Edmonton Woman Magazine Jan 2015

Edmonton Woman | 1January/February 2015

Edmonton

www.edmontonwoman.com

January/February 2015

Aron Tanis

MAGAZINE

Tamiri Bites

Brings Healthy Treats to

Edmonton

Being your most

Stylish2015 Spring Preview

Scraba

10 Edmonton Cafés to Fit Your

Fancy

A HigherPower

2 | Edmonton Woman January/February 2015

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Contents

WomanEdmonton

Leisure Life16 Hayley Wright’s Hauntingly beautiful art

82015JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Facebook: EdmontonWomanMagaine • Twitter: @EdmontonWoman

To Advertise Call 780.470.5602

or Email:Karen J. Meurer • [email protected] Braun • [email protected] Kent • [email protected]

Published By:Alberta Business Research Ltd.340 Carleton Drive, St. Albert, AB T8N 7L3Tel: 780-470-5602

Editor: Noemi [email protected]

Graphic Designer:Noreen Hansen

Contributing Writers:Tracey L. AndersonAmanda Van SlykeDakota BarberRhonda KronykJyllian ParkShawna Dirksen

Living Well

Food & Drink

On the Cover

Aron Tanis Scraba

Tamiri Bites 18

12 Breaking into the Boys Club that is Firefighting

Feature

Brings Healthy Treats to Edmonton

20 10 Edmonton Cafés to Fit Your Fancy

24 Rayanne Forbes The condition of giving In Style 14

22 Hot Kitchen Design Trends for 2015

At Home

Cover photoClaudine Lavoie Photography


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Note Power can be something of a dirty word for women. It can be as-

sociated with the lack of it—or the abuse of it. But power can be a positive; it can be transformative, healing and inspiring.

The past year Albertans saw two prominent female leaders wield tremendous power with mixed results. This past spring there was the sudden resignation of Alberta’s first female Premier, Alison Redford. Only the eighth woman to serve as a provincial premier in Canadian history, Redford’s reign was also the shortest. At the same time, Wildrose Party and opposition leader Danielle Smith also broke through the glass ceiling at the legislature. She gave the Progressive Conservatives their first real political challenge in over four decades. Then, one week before the Christmas holidays began, she abruptly defected to the side of the same government she spent the past four years attacking. As we go to press, pundits and voters on all sides of the political spectrum are in a state of shock.

Power is defined by the capacity or ability to direct or influence behaviour or a course of events. As mothers, sisters, wives and daughters we all struggle with the first capacity; as citizens we dabble in the second. In truth women have more power than we know how to use; the trick is to embrace it. Within the pages of this issue of Edmonton Woman, we have profiled at least two powerful women: a prominent and successful head of her own business and a woman whose chronic illness inspired her to support and help other sufferers.

With or without the spotlight, we are all reinventing ourselves today and every year. Speaking personally, I am happy to take on my own leadership role as your new editor. Like you, I hope to be the best influence I can be in that capacity. I look forward to showcasing the complex and varied ways in which we as women transform our communities—sometimes anonymously, sometimes famously, but always powerfully.

Editor’s

Noemi LoPinto, EditorTo send a letter to the editor,

e-mail: [email protected]

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Tracey L. Anderson

Early YearsAron was raised in a caring family on an acreage outside Stony

Plain, where she was surrounded by a collection of animals: the typical dogs and cats, but also horses, rabbits, chickens—and even a pet bantam rooster named Doodle.

In 1999, Aron moved into Edmonton to begin her post-secondary education. She also started Blackstone Marketing Inc. here that same year. The city has become a central hub for her because it’s close to family, friends and the stable at the home of her parents, Donna and Randy Scraba. She appreciates Edmonton’s attractions and ameni-ties on a personal level and its economy and real estate market on a business level.

According to Chinese astrol-ogy, people born in the Year of the Horse are independent spirits who like to work hard. They are talented and energetic, active and ambitious. Edmonton business-woman Aron Tanis Scraba is one of those people, and she definitely shares those traits. She’s the owner of Blackstone Marketing Inc. and the director of marketing at Dolce Vita Homes LP. Fittingly, she’s also an avid, accomplished equestrian who’s worked on movie sets with famous Hollywood actors and per-formed in popular international live shows.

Aron TanisScraba:Family has always been important to Aron. She says, “My parents

are amazing. I have so much respect and adoration for them it’s overwhelming. They gave me my appreciation for life… but along with this, they taught me to be humble, to always strive to do your best, to be appreciative, to always have the highest respect and value of myself, to be kind and to share with those less fortunate.”

Aron is also close to her younger brother Ashley. He and his wife Livia recently had their first child, a baby girl, so Aron is now “a very proud Auntie.” She also shares her life with Zoran, a special man she calls her best friend, and with Tiara, “a fuzzball of a purebred Po-meranian who likes to accompany me to the office every once and a while.”

AHigher

Power


Photographer: Claudine Lavoie PhotographyHair and Makeup Artist: Lauriane Rutberg


In general, Aron says that several elements are important for busi-ness success: self-reliance, confidence and knowledge of your indus-try. For women in business, one more thing must be added to that list: “Don’t let stereotypes bother you. There are times when I would walk into a room, and right away I know I’m being judged…. I would just shake it off and continue. By the end of almost every meeting… the faces looking at me are drastically different… I am no longer just a pretty face or a young woman trying to work ‘in the boys club’…. The impression I strive to leave every time is ‘yes I am the expert, the professional.’ That’s the impression every woman in business should leave.”

Her advice to new or prospective women business owners is to find something they are passionate about because “passion fuels confidence.” She also suggests finding a mentor, “someone within your sphere whose advice you value and respect. I have had a few important people in my life I would call mentors that have definitely helped shape my career.” In return, Aron enjoys mentoring young business people so that she can share what she has learned.

Although she has received various honours for her professional work, Aron says, “what really matters to me the most is referrals and doing good business. I work by referral only, so the best accolade I can achieve is a positive result for that particular client.”

These days, Aron’s still striving towards new goals, such as working towards her real estate broker’s license and creating new marketing campaigns for Dolce Vita Homes LP. “Dolce Vita means the ‘sweet life’ in Italian—I can attest to working with them definitely has been just that.”

Some features on that long list included slate and natural birch flooring, two fireplaces, an enormous chef’s kitchen and a 1300-square-foot master bedroom and ensuite with a Jacuzzi tub, separate vanities and a huge shower with body jets, steamer and rain shower head. The patio even had an internal snow-melt system, which meant no shoveling. Because Aron loves horses, the home also had a heated barn and an outdoor riding arena. Since 2002, she has worked on several similar building projects.

Starting a business and making it a success teaches a person many lessons. For Aron, the hardest lesson has been that “your safety net is YOU. It’s up to you if you’re going to make it, if you’re going to suc-ceed…. I had to learn to trust no one but myself and to filter all the advice I received from my mentors, family and friends…. The chal-lenge was to stay grounded, take constructive criticism, stay focused and learn how to say no to some people—no matter how hard it was.”

