P.R. – I like to put Cake in my Hair

Product Review -  Cake dry shampoo. 

I love cake in all its forms – flourless, vegan, fully loaded, red velvet & with lots of icing.  Now I can put cake it in my hair.

Tell me you haven’t tried dry shampoo!  Maybe you haven’t found the right one yet.  Who washes their hair every single day anymore?  We’re constantly on the go, washing daily will dry out your hair and styling all the time is a pain.  Enter dry shampoo – not like the old days. 

I think it’s a must unless of course you break out a sweat like crazy.  For non wash days I just sprinkle a little cake satin sugar glistening dry shampoo on my roots, work through a little with my fingers & let sit a few minutes before brushing out.  It doesn’t really clean your hair but it will take away the greasy look for emergencies or just days when you want to give your hair a rest.  It also smells nice – a bit like icing sugar.  The packaging is very so-so but the product works.  Available at Sephora for $20.00

Can you believe they have a dry bar at Sephora? I’ve been wanting to try “Oscar Blandi” but the girls at S convinced me that cake works  better for less $ – so far so good. This was their TOP pick (at least for now).

If you’re looking for something a little less pricey then try the volumizing spray from John Frieda which works fine for about $7.00.

Have you tried these?

Which ones would you recommend?

style & substance – WHITE NOW!

How do you feel about white on white on white? 

chicisimo.com

Summer is the perfect time to break out all the stops on anything white – even shoes and handbags……….while we can.  That’s not to say we can’t wear white all year long – just not so much of it.

Miranda Kerr localkicks.com

I love the freshness of white and the fact that you can pretty much dress it up or down with scarves, belts & jewelry.  White with turquoise looks amazing. I specifically love white and beige together or white with black for a more graphic look (more on that later).

White was all over the runways with most designers showing “all white” looks from  feminine dresses to tailored blazers.

Tons of designers sent all white looks down the runways from feminine dresses to sophisticated tailored blazers. – See more at: http://sivanidesigns.com/jewelryblog/top-3-fashion-trends-for-women-spring-2013/#sthash.l4lst516.dpuf

Tons of designers sent all white looks down the runways from feminine dresses to sophisticated tailored blazers. – See more at: http://sivanidesigns.com/jewelryblog/top-3-fashion-trends-for-women-spring-2013/#sthash.l4lst516.dpuf

Tons of designers sent all white looks down the runways from feminine dresses to sophisticated tailored blazers. – See more at: http://sivanidesigns.com/jewelryblog/top-3-fashion-trends-for-women-spring-2013/#sthash.l4lst516.dpuf

Let’s have a look at some more recent trends on this theme

Red carpet white – Charlize Theron at 2013 Oscars from Images.

Menswear 2013 – theclothingmenu.com

sivanidesigns.com

Solange Knowles Imashopaholic.com

Karlie Kloss at Mercedes Benz Fashion Fall-Winter-2013 (glamcheck.com)

WHITE HOT!

Then of course the classics – white shirt, white jeans & white sneakers.  All the time, anytime.

The jean

Converse – taken by Garance Dore

Follow my style board on Pinterest at:

Simple Grill Talk – Cuban Pork Chops

A very tasty Cuban marinade – serves four. 

CUBAN CUISINE contains African, Spanish, Italian and Caribbean elements.  The Cubans don’t follow any rules when cooking – the mixture of all possible tastes, smells and colors usually help to create little works of art.  Cuba does not have a great reputation for their food – at least for tourists.  I’ve been to Havana and found this to be true.  Their rum however is second to none and if you stick with drinking mojitos all day long you may not even mind how bad the food tastes.  The truth is if you’re lucky enough to be invited into a local home for a home cooked meal or go to one of the handful of local insider restaurants which happen to not be in the very touristy areas, you will be  pleasantly surprised. Together with the wonderful herbs and spices from the region – for example, chilli, oregano, onions, garlic, parsley, saffron, basil, etc. – there are no limits to the varied dishes.  Here is a simple and delicious marinade.

2 Tbsp. (30 ml) each frozen orange juice concentrate (somewhat defrosted), ketchup and molasses.  (I used spicy ketchup from the Mcilhenny Co. brand that makes Tobasco).

1 tsp (5 ml) each ground cumin and dried oregano leaves

¼ tsp (1 ml.) cayenne pepper

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 lime

1 Tbsp (15 ml) Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

4 centre-cut pork loin chops, each about ½ inch (1 cm) thickl

¼ cup (50 ml) coarsely chopped cilantro

In a bowl, stir concentrate with ketchup, molasses, dried seasonings and garlic.

Squeeze in juice from lime, then stir in oil.

Pour three-quarters of the marinade over chops and turn to evenly coat. Cover and let marinate in the fridge for at least one hour but best overnight.  Turn occasionally.

Refrigerate reserved marinade in a separate container.

Preheat barbeque, then adjust to medium heat.  Remove chops from marinade and discard marinade.  Place on grill.  Close lid and grill, about 12 to 15 minutes, turning once.

Brush with reserved marinade during the last five minutes of cooking time.  Remove to platter and sprinkle with cilantro.

Per Serving: 237 calories

Sides: I served this with cooked quinoa (in a vegetable broth) which was then mixed into a pan with caramelized onions, shallots, red pepper, green beans & cuban black beans.

Sweet yellow corn on the cob with cilantro/chili/lime butter & sea salt.

http://www.pinterest.com/intrigueimports/foodsavour-taste-flavor-relish-palate-enjoyment/

Signs of Summer

Everything is coming up ROSES     

On the tables at Koko Monk

A true signal of Summer ahead is strolling  through the streets of Vancouver and noticing all the beautiful varieties of roses.  These were taken Saturday, June 15th.

 

Wild Roses

Quotes – MONEY Talks

“For I don’t care too much for money,  for money can’t buy me love.” – The Beatles

When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is. – Oscar Wilde

If women didn’t exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning. – Aristotle Onassis

It is not the creation of wealth that is wrong, but the love of money for its own sake. -Margaret Thatcher

A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it. – Bob Hope

Money is not the most important thing in the world. Love is. Fortunately, I love money. – Jackie Mason

It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white… the only color that really matters is green. – Family Guy

My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income. – Errol Flynn

Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons. – Woody Allen

personal favorite: There are people who have money and people who are rich. – Coco Chanel

B well – the Hair scare!

What good is a size 2 body if your hair ends up looking like hell?

photo credit below

I recently read an article about a nameless 42 year-old publicist from San Francisco who ended up losing a significant amount of  hair due to extreme dieting.  Seems sometimes we just can’t win.  This girls goal was to lose 15 pounds in the first month, then re-evaluate how much more she’d need to drop after that – all with the assistance of a nutritionist.

Her calorie intake was just 750 a day, consisting of a protein shake for breakfast, soup and a shake for lunch, then salad, steamed veggies and 6 ounces of protein (like a piece of grilled chicken the size of a bar of soap) for dinner.  She was still famished but wasn’t about to argue with the results – and lost every pound.  The follow up visit with the nutritionist consisted of being told to set her target weight even lower and stay on the plan.

The trouble started four months later.  The clothes were looser but her nice shoulder-length hair was much sparser.  At first just a bit in the shower (which can be common) but in a matter of weeks she was dropping tons of hair – she has fine hair to begin with.  She began to inspect her brushes after each stroke to see how many strands were tangled up in the bristles and had to disguise the hair sparseness by pulling it up into a bun or back in a ponytail as you could really see the difference when it was worn down.

The nutritionist would not entertain the idea that the diet had anything to do with it.  She on the other hand, was not so sure.  She eventually ditched the diet and started eating more sensibly, incorporating larger amounts of protein *(particularly red meat) into her meals.  After a few months the shedding stopped, hair started to get back to normal and finally she’s at a healthy (but not supermodel thin) weight.  *Whole grains, nuts and tofu/tempeh for vegetarians.

My brush

The Diagnosis:

Humans evolved from a feast-or-famine lifestyle: we cycled through periods when we had plenty of food to gobble up and periods when we had little to eat.  Genetically, our bodies have a long memory, and in some ways they still react as if we’re living in prehistoric times.  So if your body senses that you’re heading towards famine (hello, crash diet!), it diverts energy away from functions that are less essential, like growing hair or strong nails.  If you start to undergo dramatic shedding, see your doctor for a blood workup; sometimes the problem could be the result of a chronic health condition, like hypo-or hyperthyroidism.  Eating a healthy diet that includes all the food groups can help, as does popping a daily multivitamin, just to be sure you’re getting the nutrients that your hair needs. – Melissa Pilang, dermatologist, Clevelend Clinic.

Photo from:                                                                             
http://www.besthairlossproductsreviews.com/why-women-lose-their-hair/

NOTE **Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.  Here’s the link:

http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health

 

Personally speaking – does this make my ASSets look FAT?

What do MONEY and DIETS have in common?

Apparently a lot, according to author & finance expert Susan Hirshman, of a tongue in cheek but interesting & helpful new book on fresh financial advice geared for women (but men could use it too).  Before you roll your eyes & tune out let’s just agree that the book puts a cheery spin on something we could all use more sound advice on but at the same time it can all be so mundane and confusing.  When was the last time you read a book about financial planning that was enjoyable?

Review: As Susan Hirshman sees it, the rules of successful dieting are the same rules that apply to successful money management. In this upbeat and informative guide she offers women a 3-phase personalized plan that follows common dieting programs to help them understand their finances.

The structure of the book is consistent with that of a typical diet book – it includes an evaluation phase, an induction phase, and a maintenance regimen.  Susan offers specific advice on topics that matter most to women including how to develop realistic and attainable goals, how to make smart financial decisions, how to determine the best way to invest based on a reader’s ‘investment personality’, and how and when to get professional help from a financial advisor all while relating it back to a theme that practically every woman has experienced at least once in her life – dieting!.

Susan’s program completely removes the intimidation factor that often accompanies the words ‘personal finance’ and ‘investing’ and provides women with all the information they need to take control of their financial situations once and for all.

From Publishers Weekly – A comprehensive and coherent breakdown of basic financial and wealth management information from a J.P. Morgan financial adviser.

An increasing number of women are controlling more and more of the wealth in America, but studies suggest that women’s financial literacy is not increasing. Hirshman, who counsels investors on their personal finances, uses comparisons with dieting–a framework also used in Alice Wood’s excellent Wealth Watchers–and the metaphor holds up well: both dieting and investing require discipline, take time, and yield rewards. Hirshman presents reviewing a net worth statement as “stepping on the financial scales,” and investment categories as the basic food groups. Though it’s not overtly stated, the advice is aimed at an audience with a fairly old-fashioned view of finances–she speaks passionately about the need for women to be equal partners in their marital finances and admonishes women that “a man is not a financial plan.” Hirshman provides all of the information necessary for a solid financial background, and cheers on her readers with a positive message: “The only person responsible for you is you.”

Link to book: 
http://www.myfatassets.com/