Be Fabulous! April 2015

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inspire • EDUCATE • empower Are you a woman over 40 and looking for a place that you can make like-minded friends in your age bracket, while having an opportunity to grow personally? Here we are! Fabulous@50 offers several levels of membership, whatever your need is, we want you to feel comfortable and enjoy what we offer you. Join us today...fill your own cup.

Find out more about the ON-LINE COMMUNITY & FREE e_Magazine Click here

COMMUNITY MEETUPS Access to activities organized through the Fabulous@50 meetup group. Click here

DIAMOND MEMBER BENEFITS A Fabulous@50 Diamond Membership is an exclusive membership that gives you gifts, services, benefits and opportunities to be part of the vibrant community. It includes: • Menopause Survival Kit. • Be Fabulous! Print Magazine & Monthly e_Magazine • Access to On-line Webinars: • Coaching Program: Quite Frankly...this one offer could save you 10 times your membership fee. • VIP Status @ Seminars/Tradeshows: • FREE Membership to Meetup Groups: • eBooks and Gifts

Sign up for the whole year and get a Fabulous Bonus! CARP Membership and Zoomer Magazine: Advocacy, Benefits & Community.

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Mother’s Day Special Become a

Diamond Member

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before the end of May and receive a Fab@50 Gratitude Journal for FREE

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Reflect your

YOUTH

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With high-impact ingredients and spectacular Click here for the website success stories, Nerium International is truly poised trish16.nerium.com to become a skincare leader throughout the world. Celebrating baby boomer women • 3


Editor’s note • April 2015 EDMONTON

Celebrating the baby boomer women

Editor, Creative Director Dianna Bowes ads@fabulousat50.com www.fabulousat50.com Editor Laurie Slipchuk Young Laurie@fabulousat50.com Thank you to our Contributors: Dianna Bowes, Shirley Borrelli, Laurel Vespi, Sue Paulson, Stacey Berger, Loretta Friedrich, Alison Phillips ...and to all who made this issue possible Photography: Ealanta Photography www.IStock.com On the Cover: Gail Cunningham Be Fabulous! is published by Creative On The Move.

Be

Spring Fashion and New Beginning I find that when you put out to the universe what you need, it happens! One day not so long ago I put on my Facebook my need for a new challenge. Dianna promptly responded and asked me if I would like to take on editing the e-Magazine for Fabulous@50. I was thrilled! I was very happy that the first edition that I am responsible for, deals with fashion. I remember being a young girl pouring over the Sears catalogue putting together outfits in my mind. Several years later my passion for fashion continues. I take such joy planning what to wear every day. Fashion is a wonderful way to let the world know who you are. My personal style involves lots of color, a bindi and lots of sparkle. Despite my eclectic look a day never goes by where I’m not complimented on my look. Lately I have come across so many articles declaring what I should not wear after reaching a certain age. Forget those rules, be who you are. Be fierce! I am writing this from sunny Las Vegas. Hats are huge here. Enjoy the photo spread and allow yourself to be inspired. Be inspired to be who you are. Have fun with fashion. Allow yourself to be free. b

The articles represent the views and opinions of the individual authors and not necessarily the publisher. No material should be reprinted in whole or in part without the expressed written permission of the publisher/authors. The contents of Be Fabulous! should not be used as advice of any kind. Please consult the appropriate professionals for any advice. Be Fabulous! does not constitute endorsements of, or assumption for, liability for any claims made in the advertisements and or advertising information.

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Laurie Slipchuk Young Editor We are thrilled to welcome Laurie aboard as Fashion Editor for the Fabulous@50 E-Magazine. Let’s have fun!


Creative Director • Dianna Bowes

our story Mission: To INSPIRE, EDUCATE and EMPOWER the baby boomer woman!

Welcome to our 2nd issue of Be Fabulous! E-Magazine. I am sending gigantic hugs of gratitude to all the contributors to this little piece of on-line fun. Most of the women who write the articles in this magazine are part of the Fabulous@50 community and have a strong purpose towards helping women become the best they can be. A special thank you to Bonnie Jean McAllister of Ealanta Photography for the beautiful photos of our featured Diamond Members and a huge welcome to our new Fashion Editor, Laurie Slipchuk Young. When I started Fabulous@50 I had no idea how much response I would get with the crazy ideas I came up with. We are planning our 3rd Spring Event - called Around the World with Fabulous@50 on May 31, and our 7th Annual Fabulous@50 Experience and Martini Party on November 7th. You will not want to miss either of these events, we always bring in inspirational speakers and great vendors, plus entertainment and swag bags. We will keep you updated on other events and fun things happening in our world and other exciting events for baby boomers in the participating communities. For more information on how to get tickets or get more involved as a vendor or sponsor - go to www. fabulousat50.com or email info@fabulousat50. com. b Fabulously yours, Dianna Bowes - Creative Director - Founder

