Do you ever search for the perfect black pant and never find a pair that fits? Or in the style that best suits your body?
Now, Gap has a Premium Pant collection for women (and men) which gives you many options, just like jeans. Skinny fit, slim cropped, trouser, boot cut – but in a black plant!
The new line fuses elevated fabrics and elegant silhouettes to create a collection that combines chic style with functionality and accessibility and to fit your lifestyle.
The best part? Price tags are as modern as the fits: the range starts at $59.50 and tops out at just $69.50.
Women’s Fit:
Really Skinny: Sits below the waist. Skinny at leg and slim at the ankle. Echoing the Always Skinny denim silhouette, it’s the sexiest of fits.
Boyfit: Inspired by a vintage menswear style, tailored for her. Modern hip-slung fit with slightly dropped crotch. Cool and easy.
Gap Black Magic Pants
Slim Cropped: Works with heels or flats. Fitted through hips, slim through the leg and thigh. Creates a streamlined look.
Perfect Trouser: Mid rise waist, skims the back side. Slight flare, tailored details. Black and grey suiting versions serve as everyday essentials, while navy and brown pinstripe put a smart spin on the timeless classic.
Modern Boot, Curvy, True Straight parallel the Premium Denim fits, making finding one’s own personal style easier than ever before.
We are giving away a free pair to a lucky winner!
Several ways to enter:
Enter by submitting your information in the form below.
Leave a comment below with your favorite fit.
Follow @amotherworld and Tweet: “I’m entering @amotherworld’s contest to win a pair of #GapBlackMagic pants.
Enter all three ways to increase your chances of winning! A winner will be chosen randomly. Contest in Canada only. Contest ends October 15th. Good luck!
WINNER! CONGRATULATIONS to TINA APOSTOLOU of MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO!
ScotiaBank Nuit Blanche had its 5th successful year on Saturday, October 2, 2010 in Toronto, and as a loyal attendee I packed my backpack with extra layers of warm clothes and donned my camera with utter elation as to what the night would hold.
Two main things always bring me running back to this all night art event: the sense of absolute community and the possibility of a chance encounter. Either it be a seemingly impossible encounter with a friend, a chance of connecting with a stranger or the amazement of stumbling upon a random piece of art that is usually hidden down an alleyway or behind a building, each experience lightens my steps and makes the 7pm-7am seem to go by too quickly.
I should be honest here and say that this year’s Nuit Blanche was not my most memorable of the past five years, but that being said, I definitely appreciate the new artists and change that happens every year. An art event like this should never be the same from year to year, it should test boundaries and go beyond and expand just like art should. While I wasn’t as floored or inspired as previous years I did thoroughly enjoy several installations. Here is a taste of what inspired me this year…
Ruby Venus by Company Blonde Dance Projects
Ruby Venus by Company Blonde Dance Projects (Trinity Bellwoods Park) – Imagine this for me: Twenty women all dressed alike in red dresses with holla-hop bottoms and the exact same blonde wigs and make-up all pretending to be aliens in a foreign place. Sounds pretty hilarious and weird, right? It was. It was art taken not so seriously. What seemed like miscellaneous movement, interaction and dancing to some really great violin-type music was hilarious and impossible to look away from. I couldn’t take my eyes off of this installation. I went from one woman to another and was more and more entertained and amused. Really fun installation, I loved it.
Later That Night At The Drive-In by Daniel Lanois
Later That Night At The Drive-In by Daniel Lanois (City hall/Nathan Philips Square) – This was by far my favourite installation this year. The square was surrounded by different sized and oriented projection screens that brought your focus to a stage where you could watch live performances or pre-recorded and live mixed tracks with their own visual counterparts that accompanied the music via the many screens. Some of the videos were stunning. I found myself coming back to this installation several times. My last experience was around the same time Daniel Lanois began playing the new Neil Young album in its entirety along with (I’m assuming) newly filmed music videos of the legend himself playing his album. It was fantastic. I’m not sure how long I sat there for but I do remember not being able to feel the lower half of my body before I finally moved on to the next installation.
