Letter from the Editor With May here, we’re seeing a warmer temperature and much longer days. Before I start sounding like the girl on the weather network, it means we can get back to the most favorite fashion season ever! Time to take out those shorts, tees and the crop tops for those of us who can pull them off. However, it’s also that time to pay tribute to your skin! But then, isn’t it always? Now that the the extreme cold is gone (thank goodness!) it’s time to quit the heavy moisturizing routine we’ve become accustomed to, and move onto the protection against harmful UV rays. The sun is getting hotter, and while there are no complaints from me, I’m sure there will be from a lot of people. Just remember... when you’re sweating and complaining about how hot it is, you asked for this. Remember the winter we just had! ;) Now, in regards to relationships and sex, isn’t the summer just the best time for new love, hot spicy romance and steamy passionate nights? It’s time to really put a spark back into your relationship. One thing I really can’t stress enough is how to take care of your health during this time. As it gets hotter, you need to be more careful about what you eat. You need to stay hydrated, and if you eat massive amounts of sodium, it all gets sucked out of you. Keep your greens at the top priority on your grocery list, and make sure to get your daily intake of fruits and dairy too. Something I’ve been trying lately is Essential Oils, and it’s amazing how just massaging peppermint into your temples can take away a headache! If you try anything new this season, try that! Take care :)
Lilly
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CONTENTS
STAFF
Editor in Chief: Lilly Babineau
Assistant: Erica Chevarie Public Relations:
Ashley Merriam
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Executive Directors of Operations:
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Kristina Mallet, Candace Bazowsky Beauty Director: Kristina Mallet Fashion Director: Candace Bazowsky Photographers: Ed Bowron, Mario-Pierre Gaudreau, Shawn Harquail Kimberly-Mai Therrien Hairstylists: Kandas Michaud, Melanie Smith-Lear, Amanda Braun Makeup Artists: Stephanie Carson Contributors: Scott McLean, Casey Donovan. Staff Writers: Melanie McLean, Sarah Racicot, Kristina Mallet, Natasha Dore, Jennifer Richard, Elizabeth McLelland.
STEPHANIE CARSON MAKEUP ARTIST OWNER OF CLASSIQUE BEAUTY FIND HER ONLINE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CLASSIQUEBEAUTY OR CALL: (506) 229-2126
MELANIE SMITH-LEAR HAIRSTYLIST HAIRSTYLIST AT GLAMOUR SECRETS GO SEE HER AT THE SALON AND SHE CAN BEAUTIFY YOU AS WELL!
KRISTINA MALLET MAKEUP ARTIST COSMETOLOGIST AT JEAN COUTU FIND HER ON FACEBOOK AT: KRISTINA MALLET - BEAUTY CONSULTANT OR EMAIL KRISTINA@PINKBLITZ.COM
KANDAS MICHAUD HAIRSTYLIST HAIRSTYLIST AT SEARS HAIR SALON FIND HER ONLINE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/KMICHAUD. HAIRSTYLING
Wellness
Keeping Your Heart Healthy by Jennifer Richard Your doctor, study after study, medical journals, and just about anyone with a little common sense will tell you that exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle. You need to take care of YOU if you want to live a long and happy life. The most important muscle in your body needs the utmost attention. Your heart. It beats for you, it pumps for you, and it keeps you alive to do all of the special and amazing things that you want to accomplish.
a great source of monounsaturated fat, and fish are full of Omega-3 fats.
Make your heart healthy, help it out. Exercise for 2030 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week, be it on a stationary bike, walking around the block, go for a nice crosscountry ski trip, or even do some water aerobics. Then, indulge in a supper or lunch rich with healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, and a nice lean cut of meat or fish and Exercise is proven to add years to your life and cut the congratulate yourself on a job well done. If you take care risk of heart disease, even among the obese. Heart disease of your heart, your heart will take care of you. and stroke is the leading cause of death for Canadian men and women which is a horrifying thought, so kick start your heart and get healthy. Here are some diet and exercise tips to keep you heart healthy. Regular exercise has many, many benefits. It can lower your blood pressure, help reduce your overall body fat and help you reach a healthy weight which is key to heart health. Cardio and aerobics get your heart pumping blood which is best for your health and is described as ‘steady physical activity using large muscle groups’ which in turn strengthens your heart and lungs and improves circulation. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Sounds simple, right? Berries are so full of vitamins and antioxidants that it should be a no-brainer to add them to your grocery list. Sprinkle some on your cereal or yogurt and you may reduce your risk for a heart attack. Deep dark greens are also full of vitamins and nutrients. Fruits and veggies also contain tons of fiber and minerals. Choose HEALTHY fats. When cooking your food, opt for canola or olive oil. No need to dump buckets of oil into your saucepan, filling a spray bottle with olive oil and spritzing it in the pan, or over whatever you are cooking is sufficient and since your body needs fat to survive, why not make it a healthier choice. Avocado is
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Wellness
Wellness Coaching
by Jennifer Richard
“Wellness Coaching is similar to Life Coaching except that it deals with issues for and about your body, your overall health and general well-being.” Instead of concentrating on the things you would like to work on where your life and work is concerned, a wellness coach will help you work on your health and wellness. Your coaching can be done either in person or on the phone and after an initial evaluation of your situation, sessions generally run for 12 weeks, although it is not uncommon for the relationship between a person and their wellness coach to develop so much that they request extra sessions. Most, if not all of us want to be happy and healthy. For some, that is achieved naturally, or easily. For others though, it’s not that simple. We need a little push, or a gentle hand to help us achieve our goals. Of course we all want to lead long and fulfilling lives, not just for us, but for our families and closest loved ones. Sometimes, trying to balance all of these things isn’t as easy as it seems. We all lead busy lives. Between work, school, kids, spouses and partners, trying to fit in alone time, vacations, exercise, and just the hustle and bustle of everyday life, sometimes we forget about ourselves. A wellness coach can help you lead a life with a healthy combination of mental, social, physical, and emotional well-being. The biggest difference between a wellness coach and your primary physician or a psychologist is that they’re not there to tell you WHAT to do, rather, they’re there to help you make decisions that will make you happy and healthy in the long run. They will ask you what YOU want to get out of your visits, where you want to go with your wellness, and how you want to get there. A wellness coach does not give you a diet and exercise plan, nor does a coach dig into your past to find out the reasons you are there. Your coach will help guide you into a healthy future, they’ll help you establish nutrition and exercise goals and is there to support and guide you to create YOUR definition of what it means to be well.
