Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Desk Posture Basics to Avoid Back Pain

Most of us are hovering in front of a computer for eight or more hours a day, and if you're not sitting correctly, the numerous desk hours can do a number on your back.

Check out this video from the Active Living Program for a quick lesson on proper desk posture:


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

11 Must-Haves for University Life

Back-to-school season is upon us and kids of all ages are prepping for their return to the classroom. Are you a Canadian Career Gal who knows someone who's university-bound? Pass along this checklist to them of 11 must-haves for starting off their freshman year on the right foot.

Monday, August 29, 2011

This Mop's Tops

Cleaning is not a task we look forward to, but if we have to do it, we're going to want to use the very best tools. We discovered the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop and, hands down, this has become one indispensable cleaning gadget. We simply fill up the bottle with our favourite cleaning solution or hot water, attach it to the mop handle, and use the trigger to spray the floors with solution. The microfibre pad does the heavy-duty work of picking up dust and dirt. We use this mop on just about any type of flooring including vinyl, hardwood, laminate and tile and a gleaming surface is always the end result. This is a handy tool for any home, big or small!

$28.88 at Home Depot

Friday, August 26, 2011

Love Of My Life - Brian McKnight

We are big fans of Brian McKnight and especially love this ballad from the R&B crooner. It makes for a great first dance song at a wedding - we know this from firsthand experience!


Have a great weekend, ladies, and see you on Monday!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Gals We Admire: Dr. Maya Kumar

Photo credit: Canadian Press

Pediatrician-in-training Maya Kumar wanted to be a doctor since the age of five so it's no wonder that she finds her work to be "incredibly rewarding". Learn more about how Kumar spends her days and nights, and find out what she believes is the key to achieving one's career goals. 

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Royally Riveting

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Royal Tour to Canada this summer garnered much media attention. We were checking news sites daily to see what Wills and Kate had been up to for the day, and of course, also checking out what Kate was wearing.

Watch the highlights of their Canadian visit here:
CCG Giveaway Alert!*
Get our take on William and Kate: A Royal Love Story by Christoper Andersen and find out how you can enter to win your very own copy!


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

10 Tips for Planning a Wedding on a Budget

Getting married? Without a plan—or a budget—the cost of a wedding can get out of control. If you're about to tie the knot, check out 10 Ways to Save for a Perfect Wedding, brought to you by MoneySense, for great budgeting tips that'll help you save on the cost of the invitations, venue, photographer and even The Dress. By keeping costs down on the Big Day, you and your hubby-to-be will be off to a great start for a happily ever debt-free after.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:

Friday, August 19, 2011

Don't Worry Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin

Released in September 1988, this catchy tune by Bobby McFerrin was the first a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

Though we can't always be glad about things at work, there are times when we let workplace issues occupy our thoughts more than necessary. So at least for the weekend, take Bobby M's advice about your work woes: "In every life we have some trouble, when you worry, you make it double, don't worry, be happy..."


Have a happy, worry-free weekend, ladies, and see you on Monday!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Gals We Admire: Christine Reid

Christine-Reid
As a little girl, Christine Reid would take family portraits of her Barbie dolls. This  childhood hobby may have been a foreshadowing of her career choice later in life. Find out what it's like to make a living as a professional photographer.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

What to Wear to a Job Interview

Making a good first impression is essential at a job interview. You've got the skills and you've rehearsed what you're going to say, and now it's time to work on your winning wardrobe.

Check out this FabSugarTV video for three ensembles that will wow your potential employer and show them you mean business:

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

9 Things About You that Drive Your Co-workers Crazy

Okay, so you might be used to complaining about a co-worker who's a nuisance, but have you ever reflected on your own behaviour? None of us are perfect and it may just be that a habit of yours irks your fellow office mates. It could be that you don't read your emails or you don't bother to respond to them, or it might be far worse, such as trash-talking your peers. Check out 9 Ways You're Being Annoying At Work by Amanda Frank, and see if you're guilty of any of these common workplace faux pas. And then think about how you can go about becoming a more collegial colleague.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Worth Strapping On

We're shoe lovers to the max and there's always room in our shoe closet for one more pair of black sandals. Especially when they're as chic-looking as the LOCALE LachinoThese sandals are great for dressing up or down and are ideal for office casual days. With a braided T-strap that gives them a sophisticated look and a flat sole for all-day comfort, how could we possibly pass up on this sleek sandal? Also available in bone.

Friday, August 12, 2011

The Day Doesn't Die - Classified

It may not be the most upbeat of songs, but Canadian rapper Classified has a great message in his latest track and it's a message every CCG should take note of when they feel they've been wronged by someone, whether at work or at play: "I've been shit talked, beat down, treated wrong, and I won't forgive or forget but I don't want to live with regret and so I hope I can let go, move on, try to forgive..."


Have a great weekend, ladies, and see you on Monday!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Gals We Admire: Bal Arneson

Bal Arneson has come a long way since immigrating to Canada over 15 years ago. At the time, Arneson did not speak English or have an education. Fast forward to present day, she now holds a Masters in Education, has launched her own organic spice line. and is the host of her very own cooking show on Food Network Canada. Find out why the work life of the "Spice Goddess" is far from the daily grind.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Help: Kind, smart, important

MOVIE REVIEW
(Release Date: August 10, 2011)
The Help: Kind, smart, important

* * * * *
"You is kind, you is smart, you is important" is a message that the soft-spoken and hard-working black maid Aibileen (Viola Davis) repeatedly instills in two-year-old Mae Mobley, her latest charge in the white family she is tending after. This line perfectly sums up the film as well. Adapted from Kathryn Stockett's New York Times bestselling novel of the same name, the film version has managed to stay true to the book. Indeed, this movie, and the book it originated from, is a kind, smart and important tribute to the civil rights movement.

