Almost Naked Launches in Toronto

Last week we attended the launch of Almost Naked, a new skivvies and swimwear store on the trendy West Queen West strip. Thumping music, nearly naked models, and local media mingled in the 1400 square foot two story boutique.

Owners Dan Sutcliffe and Jeff Axelrod wanted to bring Canadian and International brands together for a specialty retail store offering the latest in underwear, swimsuits, fitness, loungewear and accessories for men and women.

"The international fashion scene is huge. We love bringing in amazing and creative collections that are generally unknown to Canadians," said Dan Sutcliffe, co-owner of Almost Naked. "Almost Naked is perfect for finding one-of-a-kind pieces that nobody else has."

And one-of-a-kind it is. Imagine your boyfriend in these:


Brands include: Diesel (Italy), Shultz (U.K.), teamm8 (Australia), DT (Australia), Calvin Klein (U.S.) and much more. Almost Naked also boasts the largest collection from renowned tattoo artist Ed Hardy, called Ed Hardy (U.S.), in Toronto. The store exclusively carries the sexy Fred & Ginger (U.K.) collection in North America, recently featured in Vogue U.K. (every piece is handmade!) and offers the largest Canadian collection of provocative Marlies Dekkers designs (Netherlands).

"Women have always loved to wear sexy underwear because it makes them feel good. It's finally become acceptable for straight men to wear hip and sexy boxers and briefs, too. When you're wearing a great pair of underwear, you just feel good," said Jeff Axelrod, co-owner of Almost Naked. "Our store is great for gift occasions too; we encourage men to buy for women and vice-versa."

This gold bikini was a popular item with the ladies in attendance:

But this one from Ed Hardy requires a killer body:


I could see my Guy in these:


Almost Naked is located at 479 Queen Street West. Read my review here or add your own ;)

ChickAdvisor Got a Face Lift!

It seems to be website makeover madness these days. Our friends at Twenty Something TV just got a new skin, iwant-igot had a little overhaul, Lipstick Powder n' Paint had a dramatic change and added a new sister site, Lipstick Lifestyle and now... the new ChickAdvisor is about to be revealed. Literally. Today. Finally!

What you'll notice:

*Forums
Our popular ChickChat section is no longer under lock and key. Since we added the 'anonymous' function, you decide when to share your name and when to keep it private. Some of the best advice on the website is in our forums and we think it's time to share that. You will still have to log in to add your own comments, but be warned we are militant about our anti-spam laws and have a zero tolerance policy.

*Videos
We have had videos hiding on ChickAdvisor for a Loooong time. Well, ok. One year. Now they are findable with one click on the main nav. Here you will find everything from our hot new video series, ChickChat TV to last year's street fashion series, Where'd You Get That? as well as our own random amateur vids I shoot with my little Canon PowerShot digital camera when I go to events, meet designers, or any other occasion when I wish I had the funds for a proper film crew but only have my trusty PowerShot.

*New Content Player
The old design didn't have any place to display all of the cool new things we wanted to tell you about in once place, but now when you hit the homepage you will instantly see our latest offers, events and featured articles playing smack in the upper middle of the page. Click on what interests you and you are there instantly. Oh we're making it soooo easy!

*Layout/Design
Yup, this one is totally different. When we first launched we had a faint idea of who might like the site and use it on a regular basis, but we didn't know you personally. Through feedback from our power users (you know who you are), we have reinvented the look and feel of ChickAdvisor to make it more stylish, easier to use and more flexible for change. We hope you like it as much as we do!

*Member Profiles
Goodbye grainy, pixilated images, hello big clean profile pictures... commenting.. oh my! We haven't added photo albums yet but you can upload as many pictures of your fabulousness as you want in your gallery. Oh and YOU decide if someone gets to be your friend or not (we know, it's about time). The power is in your hands... use it wisely. We even updated the "Blue Chick". Of course we'd rather you upload your own picture of yourself or something that represents the essence of you, but she's pretty sassy, no?


*New Articles
Traditionally we have posted most of our articles here on the blog but now those articles will be featured predominately on the website. This blog will remain but the focus will be on ChickAdvisor news and the occasional idle rambling. We'd rather have your unique visit on ChickAdvisor so that Alex can quit his day job. ;)

So... wanna have at it?

