[oh my: that's haute.] january 2016

oh my:

[ that' s haute.]

January 2016

MADELAINE Garcia: GUT HEALTH; What You Need to Know PREM IERE ISSUE We are a team of passionate, fashion forw ard Canadian contributors w ho are not afraid to push the envelope. From east to w est our focus is highlighting community trailblazers by putting their business at the forefront of our stories.

Live local. Love local.

Join the conversation, you know you w ant to.

[ oh my EDITORIAL TEAM DATING & RELATIONSHIPS: TINA HUGHES FASHION & BEAUTY: CHANTAL SARKISIAN HEALTH & FITNESS MADELAINE GARCIA KITCHEN & CUISINE: KIN RONZONI HOUSE & HOME: SUZANNE QUINTAL ARTS & TRAVEL: CRYSTAL BESHARA LIFESTYLE KATRINA TURNBULL

IN THIS ISSUE Dat ing & Relat ionships.....

Art s & Ent ert ainment .....

Kit chen & Cuisine.....

Healt h & Fit ness.....

Fashion & Beaut y.....

House & Home.....

DesignerDIY......

PHOTO CREDIT: BRI ANDERSON-JACKSON

[ oh my

LIVING A

LIVING A

TREND IS TODAY; STYLE IS TIMELESS W ritten by: Chantal Sarkisian I saw this quote in a recent interview with Fran Lebowitz, an American author and public speaker known for her ?sardonic social commentary on American life as filtered through her New York City sensibilities?, which truly inspired me to hash out a few self doubting issues I have been facing with my own personal style lately.

The more involved I become with representing the fashion industry, the more I question my own style. Is this trendy? Am I trendy? Will my readers relate? What do my readers like to see? What is my style? Do I have style? What is style?

Time and time again, the fashion icons of the world like Diane Von Furstenberg and Jenna Lyons, confirm the statement ?be stylish, not trendy?, and most importantly ?be yourself?.

In a previous article, The Woes of a Fashion Chameleon, I confess my desire to wear it all and how I learned to juggle so many different looks. I can?t help it, I hate being predictable and I love so many different styles: simplistic lines, feminine and flirty, preppy and sometimes edgy. I think true talent is getting inspired by all your favourite looks and making it work as your own style. Maybe that?s what finding your style is all about.

What I am learning is that Style is an individual thing, and trends are for the masses. Don?t get me wrong, I love updating my wardrobe with a

few new trendy pieces every season. I think my problem is that I can get out of hand though, as-in, I can never seem to complete my ?wish list?of clothing items for my closet.

The cycle of fashion is growing at an exponential rate. New clothes are coming out so quickly, that the life expectancy of a trend is exceptionally short. Not only that, our incessant desire for what is the latest and greatest prevents us from even being able to relish what is already new. Before we even have a chance to wear that hot little number we picked up last week, it has become obsolete. This is what I call ?Fashion A.D.D.? we want more, and we want it now.

Personally, I think this is reason enough to stay true to who you are and not to get distracted by all the shiny objects. Stick with classic pieces and invest in accessories that are timeless, like Chanel for instance. There is a reason why these top fashion brands have managed to stay relevant. They have earned their place in fashion history through their iconic staying power and have contributed to what we call style today.

Though I can certainly appreciate many styles, I am a firm believer in selecting an outfit that suits your body. When your clothes fit you, you feel good, you look good and exude confidence, which is more attractive than any trend I can think of.

HEALTH & FITNESS W ritten by: Madelaine Garcia As I reflect back on this year and think of all the struggles I?m so grateful for my dedication to my health and for everything I?ve learned along the way.

Sometimes we need to really push for answers. You know your body best, don?t forget that!

If you?ve been following me for a while you?ll know that I suffered for almost a year with an array of strange symptoms that left the doctors confused. By November I had a diagnosis ? a Parasite! ? but the road to feeling better wasn?t that easy. This blog post is all about that journey.