Aurora by Philip Beesley
Aurora by Philip Beesley (Royal Conservatory of Music) – The silence and sense of shared appreciation and curiousity for a piece of art can never be compared to or replaced by anything. Especially in a building surrounded my hundreds of strangers at 2 a.m. Philip Beesley achieved nothing short of awe and wonder at his installation that night. Lights and feather like objects hung from the ceiling along side bulbs that, when people passed by them, triggered the feathers and lights and brought them to life. Doesn’t sound that amazing, right? Yet, I stood there for 10 minutes in a daze from the beauty that I was seeing before realizing how much time had passed. It felt like a dream, especially with the music that was playing in the background.
While those installations were among my favourite, the best part about the whole night was stumbling upon random drum circles, fiddle players and other live music in the streets or in parks across the city. I’m not even sure if any of the ones I saw were an official part of Nuit Blanche but that didn’t make them any less of an experience. Hundreds of people gathered around these musicians and danced with strangers. Things like that are amazing no matter what day of the week it is.
I headed home just before sunrise with a very over used and wrinkled program, filled with poutine and hot chocolate and with fresh blisters on my feet. As I climbed into bed I found myself feeling like I had just experienced a once in a life time event. That’s exactly what each year of Nuit Blanche is to me: one night to gobble down one time art in all its forms. I hope that you too had a chance to have your own encounters this year, but if not ,maybe this article has convinced you to head out and explore the city at its fullest during next years Nuit Blanche.
ScotiaBank Nuit Blanche 2010
Don’t forget! Go here to vote for your favourite artist/installation. They could walk away with $5,000 and you could win some cool prizes too.
Also, please check out Scotiabank’s Donate for Hope, this year donations can be made to The Creative Works Studio who is dedicated to fostering healing and recovery through the creative arts. Visit this website to read more or to make a donation.
Photography: Shannon Lintott
Photo by Scarletta Photography
Shannon Lintott works in production at a professional theatre company in Toronto. A recent graduate of the Ryerson Performance Production BFA program, she spends her free time exploring the internet, taking photographs, reading or writing on one of her numerous and addictive websites. The majority of her time is spent watching movies and reviewing them on her movie review blog I Like (good) Movies. Follow Shannon on Twitter.
Apple crumble pie is the best of both worlds: all the deliciousness of a traditional pie, without the hassle of perfecting a top crust! But this recipe is for my fellow gluten-free friends – the gluten-free apple crumble pie you’ll ever have.
I’d always had a bit of trouble making pie crust from scratch. No matter how finicky I would get with the ingredients – especially the butter – the dough would turn out either too thick, too dry, or just not the right texture. And when it would come time to roll it out, I’d struggle to get it thin enough without it tearing or falling apart. Until after many attempts, I found the right way through trial and error (see below).
Suffice it to say, I cannot sacrifice my love of apple pie because of the crust! I’m too fond of the warm, spiced filling and that irresistible balance of tartness and sweetness. So instead of battling with traditional pie crust, I found my own solution: apple crumble pie. It’s the perfect compromise between the two desserts I love.
The bottom is similar to a pie, but the top is all about that buttery, crumbly goodness of a crumble. It satisfies my apple pie cravings without the stress of making a finicky crust. Plus, the crumble topping adds a nice texture and flavor that complements the apples beautifully.
So when I’m pressed for time and can’t make a proper homemade gluten-free crust, I’ll opt for an open-faced pie – like this delicious apple crumble pie. It’s not quite a pie, not quite a crumble – it’s the best of both! You must use Cortland or Northern Spy apples – they retain their firmness when baked!
Here is my recipe for the best gluten-free apple crumble pie you’ll ever have!
1/2 cup mixture of brown rice flour, sorghum flour and tapioca flour
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/3 cup packed brown or coconut sugar
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 tsp salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon each All Spice and/or cloves (if desired)
1/3 cup chilled, unsalted butter, diced
Directions:
Mix sliced apples with sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon and diced butter.
Add to pie crust.
For the topping, mix together all ingredient except butter.
Then add butter and with hands, lightly work in by pinching until the ingredients clump together.
Spread over apples, and press down using your hands so that the topping seals together and to the sides of the crust.
Bake in a 350F pre-heated oven until topping is nice and crisp, about 45 minutes.
Top with vanilla ice cream if you wish and enjoy!
Yield: 1 pie
The Best Gluten-Free Apple Crumble Pie
Apple crumble pie is the best of both worlds: all the deliciousness of a traditional pie, without the hassle of perfecting a top crust!
Instead of battling with making a traditional pie crust when short on time, make an apple crumble pie! It's the perfect compromise between apple pie and apple crumble.