Business SuccessIn 2013, Aron was chosen one of the Top 100 Edmonton Women

in Business by The Wanderer Online. Among the factors that helped her along the way are her profes-

sionalism and organizational skills. She says, “I think being in a very disciplined sport [horse training] all my life made this easy for me. I always set goals for myself that are achievable and keep moving forward towards those goals.” She also says that learning is critical to her success. “To keep moving forward you have to keep learning.”

Although Aron started her marketing business in

1999, her first foray into the real estate business

began in 2002 when she was involved in

building a 4000-square-foot Mediterranean-style

estate bungalow with a three-car garage on six

acres outside of Edmonton. She says, “It was a

very impressive house with a rare curb appeal

and lots of features—too many to list really… it

stood out.”

Continued on page 10

Business Beginnings



At a young age, Aron was interested in historical artifacts and dinosaurs, so she wanted to become an archaeologist—until she realized she couldn’t bring her horse on archaeological digs. Later she seemed on the path to a career in writing after excelling at it in school and having some poems and stories published in magazines and journals. Everything changed when “I was introduced to the world of new home construction, real estate and investing—I saw an opportunity and took it. Utilizing my education and extensive background in marketing—I started my [real estate] company.” In 2008, she earned real estate licences in commercial, residential and rural real estate.

Aron is as successful in her work with horses as she is in business. In 1995, as part of the Alberta Summer Games Equestrian Team, she won individual gold and silver medals in dressage and silver and bronze medals in show jumping. She also has many other ac-complishments in the field, including making the long list of top twenty riders for the Canadian Olympic Dressage Equestrian Team in 2000. She was also a two-time recipient of the Award of Excel-lence for Equestrian Sport in 1993 and in 1996, when the award was presented to her by Premier Ralph Klein, which she says is one of the highlights of her equestrian career.

Competition is only one aspect of Aron’s work with horses. She’s also been a special skills extra and horse wrangler on the sets of movies such as The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford and Brokeback Mountain. Working with actors has given her unique perspectives on some famous personalities. She says the most interesting actor to work with was Brad Pitt because “he was charming, polite, remembered my name —every morning he would say ‘Good morning, Miss Aron’ and ask me how the ‘fine animals (horses) were today.’” She says that when she met him, “I was not star-struck... to be honest I was more impressed than anything. The best way I can explain it is he had an ease about him. Like someone who exudes confidence whether they are in a very expensive suit or a plain t-shirt.”

Aron was also honoured to be invited to perform in the Cirque de Soleil production Cavalia at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas for a few months in 2006. “It opened my eyes to a different industry where equine stars and human performers meet. It was spectacular and surprising at the same time.” It also presented some new challenges including learning Montreal-French to communicate with other performers. Although she was offered a contract to stay on with the production, she declined because she wouldn’t have been able to perform with her own horse; besides, her parents “were not all that happy had I gone off and ‘joined the circus.’”

Aron’s work with horses has taught her many valuable lessons in-cluding compassion, responsibility and sportsmanship. She believes she is “a well-rounded woman” and that she owes this to having lived her life around horses, beginning when her parents enrolled her in the Parkland Pony Club at age six. “One day when I have a child of my own, I hope to give [him or her] the same opportunity my parents gave me—one I am eternally grateful for.”

The Future While Aron Scraba is thankful for her personal and

professional successes and accolades, family remains a priority. “To this day there are only two people in the world I live to impress - and that’s my parents.” As for

her approach to life going forward, a plaque she had on her bedroom wall as a child sums up her mindset then

and now. “Girls can do anything.”

Paths Not Taken

Horse PlayAlthough she’s a successful businesswoman, Aron isn’t all busi-

ness. She’s been working and playing with horses since childhood. She’s especially connected to the Friesian breed. These animals are originally from Friesland in the Netherlands and were used histori-cally as warhorses. At present Aron is Canadian ambassador for the Fenway Foundation for the Friesian Horse, an advocacy group that rescues and rehabilitates Friesian horses in need and educates owners and the public about this rare breed. Aron’s goal with the foundation is to create “a channel for us northerners to come to in regards to anything and everything Friesian related.”

In 2002 Aron got her black purebred Friesian, IKE. Aron raised him, trained him and showed him under the tutelage of her mentor, Nadeem Ayoob, who has since passed away. The fully trick-trained horse is the first purebred Friesian horse to be shown in an Equine Canada-sanctioned dressage show in Alberta. Aron and IKE have participated in dressage competitions around Alberta and in Nevada. She calls the sport, “art on horseback—it is communication and poetry without words, a oneness with a 1500+ pound animal with a mind of its own. It’s a passion, and it takes incredible patience and dedication.”



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“Currently there are only eight female firefighters on the Edmonton force,” says Xandra Biamonte, a twenty-

three-year-old who hopes to join the fiery team of women. However, this number is significantly more than previous years. Seven of the twenty-four students graduating from

Lakeland College are women – the highest number the school in Vermilion, about 200 kilometres east of Edmonton, has

ever seen. In the past, the highest number in a platoon was three women.

Fire service instructor Brian Byrnell said in an Edmonton Journal interview in August that he’s noticed more woman entering the ser-vice over the past ten years.

“It’s just taken time to break down those walls,” he says. “There’s still some of that mentality out there that it’s a man’s job ... but it’s a job for everybody. They’re all held to the same standards, man or woman.”

Unafraid of the male competition, Xandra says she’s been in male dominated jobs all her life and that her father, also a firefighter, in-spired her to pursue the career. However, she knows that the road to achieving her dream is paved with obstacles. “The hardest part in be-coming a female firefighter is definitely the physical training. There’s no women’s test for your application,” says Xandra. “We’re held to

the same physical requirements as the men because, frankly, that’s what’s required to be able to competently do the job.

Xandra continues, “as you can imagine, this of course makes it lit-erally impossible for some women to be able to become firefighters, simply based on their build. It’s challenging, but the pay-off in the end is worth it for me.”

Two women who made it into the field – Meg Konopelky, twenty-five, and Nicole Tremblay, twenty-two – know from experience what it’s like to reap the benefits. The friends have been firefighters in the Edmonton area for about two years now and currently volunteer in Sturgeon County.

Meg says that Nicole first inspired her to become a firefighter, and that is was the best decision she’s ever made.

“She finished her schooling at ESA, got on with the volunteer de-partment, came home from training one night and told me I should look in to it,” she says. “The next week I was signed up. She changed my life.”

Having female friends in the field is unexpected with the numbers of women being so low, so it’s comforting for Meg and Nicole to be there to support each other – especially when society still has a hard time taking them seriously.