Last year at this time I was probably in the best shape of my life, not necessarily my leanest but the best shape with the most balance. I was at a place with my physique that I liked with my nutrition and training being sustainable, maintainable and enjoyable.

In January I committed to a photo shoot in March and upped my training intensity a notch and decreased my calories a tad. Nothing drastic as I wanted to maintain the balance I had and wanted to show up at my shoot with a physique that was a realistic representation of something completely attainable. Everything went well until I started suffering from some indigestion. At first I thought it was just from having less food in my belly.

Sometimes that can mess around with digestion. I added in some digestive enzymes and kept going. I also noticed I was a little more fatigued and sore but again chalked it up to being in a caloric deficit and higher intensity training. I?d been seeing a naturopath and we decided to add in some adaptogenic herbs to help with the added stress from training and dieting and things seems to even out a bit. March came and went and I did two awesome photo shoots and ended up also competing last-minute just for fun with my photo shoot body. I was really proud to step on stage with my ?everyday? body. A body I had obtained without depleting water or taking fat burners or doing endless cardio or any of the other crazy things that I?d done years and years ago. Anyway all in all I felt pretty good.

After the photo shoots I started slowing increasing my

hormones checked, my cortisol checked, abdominal ultrasounds, and food intolerance testing. I also saw a physiotherapist, massage and chiro for the muscle and joint pain.

The food intolerance test came back with 25 new intolerances for me in addition to gluten including dairy, nuts, squash, flax to name a few. I cut these out and started to feel better. I took it up a notch and started following an anti inflammatory diet. One that?s recommended if you have autoimmune diseases like celiac, arthritis, Hashimoto?s etc. This really helped and I started feeling better again but I still felt off.

At this point I was getting comments like

maybe it?s stress, take some time off work, you look well, you are the best looking sick person I know and blah blah. I?m a high strung, high energy person, have been all my life, this was not stress and thank goodness for makeup because I was not looking that good, come on!

Finally in one of my visits to the GP I asked if we should do a stool sample, they are not usually done if your symptoms don?t include diarrhea and in fact they are not very accurate in Canada but she agreed and said why not at this point.

Because we didn?t have much faith in that test (and because it?s a pain in the ass (heheh) to do) I set it aside and forgot about it. About a month later I saw my

Green Sibling Rivalry W ritten By: Melanie Martin My name is Mel. You probably don?t recognize me from the picture to the left because? well? that?s not me. That?s my brother Chris - Chris Green. You see, it all started with that baby in the hospital that I didn't want my parents to bring home.

My brother and I had a typical sibling relationship I suppose, lots of fighting but good times as well. Things changed when we started extra curricular activities though. I was an avid soccer player and couldn't imagine doing anything else at 11 years old. It was fun and I thought I was decent at it, my friends were there, plus we got popsicles after every game; who wouldn't want that?!?

Well my brother was about 9 and he chose a different path than his big sister. We were both given the opportunity to get into go karting and Chris was a complete natural at it. Though I was also offered the opportunity, I chose soccer instead and still kind of regret that decision.

My brother was winning race after race and appearing time & again on the front page of the local English newspaper (being in Montreal so it wasn't a small feat to make the front page!). This is when I think we as siblings were separated. I started to feel like his racing was intruding into my life and I didn't like it one bit. I was missing soccer tournaments because my brother had a race. Dinner conversation was almost always about a past race or a race coming up and the competition. I hated hearing about

Green Sibling Rivalry W ritten By: Melanie Martin

SUN TECH

W ritten by: Kim Ronzoni Recently, I took the short drive from Ottawa to visit the friendly folks at Sun Tech Greenhouses which are nestled along the Rideau River on a 90-acre lot in Manotick. For over 16 years, Bob and Carmen Mitchell and a staff of 25 employees have been producing some of the best-looking and best-tasting hydroponically-grown and nutritionally dense fresh produce in the greater Ottawa area. Known as ?The Home of the Perfect Tomato?, the "On The Vine" tomato is my personal favourite followed closely by Flavorino (their plum tomato), beefsteak, cherry tomato and grape tomato. It was good to discover that their products don't just rest on tomatoes but also include; mini cucumbers, bell peppers, mini snacking peppers, Poblano peppers, green beans and Italian eggplant.

