1. Iconic trench coat – a sophisticated spring must-have. $139.50 at Esprit. (espritshop.ca for locations)
2. ORIBE Dry Texturizing Spray – for bigger, better, full-on glamourous hair. $44 at DONATO salon + spa. (donata.ca for locations)
3. Yardley London English Lavender Moisturizing Bath Foam – gift Mom with this soothing bath foam that’s fit for the Queen. The Yardley London brand bears the Royal Warrant and the enduring scent of English Lavender. $16.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharma Plus, Loblaw, and more.
4. ‘Lima’ coin purse – made of super soft leather, designed to hold the essentials for the woman on-the-go. $50 at ECCO Shoes. (eccocanada.com for locations)
5. Spa packages from DONATO + salon – send Mom to the spa for an afternoon or make it a day with special packages ranging from $160 to $255. See attached for full info.
6. Dream Angels Forever EDP – a beautiful new fragrance with notes like blackberry, iris, and amber. Timeless and radiant, just like her. $60 for 75 mL at Victoria’s Secret. (victoriassecret.com for locations)
7. Trompe l’oeil lace print – the subtle juxtaposition of soft lace and dotted prints on the finest silk chiffon. $39 at DANIER. (danier.com for locations)
8. Robert Marc sunglasses – the ultimate frame for a subtle statement of luxury and style. Peppercorn print covers the universally flattering shape. $525 at Josephson Opticians. (josephson.ca for locations)
9. Studded top handle purse – this ivory classic gets a modern twist with studded fringe detail. $169 at DANIER. (danier.com for locations)

Bananas

1. Start your day off on a healthy note by mixing bananas into a bowl of oatmeal or a cup of yogurt. This healthy breakfast will keep the hunger pangs at bay, right through the lunch hour.

2. If you have more time in the morning, or  would rather have a meal to go, consider a Coffee and Banana Smoothie. This tasty treat lets you get your caffeine kick and the delicious taste of bananas as well.

3. Check out this easy and delicious recipe for healthy banana bread. It’s a tried and true treat that’s sure to sate your taste-buds, no matter what time of day it is.

4. Cut up your favourite fruits and mix them together into a delicious fruit salad. The options are endless. You could go tropical (consider mangoes, kiwis, bananas and oranges) or seasonal (with plums, nectarines, bananas and strawberries).

5. Perhaps the easiest and most convenient option — grab a banana from a bunch, and just eat it! However, be sure to not eat more than two per day, otherwise you might get stuck with a serious case of constipation. Remember, even good things need to be consumed in moderation.

So what are you waiting for? Go on! Go ape for bananas!

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we at Adorned headed over to Etsy.com in search of some fabulous handmade cards that are not only original, but also uniquely express the spirit of the festivities.

Check out our 10 picks for greeting cards this Valentine’s Day:

1. ‘You’re my favorite thing to do’

Everyone has a list of favourite things. Why not let your sweetie know exactly how much they’re appreciated with this cheeky note.

2. ‘I will go through any world’

If your special someone is a fan of video games, then this awesome Mario inspired card is sure to get a chuckle out of him/her.

3. ‘Stud Muffin’

Let your Stud Muffin know exactly what you think of him, with this adorable and yummy card. Don’t you just want to take a bite out of it?

4. ‘You’re so tweet’

Tweet! Tweet! Everyone’s on Twitter these days, and we’re sure there’s some romances brewing online in 140 characters or less. Here’s a chance to express just how much you love your special someone… and their tweets.

5. ‘Naturally I selected you’

Any science lover will go ape for this beauty, inspired by Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection.

6. ‘You’re a hoot’

If you think your honey is a barrel of laughs, make sure you let them know with this cute and simple design.

7. ‘I love you more than the clearance rack at my favorite store’

Shopaholics, look no further! We’ve found the perfect card to let your other half know just how much you love them. If this isn’t serious love, we don’t know what is!

8. ‘I love you so much that if you woke me in the middle of the night to yell at me for stealing the covers, I would forgive you by morning.’

If you feel you might be in the throes of crazy love right now, take a moment to tell your other half just how much you adore him/her. The recipient of this card will know you mean business.

