Christmas

The Hottest Holiday Gifts for Kids 2019

December 17, 2019

The holiday season is here! Shopping gifts for kids is always the most enjoyable part of the holidays. Seeing the excitement on their faces when they unwrap their gifts from mom, dad and Santa is all worth the stress of wrestling the crowds and line-ups.

That’s where my hottest holiday gifts for kids 2019 list comes in handy! I have compiled the most sought-after, top gift choices for kids right here for you – PLUS a giveaway!

Here are the hottest gifts for kids this year:

The Hottest Holiday Gifts for Kids 2019

Name: Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf with Cheese Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h 15 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 ½ cups mushrooms, chopped; 1 medium onion, chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp dried basil; 1 tsp dried marjoram; 1 tsp salt; ½ tsp black pepper; 1 egg; 2 tbsp ketchup; 1 tbsp Worchestershire sauce or Coconut Aminos (soy-free); 2 lbs AAA or prime rib beef; 1-2 tbsp breadcrumbs (optional); 1 package bacon; 1 cup cheddar, thick slices

Samsung Galaxy A20

Perfect first phone for your tween or teenager, the Galaxy A20 is designed for the way that our youth are connecting today – sharing, capturing and consuming live content and at an accessible price-point.

With a slender body that fits comfortably in your hand, your kids can stream live, watch videos and post on Snapchat easily. The Galaxy A20 features a 6.4″ Super AMOLED Infinity V-Display with Super AMOLED Infinity-V Display offers an enhanced viewing experience. Dual cameras let them get creative and capture fun moments. The long-lasting, fast-charging battery means they can enjoy their phone longer before charges.

$299 at Samsung.

Beyblade Burst Turbo Slingshock Cross Collision Battle Set

3-2-1 let it rip! Ride the rails with Beyblade Burst Slingshock tech! The Cross Collision Beystadium features a quadruple rail system that propels tops through the rails and into the Battle Ring for intense head-to-head clashes. Bladers can keep the Performance Tips in Battle Ring Mode to defend their position in the Beystadium, or convert them to Slingshock Mode to ride the rails and rush into battle.

Ages 8 years & up. $79.99 at Mastermind Toys.

Nerf Ultra One Motorized Blaster

Nerf Ultra blasters have advanced design and performance to deliver extreme distance, accuracy, and speed. They include ground-breaking Nerf Ultra darts — the farthest flying Nerf darts EVER, featuring an innovative flight tip, Aerofin technology, and Nerf Ultra foam. Take your game to the next level with Nerf Ultra blasters and darts! Nerf Ultra blasters work only with Nerf Ultra darts.

Ages 8 and Up. $69.99 at Canadian Tire.

Sesame Street Love to Hug Elmo

Now kids can celebrate hugs and friendship with their favourite cuddly pal from Sesame Street. Elmo loves to give hugs, and he loves when YOU hug him, too! Squeeze Elmo’s tummy and he raises his arms and asks for a hug. Give Elmo a hug and he’ll respond with a phrase, song, or kiss. With fun phrases, songs, and plenty of hugs and giggles, it’s a great toy or gift for kids ages 18 months and up.

$39.99 at Amazon.

Play-Doh Stamp ‘n Top Pizza Oven Playset

Kids can host their own pizza night with the Play-Doh Stamp ‘n Top Pizza Oven playset. Stamp a pizza crust in the oven, and then customize each pizza as they like. The cheese crank shreds Play-Doh compound into grated cheese, and the oven playset has plenty of molds all around it to make pretend pepperonis, silly veggies and other fun toppings. Kids who enjoy getting creative with squishy materials will love this set.

Ages 3 years & up. $27.99 at Walmart.

Baby Alive Happy Hungry Baby

Baby loves to eat! Kids can choose baby’s food and mix it with water to make doll food that looks like the real thing! After you’ve mixed up her food, put on baby’s bib and sit her at her feeding tray. When you give the baby her spoon, she opens wide and really eats her doll food! She also giggles, moves, and ask for more! When she’s “all done!” give her a drink of water from her sippy cup. Uh-oh! Time to change the baby’s diaper! With adorable doll movements and over 50 sounds and phrases, this sweet baby doll makes feeding and changing time so real for little mommies and daddies! Available in blonde, brunette and black hair.

Ages 3 years & up. $69.99 at Toys R Us

Disney Frozen Ultimate Arendelle Castle Playset

Inspired by Disney’s Frozen 2, the Ultimate Arendelle Castle is a feature-filled fashion doll playset for young fans of the movies! Open the gorgeous gates and explore the castle’s 4 floors consisting of 7 rooms: kitchen, music room, and throne room on the first floor, a vanity room and bedrooms for Anna and Elsa dolls (not included), a library on the third floor, and a lookout tower on top. The Frozen castle is 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide and includes 14 accessories to fill it up, like a piano, throne, banquet table, vanity, sofa, and more to play out fun scenes in each room.

$269 at ToysRUs.

Disney Frozen Fashion Dolls Anna and Elsa

Kids can recreate scenes from Disney’s Frozen 2 with these classic dolls, complete with removable outfits inspired by the movie. Move them into different poses to play out scenes from the film or imagine their own with each doll’s 5 points of articulation. Collect Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf!