“There are the people who have some smart remark to say about women being firefighters,” says Meg. “You eventually just laugh it

Amanda Van Slyke

With gender stereotypes changing, old presumptions still carry into adulthood internally as we decide what we want to be when we grow up – leaving the dirty jobs to the men who typically have broader shoulders. But along the front lines of the equality battle, more and more Edmonton women are breaking into the boys club that is firefighting. One of the oldest professions that’s exclusively hired men because of physical restraints is now seeing more and more women not only entering the field but rocking it.

Breaking into theBoys Club


off and think to yourself, ‘bet they won’t say that when I have to pull them out of a burning building or cut them out of a car.’”

Nicole insists that having thick skin is a must. “Being a female fire-fighter is becoming more accepted in society, but occasionally you get the ‘really? You’re a firefighter? Don’t you need to be like... strong and stuff?’ You need to be able to smile and slough that stuff off.”

While some male firefighters make snarky comments from time to time as well, Meg says they’re overall very accepting. “In the hall, it took some time for the guys to come around, but you have to understand we’re a family and spend a lot of time together and I wouldn’t expect them to welcome me with open arms right away. They had to make sure I was going to fit in and not upset the bal-ance.”

For someone yet to enter the field, Xandra says her experience with male firefighters has been positive. “They give a lot of advice and drill it into you that it’s a hard road to the application process and requires a lot of dedication, but at the end of the day everyone I’ve met has been greatly supportive and they hold their current female firefighters with the utmost respect because they know how hard those women work to be there,” she says.

While formal training isn’t required to pursue firefighting, Nicole says that she spent three months at Emergency Services Academy in Sherwood Park and receives continuous training at the fire depart-ment. “You can never know too much about anything,” she says. “If you don’t constantly train you forget a lot of important things that could ultimately save your life.”

Aside from training to help a female stand out when applying as a firefighter, Nicole encourages women to double the amount they work out. She says that because women don’t have as much upper body strength as most men they have to work out twice as hard as they do.

“Just when you think you can’t do it anymore, keep pushing,” says Meg, who knows first-hand that all the seemingly-tumultuous train-ing at the time pays off when you need it.

Nicole agrees, recounting her most memorable experience as a firefighter a trying one. “I was inside a working structure fire of a house with my partner. It was [the] first fire [I] fought offensively [where I actually went in the house] and I was a little nervous but so stoked,” she says. “We were going in and my partner was in front

of me holding the nozzle on the hose line. We were in the doorway putting water on the fire that was in the kitchen [when] the fire rolled over our heads. As my partner was trying to back up to spray the roof above us, his bottle got caught in a torn-down door frame and he was unable to move. I stepped in and tore the door frame off of him without being able to see what I was doing and we extin-guished the fire unharmed. We were able to save the house and also saved one of her cats.”

The two friends, who are an inspiration for other young women wanting to become firefighters, clearly love what they do. Meg says that each night is a challenge and that she feels like she’s accom-plished so much and expanded her knowledge on so many different topics. “I’ve overcome so many fears in these last two years that I never thought I could,” she says.

For those like Xandra who seek to join the boys club that’s the fire hall, Nicole has some advice: Don’t be afraid to do what you’re inter-ested in. Even though firefighting was a men’s career for a long time, it doesn’t mean that women don’t belong in it.

“Women benefit the hall because we tend to think dif-ferently and where we have weaknesses we make up with strengths that men might not necessarily have,” she says.

“Don’t doubt that you can do it, because if you think you can, or if you think you can’t, you’re right.”

To learn more about becoming a firefighter in the Edmonton area, you

can call 780-496-5511. And for the rest of us, let’s hope we don’t get pulled out of a burning building or cut out of a car by Meg or Nicole any time soon – but at least if we are we can rest assured that

we’ll be in capable hands.


Though it may seem slightly masochistic to start thinking of your spring wardrobe while there’s still several feet of snow blanketing the city, as soon as the holiday displays start to disappear, the next sea-son’s hottest trends make their debut into malls and boutiques across the city. Top designers and fashion retailers have already presented their looks for the months when the ice begins to melt, and the fash-ion world has already mentally packed away those sweaters that they were so anxiously coveting just a few months before.

From the runways of Paris to New York, the fashion world has spo-ken, and it’s time to rotate your closets once again. We have poured over the footage of next season’s top collections in order to dissect the biggest takeaways of trends and styles to help you keep that New Year’s resolution of being your most stylish self in 2015.

Being your most

StylishSelf in 2015

Spring Preview:

The New Bohemian

Forget the flower crowns and cut-off denim shorts that infil-trated both music festivals and the blogosphere over the past several years. The new iteration of what has now become a spring staple–the classic bohemian ease and sensibility–has taken on a grown-up persona. Gone are the eyelet crop-tops and over-the-top fringe of past years, which have been re-placed with more tailored and upscale styles. Looks ranging anywhere from voluminous trousers, adorned in bold paisley designs, that are paired smartly with an elegant blouse and silk scarf, to printed baby-doll dresses in rich hues of reds, oranges, and chartreuse are the go-to pieces for any woman looking to channel her inner Bianca Jagger in a modern way.

Jyllian Park

Saint Laurent

Gingham is no longer just territory for picnic blankets. The world’s big-gest names in fashion featured everything from coats to shorts in the season’s most coveted pattern. From the classic small-scale version seen at Michael Kors, to the over-sized offerings of Oscar de la Renta, there is a wide variety of this definitive spring fabric for everyone. Whether you opt for a head-to-toe look, or choose to play it safe by pairing the print with something solid, there is no wrong way to wear gingham this spring.

Not Your Grandma’s Gingham

Anna Wintour, in a Prada dress

Photo Credit: Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com >>

14 | Edmonton Woman

In Style


In Style

The Right to Bare ArmsThe jacket isn’t the only third layer in town this spring. The vest

made an appearance on just about every runway during the mul-tiple fashion weeks earlier this year. Whether you opt for some of this season’s longer hemlines, as seen during the Narciso Rodriguez and Opening Ceremony shows, or the more classic lengths exhibited at 3.1 Philip Lim and Coach, vests are the perfect way to update your wardrobe, while still adding a layer of warmth before the tempera-tures begin to soar during the summer months. Given the wide vari-ety of styles and patterns available, these sleeveless looks can easily transition into every woman’s closet this spring. From bold solids, to off-the-wall patterns, designers have created a vest for every occasion.

Fresh FloralsKaren Walker

Turning JapaneseThe Kimono has slowly been establishing itself as the go-to silhou-

ette for several seasons now, but the eastern inspired design has ex-ploded in a big way for 2015. Whether it’s in an oversized wrap coat, or a chic mini dress, this traditional style is bound to appear on every style-icon in the upcoming months. Forget the fussy notions that you have about this time-honored Japanese staple, and think wearable, shawl style frocks held together with either silk sashes or a daring leather obi belts. Look for upscale fabrications such as silk or light-weight wool to create a luxurious juxtaposition between the inherent casualness of the shape with a more high-end material.

Florals for spring may seem redundant, but this season’s crop has expanded from previous years. Forget the dainty blooms that may come to mind when contemplating the traditional sundress, and think BIG. Large-scale prints, worn from head-to-toe, were the run-away hit of the runway.

