smaller size will leave more of your back exposed as the laces stretch across to tie up the gown – just don’t go so small that the lace is taught enough to dig into your skin; and while most gowns come with a silk backing to go behind the lace, skip it and flaunt that sexy spine!

OVERALL
In a unanimous vote, the best lone detail at Julia’s wedding was the photo slideshow of each and every guest. Here’s how to share your spotlight with your friends, in a way friendly to any budget.

Splurge: Go all in with a symphony of photos and videos of all your guests, professionally edited with fancy transitions and some of your favourite tunes. Choose a DJ, MC, or company that will bring in a big screen and HD projector, and who know how to set it all up and incorporate it into the evening’s festivities; so that the whole show goes off without missing a beat.

Save: Forgo the tech and incorporate your fave photos of your guests into your décor and centerpieces. Or if you already have a digital frame, upload those same pics and leave it near the guestbook or bar for all to enjoy. Even on the smaller scale, incorporating your friends and family into the décor is a priceless, personal touch that will make them feel welcome and honoured to share your special day.

Written by Four Weddings Canada

VIDEO: Watch the full episode from Episode 6 of Four Weddings Canada here!

Income Tax Fun Time: 5 Steps to Reducing Tax Stress

Guest Blogger — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:44:00 GMT

I think it's safe to say that most people don't enjoy filing their personal income tax return.

Unless you're an accountant or a mathlete, the experience of doing your taxes is unlikely to be a laugh riot. And if you're organizationally-challenged, it can be downright stressful: You think you're going to be on the ball this time, but then once again, you're madly scrambling through piles of unfiled papers to find slips and receipts the night before the deadline, hoping you don't get majorly dinged.

It is possible, however, to get ahead of the game and manage your income tax anxiety.

First things first: remember April 30th -- that's the last day for filing a personal tax return. If you or your spouse is self-employed, you have until June 15th. (But note, if you end up owing money to the government, you still have to pay by April 30th.)

Now that you've put a big, red circle around that date, get yourself a nice, sturdy file folder, label it "Taxes - 2012" and start getting your tax act together.

1. Decide How You're Going to File

There are three basic options when it comes to filing your tax return. You can do it yourself by using tax preparation software to guide you through the process. TurboTax or Ufile are popular options (Turbotax Standard runs for $17.99, UFile Online is $15.95), but you can also use free tax software like UDoTaxes or StudioTax. If you're not confident you can handle it yourself, you can hire a tax preparer (you'll see H&R Block set up in malls at this time of year). This kind of service tends to be low cost, but it can also be risky -- the people doing your taxes are not accountants, and their knowledge and experience will vary. Your third choice is to hire an accountant to do your taxes, which might be particularly useful if you are self-employed or have a lot of complex investments (you high-roller, you).

2. Decide Whether To Make an RRSP Contribution

Unless you are one of those responsible types who contributes a little to their RRSP each month, now is the time to decide if you're going to really max out on one. You've got until February 29th if you want it to count on your 2011 tax return. Since RRSP contributions are tax-deductible, it can save you a bundle (if you've got the dough to buy one). As well, RRSPs grow in a tax-sheltered environment, which allows you to grow your retirement fund without paying tax on that income every year. However, more and more Canadians are choosing to put their money in Tax-Free Savings Accounts, so it might be worth doing a little research before handing over your hard-earned cash (More on the pros and cons of RRSPs next week).

3. Get Your Income Slips Together

If you are employed by a company, you should be getting your T4 by the end of this month. Beyond that, there are a host of different types of slips you may be receiving, representing different types of income (from investment income to employment insurance to child tax benefits). Make sure you've got them all well in advance of the file deadline, so you're not scrambling at the last minute. You'll also need your notice of assessment, which states what your RRSP contribution limit is. Remember ALL your income, especially if you are self-employed and don't have a T4 to add it all up for you.

4. Remember Your Deductions

If you donated to charitable organizations, you should be receiving official receipts in the mail imminently, but follow up if they are slow in coming. If you are self-employed, there are a host of expenses you can deduct. If you work from home, you might be able to claim a portion of your bills, like utilities, phone, property taxes, even renovations. If you use your own car for work, you can claim things like gas, repairs and insurance. If you travel for work, you can claim things like meals, flights, car rentals and other travel expenses. One neat deduction you might not know about: You can get a Tax Credit for Public Transit by keeping your transit passes.

