The Ambition Issue (Fall 2010)

SANDBOX THE NEW CULTURE

THE

AMBITION ISSUE

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THE AMBITION ISSUE

22 DEPARTMENTS 8. BACKTALK

14. ABOUT TOWN

24. THE STAGE

A word from our readers. Plus, party pics from the last big SANDBOX party.

Quite suddenly, it seems, Hush is the chic boutique. Meet the mogul behind the transformation.

How the beautiful Shannon Guile made mime cool again.

9. FROM THE GAYS, WITH LOVE

16. BY DESIGN

An ode to our ambitious SANDBOX Collective and a farewell from creative director Braden Alexander.

We go a little gaga for the lush, handmade scarves from local line Olivin Design.

10. HOT STUFF

18. THE SCREEN

Something for everyone: the goings on in this city that you need to check out this season.

13. FED UP Our food expert serves up the perfect picnic fare for an Indian summer.

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SANDBOX | FALL 2010

Siobhan Murphy lights up the screen with both her smile and her one-liners on the CBC’s hottest ticket to date.

22. THE SOUND Maiko Watson, of Sugar Jones fame, proves she’s still got the stuff to make it in the biz.

26. BEAUTIFUL MAN We’re still not sure how, but Jeffrey Vallis manages to convince Shawn Desman to take it off.

28. TALENT & TITS Rebecca Sandulak takes on the animal fashion industry one doggie sweater at a time.

62. BUCKET LIST Ten reasons to start your own business before you kick the bucket, from the unstoppable ladies behind Golden Girl Finance.

32 FEATURES 32. LET IT FALL Introducing the stunning fall line from Paswera, with coats for cool September days and frocks for glam October nights.

50. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS The amazonian Kiera Fogg relives her journey from model to recording artist and, finally, to pure domestic bliss.

38. WHO’S THAT GIRL Meet Raezavel Argulla, the schoolage street fashion queen ruling the blogosphere.

52. A NICE DAY FOR A WILD WEDDING

42. THE NEW KIDS

Find out what’s new and now in the way of weddings, from one-onone shopping for designer dresses to the best way to trash the dress.

Indie pop darlings The New Lightweights are making music to charm your pants off.

44. THE LUCKY ONES The Panache model search winners rock classic Canadiana.

UNCOVERED

Photo by Valentin Mittelstet. Hair by Hanna Little for Angles Hair Design.

Makeup by Jessica Kmiec. Styled

by Chanelle Salnikowski. Models: Saveja Ellison, Meaghan Waller, and Hilary Taylor from Swish Model Management. The girls wear clothes

by Lennard Taylor. See story for additional credits.

55. CLEAN SLATE Three of the most sought-after faces from Swish work the crisp fall offerings from local boy Andrew Bickford’s line Lennard Taylor.

Correction: The necklace Chrissy Troy wore on the summer cover was by Vintage Bling.

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SANDBOX MAGAZINE

JEFFREY VALLIS

Editor

BRADEN ALEXANDER

Creative Director

SUZY BODIROGA Editorial Assistant MIA LEVINE Editorial Intern WRITERS Emily Baron-Cadloff Megan Dee Benedictson Brenlee Coates Jillian Coubrough Maeghan Heinrichs Alison Hall Vanessa Kunderman Lorilynn McCorrister Laura J. McDonald Susan Misner Kristy Rydz Teri Stevens Jaime Zaporzan STYLISTS Casey Downes Madison Rosas Chanelle Salnikowski Niki Trosky COPY EDITORS Camille Dupas Melody Rogan WEBSITE DESIGN Melissa Krawetz WEBHOST MyNetMojo.ca

PHOTOGRAPHERS Brittany Alyse Raezavel Argulla Meganelizabeth Diamond Brad Mazur Valentin Mittelstet Nardella Photography Pink Elephant Photography Justin Pokrant Izabela Rachwal Red Scarf Photography Lisa Varga Katy Winterflood HAIR Haley Golin Guy Lemieux Hanna Little Roger Medina April Miller Leslie Oldham MAKEUP Aimee Cardinell Kristen Dingwall Jessica Kmiec Janique Lavoie Meaghan Perron Jackie Tsouras Sabrina Wall Jennifer Milner

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Leslie Alexander Linda Averbach Berns & Black Kayla Dickin Fort Whyte Alive

Karen Kull Vanessa Kunderman Kirsten Law Brittany Leschasin Living Dolls Makeup

Yelena Maleyev Matthew Meisner Karina Meridji Mike Nava John Neufeld

Laurie Neufeld Panache Model Management Swish Model Management Thomas Trafford Megan Tymura

SANDBOX IS A MONTHLY ONLINE MAGAZINE, WITH SEASONAL PRINT EDITIONS DISTRIBUTED QUARTERLY. FIND US AT: AQUA BOOKS | BERNS & BLACK SALON | CONNECT FOUR | F&Q | HUSH MCNALLY ROBINSON | LOT P2 | RED RIVER COLLEGE | TWIST GALLERY FOR A COMPLETE LIST, CHECK OUT SANDBOXMAG.COM

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SANDBOX | FALL 2010

THE SANDBOX COLLECTIVE

“Modelling has given me the opportunity to travel and meet talented and interesting people from all over the world,” says local girl Heidi Dyck, who was home long enough to pose for “Let it Fall” on pg. 32. “I love the creativity - everyone coming together to express themselves.”

“There are many things that fascinate me about fashion photography. I think the main reason, though, is the freedom of creativity,” says photog Valentin Mittelstet, who hails from Germany. For this issue, he shot “Clean Slate” on pg. 55 but has a hard time choosing his favourite SANDBOX shoot. “I fell in love with all of them.”

Journalism is good for writer Brenlee Coates’ social life. “I basically get to go on 50 blind lunch dates a year,” says the communications grad. For our September issue, Coates got friendly with Siobhan Murphy for “Funny Girl” on pg. 18. “She was so intelligent; her jokes were arranged and timed perfectly.

I’m sure we’re going to be great Facebook friends.”

HEIDI’S PHOTO BY IZABELA RACHWAL. REMAINING PHOTOS BY LISA VARGA.

“I didn’t know how much talent there was in Winnipeg until my first SANDBOX meeting,” says Mia Levine, who spent the summer as the magazine’s editorial intern. This fall, she’s back in Toronto studying fashion communication at Ryerson. “Fashion is simply a form of expression, and I love learning about it.”

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BACKTALK

TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK A WHOLE LOTTA LOVE (AND A LITTLE BIT OF HATE) FROM OUR READERS. KEEP IT COMING. I’m a huge fan of your magazine. Not only are the features young and upbeat, but they’re relevant and prove that the Winnipeg scene is hotter than ever.

Amanda Buhse

What a great magazine you fellas have produced! It has world-class appeal and proudly represents the local talent we have here.

Harriet Berkal

Maybe you should check that sandbox for cat poo! IF we’re adults who expect to be taken seriously, can’t we use the right names for our body parts? “Tits” is derogatory, bottom line—“breasts” are what they should be called. You can always tell trailer trash as soon as they open their mouths.

Mirabel D.

I just want to say that I absolutely love your magazine. I came across it while perusing in McNally Robinson and it was literally love at first sight. You two have managed to do something that everyone strives for and few actually achieve and that’s to create something that is truly unique. Congrats to you!

Lise Deviaene

I am a huge fan! Your magazine is a shining example of the depth of creative talent we have in Winnipeg. As a young professional, I am proud to work and live in our beautiful city. We need more enthusiasm and expression like yours to prove that Winnipeg is the place to be. I am often met with shock when I explain to locals and outsiders alike how much I love this city. Now, I need only to show them your magazine to explain why. Thank you.

Katie Hall

I gave SANDBOX to my 14-year-old daughter to read and she immediately fell in love with it. As she was reading the magazine she informed me that she wants every issue that comes out. She adores the whole mag: its style, the way it’s totally focused on Winnipeg talent, everything.

But here’s the part that really got me: she put down the Body Issue and told me that it made her feel better about herself. When a teen picks up a magazine, in today’s world, and walks away feeling good about herself—just the way she is—I think that’s pretty bloody amazing.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much! Thank you for all your hard work and for caring enough to put out such an amazing product, not just another of the same old fashion magazine. It makes such a big difference.

Lizabeth Kogan

THE CLUB CAN’T HANDLE US RIGHT NOW

PHOTOS BY BRITTANY HILDEBRANDT AND KATY WINTERFLOOD.

SHOTS FROM THE BODY LOVE PARTY IN CELEBRATION OF OUR SUMMER ISSUE IN JULY

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SANDBOX | FALL 2010

BRADEN ALEXANDER, RAEZAVEL ARGULLA AND SUZY BODIROGA. PHOTO BY RAEZAVEL ARGULLA.

FROM THE GAYS, WITH LOVE

W

hen Jeffrey and I first sat down to discuss the idea of creating our own fashion and culture magazine – just over a year ago, now – neither of us used the word ambitious. Foolish, maybe. Ridiculous, quite possibly.