Even though spring may seem light-years away, shops are already discounting all of the cold weather pieces that are currently bursting out of our closets in order to make room for next season’s best and brightest. With a few key purchases, you’ll be ready to put your best

foot forward once the mercury begins to rise.

White HotAlthough the fashion world has all but abandoned the notion of no white after Labor Day, it’s hard to argue that nothing is more ubiquitous of warmer weather than this crisp colour. Top-to-bot-tom white was everywhere during spring fashion week, but the offerings were far from just being relegated to the annual crowd of bridezillas.

Maxi dresses in maxed out prints, and trouser suits in oversized flourishes made a huge impact at fashion week, but you don’t necessarily have to go overboard on spring’s big bouquets to stay on trend. An easy way to translate the colossal flowers that appeared throughout the collections this spring is to choose one piece, be it on top or bottom, and outfit it with something more paired down. Choose an item that incorporates a colour that is present in the floral print as a way to keep the outfit cohesive.

The little white dress (LWD) made its stamp on the fashion scene for spring as a fresh way to up your style game for a night of spring romance in a flirty and season ap-propriate way. White doesn’t only have to make an appearance after work hours either; a chic pantsuit in the season’s hippest shade can also be a bold and fashion-for-ward way to update your boring office attire.



“I love painting pretty girls, but it’s only really interesting if they have a story behind them,” explains Hayley, the creative mind behind her business Paper & Ink. “I choose images which are beautiful to look at, but reflect darker and more dynamic moods.”

The 23-year-old Edmonton based artist is an aspiring fashion il-lustrator, a career she describes as a ‘dying art’. Before the invention of photography, fashion illustration was a way to show the public the current trends and clothing styles. In 2015, photography typically takes precedence in magazines and advertisements but that doesn’t sway Hayley’s aspirations. To her, the art form is a unique way of trans-lating fashion and beauty images to inspire the audience, and that’s enough to keep her chasing her dreams.

Like many students, Hayley entered university with a general idea of what she wanted to do, but fell in and out of love with the journey several times.

“I’ve always been an artistic person, but before I began fashion il-lustration I sometimes struggled to find great inspiration,” explains Hayley.

After graduating from an arts based high school in Ontario, she packed her bags and moved solo to Kelowna, where she attended the Fine Arts program at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. “

“I never really knew what it was that I wanted to create and I had a hard time staying motivated.” A sentiment nearly every student can relate to at some point or another.

She then decided to move to Vancouver to earn her Fashion Mar-keting diploma at the Vancouver College of Art and Design. While enrolled in the program, one of her classes was an introduction to fashion illustration.

“What an amazing day it was when I discovered both of my pas-sions could be combined into one amazing art form!” Hayley explains, excitedly. “I was hooked and I knew it was what I was meant to do.”

The ambitious red-head has accomplished some impressive feats in the last couple years, from a pop-up shop at Western Canadian

Fashion Week to having her art shown in FASHION magazine this win-ter, but she credits much of her success to the little app that could: Instagram!

“Social media has had absolutely everything to do with my success as an artist. It feels surreal to have such a following on Instagram!”

As a result of her online presence (over 5000 followers to date), Hayley has had the opportunity to collaborate with other artists and to sell her prints to buyers all over the world.

beautiful artDakota Barber

hauntinglyWispy hair that looks impossibly natural,

eyelashes that rival Twiggy’s and expressions that leave you wondering

what darkness might lie beneath are the key elements that make Hayley Wrights art

so whimsical and addicting.

Hayley Wright’s


“It’s so easy for people to click the ‘follow’ button and when they do, they get to see all of my most current illustrations and video tutorials and they are the first to know when my prints go on sale!” You can follow Hayley on Instagram at @paperinkart for a behind-the-scenes look at new drawings, glitter and gold leaf embellishments and the occasional peek in to Hayley’s personal life.

It’s easy to fall back on the stereotype of an artist with such talent as a dark and moody introvert who spends her time cooped up and creating, but Hayley is very much the opposite.

“I love to take tiny road trips, play with my silly kittens, and vintage shop along Whyte Avenue,” she laughs, admitting ‘a day in the life of Hayley Wright’ is not all glitz and glamour. But on top of a full time day job and hours of drawing and packaging up orders to follow, her days end on a sweet note. “I usually eat a chocolate bar and head to bed!”

Her outgoing personality allows her to be tenacious enough to approach big time companies with her artwork and, of equal importance, to laugh off the inevitable mis-takes that come along the way.

“I had just finished a portrait that I was really proud of and I wanted to embellish it with metallic gold paint,” remembers Hayley. “I accidentally dripped a huge glob of paint right over her eye and completely ruined it!” Naturally the artist glued paper flowers on top and fans would never know the difference, but Hayley jokes that she never got over it. Another aspect of her career she can’t get over? The kindness and generosity her city has offered during this journey.

”The people of Edmonton have been absolutely amazing with their support.” So what can we expect from this young, determined artist in 2015? More experi-

menting, more artwork, more collaborations and of course, more glitter.

2015

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Our city is known for many things: Long, dry-cold winters; kind, creative entrepreneurs; and artistic, comforting cuisine. It can be dif-ficult to ignore the pang of your sweet tooth when the winter’s chill makes you want to stay inside and snack on unhealthy treats, but a by-product of our growing culture is that Edmontonians are creating new ways to find health-conscious food without sacrificing taste.

Afaf Miri – or Miri for short – is the genius behind Tamiri Bites, a new business that’s providing our city with desserts that are so good for you they could be served as the first course. These all-natural, raw vegan treats are energy boosting, nutritionally rich and naturally sweet. Proud to serve Edmontonians desserts that have zero percent crap, it’s become Miri’s mission to provide the experience of biting into a piece of heavenly cake without the guilt of eating processed ingredients like refined sugar. Those who live with dietary restrictions can rest assured that Tamiri Bites is compatible with sugar free, gluten free, raw vegan and Paleo lifestyles, and that unprocessed and organic ingredients are used as often as possible.

A combination of Miri’s name and the Arabic word for dates (tamr), which are the main ingredients in the product that inspired her busi-ness, Tamiri Bites came from the raw energy balls that launched her success. These treats became so popular with friends and family that Miri’s husband pushed her to sell them at the farmers market last May. Since then, she’s sold treats to various stores around the city such as Remedy Café, The Tea Girl and Infinite Fitness Studio.

New to the entrepreneur club, it’s already welcoming Miri home. “I love the entrepreneurial spirit of Edmontonians,” she says. “Almost every person I meet is running a business or is part of some kind of

innovative project or organization. More and more people are excited about local businesses and are showing so much support. It’s heart-warming and motivating.”

Miri, a small-town-girl from Algeria, moved to Canada with her family back in 2009 where she studied at the University of

Sherbrooke in Quebec before receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Shortly after graduating, she

got married the love of her life and they decided to move to Edmonton for work. They’ve been here for a little bit over two

years but says it feels like a lifetime already.

