Do you want to have more fun and connect with women in your own age-bracket? Fabulous@50 has several levels of membership, something for everyone, depending on how involved you would like to be and how much you want to receive.
COSMO CLUB
FREE Online Membership
A Fabulous@50 COSMO CLUB*is an exclusive membership that gives you: gifts, services, benefits and opportunities to be part of the vibrant Fab@50 community.
FREE Fabulous@50
On signup you will receive a menopause survival kit worth over $75.00. Take advantage of the free coaching, free events throughout the year and receive gifts along with the Be Fabulous! Emagazine. $250.00 a year or $25.00 a month. To see the full list of benefits and services click here.
to our archive of Be Fabulous!
Sign up for the whole year a nd get a Bonus! CARP Membership and Zoomer Magazine: Advocacy, Benefits & Community. *was previously the Diamond Membership
E-magazine Subscription plus a gift from us delivered direct to your home and get access Magazines.Don’t miss another issue, click here to get your copy Edmonton, Victoria and Calgary have groups designed for baby boomer women focusing on friendship and personal development. Click on the city closest to you to see what we are up to.
Our members say... I just want to thank you for the lovely silk scarf that you sent me for Christmas. To everyone out there who is considering COSMO CLUB (Diamond Membership), it’s worth every penny & more. Sherri I am enjoying the Fab 50 experience because of the ladies I am meeting and the activities I’ve been part of. Also getting into some of the coaching now which looks like a makeover in itself. Jayne 2 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
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Celebrating baby boomer women • 3
Creative Director • Dianna Bowes Celebrating the baby boomer women
Editor, Creative Director Dianna Bowes ads@fabulousat50.com www.fabulousat50.com Thank you to our Contributors: Dianna Bowes, Laurel Vespi, Loretta Friedrich, Ian Hayward, Michelle Bilsborrow, Barbara Lee, Glenda Polak...and to all who made this issue possible
our story
Photography: Ealanta Photography www.IStock.com www.Dreamstine.com
Mission: To INSPIRE, EDUCATE and EMPOWER the baby boomer woman! 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! Find out more by going to our website. www.fabulousat50.com
On the Cover: Glenda Polak Be Fabulous! is published by Creative On The Move.
Be 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.
be social with us! www.fabulousat50.com facebook.com/befabulousmagazine facebook.com/befabulousat50 twitter@Fabat50 pinterest/DiannaBowes
4 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
It’s never too late to refresh your mind, body and spirit and you don’t have g n i Com to do it alone. n Soo
Many Baby Boomer women have spent decades suppressing their own wants and desires, and losing themselves in the expectations and demands of culture, parents, partners, and children, working hard to please and care for almost everyone but themselves. They’ve been misunderstood by marketers, politicians, millenials, most men, and last but not least, themselves.
illness, financial disaster, or the crushing loneliness after the kids have grown and gone, if you are asking yourself, “Now what?” and fearing that it might be too late for you and your dreams, this book is for you.
The time has come for these strong, beautiful, and fabulous women to discover, reveal, and honor their true selves. The time has come for them to re-expereince life as they’ve known it, and to celebrate life as it can be.
From Dianna Bowes, visionary foundress of Fabulous@50, The Fabulous @50 Re-Experience is a living, breathing, sweet and sassy guide to remind you that you’re not alone, and it’s not to late for you to thrive.
If you are a Boomer woman in personal crisis--needing to reinvent your life, facing divorce, life-threatening
In these pages, you’ll find a wealth of reassurance, inspiration, companionship, and practical guidance to refresh your mind, body, and spirit.
Join us in Calgary, Sunday Feb 28th for our first book launch party. Click here for information Celebrating baby boomer women • 5
{LIFE IS JUST A PHASE}
Why you need another LBD Everyone needs a LBD. Now you are likely thinking Little Black Dress and yes probably every woman needs a little black dress in her closet, but that’s not the only LBD you need. Fashion wisdom tells us that a little black dress is a wardrobe essential. That’s because it’s a staple in your closet that always works – it’s simple, it’s versatile, it’s classic. When in doubt, reach for your little black dress and it will always serve you well. The same is true for the other LBD. Everyone needs a Life Balance Duo. Just like the dress, it’s simple, versatile and classic. It serves you any time life feels a
little out of balance or when you feel too busy or stressed. Here’s how it works: LBD = Pause + Breathe Pause means stop what you are doing. That’s powerful because most of the day you are busily engaged in activity. Pausing invites us into a moment of rest. Breathe means bring your full attention to your breathing. There’s no need to breathe any differently than you normally do. Simply breathe with conscious awareness that you are breathing. Notice the air flowing in and out of your nostrils. Notice your chest rising and falling. Conscious breathing invites us back into our bodies and momentarily out of our heads.