Be Fabulous! was designed specifically to be an event magazine to be presented to our guests at the Annual Fabulous@50 Experience and Martini Party. But something magical happened! Dianna Bowes took a look around and realized there was nothing in our community that was discussing the needs of the seasoned woman. Be Fabulous!, much like the Fabulous@50 tradeshows, seminars, the meetup group and the Fabulous@50 on-line membership, filled a gap. Since 2010, Be Fabulous! has spotlighted inspirational women on it’s cover and covered topics that mid-age women want to read about. The vision of creative director, Dianna Bowes, was to publish a magazine that would be written by baby boomer women for baby boomer women. Fabulous@50 and Be Fabulous! is more than a magazine, more than a tradeshow, more than a membership, it is a community! www.fabulousat50.com

be social with us! www.fabulousat50.com facebook.com/befabulousat50 twitter@Fabat50 pinterest/DiannaBowes

Celebrating baby boomer women • 5


{Nothing beats Confidence}

Show Up READY Did you know your personal image is speaking for you before you say a single word? Here are a few tips to make a positive first impression: Be well groomed. Take a shower. Brush your teeth. Comb your hair. Ladies, wear a bit of makeup. Did you know women who wear even a little bit of makeup earn up to 20% more income than those who wear none? Wear clean and pressed clothing. Regardless of your clothing budget, we can all show up with clean and pressed clothing. Polish your shoes. It only takes a moment to wipe mud, dirt, dust and snow from our footwear. It shows you pay attention to detail and that you care about your visual impact. Your visual impact, however, includes more than just what you are wearing or how you look. It also includes other non-verbal communicators like your posture, your hand movements, facial expressions and even how much energy you have. Stand up straight. Carry your body with poise and grace by holding yourself up with pride and dignity. Modest hand gestures. Don’t over use or exaggerate the movement of your hands. This tends to make people move away from you. Smile. Even the shyest people can smile.

Smiling is a universal language that communicates you have a positive outlook. Smiling sends the message that you are welcoming of others. Make eye contact. Connecting with people by looking at them in a friendly manner signals you see them and are willing to acknowledge their presence in the room.

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If you are rushing to get out the door, hurriedly driving and you are not sure you have the address of where you are going let alone if you remembered to bring your wallet; you are likely showing up scattered and in a frenzy. This energy does not help your confidence nor your attract ability to others. Follow these steps to help you show up ready for your next event; polished, pulled together and confident: Plan your outfit the night before: putting your best look forward helps you manage the message your personal image is sending. Know the address: planning your route ahead of time helps calm the pre-event jitters. Arrive early: showing up 5 minutes before the event starts is the same as showing up late. Arrive early to take your time finding a parking spot, with time to chat with people once you arrive and time to get a good seat. Showing up hurried and unprepared may indicate you lack time management skills and are not organized. Pause once you enter the room: Your confidence will shine through when you pause at the doorway once you enter

the room. It shows you are not hurried, nervous nor late. It shows you are scoping out the room to decide where you will plant yourself. Confident people don’t rush around. They move with assuredness and purpose. Avoid being awkward. Help people feel comfortable around you by showing up well presented through your appearance, body language and facial expressions. When you show up ready, you are able to be fully present. Also, you will be able to focus your attention on others rather than being distracted by still getting yourself settled. By focussing your attention on others, you will build better rapport and likely make more new connections that have a lasting positive impression. b Shirley Borrelli, B.Ed. is a fun, energetic and results driven image consultant who has savvy strategies that are proven to attract success in your life. She has become a trusted advisor to hundreds of women looking for personal development coaching and a boost in their confidence. Call her for a FREE no obligation phone consultation to get you started. 780.235.5506. Join her Image Boosters newsletter www.ShirleyBorrelli.com Twitter @ShirleyBorrelli Facebook: /ShirleyBorrelli

•••

“By focussing your attention on others, you will build better rapport and likely make more new connections that have a lasting positive impression.” ••• Celebrating baby boomer women • 7