9. ‘You are here’

This cute and customizable card is a perfect and simple way to let your special someone know just where he/she stands in the road-map to your heart. We simply adore this card, and know you will too!

10. ‘Love is laughing at your jokes’

Sometimes, it’s the simple acknowledgments that mean the most. If you don’t say it often enough, take this chance to let them know.

The idea grew from a theme of posts that surfaced at StraightFromTheCurls.com. I noticed that simple posts about experiences that made me happy on the most random of occasions, drew the most attention. I quickly realized that people were crawling the Internet, looking for pockets of happiness — in this case, even a short blog post about a taxicab driver who made me smile. Those who read of this experience, were, in turn, smiling themselves.

Our goal is to use the blog as a canvas where we take your simple, everyday moments, and make them count. Anyone can participate with more than one submission. Your moments can range from the simple (a smile from a cute stranger on a bus, which magically washed all the bad out of an otherwise terrible day), or to the complex (like the time you went skydiving in Croatia, and watched the world stand still as you touched down). All it takes to participate is a short write up and an image that highlights your experience. We’ll take care of the rest.

With media at our fingertips, we’re constantly inundated with up to the minute information of all the bad that’s happening on our lovely planet. We become so absorbed in the naysayers and doomsday threats, that we lose sight of the simple beauty and joy that stems from everyday experiences that catch us off guard. We all have good moments… we just don’t realize when they’re happening because the bad tends to overshadow them.

So the next time you find yourself smiling at a baby on the subway, or running through a field of freshly fallen snow, make a mental note and submit your experience to the NOTE THIS MOMENT blog. You’ll be glad you did. And as an added bonus, you’ll revel in the fact that your story will make others smile.

Pay it forward and send your stories to NOTE THIS MOMENT — a blog where we take all your moments and make them count.

Looking forward to reading your stories!

Cheers,

Simone
Creator of NoteThisMoment.com

Ecco’s BIOM Running Shoe

Humans have been running and walking for centuries without the help of ultra structures shoes, cushioning and motion control. Ecco’s BIOM running shoe is based on the “Natural Motion” philosophy, allowing the foot to move naturally the way nature intended it to.

For more information, visit http://www.eccousa.com/shoes/biom

Reebok EasyTone Apparel

You’ve heard of EasyTone running shoes, that are supposed to do wonders to your butt. Now Reebok has extended the EasyTone line into apparel. How does it work? EasyTone Apparel features proprietary ResisTone bands, whose unique placement and tightness is designed to create resistance as you move. The harder it is for us to move the more we activate key upper body and leg muscles.

For more information, visit https://www.reebok.com/US/women/apparel

Mavea’s Fill N Go Water Bottle

Mavea’s stainless steel reusable water bottle, made entirely by recyclable materials, is your perfect gym companion. The Fill N Go is more than just an ordinary water bottle. Interior polishing eliminates the chance of corrosion and odour absorption and the stainless steel shell incorporated for increased durability; work together in this state of the art design.

For more information, visit http://www.mavea.com

WAVE Contour Plus Vibration Exercise Machine

As you place yourself in various exercise positions (a plank, crunch, push-up, etc.), the movement of the WAVE Contour Plus exercise platform stimulates the body’s natural ‘stretch reflex.’ This is similar to having your knee tapped at the doctor’s office. Without thinking about it, your body responds with a strong involuntary muscle contraction, leading your leg to ‘kick out.’ With WAVE technology, these strong contractions can be repeated at a rapid rate, up to 3,000 muscle contractions per minute.

Since the muscle contractions are involuntary, nearly 100 percent of your muscles are being worked. This is in contrast to conventional training, where you may only get 40 to 60 per cent of your muscles engaged. Using more muscles with higher repetitions than conventional training provide you with a whole body workout in only 15 minutes. By using only your body weight, minimal stress is placed on the joints. Some of the benefits include accelerated weight loss, detoxification, increased bone density, strength, flexibility, better circulation and the list goes on.

