SPRING 2017 • VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 3
wellness
THE
ISSUE
IN THIS ISSUE HEALTH & WELLNESS 4. YOGA FOR WELLNESS
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How the practice of yoga can improve your overall well-being.
6. MAKE THE LITTLE THINGS COUNT
How to get started in the Insta-culture world of fitness with Acorn & Coco.
7. SPOTLIGHT ON: LOCAL WELLNESS BUSINESSES Local ways to keep healthy and stay balanced.
8. TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR A BETTER YOU How EFT can bring balance and healing to your life.
10. TERMINAL CANCER SAVED MY LIFE
The story of Jamie Phelps, a young cancer survivor.
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SHOP LOCAL 15. FOLKLORE CREATIVE
Q&A with the husband and wife team behind Folklore Creative.
16. DRIFTWOOD DECOR
Spotlight on local supplier of 100% organic soy wax hand poured candles.
18. INFLUENCER SPOTLIGHT
Meet three local lifestyle and wellness bloggers.
BEAUTY 19. BROW GAME STRONG
We experience the newest trend in the beauty industry, microblading.
20. FESTIVAL ACCESSORIES
A few of our favorite accessories to take your festival outfit to boho chic!
FOOD & DRINK
LIFESTYLE
13. BETTER THAN SLICED BREAD
22. CREATE YOUR OWN AT HOME RETREAT
Quick and easy recipes to up your toast game.
Tips on how to pamper yourself at home.
14. ENERGY BOOSTING SNACKS
23. HAUTE MESS
Snack ideas to keep you going on busy days.
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Finding clarity in minimalism.
IN THIS ISSUE
HELLO SPRING! EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Beth McCahon @bethmccahon
Spring is finally here! In the next few weeks the weather will start to warm and the flowers will start to bloom. It's a time to start coming out of our winter hibernation, getting outside and swapping our oversized sweaters for warm weather clothes.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lija Karklins @lijatamara MANAGING DIRECTOR Kiki Carr @carrkristine
Let’s be honest, at this time of year everyone wants to be the healthiest and the fittest they can be. The struggle comes when we actually have to work at it! It’s a lot easier to say you want to achieve your health and wellness goals, but it’s another to put them into action.
COPYWRITER Madison Reesor @madsreesor DIGITAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Laura Hoad @whatlauralikes
This spring the team at LAUNCH are going to try to make that process an easier one! With a curated collection of great local products, classes to keep you motivated, and inspirational people and stories, you’ll be able to kick start your fitness journey.
PUBLISHER Brand Ambition Direct Advertising Inquiries to: DIGITAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Laura Hoad laura@brandambition.ca
Happy spring everyone!
CONTRIBUTERS: Homefolk Aide Body Care New Moon Tea Co. Jeanna Tindale Jamie Phelps Lora Currie Courtney St. Croix The Arrowe & Co. FITMOM Nurture Retreats
Dani Campbell Gilliam Small Kelly Bouchard Susan Elstob Nikole Goncalves Mary Cammisuli Jodi Cureatz The Lil' Organic Kitchen C.A. Barnes Floral Designs Divine Earthly Roots
Beth McCahon marketing@brandambition.ca
DRIFTWOOD DECOR: PAGE 16
LAUNCH inspires women to discover and celebrate their own potential in all aspects of their lives. With a clever, informative take on business, beauty, lifestyle and pop culture we encourage readers to cultivate not just personal growth but pursue the success that comes with consciously creating a balanced lifestyle.
CORRECTION NOTICE: In the fall issue of LAUNCH, the name of Folklore Creative's owner was incorrect and should have read Jeanna Tindale. We apologize for this error.
© 2017, LAUNCH, a divison of Brand Ambition.
