Hers Fall 2012 by Forrest Molstad

FALL 2012

Calgary Herald

hers S T Y L E | L I V I N G | H E A LT H

Zahra al-harazi: from mom to ceo to mentor

Reinvent Yourself learn

Travel close to home and beyond your horizons

laugh

Dress for success with nine powerful pumps

love

Calgaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emerging designers spark it up

Quality

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contents FALL 2012

up front

8 OPENING NOTES New shops and plenty of events 10 OUR FAVOURITE THINGS Stylish Calgary women 12 BEAUTY COUNTER Fiery fall colours

style 14 19 20 45 46

COVER STORY Zahra Al-Hazari helps us celebrate emerging local fashion designers 6 picks for fall Local boutiqes send their best ACCESSORIES Back to work, with polish SHOPPING GUIDE All your store details SPOTTED Style on the street

online at calgaryherald.com/hers DON’T MISS VIDEO How to make butternut squash salad events calendar Add your event listings free our Making Monday Better blog Start your week with a smile watch for our WINTER 2012 issue publishing December 1

living 26 28 30 32

NOURISH Warm up your fall salad JOURNEYS Close to home getaways that inspire HER RIDE Get your car ready for cold weather AT HOME A light-filled kitchen makeover

health RELATIONSHIPS Get money savvy, fast HEALTH BOOSTERS Nutrition, fitness and inspiration HEALTH Protect your immune system, naturally SPA Botox or acupuncture? We test both

Melissa “Virtue” shoes, $75.00, from Crabapple Clothing Company.

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HERS PAGE 5

Photo, stuart gradon

34 38 40 43

editor’s letter

Designer Fashions Specializing in sizes 14 - 24

Who are you? This isn’t about what you do, whether you’re a teacher, an engineer or a fitness coach. If you had to describe yourself without talking about your job or your family status (as important as our roles as moms and partners are), how would you do it? Who are you at your core? Sometimes, it takes a sudden change in your life, either personal or professional, to make you ask who you really are. Other times, it’s a more gradual process, as you realize there could be more to life, more to your self, than you’re currently experiencing. But it’s an essential question. Are you kind? Compassionate? Creative? Detail-oriented? Bigpicture thinker? Organized? Wonderfully eccentric? Because the words you use can lead you to what your heart seeks — whether that’s calm or adventure, peace or challenge. They can also help you weather the challenges that life is so very good at throwing at us. If you know who you are at heart, you can react, even plan, with the confidence that you have everything you need to handle those challenges. And if you find that you don’t? Well, that in itself is a wayfinder, giving you a direction in which to reach out for help. Our cover model this issue is Zahra Al-Harazi. As you read her story, you’ll discover this Calgary businesswoman, mother and mentor is far more than the roles she takes on; she’s passionate, giving and visionary — and she’s reinvented herself in the most inspiring way. I hope this issue of HERS offers you the inspiration to get in touch with who you truly are, apart from all of the roles you play every day. We don’t have to stand still — no matter what we’re doing, or where we find ourselves, we can reinvent our own lives. Who are you? And who do you want to be?

FALL 2012

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Calgary Herald

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Vice-president of Advertising: Rob Maleschuk Director of Advertising, HERS: Laura Linnell Vice-president of Marketing: Siobhan Vinish Director of Marketing: Brenda Pedersen Advertising queries can be directed to Laura Linnell at 403-235-7214.

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Editor: Yvonne Jeffery Publisher: Guy Huntingford Editor-in-chief: Lorne Motley Managing editor: Monica Zurowski Art direction: Rachel Niebergal, Peridot Design Inc. Writers: Daniela Codreanu, Andrea Cox, Christina Frangou, Christina Kuntz, Melissa Lampman, Lisa Monforton, Rachel Niebergal, Gwendolyn Richards, Jody Robbins Photographers: Dean Bicknell, Grant Black, Colleen De Neve, Stuart Gradon, Leah Hennel, Lisa Monforton, Gwendolyn Richards Web designer: Forrest Molstad Copy editor: Christina Kuntz Editorial assistant: Wendy Leckie Project co-ordination: Jamie Zachary Print co-ordinator: Tori Marin Pre-press technician: Ron Kindrat, Kevin Andrechuk

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UP FRONT

opening notes

the season for shopping Blame it on all those years of back-to-school shopping — there’s something about this time of year that makes us want to hit the shops and start a whole new wardrobe. Here’s the latest in new and updated stores to explore plus great events. BY CHRISTINA KUNTZ

Openings

pre-teen girls to live active lifestyles and feel good about themselves, offering bright and funky clothing. BCBGeneration: bcbgeneration.com. Canada’s first standalone store from the popular BCBGeneration label has recently opened at The Core. Expect to find feminine yet edgy styles — clothing, accessories, eyewear and footwear — from this BCBG Max Azria Group brand. Michael Kors: michaelkors.com. Southcentre Mall is home to Calgary’s second freestanding Michael Kors lifestyle store. With accessories, footwear and fragrance from the Michael Kors and MICHAEL Michael Kors labels, the boutique also features the latter’s chic-casual, ready-to-wear collection. Tory Burch: toryburch.com. Chinook Centre will soon be home to this funky shop, featuring the Tory Burch collection, including ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, eyewear, jewellery and leather goods.

urkut inte rio Rob k rs

Rob Kurkut Interiors: rk-interiors.com. Beautiful pieces from Belgium, Holland, France and the United Kingdom grace the shelves of this chic home decor shop at 1415 11th St. S.W. Owner Rob Kurkut offers a unique mix of antique and contemporary items guaranteed to add glamour. StyleEnvy: ducksfashion.com. This new shop is all about fun, wearable fashions for women. It’s the latest store from Ducks & Company, which has been around for more than 20 years. You’ll find a similar shopping experience here, plus plenty of beautiful accessories. It’s at Dalhousie Station, 5005 Dalhousie Dr. N.W. Arnold Churgin Shoes: arnoldchurgin.com. Can’t find the time to head down to Arnold Churgin Shoes? Good thing their stock is now available online. The well-known Calgary company recently launched its online store, with an extensive selection of women’s shoes, boots and handbags from top international brands, plus their Back to Style: downtowncalgary.com. own Arnold Churgin label. Find out what’s hip and hot in the city Papyrus: papyrusonline. centre with Downtown Calgary’s third ancom. The popular Papyrus nual Back to Style campaign. Running until brand has added a highSept. 30, this multi-event campaign proend shop at Chinook Cenmotes the many stylish shopping, dining and tre, featuring the brand’s entertainment options found downtown, with cherry blossom vintage offerings from mini-makeovers to dining deals. concept, and a wider The Calgary Heart Truth Fashion Show: selection of chic greeting thehearttruthcalgary.com. Sophia Models International has cards, candles and gifts. Be teamed up with The Heart and Stroke Foundation to sure to check out the in-store bring the fabulous red dress event to Calgary. Taking NIQUEA.D Boutique, featuring place on Sept. 22 at Eighth Avenue Place, the show cool accessories and fancy greeting cards. will feature local celebs walking the runway in couARNO 27 Boutique: 27boutique.com. New at 1510 17th L D C H U RG I N S H O ES ture red dresses and suits from designers such as Lara Ave. S.W., 27 offers a collection of emerging and estabPresber, Bano eeMee and Rebecca King. Tickets start at $150 and lished designers, from Dionne Dionne to Pink Martini. Owners Candice raise awareness and money for The Heart Truth campaign. Rhodes and Kelly Schneider provide friendly shopping for Calgary’s PARKLUXE: ourparkonline.com. PARKLUXE is back, with another great fashion-forward ladies — with personal shopping services and private lineup of local luxury designers, including Caitlin Power, Lauren Bagliore shopping appointments — and are expanding their menswear selection. and Anne B. Accessories. The high-end fashion show and art exhibition Lara Presber: studiopresber.com. Looking for the latest Lara Presber will take place Oct. 6 at the Hyatt Auto Gallery Mercedes Benz. fashions? You’ll find them at her new architecture and design studio at Women’s Power Afternoon: womenspowerafternoon.com. 1005b 1st St. S.W. Each season is inspired by a building; for fall, Presber Celebrate and promote local women at the Women’s Power Afternoon takes cues from The Bow. Make an appointment to see the styles or get event Sept. 23 at the Telus Convention Centre. You’ll hear from speakyour hands on heavily discounted items from previous collections. ers Amanda Lindhout, Kelly Farlardeau and Shabana Ahmad and get a Triple Flip: tripleflip.ca. Tweens will be thrilled about the new Triple chance to network and take in presentations. Men are welcome, but are Flip, conveniently located at Market Mall. This popular brand encourages asked to attend with a woman.