For more information, visit http://www.wavexercise.com

Xbox 360 Kinect – The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout

Are you a big fan of Bob and Jillian and The Biggest Loser? With Xbox Kinect you can work out with your favourite trainers at home. The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout for Kinect starts off by putting you through a nutrition and exercise survey so that it can customize a workout just for you. Set up a competition between you and your friends, connect via Xbox Live, do weigh ins, and see who has lost the most weight.

In one weekend, everything starts to change.

As our tans gradually fade, so is our serenity.  Labor Day weekend has passed, marking the demise of the bikini season. Although the New Year theoretically begins in January, September tends to feel like the launch of a new chapter.  A feeling of nostalgia has been known to weaken us, as mementos of our grade school days cloud our memories. Picking out your pencils, rulers and duotangs is now comparable to prepping our CV’s for the dreadful grown up job hunt.

With the unemployment rate skyrocketing, the staggering jobless twentysomethings need have reason to worry.  According to Statistics Canada, the Canadian economy trimmed 9,300 jobs in July raising the unemployment rate eight percent from 7.9 per cent the previous month.

My fellow Generation Y’s and I sit comfortably in an age-bracket known to be more civic-minded, opinionated and interested in work-life balance than generations before us.  However at our worst, we are slammed as spoiled, demanding and in little hurry to grow up.   We were primed and poised by our professors and sent out into the real world with impractical concepts of reality, but it is not long until the packs of recent graduates are deflated and feeling tremendous heartache.

Summer licenses us to disregard and surround ourselves with diversions, however fall marks a time to hang up our bad habits and switch on the serious mode.  So if you haven’t yet decided to flee to Europe, jumping from hostel to hostel with only pennies in your pockets, these job-hunting tips may come in handy:

Set a career goal: Whether it is a new interest, or a goal you’ve set in the past, research the kind of training, skills and education necessary to achieve this job.

Attain this by applying to numerous positions each week.

Work on resume building: If frequently updated and polished, a CV can be your golden ticket. However, if your resume does not rise to the top of the pile or jump out to the eyes of the beholder, then it will find itself filed away deep or tossed for recycling. Using much patience and diligence, turn your strengths into selling points. Whether you are unseasoned or a veteran in the field, be sure to include all related practices and achievements. Research shows that individuals with a professional resume are more likely to obtain an interview than someone more qualified with an unpolished resume. So whether it is perfected with job skills or splashed with a touch of color to stand out, ensure your CV suitably represents the best you.

Research jobs and company: Carefully research the type of job you are looking to apply for. Ask yourself whether this goal is realistic and if this is a job you can handle. Why do you think so?  With a strong comprehension of the corporation or business, a cover letter can be created and be exclusively geared towards the job.

Make a strong first impression: According to Statistics on First Impressions, a first meet and greet is based 55 percent on appearance, 7 percent on the words we use and 38 percent on the tone of our voice.  Which means it is time to cover up our bare tanned legs, tidy up our beach waves and oust the warm weather wardrobe. In today’s tight job market packed with several qualified contenders, it is imperative that positive differentiators detach you from the pack.  In this case, employers will judge a book by its cover.  So lose the too-tight skirt, the tie that distracts, and the coffee stained blouse, and opt out for a look that’s groomed, sleek and professional.

Your Online Image:

If a prospective employer researches your name online, what will come up?

Since the arrival of social networking sites, we have been enjoying the perks of The Information Era.  However, with the overflow of so-called personal photos, beliefs and past-times floating on strangers’ computer screens, one would argue that that this Too-Much-Information Era is harmfully affecting our image.   Last night’s party pictures or a tasteless status update can potentially become accessible to anyone, including employers, thus damaging his or her impression of a job candidate. Applying for a new job means turning over a new leaf, both on screen and off screen.  So, if you wouldn’t show it to your boss willingly, then take it down!

As for e-mailing employers, be sure to generate a professional account. I would dare say that no certified employer would return your email at hotgirl67@me.com.

Finally, ensure you have record a professional greeting on your answering machine. Drop the suave recording and opt out for something established with necessary detail.  An infantile and uninformed message can leave your potential employer moving on to the next contender.

Job Search Networking: The vast majority of job openings are seldom publicized through advertisements or on job search engines, rather through the word-of-mouth or networking, also known as the “hidden job market”.  By generating a broad list of sources you have met through social and business functions, you are able to use these relationships to help draw upon job leads, offer encouraging counsel or introduce you to others to help extend employment information. 