FESTIVAL ACCESSORIES: PAGE 20
LAUNCH • SPRING 2017
ON THE COVER: PHOTOGRAPHY: unsplash.com
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a g o y
FOR WELLNESS
Dani from Shining Soul Yoga & Wellness talks to us about how the regular practice of yoga can affect your overall well being. TEXT BY DANI CAMPBELL & MADISON REESOR
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HEALTH & WELLNESS What does wellness mean to you? Wellness means a balance of mind, body and spirit. I am able to achieve balance in these three areas when I eat a healthy and nutritious diet, practice yoga and mindfulness and when I feel connected with the people and things that I am most passionate about. How has yoga and nutrition effected your overall wellness? I was drawn to yoga and nutrition after years and years of an unhealthy relationship with my body. Yoga helped me reconnect with my innate ability to heal myself both spiritually and physically. I learned a wonderful coping mechanism that has helped me through many stressful life events, I learned how to become more intuitive to what my body needs to thrive and it also brought me to my second passion, nutrition. I had always been passionate about cooking, and having been a competitive gymnast growing up I understood the importance of good nutrition for optimal performance. Despite knowing this I still ate the wrong foods from time to time and lived on a very restrictive diet for years. It wasn’t until getting my degree in holistic nutrition that I realized what we learn from the internet or so-called health experts often is misguided information that is presented to the masses and is not specific to our own health issues or nutritional needs. It can cause more harm than good. Now I have the expertise to help others recognize food sensitivities and allergies, help with weight loss and maintenance, reduce symptoms of illness and prevent disease, and so much more. I am passionate about empowering people to reach their optimal health and nutrition goals, so they may experience a balanced life of great health, happiness and vitality. Do you believe that yoga can assist and encourage positive character development? I have been teaching yoga to youth for years now and I have seen what it has done to bring about calmness in an otherwise stressful and chaotic time of their lives. It teaches them how to focus, relaxes their brains, and helps them to manage stress, anxiety and depression. It fosters confidence, self-control, positive behaviour and compassion for others. This isn’t unique to just youth of course; it is beneficial for all ages. But I can tell you I would have been a completely different person now and as a teenager if I had access to yoga and mindfulness back when I was in school. Having said that, it is never too late for self-development. What advice do you have for others looking to yoga for overall wellness? There are many different styles of yoga so I recommend that you try as many different classes as you can, so you may find a yoga that is right for you. In addition, when looking for a nutritionist try to find someone who is qualified and specializes in the area that you wish help with. That way you will be guaranteed expert experience and knowledge with a personalized wellness plan that is unique to your needs. Combining yoga and nutrition can have an incredible impact on your health, mental clarity and emotional well-being. Both offer you the benefits of increased energy, stable moods, improved digestion and immunity; better self-awareness and a more positive self-image allowing you to live a healthier more vibrant life. “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.“ - Thomas Edison
DANI CAMPBELL Owner/Operator of Shining Soul Yoga and Wellness www.shiningsoul.ca @shiningsoulyogaandwellness
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MAKE THE little things COUNT Getting started in the Insta-culture world of fitness with blogger Acorn & Coco
As a fitness instructor, the most common question I am asked by my participants is "How do I lose X pounds?" Weight loss is a top fitness goal for women, and with our current “insta-culture�, clients are always surprised when I don't give them a quick and simple "do-this-and-you'll-lose-weight" answer. Fitness success is a combination of many small and manageable tasks that, when done regularly, will allow you to see big progress. It's the little things that make all the difference. (Like, If you wanted to save $1000, you wouldn't expect to have all of it in a week, would you? Making small, incremental "deposits" into your healthy lifestyle will give you huge rewards.) My top tip? Work on adding small, manageable chunks of activity and healthy choices into your daily routine every day. (Imagine it's like adding $10 to your savings account every time you do one small step.) Squat while you brush your teeth; do calf raises in the shower; have milk instead of cream; lift your baby over your head 20 times; take your kids for a walk; monitor your portion sizes; drink a full glass of water before you eat your meal; choose more veggies and fruits; take the stairs. If you want to lose weight, you need to adjust your lifestyle, and stick to it (for life)!
ACORN AND COCO - COURTNEY ST CROIX www.acornandcoco.com @acornandcoco
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Wouldn't it be fantastic to create healthy habits that made you look and feel amazing? Join our new 8 week Balanced Body Plan at www.arroweandcompany.com
THE ARROWE & CO. www.arroweandcompany.com @arrowe_company
FITMOM is more than just a fitness class. It’s a safe, fun and challenging place where you’re surrounded by other amazing women. It’s where you‘re all becoming stronger, fitter, faster. And it’s where you’re able to learn everything you need to know about exercising during your childbearing years. See what it’s all about, Join the Motherhood!
