Décolleté and dangerous liaisons

Recently in Canada, attention has been focused on a political scandal that reached into the federal Cabinet. The scandal involves Maxime Bernier, the recently resigned Foreign Affairs Minister, a Conservative, and his involvement with Julie Couillard, a woman who has been involved with several men linked prominently to Quebec’s notorious biker gangs. 

To be clear, Bernier was not forced to resign over his involvement with the colourful and questionable Ms. Couillard. His fall from grace had been building with a series of bad judgment calls and ill-considered and questionable public statements. He was fired when it emerged that he had carelessly left classified documents at Ms. Couillard’s home.

The scandal has all the elements of a blockbuster. As it reaches to the highest level of government, people are choosing up sides - and Ms. Couillard is playing to the crowds.

It seems that her troubled youth has followed her.  Reports say her resume gave her occupation as a real estate agent, yet the company that she claims to work for denies employing her. She has claimed to travel in circles of wealthy businessmen and influential people; one can only wonder how she made that jump from her prior associations with bike gangs. She has also worked as an actress and model and casting agent in Quebec. Her present address is a modest two-story home.

At the risk of sounding dramatic, this is no ordinary little sex scandal. This woman - who is so outraged that she has been at the center of a media storm and had her reputation damaged - has had long-term affiliations with serious crime figures. She is no fragile flower.

It is also worrisome that the RCMP and other security agencies did not uncover and act on this information sooner. It’s lovely to think that everyone gets a second chance and that even government officials are entitled to private lives, but they’re not. When you agree to serve your country, you accept responsibilities and limits on your personal behavior. You are vulnerable. You have secrets, you have power, and there are people who would seek to exploit those things for the wrong reasons. Would a high-ranking government official need to be told this?

John Kennedy was told he couldn’t frolic with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack because of their affiliation with the mafia. He knew, as did everyone else, that Frank Sinatra wasn’t the mafia, but the association was too close for comfort. The break was reputed to have cost him a good and valued friend, as well as a campaign supporter who helped him get elected.

Eliot Spitzer’s brilliant political career as a prosecutor and Governor of New York wasn’t destroyed simply because of his infidelity. That is between him and his wife. If you need proof, look at his successor; he has also strayed and survived politically. Although Spitzer has not been charged with anything – at least so far – he was forced to apologize. What he did would have made him vulnerable to the very people he once tried to prosecute. He knew this and was forced to get out.

As outraged as some Americans were over Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky in the White House, the scandal ultimately passed. Even though Clinton was impeached, no one could claim that what had occurred threatened national security or the government.  Ironically, according to studies by the America Voter Future and Stamford University, the scandal may have hurt Vice President Al Gore in his run for the presidency. Many Americans, who were disappointed by Clinton’s perceived lack of moral character, took it out on Clinton’s second-in-command, simply by virtue of their on-the-job relationship. Many independents chose Bush for his “moral” character.

In the case of the Bernier-Couillard scandal, many Canadian columnists have been quick to choose up sides. Even those who defend her as a “wronged woman” have yet to evidence any blooming career for the 37-year-old - or even a fledging career.  One self-styled feminist columnist seems to think this is just another case of a woman being victimized for being too sexy. She cites the décolleté dress that Ms. Couillard now claims Bernier asked her to wear to his swearing-in ceremony. It caused a buzz. Quelle surprise! Ceremonies are by design duller than doing the dishes. But seriously, if Ms. Couillard did not have a questionable past with organized crime figures, and if her boyfriend had not lost the classified papers, would anyone have given her more than her 15 minutes of fame? No way darlings. She’s a pretty and buxom babe, but she is no star. She is not an heiress, or celebrity, nor has she been very clever.