Events

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UP FRONT

our favourite things

Wrapping it up

It may be time to put away the shorts and tank tops, but these Calgarians’ looks will remain hot right through fall. BY MELISSA LAMPMAN

Monika Siebert

Sundi Hoffman

owner, The Apothecary in Inglewood and All Things Jill: For Hawker, fashion means using natural fabrics that are sustainable, with unique Canadianmade patterns and designs. “I absolutely love their clothing because it supports everything that we stand behind with both of the businesses,” she says of the laced hemp hoodie from Vancouver company Maha Devi Design, which she discovered at a yoga show in Vancouver last October. “It’s just a great product. It’s breathable so that you don’t get overheated and yet the hemp-fleece and hemp-fur linings really cozy up to the skin on cool days and nights.”

Monika Siebert Design Planning: When it comes to fashion, Siebert is no wall flower. From her head (which just happens to be multi-coloured) to her toes, she’ll be setting trends this fall. “My wardrobe evolves as I accumulate bits and pieces that I’m attracted to from my travels or right here at home,” Siebert says, adding her favourite piece this season is a bright printed scarf she got while at a seminar in Dallas. “This particular print caught my attention at the Leggiadro Shop, called ‘Fuxia and Orange Zebra.’ My intention was to buy cowboy boots — but I ended up with this scarf!”

owner, Bugalug accessories for kids: Being a busy mom, Hoffman is all about ease and affordability — but that certainly doesn’t mean she has to scrimp on style. “I’m not much of a fashionista, but I like to shop. Mostly, I like to shop for bargains,” she says, adding that she found the colourful Max Studio dress (below) during a trip to Winners in Lethbridge; it had been marked down from $118 to $40. “As soon as I saw the blues and green, I was in love! It’s the perfect dress to help me finish out the summer and head into fall, when I can dress it up with a cute pair of boots and possibly even a scarf.”

Photos, stuart gradon and GRANT BLACK

Jill Hawker

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Aspenglen Landing SW

403-453-0790

Visit the Shoe Muse BLOG at www.theshoemuse.com for more details.

UP FRONT

beauty counter

By Gwendolyn richards & daniela codreanu

Oh, the Womanity

Seasonal sparkle After many years in TV, Calgary-based Joanna Bisley chose to follow her true desire. The result is a self-titled jewelry line that she likens to a red carpet, designed for a night on the town — and appropriately adorned with Swarovski crystals. “They are just so sparkly and glamorous that I just fell in love with them,” she says. “I also like the fact Swarovski always comes up with new shapes and colours . . . I’m always putting things together in my mind and taking them apart.” One of her latest creations is the Swarovski Red Magma Cuff ($344), whose rich autumnal tones draw plenty of attention. Find Joanna Bisley Designs at boutiques such as Bonita Runway, The Bridal Centre, Ethos Bridal Salon, Ginger Laurier Britannia and Fallen Angel Creations From Above; for more information, visit joannabisleydesigns.com.

The unmistakable smell of real leather was the inspiration for a line of limited edition perfumes by Thierry Mugler, including Womanity. The already woody, spicy scent of the perfume is amplified by the notes created by infusing the scent with leather in special vats. The perfume, packaged with a special silver leather bag, will be available starting in October from the Bay, Murale and Shoppers Drug Mart for $106.

Photos, STUART GRADON and Grant Black

Tried and true Those of us looking for something we can always trust to add to our toolkits for autumn should take note of the top favourites from MAC Cosmetics’ Canadian senior artists. These pieces, all part of the permanent collection, can be used to achieve the same looks as those that hit the MAC runway for the upcoming season or just to add a little something to our own cosmetics cache. There are five in all, but we particularly love the Fluidline eye-liner gel in Blacktrack ($18), which will help those who want to take on the graphic eyeliner trend, and False Lashes mascara ($24), with its buildable layers that can add more drama to the eyes. Retro Matte lipstick in Ruby Woo ($17.50) is also a perennial favourite, with a classic red that’s always in style. Find them at your local MAC store or online at maccosmetics.com. HERS PAGE 12

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SOUGHT-AFTER STYLE.

BCBG MAXAZRIA,BELLISSIMA,BURBERRY,JUDITH & CHARLES,MICHAEL KORS,STEVE MADDEN,TIFFANY & CO. CHINOOKCENTRE.COM

STYLE

fall trends

ones to watch In last fall’s HERS, we profiled the city’s top designers. This year, we decided to focus on another talented group — the emerging designers. Perhaps you haven’t heard of their names or labels just yet, but if these styles from their fall collections are anything to go by, you will soon. They’re modelled by Zahra Al-Harazi, whose story

BY christina Kuntz. PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEAH HENNEL

appears on page 16.

Kara Chomistek Fine lines and beautiful shapes are the focus of Kara Chomistek’s fall collection, which combines vintage fabrics with modern trends. With a background in engineering, this talented Calgarian knows how to add that little extra something to her pieces, in unexpected blocks of colour or daring cutouts. This dress combines a cool print with asymmetrical lines for a look that’s both chic and sweet — and right on trend. Dress, $250, available through kara@karachomistek.com. Anne B. Accessories black resin earrings, $21, and bracelet, $65, available through annebaccessories.com. Aldo belt, designer’s own. Boots, model’s own.

For details of our cover look by Bano eemee, see page 45

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M a N o K in Design This unique dress is a perfect example of what Marsina King’s MaNoKin Design is all about — original and interesting pieces that are still practical and easy to incorporate into your existing wardrobe. Inspired by dark fairy tales and the idea of the huntsman, her fall collection includes a neutral and nature-inspired palette and strong statement details on everything from flirty skirts to cozy capes. MaNoKin Design open-back dress, $200, bracelet, $70, and earrings, $30, available through manokindesign.com. Shoes, model’s own.