FITMOM www.fitmomdurham.com @fitmomdurham
NURTURE: A RETREAT You’ve found courage, inspiration & motivation to be an entrepreneur, but simultaneously discover your business mirrors what’s happening within. You ask: "Where's the map for when it gets hard?” Enter Nurture: a delicious retreat gathering, created & curated intentionally for entrepreneurial women exploring the relationship between creativity & self care. April 25-27th. Link to register: www.nurtureretreats.com/register Photo credit: Alyssa Wodabek Photography
NURTURE RETREATS www.nurtureretreats.com @nurtureretreats
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNIQUES
u o y r e t t e b a r fo
What you can expect from EFT...
TEXT BY GILLIAN SMALL & MADISON REESOR
• Greater clarity and decisionmaking skills
If you’re like a lot of people today, you may feel overwhelmed, stressed, and maybe even a little hopeless to change what’s not working in your life.
• Greater sense of peace and calm
I know, I have been there! That is why I’d like to tell you about a scientifically proven mind, body and spirit technique called Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). EFT is also known as Meridian Tapping and this powerful modality falls under the umbrella of energy healing with growing and startling results.
• Greater confidence and self-esteem
EFT or Tapping is using your fingertips to gently tap on certain acupressure points on the body’s meridian energy system. As you do this, you are sending a signal to the amygdala in the brain reaching the body’s flight, fight or freeze response system and signalling it to calm down, thereby, calming your very own nervous system and quickly reducing the stress response. This technique is taken from the doctrines of Chinese medicine combining acupuncture with modern Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) but without the needles. By using your very own fingertips and tapping on specific acupressure points around the facial area of the body, while talking about a pain in the body, upsetting experience, childhood or adult trauma, reoccurring negative patterns or behaviours, you are literally tapping into your body’s very own energy and healing powers.
• Release chronic pain often due to emotional pain and so much more!
This negative or limiting programming shows up in our subconscious belief patterns, such as I am not good enough, I am not worthy, I am not deserving, I am not important – do any of these resonate with you? I sure had to work through a few of these myself over the past few years. This powerful technique helped me to uncover them and either neutralize these limiting beliefs or release them altogether, allowing me then to get in touch with my passions, goals and dreams and start living life to the fullest.
GILLIAN SMALL Transformational Life Coach eft-transform.com @gillian.small
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TERMINAL CANCER
y M d Save Life TEXT BY JAMIE PHELPS
To say “terminal cancer saved my life” is a bold statement. It might even seem a bit “out there,” but over the past three years, it’s a thought that has often crossed my mind. It wasn’t until my surgeon said it to me that I finally realized how accurate a statement it was. Terminal cancer really did save my life. Growing up, I was the queen of fast food. I was absolutely in love with it. When I first got my license, I couldn’t believe how easy it was to hit a drive-thru whenever I wanted. Heading to a destination and feeling hungry? Why not grab a single-patty cheeseburger and small fry? Feeling hungover or still intoxicated? Nothing tastes better than the greasiest of food. All along I'd just ignore the nagging stomach pains I was experiencing, because I truthfully thought nothing of it. Why? Because I had a colonoscopy at the age of 17 after noticing blood in my stool, and it was determined to be something that would come and go throughout my life. Just to be on the safe side, I even asked my mother what had happened with my grandmother, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in her seventies, and my experience was nothing like my grandma’s. I was in my twenties, so I was fine. Then, just two weeks before my 28th birthday, a simple trip to the doctor’s turned into a nightmare. I was told I had stage four colon cancer, and that it was inoperable. Fast forward three years later, with six surgeries under my belt, more than twenty rounds of chemo, and scans upon scans, I am officially clear. Living in this new state of what my doctor’s call “no existing disease,” is interesting. I’ve often reflected on just how my life has changed, besides the obvious, and one of
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the biggest differences is what I eat. I try to remain as consistent as possible, but life gets in the way sometimes, and that’s okay.