You'll have to wait just a little longer. We're going to be taking the site offline for a bit today to put up the new one. Please bear with and check back tomorrow if you can't get on today.

Feedback always welcome!

UPDATE: She's ALIVE!
We went live at about midnight last night. There are some known issues - esp for IE7 users that we are working to fix. If you can bear with us over the next couple of weeks we should have everything sorted out. In the mean time, play away!

http://www.chickadvisor.com

Weekend Movie Recommendation: The Dark Knight

Normally we recommend something you can rent and watch at home, but The Dark Knight is just too good not to experience in theaters. Health Ledger is phenomenal. He's so good, it's therapeutic. It will make you cry that we lost him all over again. I would buy anything Aaron Eckhart is selling and I still want to be best friends with Maggie Gyllenhaal. Christian Bale is the Hotness. He's come a long way from Little Women when my sisters and I thought he was gross (because of a sloppy wet kissing scene between him and Wynona Rider).

But what about the plot? The trailer tells it best, but let me just say that this film is everything you hope it will be and more. It is equally enjoyable for men and women so it's a great date choice.

Your Perfect Summer Garden Party

by Nidhi Punyarthi

It is late summer, which means that the weather outdoors is pretty much perfect. This is the ideal opportunity to spend time with family and friends enjoying warm breezes and delicious fresh food. You still have time to make this a possibility... by throwing an inexpensive and easy-to-plan garden party! Check out these tips to throw a hassle-free garden party your guests will love.

The Place

When organizing the location, think of space to move around, reach food and socialize. If you are taking your party to the backyard, make sure there is shade for your guests and the food. No overhanging tree branches to sit under? Invest in a large table umbrella: you’ll wonder how you survived the summers without it! Remember to run the lawnmower around the day before your party so the blades of grass won’t scrape at your guests’ ankles.

You can host a garden party anywhere: it doesn’t always have to be in a “garden”. If your living room is more suitable than your lawn or if you live in an apartment, simply open the windows or doors for the sights, sounds and airs of summer. Bring in a few potted plants or simple seasonal cut flowers for an outdoorsy decor.

The Taste

There are no hard and fast rules about the types of foods that you can serve at a garden party. Ideally, the garden party menu should reflect seasonal foods and produce. Consult your favourite seasonal cookbook for delicious healthy recipes. Summer is the best time to enjoy the wholesomeness of berries and greens (especially spinach, broccoli and green beans).

Keep the food preparation simple and aim for a light, healthy cuisine. Plan for five dishes for variety excluding drinks and desserts, but avoid large servings of meat as it attracts insects more easily. The 15-Minute Vegetarian has many unique and easy-to-prepare recipes based mostly on raw ingredients.

Some simple and colourful salad dishes that are sure to please:
*roasted red bell peppers in spicy marinade
*baby spinach salad with raspberries and raspberry vinaigrette (add crumbled feta cheese for an extra pop of flavour)
*minced carrot salad with lemon juice and cilantro
*cucumber slices with tzatziki dip

Once you have your salads figured out, you can easily add variety to the menu: *toss canned chickpeas, diced zucchini and your favorite salsa in a skillet for a crunchy treat
*prepare soft tortilla wraps with cream cheese, deli meat slices, and finely chopped peppers (slice the rolls and secure them with toothpicks)
*add pesto sauce and peas or sautéed mixed vegetables to cooked wild rice
*Pasta dishes made with fusilli or rotini are best for scooping onto plates

Complement your summery menu with seasonal drink and dessert options:

Photo creds: Randy Mayor, RestaurantsInOslo

*Iced tea, fresh fruit punch, fresh-squeezed lemonade and Sangría
*fruit compotes, nanaimo bars, and tropical sorbets

Special Considerations

Insect control is key to enjoying your garden party, and you can take simple steps to reduce your worries and protect your food. Saran-wrap your dishes until your guests are ready to eat, or pick up a few transparent plastic covers from the dollar store to ensure the freshness of your food throughout the party. Leave enough space on tables so that guests can maneuver with the covers and their plates.

The Waste

Make cleaning ten times easier by setting a plastic tablecloth and keep a roll of paper towels handy to deal with spills. Make sure that guests can see the garbage bin for used plates and glasses. If you’re not using disposable utensils, designate a tub/tray to collect them.

Enjoy these last lazy days of summer! Have any sure-fire tips to share?

