Sephora’s new beauty insider freebie

Canadians who are Sephora Beauty Insiders can snag a fragrant freebie this month. A trio of limited-edition mini perfumes. Remember Benefit Cosmetics‘ Crescent Row? Gina, Lee Lee and Sofia have to share the street with three new arrivals. They are Garden of Good & Eva, lookin’ to Rock Rita and So hooked on Carmella.

Sample all three in a perfectly packaged gift set at Sephora now.Each eau de toilette is unique. Eva is crisp and fresh, Rita is fruity and stylish, and Carmella is exquisitely feminine. They all smell great.

Sometimes it is worth it to scroll all the way down those “junk” emails and read the fine print.

Victoria’s Secret opens in Toronto

Torontonians have been eagerly awaiting the opening of Victoria’s Secret. The Grand Opening Event starts on Thursday, August 26 featuring resident Angel, Adriana Lima. She will be signing autographs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on opening day. Shoppers who spend $100 or more gain access to the VIP line to meet and greet with Adriana sooner.

Spend $75 and receive a Limited Edition Tote. It’s filled with beauty goodies and The Lacie™. Head over to Yorkdale Shopping Centre to experience the entire collection. Offering everything from lingerie to beauty products, Victoria’s Secret has a touch of indulgence for everyone.

Established in San Francisco in 1977, Victoria’s Secret was sold to Limited Brands in 1982. Representing other well-known companies, like Bath and Body Works, Limited Brands has journeyed north to conquer the Canadian market. Torontonians can now take advantage of a tangible shopping experience. Previously the products were only available online or through a catalogue. Many are happy not to have to drive across the border to shop the highly coveted brand.

The first Canadian store opened August 12 in Edmonton.

Inspiring Music From Eat Pray Love

I checked out Eat Pray Love a few days ago with a close friend who introduced me to the book years ago. It was nice that we could share in the experience of the movie after appreciating the book. A movie is never as good as the book, for me. Too many details are left out for obvious reasons. But Julia Roberts was calling us  . . .

I try to stay away from trailers and reviews of movies that I want to see. I like to go in with an open mind. A wonderful surprise came in the form of the soundtrack. It’s powerful. I was so happy to hear Canadian artist Neil Young. Harvest Moon and Heart Of Gold resonate in important scenes. These songs evoke such pleasurable memories for me. Neil Young is one of my dad’s favourite artists. I grew up listening to them. Heart Of Gold has been one of my personal anthems for years. It’s nice to see proof of classics never going out of style.

Here’s the track listing:

1. Flight Attendant – Josh Rouse, Sumi Jo, Wiener Philharmoniker, Georg Solti

2. Last Tango In Paris (Suite Pt. 2) – Gato Barbieri

3. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – Sly & The Family Stone

4. “Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen” – Sumi Jo, Wiener Philharmoniker, Georg Solti

5. Heart Of Gold – Neil Young

6. Kaliyugavaradana – Various Artists, U. Srinivas

7. The Long Road – Eddie Vedder, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

8. Harvest Moon – Neil Young

9. Samba da Benção – Bebel Gilberto

10. Wave – João Gilberto

11. Got To Give It Up – Marvin Gaye

12. ‘S Wonderful – João Gilberto

13. Better Days – Eddie Vedder

14. Attraversiamo – The Hollywood Studio Symphony

Spa While The Kids Play

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and escape to picturesque Niagara Falls. Great Wolf Lodge is the perfect family escape. And there’s a secret for women (and men) to discover. Elements Spa and Salon offers the best in pampering and relaxation. It is truly an indulgent break from the everyday chaos of life. Be pampered with innovative treatments like the café cocoa scrub or mojito lime scrub. Both are enhanced using the Vichy Shower. Spa goers can receive their body treatment while the Vichy Shower delivers the therapeutic benefits of massaging water through five shower heads.

Highly recommended is the Niagara Maple Indulgence. This one-hour treatment leaves skin soft, smooth and smelling like delectable syrup. Included is a mini-facial, hand and foot massage. Element’s has tapped into the benefits of pure maple syrup, rich in disease-fighting anti-oxidants. The spa is a quiet-zone. No children allowed. This adds to the serenity that one feels when entering. The staff is friendly and are experts in all available treatments.

Not sure what’s offered? Download a brochure and plan an escape. Children can go to the Cub Club while adults have their time away. Arts and crafts, role plays, and imagination await children, through the careful supervision of trained staff.