It's 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi and segregation of whites and blacks is still in effect. A black maid working for a well-to-do white family was the norm, and their "work" included raising the children straight from birth through to their adolescent years.

Emma Stone (Easy A) is Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a Southern belle who's never really felt a part of the high society crowd she was born and raised into. Her single status and aspirations to become a serious journalist are just two of the oddities that make her stand out from her married-with-kids peers. The other two central characters are black maids played magnificently by Davis (Doubt) in the role of quiet and does-as-she's-told Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as the sharp-tongued Minny.

The premise of the film lies in Skeeter’s idea to write a book based on the experiences of the black maids who, for all intents and purposes, raised most of the white children in the community. Aibileen and Minny get on board with Skeeter's project, agreeing to tell their stories anonymously. The risks involved, however, are grave in 1960s Mississippi where speaking on this subject would most certainly mean being imprisoned and perhaps even murdered.

Although Aibileen keeps silent around her employer and her employer's high society friends, she doesn't hold back in recounting her life as a maid to Skeeter. The same goes for Minny, and eventually the other maids find the courage to also tell their stories.

Once the anonymously penned 'The Help' hits the book shelves, we find ourselves cheering as Jackson's upper-crust society is exposed for their nasty and cruel treatment towards the domestic help.

Another notable mention is the performance given by Bryce Dallas Howard (daughter of acclaimed director and former "Happy Days" actor Ron Howard) as Hilly Holbrook, the Southern belle-slash-bigot the audience will love to hate.

The film also has many humorous scenes, many of them involving Sissy Spacek in the role of Mrs. Walters (Hilly's mother), Jessica Chastain as the innocent and likeable beauty Celia Foote who happened to marry rich, and of course, the sassy Spencer in her role as Minny.

Though neither the film nor the book are groundbreaking in their portrayal of the civil rights era, it cannot be denied that this is a story that will touch the hearts and minds of moviegoers.

Check out Kathryn Stockett reading an excerpt from The Help, as well as discussing the book here:


CCG Giveaway Alert!*

Want to win a copy of the book? Find out what we thought of Kathryn Stockett's bestselling novel The Help, and how you can win your very own copy!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Get Rid of Plastic Money Woes

Carrying around too much plastic money these days? Toronto-based financial writer and editor Caroline Cakebread gets you thinking about your charging habits in What's the best credit card for you? In this Chatelaine article, Cakebread poses five key questions to ask yourself that will help determine the answer. Be sure to check out this quick and financially helpful read before your next point-of-sale swipe.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:
http://www.chatelaine.com/en/article/21577--what-s-the-best-credit-card-for-you

Monday, August 8, 2011

Bless our soles


We love our high heel shoes, but we can't always say we feel perfectly sturdy walking around in them. Especially when we're on our way to work and happen to come across  grassy patches, rocky roads, boardwalks, or other semi-treacherous terrain. We discovered SoleMates High Heelers, which help protect heels from wear and tear, as well as feet from potential ankle twists. Available in classic clear (shown here), classic black, classic silver or classic gold, this clever little invention is designed to be a chameleon that blends perfectly with any shoe colour. Now the next time we step out the door, or are off to a business meeting, we can take confident strides in our fancy footwear without concern of wobbling around, stumbling from a misstep, or accidentally face-planting onto the floor. Also great for brides and bridesmaids on wedding day!

$9.95 USD at thesolemates.com

Friday, August 5, 2011

Beautiful Day - U2

It's an oldie but a goodie. Get revved up for the weekend with this 2000 hit by preeminent rock band U2:


Have a great weekend, ladies, and see you on Monday!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Gals We Admire: Perdita Felicien

This Canadian career gal's impressive achievements make just about anyone stop dead in their tracks. Professional athlete Perdita Felicien is a well-known figure within the Canadian and international track and field circuits. Find out more about Felicien's intensive training regimen, and get her personal advice on how to overcome any hurdle in your career.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

8 Simple Garden Maintenance Tips: Basics for Beautifying Your Backyard

Get tips on how to keep your garden healthy and beautiful, check out four great finds for green thumbs and enter for a chance to win a  $125 discount card for professional lawn care services from  GreenLawn.

Mid-Summer Gardening Tips

Are you a career gal who gets satisfaction digging up weeds in the backyard and planting seeds that bloom into a beautiful garden of floral and fauna? Or perhaps you're a fan of growing your own fruits and veggies. If gardening is your thing, be sure to check out this video for 10 great tips on tending to your garden in the month of August, half way through summer and nearing the cooler, fall temperatures.

Hey green thumbs! Check out 8 Simple Garden Maintenance Tips for more great advice, as well as for some essential finds to keep your garden healthy and bountiful.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Neverending Noise

We've all had to deal with chatty co-workers, various gadgets such as smartphones or machines like the photocopier beeping or whirring, and other random white noises in the office. In her article Noise annoys in the workplace (originally published in The Globe and Mail), Jennifer Myers discusses these workplace dins and drones, as well as offers some sound advice (pun intended) on how to reduce workplace noise.

Click here
to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:

Monday, August 1, 2011

Butter with BITE

We recently gave BITE Superfruit Butter a try and fell in love with this luxurious lip treatment that contains concentrated whole super fruits to protect, nourish and moisturize our lips. Each fleck of colour in these butters is a whole piece of fruit, and once we applied it, our lips instantly felt smoother and softer. We like that we can even use the butter for our cuticles or just about anywhere that our skin could benefit from a hydration boost. The buttery elixir has easily become a daily part of our beauty regimen. Available in acai, blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate.

$18 USD (0.23 oz) at sephora.com