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Raising the Barre
by Jennifer Richard
Barre workouts are currently sweeping the exercise world by storm. The barre has been around forever, used extensively in the ballet world as a stationary handrail for training and warm up exercises and it provides support for practicing pliés, bends, dips, stretches, and everything in between. It’s an amazing means of stability and balance and barre workouts, since they’re ballet inspired, aid in building leaner muscles, improving your flexibility and your range of motion. Postures used in barre training include many that you would see in a yoga or Pilates class- those used for isometric strength training; meaning holding your body still while you still contract specific sets of muscles. A barre workout provides a myriad of benefits as well. Who knew that a workout based on a rigid bar from the ballet studio could offer you sexy muscle definition? If you’re feeling stiff, it can increase your flexibility greatly and also lead to an improved posture, which, let’s face it, most of us could use! Not only will you see weight loss results, but most women report seeing all of the results we’ve already spoken about very quickly. Because you’re exercising and stretching yourself to a leaner, more relaxed you, many people report reduced stress and fatigue throughout their days as well. The barre workout is not high impact so it’s fun for any fitness level and even for pregnant women to try. Most workouts and classes combine strength training and cardio which will in turn burn fat and build muscle. Since muscle tissue burns about fifteen times as many calories as fat, the stronger that you get, the more calories that you’ll burn! If you are lucky enough to find classes in your area, pop in and give one a try. They range in cost but it’s worth a shot! It’ll make you feel longer, taller, and tighter, and who doesn’t want that?!
Wellness
5 Unhealthy Eating Habits by Jennifer Richard
I could start the article with “stay away from junk food”, or “don’t eat after 6 pm” or “soda pop is bad”, but we know all of these things. It would be totally redundant to discuss the fact that gorging on a big bag of chips and dip before bed will give you indigestion, or that chugging that 2L of Pepsi every night is going to make you fat. Instead, here are 5 ways that you think that you’re being healthy, but are actually doing more harm than good.
consumption of All. The. Things, which then led to people not losing weight at all. Quite the opposite. News flash- fats are good for us! Our bodies need them. If you’re dieting, fats are important at each and every meal. It helps you stay full and feel satisfied. If you cut fat out of your diet, your blood sugar becomes unstable, thus leaving you hungry sooner and can also lead to mood swings. Nobody wants to see you Hangry.
1. Meal skipping- Bad news kids. ESPECIALLY breakfast. This is the worst meal that you could skip throughout your entire day. Why? Because after your body has slept and worked its ass off for you all night, you need to treat it right. It burned calories for you, it metabolized whatever you put in it before you laid it to rest, and it needs to be woken up properly. If you skip breakfast, you’re going to find yourself snacking through the day, drained of energy, and probably cranky as hell. I know, we’re all busy in the mornings. Between getting yourself ready for work and trying to get the kids out the door, we’re so swamped that it’s easy to neglect the most important meal of the day. Don’t. Power back some oatmeal, grab some fresh fruit, make a smoothie, just don’t skip it. This meal is going to keep you going for your day.
4. Not drinking enough water- Hammered into our heads since childhood, is drink 6-8 glasses of water a day! We all know from elementary school science that our bodies are 70% water and that we’re supposed to replenish our bodies every single day. Listen to your body. It’s true. Yes, you may have had 37 cups of coffee, but that doesn’t cut it. Your body needs water to lube your joints, flush out toxins, rid ourselves of fat, stay at the proper temperature and rid your body of waste. It can also help prevent constipation and kidney stones. Drink it! If it’s coming out of a tap, it’s free, not only money wise, but fat and calorie wise too!
2. Carb Cutting- Again, don’t do it. Sure, you can cut back on your intake, but please, PLEASE don’t cut them out entirely. Carbohydrates, fat, and protein are called macro nutrients. This means that your body actually needs them in large quantities. I know, we’ve all been told to stop eating carbs, stay away from bread, and rice, and potatoes, and pasta, but carbs in good measure and quantity are the primary foods that we need for energy! 3. Eating “fat-free”- *sigh. Bursting onto the scene in the 90’s was FAT FREE!!! Fat free chips, fat free salad dressing, fat free cookies, and fat free lifestyles! Too bad that the second that everything at the grocery store said fat free, people went bananas. (Sadly, not literally.) We all went overboard with food purchases thinking they were good for us because every label said fat free. This led to a serious over
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5. Banishing all of your faves- While it might seem like a great idea to just cancel out all of your favorite foods and drinks, that will be counterproductive. If you don’t allow yourself a little treat or cheat here and there, you may fail horribly down the road and gorge yourself later on. Allowing yourself a treat will help you to stay on point with your healthy eating habits and make it all worthwhile.