Maintaining a Positive Attitude: With a high degree of uncertainty about job prospects, we begin to familiarize ourselves with feelings of hopelessness and a lack of direction.  However, a successful job search is often a matter of attitude.  For the benefit of your emotional being, as well as the impression you give to potential employers, it is imperative that you keep your chin up and acquire a positive stance.

I once thought that I met the love of my life on Chatroulette.

Yes, the website that is notorious for being filled with men jerking off (for the record, this boy was fully clothed).

It was definitely not one of my proudest moments, and it got a lot of interesting feedback from my friends, but for some reason I was convinced that this boy was The One.

Obviously things didn’t work out, and I thought to myself, “How stupid was I thinking that I would meet my soulmate on the Internet?”

Now, Internet dating isn’t something new…but it is usually accompanied by the stigma that only desperate, anti-social 40-year-olds engage in it.

You would imagine my surprise when I found out that a bunch of people my age (21) were using the website Plentyoffish.com (POF), and that one of my coworkers claimed to have found the love of his life off that site.

POF is free, based in Vancouver, and boasts that 20,000 users sign up each day. In 2009, the site launched a contest with Lady Gaga, which allowed single members to go together and meet the singer during her “Fame Monster” tour. Gaga even promoted the website in her “Telephone” video with Beyonce by flashing a screenshot as she left the “Prison for Bitches.”

So, after a very bad breakup, and way too many tears, I decided to try it out for myself. I mean, if Gaga approves, it must be okay, right? I figured, if anything, I could always say that my membership was for “research purposes only.”

The hardest part about creating an account was making a profile. How would I sell myself to this website? Which photos would I use? How do I want people to perceive me? The “If your profile is really lame it won’t matter how good your message is” on the “Edit Profile” section just added to the pressure.

Luckily, POF gave me plenty of tips on how to be “successful” and “not waste my time” such as talking about my hobbies, talking about my goals/aspirations, talking about myself and what makes me unique, and my taste in music.

I wrote a brief summary, which apparently wasn’t long enough for the site, so I was forced to write more. I uploaded a picture of Megan Fox for jokes, and surprisingly got several messages immediately from creepy men who wanted to know what my tattoos were of.

So far, this website was exactly what I expected it to be…awful.

I finally put a photo of myself up in the hopes that I wouldn’t find anyone I actually knew personally on the site.

In came more messages; some witty, some cheesy, but most creepy.

I decided I should start messaging the people I found interesting, rather than waiting to see if anyone worthwhile would message me. I quickly found out that you could see which users have “viewed” you and if your messages have been read, unread, or deleted.

In case you were not getting the feedback you wanted, the site is quick to keep your hopes up by telling you, “Hey if you see unread deleted don’t be disappointed, normally 1 in 3 messages get responded to. We find a lot of people read your profile before reading your message.”

I found myself obsessively checking to see if users had read my messages, and whether or not they had been deleted, or how long they would take to message me back. Then I realized how desperate I had become from this stupid website, and finally decided to hide my profile, to prevent anyone else from contacting me.

I did end up meeting some interesting people who I still talk to on a regular basis. Some of them shared some mutual friends with me, while others were complete strangers.

Though it’s less taboo than it used to be, meeting people online is still an iffy topic with some people. I know my oh-so-traditional Chinese father would not approve, even if I were to meet exactly the type of guy he wants me to marry. But what we have to realize is that mostly everything we do is online now: our banking, reading the paper, paying our bills and communicating with others, to name a few.

I’m not condoning online dating, nor condemning it. But if you do choose to try it out, make sure to be smart about it, and stay safe. Do not give out your personal information out right away, and if you plan on meeting up with someone for the first time, make sure it’s in a public place, and that you’re with someone else.

It’s just like how going home with a random stranger you met at a bar is unsafe (even though plenty of people still do it).

Either way, whether online or in real-life, you’ll always have to weed through plenty of d*cks (sometimes literally) before you actually find a keeper.

1. Be the Host with the Most

Plan a patio or outdoor cocktail party. If you live in the city and are sans backyard, most apartments or hotels offer up their rooftop or party room for residents to use. Invite all your closest friends and serve some sangria and margarita pitchers.

2. Plan a Road Trip

Grab a few friends and make some memories. Plan a road trip with stops that each of you will enjoy. If you love to shop, scout out the best shopping malls or boutique streets and take advantage of the end of season summer sales.

3. Act Like a Kid

Go to the park, swing on the swings and run through the sprinklers. Remember what it feels like to be carefree. Take a trip to a local carnival or theme park and enjoy the rides, cotton candy (there was no such thing as calorie counting when we were kids!) and compete for oversized stuffed toys.

4. Let Your Hair Down

Pick a day to go totally make-up and hair product free. The sun gives us a great complexion in the summer, allowing us to wear less make-up than we do in the winter months. Take advantage of the glow and feel liberated. But, don’t forget your sunblock!

5. Fall in Love

There is nothing more delicious than a summer romance. If you are already in a relationship, reignite the flame by surprising him with new lingerie and some whip cream. You know what we are getting at…

6. See a Show

Find out when your fave band is playing in your city. Most musical acts are on the road in the summer and if you live close enough to a major city, should stop in for a concert. Buy out the merch stand and crowd surf to your favourite tunes.

7. Take a Personal Day

If you are working this summer, take a day off and spend it with no one else but yourself. Make a trip to the spa, read a great book and just relax. Finding “me time” is essential, especially if things are stressful and busy at work.

8. Go Green

Try going without plastic for one day or set your thermostat a few degrees higher to reduce cooling costs. Little things like washing your clothes in cold water or purchasing non-toxic natural products will help to reduce your carbon footprint.

9. Have a Garage Sale

Get rid of all those old electronics and DVDs collecting dust in your cabinets and bookcases and make room for new things. You will make some much needed cash and de-clutter your home. It is a win-win situation.

10. Get in Touch

Have you lost touch with your roommates since graduating from college or haven’t seen your best bud since she got hitched? Take time to get in touch with your old friends and have fun remembering the good times.

Every few months, we watch some of our most beloved headliners and  “role models” go through parallel patterns.  There was the cougar trend that slipped into mainstream usage by Demi, Jennifer, Halle and several more.  Months, later DUIs became the latest accessory – proud owners including Lindsay, Mischa and Keifer. And we all can’t seem to shake the reality TV phase, where everyone and their mom starred in their own television show, allowing us an inside look at the “scripted” reality of the rich and famous. But over the past few months, we’ve been confronted with a new trend: an influx of infidelity.

From Tiger Woods, to Jesse James, to David Duchovny (on and off screen) – they have all fallen victim to the newly spreading trend, one by one breaking silence of their extramarital affairs.  Subsequently they all jumped on to the rehab bandwagon.  How shocking. But this isn’t the usual Hollywood hills drug or alcohol remedy.  This is a whole new type of healing: sex rehab – 21 sex-free days on a scenic mountain peak peering over a sunset. Can you picture it?  Nevertheless, according to the gossip junkies, it is debatable whether their behavior is even an addiction at all.

Actors, politicians, monster garage junkies and athletes seem to be gravitating towards “rehab facilities” any time they’re caught with their pants down, or so to speak.  These once praiseworthy husbands cheat on their wives with waitresses, centre fold models and tattoo-faced women and chalk it up to “sex addiction”. Not only are we left apprehensive about our own spouse’s fidelity, but it also makes us ponder whether this so-called chronic habit really exists, or whether it’s simply superstars falling victim to the unlimited access of groupies, fans and floozies.

According to Heather Tarnai-Feeley, an outpatient social worker operating in a Sexual Behaviors Clinic, a “sex addiction does not really exist”.  Instead it is what’s known as a “paraphilic disorder”, which consists of “sexual arousal to objects, situations, or individuals that are not part of normative stimulation and that may cause distress or serious problems for the paraphiliac or persons associated with him or her.” Tarnai-Feeley explains that these patients are treated with antiandorgen medication and cognitive behavioral therapy treatment.

