| Life, Style, Health |
| Strong, Smart Women – Have
Heart |
| Too fat at to be fit? Too thin to be healthy? Women around the world
are preoccupied with weighty issues these days. I can’t pick
up a newspaper or turn on the television without someone being ticked-off
about weight. But where to weigh-in on this issue? It’s not
so simple – at least not to me. |
| I understand we have a nation of little girls preoccupied with dieting
when I watch a chat show and see teenyboppers earnestly confiding
their “fear of fat” stories. I have seen anorexics and
known bulimics -- and it isn’t pretty. I am certainly not discounting
the pain of this disorder. |
| As a fashion magazine editor, I have also known my share of models
and actresses. Some of them – actually many of them -- are naturally
thin. Some diet. Thin women on runways and in magazines are facts
of fashion. |
| I doubt anyone is any thinner than Twiggy was in her heyday. Yet
eating disorders did not figure prominently in stories or histories
of the 60’s. I think what’s going on is more than just
“fashion.” Many doctors who specialize in eating disorders
indicate these disorders are more complicated than a desire to be
“fashionable”. |
| At the same time, obesity is running rampant. The World
Health Organization reports it is even emerging in developing
countries such as China. |
| The American Heart Association has just released new guidelines.
The AMA says women have a higher risk of developing heart disease
than they think they do and should take early action to prevent heart
attack and stroke. |
It is safe to say that Canadian women share this risk, given similarities
in lifestyle and diet. Anyone doubting this should check Health Canada
stats!
Now, here is a frightening thought: heart attack and stroke are now
the Number One killers of North American women -- and just old women. |
| I think being concerned about a healthful approach to life and all
that it entails is where sensible women should weigh in on the question
of weight. |
| The guidelines emphasize the importance of a “heart-smart”
or healthful lifestyle for everyone – and sooner not later.
That means low fat, lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, and exercise.
They also mention not relying on vitamins or supplements to prevent
heart attack. So smart -- so not glam! |
| The key is early education about nutrition and fitness. Women rail
about the pressure to be thin and the cruelty to fat people, which
is all of course unacceptable and destructive. But the fact remains,
we need to teach women how to eat and exercise from an early age to
prevent the problems. We also should support those who need to break
addictions and learn new health habits. |
| People who are fit and healthy have a good self-image. They don’t
have to starve themselves and are less likely to engage in other unhealthful
behavior -- all things being equal. Unfortunately, physical aspects
of life get harder as you age, wisdom notwithstanding. A strong body
and healthy habits make the unavoidable challenges of aging easier.
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| So why don’t we stop all the distracting chit-chat about models
and being “too thin” or “too fat” and start
raising, and being, strong smart women. See you at the gym! |
| Want to find out how healthy your heart is? Check the
numbers at www.goredforwomen.org |
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Image: Margie Barr
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| Beauty |
| At First Blush |
| Blush like a Rose in Bloom |
Why do we blush? Because we are excited, embarrassed, or turned
on. A natural blush is sign of youth, health, and heightened sexuality.
Blush applied to your face should be just as natural, sheer, and luminous
as the one nature gave you. Streaking hard, dry colours just broadcasts
that the rose is blown. Crème Blush
by NYX Cosmetics is sheer warm colour that
glides over your face leaving a luminous glow. We love hot pink! So
go ahead blush at full bloom. www.NYXCosmetics.com
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| Fashion |
| Something that
Screams You! |
| Just a few little things are all it takes to make you look new and
now. Think about shoes or a sash. Try something fun and maybe a little
fou that screams now and you. |
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Pick up a pair of flat shoes, little French schoolgirl shoes. Think
shiny patents with a bow, or little Audrey Hepburn ballet flats that
girls that have always worn in Greenwich Village.
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Lacoste Spring Line |
Image: Karin Pacione
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| Be romantic in a delicate lace blouse, something new and floaty
with an empire waist, or a little vintage number with ruffles at the
neck just like Elie Tahari made. |
| Don’t forget to get a miniskirt. Something playful and short.