5. Don't Be Late!

The penalty for not filing on time is 5 per cent of the amount owed plus 1 per cent for each month the payment is late. Get on top of your tax situation right now, you do not want to pay the feds any more than you have to.

Written by Shelley White

More by Shelly White:

Should You Sell Your Gold for Money?

Deep in Debt? Here's How To Get Out

Coping with Bills: A Road Map to Recovery

Are You in Financial Trouble?

What to Wear On Valentine's Day

Guest Blogger — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:30:00 GMT

I’m kinda in love with Valentine’s Day. There’s something about the holiday that makes my normally un-romantic heart grow a few sizes. But, not the kitsch-y, let’s-all-wear-red-and-pink-and-hearts Valentine’s Day mind you, the let’s-celebrate-love-and-the-people-we-love Valentine’s Day.

Between checking smartphones, emails and schedules it gets very difficult to find the time (and the money) to truly celebrate love and Valentine’s Day is the perfect reminder to do so. No matter what plans or reservations you’ve made—whether you’ll be having a singles night out with friends, having a romantic dinner at a luxurious restaurant or staying in for a candlelit dinner—Slice has got the outfit for you.

Romantic Night Out on the Town
Skip the cliché red dress and sizzle in a silky abstract, floral print. Add some texture with suede shoes and a cobalt, croc-embossed envelope clutch.

Singles Night Out
Give ladylike lace a bit of an edge with a pair of snakeskin platform pumps and replace saccharine pink with a blush-coloured blouse for an outfit that is perfect for celebrating BFF-dom.

Candlelight Dinner In
Just because you won’t be hitting the town for Valentine’s Day, it doesn’t mean you should skimp on style! Stay comfy in a figure-hugging jersey skirt with a cozy, textured sweater, stack on the bangles and a spherical necklace, and then get ready to enjoy a delicious homemade meal from the heart.

Read More from Septembre

Project Runway All Stars Recap: Episode 5

Alicia Cox — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:18:00 GMT

Issac, Georgina, Angela and guest judge Sean Avery of the NY Rangers

Episode 5 was bittersweet for this PR fan. I loved the streetwear challenge because the designers got to have a little fun outdoors and show off their personalities as well as their street stylin', but one of my favourite designers ever was voted off. *sad face*

The designers had to raid Union Square to find a muse -- and get that muse to give them the clothing off their back, with a little help from $150. Then, they had to create a street-inspired outfit using 50% of the fabric they found. Or was it that 50% of their look had to be inspired by the muse? I wasn't the only one confused about the challenge rules, as you'll see from my exit interview below.

My favourite moment came when Anthony got the jean shorts of that rather attractive fellow and then Austin swooped in and got his number! Smooth, Mr. Scarlett, very smooth.

Fave moment #2? Mondo's "Mondo" shirt!

While I loved Jerell's neck piece, the rest of the outfit was pretty sparse and I was certain he was heading home, especially because he had more air time this week. When he said he was "ready to win" it was like spying a reality TV Chekhov's gun -- if you say you're ready to win in the first act, you're going home at the end. And wouldn't you know it, he fell to the bottom 3 for the first time.

The runway opened with Michael's barely-there romper. Really Michael? I thought he might be sent home as well -- which would be shocking after his back to back wins. The judges also put him in the bottom 3 for the first time.

Anthony's glam jumpsuit and turban (LOVE a turban) didn't seem too reflective of his hippie-dippie muse and I couldn't see where he used that great print from her dress besides the bag. I was confused whether or not the judges liked his look because they gave him what sounded like positive feedback, right? So when he was called, I wasn't sure if he was top or bottom. Sadly, Anthony was in the bottom and -- GASP -- sent home for not fulfilling the challenge rules.

Austin's punky muse would definitely been pleased with his gothic glam look. The jacket was a bit busy with all the zippers and embellishments, but it was streetwear without sacrificing his love of glamour. To the top 3!

I wasn't a fan of Rami's outfit, but to the top 3 he went as well. Sure it was well made, but it seemed too mature and buttoned up for streetwear.

I was rooting for a Mondo victory after his lovely cantaloupe-inspired caftan from last week and when his model came down the runway, it seemed like a clear winner. That jacket was amazing, his model looked cool, it was my favourite outfit of the season so far. And the judges agreed! Mondo = Winner.

Rami

Austin

Mondo -- the winner!