Ages 3 and up. $19.99 at Hudson’s Bay

Ms. Monopoly Board Game

Ms. Monopoly is Mr. Monopoly’s niece, a self-made investment guru! Instead of buying properties, players invest in groundbreaking inventions and innovations made possible by women throughout history. From inventions like WiFi to chocolate chip cookies to space station batteries and coffee filters, MS. MONOPOLY celebrates everything from scientific advancements to everyday accessories.

Players can build business headquarters to collect even more rent. Zoom ahead with ride-shares, and purchase utilities — such as solar heating — invented by women. In the MS. MONOPOLY game, women get a higher payout at the start of the game and more money when passing ‘Go’, but who you are is up to you!

Ages 8 years & up. $24.99 at Chapters Indigo.

The Good Egg & The Word Collector

The Good Egg’s Jory John and Pete Oswald hatch a funny and charming story reminds us of the importance of balance, self-care, and accepting those we love (even if they are sometimes a bit rotten). $21.99 Indigo.

In Peter H. Reynolds’ The Word Collector, Jerome discovers the magic of the words all around him – short and sweet words, two-syllable treats, and multisyllable words that sound like little songs. Words that connect, transform, and empower. $21.99 Indigo

furReal Cubby, the Curious Bear, Interactive Plush Toy

furReal Cubby is a fun, adorable companion for kids and one who’ll excitedly take part in all their adventures! Cubby is curious and eager to be picked up and held – and he hugs you back! Play peek-a-boo, dance together and then at the end of the day, get ready for some snuggles

Ages 4 years & up $129.99. Now $99.97 at Walmart

ENTER TO WIN

One amotherworld reader will win a furReal Cubby, the Curious Bear, Interactive Plush Toy! Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. Canada only. Ends December 31, 2019. Good luck!

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Beauty

Holiday Gift Guide For Self-Care Love

December 10, 2019

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know how often I tend to write about the importance of self-care and making it a priority to nurture your mind, body and soul.

Self-care is about putting physical and mental health as a top priority in order to live a more fulfilling life. And since its popularity has increased in the past few years, more and more people are making self-care a buzz word. Despite the “trend”, self-care is critical to our well-being.

Instead of makeup or jewellery, why not treat your loved one with some gifts to promote self-care? Here are some great self-care gift ideas for your loved one this holiday season.

Holiday Gift Guide For Self-Care Love

1. CBD Oil

There are many cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, but the ones you’ll most commonly hear about are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the psychoactive compound found in the cannabis that makes you feel “high” while CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that has been found to help reduce inflammation and act as a natural treatment for many ailments including depression, anxiety, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain.

The Feel CBD Full Spectrum CBD Drops contain hemp CBD oil and infused with lemon and lime essential oils to help improve mental clarity and block out distractions. Each bottle contains 300mg of CBD, with each full dropper measuring out to 10mg of CBD. You’ll have to start with one dropper and increase to find the right dosage for you. The CBD drops seem to help with feelings of anxiety, helping to calm the mind and body.

$49.99 at Birch + Fog

2. CBD Topical Cream

As someone who suffers from arthritis and muscle pain, the Herb Angel Heat topical cream helps relieve join pain, inflammation and muscle soreness. It combines the deep painkilling properties of cannabinoids with the tingling, soothing sensation of heat, for intense localized pain. After using this cream for a few weeks now, I’ve noticed it does hep to reduce the pain in my neck and upper back! Contains 150mg Full Spectrum Cannabis Oil.

$34 Birch + Fog.

3. Vitamix Venturist V1200

A key to good self-care is also nourishing your body with a healthy diet. I love to cook and always looking for appliances that can help me prepare my recipes more efficiently. For many years, I’d heard people rave about the Vitamix and wondered, what’s all the hype? It wasn’t until I received one myself that I realized how awesome this blender is. It’s not just for smoothies, guys! So far, I’ve made pie crust, pizza dough, salsas, and pureed soups in my Vitamix. And right now, Vitamix is having a sale on their units – you don’t even need to spend a ton to purchase brand-new; Vitamix also sells reconditioned blenders for half the cost!

The

4. Gravid Weighted blanket

If you have restless or light sleep, feel anxious and can’t relax in bed, then a weighted blanket from Gravid might be your answer to a good night’s sleep! According to studies, people who used a weighted blanket “had an improved sleep, where they felt more refreshed in the morning” and “had an improved sleep, where they felt more refreshed in the morning”.

The Gravid 3.0 weight blanket is heavy enough to make you feel calm and cozy but not constricted. I usually wake up several times a night but with the blanket, I seem to get into a much deeper sleep and haven’t been waking up! I definitely have been sleeping through the night without waking (unless to visit the bathroom). My 12-year-old has trouble settling down to sleep, often tossing and turning for almost an hour before falling asleep. I had him try sleeping with the blanket, and found comfort much quicker and hardly tossed and turned during the night.

Starting at $129, Gravid.ca. Use MARIA10 for 10% off!

5. Bright Eyes Set (AluminEye Eye Cream + Retinol Eye Gel)

Let’s face it – we want our skin to look its best especially as we age. The AlumierMD skincare line is one of my favourite skincare brands because their science-based formulations use the best medical-grade ingredients The Bright Eyes Set is a must-have product duo, specially packaged together as a set, contains our Award-winning AluminEye® eye cream which hydrates and illuminates and Retinol Eye Gel which firms, rejuvenates and refines the look of the delicate eye area.

Special $160.00, AlumierMD.ca.