NO MORE FAST FOOD This is an absolute. I’m not going to lie, I do miss it. Not only for the convenience, but I also loved the taste. You just have to start saying no. There is not one good thing that can come out of those places. Now, I do have loopholes with this. Coffee shops are okay, but only if you're in a real pinch. I will still order pizza from time-to-time, and pick up a veggie sub every few months, but that’s about it. You know all the major culprits in fast food, the ones that advertise to your kids to try and get them hooked at a young age. That’s what they did to me. “So you’re saying that my dinner comes with a toy, and a place to play?” It's a dream world for children, and for parents it’s cheap, convenient and a quick way to shut their kids up in the back seat. Please, don’t do it. Fast food didn’t give me colon cancer, but I firmly believe it caused it to advance much faster.
GOODBYE MEAT Here's a perfect example of where moderation plays a key role. The ones to cut completely are beef, pork and anything processed; Those just have to go. There are a lot of documentaries and books out there linking all meats to cancer, claiming a vegetarian diet is the best cure we have. I partially believe that. My cancer was genetic, there was not much I could do about it. However, with an almost meat-free diet, I'm helping to prevent future growths. I go back and forth with cutting out turkey and chicken. I know cutting meat out of your diet may seem daunting, it was for me at first, so instead of doing it all at once, I did it gradually. First went beef, which was the most difficult. Hamburgers were my favourite food to eat. Just how was I expected to go through a whole summer without a burger from the grill? Well, it took me a while to figure it out, but now I love veggie burgers. I still allow myself all of the crappy
HEALTH & WELLNESS
condiments such as ketchup and mayo, so to me, it tastes just the same. So just do one type of meat at a time until one day you find yourself not having any.
CHANGE YOUR TASTE BUDS I never was an adventurous eater and when I started reading into the vegetarian/vegan diet, I couldn't believe the things I'd have to start eating. I wouldn’t classify myself as a “meat and potatoes” person, but I was extremely picky with my vegetable choices. I once heard if you try something at least 10 times, you can start to train your taste buds to like it. So, I began forcing myself to eat new things, and sure enough, I'm now obsessed with some of the new things in my diet. Regular staples now include almond milk, kale, sprouts, black beans, avocados and cauliflower – all things I never used to like! Trust me, if you know it’s good for you, just try it. If you don’t like plain avocados, try it as guacamole. Eat that guacamole until you start to crave it. Then try slicing up the avocado really small and add them to your salad or sandwich. Slowly but surely, your taste buds will change and you won't be able to imagine your life without it!
LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES It’s so easy when we are sick to just reach for what we’ve been told will help. Have acid reflux? Take a Zantac or Tums. Headache? Here’s some Tylenol. Nauseous? Pop a Gravol. Have you ever sat back and questioned if there was another way to fix your ailment? I began to. I was popping so many pills during chemotherapy that I started to think “there has to be a better way.” Sure enough, I was correct. Acid reflux, indigestion or heartburn? Take a spoonful of baking soda and mix it with a glass of water. Feel a headache coming on? Try rubbing peppermint oil on your temples and make sure you sit in dim light. Stomach upset and feeling nauseous? Boil some water with a few pieces of fresh ginger in it, pour it in your mug and add a few slices of lemon and some natural honey. Drink away your nausea! It’s simple and easy, and most of us have these ingredients in our cupboards already.
I’ve often reflected on just how "my life has changed, besides the obvious, and one of the biggest differences is what I eat
"
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I am not perfect every day. I "sometimes lose my temper or cry. I’ll eat ice cream on a hot summer’s day.
"
STRESS-FREE ENVIRONMENT The mind-body connection is a powerful thing. You can be eating, drinking and exercising in all the right ways, and you can still be unhealthy. Everything is interconnected, you must focus on healing it all. I carried so much worry and stress around with me before that I’d become angry or upset over such trivial things. Something this big enters your life, and you begin to realize that none of the small things really matter. Why try to impress a crowd of people when you can nurture and build the relationships closest to you. If something in your life causes you stress, do something to change it. Cut out everything and everyone who does not add something positive to your life. All these things are easy to say, but not easy to do. I am not perfect every day. I sometimes lose my temper or cry. I’ll eat ice cream on a hot summer’s day. I try, however, to never fault or blame myself. I allow myself that day, and try to move on the next. We’re all a work in progress. We’re allowed to change our thoughts and actions with each passing moment. So with each new day I try to focus on the positive and remember this twisted gift I was given. Even if there are a lot of factors out of my control now, maybe more than one life can be saved or improved by my story.