6 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
Fashion wisdom tells us that a little black dress is a wardrobe essential. That’s because it’s a staple in your closet that always works – it’s simple, it’s versatile, it’s classic. These two actions – pausing and breathing will always serve you well. This LBD is a foundational strategy that helps you bring yourself back into the present moment. That’s important because when we feel out of balance, our minds are probably overrun with thoughts of our past actions or our future worries. When we are thinking about the past, often we are ruminating over choices we have already made – “Why did I do that?”, “Why didn’t I do that?”, “What was I thinking?” We can devote a lot of time and energy to regretting these choices or wishing we had chosen differently. When we are thinking about the future, often we are worried about what might or might not happen. Much of the time these things are out of our control, yet we devote time and energy to playing the “what if” game. When we pause and breathe we enter the present moment in which we can become aware of our thoughts and feelings. It is the only place where conscious choices exist.
When we are busy or stressed or out of balance, we typically function on autopilot. We take the path of least resistance and resort to the choices we make out of habit. Pause and breathe opens a space in which you can make a conscious choice about what serves you best right now. It allows you to align your choices with what is most important to you. Just like the little black dress this strategy is simple, versatile and classic. Nothing complicated about simply pausing and breathing any time you feel out of balance. It works in any situation at any time. And the wisdom of “just take a breath” has been around for ages. The best thing is you don’t need to go shopping for this LBD. It’s a one size fits all and it’s already in your closet. a 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. Learn more and get resources and inspiration for mindful living at stonecirclecoaching.com
I am so honoured to be awarded the BRONZE STEVIE for Female Entrepreneur of the Year in Canada. Dianna Bowes, Founder & Creative Director (Fabulous@50)
Celebrating baby boomer women • 7
See. Taste.
Food Outfits Depending on the many roles you play, your wardrobe essentials could be anything from office appropriate black pants, to free-movement leggings and comfort tops for active tasks. I see it similar to what food items to have handy to make the “job” of eating easier.
m Green vegetables or fruit (broccoli,
I offer the following to assemble countless food outfits. It was challenging to keep it to only 20 items or groups, but here are some of my foundation foods in no specific order (except for the sweeteners):
m Coconut oil or red palm oil
celery, avocado, cucumber)
m Herbs / spices / seasonings (basil, mint, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, mineral salt, cacao powder)
m Chicken broth (organic) m Sprouts / Greens m Eggs m Tomatoes
m Lemons / limes
m Fish / salmon
m Non-dairy milk (coconut, almond)
m Green beans / black beans
m Red / Purple fruit (Goji berries, apples,
m Chicken
frozen or fresh strawberries, blueberries, cherries)
m Rice / Grains / Seeds (flax, pumpkin, sesame, hemp, chia, quinoa, oats, wild or basmati rice)
m Orange vegetables (carrots / sweet potato)
m Almonds m Other seasonal produce (squash, oranges, etc.)
m Aromatics (onions, garlic) m Sweetener (dates, raw honey, pure maple syrup, coconut flakes)
m EVOO / balsamic vinegar 8 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
onions, garlic) with sprouts 12. Strawberry & basil water 13. Raw Antioxidant Chocolates 14. Fish (lime, coconut oil, ginger), wild rice, green beans, green salad 15. Lemon, ginger & honey hot water 16. Chicken soup (chicken, carrots, wild rice, onions, celery, garlic, broccoli) 17. Smoothie: coconut milk, water, lime, avocado, hemp seeds, flax seeds, cucumber, date 18. Oatmeal: oats, almond milk & flax seeds with berries & almonds Mix and Match This is just sample of food combinations for meals or beverages. Bolded recipes are found at the end of the article. Have fun experimenting with your own “look!”
19. Salad: chicken, celery, sprouts, pumpkin seeds, green onions, EVOO, herbs/ spices 20. “Turtles” smoothie: greens, date, cacao powder, cucumber, almonds, almond milk
1. Mashed carrots with cinnamon, lemon chicken with EVOO, cucumber & tomato salad
Recipes Raw Antioxidant Chocolates
2. Chocolate Avocado Pudding with Lime Basil Strawberry Sauce
• 2 tbsp. chia seeds, ground
3. Salmon, sweet potato, broccoli with sesame or other seeds 4. Salad: eggs, greens, sprouts, celery, onion with EVOO/balsamic vinegar 5. Smoothie: almond milk, greens, hemp seed, flax seed, berries 6. Dates & almonds 7. Cucumber & celery with pumpkin seeds 8. Salmon, Maple Balsamic Quinoa Salad, carrots 9. Salad: avocado, seeds, tomatoes, cucumbers with balsamic dressing 10. Fruit salad: mixed berries & cherries with mint 11. Coconut rice (coconut oil, milk), chicken stir-fry (carrots, celery, broccoli,
• 2 tbsp. goji berries, ground • 2 tbsp. organic coconut flakes, ground • ¼ cup organic cacao powder • 6 pitted organic dates • ¼ cup organic virgin coconut oil • pinch Himalayan sea or mineral salt (optional) Grind goji berries, chia seeds, and coconut flakes in a coffee grinder or small blender. Put this mixture and the rest of the ingredients into a food processer and blend well. Spoon evenly into an ice cube tray or chocolate molds. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to harden. Unmold. Makes 10 to 12 candy pieces depending on mold size. Note: Will soften when kept at room temperature so refrigerate to harden and store. {continued on page 10}
Celebrating baby boomer women • 9
Chocolate Avocado Pudding with Lime Basil Strawberry Sauce
........................................................................