Cayley Rio Designs Susan Yuzwak knows her suits. The designer behind Cayley Rio Designs spent plenty of years in the corporate world and has a knack for styles that suit strong, confident women. Her suits, like her other styles, are designed to fit and flatter, and they have a classic elegance that makes them great investment pieces. Made from raw woven silk, this suit is part of her fall collection, which was inspired by the vivid autumn colours of her hometown. Raw woven silk suit and blouse, prices available upon request, at cayleyriodesigns.com. Anne B. Accessories turquoise with tiger wood beads earrings, $21, available through annebaccessories.com. Shoes, model’s own.

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Chantel Traub Focusing on wearable yet artistic garments made of cotton, silk and jersey fabrics, Traub is known for her unique fabric designs, which are achieved by hand through silkscreen printing, painting or dyeing. This sleek and sexy style, inspired by the patterns in the fields she noticed while flying from Calgary through the southwestern United States, is a cool, modern version of the little black dress. Chantel Traub black Crop Circle dress, $271, available through chantel.traub@gmail.com. Anne B. Accessories black resin earrings, $21, and bracelet, $39, available through annebaccessories.com. Shoes and ring, modelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own.

HERS PAGE 16

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by her own Design

Becoming a top entrepreneur takes passion, determination and plenty of hard work. Fortunately, Zahra Al-Harazi has all that and more. BY christina Kuntz

Zahra Al-Harazi has a lot going on. As she settles in for a chat at a funky cafe on 17th Avenue, she admits she needs to finish writing a piece for a financial magazine, as well as prepare for a talk she’s giving later in the week in Toronto. And that’s on top of her usual busy day as the head of Foundry Communications, an award-winning design studio, not to mention her many volunteer duties with various organizations in the city. “I have this supreme inability to say no to things, so I tend to do way more than I’m capable of most days,” she says, laughing. “It can be good and bad.” Bad because the 41-year-old mom of three “awesome” kids says she hates to disappoint anyone, and that’s always a risk when she takes on too much. But Al-Harazi learned a long time ago that the right attitude can go a long way when you’re a busy mom and businesswoman. “You know, none of us are superwomen and we’re not good at everything,” she says. “We’re going to miss basketball games and we’re going to screw up at client meetings because we came in late because we were dropping off the kids or whatever. That stuff will happen. But rather than seeing it as a stress point or a challenge, I just see everything as an opportunity, so it gives you a different perspective on things.” It soon becomes clear that Al-Harazi is a glass-half-full kind of person. Not in an overly cheery sort of way, but more like someone who is able to roll with the punches and make the best of any situation. Coming across as confident and charming, she cracks jokes

about her shopping addiction (designer handbags are her weakness) but brushes off any compliments about her looks. When the conversation turns to her work as a mentor for other would-be entrepreneurs, Al-Harazi really lights up. “I love entrepreneurship and I love the idea of mentorship,” she says. “It really excites me to see people come into their own and discover what they can do and how they can do it.” Perhaps that’s because Al-Harazi can relate to this personally. She’s quick to point out that her back story is far from a “poor me” tale, but she admits that growing up in Yemen was a very different experience from growing up here. Married at 17 and having three children by the age of 25, she worked as an ESL teacher in Yemen and says she never aspired to be a successful entrepreneur. “I didn’t really think any differently because I didn’t know any different at the time,” she says. “I knew I’d get married and have kids and that’s what I had been told, so there really wasn’t any big dream or aspiration at all until I moved here.” Arriving in Canada in 1996 with her now exhusband, with the hopes of providing a better life for their children, Al-Harazi says it wasn’t long before she got the itch to do something — anything — with her free time. “I was bored out of my mind,” she says. “My ex-husband got a job in another town so he only came home on weekends and the kids had started school and I didn’t know anybody. And it was a new culture and everything was different.”

So, she decided to look for a job. A minimum-wage position at Danier Leather was her first taste of sales and marketing, and it helped give her the confidence to go to back to school, where she discovered a passion for graphic design. “I absolutely fell head over heels in love with it,” she says. “Since then, it’s been this crazy learning curve.” Now heading a staff of 18 as Foundry’s CEO and creative director, Al-Harazi has become a regular on power lists — Chatelaine’s Women of the Year, Canada’s Most Powerful Women by Women’s Executive Network, and Business in Calgary’s Leaders of Tomorrow, to name a few. And Foundry continues to rake in local and international design awards, adding clients from Travel Alberta to Cenovus. Al-Harazi says the secret to her success — and the message she tries to pass on to anyone she mentors — is really quite simple. “You need to have faith in yourself and in your abilities, and you have to love what you do,” she says. “If you don’t get passionate about something, you’re not going to excel at it and you’re not going to give it your all.” Though she’s still struggling to find a way to balance all the things she just can’t say “no” to, Al-Harazi says, overall, she’s content with where her passion has taken her. “I feel like I’ve kind of come into my own,” she says. “And not that I’ll ever stop learning about myself and the world around me, but I’m coming to a good understanding of what it is that makes me tick and what it is that makes me excited and it’s a lot fun. I’m very satisfied with my life.” n

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SOUTHCENTRE . BANKERS HALL

Fall in Love

STYLE

6 picks

With so many beautiful fall clothes in the shops, it’s hard to know where to start. So, we decided to make things a little easier by contacting some of those shops to see which styles those in the know are recommending for the season. Here are a few of their top picks. BY CHRISTINA KUNTZ. PHOTOS BY stuart gradon

finds

FALL FASHION

Clockwise from left: Louben pea coat, $385, from Fashion Addition 14+; Cream grey long sweater, $175, with dress, $135, and slip, $70, from Ginger Laurier. Bailey 44 dress, $190, from Crabapple Clothing Company; Milestone leather jacket, $575, from Blu’s; Gabs handbag, $345, from Crabapple; All American silver jeans, $179, from Paceys… real life clothes. For store info, see our shopping guide on page 45 visit calgaryherald.com/hers

HERS PAGE 19

STYLE

shoes

After the summer holidays, it’s back to the daily grind at the office. But new fall pumps —featuring a mix of colours, unusual

pumped up heel shapes and unexpected details, such as Mary Jane and T-straps, and the trendy cap toe — will get you through the work day in style. STYLED by Gwendolyn Richards. PHOTO BY Grant Black

Clockwise, from far left: Nine West green pump with gold-embellished heel, from Nine West, $125. Fly purple pump, from Shoe Muse, $260. Paul Smith heel with bow and patent cap toe, from Gravity Pope, $375. Stuart Weitzman Mary Jane with tortoiseshell cap toe, from Stuart Weitzman, $395. Gravity Pope orange suede pump, from Gravity Pope, $195. Amalfi by Rangoni snakeskin pump, from O’Connors, $250. Nine West pump with silver heel and cap toe, from Nine West, $125. Chie Mihara suede T-strap with cap toe, from Gravity Pope, $380. Centre: Arnold Churgin red suede, platform Mary Jane with cap toe, from Arnold Churgin, $279. For store info, see our shopping guide on page 45

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STYLE

bags

in the bag Lugging that laptop or toting a tablet doesn’t have to be unsightly. These bags, in bright colours and bold materials, can keep all your gear — and more — at hand and looking sophisticated. STYLED by Gwendolyn Richards

ore For st our e e s , info ide ing gu shopp ge 45 on pa

landandseagifts

Photo, grant black

facebook.com/landandseagifts

Clockwise, from top: Michael Kors purple tote, from Michael Kors, $295. L. Credi blue bag, from Town Shoes, $128. Nine West grey, quilted patent purse, from Nine West, $115. Michael Kors snakeskin tote with shoulder strap, from Michael Kors, $395. Matt & Nat burgundy bag, from Town Shoes, $135.