The bottom is similar to a pie, but the top is all about that buttery, crumbly goodness of a crumble. It satisfies your apple pie cravings without the stress of making a finicky crust from scratch. Plus, the crumble topping adds a nice texture and flavor that complements the apples beautifully.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour5 minutes
Ingredients
1 unbaked pie crust (I use gluten-free crust, or make one myself using my Gluten-Free Pie Crust recipe
Filling
5 cups peeled and sliced Cortland or Northern Spy apples
3 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 tablespoon tapioca flour (you can use regular flour if you're not gluten-free)
1/2 cup mixture of brown rice flour, sorghum flour and tapioca flour
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/3 cup packed brown or coconut sugar
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 tsp salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon each All Spice and/or cloves (if desired)
1/3 cup chilled, unsalted butter, diced
Instructions
Mix sliced apples with sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon and diced butter. Add to pie crust. For the topping, mix together all ingredient except butter. Then add butter and with hands, lightly work in by pinching until the ingredients clump together. Spread over apples, and press down using your hands so that the topping seals together and to the sides of the crust. Bake in a 350F pre-heated oven until topping is nice and crisp, about 45 minutes. Top with vanilla ice cream if you wish and enjoy!
Oh yes, we want to know… who will be preggers next?
Mariah Carey and Penelope Cruz were on my list this summer and my suspicions were correct! Who else is on our Preggers Picks list?
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson
Rumors were floating this summer that Jessica Simpson was preggers.
“Finally A Baby For Jess” screams both the cover of OK!’s July 19th magazine’s headline.
Jessica is flaunting a few extra curves but she still looks fabulous! Hollywood desperately needs to have more “normal”, healthy sized women. A radiant Jess proudly showed off her fuller-figured look recently and already, people are assuming she’s pregnant?
OK! cites a doctor, who hasn’t even treated Simpson, as saying that her tummy and facial features are typical of a woman “in her 10th to 12th week of pregnancy.”
Uh, couldn’t it be that she’s gained a bit of weight? I know the first place I put some extra weight on is my tummy (let’s not get started with the dreaded ‘double chin’). I would hate to think that if someone has a normal stomach, ie. with a slight curve, they are automatically assumed to be expecting a child.
Jessica is now dating former NFL star Eric Johnson. They just started dating! I highly doubt she’d already be looking to get pregnant already.
Gossip Cop.com called arep for Simpson who says the story is “absurd and not true at all.”
Megan Fox
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green tied the knot in an intimate, sunset ceremony this past June in Hawaii. The secret wedding in Hawaii had only one witness, Brian’s 8-year-old son Kassius.
In InTouch weekly’s July 19th issue, this pic of Brian holding Megan’s belly graces the pages:
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green
Is it just me or is there is no belly bump in sight…? Did Brian and Megan purposely pose for that photo with the cruel intention to start some wild rumors?
Brian already is a dad and Megan is now a step-mom. Could a little boy or girl be a wonderful addition to the sexy couple?
Kourtney Kardashian
Khloe Kardashian celebrated her first wedding anniversary with Lamar Odom with the couple renewing their vows ceremony.
Everybody is wondering when the couple will announce they are expecting their first baby together.
“I want kids. But I’m scared!” The 26-year-old reality tv star has fears about the pain of labour. She talks about her sister, Kourtney, who “made it look easy but I don’t believe it.”
“I’m scared of the epidural needle in my back!”
Then she’s worried about the weight. I’m scared of gaining weight and not being able to lose it after”, the Kardashian sister confessed.
She’s also nervous about having a troubled kid. “Mason is so good, he never cries! I don’t think that could happen twice in the family!” she said.
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom
Photos courtesy of GossipCop.com, People.com and InTouch Magazine.
The Life with a Baby peer support system is a project of Healthy Start, Healthy Future, a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to provide ongoing practical and emotional PEER-based support for new and expecting parents, and parents of children up to the age of six. We offer informational seminars and programs, open forums, and fun social events.
Raising a baby is a wonderful experience, but it is can also be a challenge… When you become a member, you will be welcomed into a supportive, non-judgmental family whose members come from various cultural backgrounds. Our unique approach will help you overcome some of the challenges you face as a new mom so that you can enjoy your new baby and maintain a happy, healthy family dynamic.
Take a guess… of the tons of men who are available and ready to settle down, who do he producers of The Bachelor choose?