So what are you going to have available to create your special food outfits? Consider adopting new “pieces” to add interest to your “wardrobe.” These food outfits can be revamped, revitalized, and recycled to create your most exciting food story yet! Now go ahead, show them off! a
Maple Balsamic Quinoa Salad
Your Food Story
Adapted from a Clean Eating recipe
This community is for you if you’re looking for a different way of eating. No diets, fads, or gimmicks. It is your story about food to validate, identify, and personalize, and to support your health and well-being. Click here to set up a free meeting so we can get all your questions answered. Wipe away anxiety, humiliation, guilt, and confusion and welcome peace, dignity, sparkle, and clarity written in the new chapters of your food storybook. Begin today, right now! #urfoodstory
Click to find the recipe on my blog: Chocolate Yum with Lime Basil Strawberry Sauce
• 1 & 2/3 cup quinoa, rinsed • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar • ¼ to 1/3 cup pure maple syrup • ½ cup dried goji berries • 1 cup raw unsalted chopped almonds • 4 to 5 green onions, thinly sliced Cook quinoa according to package directions. Let cool completely. Prepare dressing: In a small bowl, whisk oil, vinegar and maple syrup. Add 3/4 of the dressing to quinoa. Stir in berries, nuts, and green onions. Refrigerate overnight. Serve cold or at room temperature. Just before serving, stir in remaining 1/4 of the dressing. Serves 8.
About Loretta Friedrich, C.H.N, NNCP Loretta is a Nutritional Consultant, Sprout Natural Consulting – Clinical Practitioner, educator, speaker, food lover, community supporter, health advocate, and owner of Sprout Natural Nutritional Consulting. Visit www. SproutNaturalNutrition.com for information.
10 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
What is your Fashion Personality? Your first question is probably….what the heck is a Fashion Personality? Am I right! Your Fashion Personality is your unique signature that defines the styles that work best for who you are! By knowing your Fashion Personality this gives you your power back and starts making fashion fit you instead of you trying to fit fashion. There are four of them. First we have the Classic Personality. Her style is timeless, elegant and structured. A good example of this personality would be Nicole Kidman. The second is Fashionista. She is our trendy gal who loves her bling and high heels. Paris Hilton would be a good example of this fashion personality. Next we have Boho Chic. She is our 70’s flower child. Not uncommon to find her engulfed in the arts with a peasant skirt on, ballerina flats and a fringe handbag. Kate Hudson is who comes to mind. Last but not least is our Studio gal. She is all about comfort and structure with a sporty twist. Ellen Degeneres is the best example of this fashion personality. Each of us will have what we call a dominant
Fashion Personality, which will be one of the four and in addition we will have bits and pieces of the others. For example: Your Fashion Personality may be a Studio but you love the Boho looks and therefore are a Studio with a Boho twist. You are attracted to the Boho style and every time you try and put that look together you feel like a freak and fall into the trap of buying the Boho look that you will never wear. If you are a Studio, honour that! Know that hanky hems, layers of lace & flowing, non structured fashions just don’t work for you and never will! Instead, choose comfortable, structured fashions and satisfy the Boho in you by adding in a cool bracelet, necklace or even perhaps a unique boot or shoe and a funky scarf. You will love your look and how you feel when you dress for who you are. After all “When we look good, we feel good & when we feel good, we do life better”. a Michele Bilsborrow • Owner/operator & Certified Shopaholic • Cheeky Coutures Boutique, Red Deer •587.273.4438 • www.facebook. com/cheekycouturesboutique • www.cheekycoutures.com Celebrating baby boomer women • 11
The Trivialization of Sex When I was in first grade, a male neighbor led me and my best friend behind his house and unzipped his pants. Now he was the same age as us, and it was the first penis I had ever seen. A couple of years later, while walking in the woods behind my house, I stumbled upon a stash of adult magazines where the boys of the neighborhood hung out. Sex has always been titillating for the under-aged. Today these experiences seem innocent compared to the graphic, and often violent, imagery of sex widely available today. I told my 19-year-old son that when I was growing up, we had to try to navigate a path so that we were not labeled either a
prude or a slut. He turned to me and said, “Mom, I don’t know a single girl who’s not a slut.” The use of “slut” as a pejorative term is a problem, but beyond that is the suggestion that many young women want to project the image of casual and meaningless sex that they see if their media role models. Today we face the risk of the trivialization of sex. We are simply inundated with sexual content from a very early age. The average age of exposure to internet pornography is 11 years old, moving down to 10. Long before high school, 5th graders are firing up their laptops, smart phones and tablets and watching any number of sexual acts.