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LIVING

nourish

FALL FOR A

SALAD

The evenings are getting crisper, as the red and gold leaves tumble to the ground. These are the signs of the changing season and the time of year when we return to heartier fare on the dinner table. The bounty of the harvest fills our plates: pumpkin and squash, parsnips, potatoes, carrots and beets, along with apples, plums and pears. This salad takes advantage of the seasonal shift, pairing roasted squash with the autumnal flavours of apple and walnuts. A little maple syrup adds sweetness, while arugula offers a peppery bite. It’s a hearty dish with robust flavours, but still a salad that gives a little nod to the season preceding — a recipe that bridges summer and autumn. STORY and photo by Gwendolyn Richards

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Vinaigrette

This recipe has been slightly adapted from Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics. Ingredients provided by Community Natural Foods.

1 ½ lb

(750 g) butternut squash, peeled and ¾-inch diced

2 tbsp

(25 mL) cider vinegar

½ cup

plus 2 tbsp (150 mL) olive oil, divided

2 tbsp

(25 mL) minced shallots

1 tbsp

(15 mL) pure maple syrup

2 tsp

(10 mL) Dijon mustard

kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 oz

(125 g) baby arugula, washed and spun dry

¼ cup

(50 mL) dried cranberries

½ cup

(125 mL) walnut halves, toasted

¾ cup

(175 mL) apple juice

¾ cup

(175 mL) freshly grated Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss together the squash, 2 tbsp (25 mL) of olive oil, the maple syrup, 1 tsp (5 mL) salt and ½ tsp (2 mL) pepper and place on a sheet pan. Roast the squash for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until tender. Add the cranberries to the pan for the last 5 minutes. While the squash is roasting, combine the apple juice, vinegar and shallots in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the juice is reduced to about ¼ cup (50 mL). Off the heat, whisk in the mustard, the remaining olive oil, 1 tsp (5 mL) salt and ½ tsp (2 mL) pepper. Place the arugula in a large salad bowl and add the roasted squash mixture, the walnuts and the grated Parmesan. Spoon just enough vinaigrette over the salad to moisten, and toss well. Serves 4.

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Wine pairings Patricia Koyich, owner and sommelier for Il Sogno, offers three wines that will pair well with this salad’s varied ingredients and flavours. •

Markus Molitor Kabinett Riesling. This German wine is one of the most unappreciated food wines out there and is consistent vintage to vintage. Rich, supple, viscous, mineral notes with floral nose and sweet but not sugary mouth feel, it will highlight the sweet earthy flavours of the squash, and perhaps balance any high acidity from the cider vinegar and mustard. Perfect match to the texture of this salad. It will dance in your mouth like Fred and Ginger across the stage.

•

Chateau de Sancerre. For a totally different, yet equally delicious experience, this wine from the Loire Valley in France, made from 100 per cent Sauvignon Blanc grapes, is fresh and floral on the nose, and bright and lively in appearance. The weight in body will definitely hold up to the squash and the long finish will mingle with the many flavour layers of arugula, cranberries, toasted walnuts and dressing.

•

Devil’s Staircase Pinot Noir. If you love red wine, the trick to this pairing is to find something you like with a low tannin, because of the acidity and mustard in the dressing. A new world Pinot Noir like this one from New Zealand would be great. Flavours like plums and blueberries offer the weight and sweetness (not sugar) to match the cranberries, the peppery flavour of the arugula and the weight of the roasted butternut squash. This wine has a serious nose and some layers that keep offering more: an inviting wet, earthy quality that entices the palate.

Music to cook by •

• •

Autumn Leaves, Eva Cassidy. Accompanied only by a guitar, Cassidy’s voice sings sweet and slightly hauntingly about love come to an end. Rewind, Diane Birch. A song about wanting to turn back the clock. Vivaldi, The Four Seasons – L’autunno (Autumn). The third season starts out light, then transitions to a darker, more moody melody — much like our changing seasons. The First of Autumn, Enya. Striking strings and Enya’s melodic voice make for a more uplifting song. WNYC’s Radiolab. In this podcast, hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich share stories and dialogue on human nature, philosophy, science and much more. The short versions are great for quick hits, while the longer podcasts delve more deeply into their subjects.

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HERS PAGE 27

LIVING

journeys

throw yourself a learning curve The start of September, it seems, has become the new January 1. It’s the time of year when it just seems right to learn something new, throw yourself into a project or pursue something you’ve been meaning to do if you only had the time. With that in mind, consider a couple of these mindful mini-getaways, close to home. BY LISA MONFORTON Paint, cook or just chill in the

Photos, Lisa Monforton, Fernie Fly Fishing

country Pat and Doug Lothrop have been

operating Diamond Willow Artisan Retreat for several years, as not only their retirement home, but a B&B they share with people who want to escape their daily routines. You can come to hang out on the wrap-around verandah, with its treetop views, or use the retreat as a base for golfing or hiking — just enjoy yourself doing something you love and perhaps take away a new experience. The idea had been percolating for years, as Pat, who calls herself “crafty” as in the artistic sense, thought: “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a whole weekend to do what you love doing?” When their daughters moved away, the couple decided it was time. They found the perfect property, and designed a 4,600-square-foot home to accommodate them plus sleep up to 12 in five stylish and cozy bedrooms. At the home’s centre is a spacious sunny kitchen, with large windows overlooking the property. The day I visited, it smelled of freshly baked banana bread. The great room, with a massive floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, looks like the perfect place to hang out with a glass of wine and a book. It also doubles as a mini in-house concert venue. “When you come through the door, the place is yours,” says Doug. That extends to the 11 acres of forest that encompasses the property, and the winding Lineham Creek. Though Diamond Willow is five kilometres west of Turner Valley, you feel you are 500 kilometres from anywhere. Nearby are hundreds of hiking trails in Kananaskis Country.