JAMIE PHELPS cancer survivor youngfemalecancer.com @jamie_phelps
BETTER THAN
d e c i Sl d a e Br Lack of energy is something we all have struggled with but we don’t need to just rely on that extra large coffee every morning. The fancy toast trend has taken the plain, boring toast we know but don’t love and has turned it into a punch of energy that is fun, colourful and totally insta-worthy. Here are some tasty combinations to spruce up your breakfast and snacks:
Peanut butter + banana + coconut Avocado + tomato + balsamic vinaigrette + chia seeds Greek yogurt + blueberries + walnuts + honey Goat cheese + strawberries + edamame Hummus + tomato + fried egg Ricotta + pear + honey
LAUNCH • SPRING 2017
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ENERGY BOOSTING SNACKS Next time you feel a craving coming on, reach for one of these quick and healthy options to keep your body feuled.
COLD-PRESSED JUICE Juicing is one of the best ways to get nutrients into your body, minus the fiber. With no fiber to digest, nutrients are directly absorbed by the bloodstream.
COCONUT KEFIR Organic Coconut Kefir is a dairy free alternative to yogurt, sour cream and whipping cream. Full of probiotics that will boost your immune system, improve digestion and increase energy. Pets love it too!
MARY CAMMISULI Worth The Squeeze Juicery www.facebook.com/mcammisuli @worth.the.squeeze.juicery
JODI CUREATZ EcoEating Holistic Nutrition www.ecoeating.ca @eco.eating
LOCAL INGREDIENTS The Lil Organic Kitchen features a farm-to-kitchen-to-community menu, focusing on organic, local and GMO-free ingredients. Our community inspires our menu, allowing us to offer a variety of nourishing foods and continuously collaborate on ideas within the kitchen to keep those coming back!
THE LIL ORGANIC KITCHEN www.lilorganickitchen.com @lilorganickitchen
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SHOP LOCAL
FOLKLORE CREATIVE Q&A with the husband and wife team TEXT BY MADISON REESOR
Q: What inspired you to turn a DIY passion project into a business? A: We LOVE DIY projects and with our skills in art and carpentry, we felt we had something of value and great quality to offer people. Q: To what do you attribute your success? A: Hard work, teamwork, organization and a commitment to give 100% to everything we do. Q: Has owning a business always been a dream of yours? A: Absolutely! Especially after deciding to stay at home with our children; owning my own business seemed like a great fit to be able to earn an income while working around family life, especially in these early years. Q: What sets Folklore Creative apart from other local furniture retailers? What makes you unique? A: Folklore Creative offers quality products with fair prices and exceptional customer service. We really care about our customers because we also view them as neighbours and because of that, we prioritize giving everyone the care and attention they deserve when they work with us, without exception. Q: What are some lessons you’ve learned being a business owner that can help inspire other local entrepreneurs? A: Taking the first step into business ownership may feel scary, but it's so worth it. Just do it! You don't have to have all of your ducks in a row all the time - entrepreneurship is messy and a bit of a rollercoaster ride, and that's okay! Just always stay humble and grateful to those who support you and give you business.
JEANNA TINDALE
OWNER Folklore Creative www.folklorecreative.ca @folklorecreative
LAUNCH • SPRING 2017
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SHOP LOCAL
DRIFTWOOD DECOR Shop local with these 100% organic soy wax hand poured candles. TEXT BY LORA CURRIE
Soy Melts (100% Organic) ~ 8 Scents Available $7.50
Farmhouse Containers (Set Of 3) $65
"Orchard" Organic Soy Candle $25
Driftwood Decor carries it’s own line of 100% organic soy wax hand poured candles, scented with essential oils and crafted with a cotton wick. In a day and age where people are making conscious decisions to select organic and all natural products, it only makes sense that they should start to consider the ingredients of the candles that they burn in their home. The candles contain no petroleum, paraffin, beeswax, or toxic materials. As a busy Mum of 3, I know how precious time is. I decided that an online shop would allow other busy individuals the freedom to shop when it suits them, while keeping all natural and organic options accessible for all. After months of hard work, and many late nights, Driftwood Decor was launched, an online boutique that ships all across Canada and the USA. Driftwood Decor has been operating for 2 years, with family, health, honesty and creativity as our core values. Driftwood Decor is proud to say we use 100% organic ingredients and only use essential oils to fragrance our candles.