“Unrealistic images can create fear and damage our self-esteem. We can seek to live up to expectations that eventually take the joy and celebration out of our sexual encounters.” 12 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
False Impressions
There are three potential problems with this new reality. First, it teaches the objectification of human beings as a normal part of our culture. Second, it provides distorted images of sex, creating false impressions about what real people enjoy, what they look like and how they respond. Finally, it removes any sense of sex being something special, something worth celebrating. Sex is no trivial matter... unless we allow it to be. Hypersexualization can be a real impediment to a happy sex life. Unrealistic images can create fear and damage our self-esteem. We can seek to live up to expectations that eventually take the joy and celebration out of our sexual encounters. It can be enlightening to spend time considering the messages you receive about sex from the media – through advertisements, television and movies, music and music videos, and the internet. How is sex used to sell products? What body type is considered attractive? Is casual sex a sign of being successful and popular? Then review the list and notice how these messages influence how you think about sex. Sex is not a trivial matter…unless we allow it to be. a Barbara Lee is an ordained interfaith minister and the author of Sacred Sex: Replacing the Marriage Ethic with a Sexual Ethic. More information can be found at www.DontDoesntWork.com
FAN FEEDBACK Question? What is your fashion personality? Pam: My style is what I would call Canadian Chic. (Is that a thing?) I love to wear jeans and sweaters and boots, and I also enjoy wearing flowing tunic tops when it’s not sweater season LOL. Loretta: I consider my style to be comfortable, classic, and business casual though I do love dressing up when the occasion calls for it too! Shirley: I am learning that my “needs” are changing without my permission! I am needing comfy-er clothes around my expanding waistline, dammit! and I am needing to wear lower heels due to some back pain that I’m told would be fixed with orthodics (YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!). These physical needs have adjusted my style. So, my passion for fashion is learning how to love my body that carries me around this beautiful planet of ours while still honouring my classic style with a slice of drama. Alison: I always like to look good, feel good. My “style” hasn’t changed much over the years other than adapting to changing body, comfort is more important but does not mean sweats all the time! Love colour, but often gravitate to classic black and white. Shop at Consignment stores, sales and when I travel to find something a little different, perhaps ethnic. Shoes! Love shoes, but would truly prefer to live somewhere that a range of sporty to evening style flip flops are de rigour! Celebrating baby boomer women • 13
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www.PureLifeStyleWear.com 14 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
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Celebrating baby boomer women • 15
“An Ayurvedic Case History” “Whenever I eat I feel bloated and I have terrible constipation. I sleep poorly and wake up at 4am every morning. My skin feels constantly dry. I’m struggling to focus, at work my mind keeps drifting off into nowhere. My circulation is terrible. My hands and feet are always cold. I feel tense and constantly on edge, can you help me!” With a voice full of emotion the information was delivered to me at top speed. In her mid-forty’s the lady sat in front of me was in deep distress, I noticed her nervously wringing her hands. With tears in her eyes she continued “Why is this happening to me? I eat really healthy, I cleanse regularly, I go to hot yoga 3-4 times a week, drink gallons of water, I am doing everything you are supposed to do to be healthy and yet I feel so ill and desperate!”
sion and also revealed that she was dehydrated; her digestion was not working effectively, leading to an excess of gas in her system; she had an extremely stressed nervous system; her emotional body was full of fear and she was physically exhausted. What this lady needed was a calming, soothing and nourishing approach on all levels to bring her Vata dosha back into balance. Digestion
From her words alone I could tell this lady was struggling with an imbalanced vata dosha. This assessment was supported by the appearance of her physical frame, her body language and the qualities of her hair and skin.
We looked at her diet; I recommended that she stop eating all cold and raw foods especially her favourite meal of kale salad. Although this can be a healthy diet for people with strong Pitta, it is not for people whose digestion is of the vata dosha, which is weaker and erratic; for them, raw and cold food just turns putrid in their body causing gas and cramps. I gave her a food guide on all the Vata dosha pacifying foods; what to favour and what to avoid. I emphasized the importance of regular meals in a settled environment and showed her breathing techniques that would relax her system before she ate her meal.
I offered her a cup of soothing herbal tea formulated specifically to calm the Vata dosha and gently took a reading of her pulse which confirmed my initial impres-
I also introduced her to a digestive stimulant of fresh root ginger, fresh lemon juice and salt; this recipe is like rocket fuel for the digestion.