Beauty
Quick Morning Hair
By Krisina Mallet
With how busy our lives have become, whether it be from school, work or the busy mom, over sleeping, needed at work an hour earlier, emergency appointment, we all want our hair to looks its best. But sometimes there just isn’t the time to spend 45 minutes doing it. Here are some great tips on how to get your hair looks its best on a busy schedule.
the top of your head, then smooth it down and finish with hairspray. It will look like you have just been to the hairdressers all morning, but no one will your secret! Wavy hair. The best hair to have to manipulate into straight or curly, but not without time and effort. And if you have just fell asleep on it the night before, it can be a bit of a hassle to fix fast in the morning. The 2 best ways to deal with this type of hair, is to quickly flat iron just the top to smooth it down, and do a low updo by twisting everything to the back and secure it with bobby pins. It will kind of look a little 18th century and elegant at the same time.
Let’s start with straight hair. It can be frizzy, dull looing, or you just don’t want to have straight hair again. Spray your hair with a heat protectant, then start with sections at the back of your head moving up. IT should only take you about 15 minutes to get it feeling sleek again. Next, take a curling iron and add some curl just to the bottom of your hair. It will add bounce and should only take If that isn’t something you feel you can do, or don’t want you 5 minutes to do so. Finish with some hair spray and to, you can smooth it down with a flat iron and turn it you are ready to go in 20 minutes or less! in to beautiful side braid. Braids have never been more popular and easy to do. If you hair falls on the shorter Curly hair not working for you this morning? A very fast side, pin it all to one side add some curl and a little voland quick fix is an updo. Put your hair in a low ponytail, ume by easing the top. This will look super sweet. and start securing with bobby pins. Use some mousse to add more curl and help it stay in place. It adds elegance, and won’t take you anytime to do it. Don’t forget to tease
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Beauty
Tanning & Alternatives By Kristina Mallet
Skin care has never been so important before. Mostly because we know more than we ever did, and now we have access to pretty much anything. One of the more popular beauty treatments that women love to indulge in, is getting their tan on and there are 3 ways to go about this. Tanning beds, spray tans, and foams, mousses and creams. Let’s start with tanning beds. They keep you glowing all year long, and are so accessible. You’ll find them at gyms, salons, stores dedicated just to tanning beds. They are really great if you are looking to keep you tan all year long, especially if you are someone who likes to travel, so keep a tan to prevent burning in other countries. Or you have uneven skin and want even it out, this is one of the best ways to ensure that will happen. And as great as tanning beds are, there are many risks such as they can be very harmful to your skin, hence why there is restrictions now. Which is a good thing, because using a tanning bed will age you much faster and increases your risk of skin cancer, so it is best to use in moderation. A great alternative to direct UV rays or tannings beds, are spray tans. They can become a pricey, but for your health, it is much, much better. It’s a product that really sells itself now. With so much money invested, they look like a “suntan” instead of an obvious spray tan. This option is nice if you’re about to head down south and don’t want to look like you’ve been hiding in winter for 16 months. There is one stipulation: your age. You have to be 16 or over, just like a tanning bed. Creams, mousses and foams that tint or change the color of our skin are also available. They are cheap, work fast and give you a tan pretty quick. Foam is usually the easiest to apply since the product is super light. With creams or mousse, you need to be quicker in your application. The products starts to work pretty fast and may
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leave you splotchy or streaky. You can pick up a tanning glove that will help with the application. The downside to this type of application? Before any of these tanning methods, a great exfoliate made of sugar massage oil or baby oil and coffee bean with remove any skin cell that area ready to fall off. If you choose not to, your skin sheds layers off daily and you may see your tan fade really fast. These methods are great to use instead of, or in alternation with UV rays, but that doesn’t mean your skin is automatically safe. Use SPF daily, and try to apply it multiple times if possible. Even on a foggy day you’re still getting the UV rays and still tanning.
Model Nikki McHugh Photo by Shawn Harquail
Summer Haircolor By Kristina Mallet
With summer just around the corner (less then 3 months away) it’s time to be out with the winter hair, and in with summer hair. In a perfect world, everyone would just naturally go blonde for summer time, but with that being out of reach, here are some great tips for your perfect color. If you have black hair, this one could be a bit tricky, but not impossible. Seeing a hairstylist will be the best option for this look because it requires a certain skill set. But the bonus to this? It’s only a one time deal (or 2 if you choose so). Balayage, pronounced bal|ay|age , is super trendy right now. It’s like a sun kissed highlight and it can last for up to 6 months. It can add any color to your hair, keeping the black (if you so choose) but not completely damaging to the hair. A nice color to blend with black is a cooper/red or a light brown. If you do get it done a second time, you can even go with a lighter, blonder color. And it is super easy to transition back to black when summer is over. With brown hair, you should add some all over highlights. Even the balayage will look really nice. But adding some blonde will make you feel like it summer already! If you’re ready for an all over blonde, getting this done 2 or 3 times will be the best and easy on your hair. Or like already mentioned, the balayage. This kind of technique is so great for adding blonde to any hair color. Or any color really, you don’t have to limit yourself just to blonde. Blonde halos. This type of look is so sweet and natural looking. What it mean is one color of blonde on top and one color in the middle, around the face and that very same blonde on the bottom. This is a new look that recently hit big at fashion shows. You can have a very soft blonde on the top and bottom, and a soft peach, lavender or even a teal color around the face. It adds sass to your hair. The best thing about this, is that not everyone has it, so you can be the first of your friends to show off this beautiful, hot new trend. Model Morgan Costain Wilbur Photo by Edward Bowron