6. A Yogic Path Oracle Deck and Guidebook

Author Sahara Rose and illustrator Danielle Noel created this beautiful deck and full-colour guide to help access your yogic intuition. Meditate on a single card or select several cards for a reading and uncover sacred meanings and receive cosmic intuition from the universe.

$45 at various retailers, DK Canada.

7. Hurom Juicer

I try to make a point of getting enough Vitamin C especially through our long winters, and one way is by squeezing fresh oranges. But every juicer I’ve used has been a bit of a pain, either leaving too much juice behind, or making a mess, or not preventing seeds from being added to my juice. The new Hurom Citrus Juicer is perfect for your simpler juicing needs, whether it’s juicing large oranges for a breakfast OJ or small limes for your seltzer water. The 1-size-fits-all finned juicing cone will help you single-handedly squeeze any citrus fruit and yield the maximum amount of juice, leaving the rind completely empty.

$209 Hurom.ca.

8. Scentuals Holiday Essential Oil Set

An effortless way to create a comforting atmosphere – and to ease some stress and anxiety – is to diffuse essential oils. I can’t live without my go-to scents like lavender, lemongrass and rosemary. But it’s also nice to add a few holiday scents to your stash, and scentuals has three new expertly blended essential oils to fill your home, mind and body with the aromas of the festive season and the holiday spirit. Each set includes 10mL each of Poinsettia Bouquet, Vanilla Mint, and Winter Wonderland.

$35 Scentuals.ca.

9. Instant Hydrating Mask

Treat your skin with the Instant Hydrating Mask by Beauté Pacifique, a Danish skincare line that just launched in Canada. This mask features moisture-retaining ingredients to hold hydration and includes Vitamin A to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

$62 Beauté Pacifique

10. Synergy Yoga Mat-Towel

Hot yoga can be a bit of a sweaty mess! A regular yoga mat won’t do, and a yoga towel doesn’t stay put. So what’s a yogi gotta do?

Try the Synergy Yoga Mat-Towel from Aurorae! As a special hot yoga mat, Synergy combines the best of both worlds all wrapped in one unique yoga mat. This unique super deluxe non-slip hot yoga mat-towel bonds our 5mm PER yoga mat with our lush, ultra-absorbent non-slip microfiber towel to create a 72” long by 24” wide mat specifically designed with hot yoga in mind. With this hot yoga mat, the more you perspire on your hands and feet, the better grip you will have on your mat.

From $59 AuroraeYoga.com.

11. Moccasin Slippers

During the winter months especially, a good pair of cozy slippers are a must. These moccasin-style suede slippers from Denver Hayes are lined in plaid fabric for softness and warmth and have tough outsoles that will hold up well, even when you need to step outside.

$29.99 Marks.

12. OctoVie FACE Mini

The OctoVie FACE Mini skincare brush delivers an at-home spa experience with 3-in-1 beauty benefits for clean, baby soft skin that leaves you “feeling good in your skin”. Use it wet with your cleanser, or brush dry before showering. Use as a beauty tool to apply moisturizer, makeup, masks and foundations.

$16 OctoVie.

13. Breville Smart Tea Infuser

Nothing is more comforting than sitting by the fire with a warm cup of tea. The Breville Smart Tea Infuser Compact knows the right temperature and steep time to bring out the best in your favourite teas. Set the timer to tell you when steeping is complete then it automatically keeps warm until you are ready to drink. Makes your perfect cup for you or your guests.

$199 Breville.

14. Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers

As the years pass, I’m convinced that I’ve inherited my mom’s love of gardening. Spending time outdoors surrounded by flowers and plants is calming and peaceful. The Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers is an updated edition of the best-selling highly illustrated garden plant reference, featuring more than 8000 plants and 4000 photographs. Find all the inspiration and help you need with this gorgeous, full-colour photographed monster book that will have undoubtedly be a permanent fixture on your coffee table.

$97 at various retailers, DK Canada.

For New Moms – “Oh Baby!”

Last but not least, I have to include my own book, “Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year! My book keeps the focus on moms because you can’t draw water (or breastmilk, for that matter) from an empty well. My straight-talking, no-nonsense approach will give new moms everything they need to survive as they embark on the journey of motherhood. $21.99 Available at Indigo.

ENTER TO WIN

Enter below to win a Breville Smart Tea Infuser, an AlumierMD Bright Eyes Set and a copy of Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers! Combined prize valued at $460!

Fill in the Rafflecopter below to enter. Canada only. Ends December 31, 2019.

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Happy Shopping and remember to be gentle to yourself and others this holiday season.

Christmas

Donate Your Aeroplan Miles this Holiday Season

December 2, 2019

The holidays are quickly approaching! This is the time of year when we’re all a little busier shopping for holiday gifts for loved ones. The “gift list” seems to become longer as our children get older. Suddenly you’re not only shopping for family members but also friends, teachers, admin staff, coaches, even the bus driver!

I don’t know about you but as our children get older, the holidays become less about giving extravagant gifts to our loved ones. Sure, we want to ensure there are abundant, festively-wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree. The joy in seeing the surprised faces of our kids tearing through presents is always priceless. But stronger becomes the desire to give back to our communities and helping those people who are in most need.

Luckily, giving back is even easier if you’re an Aeroplan member – you can choose to donate your Aeroplan Miles this holiday season to over 300 charities!