Look for A-line, a gay line like what Mary Quant
and Twiggy wore. |
Finally, ask yourself how fabulous are your jeans? Do they make
you feel slim, sexy, and chic? Or is it time for something new? Something
that makes you feel a bit more sleek?
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Renew your look, refresh your spirit, darlings. Spring is almost
in the air! Pull on your boots and pick up your umbrella. Let’s
will the last of this nasty weather away and shop into spring.
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| Drop-Dead Dress |
Ask any designer this season and they will tell you one of the must-have
items this spring is a fabulous frock. Every women should have an
outfit that is dead-simple to put on and drop-dead gorgeous to wear.
So unless you never – and darling that is a very longtime –
wear dresses, look at these two little numbers from Narcissist
Design. The Andrea and the
Pamela are fabulous, easy-to-wear sexy
frocks you can dress up or down. They pack like a dream -- the wrinkles
fall out -- and they look great on curvy and not-so-curvy bodies.
It must be magic.
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| Not registered yet to receive DolceDolce’s free weekly email
newsletter? Help us grow; sign-up
today, and forward
to your friends. Because life should be sweet. |
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| Fashion Alert, Life and Style |
| Green - Go Ahead: Buy the Bracelet
and Send Something Back |
|
Beyonce |
50% of net profits of the Green Bracelet
only will go to DEF
|
| Have you seen the Academy Award-nominated Blood Diamond,
the riveting Hollywood blockbuster starring Leo DiCaprio,
Jennifer Connelly, and Djimon
Hounsou, about the conflict diamonds out of Africa?
It’s a hot topic. |
| The Simmons Jewelry Collection’s
-- co-owed by Russell Simmons and Kimora
Lee Simmons (Baby Phat)-- new Green Initiative
collection is bound to be a hot must-have item among fashion and music
industry trendsetters. Coinciding with launch of the new line, Mr.
Simmons also announced the creation of the Diamond Empowerment
Fund. The DEF is an international,
non-profit organization, with a mission to raise money for educational
programs to uplift the people and communities of Africa. |
| Mr. Simmons created both projects after traveling to Botswana
and South Africa. Half of the net profits
from each bracelet and 25 percent of the net profits from the rest
of The Green Initiative line will go to
fund D.E.F. |
Each bracelet is made of African green malachite, with a certified
conflict-free rough diamond. The line will be available in March.
The bracelets have already been seen on the wrists of Beyonce,
Naomi Campbell,
Eddie Murphy,
Penelope Cruz,
Jon Voight, Chris
Tucker, Gabrielle
Union, T.I. and
others. Gorgeous bracelet, lovely idea.
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| Life, and Style |
Stick Your Image
Darling
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We love images at DolceDolce. We are mad about pictures, and positively
insane about prints! So we thought VistaPrint’s new personalized
picture sticky notes were cute. Put your face, kids, or pet –
darling, you tell me – on a pad of sticky notes. The first pad
is free – how sweet is that? This has grandparent gift all over
it. www.vistaprint.com
or www.vistaprint.ca
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| Life, and Food |
| A Quick and Chic
Bite with Drinks |
| ½ baguette or 2 mini-baguettes - fresh and sliced into thin
slices |
| 1 jar of fig spread |
| 4 oz. / 250 grams thinly sliced Parma ham (buy a bit more ham if
you want) |
| 4 oz. / 250 grams good quality creamy goat cheese –avoid strong
garlic flavours. |
| Spread the slices of bread with the fig spread, then add the Parma
ham. Top it all with small lump of goat
cheese. |
| Place the finished pieces on cookie sheet. Bake in hot oven 450F/230C
on the middle rack till the cheese is bubbling. Watch carefully; it
takes only a few minutes. A bit sweet, salty, creamy and crispy! |
| There it is, darlings -- another week gone. So please forward
DolceDolce to a friend (it takes a second)
and please sign-up
if you haven’t already. We’re free! Shop for a dress,
put on some blush, and don’t worry about your weight just live
smart and well – it’s the best any of us can do. Because
life should be sweet. |
| Gracey Hitchcock |
Editor |
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