LORA CURRIE OWNER of Driftwood Decor driftwood-decor.com @driftwood_decor
LAUNCH • SPRING 2017
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INFLUENCER SPOTLIGHT I’m Courtney. A Canadian chick living in a small town North East of Toronto, Ontario. I started my blog when I was pregnant and had little else to do but wait for her to arrive. It began as a way for me to express myself creatively as I struggled through the final weeks of being pregnant, and I thought it would be a great way to keep track of the baby once she arrived. After completing a degree in English Literature, I wound up working full-time in the fitness industry and am now a fitness instructor and manager for Canada’s largest fitness facility. And, while it has literally nothing to do with my education, I absolutely love my job and wouldn’t trade it for anything!
ACORN AND COCO - COURTNEY ST CROIX www.acornandcoco.com @acornandcoco
My name is Susan and I am the voice behind the Isla Pearl Lifestyle Blog. I never intended to become a blogger, nor even realized that “blogging” was in fact what I was doing until people started saying to me “I love reading your Blog”. I just started writing and I realized that by doing so I was able to take a deeper look at all of the things about life that inspire me. I wanted my words to have meaning so I created a space that women could come to for inspiration, maybe a different perspective and perhaps maybe a side order of motivation to start taking action on all of those things you “should” be doing. I believe that life is meant to be lived fully by creating a life that you want to live - without hesitation or apology.
ISLA PEARL - SUSAN ELSTOB www.islapearl.com @islapearllife
Hi I’m Nikole! My philosophy = balanced eating & a healthy lifestyle. The most important thing you should know is that to me, food is LIFE. I’ve loved food since I was a little and the more I grew, the more I wanted to experiment and discover new foods and new tastes. My goal is to create healthy, yet tasty recipes that are guaranteed to make your taste buds dance. I don’t believe in dieting. HealthNut Nutrition is all about finding a balanced life that works for you. It’s about listening to your body, surrounding yourself with positive sources, and limiting stress while enjoying the foods you love. There’s no calorie counting, low fat, sugar free labels on my recipes; because I focus on real, unprocessed foods – it’s as simple as that. When it comes to balance, I live by the 80/20 rule; that means eating healthy 80% of the time, while leaving 20% for sweets and wine.
HEALTHNUT NUTRITION - NIKOLE GONCALVES www.healthnutnutrition.ca @urhealthnut
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BEAUTY
BROW GAME STRONG We look into the newest trend for flawless brows. TEXT BY BETH MCCAHON
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ou can’t deny that the eyebrow obsession in the beauty industry is going strong, and we are always looking for the next big trend in brow beauty. For us, the trend that sparked the most interest in our mission to obtain flawless brows, is microblading: a new semi-permanent brow technique from Asia promising natural-looking, fuller brows. Uh, yes please!
Also known as feathering or microstroking, microblading is a form of permanent make-up. It uses super fine lines of pigments to fill in your existing eyebrow hair. Using a manual pen-like tool with tiny needles it adds the pigment into the dermis - or superficial layer of the skin, which means that hairs can be drawn on individually. The result is a much subtler, more natural-looking finish. To get a closer look, we went to our local beauty guru Kelly Babcock Bouchard to get an upclose and personal look into everything microblading has to offer. If you’ve been thinking about upping your brow game with microblading, contact Kelly for all the details. Go to www.kellybouchardmakeupartist.schedulista.com to book your appointment today, then lean back, relax and look forward to a life with perfect brows!
KELLY BOUCHARD Kelly Bouchard Microblading kellybabcock.com @kbouchbrows
LAUNCH • FALL 2016
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BEAUTY
festival
ACCESSORIES Festival season is right around the corner and we are so excited! Our favorite style icons can be seen at all the big events sporting the seasons trendiest accessories. Here are a few of our favorite accessories that can take your festival outfit from tired hippie to boho chic!
FLOWER CROWNS A staple in the boho world you can’t go wrong adding a beautiful crown to your summer wardrobe. Not into DIYing? Not a problem!
CAROL-ANNE BARNES FLORAL DESIGNS www.bloomin-crazy.com @freshflower
GET SPIRITUAL! DON’T FORGET YOUR SUNNIES! Accessories are great, but some are necessary! Sunglasses are essential at any festival, so why not jazz them up? DIY an average pair of aviators with some cute flowers and BAM you've got yourself some adorable festival worthy sunnies.
LAUNCH • FALL 2016
If you really want to get into the festival spirit we recommend getting a mala necklace or bracelet. Whether used as a friendly reminder to be mindful or to help you escape the chaos of festival season in a peaceful meditation, malas are a great festival accessory. Extra bonus! Add your favorite essential oil to your mala to help stay zen.
DIVINE EARTHLY ROOTS www.divineearthlyroots.com @divineearthlyroots
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CREATE YOUR OWN at home retreat Not all of us have the luxury to venture off to a retreat or spa getaway when life gets stressful but that doesn’t mean you can’t get that pampered treatment at home. Here are a few tips on how to recreate that zen feeling. CREATE A RELAXING SPACE Quick Tip! Add plants and natural elements like wood into your space. Doing this is said to help with intuition, creativity, and personal growth!
HOMEFOLK
www.thehomefolk.com @thehomefolk
SCHEDULE THE TIME! Treat this time like you would treat a doctors appointment or conference call THIS IS A PRIORITY!
efolk for m o h e v lo e W ood touch! w ic t s u r t a th
STAY HYDRATED Hydration plays a huge role in our overall wellness and if you are looking to destress and relax we recommend trying a new tea! Check out New Moon Tea for a variety of options to help you unwind.
TREAT YOURSELF! Take a nice long bath and jazz it up! Try Aide Body Care's variety of luxurious all natural bath products. Pssst! Promo code included!
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AIDE BODY CARE
www.aidebodycare.com @aidebodycare
NEW MOON TEA CO. newmoonteaco.ca @newmoonteaco
LIFESTYLE
HAUTE MESS How I found clarity in minimalism TEXT BY MADISON REESOR
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’ve recently experienced a great loss. All my clothes, in exception of the clothes on my back, were mistakingly thrown out due to mislabeling and miscommunication during house renovations. “Take these bags of clothes to the basement”, somehow translated into “Take these bags of clothes to the dump”. I was devastated, I didn’t have the means to replenish my wardrobe and there were no signs of my clothes in the land fill.
A day of pouting and crocodile tears blew over, and I had to start planning how I was going to replace my belongings. Lucky for me, minimalism is something I’ve always wanted to incorporate into my life, I just never had the will power to throw out all my favourite knickknacks or clothes I haven't worn since high school. I was emotionally attached; I never realized I was so attached to stuff, and that’s all it is, it’s just stuff. I soon got hooked on purging things I haven't touched in the past year, which escalated to binning things I didn't use on a daily basis. I realized that through this loss, I was able to completely start over my wardrobe, free of all emotional attachment with nothing to lose. I can attest to the saying, “Clear space, Clear mind”. I’ve never felt more free, clear and at peace than I am now. When dedicating to live a minimalistic life, you’re not only helping the environment and your wallet, you’re going to see a complete lifestyle change, an improvement in mental clarity and the ability to pick up healthy and productive habits. I used to only clean my room when I was asked, now I find myself habitually picking up after myself and others, actually folding my clothes instead of using “The Chair” as my main form of clothing storage. My take away from this experience is to let go of emotional and superficial bonds between you and your stuff, whether it’s clothing or just straight up junk. With involuntarily having my belongings thrown away, I was able to look internally and decide what actually matters to me and how I weighed my emotional value to objects over things like mental clarity and interpersonal connections. We all have anxieties about the order and chaos in our lives, and I’ve learnt to accept that it’s apart of life, no matter how clean your room is.
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"Be the energy you want to attract"