Before quitting her day job to start Tamiri Bites and her dream of helping Edmontonians live healthier lives, Miri took a few cooking classes at NAIT last year – one of them being how to create vegan des-serts. However, the treats were still filled with processed ingredients like refined sugar and wheat flour. This inspired the entrepreneur to teach herself how to create healthier options, falling in love with the raw vegan lifestyle and especially raw vegan desserts. Through this process, Miri learned more than just how to make healthier meals, but also the ingredients towards living a healthier life.

“I quit my desk job that was killing my creativity – but it took me a while to stop doing what people expected me to do and just pursue my passion,” says Miri. “I was terrified, but I’ve never felt more alive. I knew I was on the right track when I stumbled upon this quote from Howard Thurman: ‘Don’t worry about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.’”

Tamiri Bites Brings Healthy Treats to Edmonton

Starting With Dessert:

Amanda Van Slyke



As a woman who’s been working on going raw vegan for a year now, I know from expe-rience how good I’ve felt from having more energy, less mood swings and clearer skin due to diet changes. However, after the long process of letting go of what people thought about my dietary changes, one thing that’s been difficult to halt has been my sugar crav-ings – and because of this I’ve experienced the awful side-effects listed above again and again after giving into my sweet tooth. From being at a get-together where someone made cookies to simply wanting something healthy-but-satisfying to snack on during PMS, I’ve wished there were better options that were more readily available.

As it turns out, I’m not the only one: “The raw food movement is fairly recent and the concept is still not commonly known in Alberta, but there is a growing interest in healthy, wholesome, gluten-free foods,” says Miri. “Raw food meets all those criteria and people are often shocked to find out that something healthy can taste good.”

Miri knows that change takes time. Being on a fitness and weight-loss journey for a couple years now, she’s since adopted a healthy lifestyle which transitioned into a vegan one. However, like myself, Miri has a sweet tooth and hates the guilt and fatigue that comes with eating fatty, sugary and highly processed desserts. “I was having a hard time finding desserts that met all my criteria and I quickly learned that I wasn’t the only one,” says Miri.

But even though people are looking for guilt-free treats in Edmonton, there aren’t many options out there yet. “There are more and more vegan businesses in Edmonton, which is fantastic, but most of them use heav-ily processed ingredients – so even if the food is cruelty free it’s not the healthiest choice,” she says.

Because Miri understands the growing need to find health-conscious desserts, she not only offers her products at various loca-tions in Edmonton but also participates in many events and markets around the city.

Enjoying laid-back days with her husband and their cat, Miri knows that transitioning to a healthy lifestyle can be overwhelming if you focus on all the things you have to give up. She recommends to start with dessert and to add delicious, natural foods to your diet rather than removing things. ”You’ll feel so good that you’ll effortlessly drop the unhealthy foods and habits one by one as you find much better replacements for them.”

Starting With Dessert:

To find out more about Miri and Tamiri Bites visit www.tamiri.ca, and be sure to follow her on Twitter @tamiribites.

The entrepreneur is also working on opening Tamiri Bites’ first location where Edmontonians will be able to buy her products for

themselves or gift them towards their loved ones.

Food & Drink

Edmonton Woman | 19

Photographer: Demetri GiannitsiosProfessional Photography Services


10 Edmonton CAFÉS TO FIT

1 Catching Up With a Friend – Leva With its warm, welcoming vibe, Leva is the kind of place

you can relax for a long chat with a good friend. Nestled in the Garneau neighborhood, Leva is well-loved for their espresso-based drinks and soft-yet-modern ambiance. Plus, Leva’s close proximity to Whyte Ave is a great reason to extend your coffee date and go shopping!

2 Working (or Studying) Alone – Credo Coffee (124 Street)

Bright and spacious, Credo on 124 street is an ideal place to lose yourself in your laptop. Their large windows provide plenty of natural light so you won’t be squinting to see your screen and they have several seating options so you can settle in for the long haul.

3 Meeting for Business – Good Earth Coffeehouse and Bakery (Scotia Place)

Smack dab in our city center, Good Earth in Scotia Place is THE place to do business. With comfortable seating and lots of space, you can strategize with your colleagues or check in with your clients without distraction. Convenient pedway ac-cess from nearby office towers doesn’t hurt, either.

With Sarah’s advice in mind, we’ve compiled a list of Edmonton cafés that best fit ten

common coffee shop scenarios:

Your Fancy

A coffee shop is many things to many people – espe-cially during a cold, snowy Edmonton winter. A local café can put the “social” back in our lives after hiber-nating with our PVRs and leftover Pot of Gold holiday chocolates for one weekend too many. It’s where we stop to thaw out our frozen toes halfway through a 30-below commute in fashion boots. It’s also the place that saves us from our Keurigs or that box of tea that’s been in the back of the cupboard since February 2009.

I recently had a conversation with Sarah Jackson, the orga-nizer of YEG Coffee Week (and the most passionate person about coffee I’ve ever met). We were chatting about the amaz-ing local cafés in our city (Sarah’s list was over 50 and growing) and the different reasons people visit them.

Our conversation got me thinking. With so many reasons to visit a café, will any coffee shop fit any purpose? I mean, we wouldn’t book a six-year-old’s birthday party at Corso 32, right? The locally sourced panzanella and handmade garganelli would surely be underappreciated. A different restaurant, say Chuck E Cheese’s, would be a much better fit.

So should we visit the same coffee shop on a first date as we would to slap on some headphones and scan the paper? I decided to ask Sarah. As someone who’s dedicated her career to Edmonton’s coffee scene for the last ten years, she would know.

Guilty.“I think it’s important to step outside our routines and ex-

plore the unique cafés we have here,” Sarah adds.

Absolutely.Sarah explains that to pick a café to fit the reason for your

visit, you should consider the time of day you’ll be there and the café’s atmosphere at that time. “If it’s known to be a busy

lunch spot and you want to work alone on your laptop for three hours in the afternoon, it’s not your best choice.”

Sarah also notes you’ll want to think about the type of coffee the café serves. “Think of it like you’re hosting a dinner party and consider the palate of who’s joining you. If you’re with a

more traditional coffee drinker, don’t go somewhere that serves Third Wave Coffee.”

Makes sense.

“People tend to choose a coffee shop solely based on location,” says Sarah. “It’s about convenience. What’s closest to home or on

the way to work.”

6

Shawna Dirksen

Food & Drink



4 Listening to Live Music – Cha Island Café & Lounge

Just off Whyte Ave, Cha Island is Edmonton’s next best thing to a tropical getaway. On any given night you’ll find local talent and professional musicians alike heating up their stage. As an added bonus, this island-inspired live music hotspot boasts an impressive selection of loose leaf tea (over 50 varieties).

