Canadian Living February 2013

When it comes to matters of the heart, most of us automatically turn to our girlfriends, our BFFs and perhaps even our colleagues. Some of us seek out our moms and aunts. (After all, they’ve been through all this before, right?) Personally, I rarely turn to the younger set. But that is exactly what I did when a group of Grade 9 students came to the Canadian Living office as part of Take Our Kids to Work Day. We were in the midst of planning our February issue and I had Valentine’s Day on my mind, so I took a leap of faith and asked a handful of youth – girls and boys – for their thoughts on love and romance. They certainly put to rest any of my misconceptions about…

MY PET Sabre, age 7 WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HIM: Since the first day I moved here from Germany last March, Sabre has made sure that my stay in Canada has never been too stressful or exhausting. Sabre is not my own – he belongs to the family I work for as a nanny – but I fell in love with him immediately. He is the first one to greet me in the morning and he always wants to cuddle. Whenever I feel tired, he is there to cheer me up. It is always fun to take him outside, whether we go for a walk or play in the backyard. –Anni Bliss, Prince George, B.C. “ARE YOUR MAGAZINES BPA-FREE?” –@DavidSuzukiQoG We’re happy to say that the pages of Canadian Living don’t contain BPA! You can flip…

TRENDSPOTTING: RED MY LIPS Every season sees a new take on the red lip. This time around, it’s all about a not-so-precise application: Edges are a bit blurred and the formulas are richer in pigment, meaning less shine and more intensity. 1 | MAYBELLINE NEW YORK NEW COLOR SENSATIONAL VIVID LIPCOLOR IN ON FIRE RED, 4.2 G, $10, SHOPPERSDRUGMART.CA. 2 | CHANEL ROUGE ALLURE LIPSTICK IN PALPITANTE, 3.5 G, $40, HOLTRENFREW.COM. 3 | RIMMEL LONDON LASTING FINISH BY KATE IN 11, 4 G, $8, SHOPPERSDRUGMART.CA. 4 | M.A.C LIPSTICK IN RUBY WOO, 3 G, $18, MACCOSMETICS.COM. 5 | BURBERRY LIP VELVET LONG WEAR LIPSTICK IN PINK AZALEA, 3.5 G, $36, HOLTRENFREW.COM. 6 | DIOR DIORRIFIC LONG-WEAR TRUE COLOR LIPSTICK IN MARILYN, 3.5 G, $36, HOLTRENFREW.COM. 7 | YVES ROCHER HIGH CONCENTRATION MOISTURIZING…

QUARTZ CRYSTAL SPA Trump International Hotel and Tower, 325 Bay St., Toronto, quartzcrystalspa.com. To call this stunning space luxurious would be an understatement. Every service under the sun is available here: hair colouring, spray tans, makeup application and more. Couples’ massages (50 minutes, from $300 per couple) come complete with Champagne, chocolate from the famous Chocolate Lab at the neighbouring Stock restaurant and whatever drinks your hearts desire (the spa is fully licensed). As well, the decor is so luxe, you’ll feel like you’re in Hollywood instead of Toronto. SPIRIT SPA 5150 Salter St., Ste. 200, Halifax, spiritspa.ca. February is devoted to lovebirds at this sweet East Coast spot that spans more than 6,500 square feet. Spirit Spa is a pioneer in the world of organic spas (it has been using organic beauty products since…

OFF-FIGURE STYLING BY SANDY HARR IS/FORD ARTISTS HAIR AND MAKEUP BY OLIVIA COLACCI/SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL/M.A.C COSMETI CS/PLUTINO GROUP BODY-CONSCIOUS DRESSES, short skirts and plunging necklines used to be dubbed sexy, but not anymore! The new sexy is all about dressing with confidence, individuality and, most important, clothes that make you look and feel like a goddess. We show you which pieces can add the most sex appeal and how they can work in your wardrobe. BRINGING SEXY BACK Forget the plunging neckline: An exposed back looks seductive and chic in this long-sleeved little black dress. DRESS, $60, HM.COM/CA. PEARL NECKLACE, ANNTAYLOR.COM. EARRINGS AND RINGS, SIMPLYYOU.COM. CASUAL ENCOUNTER Looking to heat things up with your everyday casual wear? It’s simple: Wear underwear as outerwear by teaming up a camisole with a gauzy cardigan in a soft hue. The…

Why We Love Sweet Potatoes 1. They’re high in vitamin A. Sweet potatoes are the best food source of vitamin A. They contain more than four times your daily requirement in a one-cup serving. The vitamin exists in a form called beta-carotene, which is best absorbed by the body when paired with a source of fat. So go ahead and add a dab of butter or dash of olive oil to the vegetable. 2. Boiled sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index (GI). That means they don’t raise blood sugar levels as much as white potatoes. Low-GI foods are digested and absorbed more slowly by the body, which prevents the sudden rise in blood sugar and insulin levels. Sweet potatoes, with a GI of 44, are a great option for people with…