But I suppose it was our ambition that drove us to make SANDBOX happen somewhere between our school work and our jobs and our lives (or instead of our lives). And although I can’t help but be proud of the ten issues we’ve put out into the world (three print, seven online), it isn’t our ambition that inspires me.

What inspires me is the drive and the energy of the countless contributors who come together every month to make a new magazine happen.

And so we’ve anointed this, our fall issue, the Ambition Issue. It’s for them: the hardworking, dedicated and magnificently talented writers, photographers, hairstylists, models,

stylists, makeup artists, interns and assistants whose ambition makes this magazine a possibility. Where would we be without them?

Probably right where we started — in a basement, taking pictures of our friends in clothes we had to beg for, against a white bedsheet from Walmart, tacked against the wall. And now, a few months later, here we are shooting with teams of up to ten people, masters of their crafts, making some truly beautiful photographs. Of course, none of them come without a price.

Take, for instance, our shoot for “Let It Fall” on pg. 32. We were lucky enough to shoot with the incredible Heidi Dyck, a local girl, who has modelled for Abercrombie twice. And what happens when she works with SANDBOX? She falls off a horse into the mud and very narrowly avoids being trampled to death. (To her credit and, our amazement, she dusted herself off and

kept working; half the shots you see of her were taken post-near death experience.)

Not only are we celebrating the determination of our invaluable contributors but this issue we’ve featured some rather ambitious subjects as well. Not the least of which is the adorable, intimidating Raezavel Argulla, the creator of Cheap Thrills, a fashion blog catching the attention of industry members around the world. At 17 years old and with a site that garners around 50,000 page views per month, I believe her when she tells me her ambition is to become a famous fashion photographer.

I suppose I should close this by telling you that I myself am exchanging one ambitious enterprise for another. This September I step down from SANDBOX and embark on a trip around the world, leaving the reigns of creative director in the hands of my very formidable assistant, Suzy Bodiroga. Jeffrey and I have always said that SANDBOX is a gift to the girls, from the gays and now I am happy to make the this job a gift from this gay to my girl.

Rather than saying goodbye, I want to say thank you. Thank you to everyone who has danced at our parties, or flipped through a copy of the magazine, told us it was beautiful or told us how we could make it better.

Thank you to everyone who came together to prove that fashion and culture and creativity and passion are very much alive in this prairie town.

Braden Alexander & Jeffrey Vallis

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HOT STUFF

CALENDAR GIRLS ALL STORIES BY TERI STEVENS. RIGHT, PHOTO BY BRITTANY ALYSE, STYLED BY BRENLEE COATES. BELOW, PHOTO

BY KATY WINTERFLOOD, HAIR AND MAKEUP BY ROGER MEDINA. OPPOSITE PAGE, PHOTOS BY BRAD MAZUR.

THE BRUMBIES: CITY CHAMPS BY DAY, SEX SYMBOLS BY NIGHT

W

hen you think of rugby, 40s pin-up probably isn’t the first thing that springs to mind, but the Winnipeg Brumbies hope to change that with a 17-month calendar featuring the team. The fundraising idea came from their coach, Colleen Horton, who has played rugby for years and created a similar calendar once upon a time.

The Brumbies decided it might be fun to put their own spin on the concept to raise money for the team.

“We thought it would be funny because you don’t usually associate rugby with that sort of thing,” team captain Tahnee Horton says. “But the way we did it, it shows tough, independent, strong women who are like ‘I’m in control of my own destiny.’ You have to be tough to play rugby and all the women on the team represent that.”

The fact that the team currently holds first place in their league shows that they mean business. What’s even more impressive is that many of the women on the team have never played rugby before the Brumbies. They’ve worked hard to establish themselves in such a demanding sport. They may be showing their softer side with their pin-up calendar, but the Brumbies definitely have some bruises to cover up. -T.S. Find out more on the Brumbies Rugby Club Facebook page.

GOOD HAIR It turns out that not all hair extensions are created equal, and local hair artist Roger Medina doesn’t want you to settle for “garbage hair.” This fall, he’s launching Exotic Coif, a new line of hair extensions that are sure to create a buzz.

Instead of using hair from a single source, Medina creates an exclusive blend, using Indian hair for longevity and Asian hair for shine. The quality of the product is matched with his experience and versatility. You can’t offer a single application method to everyone because each person’s hair is unique. Medina is an expert in four.

“I wanted to offer something different,” he says. “I’ve been doing hair for almost a decade and I’m sick of my clients ordering garbage hair when I can offer them something better.” Exotic Coif will launch around the end of October. -T.S. For more information, check out rogermedinahair.ca

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SANDBOX | FALL 2010

FIRST KNOWN A NEW ART SPACE DEDICATED TO EMERGING ARTISTS HITS THE EXCHANGE

T

o get to Melissa Krawetz’s design studio slash art space, you pull the gate closed in an old elevator

and climb to the third floor of the Merchants Building. You wander down a labyrinth of hallway and you know you’ve arrived when you see art peeking through an open door. Vintage furniture and large colourful canvases await in a welllit room overlooking The Exchange District.

FirstKnown Studios is fairly new to the Winnipeg art scene. Krawetz and her business partner, Arthur Paguio, studied together at Red River College. After graduating, they collaborated on projects and opened their own graphic design studio. Turning that studio into an art space, as well as a design space, just kind of fell into place.

“We wanted to put some art up,” Krawetz says. “Lots of people we know are artists, and we figured it would be a good opportunity to support emerging and upcoming artists in Winnipeg.” Steve McConnell, James Vandal, Gavin Ho and Melissa Trainor are only a few of the artists who are currently showing their work. -T.S. Check out firstknownstudios.com.

HIDDEN GEMS Now, fashionable Winnipeggers will be able to shop for handmade local wares from the comfort of their own homes. Ruby & Pearl is a new webstore from the Gurevich sisters that will sell jewelry from local and Canadian designers. With lines like Ruby Feathers, Tara Davis, Sugar Blossom, and dconstruct, Ruby & Pearl will offer something for everyone, with price tags ranging from $28 to $200.

“It’s important to note that these are unique art pieces, not mass-produced jewelry,” Arielle says. “If you find a really great necklace, you won’t see other people walking around wearing it.”

Ruby & Pearl will also offer home décor and reasonably-priced art online. An important goal of the webstore is to expose local artists to a broader audience.

“The exposure is great for our arts and culture,” Sarah says. “We just want to let people know what we have here.” -T.S. Shop to your heart’s content at rubyandpearl.ca.

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FED UP

Picnic-Perfect Panini Recipe by Jaime Zaporzan Ingredients - 1 loaf of roasted garlic artisan bread (purchased at Sobeys; you may substitute for any good quality, dense loaf of bread) - 300 grams of fig goat cheese, at room temperature - 2 tablespoons of fat-free sour cream - 1 sweet vidalia onion, slowly cooked, caramelized and cooled to room temperature - 6 pieces of cooked bacon, crumbled - 2 chicken breasts, cooked, cooled and chopped - 5 medium-sized beets, cooked and sliced - 1 tablespoon honey - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar - 1 red onion, diced (optional) - 1 bunch of arugula - 2 tablespoon olive oil - Sea salt and pepper

Directions 1. Cut your loaf of bread lengthwise. Use 2 tablespoon of olive oil to brush the inside and outside of both pieces of bread and season with sea salt and pepper. Use a panini press to cook both pieces of bread and bring back to room temperature.

2. Combine fig goat cheese, sour cream and the caramelized vidalia onion in a bowl.

3. Toss arugula with honey, balsamic vinegar, sea salt and pepper 4. Spread fig goat cheese mixture on both sides of the cooled artisan bread. Place sliced beets on top of one side of the bread, top with the honey balsamic arugula, and sliced chicken breast.

5. On the other side of the bread, top with crumbled bacon and diced red onion. It will stick better this way than if you were to put it on top of the other half.

6. Press both sides of the artisan bread together.

Cut into slices to share, or have it all to yourself!

All ingredients should be chilled or kept at room temperature. If they are warm, the beets and goat cheese will bleed together and run.

If no panini press is available, just use a regular frying pan with a lid to press down the bread like a grilled cheese.

Remember to flip the sandwich to brown both sides

Photos by Lisa Varga.

JAIMEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OUTFIT FROM HUSH.

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STYLED BY CHANELLE SALNIKOWSKI. MAKEUP BY JESSICA KMIEC. HAIR BY GUY LEMIEUX FOR BERNS & BLACK.

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MAXINE WEARS JUMPSUIT FROM HUSH AND SHOUT. FEATHER HEADDRESS BY KAREN CULL.