5 Going on a Date – Da Capo Upscale, modern and open late, Da Capo has first date writ-

ten all over it. This traditional Italian café has made top-quality espresso-based drinks their thing. Da Capo’s friendly atmo-sphere, gorgeous streamlined décor and hip, happening Whyte Ave location equal the perfect place to get to know someone special.

6 Savouring a Quality Cup – Transcend Coffee (all locations)

At Transcend they know their stuff. They ethically source their own coffee and roast it right here in Edmonton. This care and attention has led to some amazing blends for lucky Edmon-tonians to enjoy. Visit Transcend in Argyll, Garneau or Mercer to experience an exceptional roast right then and there (or buy some beans to brew at home).

7 Getting Together With Friends – Table Top Café

What’s better than spending time with friends over coffee? Spending time with friends over coffee AND board games, of course! Table Top Café is a fun, quirky board game café on Roper Road. Choose a game from their huge selection and add some friendly competition to your crew’s caramel lattes.

8 Enjoying an Evening Sip – Cavern Don’t want your night to end just yet? Swing by Cavern in the

Warehouse District for a late evening cappuccino. Cavern is a trendy little space with a unique concept. It’s a café, wine bar and retail cheese shop rolled into one. And it’s underground, so it’s like you’re in on a cool Edmonton secret.

9 Bringing the Kids – Café O’Play (Roper Road)

If you’ve got kids and appreciate a great cup of coffee, Café O’ Play has you covered. Their 1000-square-foot indoor play-ground – complete with bouncy chairs, exersaucers, slides, riding toys and a track – suits kids under six. Just sit back, sip your locally roasted coffee and watch the little ones play.

10 Stopping While On-The-Go – Burrow Burrow, one of Edmonton’s newest cafés, caters to busy

professionals on the run. Located in the Central LRT Station, Burrow is a handy stop on your way to the office or a business meeting. But the best thing about this place is they don’t trade quality for convenience. Their coffee is excellent.

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Food & Drink



At Home

Trends for 2015

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At Home

Color Trends: Choosing the right color story for your home is a personal choice, but the current color trends are showcasing softer, more neutral palettes with hints of color like gold, lavender, blue, green and raisin (essentially moving away from the stark whites). In homes with open floor plans, integrating similar color tones is a great way to add character to your space while creating harmony and flow from room to room.

Glass Backsplashes: Today’s homeowners are becoming increasingly design-savvy and are proving to be open to new ideas, as glass tile backsplashes are becoming a popular option over the stan-dard tile or stone backsplash. Granite Transformations offers a wide variety of beautiful glass backsplash options to highlight your kitchen décor and raise the level of elegance in your home.

White Kitchen Cabinets: Various shades of white col-ored cabinets will continue to stay popular, but gray is the shade that leading designers are betting on to break white’s lead next year. An-other growing trend is combining cabinet colors – having predomi-nantly white cabinets that contrast with one large cabinet with a richer stain has been seen more frequently. It is important to take into consideration the color of your appliances when choosing a cabinet color. Granite Transformations offers cabinet refacing which is often less expensive than replacing them – check out the wide variety of colors and styles.

Warm Metal Fixtures: Although stainless steel remains the standard in kitchen fixtures, designers and homeowners are turn-ing to warmer metals to accent their kitchens, giving the room a more inviting feel. Brushed nickel has taken the lead in finish options, fol-lowed by pewter, polished chrome and oil-rubbed bronze. Designers are raving over pull-out faucets and ditching the separate side-spray. The integrated unit is not only more convenient, but it is more aes-thetically pleasing and offers a touch of class to any kitchen.

Open Floor Plans: One of the biggest design changes for 2015 (as predicted by designers and home builders) is that kitchen space as we know it will change dramatically. Open living spaces are surging in popularity with ‘great rooms’ that combine kitchens, family rooms, living rooms and dining rooms to create a more relaxed space where everyone can be together. By blending these rooms together, designers suggest harmonizing the décor of each room to create an atmosphere of consistency.

granitetransformations.com

With all of this optimism in the housing market and the re-modeling industry, there are certain design trends in kitchens that are expected to continue and increase in popularity in the upcoming year. Industry experts conclude that the top kitchen design trends for 2015 are all about striking a balance between a classic, timeless look and a simple, modern flare.

According to findings from the 2014 Houzz & Home Survey, remodeling trumps moving – homeowners would rather remodel their homes than buy a new one, and if they embark in a remodel, it means they are there to stay. This is due in part because remodeling gives them the control to make their homes function exactly how they want. The strengthening of the housing market is fueling the remodeling industry.

Here are the top suggested kitchen design ideas for 2015 to keep in mind if you’re considering a kitchen renovation:



If you follow Rayanne on Twitter (@Rayan-

neForbes), you’ll often see tweets that remind

us that there are many ways to help people

in need.

Rayanne’s story reflects one of the many

things that makes Edmonton special. She vol-

unteers her time, energy, skills and money to

help others.

Rayanne created her charity, the Graves

Disease Foundation of Edmonton, because

she was diagnosed with Graves in her early

twenties. The foundation “started because I

did a lot of searching and there wasn’t any-

thing out there for people in Edmonton.”

Rayanne realized that it was within her power

to create a support system for people who

needed one.

Graves disease is “a heart condition, thy-

roid disorder, and immune disorder all in one.

It’s life-changing.” Women in their twenties

make up more than 90% of those who are

diagnosed.

Rayanne readily admits she was scared

and had a good cry when she first realized

how precarious her health and financial situ-

ation had become. But Rayanne and her dad

came up with a motto: “You get bitter or you

get better.” As Rayanne sat in her car trying to

find a way forward, a lot of questions about

her future ran through her mind. “And then

I decided ‘The Graves Disease Foundation of

Edmonton needs to exist.’ And that’s how it

came to be.”

Like many, Rayanne has faced serious

economic difficulties since her diagnosis.

She doesn’t qualify for health insurance be-

cause she has a pre-existing condition. Yet,

her life-saving medications and treatments

are expensive. Eventually, Rayanne faced the

impossible choice of paying rent or purchas-

ing medication.

Rayanne Forbes

The condition of giving

Rayanne Forbes is surrounded by volunteers. She says, “I’ve always just grown up like that.” Her grandfather founded Santa’s Anony-mous in 1995. Rayanne advocates for local charities through her Twitter account and blogs about charities for the Edmonton Sun. She is also in the process of finalizing her own charity and helps local businesses raise funds for Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS), an organization that depends on volunteers. Rayanne also gets to act as a “cool aunt” to the kids who use YESS.

Rhonda Kronyk

24 | Edmonton Woman

Living Well

I first came across Rayanne’s Twitter account at the end of 2013. A local radio station does a roof drop each winter and Rayanne no-ticed that many of the items being dropped were usable. Rayanne sent out tweets telling people how they could contribute their unwanted items to local charities.