Their hydroponic facilities were nothing short of impressive. Hydroponic means that plants are grown without the use of soil in raised troughs that make up a very

complex drip irrigation system. This system consists of 100% natural coconut coir slabs (the outer husk of coconuts), the same type of filling used for growing orchids. As impressive as it sounds, this system requires 90% less water than would be used in traditional farming and the plants get exactly what they need in a highly efficient system.

Unlike growing in soil, growing plants in the coconut coir does not rob the plants of their much-needed nutrients and produces a perfect air-to-water ratio, therefore, roots don't rot which prevents against root diseases. In addition, there are fewer pests in this method of farming and, therefore, no need for pesticides. It is not affected by ever-changing climate conditions and is a suitable method of farming for any geographic location, allowing the farm to be in close proximity to their consumers, which reduces travel time and distance and provides the highest quality product.

Pesticides are replaced by natural methods of pest control, and colonies of bees are

SUN TECH

#TECHTALK OMG, YOUR WEBSITE IS LIKE SO LAST SEASON! Header image across the top, widgets on the right (or left? depending on how you roll) with content occupying the rest.

Sound familiar? Yeah, well just as fashion and your home decor has a shelf life, so does your website.

Let me guess, you just spent a fortune having someone create that for you and now I?m telling you to just toss it like last season?s wardrobe? Well, maybe not to that extreme, you can certainly reuse your content but I highly recommend that you consider the curb appeal of your webpage as well. Is it engaging? Is your brand consistent? Is it visually appealing and not cluttered? Are you offering value to your readers and not just shameless promotion?

-

-

-

A few years ago I hired someone to help me with my website design because, at the time, I wasn?t comfortable enough with WordPress to have at it myself.

However, throughout the process, I certainly learned A LOT and would have to say that (once again) hindsight is 20/20.

If you are revamping your website, here?s what you need to consider: -

-

Learning how to do-it-yourself is not as daunting as you might think and is well worth it in the end.

If you have hired someone to help you, do not subscribe to

-

a third party hosting or domain registration service.

Most DIY website platforms offer this already. Keep it all in one place, it?s much easier to manage.

Already have a domain name? No problem. Most DIY website platforms also offer a redirect option so that you can use your own domain name. Some even redirect at no charge.

If this is your first website/blog, go with the standard free package until you finish your layout and design. Throughout the creative process your focus may shift.

Before your hire someone to help you, ask them if they will also show you how to make your own edits to the site. Do not be held a hostage to your own creation.

Make sure that the web design platform that you select is device agnostic and mobile friendly. Meaning that your web content will display correctly across all devices.

All of this to say, make sure that whatever web design platform that you choose is easy to use and update so that you can always maintain a fashion forward digital presence!

I' m NOT creeping... it' s called

RESEARCH W RITTEN BY: TINA HUGHES I have a lot of time on my hands; I invest my time in activities that I believe will benefit the fruits and labour of my journey of finding love!

No I am not embarrassed to admit it; MY OH MY I am on your Facebook profile going through your pictures, I?m on your Instagram reading your comments and better believe that I googled your name!

Yes, I?m doing my research! Yes, I am justifying the countless hours I spend on social media doing my research but what better way to deem it acceptable other than to find a suitable love partner.

I know for a fact you do it too, so don't you dare judge me! Male or female, you've just been busted! Actually who wouldn't in the name of love!

Depending on how you meet your new love interest there may be a possibility that you may not have any friends in common. So truth be told, that can be quite nerve wrecking when you have no idea what you are getting yourself into.

There?s no easier way to get a general understanding of who someone is by researching his or her social media profiles.