Nidhi is a ChickAdvisor member and writer. She is completing her law degree at the University of Ottawa. When she is not doing her homework, she loves to research health, beauty and fashion, do yoga, and of course, shop.

How to Donate to a Landfill Near You!

Husband and I bought a new bed frame a couple of weeks ago. This bed frame rendered our box spring useless since it couldn't fit on the bed.

We had purchased a beautiful (expensive!) Queen sized mattress and a low profile split Queen sized box spring 4 years ago. The Sleep Country salesman convinced us that this box spring would make our lives because it would make our mattress last like, "10 years longer". He upsold us on the low profile split version (pictured), because he said this would be easier to fit in the kind of bed frame we were looking for (lies!) and it would be easier to move (true). So we splurged.

Now we have a gently used box spring blocking the hallway while we figure out what to do with it. I thought this would be a nice donation to a homeless shelter and called around to different organizations in the city only to be told they do not take anything to do with beds for health and safety reasons because, "You never know who has been sleeping on that." True, but then what about hotels?

After much searching I came across the Furniture Bank. Good news! They accept box springs! Bad news! They charge you $100 to come and pick it up! That leaves us with two choices: Pay $25 to have the city pick it up on garbage day and throw it in a landfill or Pay $100 to "donate" it.

We even tried to sell it (best offer!), but it seems no one realized how incredibly valuable a high end low profile split queen sized box spring truly is. Perhaps I should call that Sleep Country salesman to see if he'd like to buy it back, since he thinks it was such a great investment.

What irks me the most about this situation is not that we wasted our money on something useless, but that we'll have to throw something that big and in immaculate condition into a landfill. I wonder how many quality perfectly reusable things are in the garbage that could and should have been reused? I feel quite guilty about that kind of waste, but spending $100 to donate it, is too much. Isn't there a shortage of beds in the city? Isn't there a need for furniture and other household items for families who are struggling financially? It just seems really wrong to me that our city is so ill- equipped to reuse and help those in need.

Yes, it is expensive having a truck drive around picking up donations, sorting and storing items, but if we're not willing to spend $100 to donate our furniture, chances are, neither are a lot of people. Imagine what could be done with all of that stuff. There must be a better way.

What you would you do? Pay $25 and take it out with the trash or pay $100 to donate it?

The Product Review Club Survey Link

Update: Thanks so much to those of you Pretties who emailed us about the broken survey link. We are patiently waiting or icontact to fix it since the problem is on their end and there's nothing we can do about it. But, don't worry, we won't be selecting reviewers for the Exuberance Organic Skincare until that link is back up and running.

In the mean time this is a great opportunity for those of you who keep applying for the Product Review Club but aren't actually ChickAdvisor members to sign up! Remember, we only choose people who:

A. Are registered ChickAdvisor members. (It's free and easy and yes we do check it see if your member name is in our database before making the selection. It's funny how many of you invented member names) and;

B. Have reviewed at least 5 things on your own. This is a new rule we added so that we can see that you are comfortable using our reviewing system and get a sense of your style. "It rocks" isn't the kind of quality reviews we are looking for.

We'll update here when that link is back up and running.

Have a fabulous day!

JUZD: Canada's First Designer Bamboo Label

Watch our exclusive interview with JUZD designer, Jing Liu about his luxury line of organic bamboo clothing. Made of the highest quality, silky soft bamboo, JUZD's edgy one of a kind $100 T's rank right up there on our must have list. They are anti-bacterial, low maintenance and highly covetable.

Jing Liu

What is especially remarkable is that Jing, 27, has no formal training and no design training. The former computer programmer and graphic designer literally woke up one day and decided to become a designer. Several months later, he managed to convince luxury Canadian retailer, Holt Renfrew to carry the line immediately - an unheard of feat.

We are excited for Jing and his success. If you get the chance to get your hands on one of these, it's worth the splurge.

In addition to Holt Renfrew, JUZD is available at:

Green is Black
Fashion for the conscious
624 Yonge Street
416.454.5650
www.GreenisBlack.ca


Got Style
489 King St. West
416-260-9696
www.gsmen.com

www.juzd.com

Product Review Club: Exuberance Beauty (Organic Skincare!)