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SANDBOX | FALL 2010

STYLED BY SUZY BODIROGA. HAIR BY CHANTAL HINCE FOR BERNS & BLACK. MAKEUP

BY MEAGAN PERRON

ABOUT TOWN

AS IF

BY MAGIC SEEMINGLY OVERNIGHT, HUSH AND SHOUT TRANSFORMED INTO ONE OF THE CHICEST BOUTIQUES IN THE CITY. WE TALK TO THE OSBORNE VILLAGE MOGUL BEHIND THE MAGIC

“I

have a split personality,” says Melissa Choy, storeowner of Osborne’s trendy boutique Hush and Shout. “[I’m] more of a girly girl, with a funky fun twist.”

Amen sister—I think we can all agree that some days the only thing you want to put on is a frilly, girly dress, whether it be floral print or lace; and then there are days when nothing but skinny jeans, a shredded tee, and an oversized sweater will do.

And if any store in Winnipeg can cater to the indecisiveness of the hormonal, 20-something-yearold mind, it’s Hush and Shout. They carry a variety of cocktail dresses for those more formal nights, flirty, fun dresses, cropped tees and baggy tanks, jeans, skirts, handbags and a slew of killer shoes. Their collection of sunglasses and accessories are nothing short of cool (think studded bracelets and punky, doublechain rings).

The retail industry is nothing new for Choy, who opened her first

STORY BY SUZY BODIROGA PHOTOS BY VALENTIN MITTELSTET

store in Osborne Village back in 2002. Remember that wacky little store above the Toad in the Hole that sold custom graphic tees? That was just one of her first endeavours.

Four years later, Hush opened, offering girly goods, then Shout in 2007, boasting edgy streetwear fashions.

Earlier this year, the two stores combined forces, complete with chandeliers and mirrored walls to create the mega-store, Hush and Shout. “It was an easier transition.

I like going into big stores, there’s more options. If it’s minus 40 out, people don’t want to go to all these different stores,” says Choy. If you are looking to go next door, you’ll find Choy’s newest project, Skate or Cry, a fashionable skateboard shop for the city’s toughest toddlers.

Although Osborne is packed with a dozen other boutiques, Choy says competition is not something that worries her. “Competition is great. It brings more people into the Village. You help someone out for an hour and they go across the

street. The same thing happens [for] us. It’s a give and take.”

And while we can all agree there’s nothing more irritating than spending an arm and a leg on a new kit only to realize half the girls in this city are wearing the same thing, Choy assures she only carries six pieces of the same item and never restocks the same thing. Traveling the globe in search of new styles, she visits such places as Las Vegas, Montreal, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York, but never without a sidekick. She insists on bringing one of the staff along with her every time she goes. “Two heads are better than one,” she says.

So what’s next in line for the jet-setting, go-getting entrepreneur (aside from starting a family)? “We’re starting our own clothing line called Hush Collection. It’s more formal for special occasions. Unique, different designs, more geared towards girls in their early 20s. Really kind of runway, sexy-type looks. Yet classy.

Sexy and classy.” Y

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BY DESIGN CHRISTIE MARTENS AND TIFFANY THOMAS BUNDLE UP IN THEIR HAND-MADE OLIVIN DESIGN SCARVES.

Y

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SANDBOX | FALL 2010

NEVER FELT BEFORE HOW WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE GORGEOUS, HANDMADE SCARVES FROM THE GIRLS BEHIND OLIVIN DESIGN

I

have a feeling their borrowed basement workshop fills with laughter when Christie Martens and Tiffany Thomas throw themselves into creating one of their startling and alluring scarves.

Olivin Design, their line of handmade scarves, will debut in Toronto boutiques after years of being exclusive to Winnipeg buyers.

“We rub a lot,” says Martens before Thomas chimes in. “Yeah, basically it’s a lot of rubbing,” followed by their semi-demure laughter. The joke is in the understatement. More than just rubbing, the two are using both the same athletics and creativity they need as dancers to felt scarves with a combination of textures that can look both edgy and feminine.

They use their own modified version of a centuries-old process of wet felting wool, which is both time- and labour-intensive. They say it has evolved somewhat since they started six years ago, because as Thomas explains, “we were getting hunchbacked and sore,” which is offensive to their sensibilities as dancers. More laughter.

It’s not hard to see why these two collaborate so successfully. They’ve gone through more than a decade

STORY BY MEGAN DEE BENEDICTSON PHOTOS BY MEGANELIZABETH DIAMOND

of friendship, starting at a dance class in their childhood church, and continuing throughout high school, the professional program of the School of Contemporary Dancers, and even through teaching dance together. They are now at a point where they constantly build off each other’s thoughts and often finish each other’s sentences.

“We’ve always been on the same page,” says Martens. “We have similar passions and desires, but we are also two very different people. And so we bring such different things to creating.

I think I am more naturally drawn to lots of colour, and combinations and pushing that, and Tiffany--” “I tone it down a little bit,” Thomas says on cue. “But I think that balance between us has been really good for Olivin. I think we both come away happy with the product and there’s bits of each of us in all of them.”

Their collaboration in fashion began with knitting. Thomas says it appealed to her as a creative exercise she could do sitting down and in a relaxing setting (and she is fully aware of the irony in how that desire led her to the physical demands of scarf-making). The two began experimenting together by felting purses they had knit to soften the stitched finish, but after seeing

a purely felted wall hanging, they sought out an experienced felter to pass on the wet-felting technique.

“We love wool as a medium; we find it really versatile,” says Martens, explaining how they have used it to felt starch three-dimensional costumes for their own fashion show at a local gallery, and of course many versions of the scarves, available in Winnipeg at Freshair Boutique, and Poppie Clothing on Corydon. And while the women didn’t do anything aggressive to market the line themselves, eventually opportunity found them.

A Toronto fashion agent spotted one of their scarves around the neck of the owner of Poppie Clothing, a friend of the women behind Olivin.

Soon they were filling their first large orders of up to 60 pieces to be sold this fall in upscale stores – no short order, considering both women still dance and do contract work.

“The rubbing gets tedious at times, but it helps to get good feedback,” says Thomas. “We’ve both been dancers our whole lives, and when we did that fashion show, I’ve never had such a wave of enthusiasm, and we perform all the time.”

Martens agrees. “There are things about it that can be difficult, but I think we’re doing something nobody else is doing, and it’s exciting.” Y SANDBOXMAG.COM

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THE SCREEN

FUNNY GIRL WIELDING THE UNSTOPPABLE COMBINATION OF HILARIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL, SIOBHAN MURPHY IS READY TO TAKE OVER YOUR TV SCREEN THIS FALL STORY BY BRENLEE COATES PHOTOS BY NARDELLA PHOTOGRAPHY

I

n person, just like onscreen, Siobhan Murphy quickly establishes herself as the “funny friend.”

Over lattes, the female lead of the new CBC sitcom Men With Brooms makes amiable cracks about Toronto’s subpopulation of hipsters, her parents’ apprehension over her career choice and her expectations for the recently-shot billboards for “Men With Brooms.”

“I was very convinced that I was very dark and twisty,” says Murphy self-effacingly, “and then for (A Smart Woman’s Survival Guide) I was just playing like a very hyper, hummingbird version of myself.

The ridiculous blonde sidekick kind of came naturally to me.”

Murphy made her acting debut in an abandoned drama called Everywhere All Over, in which she played the romantic lead; a troubled teen in love with an older man.

“I acted my ass off,” jokes Murphy, noting she kept showing off her ability to cry and infusing melodrama into the script.

Murphy did, however, win a Best Actress prize for playing the

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SANDBOX | FALL 2010

romantic lead in a student-produced movie called Patient at the Los Angeles Film Festival.

Since recoiling from the almost impenetrable task of getting into the niche of emotionally-thick, dramatic roles, Murphy has realized her ability to make people laugh in person could translate to the stage and small screen.

“I get to work with really funny people and it really pushes me to try to be funny,” says Murphy. “It’s like, ‘Oh, you’re funny? I’m funny too, here’s how.’”

She also noticed a huge difference being cast on a sitcom with mostly male leads.

On Smart Woman, Murphy said the four female leads weren’t even allowed to check out an episode before it went public. She said the all-female first team would be singularly concerned with important details like, “Is my hair cool? Does my face look weird?”

With mixed comedies, says Murphy, “It’s about what you can say and being funny.”

Murphy excitedly chats about her work on Men With Brooms and

even reveals it’s her proudest project to date.

“The humour is really, genuinely so smart and pretty young. It’s stuff unlike anything I’ve seen the CBC do before,” she says.

The “Men With Brooms” series is a new half-hour comedy loosely based on the movie of the same title. “It’s in the same world,” says Murphy of the similarity.

Canadian actor Paul Gross produced the TV series about four men on a curling team living in a small town after directing the original film.

Murphy plays the somewhat uppity new girl in town from—get this— exotic Edmonton.

Murphy immediately seized the opportunity for humour after revealing this fact and added: “I know, I was like, ‘For real? Coming from Edmonton she gets to roll like that?’”