MY OH MY I strongly suggest doing your research before going on any date but

please consider the following tips: Research his/ her profile: -

-

-

It's fine to look at current pictures, but I suggest you dig a bit deeper. Viewing past pictures may identify common interests and hobbies.

Be careful not to like a picture from 52 weeks ago, this just proves you're indeed creeping.

Watch out for topless selfies.

Read the comments, identify those who are friends and those who are making it known that the territory is theirs.

Is he/she current ly dat ing anyone?

-

-

-

Is there a current girlfriend or boyfriend in the picture?

Read the comments and watch out for descriptions like "WCW-Woman Crush Wednesday" or "MCM-Man Crush Monday" Does he/she still like your love interest's pictures?

Is there an ex in the picture? Are they still following each other? Do they still like each other's pictures and leave heart felt comments?

Once determined, ask yourself, do you want to get involved?

ALL THAT GLITTERS W ritten By: Nichole Martin As nerve wracking as such a competition can be, in retrospect, I am so thankful that I took that shot at something I had dreamed about since I was a little girl.

The life of a Rodeo Queen is certainly not all that I expected. For one, it often involved waking up at 4am, one eye open and heading to the bathroom grabbing hair spray and a curling iron. Rodeo Queens are known for their beauty, poise and grace on horseback, and they are truly some of the most genuine, proudest girls that you will ever meet. Rodeo queens are so much more than a pretty face, they work exceptionally hard to represent their town, rodeo committee, rodeo association and last but certainly not least preserve the western way of life.

I was 18 years old when I decided to run for my first official title ?Miss Rodeo Hanna? in a small town Alberta called Hanna. At the time, I wasn?t quite sure what I was in for, but I knew with all of my heart that I had to do it. After all, this was something that I had dreamed of as a little girl so I figured it was worth giving it a shot.

The pageant consists of five major components in which we are judged; -

Public Speaking, Horsemanship, A written rodeo knowledge exam, Fashion Show Congeniality

The pageant commenced one week before the Hanna Indoor Pro Rodeo, lasted three days and concluded with one of us crowned in the dirt on Friday of the first rodeo performance.

Photo Credit: Anderson Photography

BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO Let?s face it, not all relationships were meant to last and to be honest, more often than not this is a blessing in disguise. So, what do you do with that pretty little dress of yours sitting in the closet collecting dust? Well, you could sell it, but why pass that shit onto someone else?

Instead, I recommend a day on the town where you can strut your stuff in that fancy frock and let your emotions lead the way. Who knows where you?ll end up but I can guarantee that you?ll have a blast along the way.

Holding onto failed relationships is as about as healthy as eating the 3 month old biology experiment (otherwise known as left overs) that you found festering in your refrigerator. It stinks! So why bother? Instead look for the lesson gained from the relationship and move on.

Now I realize that this can be easier said than done, however, once you master the art of letting go, the world becomes a much happier place. Instead of attracting the negative vibes associated with hanging onto a break up, start visualizing the activities that complete you and make you whole again.

The world of self-discovery can be a tumultuous place. There will be highs and there will be lows, but in the end, the journey is well worth the emotional roller coaster.

And as the old adage goes, the minute you stop desperately seeking what you feel is missing, your world will become filled with more than you ever dreamed was imaginable.

Photo Credit: Avenida Garcia Photography

PURGE W ritten By: Nicole Rosenfeldt As the New Year is upon us, many families have a list of resolutions in place for their health, such as proper eating habits or joining the gym, maybe simply taking some time to rest and recharge. Others will set a spiritual venture or achieve business goals. But what about the move you are planning in the spring or in the next few weeks?

Why wait for the last minute? Include this process in your resolutions and once you are ready to have the "For Sale" sign on your lawn, it will be a very smooth transition and positive experience.

Start with the obvious such as the items to dispose of, the ones that are pure trash and would not be reusable in any way. Proceed one room at a time so you can appreciate the progress and see your results as they unfold before your eyes.