{SIPS ‘N TIPS}

The Word on Wine “All words are pegs to hang ideas on.” - Henry Ward Beecher Nothing bores me more than a Wine Snoot. I’ve come across several and for the life of me can’t understand why someone would want to take something as pleasurable as enjoying a glass of wine and turn it into a high-brow, scientific analysis where they expound prolifically on what it is they smell and taste in their glass, and then claim to know the vintage year. Yawn! It was years ago that I first heard a hilarious description of an Australian wine. Remember Monty Python’s Flying Circus? Eric Idle in 1977 was playing a “wine expert” talking about “Cuivre Reserve Château Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga”. “It has the bouquet of an aborigine’s armpit.” This really stuck with me, even though the wine was fictitious, the description was memorable and fun. I spend a lot of time around wine in my business, and have to smell, taste and

describe them to the best of my ability. However, I can’t help but chuckle at some of the ways and words used to communicate characteristics, aromas and tastes in wine. Many are legitimate descriptors adopted by educated sommeliers and wine experts and they actually do convey clear messages. Others, not so much. “In linguistics, an adjective is a “describing word”, the main syntactic role of which is to qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified” – states Wikipedia. Like any subject, it helps to associate something new we have never experienced with something common that we likely have. It provides a frame of reference. Wine is definitely one of those subjects. If you are a person who enjoys wine, enjoys words and wants to have some fun with both, here is a list of 5 odd wine terms you can practice next time you are out for a drink with your girlfriends. And remember, it’s all in the delivery- keep it fun!

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1. CAT’S PEE

A term often used to describe the smell/taste of some New Zealand Style Sauvignon Blancs. It may not sound like something you would want to drink, but once you sip one, you will understand perfectly why this description is so good. Don’t get me wrong, Sauvignon Blanc is a beautiful wine variety with many other descriptors. 2. PETROL

You’ve smelled gasoline when you fill up at the gas station. Smelling it in your wine might not exactly get you too excited. However, many good, well-made German Rieslings display a distinct oily or petrol nose to them. Get it past your nose and take a sip. The taste is nothing like the smell and you will be glad you did. Riesling is crisp, light, refreshing and can be dry or sweet. 3. BARNYARD

A French Pinot Noir (a Burgundy) often displays a dirty, or earthy taste. Some people prefer a more modern, politically correct term of “Forest Floor” which denotes aromas of warm earth, decay. Coupled with a fruit smell mixed in there, like cherries, or strawberries, this is often exactly what a Pinot Noir smells like. Coveted by true Pinot lovers. 4. BELL PEPPER

Green bell peppers have a very distinct vegetal aroma. This smell is often found in a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Cabernet Franc. It is usually (but not always) due to the grapes being slightly under-ripe when picked. 5. WET DOG OR DAMP CARDBOARD

When you smell these aromas in a wine, don’t bother drinking it. It’s off. Corked. Tainted. This occurs when TCA (2,4,6 – trichloroanisole) a chemical compound found in a fungus that can grow in cork. It’s not dangerous, just smells and tastes nasty. If you bought a bottle from a wine store, put the cork back in the bottle of the remaining wine and it take it back for a refund. b Alison Phillips is the co-owner of Aligra Wine & Spirits in West Edmonton Mall.She is ISG Level II Certified and a French Wine Scholar. She enjoys tasting, talking and writing about wines & spirits, travelling around the world and discovering exciting people and places.

ALISON’S TOP WINE PICKS {April 2015} Santa Julia Pinot Grigio 2014, Argentina $12.99 A bright, crisp wine with tropical fruit notes and balanced acidity. Sourced from sustainable vineyards from the Zuccardi family estates, a delicious white for under $15.00. Santa Julia Malbec 2014, Argentina $12.99 A classic style Malbec with typical aromas of figs, plums, blackberries. Dark violet in colour, well balanced with sweet, soft tannins. A deal at less than $15.00 Foris Moscato, Rogue Valley, Oregon $23.95 A spritzy, frizzante style, this is sweet and simple, with a clean flavor of orange. Light and lovely! Spier 21 Creative Block 3 Chenin Blanc, South Africa $24.99 This Rhone-style blend is created from Shiraz, Mourvedre and Viognier. This multiaward winner can be enjoyed with pan-fried beef or game fillet with a brandy sauce, smoked venison carpaccio, or soft south Indian curry. Subject to availability at Aligra Wine & Spirits West Edmonton Mall www.aligrawineandspirits.com Celebrating baby boomer women • 9


Do you love your life?

Do you love your life? I hope so. From the bottom of my heart, I hope that many times throughout the day a feeling arises within you and you find yourself smiling and saying “I love my life!”

minutes, grab a tea, a piece of paper and a pen and ask yourself this question: What Would I Love?

This is what you deserve. This is why you are here. Not to settle, not to be ‘fine’, not to work hard and then die – but to really live a life you love. Much like electricity is an invisible Universal Law so is this. If you are not quite there, maybe there is one area of your life that is lagging behind, maybe there are a few areas – maybe you are in a transitional period or are feeling stuck. Today, I would like to encourage you to find a quiet place just for a few

Spend a few minutes exploring your life – what areas are you happy with, what are you not happy about, where do you desire more or less, what excites you, what disappoints you? And now, based on that feedback write down what you would love. Is it more energy? A deep, intimate relationship? A career with more purpose? A house with a view? Greater financial abundance? To travel? If you could be, do or have anything you wanted, what would it be?