Makeup ByMade Easy Kristina Mallet Even on your worst day, you should always have a makeup bag of essentials. As great as it would be to be able to reapply your entire makeup throughout the day and evening, that fantasy is staying just that, a fantasy. So for now, a simple, elegant bag of essentials is what’s left. Let’s see what would be in one! Lip gloss. Or lipstick. Whatever it is that you’re wearing for the day, this should be there above anything else. There is nothing worst then applying lipstick or gloss in the morning, then after your first break at work, it is worn off from all the coffee or water you have been drinking. Now depending on what color stick/gloss that you’re wearing, lip liner would be good. With reds, it is SO important to have one. Nude color is perfect for this, in case the red runs, nude will hide smudges and conceal it. Also if you have to fully re-apply, you need your lip liner. Note: you can now buy mini sized lip line brushes, so it is easier to carry around. Q-tips. Just 3-4 in case of any smudging, mascara falling, eyeshadow falling anything of that sort. If possible, a concealer stick. A blemish or mark may happen at any time, and sometimes that is when your
Beauty about to enter a room full of people. Anything that you need to conceal is good enough reason to have a stick on your little carrier. Blush. Throughout the day, your blush may run, smear, or get wiped off from various activities so it’s always good to have a little compact blush with you. Most of them come with a little brush blush so you don’t have to worry about carrying a bigger one around Nail files are a good makeup essential. You can usually buy emery boards in ten packs for a few dollars. It’s good in case one of your nails break or you have a hang nail, nail files will take care of that. Last but not least, powder. Whether it be translucent or a setting powder that you used when you originally applied your makeup is good to have. It assists in keeping your skin looking flawless throughout the day especially if you have oily skin. Although this may seem like a lot of items, these are your essentials, and you can purchase them in mini/ travel sizes. This will make your daily routine very simple and easily accessible when you need a touch up through your day to day activities.
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g i B utiful ea
B & Sexy novan
With
o D y e s Ca Hiya Ladies, So I was with my friend Kaz the other day when she said to me “If you could have any talent, what would it be? Oh! That’s right, you already have it.” She was talking about me being a singer. But it got me to thinking about how we always want something we don’t have. Whether it be material, a talent, or anything for that matter, are we truly happy with what we have? I believe we always want more. Now, I’m a big beautiful and sexy woman and proud of it, but naturally we all have our own flaws and are our own worst critics. Every woman at one stage in her life, would like to be seen as the typical Barbie look alike. But what we don’t realise is that we could get ourselves to that stage and still not be happy within ourselves. Our hair wouldn’t be long enough or our boobs are too big or small. Big feet, wrong shaped eye brows and the list goes on. This is the same in general life. I think if people thought more about what they have and less about what they don’t have, their lives would be so much happier. Lets take a look at some instances. Dating. So many men and woman complain about not finding the one that best suits them. You hear people complain that there are no real genuine people left. The truth is, if people weren’t so shallow and want the Ken or the Barbie, they would have thousands to choose from. But in sating that, there has to be a mutual attraction. There is no such thing as a guy/ gal that has 100% the whole package. Whether it be they are missing the sense of humour, the dazzling smile, the six pack, the kind empathetic personality,
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or loyalty, the list goes on. But once again, you can’t have everything. We always want more! The house. A beautiful well kept home. All the up to date in style furnishings, pool out the back and perfectly manicured lawns. But you are missing the extra level, the bi-fold doors that you wished led on to the beach out the back. And the veranda, where is the veranda? We fail to realise that you can’t truly miss what you never had. How boring would life be if everything were the way we wanted? We looked the way we wanted with the click of our fingers. We would then be bored with looking at ourselves, This could expand and branch out into so many levels it makes my head spin thinking about it. It all comes down to us all trying to meet social acceptance and expectations. Everything we do is to make us seem more appealing to everyone else around us and not actually to ourselves. Like do you ever really hear someone say: I wish I were kinder. I wish I were more empathetic. I wish I were loyal? No, you don’t. Because no one cares because they cant see it walking down the street. But what if we reversed everything? What if everything we know were opposites? Like what if slim bodies were seen as a health problem? What if muscles were found as unattractive? As well as tans, makeup, nice cars, good clothes, long hair on woman, short hair on men, perfume and cologne were regarded as body odors? Don’t you think life would be so much simpler? No expectations would be placed on anyone. The only thing to be judged would be a person’s character. Now that sounds damn fine to me! n
Model Amanda Cook Photographer Edward Bowron
Beauty
Eye on Spring: The Best Colors to Wear NOW By Kristina Mallet
With the pretty spring flowers and colors just around the corner, it’s going to make you want to see these beautiful colors everywhere you go. Let’s make it happen for every time you look in the mirror at your eyes! Spring colors are usually those that are pastel, light, and super fun to look at, such as light purple, teal, mint green, soft yellows, some oranges and cranberry. With all these beautiful colors to choose from, let’s take a look at what is the best color for your eyes. If you have green eyes, you can wear the soft purples and mint greens, both of them together! Adding eyeliner will help make the colors pop too. Also yellows are a nice touch. There are some pretty fun ways to wear it. It looks really nice as a liner under your eyes, with blue on your lid. It is a really nice touch to spice up your look. Another great choice for eyes is orange. Now for some skin tones it might not be the best choice, but for those who can wear it, wear it well. It is really fun to play around with, creating a soft orange smokey eye. Or another favorite way to wear it, is orange all over the lid and black. IT is fun for a bold night out. One of the most popular colors right now is cranberry. Using this color to create an eye looks is amazing. Start with an orange base all over your lid, and add the cranberry to your crease, then blend it out. You can always add more if you want the color to stand out. Add a touch of cranberry on your lips, and you have made this beautiful, subtle smokey eye that can be worn day or night, depending on the lip color you choose. A nice nude will make it a day look, and a red or deep red will make it a night look! Adding a think black eyeliner will make these look extra fab. You can finish with eyelashes to really make these look pop if you have an event to go to, a night out, or you just want to feel glamourous for the day!