Exuberance Beauty is a deliciously decadent line of organic skincare products that we have recently had the pleasure of testing. Each product is carefully crafted with only the finest ingredients your skin deserves and swathed in gorgeous inspiring packaging designed by Exuberance Founder, Jodi Fedor.

Exuberance is Canadian and is set to take the organic skincare world by storm. Demand for their products has been high and they have been very well received by the media. They are about to launch their new website and in conjunction with that are offering a number of their fabulous products to members of our Product Review Club to try and review!

So what's up for grabs?


Ultimate Perfection Evening Primrose Intensive Eye Beauty Cream (value of $60)


Description: In an ideal world, it only takes a little to get a lot... Used regularly, a tiny touch of our luxurious eye cream leaves your eyes looking youthful and smooth with infusions of Vitamin A and Evening Primrose Oil.

Fabulous For: Normal, dry or maturing skin

Category: Balance

Top Benefit: Helps to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and puffiness



Optimism (justified) Periwinkle & Aloe Uplifting Eye Gel (Value of $52)

Description: Periwinkle and Aloe Vera actively eliminate the appearance of wrinkles, while our organic peptide complex stimulates collagen production of skin that appears noticeably tighter and firmer (without you lifting more than your itty bitty finger).

Fabulous for: All skin types

Category: Anitaging & Soothing

Top Benefit: Minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improves the overall look of your delicate eye area.


The Power of Pink (you pretty thing, you!) Satin-soft Body Wash with Sage & White Tea (value of $27.00)Description: Softly foaming bubbles in our healthy and gentle sulfate-free formula contain White Tea and Sage to cleanse and soothe your skin and leave you feeling satiny-softer than you would think possible.

Fabulous For: All skin types

Category: Bath

Top Benefit: Healthy cleansing without drying, and amazingly soft skin.



Believe (and then receive) Sweet Tangerine Balancing Facial Tonic (value of $43.00)

Description: Life can be intense for an exuberant woman, but your face shouldn't tell that particular secret... Eliminate buildup and protect against environmental toxins that cause dullness or acne with our top-selling product. Sugar Maple, Sweet Tangerine and blasts of pure Vitamin C in an alcohol-free formula give you a fresh, healthy, beautifully flowing face.

Fabulous for: All skin types

Category: Balance

Top Benefit: Eliminates dull skin, balances, fights aging and acne

We have a stash of these gorgeous goodies to give away. To qualify you must have reviewed at least 5 items on ChickAdvisor on your own and have filled out this survey. Enter now if you haven't already and good luck!

Read reviews on Exuberance Beauty products on ChickAdvisor

Eco-friendly Cleaning Tips

As a fairly stringent eco freak, I rarely use strong chemicals around the house. Spring and fall cleaning is another story, though, and my Germanic exactness compels me to scrub the place down just to make sure I've covered my bases. With 3 children tracking in dirt and the neighborhood's infectious diseases, I really have no choice.

Following such a cleaning purge, my rooms, though satisfyingly sparkly and sanitized, have that vaguely repulsive combo scent of Hint 'O Pine, Fresh Rain, and Flowers Of The Forest. It's not even so much the added perfumes that have me airing the place for hours afterward, but the knowledge of what gaseous chemicals those perfumes are masking. The marketing geniuses haven't yet managed to convince me that if it smells like nature and has a green label, surely there can be no wrong in it.

So while my cleaning cupboard hosts mid-sized bottles of PineSol and Lime-Away, they are dwarfed by a 1-gallon jug of vinegar and 12-pound bag of baking soda. You'd be surprised at how well that works (and how much money you could save!).

Bathroom & Kitchen

*Sprinkle a teaspoon or so of baking soda on the counter and sink, and scour lightly with a wet cloth. The soda gently bleaches your porcelain while the grit removes stains and residue. Wipe-rinse thoroughly to remove the soda so it won't leave a powdery trail. You can also use soda in the toilet bowl, or try leaving 2 cups of vinegar in the bowl overnight once a week.

*Freshen drains with a 1/4 cup of soda, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. It will foam up for a few seconds, freeing sluggish drains as it flushes down. For bad clogs, pour some boiling water straight down the pipe before and after, and use 1/2 cup of soda with 1 cup of vinegar. Wait 5 minutes, then flush with cold water.