Pulse Reading
16 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
The lady’s cleansing routine turned out to alternate between green smoothies and the Master cleanse one day per week. Both of these cleanses were too harsh for her system and once a week was too depleting for Vata dosha that has little reserve. Again these approaches are good for other elemental types such as Pitta (fire) and Kapha (earth and water) but are too harsh for the Vata constitution. I recommended a more nourishing cleanse of a special soup from an ancient recipe one day every month which is very effective and kinder for her system. Other recommendations included: • Replacing her normal daily intake of cold water with 1-2 litres of hot water above body temperature or herbal tea. • A warm bath in the evening followed by self-massage with warm sesame oil which is greatly soothing for the nervous system and aids better quality sleep.
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• Replacing strenuous hot yoga with more gentle and soothing Hatha or Yin yoga. • To practice Mantra Meditation for deep relaxation and stress release. a Ian Hayward is an author, educator and Ayurvedic pulse reading specialist with over 30 years experience. Ian advises people on how to support their true constitution and how to correct their imbalances. He is offering a 10% discount to Be Fabulous readers on consultations booked before the end of March. Visit www.elementallifesolutions.com for info. 780 249 4428
Ask Ian a Question!
Ian will be a regular advisory columnist and you are invited to send your questions to ian@elementallifesolutions.com for inclusion in Be Fabulous. Celebrating baby boomer women • 17
What’s UP! Share Your Story; Change Your Life - Blab with Bonita Lehman Thursday, Feb. 17, 5:00 pm To subscribe click here. Vision Board Workshop Wednesday, Feb. 24 - 6:00 pm 5223-82 Ave, Edmonton To register click here
We LOVE Follow our Fashion for Mature Women board on Pinterest.. click here
Cheap & Cheerful Wines uner $20.00 Tuesday, Feb. 23 Aligra Wine & Spirits - Edm. To register click here Ayurvedic Approach to Food and Digestion Sat, March 5 - Cold Lake To register click here Speak Up and Speak Out Sue Paulson -Edmonton Sat, March 5 To register click here Book Writing 101: Where to begin, how to persist, and when to publish Edmonton Tuesday, March. 15 - 7:00 To register click here Frock-alisciou by Design Edmonton Thursday, March. 17, 18 To register click here Freedom Fifty U Workshop - Calgary Saturday, March 17, 9:00 am To register click here
Kelly Parson, Independent Representative www.rockingtheboot.ca rockingtheboot@gmail.com www.facebook.com/RockingTheBoot
18 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
What are you grateful for? Practice a life of gratitude with this purse-sized gratitude journal designed by Fabulous@50 founder Dianna Bowes and photo by Fabulous@50 Members. A thoughtful gift for a special friend, your mother, graduation or even for a bridal party. Order your copy today. 22.50 Order your copy today journals@fabulousat50.com
A Year of
GRATITUDE Plus 12 Tips for Fabulous Traveling Dianna Bowes
You can also find us at the Crystal Ranch in Stettler • The Painted Door in Beaumont • The Painted Door in Beaumont • Downtown Tixonthesquare Local Artists Shop in Edmonton
COSMO CLUB $ 00
250.
click here for more info www.fabulousat50.com/Membership Celebrating baby boomer women • 19
Benefits of Consignment Shopping Do you have Gucci taste but are on a Gap budget? Once people discover the benefits of consignment shopping, they rarely go back to paying full retail. With the downturn in the economy consignment stores are seeing an influx of both new customers and consignors. More and more people are embracing consignment shopping because of the savings, the ‘green’ aspect and the overall experience. Customers love the fact that they can build amazing wardrobes for a fraction of the retail cost. They don’t want to have a ‘cookie-cutter’ wardrobe; they want something that speaks to their unique personality. Many customers don’t realize they’re in a consignment store when they walk in until they notice that everything is unique and different, unlike the chain stores at the mall where you see rack upon rack of the same items. Consignment store owners are VERY selective about the items they accept for their store. Items must be cleaned, pressed and on hangers to be accepted and a good rule of thumb is they should have been bought within the last 2 years. Items may have been worn but they have to look new and as if they haven’t been worn. Who benefits when you shop at a consignment store? 1. First of all you do. You’re saving money and getting a higher quality item. Budget friendly for your wallet, only you’ll know how little you paid to look so great! Smart shoppers save $ buying used instead of new – leaving more money for other needs (like gas and groceries).
2. The consignor who brought in the clothing now has a cleaner closet and cash in her pocket. 3. Money spent in a consignment store is money spent locally. You are supporting a local business which means your dollars are staying within your community. 40% of every consigned item you buy goes directly to the previous owner. That person may be a student who is trying to earn a bit of extra cash to pay her tuition or put gas in her car or maybe it’s a very wealthy woman who supports a local charity with the money she receives from her consigned items. If you were to buy the same item online, not one cent would stay in your local community. 4. Then there’s the consignment store that earns a commission on the sale of consigned clothing. 5. And of course, the jobs created at the consignment store. CapriceWest employs 10 women and also hires the likes of book-keepers, accountants, contract workers etc. – they all get paid from the sale of items in a consignment store. 6. The City of Edmonton benefits from the taxes it collects from local consignment stores. 7. The EARTH – Environmentally friendly, because that’s one more recycled jacket, suit etc. that’s not in a landfill. Re-use, recycle, RESALE! 8. In short, EVERYBODY wins with consignment!