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Fashion
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Model Amanda Cook Phootographer Kimberly-Mai Therrien
What’s Cropping Up By Sarah Racicot
The latest fashion years, lavished in comeback trends, have endued us of various love-hate articles, one of them being the crop top. The crop top has been around for a number of years. The first courageous lady to wear one triggered a mess of controversy, of course she could take it because her name was Madonna. It was in 1983, in the music video for her pop hit Lucky Star. The late generation commonly remembers this trend for its popularity in the late 90s, made by celebrities like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Some members of the Spice Girls even wore crop tops during their pregnancy. In the following years the crop top has made a few appearances on the runway and in magazines. It only truly made its comeback in 2013. This summer’s crop trend is the continuing of the 2013s crop top explosion. It hasn’t left store shelves since the said summer when overnight it became a must-have item for all girls. They came in all shapes and sizes, long or short sleeves, tank tops, hoodies, turtlenecks, sweaters, jackets, etc. The crop top is a rather unique item, there is no right way to wear it, but one can surely express their personality through the choice of their outfit and the accessorization of their crop top. Some prefer wearing high wasted bottoms with it, while some chose to wear a low wasted bottom with some body jewelry. The classic jean-crop top duo has also taken a new turn with the revival of the ripped jeans. Yes, this eye catching trend, you might remember made its resurgence in 2009, is now back to our greatest pleasure, and what a better way to make a statement than paring them with a crop top. Wearing a crop with fringes is a great way to achieve an indie, almost bohemian look, and why not accentuate the ensemble with long jewelry and a head band. And for the punk-rocker hidden in all of us, opting for a cropped band shirt is always a good idea, and to complete the look: chunky chains, red lips, dark nail polish, and my personal favorite, boyfriend cut ripped jeans.
Urban Chic
Photos By: Mario-Pierre Gaudreau Model: Claire Lin Special Thanks to La Louche Restaurant
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Fashion
Great Fashion Overall ! BY SARAH RACICOT
Don’t try to deny it. I did it, you did it, we all did it. We all laughed the first time we saw overalls coming back on our store shelves. We have first accepted designers had maybe lost their mind a little, or maybe they were a little too nostalgic toward past trends. But staying on the sidelines and watching daring girls try them on might have gotten you a little curious. Although its shape would let one think the opposite, the overall can be rather form-fitting, the ones in stores today are far from the hillbilly looking ones we imagine our grandparents wore while doing farm work. The first occurrence of the overall was in the 20th century, used as a protective garment, it was worn by men on top of normal clothing to protect them while working, and women later started wearing them in the factories during First World War However, the denim overall we know, with the front patch and the two shoulder straps is actually called the ‘’bib-and-brace overall’’. It was worn in America starting in the 50s, especially by railroad workers, boiler men, carpenters, and of course, farmers. It is only in the 90s that it became a fashion trend amongst women. Since then, it has been on and off the charts but always finds its way back on our runways. Some garments are even descending from the overall, like the jumpsuit, the jumper, and the romper. These three cute pieces have been recreated by prestigious designers all over the world, like Guess. The overalls are liked mainly for their comfort, but how to wear them casually, without looking like you live on a ranch? First, pair them with a print, stripes, plaids, flowers, or any pattern. Second, chose your footwear wisely. If the pant is a boot cut, sandals, flats or even sneakers are preferable. The skinny fit can be paired with most styles of shoes, however heels can give an elegant touch to a casual outfit. Third and final; accessorize. There is nothing that can change an outfit like jewelry. A single necklace can make the difference between relax Sunday wear and a cute evening outfit. So simply have fun playing around with this cute re-invented wear, accessorize it and make it your own.
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Model Hillary LeBlanc Photo by Edward Bowron
If there is one color we can say looks good on (almost) everyone, it’s black. It looks good with –literally every color and pattern. It is most people’s go to color, and for good reason. Not only is it exceptionally versatile, but it also has a slimming effect. A touch of black will do with any outfit. These days, it seems almost natural to own every piece of clothing in black. Ever since Givenchy dressed Audrey Hepburn in head-to-toe black for her role in breakfast at Tiffany’s, it has become a must have color for every closet, and the all black look a symbol of sexy and strong, all at once. Actually, black is not a color. Opposite of white, black represents the absence of color. That’s right! Contrary to popular belief, white is the mixture of all colors, while black is the absence of color. If you mix all the colors of the rainbow together, the end result will be white. In fact, true white reflexes 100% of the light it receives, while black absorbs 100% of it, that is the reason black clothes are warmer to wear than white clothes in the summer time. We may not know it, but black has been present in fashion history for centuries. It’s ever changing status has fluctuated from poor artisans and merchants to nobles and royalty. In ancient Egypt, black was admired for it was the color of Anubis, the god of the underworld, shaped as a large cat and offering protection to the dead against evil. In the early middle ages it gained the high fashion status it has today. The only existing garments in true black fabric were awfully expensive, therefore only accessible to members of the nobility and wealthy folks. Black has remained the most worn color for both men and women all over the world. The fact that it is so neutral is what makes it so easy to wear with anything. Most every day outfits feature at least one black item, if it’s not black pants, it’ll be black stud earrings, a black purse, or, my personal favorite, black heels. Every woman needs a pair of black heels, weather they add fanciness or a bold factor to your outfit, a well chosen pair of black heels will make every head turn. Always keep a pair of black trusty heels at hand, you never know when you may need it! For those of you who don’t usually wear high heels, it would be easier to start with wedges, preferably one that gives good support to the foot. And for the rest of us, you never go wrong welcoming a new pair of black stilettos to your collection! Try the all black ensemble and have fun showing your personality through bold jewelry, you can develop your very own look playing around with color and texture.
