Canadian Living April 2014

APRIL HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVOURITE MONTH! I love organizing our neighbourhood Easter egg hunt, I enjoy watching the early crocuses bloom and I swoon every time I inhale the fresh smell of soil from my garden. Finally, we’re all back outside after hibernating all winter! Most of my weekends this month will be spent at the local park, where my nineyear-old son plays ball hockey. While the kids play, the parents get a chance to chat, and new friendships are made every season. After the game, we all walk to the farmer’s market at the north end of the park to enjoy delicious pastries and cups of organic, hand-roasted coffee. While the adults peruse the produce, the kids kick soccer balls, wrestle and play tag. It’s idyllic. Being part…

DRAGONS’ DEN STAR AND ENTREPRENEUR ARLENE DICKINSON KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A GOOD IDEA GREAT. WHERE DO GOOD IDEAS COME FROM? Many people assume they come solely from “creative types”—that they require an exclusive out-of-the-box kind of thinking. But the reality is that good ideas can and do come from anyone. A bright idea tends to come as an “aha!” moment, out of the blue when you’re going about your daily tasks. A good idea makes people stop and say, “That makes sense and I see how it can work” or, even better, “It’s elegantly simple and so obvious.” I’ve heard good ideas delivered with hesitation, others with unbridled enthusiasm. How they are delivered is important and, when it comes to looking for investors, often critical. Not everyone is able to…

When Miriam Toews wrote A Complicated Kindness, she invited us into the Mennonite town of her childhood, and we loved it. This time around, the award-winning Winnipeg author shares something even closer to her heart. In All My Puny Sorrows (Knopf Canada, $29.95), she explores the enduring love of two sisters in the midst of a hopeless struggle: Elfrieda intensely wants to die, while Yoli desperately wants to keep her in this world. Just a few years ago, Toews’s own sister committed suicide, as did her father several years before that. But the heartbreak in her life hasn’t overtaken her, or her novel. It’s the hilarious moments of humanity her characters share and the transcendental questions they provoke that really shine. We spoke to Toews about the novel. What made you…

MAKING WAVES This past year, Canadians gained a new appreciation for our most precious resource: water. Watermark, a film directed by Canadians Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky, artfully examines the myriad ways we’re connected to our waterways. A stunning visual experience, it won Best Canadian Film from the Toronto Film Critics Association in January for portraying the epic effect water has on our lives. It shows how the lifeblood of our Earth is intricately tied to health, industry, culture and spirituality. The film juxtaposes the everyday and the existential, the pristine and the polluted, in a way that will make you stop and think every time you turn on the tap. Planetary Progress Report On April 22, we celebrate Earth Day, an event that has been observed for more than four decades.…

WHETHER YOU’RE A MAKEUP MINIMALIST OR A BEAUTY THRILL SEEKER, THIS SPRING IS ALL ABOUT PLAYFUL, PRETTY STATEMENTS. WE DARE YOU TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. Essie Nail Polish in Minty Candy Apple, $10, essie.com. L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Nail Polish in Sweet Lilac, $7, lorealparis.ca. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color in Chartreuse Chase, $5, shoppersdrugmart.com. CND Vinylux Weekly Polish in Mint Convertible, $12, tradesecrets.ca. CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Lav-endure, $8.50, covergirl.ca. CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Pinkfinity, $8.50, covergirl.ca. M.A.C Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Gesso, $18, maccosmetics.com. Essie Nail Polish in Blanc, $10, essie.com. Nars Larger Than Life Eyeliner Pencil in Santa Monica Blvd, $28, narscosmetics.ca. “The cool thing about white is that it can be worn year-round. White has an attitude. It’s young and edgy.” —TOM BACHIK, GLOBAL NAIL EXPERT FOR L’ORÉAL PARIS Sonia Kashuk…

Looking to get in step with the style set? Try orange lips. “Orange lipstick has become so popular,” says Caitlin Callahan, senior makeup artist for M.A.C Cosmetics. “Italian women are wearing it. In Russia and Brazil, it’s the number one colour.” Since the best orange lips pack a huge punch, think of the look as a style statement, like a bright necklace or pair of shoes. “People are going to comment. You’ve got to be ready to show it off,” says Callahan. The vivid hue is perfect for the woman looking to get noticed, but it can also be toned down for just a subtle sunrise tint. — Andrea Karr 1. BEGINNER Does the thought of orange lips intimidate you? Start small with a tinted balm for minimal colour, or a lipstick-gloss…