Canadian Living February 2015

Back when my eldest was still in kindergarten, a colleague of mine commented, “You know, I think kids are nicer now than when we were growing up.” His comment rang true as I recalled the heartwarming scenes I’d witnessed at day-care pickup of little ones going out of their way to include classmates in their games and putting arms around friends who were hurt or upset. Now, it turns out, there are statistics to back up my colleague’s inkling about modern kids and empathy. “Nineteen years ago, Canadian kids were among the least likely to volunteer,” said social activist Marc Kielburger during a recent visit to Canadian Living headquarters. “Today, they are the most likely. Within a single generation, we’ve seen a complete turnaround.” It can’t be a coincidence that Marc and…

WHEN A DAY AT WORK could entail performing with the philharmonic orchestra in Berlin or flying to Madrid for an operatic production, singer Measha Brueggergosman could live anywhere—but she chooses to keep her home base here in Canada. Though Measha has had homes in Ottawa and Toronto, she recently bought a house on the East Coast, not too far from her hometown of Fredericton. What made you decide to stay here? “I’ve always felt most at home in Canada, so it never occurred to me to live anywhere else. I never thought, This is where I’ll get my new passport. I always knew I’d want to live and raise my family in Canada.” Your home is quite tucked away. “I’ve always wanted to live in the country. I am not country—you can…

1 Have a long, narrow face? Contour by applying a slightly lighter foundation at the centre of the forehead, on the cheekbone below the eyes and directly under the cheekbone, blending out toward the jaw. — 1979 2 Heat, light and humidity can destroy fresh spices. Store them in tightly closed containers in a cool, dark cupboard instead of in a spice rack. — 1979 3 Never dry leather coats or boots near heat. The skins will lose their natural oils and the leather will crack. — 1979 4 Pulse stale bread in a blender. Store your homemade bread crumbs in an airtight jar. — 1979 5 Always measure your laundry detergent. The “guess and pour” method always results in overuse. — 1979 6 Dab a touch of gloss on the lower lip to make…

SCRUB LOVE This exfoliating men’s body bar by Kiehl’s is packed with bran and oatmeal to soothe skin and slough off dead cells from rough areas such as elbows and heels. Kiehl’s Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap, $18, kiehls.ca. GET EVEN Rice extracts in this handmade facial cleanser from Nature Garden reduce pigmentation for a more even skin tone. Nature Garden Cleansing Bar With Brightening Rice, $5, thefaceshop.net.my. IF YOU SHEA SO Formulated with shea butter, Olay’s beauty bar moisturizes while washing away dirt and dead skin. Olay Ultra Moisture Bar With Shea Butter, four for $5, olay.ca. ALL NATURAL Trinitae’s aromatherapy soaps combine coconut oil, castor oil, herbs and essential oils in a fragrant hand-cut bar that resembles an abstract work of art. Trinitae Aromatherapy Soap in Heavenly Vanilla, $10, trinitae.ca. ODOUR EATER Quash sweat and odour with…

STYLE EXPERT STACY LONDON STACY LONDON FIRST entered the lives of Canadians as the cohost of the TLC show What Not to Wear, where she was famous for her no-nonsense attitude and impeccable taste. Since then, the New York native has written two books, Dress Your Best and The Truth About Style. Don’t miss London’s new makeover show, TLC’s Love, Lust or Run, debuting on Jan. 23. Excel Gum brought London to Toronto to talk about building confidence through fashion (and fresh breath, naturally). Here’s some savvy style advice she shared with us. — Andrea Karr What would you say to a woman who has lost confidence because she’s older or has gained weight? “Age is something we can’t do anything about. Accept that aging happens to everybody and that your style…

OPPOSITES ATTRACT Contrasting the toughness of a motorcycle jacket with the sweetness of a lightweight frock makes sartorial sense. Finish this pretty-meets-cool look with edgy extras. Dress, $29, joefresh.com. Tassel necklace, bananarepublic.ca. Leather bag, brooksbrothers.com. Secret Deluxe tights, thebay.com. Suede booties, ninewest.ca. THE ART OF LAYERING When you have the right elements, the perfect outfit is a lot more than the sum of its parts. In Canada, strategic layering isn’t just a fashion skill to master; in chilly winter, it’s also cozy common sense! Sweater, $98, anntaylor.com. Beaded shirt, $70, hm.com/ca. Pants, $42, reitmans.ca. Shoes, ninewest.ca. REBEL AT HEART A flirty A-line midi skirt practically begs for the masculine lines of a classic moto jacket. Nod to ’80s punk by choosing a heavy wool plaid skirt and a graphic pullover. Printed sweater, $60, express.com. Skirt,…