Sadly, it seems she has made a career out of bad choices. It doesn’t sound as if she had a great start in life and for that I have some sympathy. But darlings, it seems she has a few opportunities now. She claims Bernier didn’t love her and she made a deal “to be a couple”. She is quoted in interviews she chose to give, saying that her past biker associates “treated her better”. We all know what they do to other women: drugs, prostitution, and gang rape. I shudder. No one is destroying this women’s life. She has been working on that for a while. She was not a famous person, and if she had laid low the media would have gone fast - if she committed no crimes. No, she has sought the limelight and is looking for her next ticket to ride. 

According to an Ipsos poll in the National Post, Canadians are almost equally divided on whether the Bernier issue needs more probing. Now that he has resigned and it is unlikely that any secrets have been leaked, there may be little left to discuss beyond how and why they didn’t catch the breach to begin with. A House of Commons committee is looking into the situation, but no full public inquiry has been called. And an investigation may be brewing in Quebec about some contracts that were awarded to a firm connected to a former biker and somehow to Couillard.

Considering the current political scandals brewing in North America, this one is truly a tempest in a teapot except for what might have been and what there is to learn from it. The powerful seldom topple from the top. They always fall from the bottom. The little things and little people bring down titans. Kingdoms do indeed fall from want of a nail. George W. Bush is discovering right now, as his former press secretary Scott McClellan’s book dominates the talk show circuit.

We have no choice but to look at who our top officials canoddle with - just as we cannot ignore the state of their health or personal security. We need to know if they are handling stress or resorting to drugs or alcohol, or even unwise and compromising sex. It’s onerous and invasive. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

This scrutiny also affects their family and close associates. It’s not a new concept. The old saying goes: Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion. We have come a long way when Bill Clinton ran for President and Hillary was at times forced to pose in the role of a traditional wife and mother - and even dole out recipes for chocolate chip cookies. Today as a Senator and presidential candidate, few would question her dedication as a mother. And no one in their right mind would ask her for a recipe. Hillary Clinton has defined her own role: Senator, professional, woman, and wife, and mother. It works for her and her family.

Nor does a sexy or racy past necessarily exclude women from being taken seriously as a mother, business person, or politician - if she has the goods, and makes good.

Former Playboy playmate Pamela Anderson parlayed her over exposure into a career as a model, actress, TV producer, and activist. She is also a dedicated and hands-on mother to her sons. Former hardcore porn star Ilona Staller was elected to the Italian parliament. She has campaigned for a variety of social causes including aids and animal rights.

The list is endless. Gone are the days of double standards. A drunk and promiscuous woman is unattractive. But isn’t a drunk and randy man equally unappealing. I have little patience for this current cult of instant celebrity, born of scandal. I don’t get its appeal. I am appalled that a call girl made millions from a tacky song on the Internet. If she had the voice of Piaf, I would have understood the attraction. Those who want to defend Julie Couillard may do so, but they should think twice, and ask just how has this women been victimized? What is her career? Where was she when her biker boyfriends and husband where carrying out their crimes? And how many years did she live off the ill-gotten gains? Also, she could have just been quiet. The attention would have gone away. I have no desire to defend or condemn her. Women who make careers as appendages and victims bore me. We have a lot more to offer.

No, like the girl in the Spitzer case and many femme fatales before, it seems she is looking to cash in on her notoriety. She wants more than her 15 minutes of fame -perhaps a reality TV show or a book deal. Who knows? I can’t fathom it. To lose your good reputation, you have to have established it. The same goes for a career. If she has done that, it would behoove her to come forward with proof, instead of all her allegations of betrayal and mistreatment. No darlings, I don’t believe she was condemned as some claim for her décolleté. I believe it was her former dangerous liaisons that did her in.

Baby be bare

Summer is the time for sexy and sleek skin. You want to be smooth as silk, and there are lots of ways to get that way. For instance, DolceDolce’s Anne Gravel had always hesitated to try home kits or any other waxing. She thought it would hurt and take ages. But when she tried Nair Soothing Wax Kit, a system that uses no heated wax strips, she was hooked. After the demonstration, Anne said: ‘You don’t really need to commit to it because it’s not expensive or hard do. Then you’ll see how well it works and how easy it is.’