MAIN: Exploring the art of fly fishing ABOVE: Diamond Willow Artisan Retreat

The Lothrops are continuously changing their weekend retreat activities, led by instructors who share their passion for everything from soup-making to oil-painting, art lessons to yoga. October will be a busy month, with a house performance by jazz vocalist Terra Hazleton (feature singer with the late Jeff Healy and the PolyJesters), a weekend yoga retreat and a painting class. “We just incorporate what we love into the resort. When you’re doing something you love, it’s not work,” says Pat. For details, retreat dates and prices, go to diamondwillowartisanretreat.com. Reel chicks on the river A conversation

with Beckie Clarke got me seriously thinking about trying something I’ve never thought of doing: stripping a streamer and chasing bull trout. So enthusiastic about the sport is the 31-year-old

Fernie resident, who runs Fernie Fly Fishing, that she was nonplussed about losing her cellphone the day before. She had fallen into the Elk River pursuing a bull trout while guiding. No big deal, says Clarke, because “any day on the river is a good day.” Clarke is one of two female fly fishing guides in the Elk Valley. She loves to teach anyone, but a day with the girls, with a couple of beers, out on the Elk River is one of her favourite things to do. “It’s a friendly river for all kinds of fishers,” she says — especially in the fall, when the leaves start to turn and the river’s shallow depth makes it easy to get from one side to the other. On a day-long float with Clarke, guests learn fly casting essentials, assembly and care of gear, rules and regulations, knot tying, river reading, safety and leave-no-trace-fishing. They also learn a new vocabulary: back cast, reach cast, aerial mend, dead drifting, stripping a streamer and nymphing. “Foam is home, baby” means you’re zeroing in on cutthroat trout. After a day with her, Clarke says, anyone should be able to go out on their own and start fly fishing, because, “There’s nothing cooler than a woman with a fly rod.” Clarke runs guided group and individual fishing trips visit . until late October, and can put n a r calgaryherald o f together packages that include eo com/hers ose vid l -c p u accommodations. Go to y l f t a look g fernieflyfishing.com for prices fishin and details.

HERS PAGE 28

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LIVING

her ride

pre-winter checklist My relationship with my car consists of driving it, fuelling it, and occasionally cleaning its interior — when I’ve run out of room for passengers. But, just as slathering on extra moisturizer protects skin from the cold, vehicles also need extra attention as the weather cools. By Jody Robbins I went to the two people I knew I could trust for advice: a female mechanic, and my brother (also a licensed mechanic), figuring they’d steer me straight on what to do.

Watch your fluid intake: Summer

Check the battery: Batteries that are on their way out are less likely to start in cold weather. Since their shelf life is approximately four years, have them checked twice a year. Keep the connections clean: If battery terminals get corroded, they develop resistance, and the alternator may not charge (it’s fooled into thinking it’s fully charged). Engines should also be kept clean, to run cooler, and allow mechanics to spot leaks. Head to a manual car wash at least once a year, set the dial to engine de-greasing (or the tire wash setting), and gently spray under the hood.

Clear your view: Winter weather limits visibility; consider switching to winter wiper blades, which have a plastic coating that won’t freeze up.

Pressurize: Cold air causes tires to shrink, losing one to two psi per month. To avoid getting a flat, check the tire pressure

Photo, postmedia archive

windshield washer fluid doesn’t contain antifreeze, so switch to winter, which does. Regular oil changes keep everything running smoothly: don’t wait until blinking lights tell you the engine is grinding to a halt; consult the vehicle owner’s manual for recommended timing (typically every 5,000 to 10,000 km). Licensed mechanic Stacey Loudon also suggests getting the coolant checked before the snow flies, “otherwise it can gel and freeze up, and won’t rotate through your engine.”

monthly. A sticker inside the driver’s door states tire size and optimum pressure.

Snow shoes: “All season tires are just three season tires,” warns my brother, Stuart Robbins. If you don’t have a snowflake imprinted on the side of the tire, you don’t have winter tires. He recommends buying extra rims specifically for winter tires. Rims cost approximately $50 each, but are worth it. It’s usually around $40 to unbolt and rotate four tires on rims, versus at least $100 to take one set of tires off the rims and put another set on. “Besides saving money in the long run, there’s less risk. Every time a tire is changed, there’s a chance the tire machine may catch a bead and wreck the tire,” he warns.

Check belts and hoses: Rubber deteriorates, resulting in hoses that leak and belts that fly off. Get these checked at regular intervals; change them every three to five years.

Keep an eye on things: Have a vehicle inspection annually, especially if yours is more than 10 years old. Find a place you can trust. Failing that, go to the dealer where things were last checked, as they know your vehicle’s history, recommends Loudon. “People who don’t care about keeping their vehicle in good working order tend to go to places that overcharge,” she notes. And it never hurts to read the owner’s manual.

Emergency supplies: My brother suggests adding these items to an emergency car kit, to put it in top gear: matches, empty can, duct tape, large bag of potato chips. Why? Chips burn well because they’re so oily (about a minute per chip inside the can), offering heat, light and a nice snack. Duct tape also burns, and can fix almost anything. n JODY ROBBINS IS A CALGARY-BASED FREELANCE LIFESTYLES WRITER. FOLLOW HER AT TWITTER.COM/JODY_ROBBINS

HERS PAGE 30

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home decor

HERS PAGE 32

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room for life

When Cat Hackman began working on the redesign of this Calgary kitchen, her list of challenges was daunting. Lack of natural light, unnecessary design elements from the late 90s, and a client that was located in another province created a list of unique tasks. As the owner of room4refinement, Hackman is the guru of repurposing and redefining living spaces — just what this kitchen was in dire need of. With the help of Marie Kanwischer of SvenskDesign, she set to work on the complete overhaul of the kitchen, a renovation that also included a new basement, bathroom and bedroom reconfiguration. The result speaks for itself — clean, perfectly proportioned and practical for a family of four with two young children. BY RACHEL NIEBERGAL CHALLENGE #1: Lack of natural light. With a few windows and a small door that led to the backyard, Hackman immediately chose to install a large patio door to unify the space and, of course, flood the room with more light. The white cabinetry was also specifically chosen to brighten up the kitchen, while pendants and plenty of pot lights help illuminate task areas.

CHALLENGE #3: Accomodating a client’s unique needs. The client was not living in Calgary during the selection process or the renovation, but made a special trip into the city to meet with Hackman for two days. Sourcing for cabinets, counters, tile and plumbing was all achieved in this small timeframe, while the rest of the choices were done via e-mail and phone calls. Hackman also made sure to select materials that could stand the test of time with children — for example the colour and finish of the brushed oak floors were chosen with children in mind. But at the end of the entire renovation process, Hackman emphasizes that loving your space is what it’s all about. “Our homes should look lived in, but lived in with style. That is why every decision made has to be beautiful, but also practical. When we chose materials such as lights and handles for the kitchen doors, my mantra to the client was ‘you have to love it,’ ” she says.

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HERS PAGE 33

Photo, aksj dfkja sdfasd

CHALLENGE #2: Working around 90s design elements. While the clients loved the location of their Calgary property, many of the rooms in their 15-year-old home weren’t working for them. A small kitchen, a tiny island on an angle, and a fireplace that separated the eating area and living room stood in the way of creating the open concept they craved. The fireplace was removed, and the former separate dining room became an office — a necessary room in today’s homes. The larger kitchen could now accomodate the dining room table, and a large square island. The material choices were selected with a clean esthetic in mind, with white cabinetry, clean and practical hardware and brushed oak hardwood floors — all smart choices for creating a timeless space.