Jerell

Michael

Anthony, who will be missed

Although I was sad to see him go, it was a lot of fun speaking with Anthony during his exit interview. He was so positive and upbeat and just like he is on the show. Here's what he had to say about the why he joined the All Stars cast, the confusing challenge, and who he's rooting for now.

Q:Why did you come back?

Anthony: I was working on Single Ladies on VH1 and I was making good money and I was like, I'm going to take the summer off, but when [Project Runway All Stars] called, I thought why not? I didn't have an agenda, I wasn't sacrificing my life. I was just going to have a good time and enjoy myself. I even wrote a prayer down going into it and I read the prayer after: I never asking about winning.

Q: What were you thinking when you learned about the challenge?

Anthony:I wasn't nervous about asking people for things, I think that I was more nervous that I wouldn't get things that would be conducive for the design process. I wasn't nervous or apprehensive about talking to people because clearly I love to do that.

Q: Do you think you were taking a risk not using as much fabric?

Anthony: To be perfectly honest with you, I know people don't see this through the power of editing, but that challenge changed so many times, it was so inconsistent. At the beginning it was 50% of your look [had to be inspired by your muse], then on the runway it turned into you need to use 50% of your fabric, and then Joanna Coles says this is designing streetwear clothing, when you [weren't] designing streetwear clothing, you were just supposed to be inspired by the clothes you got from people on the street.

To be perfectly honest, when all the girls left the runway, it was like the writing is on the wall. I guess it was a perfect TV moment, how convenient that all the girls would be safe at that moment. I live in the world in that moment and I'm kind of realistic about the fact that it's a TV show. Once all the girls left the runway, I mentally checked out. After listening to what they had to say, I was kind of like, Child, whatever. I'm glad that I got out when I did.

Q: Do you think you deserved to go home?

Anthony: I think that the foundation of the show is fashion design, beyone anything at the end of the day it was a fashion design challenge. There could have been someone else who could have been eliminated. I don't think what Michael Costello designed was amazing. All I know is watching with my friends, what they thought. But if you ask Jerell's friends or Michael's friends, they would say that I deserved to go home.

Q:Who are you rooting for now?

Anthony:If I had to name someone, I would say Rami. He was one of the most genuine people and he actually was a fighter. He was putting the time and the work in, not just coasting by, he definitely deserves to win.

Watch Episode 5

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A LUX-urious afternoon

Guest Blogger — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:05:00 GMT

Typing away, I can't help but admire my nails. Typically, I go polish-less with my nails trimmed right to the tip of my finger. But not lately.

You see, I was lucky enough to be pampered at LUX Spa's new downtown location and now my hands look and feel great! This minimalist mani/pedi retreat is mere steps away from Toronto's Eaton Centre, making it a natural choice for a pre, or post shopping treat.

The lovely ladies at Lux were so gentle and friendly it is no wonder they were Voted Canada's Best Mani and Pedi. And with a wide range of services from a basic polish change to exclusive packages (like rescue me-LUX - a series of treatments for clients who require extra care) your greatest challenge will be choosing the right shade.

Speaking of choosing, with dozens of colour selections I happily perused the shelves selecting and re-selecting to my hearts desire. In the end, I'm happy to report that my pedi colour garnered several compliments... if only it were peep toe season!

And here's an insider tip:

Upgrade your services on a Tuesday to a hydra-LUX special and save $20 on an ultra soothing paraffin treatment. Your hands and feet will thank you.

Written By: Joy D'Souza

Getting My Toes Did: Am I Now Less of a Man?

Guest Blogger — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:45:00 GMT

For my birthday last year, my wife gave me a wonderful assortment of thoughtful gifts. She also gave me a gift certificate for a pedicure at a fancy spa.

"Oh, this must have gotten in here by mistake," I said. She said it was no mistake. It was for a Man-Pedi. She was clearly trying to tell me something.

While I never let my toenails grow long (GAH!), I also never really had much of a master vision for them. My wife is a big proponent of flip-flops, something I’ve never really embraced. No one should have to see my toes, including me. In fact, just writing about my own feet right now is kind of grossing me out. I’m debating scuttling this whole thing and just writing something else about the Real Housewives of Atlanta (so, Kim married that Falcon, huh?).

One day my wife took a look at my feet and offered to "clean them up" for me. Now, this was a thoughtful, selfless thing to do. Naturally, I flipped out and tried to retract my feet into my legs. "No!" I yelped. "If anyone is touching my feet, I will have to be paying them and apologizing the entire time."