This kind of improvisation seems to spill out of Murphy at the most opportune of times; just like any good comedic actor she seems aware that timing is everything.

Executive producer of the project, Paul Mather, recognized Murphy’s potential to be a powerful

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THE SCREEN

comedic presence on the show and hasn’t been disappointed since.

“She’s got a great on-screen presence and really held up her end bringing the character to life. It’s been gratifying,” says Mather.

Likely, Murphy’s relationship with the main character on the show will play a vital part in how the show is received. Murphy plays the protagonist’s love interest, and the script reflects that “will they/won’t they” tension à la Kim and Pam from The Office that, done right, can sail a show into its second season.

“It’s contemporary and fastpaced, and not self-consciously trying to be that,” says Mather of the show.

“I’m pretty proud of what we’ve done so far and I think we’ll put it out there and hope people like it.”

While it sounds largely promising, Murphy got such a juicy role that her career could likely take off even if the show isn’t a success. Her past year in acting limbo (aka working in a restaurant) ensured that she doesn’t take that fact for granted.

The adorably appreciative Murphy couldn’t even mask the faint giddy sparkle in her eye when she speaks of informing her parents about getting cast on Men With Brooms.

“The best call I ever made was when this went through, and they cried and the whole thing,” she recounts.

Just when things get a little too sweet, Murphy sees her opening and injects an impression of her dad, a long-time TV news personality: “Oh Siobhanny, I’m just so happy for you,” she imitates, replying in her own voice: “I think you mean relieved, Dad.” Y

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THE SOUND

SOUL SISTER MAIKO WATSON, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL CANADIAN POPSTARS, IS BACK ON THE SCENE AND READY TO STEAL THE SHOW STORY BY KRISTY RYDZ PHOTOS BY PINK ELEPHANT PHOTOGRAPHY

M

aiko Watson’s laugh is downright infectious.

I never imagined when she floated through the door of the Park Theatre with effortless elegance in her printed red button-down dress and gladiator sandals that the very same girl would have me giggling as she pulled a tapedtogether iPhone (without a data plan) from her purse while munching on a chicken caesar wrap.

“Don’t laugh!” she snickers, her warm and friendly chocolate brown eyes smiling.

In the same refreshingly-real sense, the former member of the pop group Sugar Jones – the product of Canada’s first reality music television show, Popstars – is making her mark on the country’s music scene.

With her debut solo, Winnipegrecorded and independently-released album, Sweet Vibration, out last November, Watson is creating her own genre by writing all about her own life, love and optimism – and everything in between.

“It’s like a rootsy, soulful pop with hints of jazz and funk and rock,” she says. “I like to say, let’s take every genre and put it into one, that’s what I feel like I’m doing sometimes. But I think that you can hear in my voice that R&B is what I started singing. I think that comes through no matter what I do.”

Those strong sultry pipes influenced by the likes of Erykah Badu, Jimi Hendrix and Ella Fitzgerald set her apart from thousands of girls across

Canada when she auditioned on a whim for Popstars in 2001. At first she wasn’t into the idea of participating in a reality show to get herself into a cut-and-paste group, but something inside told her to pursue it.

“It wasn’t really expected, but at the same time I had a really strong instinct that I just felt like I should do it anyway,” she says. “I thought maybe if I audition, maybe I would stand a chance. If I really wanted it, maybe it could be an opportunity.”

After a platinum album, two top ten singles on Canadian charts, touring across the country and even opening for artists like Beyonce, Watson is grateful for the exposure, learning and genuine fun the experience brought. But it was her desire to express her own distinct musical voice that drove her to leave Sugar Jones.

“I always say it was a crash course in the music industry. Everything happens really quickly and all of a sudden people are paying attention to you and know who you are. So it’s a big adjustment and it was really important to stay grounded,” she explains between sips of her Americano. “Looking back now it was kind of cool that we got to experience that side but at the same time I really wanted to be a songwriter. That was something I was passionate about, so that was the most frustrating part for me. Why can’t I just have my song? Why can’t I just be involved in making these songs?”

Writing, arranging and producing all ten tracks on Sweet Vibration, Watson is now in complete control.

Continuing to challenge herself lyrically with songs for an upcoming EP that she hopes to have out in early 2011—all the while dabbling in playing guitar, bass, and keyboards—the Guyana-born songstress took on Rainbow Stage this summer.

Watson first played Mimi Marquez, an exotic dancer living with HIV in Rent and then as a chorus member in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The challenge of having to coordinate with others and dealing with harsh spotlights, combined with the daunting task of playing such a complex character as Mimi, forced Watson to push herself as a performer.

“I’m playing a person and she has a story, so you want to communicate the story to the audience. There’s this one number where I had to prance around the stage in booty shorts and a little bra top, and that was challenging,” she says with a smirk. “Just getting comfortable in my own skin and getting into that zone where you’re not yourself anymore...just telling the story with your body.”

Between telling tales with her shape, writing from the heart and following her gut, Watson is set to be unstoppable from stage to studio – to whatever she tackles next.

“I love performing. I still feel like it challenges me; I’m still growing as a performer. As long as I’m not getting bored with it, I’m going to keep doing it.

I don’t want to limit myself in any way.

I don’t want to put myself in any box. I just want to create.” Y

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THE STAGE

OUT OF THE BOX THE HOT THESPIAN WHO OWES HER STAGE PRESENCE TO MIME STORY BY EMILY BARON-CADLOFF PHOTOS BY MEGANELIZABETH DIAMOND

C

an I let you in on a secret? Mimes are hot. No, not the mimes you’re thinking of. I’m not talking about white face paint, striped shirts and berets, unless that’s what you’re into. I’m talking about Shannon Guile, one-fifth of the theatre troupe Hot Thespian Action (HTA).

The group is a Winnipeg favourite, having just come off a soldout run at the Fringe Festival. Also, they’re no strangers to SANDBOX; in April, readers were given a behindthe-scenes look at just how the troupe writes their smart-funny comedy sketches. But for the Ambition Issue, I wanted to know more about Guile, the founder of HTA and a master of body control.

For instance, few fans know that she first formed the group with the intention of creating a troupe of mimes. And while HTA is now so much more than that (think Saturday Night Live without costumes but actually funny), the group bases its humour in body language.

“Mime to me…it’s about using your body to solve problems that words can’t,” says Guile. “It’s about exchanging energies, and being physical. Without physicality [the comedy] isn’t engaging.”

The group writes sketches, songs, and mime acts that often push the boundaries of what you might think physical comedy can do. Catch Guile in a live performance of their sketch

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“The Bank Job” to see this brand of mime at its best.

“I play a cowboy, and I go try to rob this bank. But I’m just not very good. Like, all sorts of stuff goes wrong, and you know, my horse dies, and it’s funny. And it’s completely silent,” says Guile. She has an entire audience captivated and in stitches without uttering a single word.

“Our comedy is not based on characters or one joke, it’s based on an idea that everyone can relate to. We want to point out that one little truth. And that’s all comedy is, it’s life.”

As for Guile’s life, she’s taken an interesting path to the performing arts. She started on the stage when she was just twelve years old.

“When I was in junior high, I did this one short play and I was hooked, I just had this passion and I had to do it. Maybe because it was so hard, and maybe because so many people said I wouldn’t make it. I’m the person who presses the button when someone says don’t press it. I felt like I had to go for it,” she says.

After high school, where she studied acting on the side, she enrolled at the University of Winnipeg and got her honours degree in performing arts.

And now, she’s a teacher’s assistant in the program, teaching people how to mime. Instead of packing up her bags and trucking off east to Toronto, the theatre hot-spot in Canada, she decided to stay right here in Winnipeg.

“There’s not a hell of a lot of acting rolls in Winnipeg, as far as theatre

goes. This year, there were about three parts I could audition for, and there are lots of girls who are my height, my look,” says Guile. “I could have gone on to Toronto after school, that’s kind of the thing to do. But I just love it here. I want to be here.”

And it’s lucky for us (and the theatre department at the university) that she stayed.

Doing mime and being so physical has helped Guile become more comfortable with her body. Over the years, she’s learned to trust what she can do.

“When I’m doing mime, I’m happy and I feel good about myself. There are endorphins, it’s like a workout,” says Guile. “Mime has freed me up and allowed me to enjoy parts of me that I haven’t seen before.”

Mime can put you in touch with more than just your physical body.

How about becoming braver? Check.

It takes courage to go out on stage and try to make people laugh.

“I think it’s scary for people to take it as far as we do. It’s putting yourself on this limb. And that’s any comedy.

Anything you do in comedy is terrifying,” says Guile.” I know something’s funny when I can recognize myself in it. It’s funny ‘cause it’s true.”

If you’re ready to get out there on stage, follow Guile’s advice and stay on the balls of your feet. It’ll help you move quicker and feel ready.