Black
is Bac k In St y le BY SARAH RACICOT
Fashion
Floral Love
By Natasha Dore
Floral prints will forever be my go to when trying to find the perfect summer dress, and why shouldn’t it be?! Floral screams summer fun and peaceful warm afternoons lying in the grass. Floral prints are unmatched for spring and summer attire, but what crosses the line when it comes to using it in fashion? Floral dresses, skirts and shirts are, as usual, in high demand. I love the feel the wearing a flowy dress or skirt in the summer, the bright floral print making me feel up beat and up for any adventure. Shorts and pants on the other hand, I’m not so found of with floral prints. Shorts can be more acceptable if the floral print is subtle and doesn’t stand out too much. Floral prints on pants especially jeans, are a hit and a miss (mostly miss) in my generally opinion. Whether it’s a bright colored pair of leggings or maybe a soft toned pair of jeans, it comes off a little too strong in my mind, even more so if you pair it with a floral top. There are some acceptations to every rule though, and everyone is entitled to their own fashion choices! Lastly, floral shoes are always fabulous.
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Fashion
Lovely in Lace
By Natasha Dore
Floral prints will forever be my go to when trying to find the perfect summer dress, and why shouldn’t it be?! Floral screams summer fun and peaceful warm afternoons lying in the grass. Floral prints are unmatched for spring and summer attire, but what crosses the line when it comes to using it in fashion? Floral dresses, skirts and shirts are, as usual, in high demand. I love the feel the wearing a flowy dress or skirt in the summer, the bright floral print making me feel up beat and up for any adventure. Shorts and pants on the other hand, I’m not so found of with floral prints. Shorts can be more acceptable if the floral print is subtle and doesn’t stand out too much. Floral prints on pants especially jeans, are a hit and a miss (mostly miss). in my generally opinion. Whether it’s a bright colored pair of leggings or maybe a soft toned pair of jeans, it comes off a little too strong in my mind, even more so if you pair it with a floral top. There are some acceptations to every rule though, and everyone is entitled to their own fashion choices! Lastly, floral shoes are always fabulous.
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Fashion
Skirting Around By Melanie McLean Depending on how long you have been paying attention to these things, you have probably seen skirt lengths rise and fall. Sure we love our mini skirts (admit it you have a secret weapon mini skirt tucked away somewhere) but they have a time and place and unfortunately that time is not usually spring when the place you live is the maritime provinces in the spring. Lucky fashion trends are ever evolving like the ebb and flow of the ocean and the midi skirt is this season’s fashion must. The Mid-Calf skirt is ideal for transitioning your wardrobe because its perfect for cooler temperatures, they can be paired with pumps to look like you jumped off the screen of Mad Men for a polished look or with flats if your looking for a casual look, either way your going to look like you are fresh off the runway. The added bonus to the midi? They make your waist look teeny tiny with the full bottom and your legs look they go for miles, they are flattering on most every body type. In case you are worried you start to look a bit to lady like you could pair your look with a graphic sweatshirt, a leather jacket or a denim top. Floor length maxi dresses and skirts are defiantly still a wardrobe staple, but the mid-length skirt is the new kid on the block when it comes to hem lines and with an injection of your personal style I think your going to love them as much as your maxis.
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t s i l y t S
Ask the
With Scott McLean
lection) really held a place in his heart because every look from the fall 2015 show was a winner. The colors were rich and on point, the accessories were extravagant but not overwhelming, and the overall looks were so chic I almost missed that Gigi, Cara, and Kendall were the ladies walking these outfits down the runway… almost I said. Although I’m focusing on Chanel, my other favorites What did you love/hate about the fashion week runway such as Alexander Wang, Lanvin, and The Row were styles? pretty on point as well. There were so many new trends in colors, fabrics, cuts, and styles at this past fashion week that it was hard to keep up. Between tiered tulle at Alexander McQueen, pleats and sheer at Balmain, and Kim K’s platinum blonde bob, there was a lot to love and hate. My favorite trend has to be the skirt/pant combo. We saw pants layered with skirts overtop on almost every runway this year. Givenchy and Alexander McQueen handled this look perfectly. I feel this trend is going to be a red carpet regular very soon. As much as it kills me to say this; I can’t re-live what I saw on Stella McCartney’s runway. I am a HUGE fan of hers but she debuted some sort of one sleeved/off the shoulder slanted sweater dress situation. It was bad. I’ll just leave it at that and try to forget…
What’s “In” and What’s “Out” Spring is here and as soon as the temperature hits above 0˚ you can be sure to start seeing pretty pastels and flirty florals on the street. We do live in Canada so our light hues and petaled prints are usually draped by a spring jacket. Nothing is more upsetting than a chic spring outfit being suffocated by a sloppy jacket. In order to have you looking more like a vision of spring and less like a slob kabob I’m going to tell you in my opinion what’s “In” and what’s “Out” for May 2015.
