Artichoke & lemon summer pasta recipe
Photo by Roberto Caruso

Ingredients

• 1/2 450-g pkg angel hair pasta
• 398-mL can artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed
• 2 tbsp garlic butter
• 3/4 cup chopped parsley
• 2 tbsp lemon zest
• 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan

Instructions

• COOK pasta in a large pot of boiling water, until al dente, 3 to 4 min. Drain.
• SLICE each artichoke into 6 or 8 wedges. Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium-high. Add artichokes and parsley. Cook until heated, 2 min. Stir in pasta, lemon zest and parmesan.

Wine Pairings

Lemony herbed pasta. Pair it with: A fruity Italian white.

Artichokes are a notoriously difficult vegetable to complement, but this little gem from central Italy is a perfect match. Its aromas of pear, apricot and honey are followed by a crisp hint of peach and toasted almonds. Our pick: Il Poggiarello Perticato Beatrice Quadri Malvasia, Italy, $16.

Nutrition (per Serving)

calories

378

protein

16 g

carbohydrates

55 g

fat

11 g

fibre

7 g

sodium

483 mg

The post Artichoke and lemon pasta for dinner tonight appeared first on Chatelaine.

Triangle pose (shown here) can ease anxiety and is known to also improve digestion (Photo by Getty Images).

You can’t sleep, can’t concentrate at work, and can’t even enjoy dinner with friends because you’re worried about work, debt and/or your marital/fertility status and everything else under the sun.

Come to think of it, what aren’t you worried about?

But when anxious thoughts replace everything else, including joy, optimism and even your relationships with friends and family it may be time to take decisive action. Fortunately, there are a number of practical steps that you can take to reduce anxiety and ease the burden of an overtaxed mind, says Michelle Trantina, a yoga teacher and the co-founder of My Yoga Online, the world’s largest online yoga website.

Here are six tips from Trantina that are designed to help reduce anxiety.

1. Get physical.
It may feel counterintuitive but, rather than stay at home and brood on your worries, it’s a far better idea to get out of your head and into your body. For Trantina, who started taking yoga in the 1990s, the practice of yoga provided an outlet for her to relieve tension in both her body and mind.

“Yoga is an amazing activity that provides exercise and benefits in addition to spiritual benefits,” she says. The poses, coupled with the deep breathing techniques that make yoga such a unique activity, can also help reduce the physical symptoms (shallow breathing, increased heart rate, muscle tension, racing thoughts) that come with distress.

2. Face your fears — safely.
Be brave; do a handstand. It may sound kooky, but a yoga class offers a safe space to practise facing your fears. If you’re terrified of doing a headstand or handstand, work yourself up to facing that fear through yoga. You may be surprised how facing a manageable fear on your yoga mat translates into the real world, whether at work with a difficult boss or at home in resolving an issue with a loved one.

“Letting ourselves get uncomfortable in a safe environment is a good thing. It’s also a good way to practise acceptance that there is both comfort and discomfort in life,” says Trantina.

3. Observe your thought patterns.
Don’t brood on your thoughts; meditate on them, advises Trantina. What’s the difference? Brooding is a reaction to upsetting thoughts, whereas meditation is simply a way to observe thought patterns.

“Meditation helps melt your tensions and leaves you with a relaxation effect that will help bring in positive thoughts,” says Trantina.

Find a quiet space in your house, close your eyes and focus on your breath. Notice the type of thoughts that keep coming up. Don’t react to them; simply notice your thought patterns and how they may be keeping you on a worry loop.

Trantina offers a guided meditation on thoughts here.

4. Breathe it out.
Whether in meditation, at home, or on the subway during rush hour, use conscious breathing exercises to calm down when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

“Don’t fight your feelings, breathe through them,” says Trantina. It may sound silly, but by breathing deeply through our distress we can go a long way toward calming ourselves. Breathing consciously, “ensures you’re not hyperventilating and will help to regain the Co2 (carbon dioxide) balance in your body that creates many of the worst anxiety symptoms.”

Try this breathing exercise from Trantina: Breathe in slowly and gently through your nose for five seconds. Hold your breath for three seconds. Breathe out slowly and gently through pursed lips for seven seconds. Repeat.

5. Live in the moment.
We spend a lot of time dwelling on the sorrows or slights of the past and fearing the future and its endless unknowns, but too little time enjoying the present. One way to keep your mind in the present tense is to celebrate small but meaningful moments throughout the day, says Trantina.

“Celebrating small wins throughout the day forces you to live in the moment and prevents you from dwelling in the past or fearing the future.”

You may feel like a goof, but give yourself a mental pat on the back for getting up early to go for a jog, or being patient with your least favourite colleague. Another way to enjoy the present: have a laugh. “Laughing increases blood flow, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to our organs and tissues, and decreases stress hormones,” says Trantina.

6. Share your experiences.
“Chatting with someone about your anxiety is a great way to stay on track and remain encouraged on your journey to overcome [it],” says Trantina.

More importantly, when you open up to a friend or join a community forum where others are openly sharing their thoughts and feelings you take away one important lesson: you’re not alone.

Click here for two weeks of free yoga from myyogaonline.com. Tell us, does yoga help you manage stress?

The post Six gentle ways to cure your anxiety with yoga appeared first on Chatelaine.

Photo by Roberto A Sanchez/Getty Images

We’ve all been there: Utterly at sea when it comes to choosing the right gift (how much should you spend?) or the right ensemble (is any amount of white okay?) for the multitude of weddings that crop up every season. Since each situation is different, it can be hard to know the proper way to behave.

That’s where Lizzie Post comes in. The great-great-granddaughter of etiquette expert Emily Post, Lizzie carries on the family tradition (with her mother and father, sister, aunt and cousin) by managing the e-learning programs for The Emily Post Institute and co-authoring books such as Emily Post’s Etiquette, 18th Edition and her own book, How Do You Work This Life Thing? “Etiquette is about every interaction that you have in your life,” she says. “Any time you’re choosing to communicate or interact or share space with someone else you have etiquette, and (you either) use that etiquette to create a good situation, or let it slide and create a negative situation.”

Here, Lizzie Post answers your questions (plus a few of ours) about invites, gifting, destination weddings and wearing white:

1. Question: I was recently invited to a wedding. The invitation did not specify whether or not I was able to bring my partner, whom I have been dating for almost two years. Is it impolite to ask about a +1? Also wondering if it’s impolite not to leave room for a +1 option on the invite itself.

Answer: If you don’t live together, it’s still considered  appropriate for the host to issue the invitation to you alone. I think a lot of people get very personally offended by invitations and who the invitation was issued to, and I think that we have to remember that it’s not our party and you can choose to go or not go. You don’t have to attend if you don’t want to, if you would feel truly uncomfortable. You do still have to send a gift, but you don’t have to attend. The host will notice that the reply comes from just one person [and might say], “Oh my gosh, what a mistake.” But it’s really not appropriate to call your host and ask to bring extra guests.

If, however, you are 99.9% sure that this oversight is real and that the host knows you live together and have lived together for quite some time, you may ask gently and politely if there’s been a mistake. If the host says, “No, it’s not a mistake,” then you need to say, “Ok, thank you so much. I just wanted to be sure.” Do not school them on proper invitation etiquette.

2. Question: I’m attending two weddings, one week apart. I’m also a student on a tighter budget. I know the amounts that it will cost [the hosts] for the dinners ($110 and $100 each), for me and my date. However, I am unable to gift that amount. What would be your advice in this situation, as they are both good friends of mine? 

Answer: The appropriate wedding gift is always what fits in your budget. So if that’s a nice picture frame, that’s a nice picture frame. If that’s a cheque for $500, it’s a cheque for $500. I’ve had a number of weddings I’ve had to go to and they end up being quite costly and you do start to feel it, so I try to get something that has a sentimental tone, but I keep it small and I absolutely don’t feel badly about that. A lot of people are under the impression that you need to “purchase your plate” at a wedding and that’s completely false. The hosts choose to have the wedding as they choose to have it, and it’s important that they not assume that their guests are going to be paying them back.

3. Question: Should a +1 bring a gift?

Answer: The person who received the invitation is responsible for sending the gift. You [the +1] can certainly send one if you want to, and a nice personal card wishing them well is always a good idea, but you don’t need to.

4. Question: I’m invited to a wedding where they have requested no gifts. I feel a bit wrong not giving anything. Should I respect their wishes? Or perhaps give a gift card to a restaurant?

Answer: You really do want to respect their wishes. That’s not just feigned. That’s for real. The best thing that you can do is send a card with your wishes on it.

5. Question: I had a destination wedding and a certain couple attended. Now they are having a destination wedding that is more expensive plus our income is lower. Do I attend to return the favour even if it is less convenient given the high price and change in finances?

Answer: No. I always say, “stick to your budget.” You can always try to do something special with the couple at a different time and place to honour their wedding. Some people are comfortable taking out a new credit card and paying for it over time, and that’s totally an option. But if you’re not comfortable with that, then I do think it’s important that you respect your own budget…and send them a nice gift.

6. Question: Why do a lot of people not send thank you cards after receiving a gift? Wedding, baby, birthday. It makes me not want to send a gift at all.

Answer: If you open the gift in front of the giver and thank them at the time, you don’t have to send a thank you note. If you did not, then you need to send a thank you note. It is the considerate thing to do in a world of digital everything and quick phone calls. I think it’s okay to send something as a place holder [such as an email to let them know you received it], but nothing will ever replace a handwritten note because of the amount of time it takes…though I have thought that a video message would be a really cute and modern way to give a thank you, where you actually video yourself saying how happy you are to receive the gift or maybe wearing the item. Then it’s something someone can keep or remember.

With a wedding, you are obligated to send a gift, but [in other situations] if someone [continually neglects to thank you], you don’t have to send them gifts anymore. Or you can always call and check up and say, “I just wanted to make sure you had received it. I hadn’t heard anything.” That’s a little bit of a pushy way, but it works.

7. Question: Is it okay to wear white? I am accessorizing in red, but my dress is white eyelet.

Answer: If you’re wearing white or cream, it needs to have some kind of pattern on it. If you have a white dress that has one tiny polka dot in the upper left hand corner, that’s pretty much a white dress. If you have a white dress that is covered with beautiful floral patterns, that would be okay because that would not look like a wedding dress and will not distract. [This rule holds for young girls and teens].

8. Question: Is there a wedding etiquette protocol that many people miss?

Answer: People forget to RSVP. They forget to mail in the card or send the email. [The hosts] are throwing what is usually one of the biggest parties of their lives, so it’s really important that you get your RSVP in on time. Also, if you’re bringing a +1, supply your guest’s name to help with seating place cards.

The post Eight wedding etiquette quandaries solved by Lizzie Post appeared first on Chatelaine.

Gen Y graduation caps. Getty Images

Does anyone out there remember 1993? That was the year I was struggling to find my first job out of university. It was smack in the middle of the 1990s recession and the best I could do was a part-time retail job, despite sending out dozens and dozens of resumes and sporting a shiny new BA.

That was then – but how are today’s youth dealing with the economic carnage of the global recession? Not so well apparently – especially compared to previous generations. Research from TD Canada Trust asked both Gen Y and baby boomers about what it’s like to save when you’re in your 20s.

Not surprisingly, today’s youth say they face some daunting barriers — obstacles that their boomer forebears didn’t really have to deal with.

Here’s how the numbers shake out according to TD:

• Paying for education costs (44% of Gen Y versus 18% of boomers)

• Salaries too low to cover living expenses (39% of Gen Y versus 30% of boomers)

• Debts from credit cards, loans and lines of credit (38% of Gen Y versus 26% of boomers)

• The temptation to shop beyond their means (36% of Gen Y versus 16% of boomers)

Hmm…I get that education is a huge expense for today’s youth (my post-secondary education cost a fraction of what it does today), but I’m not sure I totally buy the other three factors as barriers to saving. Who earns big bucks in their 20s (it’s called paying your dues)? Debt and shopping beyond their means are the other two factors holding Gen Y back from saving.

Overall, though, I see lots of good news in this survey. Firstly, most of these barriers can be overcome by simply adopting some good saving and spending habits such as setting up automatic withdrawals into a savings account every month. Creating a budget is another great way.

Secondly, while you might not agree that Gen Y really has it harder than boomers did, I will say one thing: at least saving is part of the conversation today in a way I don’t remember it being a decade or two ago.

What about you? Are you finding it hard to save as a Gen Y-er? Did you save in your 20s? And if so do you think you had it harder?

The post Does Gen Y have it harder than the Boomers? appeared first on Chatelaine.

The post Fashion flashback to 1959: Layered patterns appeared first on Chatelaine.

Nigella Lawson signed her new cookbook while visiting the Chatelaine test kitchen in March.

Recently while grocery shopping I witnessed an elderly couple squabble on their way toward the grocery carts. The man, who I assumed was the elderly woman’s husband, was particularly brutal in his treatment of the woman, who I assumed was his wife. He yelled at her in a harsh, loud tone as if she were a stupid child and scowled at her like a mean dad. The woman remained quiet, paralyzed by embarrassment or perhaps inured to his rough treatment.

I didn’t like what I saw or heard. My heart went out to the woman and I felt like throwing one of my heirloom tomatoes at the jerky husband. I didn’t though. I kept walking toward the parking lot.

I felt much the same way — disturbed, confused, angry at a jerky man and like I’d seen something I shouldn’t have but wanted to do something about — when I saw tabloid photos of what appears to be a public argument between celebrity cookbook author and TV star Nigella Lawson and her husband of 10 years, art collector Charles Saatchi.

According to Us Weekly, the photos were reportedly snapped outside a pricey London restaurant where Lawson and her husband were dining al fresco two weeks ago. The images depict Lawson and her husband engaged in what appears to be an intense marital spat. A few times Saatchi reaches over and puts his hand around Lawson’s neck. For her part, Lawson looks tearful and upset in the photos.

Lawson has so far remained mum on the photos and the circumstances surrounding the dispute. Reportedly, she left the home the couple share with her teenage children the day before the photos were released and has yet to return.

Saatchi, however, has tried to explain the photos. He told the Evening Standard that the images, while “horrific”, depict a “playful tiff”.

That tiff, says Saatchi was an “intense debate about the children”. Saatchi says that he, “held Nigella’s neck repeatedly while attempting to emphasise my point.”

Moreover, he says Lawson’s tears were simply the result of her sensitivity: “Nigella’s tears were because we both hate arguing, not because she had been hurt,” he told the newspaper.

Saatchi’s explanation rings hollow. Not because it feels untrue — at least from his perspective — but rather because his justification for stepping over the line with his wife sounds very much like the kind of thing you hear from the habitually badly behaved, from domestic bullies who lose their temper and with it all sense of what’s right and wrong.

One would hope that he might have been more reflective about his actions and his behaviour. Maybe he ought to consider exactly why his wife doesn’t like to argue with him (could it be because he is too volatile for an adult exchange?). More important, he might want to expand his definition of the word ‘hurt’ to include emotional pain. Finally, maybe somebody ought to emphasize a point with him in a similar manner so he gets a sense of what it feels like.

If the incident doesn’t result in an epiphany for Saatchi, perhaps his recent visit to the police might be illuminating. They might be able to clue him in on the definition of a playful tiff versus a physical assault.

What are your thoughts on the situation? Tell us in the comment section below. 

The post Nigella Lawson’s domestic life takes a complicated turn appeared first on Chatelaine.

Joan Stanley is a cardigan-clad granny who keeps a handkerchief tucked in her sleeve and goes to watercolour classes at the church hall on Tuesday afternoons. But when she reads about the death of an old acquaintance in the newspaper, she knows it’s only a matter of time before they come for her too. Before she can run, there’s a loud knock at her door, and two anonymous agents of MI5 are on her stoop accusing her of treason.

Red Joan is a captivating tale loosely inspired by the unmasking of 87-year-old Melita Norwood, the “granny spy” who was the KGB’s longest-serving secret agent in Britain. Set against a backdrop of political tension and the threat of nuclear war in the late 1930s, the novel tells of Joan’s introduction to espionage. It begins when a schoolmate, the worldly, red-lipped Sonya, slips through the window of Joan’s university dorm room at Cambridge, then introduces her to her cousin, charismatic Communist Leo Galich.

Jennie Rooney’s elegantly crafted tale moves fluidly from Joan’s present-day interrogation by MI5 to her past transformation from guileless science student to cunning KGB informant. As Joan struggles to do what she believes is just and necessary to protect both her country and the men in her life, she unwittingly betrays them all in a riveting tale of deception, treachery and love.

Red Joan, Jennie Rooney, $22. Available atIndigo.ca or Amazon.ca.

The post Red Joan by Jennie Rooney appeared first on Chatelaine.

Save money by practising yoga for free in the park (Photo by Getty Images).

I’m a big fan of spending money on fitness as long as it’s spent wisely.

In the past I’ve argued in favour of spending $2,500, instead of $250, on a bike. I know that if there was a cheaper, hardware store bike sitting in my shed right now I’d be far less motivated to get out the door and hit the road. That was a treat I saved up for, and you better believe I’m going to get my money’s worth.

Fitness however doesn’t always have to be expensive. There’s a balance to be struck between fiscal responsibility and fitness motivation.

If you’re on a budget, and you have grander ambitions for your retirement than cat food and a cardboard box, here are five ways to save money and still get a million-dollar body:

1. Create your own class
You can spend a fortune going to boot camps and an endless number of fitness classes. But what if you hosted your own? If you have a TV, a DVD player and enough space for three people, you can create your own class with some like-minded friends. If you don’t have the space, take it outside and design your own boot camp or class.

On the instructional side, it’s good to have a grounding in these various classes by first going the traditional route and getting professional instruction. Also, if you’ve been to a lot of them, and feel as though you really have the hang of it, DVDs can be very useful.

Your friends are also where the motivation comes from. Having one or two dedicated teammates in your fitness journey helps prevent you from skipping workouts, quitting early or slacking off.

2. Graduate beyond a personal trainer
I’ve spoken to many trainers who left their jobs at big box gyms in disgust because they were valued more for their sales skills than their ability to actually, well, train people. Trainers at franchise gyms often don’t want you to learn independence because the day you become independent is the day they lose you as a client — and they don’t EVER want to lose you as a client.

If you work out at a big-name gym, I suggest you get your training elsewhere, like a community centre, university or a training studio. Find someone with excellent qualifications and be clear up front about wanting to learn how to lift weights independently in an agreed-upon number of sessions.

Going back for an occasional tune-up is fine, but using trainers all the time is very pricey.

3. Commute by bike
This is more of an indirect method of saving money because your workout is the cost of your bike. But think of all the money you save on gas and parking.

And if you live a long way from work you can drive part of the way, park in a free area and bike the rest of the distance. Or perhaps there’s one nightmare stretch of road that terrifies you to ride on, you can drive past it and then get on the bike.

Bike commuting takes a bit of getting used to in terms of things like packing your work clothes and lunch and showering, but with practice it can be done. I did it regularly in my suit and tie days (and left things like suit jackets, ties and shoes at work), and saved the showering and shaving for once I got to the office.

4. Build an at-home gym
There are a few ways to do this depending on your space and budget. I went whole-hog, taking over half the basement and (temporarily) annoying my wife. All in all, it cost about $2,000, but I’m in my second year of NOT paying $900 annually for a gym membership, so it has almost paid me back.

I’ve found that motivation can be a struggle with the home gym, so I use loud music and tactics like leaping out of my chair and deciding on “just five minutes” to get me going.

If you’re tight for space, and want to spend less, read about the 10 most-effective, inexpensive and space-saving home fitness pieces. There are a few I want to draw your attention to from that article, plus a couple of others.

• The TRX: Lots of amazing workouts to be done, with free videos online. I interviewed one Game of Thrones star who uses it all the time.
• A fitness ball: The particular one I’ve linked to I like because the exercises are printed right on it, which provides built-in motivation to do them all.
• Exercise bands: There’s so much you can do with these and they take up next to no space. These are also great for doing Pilates-inspired resistance training.
• Dumbbells: Much can be done with a set of 5s, 10s, and 20s. They’re stackable and, at just over a dollar a pound, a set of three costs well under $100. Plus, you can keep adding to your collection.
• A simple weightlifting bench: They don’t take up much space and can be had for as little as $50.

Again, if motivation is an issue, friends and family can become your workout partners. My 12-year old daughter sometimes joins me for a workout (which is perfectly safe) and we always have fun.

5. Save on fitness fashion
In some ways, you get what you pay for, but are those fancy workout clothes — that can cost three times as much as what you can get at a department store — three times better? Do they look three times nicer? Are they going to last three times as long? I’d say they’re maybe 25 percent better, not 300 percent better.

Save your money for nice clothes that you can wear out — to show off your new body.

James S. Fell authors the syndicated column “In-Your-Face Fitness” for the Chicago Tribune and interviews celebrities about their fitness regimens for the Los Angeles Times. Get your FREE Weight Loss Report from James.

The post Five smart ways to get fit on a budget appeared first on Chatelaine.

Homemade horseradish recipes
Photo by Roberto Caruso

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups peeled and cubed fresh horseradish root, about 250 g
• 3/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt

Instructions

• WHIRL horseradish with vinegar, sugar and salt in a food processor until finely chopped but not puréed, 30 sec to 1 min. (Tip: Be careful removing the lid; try not to inhale the strong aroma.) Scrape into a 500-mL jar and refrigerate up to 1 month.

Four ways to use it

Modern cocktail sauce: Stir 1/2 cup Beet Horseradish with 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 tsp Worcestershire and 2 tbsp lemon juice until smooth. Serve with chilled peeled jumbo shrimp.

Horseradish mash: Boil 5 chopped medium Yukon Gold potatoes until tender. Drain, then mash in pot over low with 1/2 cup Creamy Horseradish, 1/4 cup each milk and sour cream and 1/4 tsp salt.

Steak house burgers: Mix 450 g lean ground beef with 2 tbsp Homemade horseradish. Form into 4 patties. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt and season with fresh pepper. Cook in a lightly oiled frying pan over medium-high or on the barbecue. Top with grilled red onions and crumbled blue cheese.

Spicy slaw: Combine a 397-g bag coleslaw with 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley and 1/2 cup Creamy Horseradish. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Nutrition (per Tbsp)

calories

11

carbohydrates

3 g

fibre

1 g

sodium

25 mg

The post Homemade horseradish in 10 minutes appeared first on Chatelaine.

Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, travels by carriage along The Mall to the annual Trooping The Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade on June 15, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images)

Kate Middleton, a.k.a The Duchess of Cambridge, is entering what many believe to be the final stages of her first pregnancy. Last week, the expectant Royal made her final official solo appearance before she takes a break to prepare for what has to be England’s most anticipated birth-day in decades.

While there’s been a lot of speculation surrounding the sex of the baby she’s carrying, and potential names have been bandied about in the U.K. press, Kate’s approach to maternity wear, outfitting the nursery and pre-natal care has also been the subject of scrutiny.

I admire her sartorial modesty when it comes to dressing for two. She doesn’t conceal her pregnancy, but she doesn’t take a primitive approach to displaying it either. I don’t think that she and Wills are posing for any of those cringe-inducing black-and-white vanity portraits — you know the ones, he’s shirtless and cupping her belly, and she’s nude but for a pair of strategically placed hands.

It’s rumoured that Middleton is also eschewing the ‘too posh to push’ trend, and rather than go the epidural or C-section route is favouring a natural birth technique known as ‘hypnobirthing’.

The technique, created by Marie Mongan in the 1980s, is more straightforward than its name suggests. Not unlike yoga, hypnobirthing is a blend of philosophy, anatomy and pragmatism. The idea behind the practice is to embrace the naturalness of childbirth and instead of fearing or fighting it, focus on the task at hand.

Women are taught how their body is working with them to deliver their baby rather than against them. And in order to facilitate the process they’re taught relaxation techniques — visualizations, breathing exercises — that are intended to make delivering what amounts to a living breathing Butterball through the vaginal canal a more manageable, positive experience.

Will Kate’s preference for natural childbirth spark a trend in the U.K. and abroad? It’s possible. While I don’t begrudge any woman who thinks hypnosis is something better left to a third-rate Las Vegas entertainer, I do admire Kate for seeking out an approach that best suits her.

In the end, that may be the most valuable lesson women can take away from the Royal pregnancy: to forge one’s own path and to choose the outfits, the names and the birth plan that best reflects their own desires.

Tell us, what technique did you use to deliver?

The post Kate Middleton makes natural childbirth trendy appeared first on Chatelaine.

Produced by Be Inspired PR; Photo by Aaron Young; Florals and design by JL Designs.

Warm breezes. Good friends. Delicious food. Set the mood at your next alfresco dinner party with romantic wall-mounted candle holders. They’re easy to put up (all you need is a nail), and securing them to your fence means you’ll have more room on the table for dishes, flowers and other decorative pieces. Hang them in multiples for maximum impact. Don’t worry about measuring: Just start from the centre and work your way out. It’s a chic way to create loads of affordable ambience in any backyard — no electricity required!

Get the look: Wall-mounted candle holder, $3, CB2.com.

The post How to create a dreamy outdoor ambience appeared first on Chatelaine.

It’s amazing how happy simply relaxing can start to make you as you get older (Photo by Getty Images).

One of the toughest things to nail down about happiness is a precise definition. What does happiness actually mean? Is it a general feeling of contentment, or the sense of satisfaction that comes from a life filled with purpose? Well, I recently read a story that added yet another dimension to our varying ideas about happiness.

Dr. Heidi Grant Halvorson wrote an interesting piece for The Atlantic about how her idea of happiness is getting more boring with each passing year. Halvorson, who is now happy to spend Saturday nights on the couch with a good book, admits that scenario would’ve horrified her younger self. And I’ll admit, I know where Halvorson is coming from. The 22-year-old me would never have anticipated just how much joy I would one day get from a good night’s sleep.

It turns out, however, that this happiness evolution is actually supported by science. I spoke with social psychologist Jennifer Aaker to explain how the results of several recent studies help explain how and why our definition of happiness changes as we get older:

Q: Tell me about your research related to how our sense of happiness changes as we get older.
A: In a recent set of studies, we looked for evidence of how our sense of happiness changes with age by analyzing 12 million personal blogs. Specifically, we were interested in seeing what kinds of emotions the bloggers mentioned when they talked about feeling “happy”.  We found that younger bloggers described experiences of happiness as being times when they felt excited, ecstatic, or elated — the way you feel when you’re anticipating the joys the future will bring — like finding love, getting ahead at work, or moving to a new town.

Older bloggers were more inclined to describe happy experiences as moments of feeling peaceful, relaxed, calm, or relieved — the way you feel when you’re getting along with your spouse, staying healthy and able to make your mortgage payments. This kind of happiness is less about what lies ahead, and more about being content in your current circumstances.

Q: Why is it that people’s definition of happiness changes as they age?
A: The results of six new studies answer this question.

As people age, their temporal focus changes — whether they’re likely to be focused on the here and now or on the future. And it’s this temporal focus that drives the basic effects. We show that individuals’ views of happiness depend far more upon their sense of time than their age per se.

In one of the six studies, we recruited young adult volunteers — individuals who they expected would perceive happiness as an exciting experience. We told half of the volunteers to focus on the present, and to relinquish thoughts of anything but the current moment. That group of volunteers was later far more likely to define happiness as “peaceful” than the volunteers who were not led to focus on the present moment. As a result, we now believe that attitudes toward happiness are highly malleable, and, in fact, easily influenced, simply by shifting the timeframe people consider.

Q: Do you think there’s a better or worse (or more of less beneficial) way for an individual to perceive happiness?
A: I think knowing about balance may be more important than a singular way of perceiving happiness.

How has your definition of happiness changed as you’ve gotten older? Tell us in the comment section below.

The post How our idea of happiness changes as we get older appeared first on Chatelaine.

The cost of keeping a family of five properly fed and watered has upped my grocery budget by at least 30 percent in the last year, even with my penny-pinching ways. Managing the Chatelaine Kitchen budget I’ve also noted a major increase in our grocery bills, and apparently I’m not alone: An Ipsos Reid study conducted from April 2 to 15 for the Royal Bank found that 57 percent of Canadian consumers feel the same way.

Here are my top five ways to keep within my budget:

Online flyers: Flyerland.ca is my weekly go-to savings website. They’ve done the legwork and at a glance I can zero in on which grocery chains have the lowest price on any item (even sorted province by province.) They also have deals for health and beauty, home and garden, clothes and yes, even electronics.

Cheaper cuts: I often walk past the sirloin and T-bone steaks and load up on cheaper cuts of meat like blade, inside round roasts and picnic pork shoulder when they’re on sale. I’ve turned them into everything from delicious beef bourguignon to moist pulled pork in my go-to slow-cooker.

Meatless meals: Was I relieved when the four men in my house didn’t protest the night I served a meatless meal? You bet! Protein-packed grains like quinoa and pulses like lentils have taken the pressure off having meat every single night. My savings on buying larger bags of lentils have gone towards getting specialty cheeses for some of our vegetarian nights.

Door-crasher Specials: I am never shy about carting three dozen eggs, four loaves of bread or four bottles of dishwasher detergent home when my local grocery store features these weekend specials. After all, these deals are there to reel shoppers in, so I take advantage.

Switching portions: The thought of putting on a bathing suit this summer has me serving less meat and heaping on the vegetables and whole grains instead. It’s proving easier on the wallet — and on the waistline.

The post Five tips to cut your grocery bill from our associate food editor appeared first on Chatelaine.

We recently visited three retailers to check out their new beauty bars:

Holt Renfrew Beauty Bar, Yorkville Mall

The New Holt Renfrew Beauty Hall at Yorkville Mall, Toronto

Holt Renfrew in Yorkdale Mall, in Toronto, recently unveiled the first full-service beauty department, offering a range of on-the-spot beauty treatments as well as a private spa service area. The primp and polish bar allows customers to stop in without an appointment for the following services: a blow dry, manicure, wax (facial) and lash and brow services. In addition to this, they have private skincare suites featuring some top skincare lines, such as La Mer, Sisley Paris and La Prairie, where customers are able to experience a facial and other treatments with their preferred line. Holt Renfrew plans to update the beauty department in all retail stores in the near future.

One of our favourite services: Drop off your brushes at the beauty bar for a complimentary cleaning, or have your makeup bag assessed and updated by a Holts consultant.

The Beauty Rx Area at Shoppers Drug Mart, Bayview Mall

Beauty BOUTIQUE at Shoppers Drug Mart in Bayview Village Mall, Toronto

The Beauty Boutique at Shoppers Drug Mart in Bayview Village recently underwent a facelift, emerging with a fresh and impressive new look that spans the entire first floor. Their beauty Rx area is light and vibrant – the perfect spot for a proper skin analysis which can be done by one of five trained consultants. Look for similar upgrades to the Beauty Boutique concept store with the same implementation across the country in the near future.

One of our favourite services: After getting a makeup touch-up, I learned how to create an ombre lip!

Murale in Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver

Shoppers Drug Mart’s sister store, Murale, also offers a full range of services from facials to a professional brow bar. The exclusive Murale stores are currently in the following six locations across Canada. Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver. On a recent visit, we stopped in to pick up on some toiletries but were whisked away to a private back room for a relaxing facial. No appointment required. We love a little impromptu, late-night grooming.

One of our favourite services: Getting married? Have zero makeup skills? Invite your bridal party for a fun and interactive lesson.

The post New beauty trend: The full-service bar appeared first on Chatelaine.

Photo by Roberto Caruso

Look forward to this month: Make the most of the warm weather with our full BBQ feast of steaks,  ribs, fish and sides. Work it all off with our slim-down secrets: seven ways to ensure you look hot in your itty-bitty short shorts, then treat yourself with a new sundress or pair of sandals. Our selects start at just $7. Next, take a breather with one of our 12 favourite beach reads this season, from romances to mysteries.

A book for your thoughts: We dug into our archives to find the most interesting (and cool!) images for the covers of our unique new commemorative notebooks. Each features a vintage picture and is the perfect size to stash in your purse. Available in-store and online mid-June, collect all five and use them for to-do lists and brilliant spur-of-the-moment ideas.

Notebooks, from $9, Indigo.

Feminine Wiles, September 1951

Hollywood Glam, November 1948

Mod Style, March 1965

Get the latest issue In Print | On your iPad | Digital Edition

And click here to read the articles in our July issue.

The post What to expect in our summery July issue appeared first on Chatelaine.

Get more from Jillian Michaels:
Seven body-shredding exercises from Jillian Michaels
Five things we learned from Jillian Michaels today
Nine strategies to look and feel your best from Jillian Michaels

The post Jillian Michaels talks health, fitness and finding balance appeared first on Chatelaine.

Gourmet corn with herb butter recipe

Ingredients

• Corn on the cob
• sea salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
• 2 tbsp finely chopped tarragon
• 1/2 tsp lemon zest

Instructions

Herb butter

• Mix 1/2 cup butter with 2 tbsp each finely chopped parsley and tarragon and 1/2 tsp lemon zest.

Corn

• Pull back husks and remove all the fine silk. Replace the husks around the cobs and soak them for 5 to 10 min.
• Leaving the husks wrapped around the cobs, grill over medium for 6 to 8 min, turning often, until corn is tender. Slather with Herb butter and flaky sea salt.

Variations

Indian zing: Sprinkle cooked corn with cayenne, salt and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Gorgeous Greek: Brush grilled corn with olive oil and sprinkle with crumbled feta and chopped basil.

Chili and cheese: Season cooked cobs with parmesan, fresh lemon juice and chili powder.

The post Gourmet corn with herb butter appeared first on Chatelaine.

DIY homemade ketchup recipe

Ingredients

• 156-mL can tomato paste
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1/3 cup red-wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/8 salt

Instructions

• WHISK all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a medium-low. Simmer, stirring often (it may splatter), about 4 min. Let cool before using. It will keep well, refrigerated, up to 1 month.

Four ways to use it

Ketchup popcorn: Mix 3 tbsp Homemade ketchup with 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp granulated sugar in a small saucepan and set over medium. Whisk until sugar dissolves. Drizzle over 8 cups popped plain popcorn on a baking sheet. Toss until coated. Sprinkle with salt. Bake at 300F, stirring occasionally, until popcorn is dry and crisp, 12 to 15 min.

Currywurst: Barbecue 2 bratwurst sausages, turning often, on a medium grill until cooked through, about 15 min. Slice into 1/2-in. pieces, then drizzle with Curry ketchup.

Glazed chicken legs: Whisk 3 tbsp Ballpark ketchup with 2 tbsp each honey and soy sauce, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tsp herbs de provence and 1/2 tsp re-hot-chili-flakes. Coast 4 chicken legs with mixture in a 9×13-in. baking dish. Cut 1 large red onion into wedges and tuck among chicken legs. Bake at 400F until juices run clear, 35 to 40 min. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Yucca oven fries: Cut away thick, waxy skin from 500 g of yucca root (also known as cassava), then slice into french fry sticks. Toss with 2 tbsp olive oil and 1/4 tsp salt on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400F, flipping halfway through, until tender and golden, 25 min. Serve with Banana ketchup.

Nutrition (per tbsp)

calories

29

protein

1 g

carbohydrates

7 g

fat

4 g

sodium

39 mg

The post Homemade ketchup appeared first on Chatelaine.

The new GE Café French Door Refrigerator does something that no other fridge can do: It dispenses hot water at four different pre-programmed temperatures, perfect for steeping delicate teas, or making a bowl of instant morning oatmeal. Your stovetop kettle is officially obsolete!

Another cool feature of this so-cool-it’s-hot refrigerator, are the temperature-controlled crisper drawers. You choose what you’re storing, be it meats, dairy or produce, and the fridge sets it at the optimal temperature. Forgot what setting it’s on? The drawer lights up with a range of colour cues, from yellow to purple, of the temperature chosen. It’s like a disco in your fridge.

Of course, I may be a little biased since our Chatelaine Kitchen is powered by GE Café appliances, but I’m officially jealous of the swanky new GE Café French Door Refrigerator with Hot Water Dispenser, and I think we need one for the kitchen. (I’m just putting that out there.)