Aeroplan Donation Program

Since 2006, the Aeroplan Donation Program has been helping hundreds of Canadian not-for-profit organizations. Aeroplan and its members have donated over 1.1 billion miles to Canadian charities that help improve lives and assist communities locally, across Canada and around the world.

Donated miles are accumulated and used to offset air travel costs for charities, volunteers or for families with medical or other emergency travel needs. In addition to travel, miles are also used by the organizations for hotel stays, car rentals, merchandise such as laptops and even raffles to help raise money.

These are some of Aeroplan’s core partners:

Air Canada Foundation
David Suzuki Foundation
Engineers Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders
MusiCounts
Stephen Lewis Foundation
Veterinarians without Borders
War Child Canada

Aeroplan will match

From December 2 – 8, 2019, Aeroplan will match all miles donated to the Air Canada Foundation up to 500,000 miles! Through its Hospital Transportation Program, the Air Canada Foundation helps sick children reach medical treatment not available in their community allowing them to receive the best medical care possible.

One-time donation

Feeling extra charitable with your Aeroplan miles? Aeroplan Members can make one-time donations and can also choose to automatically donate 2% of all miles accumulated during each transaction to a number of charitable partners. Members interested in donating 2% of their Aeroplan Miles can simply visit their profile page on aeroplan.com, select the donation opt-in, and the partner to which they would like to donate their miles.

Enter to Win

Thanks to Aeroplan, one amotherworld reader is eligible to give away 5,000 miles to one of the 300 charities Aeroplan supports! For a list of charities, visit: www.aeroplan.com/donate

BONUS: Aeroplan will match with a 5,000-mile donation to your chosen charity – doubling the impact!

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below.

Good luck!

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Travel

5 Ways Traveling Alone Can Change Your Life For The Better

November 19, 2019

Are you looking for a reason to travel alone? Going out to explore the world alone can give you priceless life experiences. Traveling solo can open a whole new world for you of food, culture, independence, and happiness. The world is enormous, and traveling solo can set you on a wonderful journey full of adventure.

Solo travel can transform your entire life. To name a few; you can unplug from technology, recharge your batteries, give you a chance to celebrate your solo freedom, and so many more. Keep reading to find out 5 ways traveling alone can change your life for the better.

5 Ways Traveling Alone Can Change Your Life For The Better

1. Traveling alone can improve your quality of life

Traveling alone allows you to observe. Observing others and how they live can make you humbled about your own life. We can often take little things for granted such as shelter and a warm meal. Your quality of life will improve when you travel alone because you are exposed to new situations and challenges. Traveling solo can also broaden your worldly knowledge of different cultures, food, and different communication styles. Traveling alone can also give you a chance to change your perspective about other people’s circumstances; making you a more compassionate, loving and well-rounded individual.

2. Recharge your inner batteries

You are constantly moving in a forward direction in a familiar routine. Your life is fast-paced with very few moments of rest. Family, friends, children, work the list can go on forever. It is hard to find downtime in a chaotic life. Wouldn’t you agree? Your internal light starts to dim and your batteries start to weaken when this happens. You will eventually run on empty.

Traveling alone allows you time to recoup, recharge, and rekindle that inner joy that has slowly dwindled. Traveling alone gives you a chance to have the downtime your mind, soul, and body so desperately need.

3. Celebrate being alone

Solitude is not easy to come by when you have commitments from your everyday life. Traveling alone can give you an unknown freedom of making your plans, exploration on your terms, without time limitations. Doesn’t that sound amazing? You don’t have to answer to anyone but yourself. You can make up the rules as you go. Celebrate being alone by giving yourself the best time ever. Party for one, please!

4. Unplug from the technological world

In a world where technology is king, wouldn’t it be nice to unplug? Technology is a very influential part of our lives. Computers, phones, tablets, screen time, in general, can take up a big portion of our day. Whether it is personal, work, or a mixture; your devotion to your device can stop when you travel alone. No alarms, meetings, or important affairs are dinging to remind you that you have stuff to do. You can take time to unplug when you travel alone and you will be thankful later.

5. You will learn your strengths and weaknesses

When we go through the motions of life we often lose sight of who we are. Traveling alone you will face unknown territory. You are in a strange place with a confrontation of being outside your comfort zone. It may seem scary, but this will give a chance to discover things about yourself you have long forgotten. Traveling alone gives you an opportunity to discover what you are good at, what you are bad at, things you may or may not like. Traveling solo gives you a chance to take a journey to explore your strengths and weaknesses.

How has traveling alone changed your life for the better?

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Health

How Diabetes and Hypos Affects the Entire Family

November 14, 2019

Since I met my husband in our 20s, he has always been a gym buff, exercising regularly and striving to always be in the best physical shape possible. I’ve always known him to watch his diet as well, eating healthy for the most part, but enjoying fast food and sweet treats in moderation.

In the back of our minds, we knew he would need to watch for signs of diabetes – his father had diabetes, and the risk increases if your parent or sibling is a person living with diabetes. My father-in-law first took prescription pills to manage his diabetes but didn’t turn his unhealthy lifestyle around. Eventually, he was forced to go on insulin to control his high blood sugar levels. Over the years, he developed long-term complications, and eventually suffered irreversible damage to his vital organs. We lost him in 2013.

Seeing his father suffer from complications due to diabetes has fueled my husband to be even more vigilant with diet and exercise. Despite his healthy lifestyle, my husband was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Even with his diagnosis, he can continue to make healthy lifestyle choices to help prevent complications.