••• “Dust off those ideas that you’ve put on the shelf, reengage your imagination that used to run wild as a little girl and give yourself permission to really put down on paper what it is you would love. ” ••• 10 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I April • 2015


Dream big. Dust off those ideas that you’ve put on the shelf, reengage your imagination that used to run wild as a little girl and give yourself permission to really put down on paper what it is you would love. Be brave enough not to worry about how it will all happen and don’t allow that little voice to creep in and whisper that you don’t deserve it. Because I am here to tell you that you do – life is seeking to emerge through you and your longings and discontents are just feedback that will help you to determine what is next. In this moment, be brave enough to put your dream down on paper, you have a unique dream and unique gifts and you absolutely deserve to live a life you love. Giving yourself permission to dream is the first step towards living that life. b Stacey Berger is a Certified Life Coach and is passionate about helping people step into their greatness. www.everexpanding.ca

2 for 1

PASS

{Bring to the door on 05/31}

Sun, May 31, 2015 10 am-5 pm Chateau Nova Yellowhead 13920-Yellowhead Trail, Edmonton

Celebrating baby boomer women • 11


Body Product Toxicity:

Clean Up! Spring. It’s detox time so they say. What does that make you think of? Juicing, making smoothies, or buying heaps of greens and vegetables that can result in trips to the ladies room more often than you’d like?! It’s great to focus on our food intake – all year round -- but did you know that the largest organ needs to be given a break and cleansed too? Our skin is the largest organ. It covers more surface than any other and wow does it take a beating. From our day job to home life, to walking the streets, and sitting on the beach, we are at the mercy of our external environment. Our bodies breathe in the toxins from this environment through the pores. What goes in gets circulated, eventually forced to be filtered further by the liver and other organs before ideally getting eliminated permanently. What about what we choose to make our skin absorb which forces our body to circulate, detox, and eliminate? Ever have headaches, nausea, low energy, stuffy nose, minor aches, and pains that just doesn’t seem to want to go away? Maybe you have reached body product toxicity. Consider what we might willingly put on our body, hands, feet, and face: shampoo, conditioner, body soap, hand soap, hand cream, body lotion, hair mousse, hair spray, face cream, concealer, foundation, blush, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, lipstick, and a good dose of perfume. We likely use a cream or lotion to shave our body hair, apply deodorant, and apply

polish to nails on both hands and feet. Don’t forget any hair dyes! Whew! This long list may represent your regular or once-in-a-while routine but no matter, our skin absorbs it all. Fast. To clean, consider these actions to give your skin a break this season and beyond: 1. REMOVE OLDIE MOLDIES

Begin this purge by throwing out any product – especially face makeup – that is older than 6 months. Continuing to use them only introduces bacteria. Bacteria especially love products that are stored in a warm, moist environment. 2. DISPOSE THE NASTIES

Similar to reading ingredients on food, look at what is in your personal care product. Is there paraben, alcohol-based ingredients, dyes, and unnatural scents listed?

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Can you imagine what it has been doing to your skin? For the sake of the environment please take the product (like aerosol sprays, etc.) to a depot site. If it has a warning or poison symbol on it, it has to be properly disposed! 3. WELCOME THE NEW

From bath care products to hair products and in between, decide which can be introduced with planet-friendly, and skin-friendly products. Your local health food store, organic section of a main chain store, or an organic store will carry what you need. There are a lot of companies that also sell “good make-up” that are ethical and relatively toxic-free. Ask your hair stylist about carrying ammonia-free dyes. 4. GO NAKED

Consider giving your skin a break from all the heavy make-up and what you consider unnecessary personal care applications. I dare you to go naked! It’s spring after all and typically the look is much softer. As a side note, be prepared for minor breakouts, and maybe even a dull headache while the body is cleaning up. I challenge you to clean up body product toxicity. b CONFERENCE: May 29 Frock-alicious by Design - Edmonton The “frock-off” movement has arrived in Edmonton! Loretta is excited to be one of the speakers at this conference. She will present: Nutritional Gardening: Increasing Your Health Harvest.

Click here for ticket and list of presenters: May 29 Frock-alicious by Design Information / Registration. About Loretta Friedrich, RHN, NNCP Loretta is a Holistic Nutritionist, Natural Nutrition – Clinical Practitioner, educator, speaker, food lover, community supporter, health advocate, and owner of Sprout Natural Nutritional Consulting. Visit www.SproutNaturalNutrition. com for information about services, and to book a complimentary one-on-one consultation no matter where you live.

