Canadian Living April 2013

From the letters and emails I’ve received from readers over the years, I know that many of you find change daunting – that making a fresh start sometimes seems like an insurmountable challenge. But a fresh start doesn’t always require a momentous shift in your life. Sometimes just a little change here and there can lead to a new outlook and make you feel better all around. And I’m living proof that that’s true. Take a look at the pictures of me on the left: Over the years, a new haircut or a different colour has given me an instant boost in confidence and left me feeling energized for days, even weeks. When my children left home, I found myself loafing around the house like a lost puppy, so I simply…

BLOG TALK In response to the post “Take a Healthy Pledge and Win!” on The Health & Wellness Blog: “I pledge to grow and eat my own vegetables in the summer so I can keep active by working in the garden, and can eat fresh and healthy food every day. I hope that I will save on gas, time and money because I will be going to the grocery store less often.”– Irene “I pledge to get off the bus one stop earlier than usual to get some extra exercise into my day! It’s quick and easy, and will help me get a daily walk into my routine.”– Stephanie Warthe “I pledge to set up more activities for the whole family to keep active, like family walks, hikes and building snowmen. It’s a great…

FOR ITTY-BITTY LASHES This unique brush is jam-packed with different lengths of bristles, ensuring it reaches even the tiniest hairs with ease. MAYBELLINE NEW YORK THE ROCKET BY VOLUM’ EXPRESS, $9.50, SHOPPERSDRUGMART.CA. FOR SPARSE LASHES With a turn of the cap, this brush becomes super charged, delivering a thickening formula onto every last lash. MARCELLE TWIST PUSH-UP MASCARA, $13.50, MARCELLE.COM. FOR PALE LASHES To get the deepest, darkest colour – and hard-core volume – this richly pigmented mascara relies on volcanic soil. KORRES VOLCANIC MINERALS VOLUMIZING MASCARA, $26, SEPHORA.CA. FOR STRAIGHT LASHES The lash-hugging brush separates, lengthens and curls, leaving no lash behind. L’ORÉAL PARIS TELESCOPIC SHOCKING EXTENSIONS MASCARA, $13, LOREALPARIS.CA. WINDOW SHOPPING MASCARA MADNESS Raise your batting average with the perfect mascara: We’ve gone ahead and done the work of finding it for you. Whether you’re looking for volume, length, curl or…

THE MUST-HAVE PIECE: FITTED STRIPED DRESS Graphic stripes starred on the Marc Jacobs, Moschino and Christian Dior runways. We saw stripes of all sizes, colours and styles, from show-stopping black-and-white gowns at Oscar de la Renta to his-and-hers striped sweaters at Michael Kors. HOW TO WEAR: For major impact, choose a body-conscious bandage style with chunky horizontal stripes. To make it office appropriate, top it off with a fitted blazer. THE MUST-HAVE PIECE: CHROMED-OUT JEANS Shimmering fabrics in gold, silver and bronze finishes were impossible to ignore during the spring/summer shows. The message: Don’t save metallics for after dark; work them into your everyday ensembles. HOW TO WEAR: To pack a punch without looking over the top, pair metallic-finished jeans with a navy blazer and a slouchy grey top. THE MUST-HAVE PIECE: PENCIL SKIRT Embrace the feminine,…

WHAT SHE WANTED As a mother of three children, Kayley Gravelle, 25, doesn’t have much time for herself – except when she’s working out. While her colleagues are grabbing their lunches, Kayley hits the treadmill or elliptical and gets super sweaty. It is staying committed to that sacred hour of exercise that has helped her drop her baby weight (77 pounds) for good. “That way I can enjoy the night with my three kids,” says the North Bay, Ont., native. In between bathing the kids, cooking dinner and making sure everyone brushes their teeth, there’s little time for her to steal a moment away. This Nipissing University secretary hasn’t cut or coloured her hair since before she had her first child, so for the past six years, her naturally dark blond hair…

Why We Love Tofu 1. It’s less expensive and more heart-healthy than meat. Tofu can help you stretch your budget. Since firm tofu has a meaty consistency, it can be used alongside or instead of meat in soup, chili, stew, burgers, meatballs and more. Plus, replacing red meat with tofu helps cut down your intake of saturated fat. 2. It contains bone-building calcium. If your diet lacks dairy, choosing tofu is a great way to get some of the calcium your body needs. And studies show that your body absorbs calcium from tofu just as well as it does from milk. Just make sure to choose a brand that lists calcium sulphate or calcium chloride as an ingredient. 3. It’s versatile. Because tofu is flavourless, it can be added to any dish to…