HERS PAGE 34

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LIVING

relationships

show me the money Does the thought of money make you smile or send you into a panic? For many of us, it’s the latter. It’s indeed a powerful force — studies have shown that money is wrapped up in emotion, not to mention mixed up in everything from self-worth to selfesteem. It affects our status in the world, our lifestyle and our freedom — the freedom to learn and experience and make decisions without stress. So the question is: how can you improve your relationship with your money? BY ANDREA COX “Monetary success, like almost any other type of success, is highly correlated with having a plan and sticking to it,” says Patti Shannon, vice president, portfolio manager at Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel. Shannon is passionate about helping people — and women in particular — understand money. “I’ve seen my girlfriends go through divorce or be widowed, and it is scary and stressful,” she says, adding that learning about money is imperative, as is taking responsibility for your own financial wellbeing. But that’s not always easy. Women live their lives by balancing everything from motherhood to working woman to wife. “Men and women have very different feelings about finances,” says Gwen Becker, vice president, portfolio manager at Matco Financial, noting that the way in which we perceive money affects our relationship with it. In her practice, she’s found that women tend to be more emotional and intuitive in their money relationships and, for the most part, have a lower tolerance for risk. “Plus, there is a very strong, inherent fear factor. I can’t tell you the number of times that I have heard from female clients the words, ‘I don’t want to eat cat food when I retire.’ A man would just never say that,” she says. CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

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HERS PAGE 35

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 That’s why a shift in thinking is essential to monetary success. And it starts by becoming more financially literate. “Often, women feel intimidated. Knowledge is power and confidence,” says Becker, who recently launched a not-for-profit organization aimed at educating women in a variety of areas, from finance to family law (for more details, visit winkcalgary.com). Shannon also believes that financial literacy is critical. “I like to get women to start to think about the difference between depreciating and appreciating assets,” says Shannon. “Take, for example, a Coach handbag. It’s a depreciating asset. In 10 years’ time, that $2,000 bag will be worth maybe $200.” She then poses a thought-provoking question. “What if, instead of buying the $2,000 Coach bag, you bought a $200 handbag and put $1,800 into Coach stock? If you had purchased the stock in 2002, (then) 10 years later — in 2012 — it would now be worth close to $18,000.” For most of us, the purchase of a Coach bag might be a little over the top — our focus might be saving enough for a cushion in case of a crisis or to make retirement a little easier or perhaps even for a dream vacation. Getting there is straightforward: draft a budget and then stick to it. “Living within your means is a priority for success,” says Shannon. She suggests then consulting a financial mentor to assist with a long-term financial plan, as well as using tax-free and high-interest savings accounts and RSPs. But what if you’ve calculated your budget and it leaves you in the red, not allowing you to live the life you want or even to put aside some savings? Shannon suggests that you consider yourself an appreciating asset. “Never be afraid to invest in yourself. Go back to school. Education will allow you to make more money over time. My mom used to say to me, ‘Boys come and go, but degrees last forever.’ ” n

“Never be afraid to invest in yourself. Go back to school. Education will allow you to make more money over time. My mom used to say to me, ‘Boys come and go, but degrees last forever.’ ” Patti Shannon, vice president portfolio manager at Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel.

Five tips to get you in the financial know: • • • • •

Create a budget. Live within your means. Find a financial mentor/ advisor. Create both a short-term and long-term financial plan. Invest in yourself.

Common investing pitfalls: • • • • •

Not having an investment strategy or plan. Investing in something because the herd is doing it — everyone at the office, in the family or at book club. Acting on the cocktail party tip. “These types of investments usually have a high correlation with not making money,” says Shannon. Not taking the time to understand the fees and expenses associated with financial services. Buying on impulse.

HERS PAGE 36

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As we release each issue of HERS, we’re celebrating by inviting readers to a HERS Discovery Dinner, where you’ll share fabulous food, conversation and inspiration. Watch our Real Life weekday sections and calgaryherald.com/hers for details of our next dinner, to be held in late September.

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HEALTH health boosters

BY CHRISTINA FRANGOU

Madly Organic’s Roasted Cauliflower and Garlic Soup

Stuck in the city? Go for a hike

This season’s recipe comes from Calgary’s Madly Organic Cafe and Gallery. The 17th Avenue cafe makes two specialty soups daily and has a strong focus on healthy, organic, local and chemical-free food.

Is a hike still a hike if you don’t leave the city? You bet. Check out these trails set within the Calgary city limits. They’ve got all the prerequisites for a terrific hike: grand views, mixed terrain and a complete escape from the city frenzy.

•

bulb garlic

6 tbsp (100 mL) extra virgin olive oil, divided 2

heads cauliflower

medium leeks

1 tbsp

(15 mL) fresh thyme

•

8 cups (2 L) vegetable stock

salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Cut the top off the head of garlic to expose the tops of the cloves. Place the garlic in some tinfoil, drizzle with olive oil, and wrap up tightly. Roast the bulb of garlic in the oven for 20 minutes. While the garlic is roasting, separate the cauliflower heads into florets. Toss the cauliflower in a couple tablespoons (25 mL) of olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place the cauliflower on a baking sheet or in a baking dish. Once the garlic has been in the oven 20 minutes, add the cauliflower to the oven as well. Roast both for another 30 minutes, until the cauliflower is golden. Rinse the leeks well to remove any grit and coarsely chop. Saute leeks and thyme in 2 tbsp (25 mL) olive oil until soft and slightly golden. Squeeze the roasted garlic from each of the cloves, which should be very soft and golden brown. Add the roasted cauliflower, garlic and veggie stock to the leeks and thyme. Simmer for approximately 15 minutes until the cauliflower is very soft. Puree in batches in blender until silky smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Reheat back in the pot until hot. Serve with some aged cheddar cheese or homemade garlic croutons on top.

•

Douglas Fir Trail: This 2.5-kilometre trail gets so quiet that it’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of a city. Set in Edworthy Park, the trail winds along a heavily wooded escarpment that feels more West Coast forest than downtown environ. Reason to go now: the trail is closed throughout winter and early spring. Bowmont Park: Covering more than 165 hectares, Bowmont Park on the city’s west side is home to dozens of paved and gravel trails that meander through forest, grasslands and river habitats. The views extend from banks of the Bow River to the mountains beyond the city. Don’t miss the highlight of the park: a three-metre waterfall that spurts out from the tufa (an unusual spongy-looking rock). Nose Hill Park: The hilly hiking trails of the 1,129-hectare park crisscross some of the most impressive grassland around, including some of the best examples of rough fescue — the provincial grass of Alberta — on the Canadian prairie. Views from the hiking trails feature the downtown, the prairie and the mountains. You’ll also see old tipi rings, the circles of stones used long ago to hold down the dwellings of early bison hunters.

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JUST BREATHE Feeling stressed? Learn a few calming breathing techniques and you’ll improve your ability to deal with high-anxiety situations. Jeff Mah, owner of Canmore’s Yoga Lounge, is known for encouraging his students to take long, slow inhales and exhales. He teaches twice-weekly classes called One More Breath at Calgary’s Nat Christie Centre, and gave HERS a few breathing exercises that will help calm the nerves in stressful situations. First, learn to pay attention to your breath when you’re relaxed, he said. Spend a few moments every day concentrating on your breath. “Be still, take a breath in and feel what it’s like as it enters the body. Notice it inside your body, and then what it is like as it leaves,” says Mah. Do this exercise at least once a day. Spend a few minutes in bed every morning and pay attention to your breathing. Or every time you arrive at a red light, keep your eyes open and focus on your breath. “Over time, these short moments of heightened breath awareness will spontaneously cause us to notice how we are breathing at other moments throughout the day.” When you’re in a disagreement with someone, pause for a second and observe your breath. It slows the stress response and gives you time to process your emotions. “If we can insert a mindful, slow breath into a moment of anger, we can start to regain our sense of selves.” A trick he suggests for times of high stress: inhale slowly for five seconds and exhale slowly for five seconds. For more information on Mah’s classes, check out jeffmah.com.