“It’s a sport,” says Guile, laughing, “but…without being a sport. ‘Cause… it’s not.” Y

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BEAUTIFUL MAN

GET READY THROW IT UP FOR SHAWN DESMAN STORY BY JEFFREY VALLIS PHOTOS BY PINK ELEPHANT PHOTOGRAPHY

W

hen you think of Shawn Desman, what comes to mind?

For me, it’s the poster of him that my friend Gabrielle had in her room and how jealous I was of it. She would talk about how hot he was and I would make awkward remarks about his lyrics, secretly pining over him and his sexy “side hawk”. I was, at the time, closeted, awkward and sexually frustrated.

So when he was in town touring with his new album, Fresh, I jumped on the opportunity to get him undressed and oiled up (unfortunately, they didn’t let me do the oiling) for this month’s “Beautiful Man”. And as I shouted “flex your abs” from behind the photographer, I couldn’t help but think how my 15-year-old self would have handled the situation. Probably, in much the same way my 22-year-old self did, by asking him about girls, sex and steamy encounters—you know, the really hard hitting stuff. Enjoy!

SANDBOX: Let’s say you meet a girl and you’re really into her, but she has no idea who you are. Are you offended or a little bit turned on?

Shawn Desman: More interested.

It feels like when I’m on the road and I’m meeting people, that it’s not work. It’s honestly so easy. So when I’m actually into somebody and they don’t know who I am, it’s actually kind of cool that I get to do the guy thing again and actually work to try to get somebody’s attention. I kind of like the challenge.

SB: Yeah, I can see how girls

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throwing themselves at you can get tired. Is that how the song “Quickie” on your new album came to be?

that. If there are girls screaming, just remember that I’m coming home to you and this is part of my job.

SD: Every song that I write on the record is about real life stuff that happens. And “Quickie” is basically, you feel used after this girl comes and she’s like, “I don’t need to know your name, let’s just go get it on and go our separate ways”. And some girls are cool with that and some aren’t, but this girl was cool with that (laughs).

SB: So you’re a hot commodity and we think you’re super sexy. So what?

Means nothing. We’d like to pretend that you didn’t always have your chiseled, Portuguese good looks.

SB: Can’t say we blame the girl, but you probably weren’t complaining yourself.

SD: What guy is not cool with it?

Come on. I was definitely OK with it.

She was just like, “you’re hot, I’m hot, let’s get hot together” (laughs).

SB: Alright, now you’re making us hot. Does it ever get annoying to hear girls say how hot you are?

SD: I don’t think any guy or girl gets tired of hearing how hot they are. It’s flattering. But I don’t let anything get to my head. I don’t take it for granted.

SB: So what about you? What kind of girl are you into?

SD: Just somebody that’s cool; somebody that’s fun. Somebody I can have a good time with; that I can joke with.

And what’s really important is someone that can put up with the lifestyle that I have. I’m away a lot and it really takes a special person to be able to put up with

SD: Even when I first started in 2002, I wasn’t in the best of shape. I always had a saying: first album is about your music, second album is about your abs. So when I came back with Back For More, I had a trainer for about a year and I was ripped ripped.

SB: Oh yes, we remember the poster with the red shirt. So how do you feel now?

SD: I just find it gets harder when you get older. You don’t lose it as quickly.

You sure as hell put it on quicker than you ever did before (laughs).

SB: What part of your body do you like the least?

SD: I think my love handles. I got the little love handles going on. I gotta try to trim them down (laughs) SB: When you find out how, let us know. What’s the best part of your body?

SD: I don’t want to brag, but I’m really well endowed (laughs).

SB: … We’re speechless. Y

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TALENT & TITS

THE BARONESS WHEN FUR MET FASHION, FUNCTION AND REBECCA SANDULAK

A

fter our meeting, I became certain that good things come in two’s. Just as morning is to coffee, cake is to ice cream, or Laverne is to Shirley, Rebecca Sandulak is to her dog Millo, and simultaneously to creativity.

Rebecca is a tall, long-legged and dark-haired professional motion picture photographer for film and television in Winnipeg. Her inventive eye has landed her an impressive catalogue of jobs in short and feature films including: The Haunting in Connecticut, The Lazerus Project starring Paul Walker, New in Town starring Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick Jr. and The Horsemen starring Dennis Quaid. Her counterpart (when not referring to her fiancé) is Baron Millo—a shortlegged and dark haired Shih TzuYorkshire Terrier with a Twitter account. The two (and fiancé) live a funny, quiet life in River Heights.

“There is an ebb and flow to the film industry in Winnipeg and the past year has been fairly quiet, and I’ve been bored,” explains Sandulak. She may have had more time than usual to sleep, but her ingenuity could no longer. In fact, it got the best of the self-described dreamer on a bitter winter’s walk

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STORY BY JILLIAN COUBROUGH PHOTOS BY IZABELA RACHWAL

with Millo from the groomer’s this past January.

“They were selling a doggy hair clip—it was kind of funny, it said it was handmade but it was very poorly done and I really wasn’t impressed,” she laughs. “I thought, I wouldn’t want to dress that on my dog and from there it literally ended up spinning into this recycled clothing line for dogs.”

In the film, industry Rebecca worked closely with various costumers and artists from seamstresses to graphic designers. “I just started collaborating with these amazing women that I know. It was a whirlwind experience, and six months later here we are,” she says, equal parts elated and incredulous.

On the eve of January 28, 2010, the vivacious brunette with red lily roots and Anne Hathaway looks, launched BBka, Black Baron kingdom apparel—a “pre-washed, preshunk, pre-worn-by-humans clothing line for the animal kingdom.”

The animal clothing is made entirely from used and vintage clothing she finds in local thrift shops, or her mother-in-law’s closet. “I saw the hair clip that inspired the dog jackets at 8:30 am and by 10 pm that night we had over 20 pattern cuts

sitting on my kitchen table.”

Her dining room doubles as her creative laboratory and storage space. Brown paper patterns hang from her windows. Her 300-piece collection of doggie coats, vests and tanks is meticulously placed in piles by shape, style and size, while heaps of donated vintage clothing wait silently in garbage bags to be transformed. Her pieces can dress pocket-sized pooches to 120-pluspound breeds.

While Millo sleeps at my feet, I sift through cascades of dog-sized retro tanks, each one different and even better than the next. I leaf through everything from Western Canada Paint, Winnipeg Winter Club and Saskatchewan Ringette tanks and tees, Ocean Pacific and Playboy prints and concert crop tops from AC/DC to the Foo Fighters.

One of the biggest hits has been the illustrious “Kenora dinner jacket,” a fun and warm plaid lumberjack-infused coat. My favourite, the tweed jacket, is made from authentic Scottish tweed with herring bone print.

Right now, Rebecca is in the midst of a Great Dane peacoat, and a Calvin Klein vest for a Mastiff. She also informs me that she has recently hired a leather maker to start work-

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TALENT & TITS ing on leather prototypes. All of the leftover material is recycled into what Sandulak termed “rations”— plain tees and tanks which she silkscreens her logo (featuring Millo) —warranting less waste. “The line is entirely recycled. We want to keep everything green—Millo and I walk to Hip Pooch (the first carrier of the line) when we need to drop things off.”

Sandulak launched the line earlier this summer at “Woofstock” in Toronto. It is the largest outdoor dog festival in North America, bringing in close to 300,000 people and all of their wet-nosed friends.

She applied, bid for a table and was situated right next to Brad Pattison, the Canadian Dog Whisperer (who now follows Millo on Facebook).

With the launch at Woofstock behind the one-woman-one-dog show, five stores carrying BBka in Canada, somehow wrapping up an independent feature film and a 13-episode television series, there’s still some uphill to go. At Woofstock, Sandulak was exclusively invited to show her eco-friendly collection at the Mecca of four-legged fashion-Pet Fashion Week, in New York City this August. “The exhibition will be smaller, about 1200 people, and will have a highbrow crust on it; it was a great compliment.”

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, she pulls out the Michelangelo of dog jackets—an outlandish acid wash denim coat—complete with collar to pop, and backed with a montage of miscellaneous pins.

“I’ve just started it as a ridiculous homage to Alexander McQueen.

I’m working with all of these pins I’ve collected as a child, everything from the York Saskatchewan Winter games in 1986 to Hooters and an authentic David Bowie concert pin.”

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SANDBOX | FALL 2010

The haute couture jacket comes complete with a lining, for safety, so it doesn’t aggravate the animal’s back. “We’re releasing it in New York as part of the ‘couture line.’ I don’t anticipate too many hitting the streets of Winnipeg, but hey.”

The young lady-dog ownerphotographer-designer-entrepreneur can also add philanthropist to her multi-faceted title; 11 per cent of all BBka profits are donated to an animal charity of Winnipeg’s choice every January and July 1. This past

July, an astounding 514 votes were placed and the Boston Terriers and Pugs of southern Manitoba received the donation.