FAN FEEDBACK Do you send thank you notes? Annie: I love getting them and giving them. I love keeping the flow of gratitude circulating. Sue: It always startles me to get a lovely thank you from the person I sent the thank you card to! Pam: I love sending cards for all kinds of reasons, and for no reason at all. I believe that a thank you card is an expression of gratitude that connects people together and in addition to acknowledging a gift or gesture of some kind, it gives people a little lift. We can all use more kindnesses and thoughtfulness, and this a great way to spread the love! Carla: A card takes a little more time, some cents and energy to deliver so it covers more ‘acts of kindness’. Connie: When the item I give has been mailed, I appreciate a card or phone call to acknowledge that it was received. Otherwise I wonder if they received it. If I give the gift in person, a verbal thank you is enough. Celebrating baby boomer women • 13


Fascinated by Hats Paris born, with a strong European appreciation for fashion and style, Maria began creating hats for high end boutiques in Canada and the U.S. in the early 1990’s. Today, Maria focuses her attention on custom creations, from everyday wear to hats for any occasion. www.maricurcic.com Find Maria on Facebook.

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Top Off Your Look A scarf or hat can update any outfit. Before you decide to update your entire wardrobe, consider a hat or a scarf.

Dillards in Las Vegas has hats worthy of the Kentucky Derby

You are invited to our trunk show and sale on Saturday July 11th 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, featuring hats, fascinators and accessories by Maria Curcic, 441 Pelican Drive, Victoria BC. PHOTOS BY : Judy Bandsmer Model: Emily Mann ( other model Maria Curcic)

Laurie Slipchuk Young and her husband Tim, spent some shopping during a trip to Vegas and the stores are filled with hats and scarves to finish off any outfit.

Hair and makeup: Maria Curcic Celebrating baby boomer women • 15


{LIFE IS JUST A PHASE}

Kick Your Shoes Off Take fewer things seriously…make more mistakes…pick more daisies.

or shouldn’t do what we really secretly want to do right now.

That was part of 85 year old Nadine Stair’s response to the question,

It’s no wonder then that we look back with some regret at all the things we didn’t take the time to do in the past. We become painfully aware of missed opportunities. Often we recognize that we didn’t enjoy the simple things or we actually gave a lot of our time and energy to something that ultimately proved unimportant.

“What would you do if you had your life to live over again?” We all look back at past choices and think if we only had a do-over, we would do some things differently. Imagine what your 85 year old self would have to say about the choices you are currently making. We spend so much of our time either looking forward or backward. The future becomes a place where we imagine all the cool and wonderful things we want will happen. Sure there is nothing wrong with looking forward in order to create a vision and lay the groundwork for big goals, but too often the future is simply a convenient way to procrastinate about things we could actually have right now. We put off doing these things because we tell ourselves there will be more time in the future or a better set of circumstances. We give in to the little voices in our head that whisper all their reasons why we can’t

The problem with spending so much time in the past or the future is that we miss the one real chance at having what we want. It’s only in the present moment that we have a choice available to us. Past choices are long gone. Future choices don’t really exist. Surprisingly even though we give tons of energy to big choices, it’s usually the ones that have to do with small, simple things that actually make us happy. How can you avoid missing the things your 85 year old self would do over? Start by being present more often. Catch yourself replaying the past or thinking about the future.

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Then take a breath and refocus yourself in the here and now. What simple thing would give you happiness right now? What is most important right now? What choice right now reflects your authentic self? Pretty sure your answer is not being at the mercy of your never-ending to do list.

voices will have something to say about it. So the other important thing is to practice managing the conversation in your head. Thoughts are simply thoughts. You don’t have to respond to them and you certainly don’t have to let them hold you back. Notice the negative chatter and then switch to something more positive.

Feel free to give yourself permission to do whatever it is you want to do.

Nadine Stair also said, “If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.” Maybe it’s time for you to kick your shoes off and do what you darn well please. Just imagine your 85 year old self cheering you on. b

You are a big girl now. You don’t need anyone else’s approval. So go ahead and enjoy your simple pleasures. Slow down. Relax. Take things easier. Say no. Say yes. Take a risk. Go for it. Stretch yourself. Consciously choose whatever it is you really want. There’s a good chance when you pause in the present moment and give yourself permission, one or more of your inner

Laurel Vespi is a certified life coach, author and motivational speaker who helps women live more mindfully no matter what phase of life they are in. Get resources and inspiration when you join her free Inside the Circle community at stonecirclecoaching.com.

250.00

$

click here for more info www.fabulousat50.com/Membership Celebrating baby boomer women • 17


{TEA WITH SUE}

“Taming

Beauty’s Beast”

A young woman asked me recently, “How would you define beauty in a woman? What about inner beauty?” Bless her for asking such poignant questions. I realized I needed some serious thinking time before answering. When it comes to physical characteristics, one easy answer is that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. What’s beautiful to one person may not be to another. So we’re talking preferences – brown hair rather than blonde, tall rather than short, blue eyes instead of brown. Unless we analyze those preferences, we don’t pay much attention to those reference points. But then comes the judgement – of ourselves in relation to others – of others in relation to societal norms or standards. For example, at 5’7 ”my mother was tall for a woman in the 1950’s. She was also considered “skinny”, because the average size in those days was a 14.