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To reduce bloating, cut back on salt intake and guzzle more water during the day. Bloating and discomfort can upset sleep patterns. Avoid caffeine in the eight hours before you hit the sack. Skip the big meals and heavy snacking before bedtime. It’s harder to fall asleep if you’re still digesting. Cut down on pre-sleep liquids, too. Look at it this way: the fewer midnight trips to the bathroom, the better. Exercise, but not right before bed. Try a late afternoon or early evening stretch or yoga class. Keep your bedroom cool and sleep in lightweight pyjamas. If you can stay cool in your sleep, you’re less likely to experience night sweats and hot flashes.

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HERS PAGE 39

HEALTH

wellness

fight colds this fall — naturally Your coworker just sneezed. Your toddler doubles as a human petri dish. Are you next? Or can you pump up your immune system and keep the sniffles away? By CHRISTINA FRANGOU First, the bad news: there isn’t a single pill (or drink or food) that’s proven to enhance your immune system. But there is good news: you don’t need a magic pill. Follow these all-natural strategies and you’ll give your immune system an upper hand against germs this fall. 1. Follow healthy-living strategies

HERS PAGE 40

PHOTOs, gavin young

Following a healthy lifestyle is the single most important thing you can do keep your immune system strong and healthy, says Rohan Bissoondath, the medical director at Calgary’s Preventous Collaborative Health. “At its most basic, it comes down to what you put into your body and what you do to it. It’s really that simple.” Your immune system is exactly that — a system, not a single entity. The system functions best when all its parts are looked after. We can’t control all the parts, including that most important one, age. But some we do control: diet, stress levels, physical activity. To build up your immune system’s first line of defence, stick to the basic principles of healthy living: wash your hands frequently and eat a well-balanced diet that’s focused on fruits, vegetables and whole grains but low in saturated

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fats. Take steps to reduce your stress. Keep your blood pressure in check and get regular medical screening tests. If you get sick often, see your doctor for a thorough assessment. Your physician can rule out additional causes of immune dysfunction. Some medications or underlying infections can decrease immune function, said Bissoondath. 2. Get Your shuteye

Mom was right: get a good night’s sleep and you will feel better in the morning. When we don’t get enough sleep, our immune function is suppressed, leaving us more susceptible to catching a cold and less able to fight off illness once we’re sick. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation is associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines and a decrease in natural killer cell activity. Have trouble falling asleep? Try this trick: count backwards from 300 in threes. It keeps your mind distracted from other stresses but relaxed enough to slide into dreamland.

Intense exercise appears to cause a temporary decrease in immune function, leaving us at increased risk of getting sick. 4. up on garlic And down on sugar

Garlic’s main active ingredient — allicin — has been shown to have antibacterial properties and may help fight infections. In fact, during the First World War, raw garlic juice was used as an antiseptic for bathing wounds. Garlic may help prevent you from getting sick, says Calgary naturopathic physician Deb Heald. And if you do catch a bug, it can help you bounce back. She gives her patients this tip when they’re sick: make several slits into a garlic clove and wait 10 minutes to expose the inside of the clove to air. Then, push the clove back together and swallow it raw. “It’s crazy effective.” Heald also recommends reducing your sugar intake or cutting out sugar entirely. “Bacteria feeds on sugar,” she says. Although sugar’s effect on immune function is unclear, high sugar intake is linked to obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes — all of which affect immune function.

3. Exercise (but not too much)

Regular moderate exercise keeps our immune system strong and healthy. When we exercise, immune cells circulate throughout the body more quickly. Daily or nearly daily exercise creates a cumulative effect, leading to long-term immune response. But there’s a catch. Very prolonged exercise or intensified training has the opposite effect.

4. Eat curry

Turmeric, a spice commonly used in curry dishes, can bolster the immune system. Earlier this year, American and Danish researchers reported that curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, causes a modest but measurable increase in levels of CAMP, a protein that helps our immune system fight off various bacteria,

“At its most basic, it comes down to what you put into your body and what you do to it. It’s really that simple.” Rohan Bissoondath, medical director, Calgary’s Preventous Collaborative Health

viruses or fungi. Researchers found curcumin’s effect wasn’t as potent as that of vitamin D but still carried physiological benefits. Turmeric is a flavorful, orange-yellow spice and an important ingredient in many curries. It’s used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to treat digestive and liver problems, skin diseases and wounds. A caution: many studies of curcumin were done in animals and used an injectable form. Instead of relying on supplements, make a point of eating curry regularly. 5. Stock up on chicken soup

Chicken soup is no old wives’ tale. American and British researchers put it to the test and found chicken soup has multiple health benefits. When we’re congested, soup’s hot vapours loosen up the stuffiness in the nose. Soup helps keep us hydrated. And chicken soup also has anti-inflammatory effects, especially when it includes vegetables. A University of Nebraska scientist conducted laboratory tests to determine why chicken soup might help colds. Results showed that soup inhibited migration of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that fights infection. Interestingly, his wife’s homemade version outperformed most commercial varieties. She made her soup with chicken, onions, sweet potatoes, parsnips, turnips, carrots, celery stems, parsley, salt and pepper. 6. Spend Time with Other People

The more you socialize with other people, the less likely you are to catch a cold. Sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true. People with more social relations have greater resistance to colds (and they also live longer, have less cognitive decline and better outcomes when diagnosed with chronic life-threatening diseases). In one study, researchers exposed hundreds of healthy men and women to a common cold virus, and monitored them for several days. Volunteers who socialized with more people, and especially those who socialized with more diverse groups of people, suffered fewer colds than those with small social circles. Just as exercise gets our endorphins going, so do good relationships, says Bissoondath. “One of the worst things you can do is isolate yourself. As little as 10 minutes a day with someone else can benefit you mentally and physically.” n

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spa

a tale of two treatments Our faces tell the stories of our lives — sometimes, whether we want them to or not. This month, two writers headed to the health experts of their choice, to try out two ends of the spa spectrum: one natural, the other not so much. Here are their reports.

On pins and needles Laugh lines aren’t so funny. At least not to me and the crows’ feet that have marched their way from outer eye to temple. I’m not against Botox, but the husband is. He says he’d rather see me look old than creepy. Realistically, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the quarterly injections anyway. In the quest for an affordable lift, I’ve embarked upon a series of facial acupuncture treatments aimed at reducing the signs of aging. In the quest for smooth skin, you apparently can’t get around the needle. Touted as a natural alternative to Botox, facial acupuncture is a non-surgical procedure

that reduces the signs of aging by inserting hair-thin needles along specific points of the body, based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. More than a cosmetic procedure, this type of facial rejuvenation increases circulation, stimulates collagen production and, most importantly, reflects what’s happening inside, on the outside. My sessions at Johal Health Centre (johalhealth.com) begin with a tongue examination, giving facial rejuvenation specialist, Sonia Navdeep, an idea of what’s happening at the organ level. “What’s going on with a personal internally eventually shows up on their face,” she says.