Diabetes is a public health epidemic in Canada. Every 3 minutes a Canadian is diagnosed with diabetes and currently, 11 million are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. If left untreated or improperly managed, diabetes can lead to a variety of complications, including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and amputation.

People living with diabetes are not the only ones impacted by the condition. According to a new international study of 4,300 family members of people with diabetes, worrying about low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia or “hypos”, can place a significant burden on them too. Hypos may result in a variety of symptoms including sweating, feeling hungry and weak, shaking, clumsiness, trouble talking or confusion.

I remember my mother-in-law always worrying about my father-in-law’s blood sugar levels when he was at work because he wouldn’t eat at regular times. It would be frightening when his blood sugar levels would suddenly drop.

When my husband starts to feel weak and shaky, I know his blood sugar must be low; so he’ll have to quickly eat something to get his blood sugars normalized. It’s a scary feeling to suddenly feel like you might faint! It can also be dangerous when blood sugar drops too low – a person can lose consciousness or have a seizure.

Until now, there has been very little research into the impact of low blood sugar on the family members of people with diabetes. The results from this new international TALK-HYPO study, published in Diabetes Therapy, show that up to 64 per cent of family members of people with diabetes are worried or anxious about the risk of low blood sugar, highlighting the significance of this burden for the whole family.

Family members feel the impact that hypos can have on their own lives. Seventy-four per cent of survey participants said they spend less time on, or completely forgo activities such as hobbies, holidays, or being with other friends or family. A majority of the study participants (76%) said they believe that having more conversations about hypos can lead to a positive impact on the life of their relatives living with diabetes.

I know first-hand how frightening diabetes can be and feel it’s crucial to keep the conversation about diabetes and hypo open. A simple conversation about your fears, feelings or experiences related to hypos with your family or with a health care professional can help. TalkAboutHypos.ca has some helpful conversation starters for people with diabetes, family members and health care professionals.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

Disclosure: This post is proudly sponsored by Novo Nordisk. As always, the opinions written here are my own.

Beauty

Yes to Me! Feel Your Best at Any Age

November 4, 2019

This post is proudly sponsored by Allergan Canada. As always, the opinions expressed herein are my own.

No matter how young or old we are, we can agree that we all want to look and feel our best. Luckily with remarkable advances in science and medicine, people are living longer and looking younger in the process.

Thanks to some technological advances in skincare, women can unapologetically achieve a refreshing look on their own terms. Many women want to look and feel their best for their own age. Looking your age is less about trying to be someone younger, and more about being comfortable and confident in your own skin.

Last year, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Dr. Mauricio de Maio, an internationally renowned facial aesthetics expert, who has pioneered an innovative way to fight aging that focuses on feelings first. De Maio coined the term, MD CodesTM, which considers the full face and recognizes that individual areas of the face are inherently linked to specific emotional attributes.

Now, many dermatologists are using Dr. de Maio’s MD Codes^TM in determining the course of treatments with fillers like Juvéderm. The MD Codes^TMconsider the emotions women would like to achieve:

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to offer one of my readers a visit with Dr. Julia Carroll of Compass Dermatology, who utilizes Dr. de Maio’s approach. We visited Dr. Carroll’s office for a consultation to discuss the possibility of treatment with fillers like Juvéderm. The goal of fillers is to plump and lift for natural-looking results; you can still look like yourself, but a slightly refreshed version.

Consultation

Lindsay is a mom of two and in her early 40s. She doesn’t like her frown lines and says she doesn’t look happy even when she smiles. She doesn’t want to look angry or unapproachable. Also, she doesn’t like the lines around her eyes, and wears glasses to hide them and how she looks tired.

Dr. Carroll asked Lindsay some questions about her medical history, and lifestyle choices – including whether she ever smoked, if she wears sunscreen or spends a lot of time in the sun, and how her own mom aged. As studies have shown, smoking, sunscreen use, and genetics all play a factor in aging.

Then, Dr. Carroll presented the MD Codes^TMto Lindsay, and asked her to choose her top three goals; her reply:

• Less sad
• Look more feminine
• Look less saggy and slimmer

After the consultation, Dr. Carroll proposed a course of treatment that would help achieve Lindsay’s goals. Dr. Carroll suggested using some wrinkle reducing injections to release some of the tension to relax the muscles in between the eyes and muscles. She also suggested using Juvéderm to fill part of the face by Lindsay’s cheeks, temple and jawline to help make her face look slimmer.

Dr. Carroll explained what the treatment would entail, how to prepare for the treatment, and disclosed the potential side effects of using fillers. Once Lindsay’s questions were answered, Dr. Carroll’s assistant took her “before” photo, and we booked the treatment visit date!

Treatment

Dr. Carroll first drew out where she would apply treatment. Then, her assistant applied numbing cream to Lindsay’s face to help reduce any discomfort. Dr. Carroll then proceeded with the treatment, which lasted about 30 minutes. Right after the treatment, we could both see some results immediately. We noticed that Lindsay appeared refreshed, and eyes brighter.

Lindsay felt minimal bruising on one cheek, which went away within a couple of days. Lindsay felt the shape of her face appeared slimmer, and her eyes more widened. Her husband noticed her youthful appearance, saying she looked 10 years younger. Other friends complimented Lindsay on looking great but couldn’t quite pinpoint why! Lindsay’s results were quite subtle and natural-looking; she still looked like herself, but a slightly refreshed version.

We followed up with Dr. Carroll after two weeks when the facial fillers had settled. Dr. Carroll’s assistant also took Lindsay’s “after” photo as a comparison.

Juvéderm is a family of facial fillers used by your cosmetic doctor to refresh your appearance by smoothing away unwanted lines and wrinkles bringing back the natural contours of your face. Each product serves its own unique purpose, whether it’s to restore volume for a gentle lifting effect or to reshape and redefine the lips, ultimately hoping for a subtle younger look.¹

There is a misconception about this treatment because some people have overdone the use of fillers and end up looking different; but when expertly injected, filler should look natural. The ultimate goal when considering a treatment is not only to look your best but feel your best – at any age.

To learn more about the Juvéderm family of facial fillers, and to find a qualified doctor in your area, visit http://www.juvederm.ca.

^{[1] JUVÉDERM.ca. What is JUVÉDERM? https://www.juvederm.ca/en/faqs. Last accessed on January 23, 2019.}

Halloween

Halloween Oreo Pops – Jack O’Lantern and Jack Skellington

October 28, 2019

Halloween is one of my favourite holidays. I love decorating the house, figuring out costumes, and seeing all the kids out trick-or-treating. I also enjoy making fun Halloween cookies and cupcakes for the kids. As a Rogers ambassador, Ignite TV has an adorable app for Halloween that includes an Arts & Crafts section featuring some fun and easy recipes. Inspired by the recipe which originally appeared on Delish, I created my own Halloween Oreo Pops.

I had to adjust the recipe slightly as white chocolate doesn’t melt very well. Instead, I opted for melting wafers you can find at a bulk foods store as they are easier to work with (I went to Bulk Barn). Here is my recipe:

Halloween Oreo Pops – Jack O’Lantern and Jack Skellington

Ingredients

1 cup white chocolate melting wafers

1 cup orange chocolate melting wafers

1/4 cup dark chocolate melting wafers

16 Oreo cookies

4-5 spearmint gummy leaves

16 lollipop sticks or paper straws

Toothpick

Method

Fill a pot about 1/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and fit a stainless steel mixing bowl into the pot. The bottom of the bowl should not reach the water with a few inches in between.

Add the white chocolate wafers and stir until melted.

Take the Oreo cookies and pierce a lollipop stick or paper straw (press flat) into the Oreo cookie filling. Using a spoon, pour melted chocolate over an Oreo pop until covered. Allow excess chocolate to drip off. Place onto a wax-paper lined baking sheet. Continue to dip 7 more cookies.

Cut spearmint gummy leaves into thin slices. Melt the orange chocolate wafers. Before cooling, place a spearmint gummy leave as the pumpkin stump.

Place dipped cookies in the refrigerator to cool for about 10 minutes or until set.

Melt dark chocolate in a bowl. Using a toothpick, design faces on Oreo pops. Place back into the fridge to set.

Use the same idea and use green melting chocolate to make Frankensteins and witches!

Enjoy!

Motherhood

How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Moms

October 22, 2019

Children don’t come with instructions—I wish they did! There is no one-fits-all handbook on the best way to parent, which is why you’ll hear the advice from experienced moms to “trust your own instincts.” Moms (and dads) have to make decisions about their children every day, and often they question those decisions, wondering whether they made the best choices.

The stress associated with this huge responsibility can be overwhelming at times! The result is that moms feel they have to justify their parenting choices to anyone who questions them.

Why do Moms compare?

When a mom convinces herself that her way is the right or best way, she can then enter competitive territory where she may judge others for their parenting style and their lifestyle choices. Even if you’re not judging another mom in a negative way, you still may find yourself comparing. This happens when we squeeze ourselves into a type of mom category . . . stay-at-home mom, working mom, breastfeeding mom, to name a few. Oh and let’s not forget alpha mom, granola mom, helicopter mom, tiger mom, free-range mom. . . there are so many labels women have put on themselves, it’s no wonder some of us are feeling overwhelmed!

So what happens when we begin to look at other moms around us, either in our family circle, among friends, or even strangers? It’s human nature to want to fit in somewhere, whether it’s the mainstream norm or another particular group.

When views and choices don’t fit that norm, some women are left feeling discouraged and subpar. How can I measure up to what other moms are doing? Wow, that mom is grocery shopping with her baby in high heels! How does she have time to do her nails and makeup?! “She looks so good!”

You may be scratching your head wondering how that mom managed to lose all of her baby weight in a month while you’re still struggling seven months later. You may see a mom who seems to be super organized and looks put together; you may then feel worse about yourself because your hair is in a mom bun, you have no makeup on, and you’re still wearing your maternity jeans.

Comparing to moms online

Even online, when you scroll through Facebook or Instagram, you might see other moms who seem to have it all together. Most of the time, social media shows just a snapshot (which is likely staged) of their life. Every day, we see images and read stories that leave us feeling as if every parent is doing it better than we are. If social media is making you feel less confident, stop scrolling.

How to stop comparing yourself to other moms.

You need to ignore how other moms are doing it and focus on what works for YOU. Those picture-perfect moments you see on social media are not reality; they are just an image of a single moment, a carefully-designed instant. Stop yourself from feeling inadequate by comparing your behind-the-scene chaos to someone’s on-camera feature. If you can remember that behind every seemingly ideal photo is a mom who feels just like you do, you’ll be much better off.