©

I saw this willowy woman who looked stunning in the ball gowns of the day. She had the classic “model’s figure” so could easily and beautifully wear the smartly tailored suits that were in fashion. The feature Mom hated about herself was her protruding teeth. I rarely noticed that because I saw all of her - her personality, her wit, and her charm shone from within. She thought she was ugly. To me and all who knew her, she was beautiful. IDEAL WEIGHT

Beside her, I felt short and dumpy. I quit growing upward when I reached 5’ 3”. I never had store-bought clothes until I was a teenager because, with my short legs and long waist, nothing fit properly. During my 30s, determined to shed some pounds for my upcoming wedding, I stumbled across an old picture of me when I was 17.

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In my head, because of my height and curvy shape, I had held an image of my teenage self as “fat”. It was quite a shock to see this slim young woman staring back at me. Throughout my life, I’ve wrestled with my weight as it fluctuated between being 10 lbs. over my “ideal” size to ballooning to 40 lbs. above what’s considered “normal”. During my cancer adventure, I dropped from 170 lbs. to my teenage weight of 115. My clothing size shrank accordingly, down to a size 4. I was not healthy, but there was some consolation and fun in shopping for and wearing all the tiny clothes. Just about the time I was enjoying me as my smaller self, I got my health back and my body started gaining weight. I seemed to be returning to my former “matronly” size. Judgement set in – I started to berate myself about the extra pounds. And I wasn’t impressed about having to replace my wardrobe as those size 4s, 6s, 8s, then 10s no longer fit. As I’ve pondered the question about why my body image concerns me so much, I’m aware that I’ve let myself be led by the projected “ideal” images of Hollywood and the fashion industry. We’re bombarded with messages about ideal weight and body shape. We easily fall into the trap of “never enough” and “never good enough”. Along with that, unhealthy food is cheap and available – high fat, high sugar, high salt. Eating to soothe emotions is out of control. Obesity and depression have sky-rocketed. Why? First because we buy into all the media hype. Second, because we judge ourselves so harshly. We fail to acknowledge the beauty in each one of us – both inner and outer. And because we judge ourselves so

harshly, it’s easy to judge or condemn others for their size and shape. “Well, at least I’m not as fat as she is!” Or, “She’s so skinny – she can’t be happy!” I don’t want to have these thoughts, but they do pop up more frequently than I’d like. INNER BEAUTY

The answer to the judgements and negativity can partly be found as we search for the inner beauty that resides in each person. For example, at a recent gathering, I found my inner critic silently judging a very large woman. She sat down beside me, and as we talked, this magnificent soul shone from within her. I was dazzled by her beauty as I basked in a glimpse of her authentic self inside. Miraculously, that glimpse totally silenced my inner critic – her physical size became irrelevant. Perhaps it’s time for each of us to seek and acknowledge our own inner beauty, while at the same time honoring the inner beauty of all those we meet. True beauty is more than skin deep! b As a speaker and a writer, Sue believes in the magnificence of everyone. For Tea with Sue, e-mail her at sue@suepaulson.com or visit her website: www.suepaulson.com. Celebrating baby boomer women • 19


{Fabulous@50 Featured Member}

Gail (left) connecting with Mother Nature.

Gail (center) and friends enjoy an evening out.

Gail Cunningham

Sharing her talents in her personal and business life What are you looking forward to doing/creating in this next half of your life? I look forward to continue building an international team of empowered women that are committed to changing lives. We have the opportunity to work with family and friends who inspire us to improve our health and create a residual income. My Usana business has helped me experience personal growth which motivates me to be a determined, trustworthy and committed woman who attracts abundance. Everything we do helps us and others to love life and live it! What would you consider to be your top three talents/skills? I am a “people person”. I love to help others find solutions to their problems or concerns, if they are looking. I can usually strike up a conversation with anyone, willing or not! I just ask questions as most people love to talk about themselves. I’m a natural networker. I thrive to connect people with events or activities that I know they are interested in. Whenever I find a good shoe sale, I quickly text or phone those who I know would like to know. The same goes for a good restaurant, movie or any type of information that can help others make an informed decision.