Your next step could be sorting? your closets and drawers. Ensure to include,? all the bins in the storage area where you were? keeping all these articles of clothing you haven't worn in the past few years. Children are growing so fast, there is a high possibility you may find a few items which are a little too small for them. Including your child in the process is also a great way to bond and spend quality time by remembering a special family event when they proudly wore that pretty outfit. Be positive and include the fabulous pieces you no longer wear because it is now oversize, since you accomplished this ? f abulous life change and lost weight. There are

PURGE

GET THE LOOK W ritten By: Brandelyn Cameron Imagine this, your good friend is over-the-moon excited with the purchase of his mid-century waterfront bungalow. The problem? The bathrooms feature dated pressed wood slider doors and mint green fixtures.

Since it's no secret that I'm passionate about redesigning interior spaces, he decided to give me a call for my input on his retro revival.

The first thing we did was reconfigure the space such that the adjoining bathrooms (yes bathrooms) were each their own space; a powder room and secondary full bath. The dated fixtures were replaced and a clawfoot tub and faucet were installed along with a walk in shower.

Though I wanted the look of wood, since this is a bathroom, a wide plank vinyl flooring was installed along with MDF trim for the wainscot pattern on the walls. Et voila.

Sponsored by: JRB Contracting Inc, Ottawa, ON

LIVE LOCAL.

W ritten by: Brandelyn Cameron Perhaps it's the nostalgia of skipping down 9th Ave to Colonel Walker Elementary in my younger years or crossing the bridge to the butterfly conservatory at the Calgary zoo, whatever the reason, I just can't get enough of my old stomping ground these days.

Inglewood is one of my favourite trendy neighbourhoods located in Calgary's SE quadrant and home to so many amazing little shops and bistros, it's hard to name only a few. It also borders on Ramsey, the home of many a gem in the Local business front.

I returned to Calgary earlier this year after spending several years in the eastern part of our beautiful country. In doing so, I needed to find a place to call home, a place

that would ease the burden of change.

After a few trial memberships elsewhere, it appeared like a sign from the heavens.

Junction9 Yoga & Pilates, became my home away from home, my inner peace if you will. From the moment I walked into the studio designed by Ryan Murphy Construction (another fab local company), I knew we were a match made in heaven.

The studio, the instructors, the ambiance, oh and the coffee are just a few of the reasons why I choose Junction9 to revive my vibe. Not to mention that the studio is right next to the Apothecary where I can grab some essential oils for my next creation. Followed with a stroll on over to meet the fam at Red's Diner and you have a Saturday morning made in heaven. Now that's what I'm talking about.

LIVE LOCAL.

GET THE FACTS W ritten By: Dr. S. Kariakatte,, DMD Bleaching your teeth is one of the most conservative and cost-effective dental treatments to improve or enhance your smile.

However, it is not risk-free and is best performed under professional supervision and following a pre-treatment dental examination and diagnosis.

1. W hat should I know before I whit en my t eet h?

Teeth can appear dark for a variety of reasons ranging from simple staining from everyday diet, smoking and other oral habits, dental decay or leaky restorations. Different indications require different treatment approaches and some conditions like dental decay will not be removed by tooth bleaching and may subsequently progress and require the need for more extensive and expensive treatments.

Patients considering over the counter products are still recommended to have a dental examination so that a professional will be able to assess all the above mentioned factors. Patients should also be reminded that they may unknowingly purchase products that may have little or no beneficial effect on the colour of their teeth and may also have the potential to cause more harm..

2. Are t here different t ypes of bleaching syst ems available?

Dentist-managed tooth bleaching treatments may include in-office bleaching, at-home use of bleaching trays at night or during the day, strip-based materials, or a combination of these treatment methods. The choice between the methods and types of products relate to many factors, including the patient?s lifestyle, dental history, tooth sensitivity, and discolouration type.