Alternatively, if social media, magazine or images you see in media are causing you unnecessary stress and negative emotions, stop scrolling. Unfollow, unfriend, turn off the TV – remove yourself from the things that are triggering anything that makes you feel bad about yourself. You have the remote control in your hands, so don’t be afraid to use it to shut out things that don’t serve you.

Change your inner dialogue

We all have moments of low self-esteem or insecurity—it’s completely normal. But we can change that inner dialogue to tell ourselves that we ARE good enough. When looking at other moms, it’s important to keep things in perspective and be inspired by differences. Instead of beating yourself up, be grateful for what you have and can do. While you may not be able to do X as well as another mom, you shine at Y! Focus on the positive things that you can do and offer to your children/family. Sometimes that means giving yourself a pep talk, just as you would to a friend. Even simply telling yourself out loud, “you’re a good mother” can be enough to make you feel better.

Be confident in your way of parenting.

When you become a mother, you don’t become the mother of all children. You don’t suddenly become the ideal of what a mother should be according to everyone else’s standards. You become the mother of your own children, in the manner of your choosing.

Be secure in your own parenting decisions rather than look elsewhere for approval. Trusting your own instincts may come naturally for some but take practice for others on their parenting journey. When we feel good about our own decisions, we feel less of a need to justify our actions.

No one can parent your child the way you can, and no mother can do a better job raising your kids than YOU. Just as you automatically loved your baby as soon as you learned you were carrying him/her, your child loves you too wholeheartedly and unconditionally. YOU are and will always be the best mom for your children.

Revised excerpt from Maria Lianos-Carbone’s book, “Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year”, available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Food

Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf with Cheese Recipe

October 17, 2019

Meatloaf is a classic comfort-food staple in our household, especially during fall and winter. But why not kick it up another notch and wrap your meatloaf with bacon and stuff it with cheese? Ah yes! This bacon-wrapped meatloaf with cheese recipe is sure to please. The bacon keeps the meatloaf moist along with the extra ingredients in the meatloaf itself.

Kick it up again by cooking it in a smoker rather than in the oven. My husband did just this for Thanksgiving and the bacon-wrapped meatloaf with cheese was the highlight of our feast. Cut into thick slices and serve on a burger bun with extra cheese and gravy if you like.

Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf with Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1 ½ cups mushrooms, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 egg
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp Worchestershire sauce or Coconut Aminos (soy-free)
2 lbs AAA or prime rib beef
1-2 tbsp breadcrumbs (optional)
1 package bacon
1 cup cheddar, thick slices

Method

In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, mushrooms, oregano, marjoram, basil, salt and pepper and sauté for about 5 minutes or until soft. Allow to cool.

Once cool, add veggies to a Vitamix or blender, or blend with a hand mixer until the ingredients becomes a purée.

In a large bowl, add the beef and add the veggie puree, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce (or coconut aminos), and egg. Mix well with wooden spoon or hands. If too sticky, add some breadcrumbs.

Line counter with a large sheet of parchment paper and form a large rectangle evenly. Add cheddar cheese slices in the centre. Take sides of parchment paper and roll meatloaf, pressing down so that ground beef connects.

On another sheet of parchment paper, line about 5-6 slices of bacon horizontally with fatty sides facing one direction. Take another slice of bacon and begin to weave vertically, over and under the horizontal slices. Continue until you create a rectangle about 5-6 slices long and wide to cover the meatloaf.

Then, take the meatloaf and place in basket weave. Wrap the meatloaf from both sides with the bacon, stretching slightly.

Cook in a smoker according to directions, or bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 F for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or until meat thermometer registers at 170 F.

Yield: 1 loaf

Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf with Cheese Recipe

Meatloaf is a classic comfort-food staple in our household, especially during fall and winter. But why not kick it up another notch and wrap your meatloaf with bacon and stuff it with cheese? Ah yes! This bacon-wrapped meatloaf with cheese recipe is sure to please. The bacon keeps the meatloaf moist along with the extra ingredients in the meatloaf itself.

Kick it up again by cooking it in a smoker rather than in the oven. My husband did just this for Thanksgiving and the bacon-wrapped meatloaf with cheese was the highlight of our feast. Cut into thick slices and serve on a burger bun with extra cheese and gravy if you like.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1 ½ cups mushrooms, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 egg
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp Worchestershire sauce or Coconut Aminos (soy-free)
2 lbs AAA or prime rib beef
1-2 tbsp breadcrumbs (optional)
1 package bacon
1 cup cheddar, thick slices

Instructions

In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, mushrooms, oregano, marjoram, basil, salt and pepper and saute for about 5 minutes or until soft. Allow to cool.

Once cool, add veggies to the Vitamix and blend until becomes a puree.In a large bowl, add the beef and add the veggie puree, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce (or Coconut Aminos), and egg. Mix well with wooden spoon or hands. If too sticky, add some breadcrumbs.

Line counter with a large sheet of parchment paper and form a large rectangle evenly. Add cheddar cheese slices in the centre. Take sides of parchment paper and roll meatloaf, pressing down so that ground beef connects.

On another sheet of parchment paper, line about 5-6 slices of bacon horizontally with fatty sides facing one direction. Take another slice of bacon and begin to weave vertically, over and under the horizontal slices. Continue until you create a rectangle about 5-6 slices long and wide to cover the meatloaf.