GAIL’S FAVORITES: Color: Green Flats or Stilettos: Stilettos Martini/Wine: Wine Sweet Treat: Dark Chocolate Vacation Destination: Ecuador Book: The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly Movie: Australia Charitable Cause: Usana True Health Foundation (Which provides the most critical human necessities to those who are suffering or in need)

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I am good at organizing events and people just don’t ask me to do the admin part. What is your vision of great leadership? Great Leadership is when you can teach or advise others how to accomplish a certain task with confidence then walk away, knowing the task will be duplicated properly without you being there. If you were to share one thing that made a difference in your life, what would it be? The one thing that made a difference in my life was having our son, Brandon. Up until then, I didn’t realise how selfish I was! Having a child teaches you unconditional love. Brandon has opened the doors to many situations, experiences and people that I would never had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know. How have business and/or personal relationships shaped your life? My business relationships have given me the opportunity to help others reignite their dreams. I have met so many women who have totally forgotten their dreams since they started working and/or became a mother. As mothers, we tend to put our passions, dreams and ourselves on the back burner while we take care of our family. I look forward to encouraging women to start creating a dream board or dream book. What’s most exciting to me is working with passionate, health-conscious entrepreneurs who work together to help each other achieve success! What is it in nature that feeds your soul? The part of nature that feeds my soul is being out in the fresh air regardless of the weather. I love to walk, preferably in the country in the sun, rain or snow just to soak up the fresh air and all that nature has to offer. I love to ski in the mountains which gives me such a magical and profound connection to mother nature. b

FAB Books! Love, Compassion & Power. Healing The Hurt & Transforming Lives by Deborah H. Goodfellow

Read Deborah’s story on how she ended a 30 year journey with depression by becoming her own advocate for healing. Today she is living life - happy, healthy and whole and so can you. To order your copy click here.

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Call 780.999.4986 or visit BreadAndButterBasketCo.com Creating exquisite moments... just because. Celebrating baby boomer women • 21


Ancient Grains: Making a Comeback What’s old is new again – at least when it comes to eating grains. That’s the message of Catelli Foods Corporation in announcing the launch of new, all natural Catelli® Healthy Harvest® Ancient Grains pasta, a first-of-its-kind product that is making its debut on Western Canadian store shelves. Spaghetti with Zucchini, Lemon, Olives and Goat Cheese

1/2 tsp (2 ml) dried oregano

Prep Time: 15 min

1/2 cup (125 ml) reduced sodium chicken broth

Cook Time: 25 min

1 tsp (5 ml) lemon zest

Servings: 4

1/4 tsp (1 ml) freshly ground pepper

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (125 ml) crumbled goat cheese

1 pkg (340 g) Catelli® Healthy Harvest Ancient Grains Spaghetti

1/4 cup (60 ml) pitted kalamata olives, halved (lengthwise)

3 zucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds

1/4 cup (60 ml) toasted pine nuts

3 tbsp (45 ml) extra virgin olive oil, divided

Instructions:

4 cloves garlic, minced and divided

1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat; grease grate well. Toss zucchini with 2 tbsp (30 ml) of the oil, half of the garlic and 1/2 tsp of the salt.

3/4 tsp (4 ml) salt, divided 4 shallots, sliced

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Grill for 1 to 2 minutes per side or until lightly charred. Cut into half moons. Set aside.

5. Serve pasta topped with grilled zucchini, goat cheese, olives and pine nuts.

2. In the skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat, sauté shallots, remaining garlic and oregano for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden. Add chicken broth, stirring to scrape up any brown bits.

• Use a grill pan for an easy indoor grilling solution.

3. Meanwhile cook pasta according to package directions; drain, reserving 1/2 cup (125 ml) of the pasta water. 4. To skillet add pasta, lemon zest, pepper, remaining salt and toss. Add additional pasta water, if needed.

Tips:

• To pit olives, press or smash olive on surface with the flat side of a knife. The pit will be easy to remove. Per serving: 505 calories, 23 g fat, 11.5 mg cholesterol, 419 mg sodium, 70 g carbohydrates, 11.5 g fibre, 4.5 g sugar, 14.5 g protein

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Celebrating baby boomer women • 23


UPCOMING EVENTS Weight Loss Event Tuesday, May 26, 2015 The 3 Common Myths That Prevent Weight Loss for Women Over Forty -- Why “Diets” Do Not Work For Permanent Weight Loss -A New Wholistic Weight Loss Paradigm - no deprivation diet, no extreme exercise and no fake food.

Dianna Bowes (founder of Fabulous@50) and Chef Lynn Crawford have fun at the Western Canada launch for Catelli’s Healthy Harvest, Ancient Grain Pasta.

Click here for more info Menopause Myths Wednesday, April 29, 2015 As women today we are redefining ourselves and embracing menopause as a positive healthy new phase in our lives. Click here for more info Around the World with Fabulous@50 Sunday, May 31, 2015 Celebrating travel and diversity in our spring tradeshow. Click here for more info

To register or to get more information click here.