*Fill an empty Windex bottle with equal parts vinegar and water. Use it with a microfiber cloth to clean all your shiny surfaces around the house. It also works reasonably well on floor and wall marks and scuffs (try vinegar only on tough messes).

*Disinfect garbage pails and spiff up appliances by wiping them down inside and out with full-strength vinegar. Leave a cup of baking soda in the fridge to absorb food odors, replacing the soda every two months.

*Wash lightly soiled floors with hot water, vinegar, and a drop or two of dish detergent.

Around the house

*Invest in some quality microfiber cloths. You can find a different cloth for every job, but I'm satisfied with one each for dusting, glass, and all-purpose . Norwex is the best but most grocery stores carry acceptable knockoffs: I like the Vileda brand. In many cases, you don't even need a cleaner - just fresh water.

*For a wonderful, light scent with all the same cleaning power using eco-friendly formulations, try the products from Method. My favorite is the All-Purpose Surface Cleaner in Lavender.
Laundry

*Boost the performance of your liquid laundry detergent by adding a few tablespoons of baking soda. You can even skimp on the soap and save some money. The soda will also help brighten your whites more gently than bleach.

*Freshen 'dry clean only' clothes with an unscented dryer sheet in a dryer set on "Air Fluff". Wipe off minor soils with filtered or distilled water (well water or chlorinated city water may leave some residue) and a clean, soft cloth. Water is the best solvent and can clean alone better than you might think, from small carpet stains to your favorite suit jacket. Dancing the night away at your cousin's bachelorette party, on the other hand, may require a trip to the dry cleaner's.

You can find many other great resources for cleaning with baking soda and vinegar, including this little booklet I impulse-bought at the grocery store ($1.99). Be very careful mixing soda or vinegar with your regular cleaners, especially anything containing bleach. Off-gassing of acidic vapors are not only smelly but also a health hazard.

For more eco-friendly/natural cleaning and health tips, check out the Health section on our site forum!

Do you have a tip to share?

Packing for a Minibreak with Your New Man

by Anna Martin

Sunny weather, a new man in your life... what more could you ask for? Summer romances offer the perfect excuse for going away on weekend excursions. Whether you are taking a road trip or flying to New York City for the weekend, savvy packing is a must (I mean, who wants to be that girl with a million suitcases?). A weekend away with your boy will build lasting memories together and help you to see each other outside of the everyday.

I’ve put a list together to help you have that perfect getaway. The key to any packing list is versatility and low maintenance beautiful style.


First up, I say bring out the scarves. I know it’s summer but a light weight scarf can be your ally. During my last trip, my scarf was used to accessorize my outfit, wrap my hair back after swimming, and keep me warm when the sun went down. H & M is featuring a summer scarf collection I think you’ll love.

Cydwoq's Mummy (US$216), Key (US$202 ), Oak (US$216)

Footwear is always so tricky when you’re trying to pack light! Pat yourself on the back if you can get away and only bring three pairs of shoes. I suggest you bring your trusty flip flops, runners, and a pair of dress sandals. I’m in love with the leather sandals found at CYDWOQ . Check out their website for store locations worldwide.


For packing all of your things, splurge on a Matt & Nat overnighter Kravitz bag (CAD$285), or if that doesn’t fit the budget check out Urban Planet’s distressed leather bag (CAD$19.50).


If your weekend plans include hitting the open road, I suggest you show your man your caring side and pack a tin full of treats. Try making your own caramel corn with this wonderful recipe found on Epicurious.com. Prep time is only 20 minutes! Or if you’re not into baking try Gold Rush Kettle Korn found at Wholefoods.

When you arrive at your destination, give yourself a spa treatment with this wonderful body gelato I found while on Salt Spring Island last weekend. The body gelato is made fresh everyday by hand and exfoliates and hydrates your skin. Use it on your man’s feet for a wonderful foot massage. I used it and just felt the stress of the week melt away.

So for all of your weekends of summer bliss, I hope this list helps you enjoy every minute! Have fun!

What must-have travel essential is in your bag?

Product Review Club: Softlips PURE Natural Lip balm

Softlips is already a hit on ChickAdvisor. We love their delicately scented French Vanilla lip balm so much that they are right up there on our hotlist. Well, they're about to get higher yet!