Rayanne doesn’t “want people to have to choose between rent

and pills.” The goal of the foundation is simple, but it will change the

lives of individuals and their families who live with Graves. Eventually,

anyone with Graves from the Edmonton area will be able to apply to

have medications, medical travel expenses, and some living expenses

paid for through the foundation.

The funding is necessary because life-saving medications can cost

as much as $10,000 every year. Rayanne’s expenses are expected to

grow as the disease moves around her body and she requires more

medications and surgeries beyond the six she’s already had. While

Canada has a healthcare system, “it doesn’t really help for people who

fall between the cracks like I do because I didn’t have a health plan.”

It’s the people that fall between the cracks that Rayanne wants to help

financially.

Another important aspect of Rayanne’s foundation is the personal

connections that she encourages. To help people connect, the foun-

dation holds “support meetings, both online and in-person. About 40

members live in the Edmonton area.” Rayanne wants to make sure

that nobody gets missed, so she goes “to all the hospitals and all the

doctor’s offices, especially surgeons who deal with Graves.” Rayanne

is willing to go to such lengths because “I don’t want people to feel

as hopeless as I was.”

Soon after her diagnosis, Rayanne began a blog that shows read-

ers how her illness affects her. She admits that the stories and pictures

aren’t always pretty. One of the things that Rayanne struggles with is

the effects of Graves on her eyes. She says, “I’ve been bullied signifi-

cantly for the way that my eyes look.”

Rayanne shows blog readers pictures before and after surgery

even though they make her uncomfortable. “I have highly unflatter-

ing pictures of myself all over my blog because that’s what the illness

is and what it’s doing … if it helps someone else what’s the harm.”

Rayanne’s blog helps a lot of people. “In just two years my blog

has almost 50,000 reads because there really is nothing out there like

it. Doctors are coming to my page to read about things that aren’t in

medical textbooks.”

“There’s a lack of awareness and I think that’s where I need to come

in. I hate doing media, but I do it anyways to get the word out there.”

Rayanne wouldn’t change anything about the last few years. “If

I didn’t have [Graves] things wouldn’t have happened the way they

have. I wouldn’t have a foundation, I wouldn’t be meeting other peo-

ple, and I wouldn’t have found such a nice community of people that

understand me.”

Over the year it has taken to build the foundation from the ground

up, Rayanne’s inner toughness keeps coming out. Rather than quit

when the cost and work became overwhelming, she “worked on

credit for a long time.” Her family contributed seed money and she

regularly puts her own money into building the foundation.

Rayanne has received a lot of support in reaching her goal. A web-

site designer who worked on credit, a boss who designed her business

cards, a job that gives her time off to take care of paperwork and pro-

motion, and a family and boyfriend that support her unconditionally

have come together to help push Rayanne over the finish line.

All of her hard work is about to pay off. Rayanne has been issued

a Canada Revenue Agency charity number and will soon be able to

issue tax receipts to donors.

As important as the foundation is to Rayanne, don’t expect her

to expand beyond the Edmonton area anytime soon. “I truly believe

what my Grandpa believed: we want to give where we live. And I’m

a big fan of that. I want to meet the people that I help and I want to

know them personally.”

That spirit of giving on a local level is a good way to contribute to a strong community. Rayanne

says: “I get to meet a lot of cool people. I get to meet people who have the same vision as me of making

the community a little bit nicer of a place.” Rayanne is just one of many Edmonton volunteers who

understand the importance of community building through giving.


Photographer: Curtis Comeau Photography

Living Well


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Those same people will tell you that I’m not a big fan of exercise either. So, here I am in a winter city, and I don’t like exercise at the best of times. Rather than my usual plan to hibernate through the winter, I explored ways to stay fit and made a winter fitness drawing board.

This year I’ve decided it’s time to get creative. In September I started Tai Chi, which is a mind/body workout that doesn’t put any impact on your joints and is perfect for all fitness levels. I’ve also worked with a trainer to improve my stability, balance, and strength.

But I know I’m going to quickly get bored. Indoor exercise is perfect for very cold days when it is dangerous to go out-side. Or even for those days when I would rather curl up with a good book than move an inch, but I know it’s not going to keep me excited about fitness all winter.

As I created my winter fit board, I checked in with Edmonton woman and got some ideas from them.

A great way to avoid boredom is to do more than one thing. Sherry H-P. has a varied approach to exercise and likes to do some of it indoors. “Moksha Yoga requires focus, meditation, athleticism and heat. A cold weather workout if ever there was one. There are lots of scheduled classes throughout the week, so it’s easy to access.”

But if I stay indoors all winter, I’ll miss out on the great winter activi-ties that Edmonton offers. So, back to my winter fitness ideas.

One of the most important aspects of fitness is how you define it. A regular routine such as running every day and getting to the gym several times a week is an impressive way to define fitness.

But if you can’t make the time or you don’t have the desire for a dedicated exercise schedule, are you out of luck on the fitness front? Absolutely not! And the onset of winter doesn’t leave you stuck or without ways to enjoy staying fit.

Think back to how you had fun during the winter when you were a kid. How much energy did you burn sledding down a hill, walking

back up, and doing it all again. And again. And again. Why not go sledding, snowboarding or ice-skating with your friends or family; it’s one way to get outside and have fun in our beautiful city. After you’ve tired yourself out, head indoors for a hot cocoa or a special coffee to warm up.

It’s also important to have a backup plan. Brittany L. says that “proper gear” is essential when “I go out to jog and run stairs when it’s not too slippery out. Or, if it’s icy, my roommate and I take her dogs for a walk through the neighbourhood.”

Dog walks are a popular choice with Edmontonians. The city has some excellent dedicated dog parks that allow us to meet other dog lovers and let our pets get their exercise too. Lisa L. goes on “dog walks in the offleash park, and spin classes” to stay fit.

An important aspect of winter fitness is safety. Think about your footing and staying warm when the temperature dips. Make sure to warm your muscles up a little before heading out and choose the right gear. Livit247, who takes “after work jogs outside in protective clothing” says that “the proper shoes/footwear can really make a dif-ference outside when it comes to safety in winter.”

Snowshoeing is another activity on my winter fit drawing board. There are several parks in and around Edmon-

ton that allow snowshoeing. If you’re like me and want to try before you buy, then rent a pair of

shoes for an afternoon, take a lesson, and see if it’s for you. But I’ve been told it’s a full

workout, so be prepared to sleep well that night.

The City of Edmonton keeps many trails clear for walkers, so why not go for a quiet walk through the River Valley. Or take your family and friends and get a new perspective on the city.

Running groups can also make winter exercise more fun. Sherri H-P. says “My

approach this year is running with the Running Room as their weekly Sunday

practice runs are refreshing: the cold air, big blue sky, like-minded friends … it actually

makes the winter weeks fly by. Promise.”Pamela F’s answer to winter fitness is short and

sweet: “Cross country skiing!” With no shortage of trails in or around the city and plenty of places to rent skis, there’s

no reason not to give it a try.Still not convinced that outdoor exercise is the way to go? Here’s

another idea from Sherry H-P. “This year I purchased a YEG fitness pass for a friend and I to explore new adventures. Really looking forward to SurfSet fitness and an Orange Theory class.”