“Although it’s just clothes for dogs, our animals mean so much to us. Hearing the happiness that

comes from the charity is what motivates me to do this. Animals are so powerful, anyone who has a pet understands that; it’s not a unique feeling.”

The collection is much more than dog clothing, it’s an eclectic,

nostalgic throwback track to pop culture, our city, its generations— and the multi-tasker with moxie has a future you can feel. Y Visit blackbaronkingdom.com to shop the collection.

SANDBOXMAG.COM

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HEIDI WEARS COAT

BY PASWERA. SHOES FROM HUSH. BELT FROM VINTAGE GLORY. SOCKS, STYLIST’S OWN.

LET IT THE DEBUT LINE FROM PASWERA, JUST IN TIME FOR 32 SANDBOX | FALL 2010 FASHION’S FAVOURITE SEASON

T FALL PHOTOS BY BRITTANY ALYSE. STYLED BY CHANELLE SALNIKOWSKI. HAIR BY HANNA LITTLE FOR ANGLES HAIR DESIGN. MAKEUP BY JESSICA KMIEC. SANDBOXMAG.COM 33 MODELLED BY HEIDI DYCK FROM PANACHE AND CORALEE ROBERTS FROM SWISH.

THIS PAGE: HEIDI WEARS DRESS BY PASWERA, SHOES FROM ROOSTER. OPPOSITE PAGE: CORALEE WEARS GOWN BY PASWERA, HEADPIECE FROM ROOSTER.

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HEIDI WEARS DRESS BY PASWERA. SANDBOX | FALL SHOES FROM ROOSTER.

2010

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WHO’S TH GIRL

MEET RAEZAVEL ARGULLA, THE FASHION PRODIGY BEHIND THE WINNIPEG-BASED BLOG CHEAP T

T

he last time a 17-year-old girl made me nervous, I was an awkward 17-year-old boy hoping to god she didn’t bring attention to my (awful) green pants. Now, six years later and marginally more stylish, I’m still anxious that my outfit won’t do. My fear is a tad more justified this time, however, considering the 17-year-old in question is Raezavel Argulla, the mastermind behind the blog Cheap Thrills and a veritable fashion icon already.

Argulla started what has become, arguably, the biggest fashion blog based out of Winnipeg when she was only 15. It began as your average trend identifier but quickly evolved into something much more substantial when she started to style, model and photograph her own mini photo shoots. Now the blog receives up to 50,000 page views a month and Argulla has been a featured stylist on Glamour’s style advice site “What To Wear.”

“When I started out, I didn’t think it was a very big deal,” she says. “But when it started picking up, I got scared.”

Scared because she had kept her endeavours secret from her parents, afraid they would put an end to her fun.

She let the cat out of the bag earlier this year and her parents were surprised but more than proud of her success.

“I could be doing worse,” Argulla laughs, earning a look from her mother who is chaperoning the interview.

Argulla is petite, beautiful and unsettlingly self-assured for her age. Immediately she comes off as someone with big ambitions and the confidence to achieve them. I can only imagine that her confidence is what allows her to put her fashion out there for the world to see, and comment on.

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SANDBOX | FALL 2010

STORY BY BRADEN ALEXANDER PHOTOS BY RAEZAVEL ARGULLA

“I’ve always had a thicker skin. I know who I am. If I want to wear something, I wear it.”

Argulla named her blog Cheap Thrills because of her passion for thrifting—scouring second-hand clothing stores for fashionable finds. “You can find true fashion for so cheap,” she says. In her shoots, she’ll pair surprisingly chic pieces from Value Village or the Salvation Army with products she receives from companies like American Apparel. (Shipments of free stuff are one of the main perks of her success.)

What is most striking about the blog is not Argulla’s age or the site’s popularity but simply how well done it is, and not just for a girl yet to graduate from high school. The styling is meticulous, the makeup looks professionally done, the photos are excellently framed and the poses are fantastic. Were she about a foot taller, Argulla would be walking the runway by now.

“A lot of people are surprised to find out my age and my ethnicity,” she says of her exotic and mature look. “I think only Filipinos can tell that I’m Filipino.”

As much of a pro as she is in front of the camera, Argulla wants to make a career out of getting behind it.

Fashion photographer is her ultimate goal.

“I just started with a dinky little point-andshoot, and then it was like, whoa, I’m in love with photography.”

To break into the industry, she plans to study fashion communication at Ryerson University in Toronto.

For now, though, she’s happy to be able to take part in all aspects of her passion. And we’re happy to watch the one-woman show. Y

HAT

17-YEAR-OLD SENSATIONAL, THRILLS.

RAEZAVEL WEARS TOP AND SKIRT BY AMERICAN APPAREL. SHOES FROM TOWN SHOES. BELT AND ALL JEWELLERY HER OWN. MAKEUP AND STYLING BY RAEZAVEL ARGULLA. HAIR

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THE NEW LIGHTWEIGHTS: RYAN VOTH, ARIEL POSEN, ALEXA DIRKS AND GRAHAM ISAAK

THE UNDENIABLE CHARM OF WINNIPEGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ALT POP PROS STORY BY LORILYNN MCCORRISTER PHOTOS BY JUSTIN POKRANT

hen I ask Alexa Dirks to describe her band, The New Lightweights, in one word, she replies, “charming,” but then quickly takes it back, sighing and explaining, “I don’t want to sound like we’re full of ourselves.”

But after listening to just one of the group’s songs, and hanging up after my phone conversation with the 23-year-old, I was, in fact, charmed.

“The band was kind of like Ryan’s brainchild,” says Dirks, the lead singer of the Winnipeg-based

collective. “We were all good friends, but he really brought us all together. The rest kind of just fell into place.”

Ryan Voth, drummer for the group, has been playing with Dirks in different bands since she was 17. Most notably in the R&B/soul band, Little Boy Boom, who have had tours across Canada and the U.S. Voth has known their bassist, Graham Isaak (Pop the Trunk) since high school. Ariel Posen (Groovy Moustache), their guitar player, was an obvious fit, having known the other three from the ever-evolving music scene in Winnipeg.

I ask Dirks what she likes most about working with such close friends. She quickly responds, “No egos and no pressure. It’s just a good release to get out all of our creative energy.” With all of the band members having such busy schedules, it seems incredible that they have time to make this work.

“We just get together when we can, you know? If one of us can’t make it, we reschedule. It’s just us, hanging out, and doing what we love to do.”

Originally intending to just do covers of their favourite songs, the band has evolved into much more.

It was initially meant to be a way that they could all hang out and have fun apart from their main projects, but soon enough, Dirks and Posen began working together on writing some new material.

“I write the lyrics and Ariel works on the melodies,” Dirks explains. “Then we take it to practice and just kind of make it fit with everyone else”. Bassist Isaak will be contributing to the songwriting on their upcoming material, an EP set to be released in September.

Their music is a throwback to the simple hooks and melodies of

music past. With a voice reminiscent of vocalists like Feist and Adele, Dirks brings soul to the songs you hear on their self-titled EP. Quirky, with a mix of pop, folk and country, their music is definitely a breath of fresh air. Heavy drums and steel guitar both make appearances in their songs, allowing a more quirky country feel. While neither Posen nor Dirks can pinpoint their influences or inspirations, they both explain that it comes from a mix of everyone they’ve played and worked with and the different genres they both listen to.

When asked if they plan a full album follow-up to their successful EP, Dirks says that there are no immediate plans, but they are taking it as it comes. For Posen, their EP release party turned out to be one of his favourite shows.

“It was packed to the door, and a handful of people couldn’t even get in,” he states. “[That] obviously wasn’t great, but good to know that it was so busy for us – hype was starting to build.”

As of now, the band is just playing locally, with notable shows at Le Garage in St. Boniface, The District downtown, and most recently, in August at Times Change(d). But that’s not to say a cross-country tour is out of the question. As Dirks explains, “We just haven’t sat down and figured it out, but you never know. Right now we just want to keep playing, keep doing what we’re doing.”

While we finish up our conversation, Dirks decides to divulge one more juicy tidbit of information.

“Ryan is single!” She blurts out with a laugh. As if you needed another reason to go check them out. Y The New Lightweights EP is available at Music Trader, McNally Robinson, and online at cdbaby.com SANDBOXMAG.COM

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THE LUCKY ONES

THE WINNERS OF THE 2010 PANACHE MODEL SEARCH SHOW US THEIR STUFF IN THE BEST OF CANADIANA FALL FASHION: LAYERS, TEXTURES, PRINTS AND FAUX FUR GALORE STORY BY VANESSA KUNDERMAN. PHOTOS BY RED SCARF PHOTOGRAPHY.

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shley Coubrough could rhapsodize about anime and Tron Legacy longer than it would take you to complete a game of Final Fantasy. It’s hard to imagine that she’s a newborn model just shy of 16, especially when she admitted her ability to read hieroglyphics at only five years old.