For the lowdown on how to banish unwanted hair, we went to an expert, Professor Rhonda Shupe, of Seneca College’s Cosmetics & Esthetics Diploma Programs. She gave us straight no-nonsense answers to all our questions.

DD: What is the difference between waxing and using a depilatory to remove hair on your legs?

RS: Time is one factor. Using a depilatory is much quicker - three minutes versus half an hour to wax the lower leg. A second difference is the time between treatments. When you use a depilatory, stubble can start within one day as the hair is removed just below the skin's surface. This also depends on how fast the customers' hair grows. The smoothness of the skin with depilatory use lasts twice as long as shaving. When using an epilatory (waxing), the smoothness can last weeks, depending on the stage of hair growth.  The third factor - with depilatory use the hair also grows in finer and eventually does not grow in at all (after years of consistent use).

DD: What is the best method to remove very fine hair from the legs or arms?

RS: The best way to remove hair of any thickness is to wax for the reason mentioned above. Any first-time hair removal customer should always resort to waxing as other methods distort the hair follicle.  The sooner you start to wax, the faster the hair will not grow back.

DD: Should you use a different method to remove dark or coarse hair?

RS: Personally, I am a firm believer in waxing. Nair's Cire Divine no-strip wax is great for any strength of hair. The longer you wax, the finer the hair will become, which is a great incentive to wax versus other methods. Alternatively, Nair just introduced a new home skin wax kit called Soothing, that features menthol, which can help minimize the ‘ouch’ of waxing by a cooling, soothing sensation. It really works!

DD: What is the best method for the bikini area?

RS: Waxing is the preferred method, but depilatories can also be very effective. Be sure to look for a formula made for your skin type and do a patch test.

DD: What causes ingrown hairs and how can they be avoided?

RS: Ingrown hairs can happen on any part of the body, but primarily in areas where there is a restriction of free hair growth.  Whenever the hair is being removed below the skin's surface, it's important to exfoliate the skin on a regular basis.  By constantly removing the dead surface skin cells, the hair is free to grow out of the hair follicle without having to push through a dead layer of skin.  If the skin is flaky, the hair grows under this dead layer causing ingrown hair. All Nair depilatories (Shower Power in particular) are great as they exfoliate the skin while removing unwanted hair. Other reasons for ingrown hairs can be weak hair, distorted follicles, or tears in the hair follicle.

DD: Some women bruise badly during bikini waxing. Is there a way bruising can be avoided?

RS: When bruising occurs on any area of the skin, it has nothing to do with the product used.  It has everything to do with the technique used by the customer.  It's extremely imperative to always tightly support the skin when waxing on all parts of the body.  Waxing causes a suction action and if the skin is not supported, the blood is pulled to the surface of the skin causing bruising. A second cause can be removing the hair in the wrong direction (always pull in the opposite direction of hair growth).  A third cause can be pulling away from the skin and not across the skin.  When you pull across a well-supported skin, there is no cause for bruising.  The good news is that it's a superficial bruise and should disappear within a couple of days. Pulling away from the skin and not supporting the skin also causes the skin to lose support which causes premature slackening of the skin resulting in lines and wrinkles.

DD: Some fair women have very fine hair on their faces. What is the best way to remove it without causing sensitivity?

RS: Nair Cire Divine stripless wax is a European-based product formulated for the face and body. It's great for sensitive skin, and therefore minimizes any possible sensitivity.  With constant use over the past several years, I have never had a problem using this wax on any skin type or condition, including sensitive skin.  Proper pre and post-care and proper skin support mimimizes any possible skin reactions.

DD: What is the safest type of hair removal for anyone with sensitive skin?

RS: Any method is safe. I would recommend products formulated for sensitive skin and to firmly adhere to manufacturer's directions.  For example, if you're supposed to leave a depilatory on for a maximum of 10 minutes, do not push the time limit further.  Proper pre and post-care is extremely crucial also.  For example, always make sure the skin is clean before any treatment, apply the recommended product after use and do not irritate by touching or rubbing the area.  No sun exposure for 24 to 48 hours before and after treatment is also extremely important.

DD: Are home waxing products as safe as professional products?

RS: Yes, but as customers are not professional practitioners, it's all about proper technique and adhering to the manufacturer's directions.

DD: How long does it take a beginner to wax her legs?

RS: For novice users, I highly recommend using wax strips instead of a stripless wax.  Nair's Soothing Wax Kit is a great first time product to use.  Not only is it faster than a stripless hot wax but the strips are infused with menthol to ease the discomfort of waxing.  A professional can wax both full legs in under an hour, and half legs (knee down) in half an hour, so I would expect to double the time, depending on your level of experience. 

RS: Absolutely, however I would recommend someone to help with proper support of the skin if you find it difficult on the curved areas of the bikini area.  The bikini and underarm area are prone to bruising for this reason.

DD: Is laser hair removal permanent?  Are there any risks to laser hair removal?

RS: Yes, it is however costly and not pain-free, as many clinics advertise.  The other criteria to consider is that this process works best on dark hair as the light is attracted to the dark hair, therefore better results. 

DD: Is it safe to wax your own moustache or eye brows?

RS: Yes, it's totally safe to wax your upper lip - men have moustaches-- and eye brows.   Wax strips or hot wax can be used for the upper lip and hot wax works best for the brows, like Nair Cire Divine.  Again, proper support in both of these areas is essential as these areas are prone to slackening tissue.

Summer hair blues

Summer time and the livin’ is easy. So the song goes, until you try to do your hair. Hot days can make it flop, droop, frizz, and give you the blues. What’s a lady to do if she doesn't want to give up and sing the blues? HairPlay’s Set and Seal are two of the best and lightest styling products I have tried.

Spa in a bottle

C’watre  is a unique anti-aging product from the sea. It uses pure ocean water, not seaweed or algae, to make a specialized anti-aging line. It’s not inexpensive, but it smells divine and feels wonderful. We haven’t tried the whole line, but the cleanser from their Kanreki lineis delicious. It removes make-up and grime and leaves skin petal soft and glowing.  This line will appeal to those seeking clean-luxury. www.cwatre.com

Throw another pizza on the grill!

Chef Craig Priebe has combined two great summer food loves in his book Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas. The stunningly photographed volume will make your mouth water. Chef Priebe tackles his reader’s fear of dough with precise instructions.  He even sent this tip: “Rolling it out won't make it tough, but if you start squishing it around in your hands your dough will be like rubber. Careful!!” There are also many helpful illustrations to help even a novice make crispy, gourmet pizza. So if you fancy yourself a grill master or a pizza chef, and want to take it to the next level, this book is for you.  www.grilledpizzasandpiadinas.com      

Warm summer evenings are just perfect for impromptu parties - simple little evenings of sweetness.  Midweek entertaining doesn’t have to be complicated, just thoughtful and delicious. You don’t have to stock a full bar to be a good hostess. As long as you have two good drinks and a good non-alcoholic drink, you have it covered! An easy to mix cocktail is always fun and a real crowd-pleaser. Also think about serving POM pomegranate juice or Ocean Spray Cranberry cocktail as your non-alcoholic alternatives. They are delicious over ice with soda and a wedge of citrus. Wash all the citrus with soap, rinse well, and dry before cutting. Think about getting some lovely Italian citrus-flavored sodas, too. Treat the designated drivers and non-drinkers as royalty too - not as an after-thought.

Flavored vodkas are a quick and easy way to make stylish cocktails. We enjoyed this one recently. It’s a spin-off the classic Lime Ricky drinks. You can serve it as a Martini neat and chilled, or you can serve this drink in a tall glass on the rocks with soda. Both ways it’s a sweet-tart treat that is perfect for summer. With soda you stretch the drink and also stretch your calories.

Cherry Lime Ricky

2 oz of Three Olives Cherry Flavored Vodka (Intensely flavored premium filter vodka from England).

Juice of two fresh limes

2 tsp. frozen limeade

Shake over ice in shaker and pour into a martini glass.

You can also pour this into tall glass over ice and top up with soda water for a refreshing drink.

A lighter hummus

There’s nothing new and exciting about hummus. You can buy it everywhere now days. So why make it? Well darlings, this recipe is super simple. The ingredients are easy to keep on hand, and the recipe does not call for tahahini sesame paste. By making it yourself, you can always have it when you want something in a hurry for an impromptu party. Plus the store versions contain tons of hidden calories in added fats, even organic ones.

2 cans of chick peas. Use any good organic brand washed and drained.

2 lemons  juiced (in a pinch you can use 2-3 tbsp. of  bottled lemon juice, but you should keep citrus on hand. Buy on sale and use. It’s so good for you!)

1 clove of crushed garlic

1 tsp. kosher salt

¼ cup good olive oil

¼ cup of chopped fresh parsley - optional

2 tbsp. Kadoya sesame with cayenne pepper. If you can't find this product use the regular sesame oil and 1tsp cayenne pepper. This replaces the sesame paste and keeps forever and can be used in Asian recipes. Plus it is very inexpensive. Look for it in the Asian section of your grocery. I really like it and use it a lot as a final finish to many Asian dishes.

Organic Chicken stock in a box or low fat yogurt (optional)

Place the rinse chick peas in food processor or blender. You can also use a stick blender, mortar, or even a fork to mash the hummus.

Add all other ingredients and blend. Some people like to leave a little texture. I like the hummus smooth. If it is a bit dry, you can add more olive oil. Or if you want to keep your calories down, you can add a bit of low-fat yogurt or chicken stock. Be careful and add 1 tbsp. at a time. You do not want to over-thin it. Correct salt. This is a very fresh and lemony hummus. It takes minutes to make, and you can serve it on anything: toasted pitas, melbas, crackers. It’s fabulous for parties or simple entertaining. It will please all your guests - even vegetarians.

I made the hummus in the Magic Bullet Platinum Pro. It was perfect for the job as it has small blender jars with lids. I like to make it and then store it in the jar for the week. I use the hummus as a healthy snack as well as a quick sandwich spread.

If you buy a lot of whipped snacks such as hummus, or are addicted to frozen drinks or smoothies, this machine might be perfect for you. It makes making your own healthier, cheaper alternatives fast and easy. Our art director and head photographer Karin Pacione calls it: “the best thing I ever bought.”

We women are wonderful, but we also wreak our share of havoc, too. We can’t always believe a woman is a victim just because she claims to be. It has become a little too easy for some women to grab at this defense. Many women are victims. But just like some men, some are operators and they do the rest of us a lot of harm. Crooked politicians and businesses discredit their honest colleagues. As an editor, I feel threatened by journalists who publish carelessly or inaccurately. I don’t like the example Ms. Couillard sets and how she reflects on the rest of us.

It has also been upsetting to see how Sharon Stone chose to use her public platform at Cannes. She implied China’s devastatingearthquake may have been a “karmic consequence” of China’s Tibet policy. Her remarks were cruel, thoughtless, and inexcusable. I wonder what Ms. Stone thinks was behind the brain hemorrhage that almost killed her a few years ago? Dior made her apologize, but she did it badly. Diorpulled Stone from its ads in China and is re-evaluating their relationship with her. I hope they realize that Ms. Stone is not a suitable beauty icon, as she holds very ugly sentiments. 

Well darlings, summer is finally on its way - and none too soon for most of us. Summer is a wonderful time to stretch and dream – a wonderful thing that happens when people shed their winter layers to embrace the warmth. I think there’s a special magic to every season in the city. The summer spins its spell with sidewalk cafes, pretty women in summer frocks, and strains of music that float on heavy air. Surrender to it darlings, and have a sweet week. 

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