Then, take the meatloaf and place in basket weave. Wrap the meatloaf from both sides with the bacon, stretching slightly.

Cook in a smoker according to directions, or bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 F for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or until meat thermometer registers at 170 F.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 359Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 383mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 23g

Health

What Does Depression Really Feel Like?

October 10, 2019

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day so I thought I’d share a few things this week about my own struggles with depression and anxiety in hopes that they may shed some light on what it’s like living with this debilitating condition.

Ten years ago, I wouldn’t dare speak of my clinical depression diagnosis. I felt I had to keep it a secret because people wouldn’t understand the condition and would judge me for it. I was afraid they wouldn’t believe that I could function normally with treatment, and treat me differently. I was worried they’d think I was “psycho” or “losing it” or “crazy”.

Today thanks to social media, we have various mental health awareness campaigns and initiatives that have catapulted mental health disorders into the spotlight, allowing for more people to feel comfortable enough to talk openly about their struggles. Thankfully, the stigma I was always so afraid of, is diminishing though there is still work to do.

Those who have never experienced living or knowing someone who has depression can’t quite understand the full scope of the disorder. It’s common to hear people say “why is he/she depressed?”

“She looks so happy!”

“He’s so successful and seems to have it all”

Unfortunately depression, like any other physical disorder, condition or disease, does not discriminate. Depression is an extremely complex disease and so much more than simply being unhappy. There are many factors involved which can include brain chemistry, genetic predisposition, personality, stress and much more.

Mental health awareness days are lovely – they really are. They put depression and other mood disorders into the forefront with positive, supportive messages like “it’s okay to not be okay” and “end the stigma”. But we need to dive a little deeper in truly understand what it’s like for someone who lives with depression (and people who can’t get the treatment they need).

What does depression really feel like?

The best way to describe how depression feels is simply this: a dark cloud is permanently hanging over your head.

Why you try to look up, you can’t see clearly as there is a veil covering your vision and purpose. You’re stuck in a “brain fog” where you can’t seem to think straight, focus or concentrate. You view the world as hopeless and only see the pain and suffering. You may question life and what is the whole point of it all. All you feel is utter dread. You may experience any or all of these feelings: sad, irritable, emotional, hopeless, helpless, unworthy, lonely, numb, empty.

When you’re depressed, you no longer enjoy the things you used to give you joy. Simple tasks like making the bed, taking a shower, or cooking a meal can seem like a huge chore. You’d much rather stay in your safe cocoon and not face the outside world. So you avoid friends, conversations, and even social situations like the grocery store clerk (thank you self-serve checkout). You don’t have the energy to carry on a conversation or engage in small talk.

You may also avoid friends and family because you’re too exhausted to fake a smile and that all is okay because you’re afraid you’ll burst into tears if they ask you how you’re really doing. You can’t explain why you’re crying because nothing specific happened. While you might have plans to socialize and you’re really looking forward to seeing your friends, you end up cancelling because it’s all too much to handle.

There are also physical symptoms of depression people might feel including headaches, muscle pain, digestive issues, fatigue, sleeping issues. I’ve suffered all of the above at various times, but the one constant is the sense of heaviness in your body. Your body feels so tired and sore like you ran a marathon. You know you should get up and move around but you’re in such a state that you simply can’t move.

Getting treatment

First and foremost, if you’re feeling constantly sad, hopeless, helpless, full of dread, please visit your doctor. Medication and therapy together will help. Some people need to try different medications to find the right one.

I tried several medications before finding the one that helped ease my symptoms. I always say my meds take the edge off. They are not “happy pills”; to me, they balance out my brain chemicals (neurotransmitters). I become stabby when people suggest that depression can be treated with diet and exercise. Would you say that to someone with diabetes or a heart condition? Just as you would take medication for any other physical ailment, so should you take for your brain.

Someone who is being treated for depression with medication can function fully but still have “bad” days. Being on meds can treat the symptoms of depression and make them feel “normal”. The proper dosage should help to make you feel like yourself. And it is possible with the right treatment to live with depression and lead a fulfilling, happy life.

Next time, I’ll share how to cope living with depression and the daily practices and tools I use to keep my mental health in check.

Mental health resources:

Depression Symptoms and Warning Signs

Home

https://www.yssn.ca/310-COPE

http://www.crisisservicescanada.ca

https://www.crisistextline.ca

http://suicidehotlines.com

http://depressionhurts.ca/en/

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

amw

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7. Hurom Juicer

8. Scentuals Holiday Essential Oil Set

9. Instant Hydrating Mask

10. Synergy Yoga Mat-Towel

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12. OctoVie FACE Mini

13. Breville Smart Tea Infuser

14. Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers

For New Moms – “Oh Baby!”

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5 Ways Traveling Alone Can Change Your Life For The Better

1. Traveling alone can improve your quality of life

2. Recharge your inner batteries

3. Celebrate being alone

4. Unplug from the technological world

5. You will learn your strengths and weaknesses

Consultation

Treatment

Halloween Oreo Pops – Jack O’Lantern and Jack Skellington

Ingredients

Method

Why do Moms compare?

Comparing to moms online

How to stop comparing yourself to other moms.

Change your inner dialogue

Be confident in your way of parenting.

Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf with Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

Method

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

What does depression really feel like?

Getting treatment

Mental health resources: