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Beauty

Anti-Aging Skin Products: AVEENO® Absolutely Ageless™

April 13, 2016

Every spring, I love to go shopping for a few pieces of clothing and new beauty products to try. I love trying new skin care products, and was delighted to have an opportunity to try the new AVEENO^{^®} Absolutely Ageless™ line of products. Who doesn’t want to reverse the signs of aging with anti-aging skin products? No nip and tuck here!

The new AVEENO^{^®} Absolutely Ageless™ collection includes a daily moisturizer with SPF 30, restorative night cream, eye cream, nourishing cleanser, and intensive renewal serum. These anti-aging skin products all work together to deliver real amazing results for healthier, more youthful looking skin.

AVEENO^{^®} Absolutely Ageless™

Absolutely Ageless™ Intensive Renewal Serum:

I love using a serum first thing in the morning to hydrate my skin, allowing it to absorb before applying moisturizer. Sometimes I end up skipping a daily moisturizer altogether because I feel like the Absolutely Ageless™ Intensive Renewal Serum is enough. But I know the importance of using a moisturizer with sunscreen to fight anti-aging.

Absolutely Ageless™ Daily Moisturizer SPF 30:

The Absolutely Ageless™ Daily Moisturizer has an SPF of 30, so it helps reduce the effects of aging (elastin and collagen loss), while moisturizing your skin. This anti-aging daily moisturizer also has ACTIVE NATURALS® Blackberry Complex infused with vitamins, antioxidants, and powerful anti-aging ingredients to keep skin looking younger, longer. Since I have sensitive skin, I’m happy that this daily moisturizer is hypoallergenic so it isn’t greasy and won’t clog pores. I don’t like wearing foundation or powder much, so I like that the moisturizer doesn’t leave your skin looking too shiny.

Absolutely Ageless™ Nourishing Cleanser:

I didn’t have to use makeup remover when I used the Absolutely Ageless™ Nourishing Cleanser; it worked well on its own to remove makeup, oil and dirt, leaving my skin feel squeaky clean. I love the blackberry scent too, and it’s not overpowering. It also didn’t make my skin feel to dry either – great for my combination skin.

Absolutely Ageless™ Restorative Night Cream:

After a long day, I found the Absolutely Ageless™ Restorative Night Cream to be nice and thick. It helps to nourish my skin during the night, and I woke up feeling that skin was smooth and soft. In just one week, this cream is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It helps improve skin elasticity and strengthen skin’s natural moisture barrier to maintain healthier-looking skin over time. Along with the other Absolutely Ageless products, the night cream is hypoallergenic and non-greasy, so it won’t clog pores.

Absolutely Ageless™ Eye Cream:

Eye cream is important, especially because I have darker circles and some fine lines around my eyes… this cream has ACTIVE NATURALS® Blackberry Complex, and is infused with vitamins, antioxidants, and powerful anti-aging ingredients to keep your skin looking younger, and healthier. The Absolutely Ageless™ Eye Cream helps improve the visible signs of aging around the eyes by reducing the appearance of eye puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines.

I’ve only been using for over a week so I’m curious to see the results in a month. It goes on thick, so you only need to apply a little bit. I like using this at night so it can absorb while I sleep and do its magic!

So far, I’m impressed with the complete line of Absolutely Ageless™ products, and what’s more, these anti-aging skin products are affordable. The products range in price from $24.99 to $29.99 and can be purchased at various drug stores, grocery stores and specialty stores.

COUPON

Save $3.00 off the purchase of any AVEENO® Absolutely Ageless™ product! Click here for a $3.00 coupon.

Have you tried the new AVEENO^{^®} Absolutely Ageless™ line of products?

House & Home

How to Clean a Dishwasher

April 11, 2016

This post is brought to you by Finish and The Co.

As the weather is starting to warm up and spring is just about here, I’m looking around my house thinking of all the spring cleaning that needs to be done. Washing the windows, cleaning out the garage, the list goes on and on.

There are some areas that I dread cleaning… like the kitchen. I love cooking but I hate the cleanup. You know, cleaning the inside of the oven, the stove fan filters, clearing and wiping down the inside of the refrigerator, wiping down cabinets, washing those recycling bins… the list is endless!

Have you ever thought about cleaning the inside of your dishwasher which you think is already clean because you run the dishwasher at least every two days? How do you clean the inside of your dishwasher? Even if the inside looks clean, residue, grease and lime scale can build up in places you can’t see.

Where we live, the water is hard so we’ve had to put in a water softener, which has helped with build-up. But the grime is still there.

How to Clean a Dishwasher

FINISH® Dishwasher Cleaner cleans the inside of your dishwasher. I removed the sticker from the top of the bottle, not the cap, and placed the bottle upside down in a dish rack when the dishwasher was empty and ran a hot cycle. Here’s a photo of the before… pretty gross right?

After, using the FINISH® Dishwasher Cleaner, I couldn’t believe what an improvement it made! Check out my after-photo below of what it looks like. What a difference!

Finish® Dishwasher Cleaner has a powerful formula with 5x Power Actions that help maintain your machine, remove lime scale, clear grease, clean hidden parts and freshen your dishwasher. Finish® Dishwasher Cleaner keeps your machine clean and shiny.

Enter Contest

The only thing more satisfying than spring cleaning is having someone else to do it for you, and Finish is presenting the opportunity for you to win precisely that luxury! All you have to do is visit the contest page HERE and leave a review of why you love Finish® Dishwasher Cleaner, or why you would like to try Finish® Dishwasher Cleaner, and you will be entered into a draw to win free home cleaning services for a year!

Prize valued at $10K! Contest runs Apr 11 – June 15, 2016. Enter HERE.

House & Home

How To Easily Paint Kitchen Chairs

April 6, 2016

How easy is it to paint kitchen chairs? Super easy!

We’ve had our kitchen table and chairs for over 15 years. No matter how much we tighten those screws, nothing will fix the wobbly table and kitchen chairs. I found a custom beautiful harvest table maker who is working on a new table for us. But where to find the chairs? I found my next furniture refresh challenge and discover how to easily paint kitchen chairs.

I found this beautiful white painted kitchen chair online for inspiration, but I wasn’t ready to spend $250 each chair.

So I searched Kijiji and found four of these chairs – all for $40! They were in great condition, made with heavy wood, and though I like the wood colour, I wanted a bright white for my kitchen. The seat was made of a plain beige microsuede – boring!

Of course, I was inspired to paint these kitchen chairs, and reupholster them too. I’ll show you how to easily paint kitchen chairs.

How to easily paint kitchen chairs?

With Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan, you don’t have to prepare the furniture – no sanding, stripping or priming required. Just start painting those kitchen chairs!

I had some Old White Chalk Paint left over from my last painting furniture project and used it to paint these kitchen chairs.

As for the seat pads, I found this gorgeous fabric from Tonic Living in Toronto.

Ta da!

Refinishing and painting furniture can breathe new life into an outdated piece, bringing it from old and boring to modern and contemporary. Every month, I’m sharing a Furniture Refresh project with these talented bloggers.

Furniture Refresh Challenge

Please visit their DIY Furniture Refresh projects too!

1. DIY Ottoman/Coffee Table – Ikea Hack, A Purdy Little House

2. Broadway Inspired Side Table, Our Crafty Mom

3. Mushroom Kid’s Stool, The Homespun Hydrangea

4. Entry Chair Refresh, Shelstring.com

5. Dining Table & Chairs Refresh, Cmon Get Crafty

Stay tuned next month for our next Furniture Refresh!

Fashion

What’s in Style Spring 2016

April 4, 2016

Though it may not feel like spring in certain parts of the country, I’m dreaming about the warmer weather and what’s in style for Spring 2016.

What are the hottest trends for Spring 2016? While you may not follow the trends and what’s in style, Spring 2016 is paying tribute to many of the fashion trends of the 1990s. Here is a breakdown of what’s in style for Spring 2016!

What’s in Style Spring 2016

The 90s

The 1990s was the most popular decade for inspiration at the SS16 runway shows. I’m a 90s alternative rock junkie so of course I’m happy that some of my favourite styles are back –slip dresses, chokers, grunge look, bomber jackets, and mules.

It was New Year’s Eve in 1995 maybe? I wore a long black slip dress I purchased from Victoria’s Secret. I think I still may have it my closet (don’t ask). Well, the slip dress is back and looking sexier than ever!

While the slip dress is intimidating because of its clinging silhouette, you can wear an A-line version, or pair the dress with an oversized sweater or leather jacket.

If you want to wear mules, go for a heel or a flat, and pair it with ripped jeans, a moto jacket, or a penciled skirt and blazer for work.

Zara Floral Camisole Dress, $50; zara.com

Filigree Lace Choker, $25; Simons.ca

The Backpack

Let’s not forget the 90s mini-backpack too! It’s back again, but this time more sophisticated and less grunge.

emerson place jessa bag, $328; KateSpade.com

Stripes

Stripes are never out-of-style, but many designers are into bold super stripes for spring. An all-over striped look is trendy this season. But if you’re not so bold, try an over-sized striped blouse or top, or even a bag.

Sweater, $109; Ann Taylor

Striped skirt, $116; Ann Taylor

Extra Long Earrings

Shoulder-grazing earrings are the accessory to have for Spring 2016. This is one of the easiest style updates for spring. Buy two new pairs of earrings to clash, or pick some from your jewelry box.

Very long earrings beaded fringe, $48; Etsy

Off the Shoulder

There is nothing quite sexier than an off-the-shoulder blouse or dress. Bare a little skin and pair it with a statement necklace, or long earrings.

TOPSHOP Off-The-Shoulder Bardot Blouse, $58; Hudson’s Bay

Culottes

I know many of you wouldn’t dare wear these cropped pants, but they are a must-have this season. Tuck a blouse into a pair of culottes, and throw on some pointy toe stilettos and you’re put together.

Zara Frayed Denim Culottes, $30; zara.com

Culottes, $17; H&M

Ankle-Tie Shoes

An ankle-tie shoe is another trend with variety. Wear a pair of flats with a tie at the ankle only, or dare to strap on the stilettos with the laces around your calves.

Vince Camuto, $190; Town Shoes

White Lace

Add a little romance with a white lace top, or dress.

Jack by BB Dakota Browning Ivory Lace Dress, $75; Lulus.com

Trench vest

The trench coat will always be a classic but this spring, it’s trending in a sleeveless silhouette. The trench vest is a perfect layering addition to your favorite outfit. Pair it with a dress, or a blouse with jeans and heels.

Trench Vest, $39; Target.com

Midi Skirt

The midi has been trending for a while and it’s here to stay. Play with different silhouettes; either A-line or pencil. Wear it with a crop top if you dare, or tuck in a button-down shirt.

Traffic People Greek Gods, $64; Asos.com

Which of these Spring 2016 fashion trends could you see yourself wearing?

lifestyle

5 Ways to Have More Time for You

March 31, 2016

Are you too busy? Being too busy is unhealthy and counterproductive. You may be focusing your time and efforts on things that don’t matter, and craving more time for you.

So what are some ways to have more time for YOU? How can we be less busy? It seems easy enough to make more time for ourselves, but why does it prove to be a challenge for most?

Making more time for yourself takes serious practice and discipline, but it is possible to have more time for you. Here are some ways to have more time:

5 Ways to Have More Time for YOU!

1. Set aside downtime

When we take the time to stop and be still, that’s when our brains can open up to new ideas and creativity. We all need that free time to recharge, have some downtime and do something completely for fun.

The great artists, philosophers and inventors created their works in a time of leisure… in the company of good food and even better wine.

The downside of being too busy is stress, lack of sleep, an inability to focus, and in worse cases, burning yourself out and ultimately, getting sick. Make time to nurture your physical, emotional and mental health – nurture is my word for 2016.

2. Keep one calendar or list

You have your meal plan, work plan, to-do list, grocery list, calendar, kids’ schedule… AGH! Too many lists and notes to keep track of. While your scheduling may be helping you to stay organized, it might also be causing you more stress.

3. Learn to Say No

Why did you have to volunteer for the school council when you know you don’t have time? Or take on another task at work? Agree to the fundraising committee on your son’s hockey team?

While you may have good intentions and want to help out and do it all, you can’t manage to do it all well. It’s simply not possible to spread yourself so thin and do an excellent job at everything.

Minimize your stress by reducing the number of extra tasks. Learn to say NO.

4. Dump the FOMO

Yes it’d be nice to attend that event, but it’s time to kick the crap out of the MOFO FOMO! The cause? EGO. Ego is a huge factor. I was invited to this VIP event – stroke the go – so I need to make an appearance, right? I was invited so I need to be there. No you don’t. While it’s flattering to be asked, you can’t justify the time away from your family and other important obligations just to appease your ego!

Fear of missing out is such a dangerous thing – again it’s part ego, part social media to blame. Turn off all social media during the event so you don’t have to see how much “fun” you’re missing… if you consider a bunch of small talk with acquaintances, discussing the weather and Facebook algorithms enticing.

The less on your plate, the better. I’ve spread myself too thin – and spending too much time in hockey rinks for my kids – so my free time is even more limited now, which means I choose carefully.

5. Take time off

Taking a vacation or a day off isn’t being lazy or neglecting your responsibilities – it’s a necessity for your health and well-being. The most successful people in the world take time off to refocus and re-energize.

You also need to take time off of social media. Turning off social media and being content in your present time and space is an acquired skill, and one we all need to learn. Social media can be a huge time-waster and distracts from real productivity.

“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” ~ Roald Dahl

House & Home

Taking on Tough Laundry Stains with Resolve Gold® In-Wash Stain Remover

March 24, 2016

Laundry is one of those household chores you wish you could escape from but you just can’t. When you have children, it’s even more challenging to keep up with piles of laundry and stained clothing.

My kids are messy! They spill tomato sauce and juice on their shirts daily. I keep reminding them – the food needs to go IN their mouths, not on their clothes!

When I had a chance to try Resolve Gold® In-Wash Stain Remover, I was eager to test it out.

For heavily stained clothing – like those dried-in stains – it’s best to pre-treat the clothing first. I put my son’s juice and tomato-sauce stained shirt to the test.

To pre-treat stains, dissolve 1/2 scoop of powder with 105ml of water and stir until mixed with a spoon or stick and apply mix to the surface of the entire stain. Using the underside of the Resolve® scoop, rub the mix into the stain for 30 seconds (up to a max of 5 minutes). Then you can rinse the garment, or add to your wash.I noticed after pre-treating that the stain was already gone, after just two minutes. That was very impressive considering I haven’t had much success removing oil and sauce stains.

I also added a scoop of the Resolve Gold® In-Wash Stain Remover powder to the wash to remove any other stains that were in my son’s laundry (1 scoop for standard loads and 2 scoops large or heavily soiled loads).

Instructions

For Standard Machines: Fill the washing machine with water. Then add powder along with your detergent to the wash water before adding clothes

For High Efficiency (HE) Machines: Add powder to the empty drum before adding clothes. Add detergent to its dispenser and start the wash. Do not mix powder with liquid HE detergent in the dispenser.

Run wash cycle as usual.

After the wash cycle finished, I was delighted to see that the stain on my son’s green shirt was completely gone, and his other clothing also looks cleaner and brighter.

Sweepstakes

Share your stain removal tip on the Resolve TipExchange® and you could win a 7 day family vacation! Plus, weekly prizes valued at $250! Leave a stain removal tip on the Resolve TipExchange®, and your comment is counted as a “ballot” for the contest.

Resolve Gold® In-Wash Stain Remover is available at all major grocery stores including Walmart, Loblaws in Powder and Gel $7.47.

The super-boosted formula is the best from Resolve®. It’s so powerful that it removes some of the toughest 7 day dried-in stains in just 30 seconds! For maximum speed and power, pre-treat and see results in 30 seconds.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Resolve®; however all opinions are my own.

Entertainment

Microsoft Surface 3 Laptop and Tablet in One

March 24, 2016

Over the March Break, I had a chance to try out the Microsoft Surface 3 for a #MicrosoftMarchBreak challenge! My kids and I spent some time familiarizing ourselves with this powerful little device, and participated in a scavenger hunt of tech sorts!

Microsoft Surface 3 Laptop and Tablet in One

The Surface 3 is the smallest and most compact member of the Surface family, and is a tablet with the full power of a laptop. It’s the perfect size to take with you anywhere.

Click in the keyboard and flip out the integrated Kickstand, and you have a laptop that runs all your programs, no matter where you are. Remove the keyboard and you have yourself a tablet for on-the-go.

This little machine, which is on sale now, packs a big punch. It does everything you need for both business and home. What I found surprising is that it has advanced wireless capabilities and all the ports you need.

With its new Intel processor, Surface 3 is fast, responsive, and can run anything you need. Office runs smoothly, and I can use the internet quickly as on any laptop.

I love that I can use the Surface 3 for taking photos and video. The kickstand is like a built-in tripod! As a blogger, I absolutely love that I can use the front and back camera feature.

The keyboard works well, and is of the proper size for my fingers as a regular laptop keyboard. It’s easy to detach, and put back for use with the kickstand. The stylus is very cool too for use as a tablet; drawing or writing notes can be fun.

The Surface 3 is ultra-thin, feather-light which is great for taking with me anywhere in my purse. The battery life is great too; the Surface 3 has up to 10 hours of video playback.

Features

10.8-inch screen with 1920 x 1280 Full HD Plus resolution displays vibrant images, with accurate colours, and crisp, clear text
1.6GHz Quad Core Intel Atom x7 -Z8700, with 4GB RAM, ensures fast, fluid response; multimedia and productivity applications run smooth, so you don’t need to compromise capability for convenience
Intel Burst technology provides up to 2.4GHz of on-demand processing power
128GB of internal storage space, for all your applications, photos, videos, music, documents, and more; microSD card reader lets you expand multimedia storage capacity
Thin and lightweight, just 622g, yet constructed from a durable magnesium body, so you can take it anywhere with confidence
Runs Windows and Office perfectly, with seamless integration of touch apps from the Windows Store; you can also easily run other desktop software favourites like iTunes or Photoshop Essentials
Full-size USB 3.0 port gives you the flexibility to connect a variety of storage or peripheral devices
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.0 allow you to access the internet via any wireless home network or public hot spot, and connect wirelessly to compatible devices
Optional pen (sold separately) provides a more natural, intuitive writing experience
Palm block technology lets you rest your hand on the tablet as you write or sketch, without leaving marks or triggering unwanted functions
8.0 megapixel rear-facing camera with auto-focus; 3.5MP front-facing camera
Optional click-in keyboard (sold separately) offers a lightweight solution for a more familiar and tactile typing experience
Signature 3-position kickstand lets you choose the best angle, whether you’re typing, browsing the internet, or watching a movie
Stereo speakers with Dolby audio
Enjoy up to 10 hours of battery life while you work, browse, play games, or watch movies
Includes pre-installed apps like Skype, OneDrive, and Bing Smart Search
Includes free 1-year subscription of Office 365 Personal
Mini DisplayPort and micro USB charging port
This device is installed with Windows 10

Surface Pro 4

Microsoft is also introducing the Surface 4! Save up to $350 on Surface Pro 4

The Surface Pro 4 powers through tough tasks, while being lighter than ever! The 12.3-inch display has extremely high contrast and low glare. You can go from laptop to tablet with the multi-position Kickstand and keyboard, and jot down notes and ideas with Surface Pen. It’s the perfect device if you’re looking to run desktop software just like a laptop.

Price: Starting at $1,099.00 (regular price starting at $1,179.00) from March 24 to March 29, 2016.
Available at MicrosoftStore.ca

Books & Music

Which City is on Your Travel Bucket List?

March 21, 2016

Do you have a travel bucket list? Coming up with bucket list ideas must include travel.

Which city is on your travel bucket list? I have a travel list, and I have a bucket travel list… my travel list is pretty long, but my bucket travel list I’ve narrowed down to my top destinations. There are so many cities on my travel list, such as Prague, London, Rome, Barcelona… I can’t believe I haven’t yet traveled to these amazing cities.

For more than two decades, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have helped travelers experience the world through the history, art, architecture, and culture of their destinations. Expert travel writers and researchers provide independent editorial advice, recommendations, and reviews for these highly visual travel guides.

The award-winning, bestselling DK Eyewitness Travel Guides will help you plan trips to more than 200 destinations around the world. Thousands of photographs, maps, and custom illustrations bring each destination to life while in-depth cultural and historical information ensures you know the stories behind the sights.