And if it can turn the hot water into wine, so much the better.

Click here for more info.

The post You won’t believe what this fridge can do! appeared first on Chatelaine.

The post The next Chatelaine Edition of Cityline airs on June 25! appeared first on Chatelaine.

Photo by Michael Winnerholt/Getty Images

Three years ago, I did something I had never imagined myself doing: I chose to end my pregnancy at 19 weeks. Four years earlier, when I was expecting my first child, I was offered a 12-week genetic-screening ultrasound, which I refused, telling my midwives that it was completely unnecessary. Even if there was something “wrong,” I wouldn’t have done anything about it anyway.

When asked about a genetic screening this time, I gave the same answer: “If I wouldn’t terminate, why would I bother to find out?” Besides, my situation was different this time. The first time I was on my own — the father wasn’t there for my pregnancy or afterwards. Now I’d been with my boyfriend for two years, and though the pregnancy wasn’t planned, we had completely embraced the idea of having the baby. My boyfriend moved in and became a father to my daughter.

Eighteen weeks into my pregnancy, I started to worry. I had gained more weight than is typical (40 pounds), and my midwife felt that an ultrasound might be a good idea, to ensure that I wasn’t carrying excess amniotic fluid. Onscreen everything seemed fine, and our baby boy looked normal. But a few days later my midwife called; they had identified three “soft markers” indicating Down’s syndrome. We decided to go for an amniocentesis and genetic counselling after a lot of research and introspection. Because of how far into the pregnancy I was, we were told we would have a week to decide what to do after getting the results.

I spoke to my closest friends and family, looking for advice, and was taken aback by the overwhelming opinion that terminating the pregnancy should be my only consideration if our baby had Down’s. I heard everything from, “Why would you choose to go into this knowingly?” to “Think about the impact this would have on your other child” and “How could you manage? It would take over your life, and things would change drastically — forever.”

My partner also felt that terminating the pregnancy was the obvious choice. A defining moment came during a family dinner, when I had all of those I loved the most in the world around me. I was worried about discussing it, as I have a sister with a physical disability. How could I tell her that I was contemplating ending a pregnancy because of a disability? But she looked at me directly and said, “I’ve lived with a disability for most of my life, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Please think hard about what you’re doing to this child if you choose to bring it into the world.”

After much discussion and soul-searching, my partner and I came to the agonizing decision that should the results be positive, we would end the pregnancy. Our counsellors rallied around us and did their best to help us feel justified in our decision. I specifically recall the head of genetics saying, “Many Down’s children will be subjected to dementia by adulthood and not even know who you are.”

The amnio itself was a heart-wrenching experience; there was my baby on a screen as if he was right in front of me — and as the needle entered my amniotic sac, he reached out and grabbed it, and they had to wait to withdraw it as he had a firm hold of it in his little hand. We left with the hope that all of this was a false alarm, and that our child surely would be OK.

That Friday, I went through my workday planning for the worst. I remember being extremely calm and feeling a certain amount of resolve. When the genetic counsellor called at about 3:30 p.m., I put her on hold to conference in my partner, and then heard the words, “I’m so sorry to tell you that the results were positive; there is a 99.9 percent chance that your baby has Down’s.”

Everything started to swim in front of me. With tears streaming down my face, I turned back to my computer to wrap up the last bits of work before I left for the hardest few days of my life. I looked up and my partner was standing there. I don’t know how he got there so quickly — he worked two blocks away. He guided me out of the office, and I could manage only a nod to my colleague who was on standby to take over for me.

We picked up my daughter, and I knew that this would be the toughest part of what was to come. She had become extremely attached to her little brother — who she’d named Tommy — kissing my belly daily. She was so excited to have a sibling on the way. I couldn’t hide my grief for a moment; I sobbed and told her that we had found out that Tommy was sick, that she would be going to her grandma’s for a few days, and we weren’t sure if he would make it and still be in my tummy when she got back. As her face registered what I was saying, she got up and ran to her room, returning with a stuffed animal that she placed on my stomach, and she continued to run back and forth, piling my tummy with animals. I eventually stopped her and pulled her in, and we cried together for what felt like a very, very long time.

The next day was Saturday — and Earth Hour. I encouraged my partner to go to a wedding we were invited to, as I saw it as an opportunity to spend time alone with Tommy. When the house emptied and the quiet took over, I slowly unplugged, turned off and disconnected everything electronic in the house. I lit some candles, lay on the floor, placed my hands on my stomach and spent the next hour saying goodbye to the being that I had fallen deeply in love with, who continued to kick and wriggle.

The Monday of the surgery felt mechanical; I knew what it was that I had to do, and I managed to get through the procedure. We came home to a massive box of gourmet food that my family and close friends had sent, with a card that said, “This comes with more love than you can stand.” My partner was incredibly supportive and caring in the days that followed, while I struggled to come to grips with the emptiness inside.

Although the counsellors were amazing, I wish they had better prepared me for the emotional aftermath. My relationship ended within six months, in hindsight largely because of the emotional roller coaster that stemmed from the hormonal confusion in my body. It was months before I stopped feeling the phantom kicks. When I returned to work, I received puzzled looks from people I crossed paths with regularly (“Weren’t you pregnant a week ago?”) and then sympathetic looks when they realized what must have happened. The story I maintained to my co-workers and acquaintances was that I had “lost” the baby. It was many months before I could admit what had actually happened and, even then, only to a very select few.

A couple of months later, I passed an acquaintance on the street. She was pushing a baby carriage, and as I peered in, I immediately noticed the signs of Down’s. She told me, “She has Down’s, but she’s a wonderful baby.” I wanted more than anything to speak with her about it — to ask her if she had known and made the choice to go ahead with her pregnancy, or if she had decided to forgo the genetic testing and regretted her decision not to. I wanted to share my story with her, and to let her know what it was like being on my side of the decision. But instead I wished them well and continued on my way.

I am sharing my story now in the hope that it will help people weigh their options when it comes to genetic testing. Each year during Earth Hour, my daughter and I spend some time talking about Tommy. We pull out the special box that contains his ultrasound pictures, the outfits I bought him and letters and pictures we add in his honour. I think it’s important for my daughter to express her grief and to talk about our loss rather than burying it. That said, I don’t know when I will be able to tell her the truth: that “losing” Tommy was a choice that I made. I don’t know what my decision would be if I was faced with the same situation now. As I sit here today, almost three years later, I pray for those who may be going through this, and I try to forgive myself. I’m not sure if I ever will.

The post Tommy’s story: A mother’s difficult choice appeared first on Chatelaine.

Photo by Roberto Caruso

Ingredients

• 475 g tub extra-smooth ricotta, about 2 cups
• 540 mL can navy beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 1/4 tsp hot-red-chili flakes
• 796 mL can crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 360 g pkg fresh lasagna sheets
• 5 cups shredded red Swiss chard, leaves only, about 1 small bunch

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 450F. Stir ricotta with beans, lemon zest and chili flakes in a large bowl. Combine tomatoes with water, garlic and salt in a medium bowl.
• Spread 1 cup of tomato mixture on bottom of a 9 × 13-in. baking dish. Lay 2 sheets side by side overtop. They will not cover sauce completely. Spread half of ricotta mixture on sheets. Scatter half of chard overtop. Drizzle one-third of remaining sauce overtop. Repeat layering. Finish with lasagna sheets, then sauce. Cover baking dish with foil.
• Bake in centre of oven for 20 min. Remove foil and continue baking for 5 more min.

Wine Pairings

The Burgundy region is known for its superb chardonnays, but there’s another white grape hidden in those vineyards. This light aligoté with its lemon-zesty acidity works wonders with lasagna. Our pick: Jaffelin Bourgogne Aligoté, France, $18.

Nutrition (per Serving)

calories

431

protein

23 g

carbohydrates

62 g

fat

11 g

fibre

8 g

sodium

824 mg

The post Fresh veggie lasagna for Meatless Monday appeared first on Chatelaine.

The post Our favourite 20-minute dinner recipes appeared first on Chatelaine.

From left, cucumber and lemon water, raspberry and mint water and DIY coconut water (Photo by Tara Miller).

1. Coconut water
The water from the centre of young green coconuts, coconut water is a refreshing alternative to water when things get hot! It’s perfect for replenishing electrolytes after a sweaty workout session or a hot day at the beach and coconut water has more potassium and fewer calories than a regular sports drink (without the added sugar and weird dyes no less).

Naturally sweet, coconut water is also great for a hangover (not that we ever get those…) after one too many cocktails on the patio! It not only hydrates, but also replenishes essential minerals and antioxidants lost due to the diuretic effects of alcohol.

How to consume: Coconut water is readily sold in most health food and convenience stores, but of course you can always crack open a coconut yourself for that fresh, tropical experience. Drink it on its own or (if you’re not a fan of the taste) add it to smoothies.

2. Kombucha
A kombucha “starter” has been toted as a cure-all for anything from arthritis to cancer. This fermented, living tea is made with tea, sugar, yeast and live bacteria.