Eat Pray . . . Heal Yourself

I had forgotten how good it feels to just breathe. Pure-uncluttered-no kids around-blissful-breathing.

At Dr. Blessyl Buan‘s Inner Healing Workshop, participants were treated to a meditative and restorative hour of exercise and wisdom.

Dr. Blessyl is a chiropractor, acupuncturist and pilates expert. Inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert‘s book Eat, Pray, Love, she decided to combine pilates inspired exercises with a powerful, self-healing tool, the Acuball. I’m using the Acuball as I type this. It’s improving my posture, which I love.

Dr. Blessyl stressed the concept of belly breathing – deep and slow inhalation and exhalation while placing your hands on your belly. The magic happened when we placed the Acuball on tender, sore muscles while incorporating belly breathing.

Our physical pain can be tied to our emotions. Like Gilbert says in Eat, Pray, Love, “Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions.” Healing our emotional pain is just as important as healing our physical ailments.

Dr. Blessyl says, “As women, we have the tendency to take on a lot, and we are very good at it. But we must first take care of ourselves so we can carry on taking care of others. Start by bringing yourself down to earth by breathing.”

The last ten minutes of the workshop were devoted to meditation, while Dr. Blessyl read us some excerpts from Eat, Pray, Love. I could feel all my stress melting away. The workshop was empowering. We were given the tools we needed to focus on ourselves and begin our journey to self-healing and happiness.

“We search for happiness everywhere, but we are like Tolstoy’s fabled beggar who spent his life sitting on a pot of gold, under him the whole time. Your treasure–your perfection–is within you already. But to claim it, you must leave the busy commotion of the mind and abandon the desires of the ego and enter into the silence of the heart.”

~Elizabeth Gilbert Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

Another Inner Healing workshop runs on August 11. Visit www.drblessyl.com for more information.

Eat, Pray, Love the movie hits theatres on August 13.

Paradise For A Day

 

“Yoga was created to free people in all ways…from the limitations of our minds and bodies, from teachers, teachings, attachments, expectations, from dependency on any person or thing.  It is a personal, private journey to liberation.”

~Danny Paradise

When I first saw the posting in the yoga studio about Danny Paradise, I thought, “Wow, Madonna and Sting’s yoga teacher is coming to Ajax, Ontario?” I have to admit, the “celebrity” is what peaked my curiousity. After researching more about Danny, I was intrigued by his life and his messages.

He greeted each person taking the class with a handshake and a warm smile.I was struck by how down-to-earth he was. Danny first began practising Ashtanga yoga in 1976 and then started teaching in 1979. He has travelled all over the world, teaching yoga to beginners and seasoned practitioners.

Danny provided the class with a suggested reading list, a discussion on what he’s seen around the world and the grounded belief of being true to yourself, following your dream and using yoga as a means to achieve it.

We then began the actual yoga practice. The hardest part for me was breathing. Yes, breathing. In yoga, pranayama is used to define the “control or restraint of the breath.” Danny guided us through various breathing exercises which were challenging for me. It feels so good to slow down and just breathe.

“As long as there is breath in the body, there is life. When breath departs, so too does life. Therefore, regulate the breath.”

~Hatha Yoga Pradapika – Chapter 2: Sutra 3

After a lengthy yoga practice, we were all exhausted but happy. I left feeling so relaxed and grateful that I was able to participate in a class of such a revered teacher.

Not coincidentally, my youngest daughter’s name is Eden. I’m always searching for paradise. And I found it for a day. Thank you, Danny.

I Got “Blitzed”

My friend had her bachelorette party at Body Blitz Spa. Nine women got together to enjoy the therapeutic waters – consisting of a warm sea salt pool, hot green tea pool and cold plunge pool. We also enjoyed the aromatherapy steam room and infrared sauna.

The facility is for women only and bathing suits are optional. Sorry men . . . you’ll have to wait outside. In addition to the therapeutic waters, there is a wide variety of treatments available. Everything from massages to body scrubs and muds. Truly a feast for your senses.

It gave everyone a chance to really relax and talk to each other. I enjoy the “traditional” bachelorette party with drinking and dancing as much as any other girl, but this experience was a real treat for me. Being at home with my daughters doesn’t allow for a lot of uninterrupted adult conversation.

Water has been revered for centuries – it is life-giving, renewing and cleansing. Being in the water forced me to slow down and breathe. I ordered a vitamin D smoothie and it was brought to me in the pool.

I’ll go back . . . and bring my best friends with me. Don’t we all deserve a little indulgence?