Needles are then inserted along the appropriate meridian lines on my body (including those pesky facial furrows), a step that always makes me drowsy. “The body stops thinking so much and focuses on moving energy and areas of stagnation,” explains Navdeep. The needles are tweaked 15 minutes later and I’m left alone for another intense nap. Besides the needles, sessions alternate between getting a Chinese herbal mask — with green tea, mushrooms and ginseng — or having a mini turkey baster suction my laugh lines. CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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Photo, DEAN BICKNELL

HEALTH

FROM PAGE 43 Known as cupping, this hoovering of the face creates a micro-trauma, stimulating collagen production, just as the needles do. I float out of each session purposeful and serene. I’m less stressed about deadlines — I’ll always have them, but I won’t always have a young child and pup that are also deserving of my attention. The days following treatment, I notice I’m more mindful about how I structure my day and what I put into my body. Plus, I sleep like a baby. After my first few treatments, my skin is glowing, even (dare I say) radiant. As for the wrinkles, they’re certainly softer, but haven’t completely vanished. And that’s OK. This newfound sense of grounding makes my appearance seem not such a big deal anymore. — Jody Robbins

Braving Botox I didn’t want to do Botox. In fact, I was insulted when a dermatologist examining my body for cancerous moles casually tossed in that he could take “those frown lines” away with just a few needles. But the frown lines were deepening into the dreaded “11” between my eyebrows — to the point where colleagues were asking

why I was in such a bad mood when all I was doing was concentrating at the computer. Push came to shove when one of my staff asked why I was so angry — as I was trying to compliment their work. I’m in a competitive office environment (which is why I’ve asked for my name to be withheld), and this wasn’t doing me any good. So I took myself off to my family doctor, who also specializes in Botox, and I asked him about risks, benefits and how it all works. Botox, he told me, is a sterile, purified version of a botulinim toxin. When it’s injected in specific places, it inhibits muscle activity, preventing them from going into the old familiar patterns that we see as wrinkles. The injections wear off at between four to six months and it’s not cheap; my very small, specific area took 40 units at $11 each, for a cost of $440. Once you’ve read the fine print about everything that can go wrong (I did, and so should you), the biggest risk is really the person who’s doing the injecting — if you ever have anyone but a fully licensed medical doctor suggest they can do it, don’t believe them (for lines between the brows, a drooping eyelid is a big risk if the needles miss their mark). Allergan, the company that manufactures Botox,

requires that a physician administer the shots — which, by the way, felt sometimes completely painless and otherwise similar to a quick mosquito bite. No big deal. I felt a pressure on my forehead afterwards, as if someone was pushing their hand against my head — not painful, but a bit odd. And I certainly felt odder forcing myself to frown every few minutes for several hours, to help the Botox move to where it was needed. As the medication kicked in seven to 10 days later, I had a slight headachey effect, but that could just as easily have been put down to work stress; I had absolutely no other side effects (and no drooping eyelids). The results have been great: one soft line has completely disappeared; the other very deep line has softened considerably. I still have full sensation in the area, and the only comment I ever heard was that I looked more relaxed. I feel more relaxed, too. When you can’t physically make your forehead frown, it’s a bit more difficult to feel, well, frowny. I’m not sure I’d suggest Botox for better mental health, but it’s certainly made a difference in how I feel, and how others see me. I’ll do it again, but it’s not tempting to expand the area that it’s treating, or try any other medical treatments. It’s doing just what I hoped — there’s no need for anything more. n

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STYLE

sources

shopping guide Fall Fashion Finds, Page 19

Abusing Your Skin with Waxing and Shaving? The Bumps Th Burning The The Itchiness The Irritation Every Week

Continuous Discomfort C

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Blu’s Banker’s Hall, 3rd Floor, 315 8th Ave. S.W., 403-234-7971, blus.com Crabapple Clothing Company 3526 Garrison Gate S.W., 403-686-3661, crabappleclothing.com Fashion Addition 14+ Willow Park Village, 118 10816 Macleod Trail S.E., 403-225-8407, fashionaddition14plus.com Ginger Laurier Britannia Plaza, 812 49th Ave. S.W., 403-474-6141, gingerlaurier.com Paceys…real life clothes Britannia Plaza, Elbow Dr. and 49th Ave. S.W., 403-243-8644, paceys.ca

Shoes and bags, pages 20-22 Arnold Churgin Shoes, multiple locations, arnoldchurgin.com Gravity Pope, 524 17th Ave. S.W., 403-209-0961, gravitypope.com Michael Kors, Chinook Centre, 403-537-0093, michaelkors.com Nine West, multiple locations, ninewest.com O’Connors, 1420 1st St. S.W., 403-269-4996, oconnors.ca Shoe Muse, 106 326 Aspen Glen Landing S.W., 403-453-0790, theshoemuse.com Stuart Weitzman, Chinook Centre, 403-265-0551, stuartweitzman.ca Town Shoes, multiple locations, townshoes.com

cover look There’s no better place to evoke images of reinvention than the historic 1912 Simmons building in Calgary’s East Village, an area finally in renaissance thanks to Calgary Municipal Land Corporation. With a beautiful new riverwalk area and modern condos merging gracefully with century-old industrial heritage, the East Village is coming into its own. Styling: Christina Kuntz Location: Simmons building, East Village (calgarymlc.ca) Hair & Makeup: Melissa Miller, Pure Form Salon & Studio (pureformsalon.com) Cover shot: Leather jackets, tailored blazers and beautiful coats feature in Bano eeMee’s fall/winter collection, conveying the colours of the New England foliage in fall. Designer Aleem Arif manages to create pieces that are wearable yet edgy, and fans love the way he adds unique touches like funky linings or chain details. Putting a twist on the classic biker jacket style, this leather jacket is guaranteed to be a wardrobe staple for seasons to come. Milan jacket, $340, at Kismet Clothing, 118B 10th St. N.W., and espy, 1009 9th Ave. S.E. Jeans and shoes, model’s own. Visit banoeemee.com for more info.

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STYLE

on the street

spotted BY christina kuntz

Photo, colleen de neve

Tova Dybvig: We couldn’t help but notice Dybvig’s bright red jeans as she walked down the sunny streets of Kensington on her lunch break. “I actually wear mostly blacks, whites and greys, but today I just felt like putting on some colour,” says the health research coordinator. She’s paired the funky Guess jeans with a more subdued top and sweater from Club Monaco, along with some casual beaded flats from Mission and a colourful scarf from Ecuador to finish off the look. A fan of mixing and matching different styles, Dybvig says some new boots and corduroys are at the top of her shopping list for fall. “I love the nineties grunge style, but I can’t really wear that to work,” she says, laughing. “And I feel like these days, everything is such a mish-mash, so it’s more about picking something you like and mixing it with a bunch of different types of styles.”

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