“I want to be a Victoria Secret model like Heidi Klum, and I admire Meaghan Waller for wearing braces as a young model. I’ll need to wear braces and Meaghan did it, so it’s something I can do, too. And I mean, she’s so nice, so she’s someone I admire for a lot of reasons.”

Coubrough is the female winner of the Panache Model Search thanks to her perfect frame, beautiful skin and even features. It’s not hard to see why she has the ability to attract scouts from all over the world.

Brad Dorge, the male winner of the competition, has it a little easier than Coubrough. Male models don’t usually need to learn all the fuss when it comes to cosmetics, though they still focus on photo movement, technique and grooming.

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The 20-year-old hockey-player-turned-line-cook wouldn’t classify himself as a jock, despite his trim physique and commitment to the gym.

“I was out of shape only last year. I was much heavier and not nearly as fit. I’m not a jock – I’m versatile. I like to do it all.”

Unlike Coubrough, who would like to focus on runway work with Panache, Dorge’s focus is leaning toward acting. After appearing as an extra in Faces in the Crowd, Milla Jovovich’s new film, and in Men With Brooms, Dorge was infected by the atmosphere of the acting world.

“It’s all being amalgamated. Models can act now.

The worlds are merging so, it’s part of one big package.”

Coubrough and Dorge hope that working with Panache will give each the opportunity to enhance his and her modeling skills through weekly classes at the studio on Corydon.

Whether it’s on the runway next to Gisele, beside Milla in her latest flick, or on the glossy pages of SANDBOX, we can’t wait to see where these two will turn up. Y

ON BRAD: SWEATER, T-SHIRT AND JEANS FROM UNFOLD APPAREL. BOOTS FROM TOWN SHOES. SOCKS, STYLISTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OWN. ON ASHLEY: DRESS AND NECKLACE FROM HUSH. SWEATER FROM VINTAGE GLORY. PURSE FROM TOWN SHOES. MUCKIES BY JULIE PEDERSON. STYLED BY MADISON ROSAS. HAIR BY LESLIE OLDHAM FOR BERNS & BLACK. MAKEUP BY JENNIFER MILNER FOR JUICY COSMETICS.

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THIS PAGE: BRAD WEARS JACKET FROM CONNECT FOUR AND SHIRT AND JEANS BY LENNARD TAYLOR. OPPOSITE PAGE: ASHLEY WEARS CAPE FROM RAGPICKERS, PLAID SHIRT FROM ARITZIA, SHIRT AND PANTS FROM MAD ABOUT STYLE, SPATS BY JULIE PETERSON, CLOGS FROM TOWN SHOES AND SANDBOXMAG.COM NECKLACE FROM HUSH.

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THIS PAGE: BRAD WEARS JEANS FROM UNFOLD APPAREL.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: ASHLEY WEARS HAT AND SCARF FROM THE HABERDASHERY.

SANDBOXMAG.COM

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Happiness The Pursuit of

How Kiera Fogg lived several lives before finding the one that truly made her happy.

Ever since I was a little girl, my parents and I had this bedtime ritual. Before going to sleep at night, I’d list off all the things I wanted to do when I was older and they’d tell me it was possible. This included being a famous singer, becoming a doctor, and capturing a polar bear from the North Pole to keep as a pet. All of these things, I was told with a straight and serious face, were completely possible – even the polar bear.

Needless to say, my parents weren’t surprised when at the age of 13 I told them I wanted to be an “international model,” my face beaming as the words came out of my mouth. I wasn’t really the model type. I was what people gently refer to as “big boned.” I was, however, quite determined. I signed up for a modelling class and by the time I was 14, I had starved myself thin enough to look like a legitimate model. And sure

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enough, the scouts came calling.

In 1998 I won a competition with Elite Model Management and shortly after I was off to Germany where I worked for a variety of major magazines and clothing designers. I did this for a few summers, which gave me the chance to work in other places like France and Denmark. It didn’t matter to me that I was only consuming about 500 calories a day – about enough calories to feed an infant. I had found success. Unfortunately, this success could only last as long as my eating disorder did. Once I unwillingly won my battle with anorexia, I was told I was too big to work overseas, so I began looking for my next pursuit.

Turns out, it was singing.

The only problem was that I didn’t really know how to sing. Sure, I could carry a tune in a bucket, but I’d probably drop it after a step or two. So I

decided I would learn. At 16 my parents bought me a karaoke machine with a pile of country music CDs to learn from. I would lock myself in the garage (better acoustics) for hours every night.

It didn’t do a lot for my social life or help me endear myself to the neighbours, but it did get my vocal strength to a point where I felt comfortable singing in front of people. And when I finally did, the praise I got was addictive.

I sent a demo tape off to a producer in Los Angeles and we began our yearlong process of writing and recording my first album, and everything just seemed to snowball from there. My producer, Gerald O’Brien, a seasoned writer himself (Amanda Marshall, “Birmingham”) contacted his writer friends and soon enough I had writers on my album that had written for some huge stars including Faith Hill, Martina

McBride, and Wynonna Judd. About a year after that, I released the album in Canada and Europe, and to my excitement, my first single made it to number one in France, and number four on The Top 200 European Country Chart. That was good, but it certainly wasn’t enough.

After all, I was hardly famous and as a singer, who are you unless people know your name?

I decided that I would try a different avenue – pop music. In 2006 I recorded a single called “Serenity” (laughable, really, as my drive to achieve had left me far from serene). I found myself a manager in Nashville and travelled there to film my first music video. Within a few weeks after its release, my manager had it playing in 17 countries on Channel-V, Asia and Australia’s version of MTV. I was on my way. And with that, I made the decision to move to L.A. That was when things really got exciting.

My manager introduced me to an executive from a major record label and the two of them went to work enlisting the help of well-known writers, producers and artists to help shape me into “the next big thing” (their words, not mine). As part of the process, I hung out nervously in studios with artists like Travis Barker, Too Short, and The Game as our managers tried to negotiate deals for us to collaborate together. Things

were really starting to pick up which is what made my next decision the hardest one I’ve ever had to make. I decided to go home.

While all of these exciting things were happening for me, some other not so exciting things were too. My managers (I now had two) were telling me how to dress, talk, and act. I was told that I was a fan of football (if you know me you’re probably laughing) and was given a Texas Longhorns hat to wear everywhere. They taught me sports lingo and told me what to say wherever I went. I tolerated this since they were working on a football-related deal for me, but when they suggested I have plastic surgery I started to resist. There were some other shady things that I was expected to tolerate as part of Hollywood life, but I won’t get into them here. Let’s just say they were against my personal code of ethics and were enough to make me walk away from a lifelong dream.

With that, my mom flew in and drove with me back to Canada. I cried the entire way. I couldn’t believe how close I had come to my dream, just to have that nagging little voice inside tell me that it couldn’t work – at least not on those terms. But somewhere between Nevada (after I stopped heaving) and Montana (when the tears were reduced to a mere trickle) I made

another important decision. I decided that I would never again search outside myself for fulfillment. I was only going to do things if they made me truly happy, not because they seemed impressive. In time, I came to realize that with all the exciting things I got to experience while pursuing my dreams, I wasn’t even happy. I see now that my ambitions had me in a cycle that was mostly unfulfilling.

In the next four years after returning home I got a degree in creative communications, got married, got a job and had a baby. From the outside, that may not seem all that impressive. I don’t have a Grammy or a PhD, and I do not own one single polar bear. But what I do have is peace of mind, knowing that when times got tough I held true to my values. I have a wonderful husband and the most beautiful, perfect baby boy one could ever ask for. These things may not seem like much to some people, but for me they are everything and all I really need.

And ironically, nowadays, I feel more successful than I ever did. I’m not saying that my ambitions will never go beyond suburbia – they will and do. But when I seek to achieve future goals, my happiness will not be contingent on whether I succeed or fail. Any success, big or small, will simply add to my already thickly iced, cherry-covered cake. Y

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A NICE DAY FOR A

Wild Wedding THE NEW CULTURE OF MANITOBA MATRIMONIES

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Story by Brenlee Coates. Photos by Lisa Varga.

Winnipeg wedding isn’t exactly as iconic as a Winnipeg social, but lots of gamechangers recently entering the local wedding market are now helping ‘Peggers tie the knot en vogue.

Leading the way is Atelier Couture Bridal, a high-fashion bridal boutique that opened its doors in late 2009.

The store, which features dresses from such formerly-unattainable, big-name designers as Vera Wang and Monique Lhuillier, offers the unique experience of appointment-only shopping—that way, the bride and her party of choice are the only focus of the store manager, Christa Pham, who immediately puts her customers at ease.

“We wanted to open the store and keep up on the most updated trends. Winnipeg deserves it,” says 27-year-old Pham.

In keeping with her chic motif, Pham carries Manolo Blahnik shoes at the store and will play around with women’s hair at their appointment to create the most glamorous version of themselves on their big day.

The store has quickly become the first stop for brides-to-be after the engagement, which is a great thing to do even if it’s just to get ideas: to view the most current fashions first.

