Lifestyles
MaY JUNE 2015
grilling the PERFECT BURGER being a good SPORTS PARENT designing with STONE create value with outdoor rooms best lawn ever MARK CULLEN defining CLEAN EATING Scan
weekly for more
online!
y, h t al fe e H Li A o ced T e lan d i u Ba G ur ppy, o Y Ha
Did you know? Shelley’s Trendy Finds! Be sure
and check out the Kortica line of cork purses and clutches exclusively at Nancy’s “Fashion Therapy” 142 Mississauga St. E. Very Cool!
Orillia’s Wine Experience
on Norweld Drive has a very trendy Coconut Yuzu Pinot Gris as well as an amazing selection of trendy fruit wines that pairs well with others. Cheers!
Dapper Depot for a “top” choice look!
has some very hot, trendy hats for men and LADIES! See Steve
White Lions Tea House
33 Westmount Dr. N. offers more than tea. Light lunches, fresh baking and giftware for the tea lover. Always something “brewing”!
Speedy Auto Glass
has a full line of bike racks and trailer hitches for your summer excursions. Take a hike!
See
Lifestyles Check out our new website!
ScanForMoreOnline
Check Out Our New Website For All The Articles & Information That Didn’t Fit Into This Issue!
what’s playing at your Orillia Opera House this summer. Look for an interview with Jesse Collins/Norm Foster in our next issue of Lifestyles Magazine!
See
what’s new in kitchen and cabinet designs at Sunshine Kitchens & Cabinets, 9095 Hwy. 11 North, offering 3D computerized designs. Neat! Call David.
For a renovation
big or small or a complete new build call Wes Brennan Construction for the real “dirt” on their high quality building services from foundation to roof and everything in between!
Check Get
out our online Real Estate page with local properties and vacation homes for sale!
to a healthier place at Anytime Fitness, 3275 Monarch Dr. Orillia...”Fit” it in your busy day!
Lifestyles Magazine is online 24/7, 365 days a year! Remember... “Weir Happy at Lifestyles Magazine.ca”
Guaranteed Service & Satisfaction
Mice Fleas Spiders
Earwigs Bees Cluster Flies
Carpenter Ants Cockroaches Live Trap Skunks & Raccoons
R. Brock Weir Publisher/Editor brock@lifestylesmagazine.ca 705 330 2262
Shelley Weir Associate Publisher shelley@lifestylesmagazine.ca 705 330 1026
Linda Laforge Production | Creative | Design linda@lifestylesmagazine.ca 705 728 6218
LSM-lifestylesmagazine.ca is published six times a year by YouLink Inc. Contact us at info@ lifestylesmagazine.ca and visit us at www.lifetylesmagazine.ca. All rights reserved. Letters to the editor are invited. Please send letters to info@lifestylesmagazine.ca. Reproductions of any article, photograph or artwork without specific written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. The information contained in lifestylesmagazine.ca may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior wrtten permission. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. The options expressed in lifestylesmagazine.ca are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher or advertisers. YouLink Inc., 3-200 Memorial Avenue, Suite 104, Orillia ON. L3V 5X6
contents | Vol 4 No 3
May June 2015
CoverPhoto
FeatureStory 7 grilling the PERFECT BURGER Burgers
are
the
go-to
item
for
barbecues, campouts and late night trips to the diner. A juicy burger can satisfy so many cravings. If ever there was a recipe to master, it would be grilling the perfect burger.
In this Issue 4
Shelley’s Trendy Finds
6
Being a good sports parent
9
Designing with stone
11 Staging your home on a budget 16 It’s a fashion thing for spring 16 Ask the trainer 19 Throw a party to remember 22
Finding more travel time
Features
outdoor rooms
CREATE VALUE
Getting Ready for Spring? Preparing for Summer?
Click on lifestylesmagazine.ca each week in May & June for timely lifestyles articles!
best lawn ever
13
Mark Cullen
defining
15
eating clean
21
6
healthy, happy, balanced life
How to be a good sports parent
authority on calls or how team members should play. Respect should always be shown to coaches and referees. Let your child have fun regardless of his or xtracurricular and summer season sports her performance. Too often parents get swept up leagues keep thousands of children in how their children are performing when the goal occupied. Youth sports promote physical for young athletes should be to enjoy themselves. fitness and teamwork while helping children Resist the urge to focus on performance and focus acquaint themselves with sportsmanship and instead of whether or not your child is having camaraderie. fun. While many kids play just for recreation, others Recognize college scholarships may not play competitively. be in the cards. Although some children are Sports are meant to be sources of enjoyment destined for athletic greatness, many will not for children, but parental pressure and poor adult play sports after high school. Pressuring older behavior on the sidelines can make kids reluctant children to improve their performance in the to compete. Parents who behave poorly may hopes of landing college scholarships can make inadvertently pass on bad habits to their children the little time they do have to play their favourite or cause kids to prematurely abandon their athletic sports less enjoyable. pursuits. The following are a few tips for parents Take cues from the child. Children are who want to encourage their kids’ passions for often great indicators of parental behavior at sporting events. Parents whose children seem sports in positive ways. Show respect for coaches and officials. unenthusiastic about mom and dad attending Parents should not act like they are the final their sporting events may be trying to tell you
E
We’re renovating our Orillia showroom! Join us for the big reveal from 10-4 on SAT. MAY 30TH - GRAND OPEN HOUSE EVENT • Meet vendors, professionals, Interior designers & artists • See new product displays • Enjoy great food & live entertainment with Sunshine FM on site! • Enter to Win a ONE WEEK GETAWAY (1 prize every hour)! 85 Commerce Rd. Orillia (Next to Nissan dealer)
volcanic limestone baths
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
they don’t appreciate your behavior at the games. Provide constructive criticism. Early coaching and practice with parents can give kids a leg up on the competition. But keep your advice constructive. Parents who become pushy or force constant practices can make sports unenjoyable. Place emphasis on fun and learning skills. Find out what the kids hope to accomplish by playing sports and help them to achieve those goals. Focus on being supportive rather than emphasizing winning, as doing so can help children view sports participation in a more positive light. If children seem to have lost interest in sports, parents can ask why in an effort to make sports fun again or encourage other pursuits. Many sports now require year-round participation, which can cause burnout in some youngsters. Sometimes a brief break and some fine-tuning may be all that’s needed to rekindle a child’s passion for sports.
healthy, happy, balanced life
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
7
How to grill the perfect burger
C
ould any food be as simplistic and delicious at the same time as a patty of beef on top of a crusty bun, served with lettuce, tomato and your choice of condiments? Burgers are the go-to item for barbecues, campouts and late night trips to the diner. A juicy burger can satisfy so many cravings. If ever there was a recipe to master, it would be grilling the perfect burger. Though barbecued burgers may seem easy to make, all too often burgers are botched by a few mistakes. But don’t worry, burger mastery is within reach if you follow these simple tips. Begin with fresh meat. Freshly ground meat will produce the best flavour. If you are unsure when the packaged ground beef was made, ask the butcher or someone in the meat department of the supermarket to grind you up a fresh batch. Otherwise, use a food processor or an attachment on a stand mixer to grind the meat yourself. Fat has flavour. If you’re going to indulge in a burger, make sure it
has a fair amount of fat content. Fat helps keep the burgers moist and juicy. Make sure the fat content is about 18 to 20 per cent of the mix. This helps to guarantee flavourful burgers. Keep the meat cold. Chilled burger patties will firm up and hold their shape better during cooking. Leave the pre-made patties in the refrigerator until the last minute. Keep patties on ice if you will be cooking burgers in batches. Don’t overhandle the meat. Compressing the meat and handling it too much can lead to dry, dense burgers. Avoid tough meat by handling it as little as possible. Keep your hands wet while shaping the patties so they’ll come together easily. Oil up the grill. A clean, well-
oiled grill prevents burgers from sticking during cooking. Make sure the grill is super-hot. The goal is to cook burgers over high heat and fast. This is achieved with a very hot grill. It may only take three to five minutes per side to cook the burgers, depending on the thickness of the patty. Flip only once. Wait until the burgers have been grilling for a few minutes and release easily from the grill grate. Flip them over and allow them to cook a few minutes more. This helps keep the juices inside the meat and prevents your burgers from turning into burnt hockey pucks.
Resist the urge to squash the burgers. Pushing down on the burgers with the spatula will only force the juices out. If you want dry burgers, press them down. If you want nice, juicy burgers, step away from the spatula. Allow the burgers to rest. Take the burgers off the grill and let them rest for 5 minutes so that all of their juice redistributes through the patty. Toast your hamburger buns and then serve the burgers with your favorite toppings. Dig in and enjoy your efforts, as well as the compliments from other diners.
8
healthy, happy, balanced life
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
Cottage master bedroom
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
healthy, happy, balanced life
9
Interior Designer
www.NancyLemDesign.com
From counters to walls
Stone Selection Is Critical
M
any clients ask me what solid stone surface is best...natural versus man-made? The easy answer is that there is no one solution, it comes down to preferences. Do you like pattern and texture, or would you prefer a quieter, more subtle finish. With so many products on the market now it can be difficult to choose the material that’s right for the job, so even though we are typically inclined to go with what takes our breath away, remember to always consider whether its appropriate for the application.
Natural Stone Finishes
These include marble, granite, limestone, soapstone and slate. Of these, granite is the most durable and dense stone of them all. With natural stones you are limited to the natural slab size, with granites ranging up to 66” wide and 115” long. Marble, limestone and soapstone tend to be softer stones, therefore more prone to scratching, wear and come in smaller scale slabs ideal for little or no seaming. When specifying natural stone for counter tops, I always ensure the client is aware that natural stone surfaces should always be sealed to prevent staining from food or other spills. For example, if you love white Carrera marble, you may want to reconsider this for your main counter surfaces as red wine and strawberry stains can be difficult to remove. Rather than eliminating it completely from your design concept, consider using it as a backsplash instead. There is nothing more beautiful than the natural vein work of stone. Harvested from solid rock, stone can be cross cut resulting in varied flowing vein work or vein cut on a vertical angle to render very linear veins.
This kitchen recently won a national CDECA award for it’s sleek modern design. We incorporated a subtley textured quiet quartz counter for the central island and perimeter counters, and used a more patterned stattuario white marble for the backsplash.
Book-matching a stone in this starburst pattern with a very prominent vein work is gorgeous and absolutely stunning on this bedroom fireplace. Quartz slabs are made from highly compressed grains of stone quartz and resins making it even more durable than granite. Slab sizes tend to be consistently longer with some available 56” x 120”. This is good information to know to ensure your design details involve little or no seaming. Unlike natural stones, quartz counters require no sealing and are low maintenance. Some man-made quartz fabricators add contrasting grains of stone to create vein work that might simulate a natural granite or marble. Pattern, texture and movement can be created with how the slabs are arranged and installed. Cladding a fireplace wall or a kitchen island with a heavily patterned stone can become the artwork in the room.
10
healthy, happy, balanced life
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
David Clayton-Thomas July 29
since 1895
Summer Concert orilliaoperahouse.ca Series Call the Box Office 1-888-ORILLIA 705-326-8011 or on-line at
The Orillia Opera House is managed by the Orillia Parks, Recreation and Culture Department
Replay - Beatles Tribute July 25
LIGHTHOUSE Aug. 19
20 Mississaga Street West Orillia, Ontario, L3V 3A6 follow us The Orillia Opera House @OrilliaPRC
healthy, happy, balanced life
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
11
3 Ways to Stage Your Home on a Budget Curb appeal
G
etting your home ready for sale means putting some time and effort into how it will look to potential buyers. According to the Real Estate Staging Association’s website, staged properties spend less time on the market, and typically sell for more money. The concept is simple: the better your house looks, the better your chances of impressing buyers and selling quickly. Although some real estate marketing companies like offer staging advice and professional photography as part of their listing packages, there are many things you can do to get your home show ready. You don’t have to spend thousands on upgrades before you sell. These simple steps will help.
De-Personalize
1
Potential buyers want to be able to see themselves living here. When there are family portraits and personal affects around, that becomes a lot harder to do. That’s why your first task is to de-personalize. As you take away the things around your home that are unique to your taste, you create room for the buyer to see their own belongings in the house. Remove anything that gives personal information about you or your family, including family photos and trophies, kids’ posters, degrees or diplomas, anything you would hang on a refrigerator or
that indicates a hobby. Pack these items to be displayed in your new place. Now, you’re one step closer to moving.