Dr. Federoff, a forensic psychiatrist – who specializes in sexual behavior – believes that many people recover when they remain on the go or get a job.  At times, 12-step programs adapted to paraphilic disorder are used.  Through treatment, Tarmay-Feeley explains that they help patients focus on living a constructive life, by “working towards positive goals”.  Patients are taught to recognize triggers for unhealthy sexual behavior and substitute it by getting involved in other activities. May we suggest golf or perhaps motorcycle mending?

When guest speaking on Oprah, leading expert on the topic, Gary Neuman, estimated that one in 2.7 men will cheat – and most of their wives will never know about it.  Well fortunately enough for Hollywood chatter and very persistent paparazzi, Tiger and Jesse’s dirty laundry is out to air for all to see.  Both men made public confessions, begging their wives for forgiveness. We can’t help but wonder if they feel bad for their actions, or bad simply because they got caught.

Is there such a thing – or is this a new way to rationalize unacceptable behavior?  It sounds to me like another escape route of accountability taken to a higher level.

At the beginning of a relationship, the world seems a lot brighter.  You’re unusually giddy, mysteriously overly affectionate with your friends and tad bit scatterbrained.  Your life is suddenly looking a lot more colorful and you couldn’t be any happier; all but one tiny detail.  Lauren Conrad once coined it the “boyfriend layer”.  If this is new to you, it’s the politically correct term for the weight gain at the beginning of a relationship.

Jennifer Aniston and Kim Kardashian have us conditioned to believe that men want the supermodel body.  So we counteract by calorie counting and stairmastering our way into creating a real life Gisele.  Yet, when he comes along and we’ve got him blushing, we celebrate by shoveling in mass quantities of chocolate and cheesecake– or at least I did.

After months of romantic home cooked meals, chocolate covered body paint and lazy Friday night Ben and Jerry’s movie dates, you begin to notice that your jeans are a little too snug in the waist and your favorite little black dress just won’t zip up anymore.  Suddenly, your sweatpants have been upgraded in your much beloved wardrobe and you’ve become a little bit more lenient about your oh-so-strict gym schedule.

As a walking example of the dreadful boyfriend layer, I will tell you that it often happens quickly without immediate recognition.  One minute my boyfriend and I are making a romantic meal, and before you know it I was polishing off the last piece of key lime pie and licking the spoon dry – compliments to the chef of course, but not so much to my True Religion’s.

Now if you’re lucky, the boyfriend layer usually disappears once the novelty wears off and the relationship stabilizes. Sadly, for most of us, it doesn’t work this way.

But with a little bit of motivation, I won’t have to let my love life derail in order to get fit this year. So how am I supposed to lose weight without sacrificing the romance? With these workout ideas for couples, my partner and I can spend quality time together while I stay on track to reaching my goals.

• Go on an After Dinner Stroll

Switch up your dinner routine.  After a big meal, avoid cuddling on the couch with a blockbuster and instead opt out for an evening stroll. No gadgets, no gear and no trips to the gym are necessary.  This plan is so easy and natural. It hardly feels like a weight loss program.

• Split on Dessert

Can’t resist the brownies? Save money and calories by going halfsies with your beau.  After all, together is always better.

• Enter an Active Community Event

Become more involved in your community’s philanthropy actions by joining a running or biking event.

• Bike instead of Drive

Not only body smart but green smart too.  Trade in your car keys for your biking gear and let the calories burn away.

• Spice it up in the Sack

Feeling frisky?  A little innocent touching can lead to a full body work out without even knowing it.  On average, a 30-minute lovemaking session burns between 80 to 200 calories.  Keep in mind that the more rigorous the sex, the more calorie-loss.  Sex has never felt this good.

• Painting

Incorporate a fresh look all around.  Spruce up a room or the outside of your home by spending an afternoon painting.  You’ll be amazed how great your arms will feel.

• Dance Lessons

Cha cha, waltz or tango your way to a slimmer silhouette together! Not only will you burn a few hundred calories per lesson, but you can both bust a move at your next outing.

• Hit the beach

Kill two birds with one stone by soaking up the sun and perfecting your beach body this summer.  Throwing around a Frisbee or joining a volleyball league will kick your metabolism into full gear.  Plus, a little couple competitiveness never hurt anybody.

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