In Lightweight Bomber Jacket – This is a great trend because it’s perfect for both girls and guys. The lightweight Which designer do you feel is rocking the runways this bomber (usually in a polyester material with stretchy waist and collar) is a great casual jacket perfect for year? throwing over any outfit. Navy, cream, black, and light I have a handful of favorite designers but Chanel’s blue are all colors you should opt for when snatching up last runway show killed it and I need to talk about it. one of these. Karl Lagerfeld always does a great job but apparently Parisian Brasseries (the inspiration for the last col- It’s a midcentury preppy look that is a perfect replacement for the varsity jacket which we saw a lot of last
year and is now a little over worn. Ellen DeGeneres (the queen of preppy casual) is a huge fan of this spring trend and now almost every fast fashion store is making it easy for us to get our hands on this casual chic jacket. Long Pea Coats – This is a very chic way to stay warm from the spring breeze. Not to be confused with the oversized winter coat trend; the long pea coat should be well fitted at the shoulders and anywhere from knee to ankle in length. The oversized winter coat was a huge trend this winter and designers seem to be having a hard time letting it go. Names like Burberry and Givenchy have been embracing this trend and giving it a home on top of fitted pants and long skirts. If you want more of a chic look rather than the above mentioned bomber jacket than go for the long pea coat. Out Cropped Pea Coats – This is a trend that I am more than happy to say is done. Nothing is more outdated than a cropped trench. You shouldn’t be wearing anything cropped anymore unless it’s a cute cropped top with a high waisted anything. For spring 2015 it’s all about length. If you like the warmth of a pea coat opt for a long pea coat. It’s much chicer and doesn’t look like an infant should be wearing it. Varsity Jackets - The varsity jacket had a time and a place but that time and place is not spring 2015. It was a cute and sometimes even edgy spring look. Like every other trend that has been around the field one too many times, varsity jackets have become over saturated and over sold. Once trends have been accepted by nearly everyone and have been sold in the cheapest (and I don’t mean price wise) of retail stores they start to have a cheap and over worn look to them. This is what happened to the varsity jacket. If you find yourself in need of a similar look go for the above mentioned bomber jacket. Much like jockstraps and chest bumping, let’s leave varsity jackets to the jocks.
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Meet Hayley model: haley macnab Photography by brogan brown
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Happy Mother’s Day from Pinkblitz!
Editor in Chief, Lilly Babineau with daughter, Nicole.
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Model Morgan Costain Wilbur Photo by Kimberly-Mai Therrien
Model Hillary LeBlanc Photo by Kimberly-Mai Therrien
Relationships
Reigniting the Spark in Your Relationship By Elizabeth McLelland
When you’ve been in a relationship for a while, sometimes things can start to feel a bit monotonous. You get up every single day and go through the motions until you realize that, perhaps, that spark is starting to fade. Likely, it’s not that you are losing interest in your partner, but that you are getting comfortable, maybe even a little boring. It’s time to reignite that flame and get your relationship out of the dull zone. Here are some tips on how you might spice things up again!
kiss them goodbye. And when they get home at night and the kids are in bed, snuggle up together for a few minutes. Hold each other. There’s nothing like being close to the one you love, feeling their heart beat, to get that fire burning again.
Remember the good old days. When you first got together with your partner, there were likely things you really used to enjoy doing together. Remember those things and try to bring one or two of them back. Maybe you used to really enjoy going out to a pub, having a few too many drinks and singing karaoke. Spend quality time. Plan a night out to do just that. It’ll remind both of you It’s so easy to get caught up in all the demanding things that you’re both still there, deep down, and maybe you’ll in life - work, kids, bills, etc.- but it’s harder to make realize it needs to happen more often. Those times you time for the things you truly enjoy, like your partner. can enjoy together help to reignite the flame. It may sound crazy, but schedule in some time for one another. Go on a date, just the two of you. If you can’t Have sex somewhere other than your bed. go out, plan a night in watching your favourite series on I know life gets crazy and sometimes sex gets put on the Netflix. Whatever it takes, make time to spend quality back burner, but the less you do it, the less connected time just the two of you. you feel to your partner. It’s all good and well to have your Friday night sex in bed (or whatever time it seems Surprise them. to happen regularly) but why not show up at the shower It doesn’t take much to let someone know you are door one morning before work wearing nothing but a thinking about them and that you care. Maybe you smile? He’s not likely to refuse you and he’ll be thinking could stop by the store on the way home and grab them about you all day long. Fact! their favourite magazine or chocolates. Perhaps you could go online and find out if there’s a concert coming Life can be demanding and relationships can take the to town and you can surprise them with tickets. You back burner to things that seem “more important” but know your special someone best, surprise them with a there’s nothing more important in life than that special little something that lets them know you are thinking relationship with the one you love. Take the time to about them. That’s sure to light a spark. reignite your relationship today. You won’t be sorry! Touch, touch, touch. I’m not suggesting that you grab their butt while you are waiting in line at the grocery store (although if that’s your thing, by all means) but I am suggesting that you take a moment in the morning to hug them and
Honest is the Best Policy By Elizabeth McLelland
We all know how important it is to be open and honest when you are in a relationship. Hiding things from your partner or lying to them is bound to cause problems down the road. It’s not a good idea! But, are there ever times it’s okay to keep something to yourself or tell a little white lie?
right to avoid an argument.