Clean and De-clutter
2
A clean home makes a big impact. Buyers will take note that the property appears well taken care of. Part of cleaning includes de-cluttering, which will create more space. A cluttered, unorganized home can appear smaller, darker and less inviting to a potential buyer and turn them off your property. The importance of a deep clean to make a great first impression is huge. That means no pet hair, dishes or dirty clothes left out for a potential buyer to see. Cleaning window coverings, including blinds and curtains, is a detail that can go a long way in freshening up your house. Remember, buyers will often look into closets and cabinets, so take the time to straighten these areas and pack away what you are not using regularly. Don’t forget any outdoor storage areas that are being sold with the property, like garages or sheds, that a potential buyer will want to look at. Time and elbow grease are all you need to make your property shine in the eyes of potential buyers. This is also a great opportunity to donate unwanted items and get ready for your next place.
3
Curb appeal often comes down to landscaping. There are many ways to welcome buyers from the outside without breaking the bank. While you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on your landscaping there are ways to increase the likelihood that you will convince buyers to come inside and look around. As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Start with continuing your cleanup and decluttering outside. Mow the lawn, pull weeds and trim bushes and trees. In the warmer months, colourful flowers can go the extra mile. At the very least, adding inexpensive mulch to any flowerbeds and under trees or bushes will add to a polished look. Painting your front door is also a fun and inexpensive way to breathe new life into your curb appeal Be sure to pick up any outdoor toys or sporting equipment as well. Pack, donate or store these items and arrange any outdoor furniture neatly and in appropriate areas of your yard. Remove any faded or old furniture and fill bare spots will seed or sod to complete the outdoor space. Decorative elements like lanterns, outdoor rugs and throw pillows can also go a long way. With these simple tricks and a little attention to detail your house will be show ready in no time! Highlight the best features to impress buyers both online and in-person. Jason Schlegel www.PropertyGuys.com
healthy, happy, balanced life
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
13
How Building an
outdoor room can increase your property’s ROI
L
et’s face it, when homeowners think of renovation for resale, they don’t often think of landscaping. Dollars are spent on bathrooms instead of backyards, and outdoor space can get ignored to the detriment of the owners. I can’t say this enough…don’t underestimate the impact of an ‘outdoor room’ on your property’s ROI! Creating a beautiful, usable space not only gives you curb appeal, it also extends the square footage and living space of your home, a top motivator for buyers according the Century21 Canada (2014).
the tree at the back of the yard to do all of the work! In my opinion, there are far more subtle and stylish ways to achieve that private moment. Adding panels and details around the sides of your room work like walls by creating visual distractions. They work for privacy, but you can make them functional as well incorporating built-in benches and shelves. Ultimately, every renovation we make to our homes not only has to meet our needs as homeowners, it should also increase the home’s value. This idea of return-on-investment (ROI) has arguably become the most important factor influencing how we spend our renovation budgets. Here are my top three tips for If you can create a home that works for your family building an outdoor room: and at the same time know that it’s the type of Useable Space: creating a level surface in your to success. You want to use products that will last, home a future buyer wants, then it’s a win-win backyard, whether it’s building a deck or a pergola, that are cost effective, and that hold their value the in my books! is probably the single most important factor for longest. I personally love using MicroPro Sienna, Carson Arthur is an outdoor room. Decks have traditionally been a pressure treated wood that has a gorgeous rich an international the best choice because they hold their value the brown hue, doesn’t require initial staining and landscape designer longest with minimal effort … and the numbers is affordable! Plus, having received numerous with a focus on prove it. According to Renovation Magazine’s environmental certifications, Sienna can be used environmentally friendly design. His 2015 Cost vs. Value report, adding a wood deck to to build everything from decks to raised garden HGTV series, Critical your back yard is one of the top smart investments beds and veggie planters! Listing, teaches in your home with a return of over 80%. homeowners how Privacy: creating privacy for an outdoor room is to raise the value of Materials: when building your outdoor room, harder than ever with bigger homes being built their homes through using the right materials is one of the major keys on smaller lots. Don’t simply rely on fences and outdoor renovations.
1
2
3
healthy, happy, balanced life
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
15
Mark Cullen’s
tips for the best lawn ever
Clear the Clutter
Once the snow has melted and the ground has dried, use a lawn rake to remove the loose debris from the previous fall. Raking gets the grass blades standing up, allowing for greater air circulation that discourages mildew growth.
Aerate
Over Seed
Over seeding is the best way to fill empty spaces and choke out weeds. By building a thick, healthy lawn, weeds are shaded out. To properly over seed, apply a premium lawn soil 3 to 5 cm thick. The new soil will provide a porous base to hold water for proper seed germination. After you have spread the soil, broadcast grass seed at the rate of 1 kg to 100 sq. metres. If the area is small, broadcast the seed by hand. For larger areas, a hand-held broadcast spreader does the job. Rake smooth with a fan rake, and then step on the area to bring the seed into contact with the soil.