The designer dresses are priced from $1,100 to $8,000 and Pham insists there are ways to work your dream dress into your budget.

Trends in dresses for the summer that Pham has scouted are a move toward “non-strapless” gowns, with illusion strapless looks created through tulle or cap sleeves, she says. Plus, many skirts are detailed with attrac-

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tive flower appliqués, sometimes placed sporadically and sparingly, or are really texture-driven, and a dash of colour is being added to the usual look through coloured sashes.

Brides are wearing lighter fabrics than ever and abandoning lengthy trains, sometimes even opting for knee-length dresses. The standard veil is also on the outs and is being replaced with embellished combs, flowers or birdcage veils.

Sounding a bit like prepping for a fashion shoot? Well, the modernity and haute couture influence on wedding attire is totally being mirrored in wedding photography as well.

Local it-list wedding photographers like BLF Studios are right on the cusp of the newest trends in wedding photography and will even attend destination weddings with couples after meeting with them to discuss a game plan.

BLF’s main photographer, Bond Freyer, says a “photojournalism approach” and fashion photography style have become the most sought-after forms of artistry for weddings. Most recently, top photographers are offering a fusion of video, audio and still photos.

“In the last year or so, fusion is the new buzz word,” he says. “That’s the latest thing and what everyone’s kind of doing right now.” So, with a company like BLF, couples can end up with a DVD of highlights from their big day plus an album filled with elegant photographs. BLF also offers photo canvases that could grace even the artsiest couples’ walls because “it doesn’t even have to be your faces, it could be a shoe” to commemorate your day, says Freyer.

“The idea is to have artistic fun after

the wedding,” says Freyer, who photographed paint splattering on his own wife’s dress after their wedding. His wife, Leah, works alongside him at BLF, and the dress now sits pretty on a mannequin in their home as a piece of art.

Lastly, if an on-point wedding is your vision but you don’t exactly know how to get there or have the time to devote to planning, outsourcing could be the right thing.

Moments Wedding and Event Planning updates a blog monthly with an inspiration board that runs with a theme to inspire wedding décor, colour schemes, dresses, centrepieces and accessories.

Assistant planner and monthly blogger, Nicole Trunzo, is full of tips and whims that only the most accomplished weddinger could know.

She says doing close destination weddings, like a quick overnight in Gimli or Hecla, is on the rise for Winnipeg couples because it ensures no one has to drive home and everyone gets a mini-vacay minus the epic travel distance. Eco-friendliness is also becoming a part of the average couple’s conscience. Paper-free invitations, wedding websites, and even whenever possible, donating the leftover food from the wedding, are gaining momentum.

Trunzo recommends against a bachelorette or stag party right before the wedding night, as it can throw off your whole day — which usually begins bright and early.

Of course, having the best the city has to offer will come at a price, but if you get a wedding planner you can just focus on throwing a really, really bitching social. Y

DRESS FROM ATELIER COUTURE. HEADPIECE

BY RUBY FEATHERS. NECKLACE FROM VINTAGE GLORY. STYLED BY MADISON ROSAS. HAIR BY APRIL MILLER FOR BERNS & BLACK. MAKEUP BY JANIQUE LAVOIE FOR FINE EYES. MODELLED BY KATE YACULA FROM SWISH MODEL MANAGEMENT.

WINNIPEG INTERNATIONAL

WRITERS FESTIVAL It’s for Readers

FOYER DES ECRIVAINS

THIN AIR

September 19-26 Septembre 2010

WINNIPEG INTERNATIONAL WRITERS FESTIVAL

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Winnipeg’s annual theatre festival of plays by women for everyone!

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for tickets and info: www.sarasvati.ca www.femfest.ca (204) 586-2236

CLEAN SLATE KEEP IT CLEAN WITH THE DARK NEUTRALS, CRISP TAILORING AND SHARP, BLOCKED COLOUR FROM LOCAL LINE LENNARD TAYLOR.

HILARY WEARS DRESS

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THIS PAGE: MEAGHAN WEARS DRESS AND COAT BY LENNARD TAYLOR, BOOTS FROM BROWNS, AND HER OWN RING. OPPOSITE PAGE: SAVEJA WEARS DRESS BY LENNARD TAYLOR, BELT FROM PARAMIX, AND SCARF BY SANDBOX JOE FRESH.

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THIS PAGE: MEAGHAN WEARS DRESS BY LENNARD TAYLOR, BELT FROM PARAMIX, SHOES FROM ALDO AND STYLISTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OWN SOCKS.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: SAVEJA WEARS SWEATER AND JEANS BY LENNARD TAYLOR, SHOES FROM ALDO. HILARY WEARS SWEATER AND JEANS BY LENNARD TAYLOR, BOOTS FROM PARAMIX.

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ABOUT A BOY. Walking into Andrew Bickford’s Exchange District studio home and birthplace of the line Lennard Taylor is like walking into another world.

Stacks of oil paintings lean against the walls, yards of fabric drape from overstocked shelves and his signature patched jeans hang everywhere, displayed just as well as the art that accompanies them. Bickford greets me in his own patchwork denim and loose sleeveless tank with a long necklace looking a little bit urban and a lot European. In fact, I later learn that Bickford’s time in Europe, as an aspiring professional soccer player, is much of his inspiration for Lennard Taylor.

“When I came back, I tried to find the fashions that I wanted to wear, what I felt suited my personality and who I am and I couldn’t find them anywhere. Nothing was ever good enough, I always thought – I like this but not that part,” explains Bickford.

Beginning with t-shirts and help from a tattoo artist friend, the love of creating fashion quickly spi-

MEAGHAN WEARS DRESS BY LENNARD TAYLOR AND BELT FROM F&Q. ANDREW WEARS JEANS BY LENNARD TAYLOR.

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STORY BY ALISON HALL.

raled into Bickford’s multi-piece and customizable line. He is a true artisan – a painter, sketcher, creator and even a model. A designer with no limits and no expectations other than the personalities of the models he sketches.

“I draw the face of a made-up person, look at the face I drew and see what they would want to wear. I don’t look at fashion, I don’t follow trends. I just do what I think looks rad. I don’t need someone else to tell me if my stuff is good,” he says.

Good is an understatement.

From sporty jersey dresses for women to detail-oriented statement jackets for men, to unisex colour block hoodies, it is easy to find yourself and your personal style among the Lennard Taylor collection. Thankfully for the young business owner, many Winnipeggers have. Bickford is backordered for weeks and is forced to concentrate on getting clothes for clients made rather than the future of the line.

“I would like to get my clothes

across the world, yet I hesitate because I know I am not a business man. [I believe that if] you are happy right now and you can live comfortable, then stay here because the further you get into business the less of a designer you are.”

Determined to remain an artist, Bickford will continue to pump out the innovative designs and create wearable clothing for the people of Winnipeg.

“I am a believer that everything happens for a reason, and when it’s supposed to happen it will, ” he says on expanding into bigger markets.

His faith in his business and dedication to his art is admirable and proven in the incomparable designs he pushes himself to craft.

“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but I’ll continue to create and hope and be positive.”

And until the right opportunity comes along to expand, you can find Bickford in his studio piecing together unexpected mediums to create wearable art. Y

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SANDBOX IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING LOCAL FASHION. EMAIL S.BODIROGA@SANDBOXMAG.COM TO BE CONSIDERED FOR UPCOMING FASHION STORIES OR EDITORIALS.

IT HAPPENS HERE! When you shop at Portage Place, you could meet Justin Bieber, browse the latest fall fashions and win a shopping spree, catch lunch and free shows, and so much more!

SEE WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HAPPENING AT PORTAGE PLACE VISIT PORTAGEPLACE.MB.CA

BUCKET LIST

BY SUSAN MISNER AND LAURA MCDONALD. PHOTO BY IZABELA RACHWAL.

10 REASONS TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS BEFORE YOU DIE

1. Tan outside, breastfeed your kids, and bake your BFF’s birthday cupcakes — all while holding a conference call. Being an entrepreneur has its privileges.

6. Live the life of a college kid.

2. You write the paycheques.

8. You get to wear as little (or as much) makeup as you want.

3. Not only can you call yourself an entrepreneur, you can dress like one. Ditch the control-top pantyhose (or any pantyhose, for that matter) and rock your skinny jeans on any given workday.

4. Who needs a rich husband? It feels so much better to do it your way, on your terms. Call us sugar mamas.

5. Investing in yourself is by far the coolest investment you’ll ever make.

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7. Doing your own thing and doing it well really is the best way to hit the power jackpot.

9. The thrill of the risk you’re taking makes all the little successes that much more meaningful. The hard work you put in directly translates to your own rewards.

10. Five words: it doesn’t feel like work.

Laura McDonald and Susan Misner are the co-owners of Golden Girl Finance, a business they started to inspire women to take control of their financial futures. For more information, check out goldengirlfinance.ca.

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