Introducing new Softlips Pure Natural Lip Balm! The chubbier version of their slick French sister, Pure contains 100% food grade ingredients and has no preservatives or colourants. The formula is silky smooth and contains Beeswax and natural moisturizing ingredients including Shea Butter Oil, Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil and Aloe Vera Extracts to protect and moisturize lips. Available in Bergamot, Citrus or Fragrance Free.

Wanna try it? 20 members of our Product Review Club will get each get all 3 (a combined $14.25) To put your name forward to receive one of these delightful Softlips packages, fill out this survey here ASAP! Selection is quick and there are only 20.

The Product Review Club is free to participating ChickAdvisor members. To be considered, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a registered ChickAdvisor member

2. You had added at least 5 great reviews on ChickAdvisor on your own.

3. You must review what you get within 14 days of receiving it.

Good luck!

ChickChat TV is live!

Did this Dude pay for the First Date? Find out!

We are so pleased to announce the launch of our new video series, ChickChat TV!

Talking to strangers is such fun! You never know what dirty secrets they'll admit to or where the conversation will go! This series comes on the heels of the success of our popular street fashion video series, Where'd You Get That?

ChickChat TV tackles topics ranging from Dude street style to how not to feel like an idiot at the gym and even probing unsuspecting peeps on whether they would take back a cheater. The first season will feature 20 episodes, each 90 seconds.

Catch our first episode, Who Should Pay for the First Date? online right now and add your two cents to the discussion. Is it the man's job? Do you go 50-50? What are the new rules for the modern couple? We put strangers on the spot to find out who they think should pay and who is actually doing it. What they admit to may surprise you!

A huge thank you to all of the wonderful guests who let us stick a camera in their face and interview them on the spot. You are all stars.

We had a lot of fun putting the show together and hope you enjoy it!

Special thanks to Rogers Media, Zipcar and the Toronto Eaton Center for helping make the show possible.

Feminine Fitness Extremes

How fit is "too fit"?

The debate, it seems, rages on.

Female fitness was redefined around the time of the invention of step aerobics, a discipline I never did manage to master. Back then, the idea was to lose the post-pregnancy spare tire or the freshman fifteen. We toned down to fit into our favorite pair of acid-wash jeans and swore by control-top pantyhose.

5-time US Olympian Dara Torres, 41 (Photo cred: Marc Serota/Getty Images)

I'm reminded of the scene in Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts' character is mentioned as a size 6. These days, vanity sizing makes that a 2 ... or was it 10? No matter; we can simply look to women we admire these days for a frame of reference.

Madonna turns 50 next week (Photo cred: Splash)

Tyra Banks tells us to own our weight. On the other hand, Hollywood mamas snap back to pre-preggy sleekness before Baby's graduated out of newborn-sized nappies, and geriatric stars (read here: those older than 30) are resetting the bar for fitness over 40.

Sarah Jessica Parker, 43 (Photo cred: unknown)

Exercise enthusiasts take one look at Dara's abs, Sarah Jessica's biceps, and Madonna's booty and throw themselves into a fitness regime with gusto, while celebrity gossip hounds snicker about bulging veins and gaunt cheeks. And while you're angrily munching a handful of Double Stuff Oreos, ranting about personal trainers and private chefs to no one in particular, you can't help wondering if this is something worth chasing.

Do you have the time to devote to an extreme exercise regimen? Dara has been a professional athlete for over 20 years, scrutinizes her diet, and has a team of professionals to assist.

Can you be strong and feminine at the same time? Sarah Jessica certainly is, but not everyone finds the Ms. Universe types classically attractive. Will you intimidate your man (or for that matter, the guy you're trying to land) if your six-pack is better than his?

Could you be risking your overall health by focusing too much on bulking up? Madonna's critics have had a heyday these last few weeks with pictures of the star looking strained and pale (gloriously toned shoulders notwithstanding).

Google the term "ideal BMI for women" once and you'll get a slew of hits showing the preferred Body Mass Index to range from 19-25. For argument's sake, let's choose the lower end of this range, a BMI of 20. If you are:

5'2" - ideal weight is 110 pounds
5'5" - ideal weight is 120 pounds
5'8" - ideal weight is 130 pounds

I am in better shape than I thought I was. Are you?

But wait! you protest. The BMI ratio does not take fitness into account, and we know muscle weighs more than fat. But at the end of the day from where I sit, I like that my weight is very close to my ideal and I can always squash the parts I'm not loving into my Levi's.