Aerating is beneficial in high traffic areas where the soil beneath is compacted and the grass above is suffering. If the area is small, a weeder aerator garden tool does the job. If you’re hiring a professional for larger areas, make sure they specify their method. Coring physically removes a plug of Water soil from the ground, allowing oxygen to After sowing the grass seeds, flow through. Spike aeration simply pushes the water once a day for the soil into the ground, further compacting the soil. first week; once every two days for the second week and once every three days Fertilize for the third week. Once A high content iron fertilizer is best for any germination has taken place, lawn. Something like Golfgreen with 10 times water deeply every third or the amount of iron in each bag lets you see fourth day (unless the weather the greening effect, often in less than 72 hours. is especially hot and dry), applying about 3 cm Fertilize again 8 to 10 weeks after the early spring once a week. Your lawn’s roots will grow deeper application using the same high iron formula. and healthier in search of water. In the fall, apply a winterizer. This is the most important fertilizer application as it prepares your lawn for the long winter ahead and ensures a healthy lawn in the spring.
Cut High
This is essential for strong, healthy roots. If you think about a tree, the bigger the tree above the soil, the bigger its root structure beneath it. A healthy lawn also performs best with deep roots. Raise your mower blades to 6 to 8 cm high to promote healthy roots that are better able to withstand the Canadian summer.
Finally
If you notice ripped up areas where skunks and raccoons have been digging, apply beneficial nematodes to bring grubs under control. Apply Green Earth Grub Buster nematodes in late April to mid June, and early August through October. These amazing microscopic creatures are only harmful to the grubs chewing your grass roots. Nematodes occur naturally in soil. You are simply boosting the population.
Mark Cullen www.MarkCullen.com Orillia Home Hardware
16
healthy, happy, balanced life
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
Ask the Trainer Expert answers
to your health & wellness
Can you please explain what circuit training is?
questions
Circuit training is a form of body conditioning where you perform an exercise for a period of time and then move on to another exercise. Typically, you’ll perform each exercise for 30-60 seconds and have 15-30 seconds to transition to the next exercise. Once you complete all the exercises in the circuit, you’ll rest and repeat the circuit again. On the fitness floor in a gym setting, a specific group of weight training machines may be set in a formation so you can move smoothly from one machine to another. In a group fitness setting, you’ll find stations of exercises placed around the room. Circuits can be strength exercises only or a combination of strength and cardio exercises and are usually set up with 8-12 stations. Circuit training is fast paced, fun, and great for anyone who is busy and wants to combine strength and cardio in one workout.
Is sweating any indication of how hard I’m working out? How much you sweat depends on the type of workout and training goal rather than how hard you’re working out. For example, power lifters who train hard and lift heavy need ample rest between sets and, typically, do not sweat as much as someone moving through an eight station circuit with little to no rest between each exercise. Both types of workouts are challenging, but the amount of sweat you produce will be very different.
Editors Note:
Your environmental surroundings can also influence how To try out circuit training, join much you’ll sweat. Cooler temperatures or working out the Anytime certified personal in an air conditioned room will result in less sweating, trainers for five consecutive Free while a warmer room, such as a hot yoga studio, will Workout Saturdays this May. result in the opposite. Keep in mind that sweating is your Designed for people of every body’s way of cooling itself. Some people are simply fitness level these 10 a.m. parking more efficient at this than others, thus more sweat! lot workouts are designed to get people to think outside the gym Instead of measuring your sweat to see if you’re working – whether it’s to try something hard enough, try using the ‘talk test’ (if you’re working different, take advantage of the hard it should be tough to talk), a heart rate monitor (an warmer weather, or get started indicator of how hard your heart is working) or measure on their fitness goals in a new and exciting way. your workload (wattage, mileage, Mets).
It’s a fashion thing for Spring! E
very new season comes with its own new set of colours, textures and trends. Spring is no exception! This year on the runways of Paris and New York, crop and sheer tops, wide leg pants, knee high sandals and yards and yards of ruffles have been the most recent trends. All shades of white and neutrals with floral prints are also en vogue.
Ditch the shoulder bag for a flirty, hot coloured clutch instead to add pizazz and pop to your day! Check out your local Just Elaine’s, Winners and Nancy’s (formerly Sirkka’s) for these current spring trends and more! Shelley Weir
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
healthy, happy, balanced life
17
2015 SUMMER SEASON
OUTLAW
June 25 - July 4
by Norm Foster
directed by JESSE COLLINS
On GOLDEN POND
July 9 - July 25
by Ernest Thompson
The Ladies FOURSOME July 30 - August 8
by Norm Foster
directed by JESSE COLLINS
The Vaudevillians August 13 - 29
a musical by Peter Colley
Individual show Tickets or Flex-Pacs on sale now
Tickets : $29.00 each Group Rate: $27.00 (10 and over) Flex-Pacs: 4 shows for only $100.00
Call the Box Office 1-888-ORILLIA 705-326-8011 or on-line at
orilliaoperahouse.ca 20 Mississaga Street West, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 3A6 follow us The Orillia Opera House @OrilliaPRC The Orillia Opera House is managed by the Orillia Parks, Recreation and Culture Department
18
healthy, happy, balanced life
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
Save money and still throw a party to remember
healthy, happy, balanced life
19
H
osting a party is a fun way to get together with friends and family members. When hosting at home, hosts enjoy the added benefit of not having to travel to get home once the party has ended. But as fun as hosting can be, it’s also a significant responsibility that requires a little elbow grease and often a significant financial commitment on the part of hosts. Many hosts find themselves stretching their budgets in an effort to throw the most enjoyable and memorable party possible. But there are ways to save money and still throw a bash no one is likely to forget anytime soon. Make it a potluck or BYOB event. Guests typically offer to bring something to parties, so hosts who want to keep their party budget in check can take visitors up on their offers to contribute something to the festivities. Casual parties can be turned into potluck affairs in which each guest brings a dish, be it an appetizer, main course or dessert, for all to enjoy. More formal affairs can still borrow from potluck dinners, but limit food requests to desserts so the meal is not held up by late arrivals. Another way to save is the make the party a bring your own booze, or BYOB, affair. The cost of alcohol for an adults-only affair can quickly add up, but asking each guest to bring their own alcohol relieves hosts of such financial obligations. Hosts may still want to purchase some alcohol as backup or to serve to early arrivals, but keep such purchases to a minimum. Host an afternoon affair. Dinner
parties tend to cost hosts the most money, so those worried about busting their budgets can opt for an afternoon get-together instead. Afternoon gatherings, which can be advertised as brunch parties or backyard barbecues, can be just as fun as formal dinner parties, and the food served at such soirées likely won’t cost as much as three-course meals commonly served at dinner parties. Put your pantry to good use. Before choosing a meal to serve your guests, peruse your pantry to see what’s inside. Chances are you already have much of what you will need to prepare and serve a delicious meal, so a thorough search of your pantry may save you a substantial amount of money on ingredients. If you notice you have enough in the pantry to serve a particular meal, then make that the main course. Don’t overlook the Internet. While it might seem ridiculous to take to the Internet to buy items like plates, napkins and towels, such efforts might just save you a substantial amount of money and you won’t even have to leave home to do so.
Online retailers now offer just about anything you may need or want to host a memorable party, and buying in bulk from such websites may be more cost-effective than buying from the nearby grocery store. Hosts who have left things to the last minute might not be able to take advantage of online retailers, but they can still take advantage of big box stores that offer steep discounts to customers who buy in bulk. Such stores typically require customers to be club members, but many offer one-day passes to nonmembers. There may be extra charges for nonmembers, but even when such charges are included, you might still be able to save some money. Keep things simple. When hosting a party, it’s easy to go overboard and buy too much food and/or drinks for the party. But hosts on a budget should remember that the point of the party is to spend time with loved ones and not to ply guests with excessive amounts of food and drinks. Hosts should make sure guests have enough to eat and drink, but keep things reasonable when planning how much food and drinks you expect to serve. Hosting a party often requires a significant financial commitment. But hosts can still throw a great party without breaking the bank.
20
healthy, happy, balanced life
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
What is clean eating all about?