20 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
Two of my favorite things about consignment shopping: 1. The selection of brands!!!! Brands such as Kate Spade, Tory Burch, Lululemon, Chanel, Prada, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, BCBG, Joseph Ribkoff, Sandwich, Eileen Fisher, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Loubiton, Coach and on and on…… Think about it, if you shop at the Bay, you can’t buy Lululemon, if you shop at Lululemon you can’t buy Michael Kors etc. It’s incredible the breadth of brands that are carried at any one time. Consignment stores are a ‘treasure trove’ of merchandise. You never know what you’ll find, BUT if
you miss a week, you’ll miss a lot! Inventory changes quickly and most consignment stores put upwards of 200 new items out on the sales floor every day. 2. The selection of departments With one shopping visit to a consignment store you can purchase everything from yoga wear to formal wear, business attire to casual camping clothes, sandals to boots and on and on. Park your car once and shop for all your clothing needs under one roof. a Glenda Polak is the owner of CapriceWest Consignment in Edmonton Alberta. www.capricewest.com
“Consignment stores are a ‘treasure trove’ of merchandise. You never know what you’ll find, BUT if you miss a week, you’ll miss a lot! “ Celebrating baby boomer women • 21
Top 10 Tips for Shopping in Consignment Stores. 1. Shop when you have time not when you’re rushed. 2. Remember, every item is different so carefully go through the racks looking at all the items. Think of it as a treasure hunt! 3. Ask the staff for assistance. They know their merchandise and can help you save time by showing you where specific items are. 4. Be willing to try on different sizes. You may ‘normally’ be a size 10 but in a consignment store smart shoppers look at sizes below and above what they normally wear. Sizing is not consistent between brands and you never know if an item has been altered. A good suggestion is to ‘eyeball’ the item instead going by the size tag. 5. Be open to trying on numerous items. You never know what you’ll fall in love with. Most consignment stores have no limits on the amount of items you can take into the fitting rooms. 6. Make sure you try items on before purchasing because at most consignment stores sales are final. 7. Let the staff know if there’s a particular
item you’re looking for or particular brand that you like and what your size is. Many consignment stores offer wish lists and they’ll contact customers when the items they’re looking for come in. 8. Quality for less. Shopping consignment allows you to buy excellent quality at an affordable price. The average customer can’t afford to buy designer clothing but shopping at consignment stores gives her an opportunity to do that. We call it ‘affordable luxury’! 9. When you find a consignment store that you like follow them on social media and ask to be put on their mailing list so that you’ll receive updates of unique new items in the store, advance notice of sales and promotions and invitations to workshops and shopping parties. 10. Be open to looking throughout the store and not just for the specific item you came in for. Customers find AMAZING treasures when they take the time to browse throughout the store. a Glenda Polak is the owner of CapriceWest Consignment in Edmonton Alberta. www.capricewest.com
22 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
The 7 Best Blogs by Older Women Accidental Icon - http://www.accidentalicon.com/ Bag and a Beret -http://bagandaberet.blogspot.ca/ Le Lettre d’Ines - http://lalettredines.com/ Not Dead Yet Style -http://notdeadyetstyle.com/ Not Dressed As Lamb http://www.notdressedaslamb.com/ Style Crone - http://stylecrone.com/ Une Femme D’Un Certain Age - http://unefemme. net/
JOIN OUR TEAM Be a Fabulous@50 Community Director! We’re expanding and are looking for enthusiastic, energetic and well-connected women 40 plus to run Fabulous@50 events in their communities. This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run your own business and create your legacy! We know how to do it and want to share it with you! Fabulous provides educational and social connections for the women 40 plus. The ideal candidate is someone who wants to create a business for themselves in a fun and social environment and be part of a global vision. We provide training, a vibrant website, guidance and an opportunity to fulfill your dreams and purpose while creating an income and making a difference. Fabulous@50 was created to Inspire, Educate and Empower the baby boomer woman.
www.fabulousat50.com info@fabulousat50.com
Dianna Bowes Edmonton, AB
Joanne Neweduk Calgary, AB
Annie Pool Victoria, B.C.
Celebrating baby boomer women • 23
{Fabulous@50 Featured Members}
Glenda Polak:
Passion for
Fashion
Photo by Ealanta Photography
24 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
In what ways do you prefer to give back or pay it forward?