All DK Eyewitness Travel city guidebooks include a pull-out map with street index, transportation maps, and even more information on getting around your next holiday destination.

Enter to win

One lucky reader will choose two DK Eyewitness Travel Guides of their choice! Use the Rafflecopter below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Big Kids

Thinking about Post Secondary Education?

March 16, 2016

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

How many times have you heard this question, or asked this question to your child or another?

Some children will answer back with stars in their eyes, and reply with such certainty. Others will simply shrug and mumble, “I dunno.”

My boys are too busy wrestling, and playing hockey to seriously think about their future. But in just two years, my eldest will be registering for high school. Those high school years will be crucial to helping him realize his strengths and passions. Will he pursue a degree in business or community services? Recreation/wellness, or information technology?

While my boys may not realize their future path just yet, I do know that they will achieve a post-secondary education #BecauseItMatters. My hope is that they have a clear idea of what they’d like to study so they can attend a post-secondary institution with a real vision.

I want them to attend a college or university that will provide them certainty about their future – a school to help them feel prepared for the world, not just with theory – but with real training and hands-on experience.

I myself pursued a post-secondary education in a specialized field; my belief is that real-world learning will enable them to find employment after graduation. I know many university graduates who earned a basic bachelor degree, and then continued their education in a specific program at Seneca. With 500+ career options and 300+ programs, the opportunities are endless at Seneca.

Seneca has 10 campuses in the GTA, York Region and Peterborough. We live in York Region, and one of the campuses is only a 10-minute drive from our house. Plus, since my boys love sports, it’s great to know that Seneca offers 16 varsity athletics teams.

Seneca is having an Open House on Saturday, April 2nd – this is a wonderful opportunity to see first-hand what Seneca offers.

Seneca is also offering special March Break campus tours during this week. This is a great way to see their campuses, labs and facilities and have your questions answered.

Have you talked to your children about post-secondary education?

Disclosure: I received compensation for writing this post however as always, opinions are my own.

giveaways

Spring Break Staycation Giveaway

March 15, 2016

What are you doing Spring Break? If you’re able to book a last-minute trip on a plane, do it! Head somewhere tropical, but don’t forget your travel check list. If you’re not travelling, a spring break staycation can also be fun for the family.

Staycation

There is so much to do in your own city so why not have a spring break staycation? Be a tourist in your own city. Visit the museum, art gallery, or science centre. Check out more things to do in Toronto.

Stay home

Can’t go anywhere? That’s ok, there is so much to do right at home. Here are 25 activities to do indoors, especially on a rainy day. Grab the girls and give each other makeovers. Painting nails, doing makeup, teasing hair and style using new limited-edition Batiste^TM Ella Henderson Sweet & Seductive Dry Shampoo, you’ll feel like a celeb.

If you venture out, go for a walk, a skate at a local rink, or grab a coffee while perusing the book store.

Take a road trip

Look beyond the city and escape to a local resort, or family friendly centre like Great Wolf Lodge, or ski resort.If you have family members who are motion sensitive, Gravol^TM Quick Dissolve Chewables (available for kids and adults) are an effective and convenient option to treat nausea, vomiting and dizziness, so you can get there more comfortably and with less worry. (Don’t take Gravol^TM chewables and drive, as Gravol^TM Quick Dissolve Chewables may cause cause drowsiness). Here are some tips to a better road trip with the fam jam.

Enter to Win

One reader will win a Spring Break Prize Pack! On behalf of your family’s most trusted brands, here’s a staycation giveaway for you to enjoy:

Vitafusion™ Women’s Complete Multivitamin
Vitafusion™ Men’s Complete Multivitamin
L’il Critters™ Gummy Vites™
Ella Henderson for Batiste™ Dry Shampoo
OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover
Arm & Hammer™ Truly Radiant Clean & Fresh Paste
Arm & Hammer™ Spinbrush™ Truly Radiant™ Clean & Fresh Battery Brush
Arm & Hammer™ Spinbrush™ Paw Patrol Battery Brush
Arm & Hammer™ Spinbrush™ Disney Descendants Battery Brush
Nair™ Wax Ready-Strips Legs & Body

Value: Approximately $80

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter this giveaway. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway