Gals We Admire: Shannon Fisher

As the founder and owner of her own web writing and strategy consulting business, Shannon Fisher says she "likes making the web suck less." Her services include digital writing workshops where she trains content teams to write for the web. "I love watching clients move from stuffy, robot speak to a more authentic, conversational voice," says the passionate and feisty content strategist.

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Gals We Admire: Sara Dimerman

Sara Dimerman has combined her two passions – her love of people and her love of writing – into a winning career. The relationship and parenting expert says she loves the balance and diversity of her work because she's able to focus on different things during the week while at the same time knowing that everything she does is intertwined.

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Gals We Admire: Vanessa Mills

From the way Vanessa Mills describes herself, it almost sounds like she was destined to become a makeup artist. At age eight, she declared she wanted to be a makeup artist. Find out more about the talented and driven Mills who made that childhood declaration a reality. 

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Sexy Halloween Costumes

Don't have your Halloween costume picked out yet for next Thursday? Funny talk show host Ellen DeGeneres found some "sexy" suggestions for your consideration. Although these are probably not costumes you want to show up to the office in. 

Ellen's main costume criteria? No matter what you dress up as, make sure you wear something that's very comfortable to dance in. We agree!

Halloween at Work

Do you work at a place where dressing up for Halloween is frowned upon or are you the party popper if you don't don a spooky getup? Social media consultant and speaker Miriam Salpeter addresses this very issue in Should You Dress Up for Halloween at Work? (Aol Jobs, October 21, 2013).  The answer, Salpeter writes, is "it depends on where you work and what you plan to wear." Take heed of her advice before October 31st so you don't wind up looking like the office clown (literally or figuratively).

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

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/10/21/halloween-at-work/

Spooky Sweet Treats

Boo! Halloween is just around the corner. Here are five fun tips from Nestlé to ensure you and your friends have a frightful night. 

Decorate. One of the best ways of getting into the scary spirit is by dressing your home with hints of Halloween. Think sculls, cobwebs and even a graveyard.

Tell haunted stories. Telling stories are a great way to bring the family together over some shared scary fun. Make sure to pack your stories with adventure, mystery and thrills for some frightening fun!  

Have a dress-up theme. Whether you make your own costume or buy one from a store, dressing up as your favourite super hero or tv characters is easier than ever and a fun way to get both you and your family in to the Halloween spirit.

Enjoy a scary movie. Set the mood for this spooky season by watching a scary movie; whether it’s a family-friendly flick or a terrifying thriller it’s sure to get everyone in to spooky spirit.

Host a Halloween party. Once you’ve decked out your house, carved the pumpkins and put out your scary treats, it’s time to throw a party and invite the ghouls and goblins of your neighbourhood for a spooky celebration.

Even if you're not throwing a party, you'll want to stock up Nestlé "Crave Yard" Scary chocolate bars. The four chocolate bars are ones that kids and adults alike already know and love, but these limited edition versions have gotten into the dress-up action, too, with spooky-themed packaging and cute names. Be sure get your hands on ScAero, Scaries, Coffin Crisp, and KIT KAT before the Halloween season is over.

$7.69 (box of 8 full-size bars) or $5.99 (pack of 24-treat size bars) at grocery, drug and mass merchandise retailers across Canada

CCG Giveaway Alert!*

Want to make your Halloween a sweet and spooky one? Here's your chance to win one of two Nestlé "Crave Yard" Scary Chocolate Bars Prize Packs!

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Applause - Lady Gaga

The video kinda creeps us out but then again it wouldn't be a Lady Gaga video if it wasn't creepy. Still, we do like the beat of this tune. And we're definitely giving applause for the arrival of the last day of the work week.

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

Wake Up Sleepy Head

Global National health specialist Dr. Ali Zentner (who has also been featured as one of our Gals We Admire) reports on a new study in the journal SLEEP where researchers found too much or too little sleep is linked to chronic diseases, such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, obesity and anxiety in those aged 45 and over. Watch the clip to get a summary of the findings:

The optimal amount of sleep? Seven to nine hours a day, every day, no more, no less.

Runnin' - Doman & Gooding

This track came out over four years ago and Canadian-British dance music duo Doman & Gooding's debut single samples from Armand Van Helden's even older dance single You Don't Know Me (from 1999), but we still get pumped up every time we hear it on the radio. We're pretty sure it will pump you up for this long weekend, too!

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

Gals We Admire: Louise Griew

Makeup artist and beauty writer Louise Griew says she tries to end her workday by 7pm the latest, but it can be hard to shut the computer (and her brain) off. With so many cool and exciting projects on the go, including a newly-launched beauty blog, we can understand why it would be hard for the talented and creative Griew to simply stop thinking about her work.

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Age Spots Be Gone

We're fine with ageing when it comes to gaining more knowledge, skills and experience, but most of us  tend to want to stop the clock when it comes to the physical changes that go with getting older. Dark spots on the face are namely one sign of ageing we could do without. We recently tried the new Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Treatment Mask and were impressed with the results. The soft facial tissue mask has been soaked in moisturizing serum along with gentle and radiance-boosting actives, so all we had to do is apply the mask on our face, leave it on for 10 minutes and voila! Dark spots were visibly reduced and our skin looked radiant, smooth, and felt moisturized.  The final verdict? This mask is a great, inexpensive and non-invasive method to treat those pesky spots and keep your skin glowing and healthy-looking. 

$15.97 (6 sachets) at walmart.ca; also available at major pharmacies and mass merchandise retailers

(Click here for a coupon for $3 off)

Royals - Lorde

The 16-year-old New Zealand singer-songwriter calls Etta James one of her most prominent influences. We'd have to agree based on the talented Kiwi's smooth vocals. Enjoy her hit song "Royals" and let the soulful Lorde's voice take you into the weekend.

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

Viral Video Secrets

Remember that "Charlie Bit My Finger" YouTube video or the one of the "Surprised Kitty"? And surely, you're one of the 1.7 billion (and counting) who has seen Psy's Gangnam Style music video. 

Ever since the dawning of YouTube, there are certain videos that have a je ne sais quoi about them that makes viewers compelled to share them over and over (and over) again. But why?

Click on the image below to watch an interview with digital journalist Ramona Pringle where she discusses the factors that make an online video go viral. (Tip: if a cat is in the video, it's already halfway there to becoming an internet sensation watched by millions.)

Who's the Boss?

We've all been there at some point — the boss from hell who makes their employees lives so miserable, it's like a sport for them. Hopefully you're not in that situation now, but if you are, here are Eight tips for managing a difficult boss (The Globe and Mail, September 23, 2013) from Beverly Flaxington. The certified professional behavioural analyst, hypnotherapist, and career and business adviser offers tips such as matching your behavioural style to your boss', thinking about their "what’s in it for me?", and accommodating their weaknesses. 

Flaxington says, "the trick is to manage your boss without the boss knowing you’re doing it." Our two cents? Keep it up while keeping your radar open for positions elsewhere. You can only handle a poisonous person for so long before it starts to take your toll.

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

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/life-at-work/tips-to-manage-a-difficult-boss/article14401136/

Pack It Up, Pack It In

We've always been vocal of our love of Skip Hop, maker of fun, whimsical baby and kids' products for the nursery, feeding, bath time, and parents' on-the-go needs. Their ZOO Packs are no exception — these kids' backpacks are made of durable materials and has enough space to hold all of your preschooler's supplies for a busy day at school. A mesh side pocket adjusts to fit a juice box, sippy cup or water bottle and a front pouch is ideal for snacks. Comfy padded straps ensure that little shoulders don't get strained. There are currently 16 zoo characters (ladybug, elephant, giraffe, panda, and more) to choose from, so you're sure to find one that'll be a favourite for your kiddo.

$24.95 at chapters.indigo.ca

#thatPOWER will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber

We're not the biggest Biebs fan, but we can't help liking this upbeat will.i.am track featuring the Canadian teen idol. What can we say? It gets us pumped for the weekend!


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

Gals We Admire: Bronwyn Kienapple

Freelance writer Bronwyn Kienapple lets us in on her exciting life of a "deliberately loose schedule" (after years of working 9-to-5). The former Torontonian is able to do her job in other parts of the world (fun!) and we love her refreshing honesty about why she's glad she works for herself ( I can’t stand corporate psycho-babble and kissing butt/soothing hurt egos. The only ego I want to stroke is my own, which is gigantic and all-consuming.) Well put, Bronwyn!

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#funnystuff

Our fave late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon and singing sensation Justin Timberlake crack us up with this funny skit demonstrating what Twitter-speak would be like in the real world. So, if the singing, acting, fashion label thing doesn't work out for JT, it looks like he'll be more than welcome as Fallon's sidekick.

Words NOT to Put on Your Résumé

In What should I delete from my resume? (Backbone Magazine, February 25, 2013), Peter Wolchak reported on the results of a recent survey done by staffing services company OfficeTeam where 1,300 senior managers in the United States and Canada were asked, "What is the most overused or meaningless phrase you see on résumés?" Here are four phrases managers are getting sick of seeing on a potential candidate's CV: highly qualified, team player, self starter and flexible.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser to get tips on how to produce a quality résumé that will get you noticed:

http://www.backbonemag.com/Magazine/2013-03/what-should-i-delete-from-my-resume.aspx

Rockin' that Flushed Look

Of course the quality of the ingredients that goes into the makeup is important, but we love pretty packaging, too. Benefit Cosmetics is definitely the best of both worlds with their high quality products and ever-ingenious, signature quirky packaging design. Our latest have from the San Francisco-based cosmetics company is the new Rockateur, a rose gold cheek powder complete with its own angled application blush, all housed in a lovely, luxe gold box. A couple of quick sweeps of this soft yet sexy powder across the cheeks is all that's needed for a beautiful glow.

$36 at sephora.ca

Work B*tch - Britney Spears

Is it just us, or does Britney Spears' latest single seem tame compared to Miley Cyrus' recent antics at the MTV Video Music Awards and the crying-out-for-attention Wrecking Ball video? In any event, we're really liking the original teen pop queen's sound on this high energy track.

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

Gals We Admire: Aleksandra Oleksak

Toronto real estate agent Aleksandra Oleksak  says there's hardly a typical workday for her, and considering the current state of the housing market, we certainly believe her. The social media savvy Olekshak also considers negotiation one of her favourite parts of the job. "It allows another side of my personality to come out and really gives me an adreline rush." Find out more about this career gal who has incredible passion for what she does.

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Give Up Your Wants

Here's an interesting challenge put forth by Gail Vaz-Oxlade, personal finance guru, author, and host of popular Slice TV shows Til Debt Do Us Part, Princess, and Money Moron. In Keeping our sense of entitlement in check (The Money Sense, September 10, 2013), Vaz-Oxlade asks, "If you had to pick one day of the week on which you will buy nothing, how hard would that be for you? How much planning would it take? How entitled are you to have everything you want when you want it?". These are some hard questions for many of us to answer, and even harder challenge to take up, particularly if we are used to buying anything we want, whenever we want, financial means be damned.

So, whether it's a big-ticket item (that coveted new iPhone) or a smaller impulse purchase (a chocolate bar at the convenience store), this challenge will put into perspective what you need and what you want. Up for the challenge? Try it for one month — you may just be surprised with your willpower, not to mention pleased with the noticeable amount of moolah saved.

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

http://www.moneysense.ca/spend/keeping-our-sense-of-entitlement-in-check

Mother Nature in a Bag

There's no better way to start the work day (or any day) than with a healthy and delicious breakfast. One of our have breakfast choices, granola with yogourt and fresh fruit, just got even tastier. Montreal-based La Fourmi Bionique are the "producers of granola with distinctive personality". They bake granola using local organic oats and then add orange petals, elderberries, currants, and other delicious botanics. And with names for their mixes such as Euphoric (granola with crunchy hazlenut praline, milk chocolate and natural marshmallow), Divine (granola with macadamia nuts, white chocolate pieces, and black elderberries), how could you possibly resist giving them a try? Our fave, the Aphrodisiac mix, has granola roasted with golden Quebec honey mixed with dark chocolate, roasted almonds, currants, and Siberian ginseng. The company also produces granola bars and fruit and medley mixes, so there's sure to be a granola snack to please everyone's tastebuds.

$5.50 (300g) and $12.50 (925g)

Order in bulk from lafourmibionique.com/shop or visit the site's store locator to find your nearest retailer

Roar - Katy Perry

Latest single from gurl-power pop star Katy Perry gets us fired up to speak our minds and show off the strong, confident women we are.

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

Gals We Admire: Virginia Champoux

If you live in Montreal, you're likely familiar with Mortimer Snodgrass, a fun and funky gift and novelty store. Not in Montreal? No worries, they've got a website with online shipping, too. Find out more about Virginia Champoux, co-founder of "The Snod"and what goes behind running a successful business.

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First-Time Homebuyer's Checklist

About to become a homeowner for the first time?  Check out this video by Aleksandra Oleksak, a Toronto-based real estate agent and founder of Realty Queen TO, for a checklist on what you need to do to ensure a smooth, stress-free closing: 

The video is the first instalment in Oleksak's series You Bought a House, Now What? Check out the entire series on Realty Queen TO's YouTube channel.

Noshing at the Office

Are you guilty of being a lady who lunches at her desk? Not only is this a practice that doesn't coincide with good work/life balance, you may actually be peeving off your neighbouring colleagues while chowing down on Pad Thai takeout or your re-heated leftovers from last night's dinner. In The rules of office lunch etiquette (you’re probably breaking one right now) (The Globe and Mail's Hot Button Blog, July 8, 2013), Amber Daugherty blogs about etiquette expert and author Mary Mitchell's advice for proper workplace kitchen and eating manners. 

It seems like a recurring problem that happens in every workplace, so take the advice to heart and be a considerate office gourmand. 

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

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/the-rules-of-office-lunch-etiquette-youre-probably-breaking-one-right-now/article13068412

Game On

Sometimes, there's no better way to de-stress than to get together with friends for a game night. One of our favourite board games is R& R Games' Ticked OFF! This fun game lets you show off your smarts on ordinary and easy topics such as "things people paint". Sounds simple enough, right?  But hang on a minute! A mystery category is thrown in where everyone has to write down as many items from either category before time runs out. Play until you've either ticked off all of your friends with your vast knowledge of all things trivial, or you've won the game, upon which you can then tick off your gaming accomplishments.

$24.95 USD at rnrgames.com

Hold On We're Going Home - Drake

Canadian rapper and R&B sensation Drake's newest song is the one we're loving the most on the airwaves right now. And yay! It's Friday, which means you're going home and not heading back to the office 'til Monday.

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

Gals We Admire: Stephanie Holmes-Winton

She didn't become a veterinarian like she had wanted to be as a child, but in spite of that, Stephanie Holmes-Winton, CEO and founder of The Money Finder website, seems to have found a job that makes her doggone happy.

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Skip the Prepaid Credit Cards

In Beware of fees with prepaid credit cards (Toronto Star, August 12, 2013) personal finance columnist and Boomer & Echo blogger Robb Engen offers some sage advice about prepaid cards. Though they may be ideal for post-secondary students, prepaid cards come with hidden fees (such as activation fees, monthly service fees, ATM fees and transactions fees) that aren’t apparent unless you carefully read the fine print.

So, before obtaining one of these cards for your kid or a niece or nephew who may be headed off to university, be sure to do the research. Or better yet, Engen suggests buying regular store gift cards to chains such as Loblaws or Sobeys (i.e., cards that don't have additional fees or expiry dates).

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

http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2013/08/12/visa_mastercard_american_express_offer_prepaid_cards_but_beware_of_fees.html#

Pouch with Personality

Though we live in an age of tech gadgets, kids will always have a need for pencil cases. Send them back to school this season with this fun ZipIt Monster Pouch, a cool-looking case that has eyes and teeth. Made of one long zipper and with a zany look, it's guaranteed to be a hit with the grade school crowd, and maybe high school kids, too.

$9.95 at chapters.indigo.ca

The Way - Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller

Her voice has been compared to Mariah Carey's and while we can see (or, rather, hear) why, we still think she's got enough vocal talent to stand out on her own merit. Enjoy Grande's catchy tune as you make your way into the long weekend!

 

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

Nature Lover

Brighten up your child's room with a whimsical nature scene using the adorable Skip Hop Treetop Friends Wall Decals. The easy-to-apply vinyl decals (88 in total) can be arranged to create a full tree design (as pictured here), or use the branches, leaves and woodland friends to accent different parts of the room. Best of all, they don't leave a sticky residue so you can peel them on and off and reposition them as often as you'd like.

$20 at chapters.indigo.ca

Gals We Admire: Rosemary Counter

Freelance writer Rosemary Counter loves her job because she gets to produce stories based on her personal interests. Not to mention, she can were her pyjamas all day, but she says being a freelancer can be a lonely business, too. Find out how the talented writer spends her days and why she believes she did, and didn't, have a calling for her profession.

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Nest Egg Advice

As a small business owner, you know that on top of balancing the books on a monthly and annual basis, another financial goal is to put away enough for when you decide to hang up your working hat for good. Here'a a video from The Globe and Mail's site with some helpful advice from Lee Helkie, partner at Helkie Financial & Insurance Services Inc., and Brendan Charters, co-owner of Eurodale Developments, for small-business owners trying to save for retirement.

Good as Gold

From the makers of the ice cream bars with the signature crack when you bite into it comes a brand new flavour — Magnum Gold?!. The luxuriously sweet treat is made with silky vanilla bean ice cream with a sea salt caramel swirl and dipped in a golden coating made with Belgian milk chocolate. Also available in a mini size for those who want to indulge, but in a smaller serving. We dare say it, the newest ice cream bar from Magnum is as good as gold. 

If you are in Toronto, be sure to visit the Magnum Pleasure Store (11 Bloor Street West, open Mondays to Saturdays from noon to 10:00pm and Sundays from 11:00am to 6:00pm) where you can create your very own custom ice cream bar just like celebs Toronto Maple Leafs player Joffrey Lupul, Chef Mark McEwan, and actor Joe Manganiello. Hurry though — the store is only open until August 30th!

Joffrey Lupul, left winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs, stopped by the Magnum Pleasure Store to make his own custom ice cream bar and meet fans on July 25, 2013.

$6.99 (package of 3) at major grocery stores

Think Small, Save Big

In For autos and homes, think small for big purchases (The Globe and Mail, July 15, 2013) personal finance columnist Rob Carrick makes the case for downgrading your buying expectations. Carrick recommends the Think Small philosophy, say forgoing the four-bedroom, two-storey house with a big backyard for a a three-bedroom bungalow. Other home purchasing options include renting, buying a condo instead of a house, living in the suburbs or countryside, or buying a house with rental income potential.

The article also mentions he expense of putting on a wedding (according to a recent Bank of Montreal survey, engaged couples are expected to spend an average of $14,281 on their wedding expenses in the next five years).

As Carrick says, "the Think Small philosophy of spending is freeing, though. It helps you get married without wedding debts to contend with, it steers you toward a sensible car and it just might solve your housing affordability problems." We couldn't agree more.

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

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/household-finances/for-autos-and-homes-think-small-for-big-purchases/article13235210/

Travel Bliss

Travelling for business is an experience that we try to make as comfortable as possible for ourselves. Whether on a plane or taking a train, we don't leave home without three Bucky travel essentials—the Compact Neck Pillow, Comfort Slippers, and 40 Blinks Sleep Mask. Available in a variety of colours and pretty patterns (we're partial to the lacy leaf design shown here), not only will you be travelling in comfort but in style, too.

Compact Neck Pillow ($19.95), Comfort Slippers with Travel Case ($24.95), 40 Blinks Sleep Mask ($12.95)
All prices in USD and all items sold separately at bucky.com

Canadian Caffeine

There's nothing like a caffeine jolt to get our Monday started. As Starbucks fans, we are loving the coffee company's new True North Blend, a mellow and soft blonde roast coffee. Formerly known as the Veranda Blend, the blonde roast coffee has recently been given a new name in honour of coffee-drinkers all across our beautiful country. The blend of Latin American beans has delicate nuances of soft cocoa and lightly toasted nuts—it's so smooth tasting that we're sure Canucks from coast to coast are sipping it up with delight from coast to coast.

$15.95 (1 lb) at starbucksstore.ca or at your local Starbucks

Clarity - Zedd feat. Foxes

Here's our favourite dance track of the moment: Clarity by Zedd featuring Foxes. We're loving the beat and blaring it in the car with the windows down is definitely what we'll be doing over the weekend.

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

Gals We Admire: Alyssa Kerbel

Founder of eco-friendly clothing line minimioche, Alyssa Kerbel started her company in 2008 after giving birth to her first child and realizing how difficult it was to find great baby basics without ugly patterns or graphics splashed across the front. A foundation of the company is ensuring that each and every piece of mini mioche is designed and manufactured in Canada. Find out more about this career gal whose got a keen sense of fashion for babies.

Read more »

Movie Worth Watching: The Fifth Estate

Here's something to look forward to once the fall arrives - an exciting based-on-true-events drama from DreamWorks Studio. The Fifth Estate focuses on the friendship of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his early supporter and eventual spokesperson of the website Daniel Domscheit-Berg. The growth and popularity of WikiLeaks leads to a huge divide between the two friends, who are played by current "It" guy Benedict Cumberbatch (as Assange) and Daniel Brühl (as Domscheit-Berg). The film also stars Laura Linney and Stanley Tucci. A strong cast and riveting true story are always a winning combo for a great drama - don't miss it!

Watch the official The Fifth Estate trailer here: 

The Fifth Estate hits theatres everywhere on October 11th.