Glenda’s Favorites
It’s important to me to be involved in the community and to support local organizations and charities. I work with numerous local charities and donate clothing, shoes, purses etc. to them. Some of the charities we support are Wings, Suit Yourself, The Elizabeth Fry Center, The Bissell Centre, Cinderella’s Closet and Hope Mission. Usually the charities need cash more than they need clothing so to help with that we’ve held a sidewalk sale and had charity clearance racks in the store.
Favorite Color: Red
This past Christmas season we collected handbags and filled them with daily necessities to give to women in need. The support we received from our customers and consignors for this project was amazing! We called it Handbags for Hope and we donated over 300 purses filled with goodies to various charities. We will definitely be doing this again next year.
Book: E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
How do you celebrate when you achieve a goal or a milestone? I go shopping.....of course! :-) Isn’t that what everyone does? :-) Seriously the feeling of accomplishment when a goal is reached is celebration enough for me. For a milestone such as a birthday I like to spend it with family and close friends. When life knocks you down, what lifts you up? I believe having a positive attitude helps a person get through the challenges life can throw at you. I was raised to never give up and to keep searching for different
Flats or Stilettos: Stilettos however lately I’m wearing flats more. Martini/Wine: Red Wine Sweet Treat: Good quality chocolate Vacation Destination: Anywhere hot with a beautiful beach and blue water
Movie: It’s Complicated Charitable Cause: Handbags for Hope solutions. I was also taught that no matter how bad things got if you looked close enough you would find something good in the situation. Always look for the good, always remain positive. Tomorrow is a new day. Seize it! I believe that everything happens for a reason and there is a lesson to learn in everything. What would you like to share with younger women about ‘being beautiful’? I would tell them to learn to love themselves exactly how they are today. To learn to appreciate their unique beauty. I remember when I was 20 and weighed 120 lbs. I thought I needed to lose weight! Boy do I know different now!
“I would encourage younger women to look in the mirror and see how beautiful they are and to repeat the quote from the movie The Help; You is kind, You is smart, You is important! Celebrating baby boomer women • 25
Glenda serving her customers at her Edmonton store, CapriceWest Consignment.
If only I could go back in time. At CapriceWest our goal is to help women learn to love and accept themselves exactly how they are right now, not after they lose 20lbs, have botox etc. I would encourage younger women to look in the mirror and see how beautiful they are and to repeat the quote from the movie The Help; You is kind, You is smart, You is important!
I’ve also met many business women in the Edmonton area through various networking events. The sharing of ideas and the camaraderie of spending time with fellow entrepreneurs has been very beneficial to me. I love my business but family will always come first. I’ve been married to Reg for over 40 years and we have 3 grown sons and 4 grandchildren.
How have business and/or personal relationships shaped your life?
What is it in nature that feeds your soul?
I’ve formed many close friendships with business women I’ve met since owning my own business. For the past 13 years I’ve attended an annual conference for consignment store owners. Over 400 women attend this from all over the States and Canada. The knowledge that I’ve gained from these conferences have played an integral role in the growth and success of my business.
Oceans, sunsets and hoar frost are 3 of my favorite things. Being near an ocean or lake soothes and relaxes me. I love the sound of quiet ripples in the water as well as the sound of crashing waves. Watching the sun set on water takes my breath away. Hoar frost on a bright sunny winter day is magic to me, I love it! Being in nature makes me appreciate the gift of sight and makes me grateful for everything I have. a
26 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
Edmonton, AB UPCOMING EVENTS Community Nights • Monday, Feb 15, 2016 Carrot Community Cafe • Edmonton To register click here Book Launch Party • Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 • Calgary • Self Connections Book Store Celebrate the launch of the Fabulous@50 Re-Experience by Dianna Bowes. Join us for cake and bubbles. To register click here. Around the World with Fabulous@50. Sat., May 14, 2016 Prince of Wales Armouries • Edmonton Celebrating Travel and Diversity - To become a vendor or buy advance tickets click here.
www.fabulousat50.com
Dianna Bowes Edmonton Director & Founder Email Dianna Go to our website
Fabulous@50 ladies attend a drumming lodge led by Lisa Chell. Read my blogs For more events www.fabulousat50.com/events
Celebrating baby boomer women • 27
Calgary, AB UPCOMING EVENTS JoJo’s Embracing Fabulous • Radio Show New Episodes available the second and fourth Monday JoJo’s View is all about embracing fabulous in life through celebration, gratitude and generosity! Joanne and her special guests will inspire, educate and empower you with concepts, strategies and engaging conversations, designed to help you find clarity, transform your life, and Embrace Fabulous. Click here to listen. Book Launch Party • Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 • Calgary • Self Connections Book Store Celebrate the launch of the Fabulous@50 Re-Experience by Dianna Bowes. Join us for cake and bubbles. To register click here. Monthly meetup meeting held every second Thursday, join us and have fun! Click here for info
www.fabulousat50.com
Joanne Neweduk Calgary Director Email Joanne Go to our website Read my blogs Fabulous@50 ladies enjoy a day of snowshoeing at Bragg Creek www.fabulousat50.com/events 28 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
Victoria, B.C. UPCOMING EVENTS Why you need an “Integrated ZeroTax Plan” Thursday, Feb 25, 2016 It is clear that the old style of Financial Planning is not synchronized with the new style of Wealth Planning. Click here for info Dance Your Freedom • Thursday, Mar 31, 2016 We can’t often choose the music life gives us...but we can definitely choose how we dance to it! Click here for info Dying to Live • Thursday, May 26, 2016 Click here for info
www.fabulousat50.com
Annie Pool Victoria Director
“SAVE THE DATE! “ June 11, 2016 Pearkes Recreational Centre, Victoria
Email Annie
“Passport to Fabulous@50.”