3. W hat should I expect following my t reat ment and how long will it t ake?

The length of treatment and expected outcome will depend on the cause of the discolouration, as well as the chosen product and technique and the amount of lightening achieved varies from patient to patient. Pre-treatment photographs and shade guides are often helpful to record a baseline to better assess treatment success.

Patient expectations may be unrealistic unless cosmetic issues with existing restorations are addressed initially.

4. My t eet h are sensit ive, can I st ill bleach t hem? W hat about my crown?

Mild to moderate tooth sensitivity can occur in up to two-thirds of users during early stages of bleaching treatment. Sensitivity is generally related to the peroxide

concentration of the material and the contact time. Severe grinding habits, permanent restorations, shade mismatch or allergy to bleaching products which may worsen with bleaching trays can also serve as some limitations.

If a patient has a history of sensitive teeth or experiences sensitivity during treatment, there are options to help manage tooth sensitivity.

You should speak with your oral health care provider to determine the best treatment plan.

5.

Are t here any safet y considerat ions t hat I should be aware of?

Bleaching treatment in the dental office or at home may cause short-term tooth sensitivity and/or gingival irritation. More severe damage is possible with high hydrogen peroxide concentrations.

While available evidence supports the safety of using bleaching materials within a specific concentration by dental professionals, there are concerns with the use of at-home bleaching materials with high hydrogen peroxide concentrations. It is always best to speak with your dentist before proceeding with whichever bleaching option you choose.

"Its just matter of finding the balance between confidence and respect when your landing on mountain tops."

WHAT I DATIN

PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Wilson

WHAT I DATIN

PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Wilson

PHOTO CREDIT: Bri Andersoon-Jackson

PHOTO CREDIT: Bri Andersoon-Jackson

BEACHWAVES FOR BUSY M OM S W ritten by: Katrina Turnbull I have to share this awesome 5-minute beach waves hair tutorial with all you busy moms out there.

This hairstyle is for any mom who has ever struggled to do her hair in the morning and reluctantly resorted to a ponytail.

Why it?s truly awesome: -

No skill required.

Literally takes just 5 minutes!

Just wash and let your hair air dry.

No blow drying or sectioning needed.

Lasts up to 2 days if you don?t brush it out.

-

You can do this hairstyle the night before to save even more time in the morning.

All you need is a curling iron, some hair spray and 5 minutes for soft beach waves in time for summer.

This beach wave hairstyle is so easy to pull off, ANYONE can do it. I promise.

So if you?re looking for a quick and easy hairstyle to make you feel like a chic and stylish mom, check out my 5 Minute Beach Waves Hair Tutorial below for Busy Moms.

BEHIND THE LENS Beauty & Boudoir Photography

I'm going to be honest here, the first time I heard of boudoir photography, I automatically thought...dingy hotel room with a shifty photographer taking tasteless pictures to sell on the Internet. The reality is, when you find a reputable photographer, my original impression couldn't be further from the truth.

What I've discovered is that Boudoir Photography is a truly empowering photo session where your vulnerability is exposed and your deepest emotions shine through. You decide the tone of the shoot and you end up with gorgeous pictures to cherish for years to come.

I met Bri while preparing for a segment on Ottawa Experts featuring online dating and boudoir photography where I had the absolute pleasure of experiencing one of her Corporate Couture beauty shoots. The ambiance and professionalism experienced was second to none and what provided me the confidence to

later book an actual boudoir shoot, which I will share in an upcoming article, The Naked Truth, in a subsequent issue.

Here's what you can expect from a photoshoot with the very talented Bri Anderson-Jackson of Voulez-Vous Boudoir Photography.: -

Pampering from the moment you walk in the door. Did somebody say mimosa?

Yes please.

Expert hair and make up application A dynamite shoe collection at your disposal Professional posing and advice because it matters!

and last but certainly Not least, glamorous images to cherish got years to come.

Still not sure? I strongly recommend that you contact Bri and the team at Voulez-Vous Boudoir Photography for your very own beauty session.

END. www.ohmythatshaute.com