Although the health claims surrounding this increasingly-popular drink have yet to be officially confirmed, we do know that the abundance of probiotics and living enzymes in the naturally-fizzy drink are great for digestion and our gut bacteria balance.

Since digestive health plays a huge role in immunity, mental health and energy levels adding kombucha (and other fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi for that matter) to your daily routine may not be such a bad idea! And although it’s just gaining popularity in Canada, kombucha has been a popular remedy for health concerns for centuries in China.

Often flavoured with antioxidant-containing fruits and herbs, many now sip it as an alternative to soda or alcohol.

How to consume: There are several recipes available to make your homebrew, however kombucha is so accessible now that you don’t have to go to all the trouble. I’m a fan of Tonica kombucha, which is made in Toronto.

For more information on the benefits of consuming fermented foods.

3. Homemade iced tea
Although not fermented, homemade chilled teas have their own nutritional benefits. The summer is a perfect time to enjoy all the healing qualities of herbal teas in its most refreshing form — naturally flavoured with fresh herbs, lemon and raw honey for a touch sweetness.

A great substitute for their store-bought counterparts full of sugar and artificial ingredients, homemade iced teas offer anything from digestive support in peppermint tea to the calming effects of chamomile, depending on which one you choose to steep.

Enjoy the added vitamin C (amazing for anything from collagen formation to cancer prevention) from fresh lemon and the natural antibacterial properties of raw, unpasteurized honey.

Recipe: Steep peppermint tea in water for 30 minutes (two tea bags per litre of water). Add one tablespoon of honey per litre and chill. Add fresh lemon slices and be sure to drink cold. Or try this rooibos recipe that’s caffeine-free, extrememly high in antioxidants and helps balance blood sugar:

Rooibos iced tea
2 litres of boiling water
4 rooibos tea bags
Orange slices
Fresh mint

Pour boiling water over tea bags in a large pitcher. Let steep for 8-10 minutes. Remove tea bags, add fruit and mint and let chill in fridge. Serve over ice.

4. Fresh juice

Not just for hydration, fresh juice delivers instant energy directly into our cells. Full of living enzymes, chlorophyll, vitamins and minerals, this hit of health is an energizing pick-me up on a hot day. Living enzymes aid in digestion, which is an important factor in healthy glowing skin, increased immunity and energy, while chlorophyll (it gives your greens their colour) is an excellent detoxifier and blood cleanser.

Fresh juice is extremely alkalizing and a great way to balance out summer’s ice cream cone- and beer-filld BBQs.

How to consume: With an abundance of juice companies popping up in the city, fresh juice is easier to buy than ever. However, if you have the time, and are willing, buying a juicer and juicing at home is a more economical option. Try juicing greens such as kale, with cucumbers, parsley, ginger, lemon and green apple for sweetness (get more juice recipes here).

You won’t need that cup of coffee after this natural pick me up.

5. Good ol’ H20 with fruit, citrus and herbs
The classic combination of lemon and water jazzed up with fresh berries, cucumber and herbs — like mint and basil — make getting your daily requirements of water (which increases with the heat) much more enjoyable! While lemon supports a healthy liver by increasing bile production and providing detox support, mint is naturally stimulating and energizing and cucumber helps to relieve stress due to its B vitamin content. Add these or experiment with your favourite produce to increase the nutrition (and beauty) of your next glass of H2O.

My favourite: Raspberries, mint and lime.

Tara Miller is a Toronto-based holistic nutritionist dedicated to helping people discover that small, daily changes can lead to optimal health, happiness and balance. She trained at The Institute of Holistic Nutrition and has a degree in psychology from the University of Guelph, which allows her to address the challenges individuals face when it comes to everyday healthy living. Tara is the owner of the Health Hut Boutique in Muskoka where she offers effective and toxic-free beauty, household and specialty food items. You can follow her blog for holistic recipes and tips at taramillernutrition.com.

The post Five DIY summer drinks to keep you healthy and hydrated appeared first on Chatelaine.

The post Seven body-shredding exercises from Jillian Michaels appeared first on Chatelaine.

Masterfile

Performance reviews are often viewed by employees as a lot of paperwork and a waste of time. In fact, according to a survey done by consulting firm Achievers, 98 percent of staff found annual performance reviews unnecessary. Not anymore! Julie Redfield, talent management expert with PA Consulting Group, gives us her top 10 tips for turning this sometimes-tedious exercise into a beneficial one.

1. Think about the results

Focus on the outcomes achieved or results shown, not just the actions you’ve taken. For example: Your manager’s not going to be jazzed if you’ve made 50 sales calls a day, but didn’t seal any deals.

2. Fill out your self-assessment forms — honestly!  

Ask yourself: Did I contribute? Was I able to leverage my strengths? Was I able to grow and stretch myself? And, is there anything I know I could have done better?

3. Remember, it’s a two-way street.

You should look at your review as an open dialogue. Before your meeting, think about things your manager could do to help you achieve better results. This way, during the review it’s not a one-way conversation about what you have or haven’t done — and rather more about what you need from your manager to help you succeed.

4. Go in with the right attitude.

Walking into the meeting, you should be ready to listen and be open-minded. But if you start to hear things you don’t agree with, or are hearing things for the first time and are shocked by them, voice your concerns in the moment. If the conversation becomes emotionally charged, it’s absolutely appropriate to ask for a little break to gain composure before continuing.

5. Manage your own expectations.

It’s fine to ask for what you believe you deserve, as long as you use facts and evidence to prove why you deserve it; but it’s also important to recognize that managers generally aren’t empowered to make those types of decisions on the spot. These decisions and discussions usually need to be vetted through HR and top-level management, so don’t expect an immediate answer.

6. Don’t play the blame game. 

You shouldn’t blame your boss or anyone else for not delivering great results. If there have been performance blockers that were out of your control, they should have been addressed before the performance review in real time. Waiting until you have the formal meeting is not the appropriate time to first mention an ongoing issue.

7. Quell those nerves.

Be prepared with fact-based evidence of your achievements. There’s nothing wrong with bringing notes into a performance review, so write it down and refer back to your sheet if need be. At the beginning, openly addressing why the situation might be high stress can also help diffuse tension.

8. Look at the past and the future.

The name performance “review” implies it’s a backward looking process. But to get the most out of these meetings, you should talk about the future, too. Consider these discussion points: How can we better leverage my strengths moving forward? What can you do to help me more moving forward? Here are the tools I need to properly do my job moving forward.

9. Get clear on what is needed to succeed.

As the review comes to a close, it’s important to know your upcoming goals.  Ask your manager, “What would it look like to you if I were to exceed your expectations on our next review?”

10. Call on your inner confidence.

There is no substitute for doing great work and putting in a lot of effort. If you’ve been achieving results, then recognize that and go into the meeting with confidence! Most managers are as uncomfortable as you are walking into these meetings, so displaying your confidence will help put both of you at ease and hopefully you’ll be able to have a natural, fluid discussion.

The post 10 tips to get more from your performance review appeared first on Chatelaine.

Does a back tattoo make men look at you differently (Photo by iStock)?

There was a time when tattoos were the exclusive preserve of merchant marines, criminals and prisoners of war. Of course, that was then and this is now, a time when your mother is just as likely as Slash to have Tweety Bird indelibly stamped on her bicep.

Despite their ubiquity, and a certain level of cultural acceptance, tattoos still retain a slightly naughty reputation, which, in some circles can signal outlier status. If you have plans, for example, to become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, it’s probably not a good idea to have a coiled anaconda decorating your face.

For women, tattoos appear to signal something particularly strange to a certain class of man (and when I say ‘certain class,’ what I really mean is the kind of man who thinks shouting the phrase ‘show me your boobs’ is a genuine romantic overture).

According to an article in The Globe and Mail, French researchers recently decided to test the reactions of men, to women sporting body art, specifically their responses to women with tattoos on their lower backs.

Forget the sterile clinic and shapeless lab wear, the French researchers put their unusually attractive female subjects in bikinis and followed them to the beach, where the women lay on their stomachs, reading. They subsequently left, then returned to the beach, this time wearing temporary ink on their lower backs, which seemingly caused the men in their vicinity to approach them faster and more readily than before.

When questioned, the men admitted that the sight of a lower-back tattoo was a heartening one — apparently, they assumed that a tattooed woman is more likely to have sex with them than a woman with virgin skin. Makes you wonder what they would conclude if they spotted Kat Von D heading for the library in a sundress.

Trying to decide how best to apply this information is another matter entirely. (Suddenly I understand the appeal of a sarong.) I guess the takeaway here is that if you are wearing a bikini and sporting a lower-back tattoo and you are approached by a strange man on the beach asking you out on a date, he’s probably not interested in what you’re reading, unless it happens to be Fifty Shades of Grey.

Tell us, do you think women with tattoos are treated differently because of it?  

The post What does a lower-back tattoo really suggest to men? appeared first on Chatelaine.

Photo from the Chatelaine Archives

In the very first issue of Chatelaine, March 1928, there’s a photograph of a frock made of jersey that’s described (in a caption) as being “increasingly one of the most favoured of the sports and informal fabrics” and coming from “among Billie Burke dresses.”