And if you’re looking for an exotic experience, but don’t have the time for a tropical vacation, sign up for pole dancing, belly dancing, or hip hop lessons. There’s lots of studios in the city that offer classes and workouts.

So Edmonton, whether you choose a dedicated exercise program or plan to do something offbeat, don’t forget to make time for stay-ing fit while having fun this winter. Maybe I’ll even see you out there.

Anybody who knows me will tell you that I’m not a fan of winter. I’ve had several knee dislocations and

broken bones caused by run-ins with the ice that justify my dislike of the season.

Edmonton offers

Rhonda Kronyk

Winterfitness ideas

Living Well

Edmonton Woman | 27January/February 2015 Edmonton Woman | 27January/February 2015


Living Well

Would you like to be healthy, full of delightful dynamic en-ergy, and looking hotter than the sun in 2015? Below are eight things you can do daily at any time of the year. Anyone can do them. These simple habits can be done daily till they become your excellent healthy way of living. Then staying healthy is easy! It does take commitment though. Are you ready to make a wonderful difference in your wellness?

Make Time for Relaxation and Meditation• If you have a meditation technique, try doing it in the morning be-fore getting out of bed, for ten or fifteen minutes. • If you don’t meditate, simply put on relaxing music, close your eyes and breathe, trying not to get caught up in your thoughts, watch them.

Control the Salt Habit• Adults worldwide consume almost double the daily amount of salt recommended.• Salt can make you feel hungrier and thirstier. • A belly will go down quickly just by cutting back on your sodium intake and eating more vegetables.• A little salt is good for your body. Don’t eliminate it entirely.

Eat Lots of Vegetables (not potatoes) Every Day - - Why?• Vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients• On average, there are only 50 calories (or less) per cup.• They are a high fiber food that helps cleanse your bowels and thus your whole body.• For a healthy Acid/Alkaline balance your plate needs to be three quarters full of vegetables. You can never eat too many vegetables. How could you be a glutton when it comes to vegetables?

Drink 2 to 3 cups water first thing in the morning. • Drink warm as it is gentler on the empty stomach.• It is important that the water has nothing in it so that is passes through right away. If it contains anything at all, it will stay in your stomach up to one hour not going into cleansing mode.• The water will flush your kidneys, bladder, and fasting debris from your stomach and colon.

KEEP FIT To start, go for a walk of 20 – 30 minutes every day.• A regularexerciseprogramofat least30minutesseveral

days a week will help build a strong immune system and helps weight drop off too.

• Beingfitwillhelpyourecovermorequicklyifyoudogetsick.All these habits are pretty obvious and simple. The trick is doing them long enough so they are a new habit, part of

your routine. This will take time and attention.

8 Habits Your BODY LOVES“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle



Living Well

Keep Sugar Highs and Lows in CheckSugar Cravings can rule you because they are an addiction. You will need to develop some new habits to overcome them. Why do we need to keep the sugar out? Sugar: Makes You Fat, Makes You Nervous, Causes Diabetes, Kidney and Heart Problems, Suppresses the Immune System and Causes Wrinkles!Sugar cravings are often due to a lack of nutrients creating an under-nourished, hungry body. Keep your body nourished with lots of real food and extra nutritional supplements.Things to do to help reduce sugar:• Eat fresh fruit instead of sugary sweets.• Keep fully hydrated. • Don’t skip meals. When you miss regular meals; you create a starving situation in your body and you will eat anything to bring your blood sugar level back to normal and you know what that means.• No sweets in your cupboards or fridge. It is too tempting to have them available. • When craving strikes, go for a walk.

BREATHE DEEPLYFew of us breathe deeply. Do you remember the last time you took a long, slow, deep breath, and slowly let it out again? • Deep breathing can help reduce stress. We often eat more when stressed.• Breathing exercises will help strengthen your lungs.• It will increase energy, still the mind, and lift the spirits.

Get Enough Sleep and Rest That means getting 7 – 8 hours of sleep every night. If you are still feeing tired it is recommended to take short naps of 15–30 minutes. What happens when we do not get enough sleep?• Your immune system is taxed. It rebuilds while we sleep, so not enough sleep makes you vulnerable to viruses• The brain needs to ‘clean’ itself of toxins. Brain cells shrink during sleep, opening the gaps between neurons that allow fluid to wash the brain clean.• People gain weight when not getting enough sleep.

BODY LOVES


Homemade lip balm might seem compli-cated, but it is much easier than you think, and it’s some of the best lippy I’ve ever tried. It’s smooth and chocolate scented, just a little glossy- perfect for ladies and gents. This nour-ishing balm can also be used as a salve during the cold dry months of winter for hands, feet and more!

Most lip balms is made with gross stuff: min-eral oil, which is derived from fossil fuels, lanolin taken from wool, and sometimes even dead bugs (aka carmine or cochineal). But the added benefit of homemade lip balm is that it’s customizable. One recipe also lasts a long time, and you can reuse all your old balm containers, so there is much less waste too! Let’s get started!

Homemade Lip Balm

Directions1. Have empty lip balm containers, small glass jars or lip balm pots available and cleaned before starting. Reuse the ones you have or shop online for glass or steel containers.2. Add cacao butter and beeswax into a small glass bowl. Place over a pot of boiling water, reduce heat, and let melt until liquified.3. Add the coconut oil and the essential oil and stir to combine.4. Immediately pour the liquid into your pots, tubes, or jars. Set in the fridge for about 10 minutes to set, and then remove. Please note that it will remain stable at warm, but not very hot, temperatures. Makes about 2 ounces lip balm total.

Some notes about ingredients: • Cacao butter is the yummy stuff that comes right from the cacao beans. Use pure, food-

grade cacao butter (Navitas Naturals, Artisana and Pacari are all good choices); avoid cacao butter mixtures, as they probably has other ingredients besides cacao butter and might not set properly. You can also use cacao butter to make homemade chocolate!

• Beeswax can be found at your local health food store, usually sold in small bricks.• Coconut oil is my favorite and works the best as it helps the lip balm set, but olive oil will

probably also work.

Ingredients• 3 Tablespoons chopped (edible) cocoa butter• 2 Tablespoons finely chopped beeswax• 1-2 teaspoons coconut oil• 20+ drops vanilla, orange, peppermint, or other organic essential oil (if using peppermint, start with just a few drops!)

COCOA-HONEY Homemade Lip Balm

Green Living Ideas

Get ready for some KISSES!

Play with the flavors of the essential oils: try peppermint, orange, lemon or other delicious flavors, but always use a very small amount of anything spicy (cinnamon, clove, mints); use

only a few drops of these strong flavors, adding more after you’ve tested it!



8 WARNING SIGNS


Documents

Edmonton Woman Magazine Jan 2015