Brad Womack, who had his shot but failed to pop the question to either Jenni Croft or DeAnna Pappas back in 2007.
After admitting that he had commitment issues and undergoing “intensive therapy”, the 11th Bachelor is getting a second chance at love on ABC’s upcoming 15th season.
According to ABC, which confirmed the news Monday, Brad has been on a “quite painful journey of self-awareness” since turning down both women. The 37-year-old Texas resident is “a better person” who is “more ready than ever to start a wife and family.”
“At first I was skeptical,” Bachelor host Chris Harrison says of the Austin bar owner. “But the more I thought about it, the more I fell in love with the idea of him coming back, getting another shot.”
There’s going to be more pressure on Brad to find a woman because if he doesn’t choose someone this time, it’ll be on his head! Secondly, do we really care to see Brad find love the second time around?
Is it even fair? He had his shot, why not have a completely new Bachelor?
Brad recently appeared on Ellen and said: “I believe it can work. I don’t care if people call me an idiot or don’t believe those words coming out of my mouth. I truly believe that it can work. So here are 25 to 30 women that I never, ever would meet in regular life, and I’m clearly doing something wrong. I’m still single. So why not? I really do believe that this can work.”
Hmmm sounds to me like he’s trying really hard to convince himself that he can “it can work”.
What do you think of Brad Womack getting another chance on The Bachelor?
Several months ago I read Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents by Christine Carter, a book that offered powerful and important revelations about both my parenting style and me. This fall, as I put him on the bus and send him off to school for the first time, I thought carefully about one of Carter’s most central messages.
It’s okay to fail.
And though it requires a huge leap of faith to accept, I can see the merit in this statement. We are raising our children in a culture that values achievement over effort. I do it myself through constant praise. Until recently I didn’t parent my child in a way that rewarded effort; I parented my children by recognizing success.
Why is it natural for us to assume we should succeed at everything we set out to do? How many times have you said to your own children: You can do anything you set your mind to? I say it often to my boys. I think it’s an important message. But I also think it’s critical for him to be comfortable with failure.
My experience as a parent has shown me that it’s hard to separate my own perceptions and emotions from my child’s. How we parent is inherently based on our own lived experiences. When they are young, they have no expectations. We teach them to expect by how we react to situations, in what we reward and for what we discipline. They are not us, and yet we parent them like they are.
I parent through praise. I want them to feel good, because that’s how I want to feel. I want them to be confident, because I wish I were more confident. I’ve been raised to believe that the worst thing in the world is failure. My need translates into what I perceive to be their need.
Obviously, I want my children to feel they have many opportunities ahead of them and that they will succeed. BUT if they don’t, if some things simply don’t work out for them, I want them to feel secure knowing that there was value in trying.
In Raising Happiness, Carter argues that we should teach our children “that success is a result of effort as much or more than aptitude.” She says that it’s about creating an environment where effort and engagement are the key to success as opposed to proving any special talent.
Christine Carter provided me with insight into the importance of teaching my children the skills they need to deal with the challenges and mistakes they make in their life. To not always let them think they will be good at everything and that failure isn’t something to be avoided at all costs. I hope they learn to feel comfortable and confident walking away when that is actually the best choice. To me, these would be invaluable skills that would empower my children to make the choices that are right for them and to fuel a healthy sense of ambition.
Henry Ford once said that failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. As a mother, I find these words to be wise and important. It’s a lesson I hope to teach my boys.
I’ll leave you with this quote from the book as food for thought and discussion:
We can praise our kids all day long – as long as we are attributing success to things such as effort, commitment, resourcefulness, hard work and practice.
Christine LaRocque is a communications professional and mom to two boys. She blogs at Coffees & Commuteswhere she reflects on life as a full-time working mom.
I’m a few years past the teen stage now and phew – made it through! With the exception of a few teen antics…
From starting a field on fire to clear it for bike jumps (doh!) to a few years later and a little joy riding incident to Timmy’s?! Duh! BOYS!
My son is now 26 and has turned into a true keeper and quite the *gulp* man! Makes me a proud mom everyday.
What has put me back in the teenage mode again are my 16 yr-old twin nieces that live in BC. They really are gorgeous, out-going and smart. (Okay I’m bias, but they worry me so much!) They’re still teens and let’s face it… they’re not known for being real bright sometimes! THINK they know everything… remember?!