Maybe it’s just because I’m a fashion writer with a talent to be amused by trivial matters, but I get my kicks from such a cutline. Somehow, it makes real the legend of jersey and how that kind of knit material was considered lowly until Coco Chanel got her hands on it and turned it into the stuff of modern womanhood.

Then there’s the fun of thinking that Victoria Beckham is the new Billie Burke. The warbly-voiced actress who won immortality as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, was an early example of celebrity as commodity. Her name attached not only to dresses but also to hair extensions. “Billie Burke curls,” which could be clipped to the back of your head, were sold in every department store in America.

Burke wrote all about them in her autobiography, With a Feather on My Nose. It tickles me to have a library copy of the book at my feet as, hunched over the keyboard, I try to convey the joy I get from fashion.

Don’t get me wrong. There are some other times you’ll find me ranting and raving about the snobbery, shameless promotion, unembarrassed consumerism and ill-informed commentary that can make you turn against the very idea of style itself. But when Chatelaine’s current fashion and beauty director, Catherine Franklin—who, like me, had the privilege of travelling to New York and Paris to cover the shows when only a handful of other Canadians were invited — asked me to celebrate the magazine’s 85th anniversary, I could hardly bring such sour thoughts to the party. And I have memories that are candy.

Some are memories of cloth. The weight of a Galliano gown removed from its hanger and collapsed in your arms, a body of satin. The impossibility of figuring out — even when you held them in your hands — pieces by Rei Kawakubo of such strange beauty that they laugh at words and say what they have to say on the body. And I can tell you that, even on this body, they are like nothing else, proving the inexhaustible pleasure that clothes can bring.

It seems like old-school lingo to speak of clothes as “creations,” but you know they are to the designers who create them . I’ve met some swell ones, many of them on these shores. Alfred Sung has never failed to impress me with his discretion, consistency and appreciation for the fine art of laundry. Lida Baday is a hostess with the mostest . I’ve never visited her showroom without being grateful for her fine art of hospitality. Marie Saint Pierre from Montreal as well as Joyce Gunhouse and Judy Cornish, the Toronto-based designers behind the Comrags label, must count — out of the whole wide world of fashion — as among the most honest and unpretentious talkers.

In the course of covering the fashion beat, which can feel like a narrow path between the mirror and the cash register, a rock and a hard place, I’ve met engaging personalities and borne witness to amazing productions. I remember my first Armani show. It still hangs in my mind, a storybook picture of perfection: flaming candles leading to an old Milanese building — let’s call it a castle — wherein unfolded a graceful procession of rags, unimaginably delicate and fine.

Ripping the doors of perception from their hinges, the theatrics of Alexander McQueen were of a sublime order all their own. He threw politics, religion and sex into a witches’ brew that gave off steaming visions. His themes were Hitchcockian, Gothic, inspired by pulp fiction and sometimes drawn from his own private hell.

We all know that kind of inferno. But, as a man who has often reported on women’s fashion, I’ve had glimpses of paradise, encounters with some extraordinary women.

I’ll always treasure the way the iconic magazine editor Diana Vreeland validated my nosiness. When I interviewed the late, great editrix, she was working at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. When conversation turned to the subject of shoes, she immediately ducked beneath her desk and resurfaced with her shoes, which she proceeded to plunk in front of me. After that, I have never been embarrassed about asking, “What are you wearing?”

Perhaps I should be. I learned that from another sort of fashion journalist. When I interviewed Kennedy Fraser, she was writing about fashion for the New Yorker. She forbade personal questions of any kind.

And I have chinwagged with great cheekbones. Try going face to face with Linda Evangelista and not being mesmerized by the glorious sweep of her countenance. In going through old issues of Chatelaine, I encountered other remarkable women. Some — Billie Burke — I never met. One I knew. She was Vivian Wilcox, a fashion journalist who spent many years editing the fashion section of this magazine.

I would see Wilcox at fashion functions. Hers was an understated elegance, marked not so much by what she wore but by her manner, always polite and gracious, impatient with gossipy remarks. She also knew how to mix a cocktail. I interviewed her once at her home. There, she offered a choice of drinks, displaying an authority and sophistication that was an unexpected benefit of the pleasure of her company.

Wilcox and I also lived in the same Toronto neighbourhood. In recent years, I’d run into her, and she would talk excitedly about being a volunteer at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

When I encountered her name in the Chatelaine archives, I realized I hadn’t seen her for a while. Working with me on this piece, Franklin — no slouch in the understated elegance department — found the obituary online: Vivian Wilcox, 1918– 2011. But hey, let’s get this party started. Here, Vivian, a sidecar? Old-fashioned? Whisky sour? Whatever cocktail you made for me — this one’s to you!

The post David Livingstone: My lifelong affair with fashion appeared first on Chatelaine.

Dan Brown in back with his latest novel, Inferno. Once again, his hero, symbologist Robert Langdon, is at the centre of a thrilling mystery — this time surrounding Dante’s Inferno. A review copy of the book wasn’t available at press time, but whether you like Brown’s writing or not, you know this is going to be a page-turner.

Inferno, Dan Brown, $30. Available at Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca.

The post Inferno by Dan Brown appeared first on Chatelaine.

The post 10 of the best white tank tops appeared first on Chatelaine.

Getty Images

Sarah Nixon has been an urban gardener for over a decade, and has gained green thumb cred through her blog, My Luscious Backyard. She gives her top tips on balcony gardening and the tools she uses to getting her outdoor oasis looking its best.

1. Before you buy anything take the time to learn how many hours of sun per day your balcony receives. Pay attention to indirect light as well — that is, no trees or walls blocking large portions of the sky. Even a north facing balcony can be a happy home for many plants if there is enough indirect light.

For full sun, plant: Grasses, succulents like echeveria, hens or chicks, morning glory vines, strawberries, lettuce, lavender, oregano, sage, mint, basil

For lots of shade, plant: Coleus, English ivy, most types of ferns, fuschia, peace lilies, begonias

2. When shopping for plants, group them together by their light and moisture requirements.

3. Make sure the containers you plan to use are compatible with the growth habits of your plants. Make sure they have adequate drainage as well.

4. If you are in a windy area your plants will need more watering, most likely once per day in the summer. Terra cotta pots also require more frequent watering than plastic or fibreglass.

5. Water slowly and thoroughly until excess water drains out the bottom.

6. Use potting soil that is designed for containers.

7. Mulch with moss, peagravel or shredded cedar to avoid drying.

8. Use a top dressing of compost.

9. If you plan to leave your pots out through the winter, make sure they are frost-proof to avoid cracking.

10. Don’t forget about scent when you are choosing your plants. It’s the final ingredient that makes your balcony garden an oasis!

Sarah’s top tools

1. Look for a classic watering can with a wide nozzle that gives you a soft, even sprinkle. Try: Integrated Plastics watering can, $10 (5.8L), Canadian Tire.

2. Ergonomic, Swiss-made pruners haven’t changed in over 30 years and they are still a gardener classic. Try: Felco classic hand pruners, $53, Lee Valley.

3. Look for a one-piece trowel — they last longer because the handle doesn’t snap off. Try: Trowel, $7, Rona.

4. These are a cult favourite in the world of gardening — lightweight, flexible, stronger than rubber, and they are machine washable. Try: Atlas Garden gloves, $44 for pack of 6 (assorted colours), Sears.

5. Plant tea is great for apartment dwellers or anyone who can’t make compost, meaning its good for indoors and containers. Use it instead of water for your plants. Try: Urban Harvest Worm Castings Plant Tea, $14 (for 10 large bags), Uharvest.ca.

More gardening ideas:

Five ways to make a beautiful container garden

How to grow potatoes in a garbage bin 

The easiest seeds to grow in your garden

The post Top 10 balcony gardening tips appeared first on Chatelaine.

The post Five classic cocktails perfect for Dad appeared first on Chatelaine.

Warrior pose takes on a whole new level of effort when done on a paddleboard (Photo by iStock).

Picture yourself in a meditative state, warm breeze across your face, your fingertips trailing gently in the water, as you float like a sun-kissed Buddha. If this sounds too good to be true, believe it. This scene is becoming a more popular one given the growing popularity of the stand-up paddleboard (SUP) yoga classes making a splash all over the country.

In fact, Wsup Toronto co-founder, Gudran Hardes, likes to tell the story of a student who was so deep in meditation during a class, that when she opened her eyes to see a large group of fish swim by she was so startled, “she screamed and frantically started paddling for shore, leaving behind the remaining students rolling off their boards in a fit of laughter.”

The fact that you can even reach this level of tranquility while working out in the middle of Lake Ontario helps explain, in part, the rising popularity of this new fitness trend.

SUP yoga is just like traditional yoga but it’s done using a board in the water instead of a mat in the studio. The paddle is used to help you move around easily (it can also be used during class as a prop for stretching and lengthening your spine). It’s a total body workout that typically includes an on-land warm up portion followed by a brisk paddle to a calm spot on the water. Once there, regular poses are practised (think sun salutations, standing postures, back bends like cobra and bridge — for the more advanced) followed by a relaxing paddle back to land. Like other aqua-therapy sports, SUP yoga offers a thorough, low-impact workout that aims to improve your core and other stabilizing muscles (your glutes, quads and ankles will thank you).