His Cooking If he makes something for dinner and it’s not your favourite, I don’t see the point in telling him this. It certainly isn’t going to help your relationship if you tell him that the meal he made was blah. In fact, it’s likely First, let’s be clear, a lie is something that someone to discourage him from cooking for you in the future usually tells to protect their own hide. A white lie, on and, sweetheart, even if you didn’t love the taste of it, the other hand, is often told to protect the other person’s you surely loved that he cooked for you. Focus on that. feelings, to keep them from unnecessary pain, or to There’s the gift! avoid an argument about something petty. Your Past The Gifts He Gives You Is it really important to expose your partner to your past I’m not suggesting you feign excitement and go and all its nitty gritty details? Some people say that the overboard declaring you love every gift he gives you, past is the past and it’s best to keep it that way. I’m a firm but if he buys you something you aren’t crazy about, believer that the past makes us who we are today, so it is just remember, he took the time to buy you a gift. That important, but it is unnecessary to share the details with ought to mean something. Before the next holiday, steer your current partner. It’s bound to cause unnecessary him in the right direction long before he goes out to buy jealousy and unpleasant thoughts. What’s done is done. gifts. Live in the present! You are with them now, that’s all that matters. His Friends You may not like when Jim comes over and brings his I know honesty is the best policy, but I also believe that case of beer to watch football, but is it really important there are times when it’s okay to hold back from telling to tell your partner? If it’s happening every other night the whole truth. Brutal honesty can be draining and can and you’re not getting time to spend alone as a couple, bring a relationship down unnecessarily. Focus on the then yes, it’s time to tell him. But, if it happens the odd big things and be honest about who you are deep down. Sunday and you’re just a bit jealous, it’s time to look in the mirror and find something to occupy your time so you’re not so concerned about what he’s doing. That He’s Right I know, I know. It can be tough on your ego, but sometimes they need to hear that they are right, even if you don’t agree 100%. This shouldn’t be on any huge life decisions, but when it comes to discussions about sports or movies, it’s probably okay to tell them they are
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Relationships
Great Expectations
By Elizabeth McLelland
Have you ever got yourself so psyched up about something, only to fail? Have you ever felt so pressured to succeed, that you froze and were unable to even get started? This can be how men feel when there is simply too high of an expectation placed on them in the bedroom. It’s time that both men and women take part in making sure that the sex is amazing and that it comes naturally. How can we remove the great expectations that too often lead to great disappointment?
be all talk? Besides, maybe some of those things aren’t important to you and by feeling as though you have to compare yourself to others, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. What is important to you in your sexual relationship? Feeling loved? Feeling appreciated? Feeling desired? Feeling excited? Find what it is that you want and communicate that to your partner. Leave everyone else’s expectations and tall tales at the door. Go after your best sex.
1.Communicate. Tell each other what you like and what you don’t like. Often times people can place too high of an expectation on their partner trying to “figure out” what it is they enjoy in the bedroom. Why not tell them what you like and work together to find success? Men aren’t mind readers and expecting them to be is definitely going to lead to disappointment, likely for both of you.
It’s easy enough to get caught up in setting great expectations in the bedroom. Society tells us all the time how to “be the best partner in bed” or “what s/he really wants in the bedroom”. I’m not saying you shouldn’t go after what you want or be satisfied, exactly the opposite, in fact. I am saying that you need to take a step back, think about what’s truly important to you and your partner and make strides, together, to make your sexlife the best that it can be. It may not happen overnight, but 2. Don’t compare. One of the biggest problems people in time, you may just find that he has exceeded beyond have is comparing their current relationship to one in your original expectations! the past. I always say, if it’s in the past, there must have been something wrong with it, so don’t set it as the standard. Maybe a past relationship brought you great pleasure in the bedroom, but not such great happiness in other aspects of your life. Make sure you look at the whole picture and remember that things can always be worked on if you’re willing to put in a little effort. Get rid of your past expectations in the bedroom and open yourself up to a new way of doing things. Who knows, once you remove the expectations, you might find that this sex is your best ever! 3. Don’t compete. Your friends may talk about how great their sex life is, how huge their partner is, how wild they are, but have you ever thought that this could
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Relationships
Stimulating Your Senses
By Elizabeth McLelland
If you think about it, sex is one of the things in life that doesn’t overpower what’s going on. uses all five senses and knowing this can help you to have the best sex ever! The obvious sense involved in sex is touch. But be careful not to assume we are only talking about actual Let’s be honest, one of the first things that usually attracts intercourse. There are many different ways to touch us to the opposite sex is what we see. We look at them your partner that can add to your sexual pleasure. A and we begin to fantasize about what’s underneath those gentle kiss on the neck or a stroke across their stomach clothes. How can we use this to make sex better? Why could fill them with desire. Be sure to get to know how not make a game of removing each article of clothing. your partner likes to be touched and take your time to Drawing out how long it takes for your partner to see explore new possibilities. what’s underneath those clothes, get them waiting and wanting! When you stimulate all five senses and take the time to enjoy how each one can add to your sexual pleasure, There are certain smells that have been known to you can be sure to improve your sexual enjoyment. increase sexual desire and having one present wherever you decide to take part in the act can only add to the enjoyment. Scents like vanilla, peppermint and black licorice have been known to increase sexual desire. Why not burn a vanilla candle to help set the mood? What you taste like can go a long way. A quick brush of the teeth or popping a peppermint (remember it’s one of those scents that increases sexual desire!) can definitely add to the pleasure. Some people really enjoy edible massage oils too. Think of how many senses they attack! A little vanilla cake or peppermint flavoured oil could bring more pleasure than you expect. Some people love to hear a little music in the background, a soundtrack to set the mood. It can help people to relax and feel more comfortable. Others like to have only the sounds of their partner so they can be all in and connected fully. It’s important to feel comfortable enough to be who you are and to find out what it is that gets you and your partner going. Your choice of music can definitely add or take away from the mood, so be sure to pick something that gets you in the groove, but
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PB Photo by Edward Bowron