“Creating the 2015 of Your Dreams” brought together a group of Fabulous@50 ladies in January with speaker Stacey Berger at the Creators Code office. To join the Fabulous@50 meetup click here. Read my Blogs on www.fabulousat50.com Motivation: If you were fortunate you have been surrounded by family and friends that supported you and cheered you on. You never doubted your ability to tackle a new project or goal. But let’s be honest not everyone had this. Many of us, lived in a family situation where we were told why we would fail and that it just was not possible to do the things we longed for. I was in that category and I know many others who grew strong despite the putdowns from others. Dianna B.

Meet - Dianna Bowes Edmonton Director & Founder

dianna@fabulousat50.com For more information click here.

FIND OUT HOW TO BECOME A FABULOUS@50 DIRECTOR

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UPCOMING EVENTS Calgary, AB Spring Fling Launch Party New Beginning Sunday, May 3, 2015 Fabulous@50 is now in Calgary and it’s time to Celebrate with a Spring Fling. Click here for more info The Fabulous@50 Experience - Calgary Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 Watch www.fabulousat50. com for more details.

To register or to get more information click here.

The Calgary Fabulous@50 Spring Fling is the first event for Director, Joanne Neweduk. Discover the Three Keys to Fabulous Relationships Eileen Head is a Personality & Relationship Expert- Matching you to personality styles in; Life, Love and Career. Read my blogs on www.fabulousat50.com I was first introduced to Dianna Bowes and her brain-child Fabulous@50 in the spring of 2014. I was instantly drawn to the concept of a community of women aspiring to feel Fabulous at 50 and beyond. Although the brand name was new to me, the process was not. As it happens, I have been choosing to live my life FABULOUSLY for several years. Joanne N.

Meet - Joanne Neweduk Calgary Director

joanne@fabulousat50.com For more information click here.

What are you grateful for? Practice a life of gratitude with this purse-sized gratitude journal designed by Fabulous@50 founder Dianna Bowes and photos by Bonnie Jean McAllister of Ealanta Photos. A thoughtful gift for a special friend, your mother, graduation or even for a bridal party. Available online at www.fabulousat50.com You can also find us at the Crystal Ranch in Stettler • The Painted Door in Beaumont • Downtown Tixonthesquare Local Artists Shop in Edmonton Celebrating baby boomer women • 25


UPCOMING EVENTS Victoria, B.C. Fascinator High Tea Party. Thursday, May 28th. Menopause or Lunacy, That is the Question! Join guest speaker and author, Donna Randall, as she shares her secrets about how to effectively make menopause less crazy. Click here for more details. Martini Experience Tuesday, July 14 An evening with Shawne Duperon, 6-Time EMMY® Winning media coach & communications speaker and Founder of Project: Forgive. Click here for more details Coming this fall... Boomer Inspiration with an exclusive Fabulous@50 event! Featuring 20 exhibitors, special guest speakers, a baby boomer fashion show, and big reveal of the winner of the Inside Out Grand Prize Makeover. More details coming soon. To register or to get more information click here.

Above: Annie Pool - Victoria Fab@50 Director and Jane Johnson - Victoria E-Women Director.

Left: I’m Sew Excited! Jennifer Almeida modelling the custom designed Fabulous@50 apron. Right: The event also featured a talk on how to be fascinating with PR and Fascination Specialist, Pamela Sylvan, Editor in Chief of eMagazine, Downtown and Around. Photos by Josh Pool, who is now the Creative Director of the eMagazine, Downtown and Around. Read my blogs on www.fabulousat50.com Do you ever get a hunch to do something or hear a little voice that gently nudges you to take action? You should pay attention to those hunches. One never knows where they might lead. Last week I followed one and stumbled onto something quite mind-blowingly big. Let me tell you the story. But first I’ll take you back to the fall of 2013. Annie P.

Meet - Annie Pool Victoria Director

annie@fabulousat50.com For more information click here.

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VickiMona Savoie INDEPENDENT JEWELLER

p: 780.967.1021 c: 780.668.3798 e: vickimona@gmail.com www.fifthavenuecollection.com/vickimona

FEELING DISCONNECTED?? Get connected with Fabulous@50’s On-Line Community and receive a gift from us: “12 Tips to Being Fabulous” poster, a copy of Be Fabulous! Magazine delivered to your home. No strings, just love...

Click here or go to www.fabulousat50.com/membership/join us Celebrating baby boomer women • 27


Sunday, May 31, 2015 10-5, Chateau Nova Yellowhead 13920-Yellowhead Trail, Edmonton Around the World with Fabulous@50. Celebrating Travel and Diversity! Tradeshow • Shopping • Swag Bags to first 100 guests • Refreshments and Pastries • Speakers and Entertainment.

Buy tickets in advance $10 • or at door $15 (click on button to buy tickets or for more info)

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Celebrating baby boomer women • 29


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