Nadia Bonenfant, founder of Juna Yoga isn’t surprised by the amount of people smitten with SUP yoga. “Our bodies are made up of 80 percent water so there’s this amazing cellular recognition in movements done on a floating ‘mat’,” she explains. The attraction deepens, “as the lapping water under our boards starts to relax us and the breeze allows us to deepen our breathing.”

SUP yoga can be enjoyed by all. Hardes is confident that anyone can do it (provided you know how to swim). “Beginners are sometimes nervous but once they realize it’s not that difficult, they learn to relax and have fun” she explains. They’ve had students of all ages and fitness levels join the class.

Bonefant’s advice? Gaze at the horizon, relax, breathe deeply and trust your board.

And don’t fret if you do fall in.

Montrealer Carrie MacPherson recently tried her first class and explains that falling in is surprisingly refreshing, “You say to yourself, well that part I was afraid of happening just did and it wasn’t scary or embarrassing after all. Then you just get right back up and finish the session.”

Here are a few things to consider before stepping out onto the water:

• For safety and comfort, basic swimming skills are required.
• Drink up. As tranquil as this class may seem, it is challenging and your body needs to stay hydrated.
• Protect yourself. Be sure to wear a waterproof sunscreen.
• Dress for comfort. Quick-dry items like bathing suits or wetsuits are fine but for added sun protection, consider pieces with built-in sun protection.

Costs
Fees fluctuate, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $20-$30 per class, and many offer reduced rates for season passes. If you’re feeling ambitious and want to dive right into your downward dog, consider an intensive retreat.

Cross-Canada locations
While we may not have the balmy climate of Hawaii (the birthplace of SUP yoga) Canadians have no shortage of experienced instructors offering classes on our waterways. Follow these links for classes in Vancouver, Toronto, Halifax, Montreal, Mont Tremblant, Calgary and Ottawa.

The post Take your yoga off the mat with this fun new fitness trend appeared first on Chatelaine.

I finally got around to planting a proper herb garden last week. Well, in my tiny downtown yard it’s actually a series of mismatched pots strewn over the table. Still, I’m so happy to be growing fresh food.

As a fairly frugal shopper I’m always reluctant to buy a big bunch of herbs, which then have a 50 percent chance of going wilty and black in my refrigerator crisper. But I adore the punch and lift that herbs bring to any dish, so having ten different pots of herbs that I can pick a sprig or two from is the perfect solution.

For three straight nights this week I’ve wandered outside and collected a little of this and a little of that and turned it into a very basic salsa verde. I just mash a teeny tiny bit of fresh garlic in a mortar and pestle, then roughly mash in chopped herbs,  salt, a squeeze of lemon or vinegar and a few glugs of olive oil. Amazing!

We’ve had it on leftover salmon, boiled potatoes, in a green salad and – my favourite – on sliced, grilled striploin steak. It’s ridiculous how much flavour this simple sauce adds to…just about anything!

I’ve been using sprigs of basil, tarragon, mint, parsley, cilantro, thyme and chives, but almost any combination will work.

P.S. Adding anchovies and capers only makes it better.

How are you using fresh herbs this summer? Let us know in the comment section below. 

The post The best thing Claire cooked this week: Salsa verde appeared first on Chatelaine.

Sticky beer-braised beef ribs recipe
Photo by John Cullen

Want to make really make Dad’s day special? Start with our sticky beer-braised ribs. Add in a pasta salad and a potato salad followed by a sweet peach crisp for dessert. We’ve even come up with a fresh take on his favourite way to wash it all down.

Austrian supermodel cocktail
A sweet and refreshing way to drink a glass of beer.

Grilled salsa

A handful of unexpected ingredients on a hot grill can lead to surprisingly tasty grilled salsa.

Charred cherry tomato bruschetta
When the drinks are poured and the salsa is set out, grill slices of Italian bread for colourful bruschetta appetizers.

Roberto Caruso

Sticky beer-braised beef ribs
Saucy, glazed ribs are just the thing to show Dad a little extra appreciation today (We have a no-barbecue fix, so no one is left out!).

Summer corn pasta salad
Orecchiette pasta, corn and edamame, tossed in a lime, green onion, jalapeno and basil vinaigrette.

Summer corn pasta salad recipe
Photo by Roberto Caruso

Potato salad with parsley vinaigrette
This delicious dish features a diverse combination of vegetables, herbs and a little punch of mustard.

Potato salad with parsley vinaigrette recipe
Photo by Angus Fergusson

Peach crisp
Juicy peaches covered in a crumbly sugar and oat topping with a dollop of whipped or iced cream.

Peach crisp recipe
Photo by John Cullen

The post Best-ever BBQ ribs menu for Father’s Day appeared first on Chatelaine.

Amanda Russell (Photo courtesy of Twitter).

Sometimes I feel like people aren’t happy unless they have some group to deride.

Genetically, most of us are programmed to store fat. And yet the overweight and obese seem to be one of few remaining groups it’s socially acceptable to discriminate against.

“There is no question that the stigma and bias and discrimination surrounding obesity is the fairest game,” says Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, an obesity researcher in Ottawa. “In popular culture the vilification of obesity is constant,” he continues. At least there’s an awareness of fat shaming now meaning that perhaps the end is in sight.

But what about the opposite end of this issue? What about thin shaming?

My friend Amanda Russell knows all about it. The YouTube fitness star has been on the receiving end of some scathing commentary about her lean physique.

“I’ve heard the whole gamut,” says the 27-year-old, “I put myself on YouTube, which is the platform for people to go nuts on you.”

But it’s not just YouTube. Amanda’s heard comments, criticisms and “concerns” about her weight her whole life. “Sometimes a random person will come up to me in a public place and tell me I need to eat a sandwich or a cheeseburger. They tell me I don’t look good, or that I don’t need to lose any more weight,” she explains.

Amanda got to the point where she decided to go public with the thin shaming she’s experienced in this video that’s been viewed (at time of publication) by more than 38,000 people.

“Having someone in public say ‘Honey, do you eat?’ How do you respond to that?” she asks. “They pretend to be concerned, but if you really are concerned you wouldn’t approach people like that.”

And there’s no reason anyone should be concerned about Amanda. She’s not starving herself. She’s not trying to be thin. Like many, it’s a matter of genetics that explains her slim figure.

“I’ve been thin my whole life,” she says. And after failing to get on the school basketball team she went out for the running team, and in her first race broke the course record. “That bit of achievement was enough to give me the confidence to get into it. I think my body type did program me to run fast. I’m small-boned and light. Everyone is cut out for something. I was self-conscious about how small I was. I started to look at my body about what it could do and I gained a lot from that. I realized I wasn’t cut out for basketball, but I was for running. So I owned that and began to thrive on it.”

Her running led to a scholarship, taking her from a small town in northern Ontario to Richmond, Virginia to do a business degree. She was so fast in fact that Amanda qualified for the Olympic trials to go to Beijing in 2008, but tragedy struck in the form of a broken femur derailing her ambitions.

She now uses the fitness skills she learned competing to teach others via YouTube.

And that leads to comments like being called a “skinny bitch,” even though she never thinks about exercise as a reason to burn calories. “Exercise is like brushing my teeth. I live for it. It gives me energy and makes me happy. It’s social. I do it with friends. It’s the highlight of my day.”

Amanda is stoic in the face of criticism, but sometimes she decides to hide just how thin she is: “I noticed a trend that if I wore a long-sleeved top I would get positive comments on YouTube, and if I wore a sports bra or tank top, there were lots of negative comments.”

Amanda isn’t the only one experiencing such a backlash. I’ve heard it from others on social media, as well as from Margaret Yúfera-Leitch, a researcher and professor of eating behaviour.

It may seem politically correct to say, “Real women have curves,” but realize that this implies that if a woman doesn’t have curves, then she’s not a real woman. The reality is this is about the need to treat everyone with respect, because real women come in all shapes and sizes.

James S. Fell, MBA, is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. His syndicated column “In-Your-Face Fitness” for the Chicago Tribune runs in dozens of major newspapers across the U.S. and he also interviews celebrities about their fitness regimens for the Los Angeles Times. Visit his site for a weight loss report. 

The post Amanda Russell shares her experience with thin-shaming appeared first on Chatelaine.

Much like her bestselling Shopaholic series, this latest rom-com novel by author Sophie Kinsella doesn’t disappoint. At 33-years-old, Lottie doesn’t want to waste any time in a relationship with a boyfriend who doesn’t have immediate plans to marry. Still fresh from her breakup, she reconnects with Ben, her ex-boyfriend who she hasn’t seen in 15 years — and he instantly proposes! Can Lottie’s older sister Fliss stop their wedding before she makes a terrible mistake? And with personal problems of her own, can Fliss manage to juggle being protective sister, mother, businesswoman, and ex-wife, too?

If you’re a Kinsella fan, or in the mood for a delightfully fun and romantic read, The Wedding Night will make the perfect beach book this summer.

Wedding Night, Sophie Kinsella, $29. Available at Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca.

The post Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella appeared first on Chatelaine.

The post Five reasons Clif Bar has the coolest offices I’ve ever visited appeared first on Chatelaine.