Little did I know an idea was born.

It took about eight months, but we finally booked a day at the spa. We were both going to be getting pedicures. I remembered all the fun times I had with my guy friends, hanging out, laughing, tossing the ol’ f-ball around, telling dirty jokes.

I took all of those memories and put them in the proverbial sack and tossed them in the proverbial river, because sharing the latest issue of Country Living magazine with my wife while someone primps my toes pretty much cancels all that out. It didn’t help that the footwear provided to pad around the spa were, yes, flip-flops.

I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t know what was actually involved in a pedicure. I talked to someone (a woman) about it and she described some sort of process by which dead skin was planed off heels. "It’s amazing," she said. "It looks like slices of cheese."

Horrific.

While I’m sure this will come as little surprise to the sophisticated Slice.ca reader, the actual process was much less traumatic (the deli-slice procedure is frowned-upon in the industry). There was much foot-soaking, much pumice-ing, much lotion-ing. My lady was all business and totally unfazed by my feet, reassuring me that lots of men come in, often with wives, and that every year they see more and more. At one point a tray of polishes were produced, and I got slightly worried that’d I’d have to make a choice between Candy Pink or Tangerine Tango (it was for my wife).

When all was said and done, my feet had never looked better. In lieu of polish, I got to plunge my feet into bags of hot paraffin wax, which if you’ve never done, I highly recommend. The downside was that I am, and will forever remain, horrifically ticklish. Much of the session was spent with me squirming and trying to stifle laughter/screams while my pedicurist showed no mercy.

I’m not sure how often I’m going to get a pedicure, but it was a (mostly) relaxing, oddly fascinating experience. Still not crazy about flip-flops, though.

*Editor's note: you're a total chick now Beer. Welcome.

Paul Beer is a Toronto writer, actor and comedian.You can follow him on twitter @pauldanielbeer.

Read More from Paul

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Episode 17 Recap

Guest Blogger — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:10:00 GMT

Dear Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,

I think you should hire me as your spunky sidekick. No, I’m not botoxed, or rich, or married to someone who lives in Beverly Hills, and I’m definitely not a housewife. But, I could… I don’t know, maybe carry your sunscreen when it seems too heavy. It’s not that I’m into the crazy drama, it’s just that your vacation spots look niiiiiiiiiice and I’d like to enjoy the FatBurger burger stand you bring to your backyard bashes. Those fries look good.

And now, down to business:

This week we are exposed to the second half of Kyle’s White Party and the first half of Mauricio’s bday party in Hawaii (sidenote: good lord he’s a handsome man).

White Party
Kyle is weepy about kicking Russell and Taylor out of her bash, due to Russell’s litigious email to Camille.

Taylor and Russell have an incredibly awkward limo ride home.

Someone is wearing a beige cardigan to Kyle’s White Party! The horror!

There’s a FatBurger stand at the party (which I mentioned earlier). Paul is very excited about the fries.

Kim and Ken are… bleeeeeeeeech. All over each other. Blech. It’s embarrassing. Kim is oblivious to the fact they look ridiculous. “We take over the floor!” she says proudly. Yes honey, but not in a good way.

Hawaii
Everyone goes to Hawaii for Mauricio’s birthday party. Everyone but Russell and Taylor, who are uninvited of course.

Kim misses her flight because her license is expired, she can’t find her keys and she can’t find her passport… or something along those lines.

Brandi is afraid of flying and so she overdoes it on the cocktails and Xanax and slurs her way through the flight. “I used to roofie myself. It was awesome. I wish I could still do that but it’s against the law,” she says.

Everyone arrives at the Four Seasons and it’s gorgeous. I want to go there. I’d like to live there.

Drunken Brandi hangs off Lisa’s Ken who is epically pleased about the attention.

“Bloody hell, I’m going to have to put out tonight,” sighs Lisa.

The next morning everyone hangs out at the pool and beach. Brandi has the smallest bikini in the world and an undeniably awesome body. It makes me sad I just ate a bunch of Cheesies.

Bam! The most dramatic moment of the episode arrives! Lisa and Kyle take a call from Taylor who has phoned to say she and Russell are done… for good. He’s moving out and she’s happy about it.

Next week we get more Hawaii and more Kim drama. Can’t wait!

*Highlight of the week: Brandi apparently says Kim’s Ken looks like a “drunken bull mastiff.” No, I don’t know what it means but still, heh.

Watch Episode 17 in our video centre now!