Go to our website
Fabulous@50 Experience, the number one event for Baby Boomer women in Western Canada is coming to Victoria. The theme, “Passport to Fabulous@50,” with 40+ exhibitors is guaranteed to inspire women with a wanderlust for travel and live a healthier and happier lifestyle. Enjoy speakers and entertainment, followed by shopping, samples of food and pampering, contests, and a tasty martini. Interested in being an exhibitor click here or go to www.fabulousat50.com
Read my blogs
Annie Pool - The Victoria Fabulous@50 Director is in Bali working on her book. To follow Annie’s Bali adventure, click here to follow her on Facebook. Celebrating baby boomer women • 29
FEELING DISCONNECTED?? Get connected with Fabulous@50’s On-Line Community Receive a gift of the Be Fabulous! E_Magazine, plus a gift delivered to your home. Join our online Social Groups and stay in the loop of all things Fabulous! No strings, just love...
Click here to go to www.fabulousat50.com/Membership/JoinNow! 30 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
Celebrating baby boomer women • 31
New! Introducing VIVACA® An innovative full spectrum botanical liquid supplement to alleviate the symptoms of Menopause Including night sweats, hot flushes, mood swings and fatigue VIVACA® a non-hormonal liquid supplement clinically tested in collaboration with Canadian Naturopathic doctors, microbiologists, organic chemists, herbalists, product formulators and evaluated by menopausal women for effectiveness. VIVACA® comes in 3 delicious natural flavours; Lime, Lavender and Mint. Simply add a single daily dosage of liquid concentrate to 16 ounces of water. Kept in liquid form it improves the body’s absorption rate. It’s so easy! VIVACA® powerful formulation contains four key ‘whole’ botanical extract concentrates: Red Clover, Rhodiola Rosea, Black Cohosh and St. Johns wort VIVACA® meets and, in some cases exceeds, the regulatory safety standards of the FDA & Health Canada, NHPD (Granted an NPN product license) VIVACA® 100% Canadian grown and produced, (safe from heavy metals & pesticides). We know our growers they take the care to select the best plants because they are committed to growing it right for their family as well as yours. You deserve no less! A quality plant = a quality product. VIVACA® available in 6 day and 90 day supplies. Be part of the conversation and learn more www.vivaca.net
VIVACA® is the first to offer a comprehensive 90-Day self-help kit for menopause symptoms. Designed with important tools so that you can easily disc can affect symptoms. The kit* includes: 90 day supply of VIVACA product, a Menopause journal, an electronic hot flush counter, a Menopause book and a re-usable water bottle for your VIVACA. *may be used as a tool to work more effectively along side your healthcare practitioner.
Start today! www.vivaca.net
Yours truly, Anita Dyrbye Founder 32 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016
Night of Artists XIX OH Canada 2016 marks the 19th year of Night of Artists and the journey towards the 150th anniversary of Canada and the 20th anniversary of Night of Artists in 2017! Once again the show returns to the St. Albert Enjoy Centre for 4 days of art, music, fashion, awards and an overall celebration of the arts! FEATURING - Designer Laura Dreger with guest presentation featuring Edmonton’s Western Canada Fashion Week featuring Eve and Enoch, Ebb and crow, Sessa wearables, Suka clothing LUXX ready to wear - Music by BARDIC FORM and Samualson Gabriel McTaggert Trio.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> March 3-6, 2016 Location: The Enjoy Centre: 101 Riel Drive St. Albert, Alberta Tickets $20 in Advance -$25 at door Doors Open at 6:30 p.m. Appetizers and Cash Bar Fashionista Evening Saturday, March 5th, 2016
Full event details at: http://www.nightofartists.com/#!show-tickets/cihc
50% off for Fabulous@50
Click and Get Tickets and Enter Code: NOAXIX2016 https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fashionista-gala-night-of-artists-xix-tickets-20677433761 Celebrating baby boomer women • 33
Click here to purchase tickets or for more information 34 • Be Fabulous! e_Magazine I www.fabulousat50.com I February • 2016