A couple of weeks ago I saw a BC story on the news… a horrid teenage – hate this word – gang-rape. Of course it bothered me terribly to hear about it, but had never heard of Pitt Meadows and I guess went on with my day. Later, the same report is on the top of ALL newscasts and now I see the police are from Maple Ridge – where those two, previously mentioned, precious girls live!
My heart went into my throat and my stomach began to automatically pain! I google mapped it and found these two places were directly beside each other – very close – too close!
I called my sister right away only to be furthered sickened… one of the girls had been invited to THAT party. (I’m truly ill writing this – 2 weeks later.) LUCKILY my sis had told her – “NO WAY was she going to that party (she actually put an F’ing in front of ‘party’) or any other for that matter!” I could tell by her voice she was still shaking also! THANKFULLY this time they’re okay, but that poor girl was drugged – sadly, no defense against that or the cowards that did it.
The horrific details will never end for that family – it was videoed, posted and went viral. A recent up-date reveals there were 12-14 people either involved or a witness to it. HOW does this happen? HOW could there be that many that: a) haven’t been taught better, or b) didn’t care or know how to stop it?!
We must keep teaching our girls to always be aware of their surroundings and know ALL the dangers lurking out there AND teach our boys to be nice, respective people that would NEVER do a thing like that in the first place! I could unfortunately only have one child, but to this day have MANY that call me Mom! Ours was the hang-out house – I planned it that way – thought it better to keep them close.
Those ‘kids’ still thank me for letting them have a safe, fun place to be. My son and any of his friends knew they could call us anytime, day or night and we’d be there. We must ‘keep up’ with our teens… actually talk to them, know what their fav things are, be interested even when you’re not and always TRY to know who they’re with and where they are. It’s TOO easy for them to slip away or be influenced at that age. SURE they’re going to do and try things but it’s up to us to teach them the major rights from wrongs and most of all – RESPECT! Respect for themselves and others!
NOTE: I want to thank Maria aka @amotherworld for the opportunity to put some of my numerous thoughts in print. I promise they won’t be a downer like this one, BUT it hit so close to home, I literally haven’t been able to shake it.
Dianne Preston aka @smilenwaven is a proud Mom, first and foremost. Her son inherited his musical passion from her but thankfully he has talent! Dianne has worked in the admin world for most of her working years and now has a home-based typing, errand service. She loves music/concerts, antiques, Scrabble, cooking and being with friends, including her Mom. She worked as an associate-editor for two small newspapers and was married 25 years, but has since moved on and loving her ‘new life’ at the moment.
Seven-year-old Strawberry is teased by her schoolmates at Harmony Hill Elementary for having bright red hair and freckles. She feels different from everyone else and tries everything to get rid of them!
In this catchy musical, directed by Buddy Crutchfield with choreography by Gail Pennington Crutchfield, Freckleface Strawberry, with the help of her little friends, family and nutty teacher, explores self-consciousness, friendship, and discovers how different and the same we really are.
Through song and dance, Freckleface Strawberry takes us through this journey of discovery complete with the jokes and the humor of the 7 year old character and her friends, with some added kicks for the grown-ups. I giggled throughout the show, but the guy behind me seemed to heartily appreciate the humor.
Based on “Freckleface Strawberry”, New York Times Best Selling book by celebrated actress Julianne Moore, Freckleface Strawberrythe Musical, with its intimatestage and setting at the New World Stages at 340 West 50th Street in New York, transported my two girls and me inside the book’s pages to participate in the journey as Strawberry and her friends learn to love the skin they’re in.
It was funny” claimed Nathalie, my 9 year old. I was a little reluctant to take her because I thought she might be a little old. But the upbeat music and the charming characters seemed to appeal to her the most. “I really liked watching the grown-up actors play and talk like little kids” she told me in the car ride home.
As for Ellie, my 3 year old, this was her first musical experience and I was confident that she would enjoy it. What I didn’t expect was how much she would love the experience! Ellie refused to sit through the performance and stood on edge the entire time, clapping and singing along, reciting “fecoface fecoface fecoface stawbeddy” all the way home.
Christina Lianos is a mother of three spirited girls. She holds an advanced degree in JugglingCareerandHome and is certified in Premature Dementia. She is also fluent in both Chaos & Insanity. In her spare time, she works in New York in Corporate HR.
Win a pair of tickets to see Freckleface Strawberrythe Musical in New York City!