C
lean eating is a growing trend among people focused on health and wellness. A relatively simple concept of selecting foods that are minimally processed, clean eating intends to instill a greater understanding of the pathway between a food’s origins and the final products that end up on grocery store shelves and dinner tables. Choosing whole or “real” foods that are as close to their natural forms as possible is a staple of clean eating. The availability of convenience food products has never been greater, and not all packaged foods are unhealthy. But clean eating encourages consumers to be more aware of the ingredients in the foods they eat while selecting those foods that are minimally processed. Many foods designated as “clean,” including vegetables and fruits, whole grains, free-range meats, lowfat dairy products, unsalted nuts, and whole seeds, are straight from the farm. Another component of clean eating is
healthy, happy, balanced life
21
Clean eating starts with selecting farm-fresh fruits and vegetables and other foods that are in their most natural form.
eliminating or greatly reducing the consumption of refined sugar. Many health experts advise that refined sugar is a large contributor to unnecessary calories. Many people can get all the energy they need by consuming foods with natural sugars. If an ingredient list includes names you cannot recognize or if the natural form of the food has been changed (i.e. removing the bran from whole grains), it cannot be included in a clean-eating plan. Also, foods that have a lot of additives, including salt, sugar and fat, are not classified as clean. Jessica Fanzo, assistant professor of nutrition at Columbia University, advises that not all food processing is bad. Processing is sometimes necessary to prevent pathogens that can lead to illness. For example, pasteurizing milk is a processing method, but one that is necessary to stop the proliferation of bacteria. Even steaming foods is processing in some form, but it is not on par with some of the overly processed foods available. The benefits to clean eating are numerous.
Increasing intake of fruits and vegetables can boost your immune system and serve as a nutritious way to maintain a healthy weight. Clean eating may help you become more conscious of everything from meal ingredients to portion sizes. Those interested in clean eating can begin slowly. Start to introduce more fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and farm-fresh foods into your diet. Look for foods in their natural form, such as whole oats and other grains. Avoid highly refined ingredients and limit sugar and salt intake. Opt for fresh herbs and spices to season food. Over time you can make other changes. Adopting a clean-eating approach to their diet is a great way for men and women to start living healthy lifestyles. Speak with a doctor or nutritionist about healthy and effective ways to transition to clean eating.
22
healthy, happy, balanced life
LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE
How to find more time to travel
F
ew people would likely say they don’t enjoy traveling. Travel provides an opportunity to experience different cultures, visit idyllic locales and enjoy some rest and relaxation. But as much as people love to travel, finding more time to do so is not always so easy, even for those people with a sufficient amount of vacation days at their disposal. Oftentimes, finding more time to travel requires some extra and earlier planning. Reconsider when you travel. Building a trip around a long weekend is an easy way to find more time to travel. Consider the holidays that fall on a Monday, such as Labour Day. Plan a getaway for these long weekends and you won’t even need to use a vacation day. If you have the vacation time to burn, extend the trip one day by leaving on Friday or returning on Tuesday. By the time your trip ends, you will have enjoyed a three-day getaway without using any vacation time or a four-day extended break during which you used just a single
day of vacation time. Planning a week-long trip on a holiday week is another way to save a vacation day for later in the year. Extend business trips. Business travelers who typically travel on Mondays and/or return home on Fridays can extend those trips to include the weekend preceding or following the trip. This gives you a better chance to explore the city where conferences or client meetings are being held, as business trips typically leave little time to get to a know a city or see its attractions. Business travelers can plan family trips around their work trips, giving families a great and often cost-effective way to see various locales. Use your allotted vacation time. A 2013 study from Oxford Economics found that North American workers took an average of 16 days of vacation in 2013, which represented a roughly 20 per cent decline from 2000, when workers took an average
of 20.3 vacation days. The United States Travel Association discovered a similar pattern, finding that in 2013 workers used just 16 of their nearly 21 days of earned time off. Perhaps the easiest way working men and women can find more time to travel is to make use of all of the vacation days they earn as oppose to letting them fall by the wayside at the end of their companies’ calendar years. Negotiate with your employer. Many employers have grown increasingly flexible as technology has made it easier for employees to work remotely. Men and women who want to find more time to travel should not be afraid to negotiate more travel time with their employers, even offering to work remotely from whichever destination they plan to visit. This can be an especially effective way for parents to extend family vacations in the summertime, as one parent can take the kids in the mornings and afternoons while the other works. Come nighttime, the whole family can still enjoy all the fun of a typical vacation. Travel is a luxury that even busy men and women can enjoy if they employ certain strategies to create more time to get away.