Do you admire women who push themselves to the max to look muscular? Is this a beauty ideal that'll stick, or just a fad? Share your 2¢ in the comments!

Weekend Movie Recommendation: La Vie En Rose

La Vie en Rose is simply one of the best movies of 2008. Following the story of famous French singer Edith Piaf, it is so beautifully acted and the soundtrack so haunting you may find yourself downloading it on iTunes. Marion Coutillard is phenomenal in this role and it is no surprise she won an Oscar for it. This is a must rent this weekend.

5 New Cottage Reads

by Sumaya Khan

The days are growing shorter and the evenings cooler, yet we are all very much in denial that summer's getting ready to wind down. Take heart! There's still plenty of time to head out for a weekend at the cottage with your bag stuffed full of the summer's hottest reads. From romantic novels to autobiographies, every chick will find her pick of must-read books.

Gods Behaving Badly (by Marie Phillips)

In her debut novel, Marie Phillips gives a rare, yet explicit, look at the modern day dysfunctional lives of Greek gods living in the shabby part of north London. One of the must-read summer books, Gods Behaving Badly is a far cry from your high school classical mythology textbook. Whether working as a phone sex operator or a professional dog walker, these gods do not have it easy, especially dealing with mortals on a day-to-day basis. As their powers become more useless, they are subjected to use any means possible to overcome this pain of being unwanted - even if it means messing with the mortals.

Phillips’ light and witty novel is a great read for the summer with incredible character analysis. Geared to please both young and the old, Gods Behaving Badly covers romance, family, comedy, tragedy and drama in one 275-page book. If you didn’t like Greek Mythology before, you will surely love and adore each character in this easy and fun fiction.

Twilight (by Stephenie Meyer)

My summer reading list is usually heavy on fantasy and love, so I was naturally inclined to read this summer's hottest novel, Twilight. The first in her acclaimed series, Stephenie Meyer takes a new approach to love and illustrates the unconventional romance between a human and a vampire. We think of vampires as little more than blood-thirsty, ritualistic creatures that prey on humans at night, but Meyer transforms each vampire to be unique and extraordinary in their own way. The relationship between Edward Cullen, a vampire with supernatural strength, and Bella Swan takes the readers deep into a journey of love, fear and passion. The story plot transitions from a tween harlequin romance to an Anne Rice novel for the young.

Although targeted for young adults, anyone can admire the beautifully written novel and appreciate the originality of the story. What makes this book a success is its outside-of-the-box fantasy we all desperately want to disappear into from our own lives. It’s no wonder there are already three books to this series and another one to be released on August 2nd, 2008. If reading is not your thing, you can catch Twilight the movie out this winter on December 12, 2008.

The Last Lecture (by Randy Pausch)

If you are familiar with Randy Pausch and his online lecture entitled Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, it should come as no surprise that his life story has inspired millions of people around the world. This must-read autobiography, appropriately named The Last Lecture, is an incredible journey of a professor suffering from pancreatic cancer who conveys the importance of family, love and strength to conquer any obstacles that may come in the way. What do you do when you find out you have terminal cancer and have less than six months to live? How do you cope with it? For Randy Pausch, it was about putting things into perspective and making every day worth while.

The Last Lecture is divided into sixty-one chapters, each focusing on life lessons he learned growing up and preserving them for his three young children. What I admire most about this book is that it is for everyone who is looking for inspiration. Pausch combined humour, intelligence and honesty which can be refreshingly appreciated whether you are young or old, single or married. Like many great minds of the 21st century, Pausch left a legacy in his own right and while doing so, he touched many people and will be forever remembered in The Last Lecture.

The Matchbreaker (byChris Manby)

If you’re interested in reading chick lit with major family drama, then look no further. Chris Manby’s Matchbreaker is a funny and light hearted book that focuses on daddy’s girl, Lindsey Parker, with a vengeance against her father’s new fresh-young-hot fiancé. Always surprising and unexpected, Lindsey tries new ways to get rid of the fiancé, but finds herself in a lot of troubling circumstances. From attempted murder to drug overdose, Lindsey Parker is an unlikely protagonist who develops through out the story and becomes the “heroine” in her own terms.

Manby provides great character analysis and brilliant relationship tales between a father and daughter. Eventually, the audience will grow to like and understand Lindsey as the poor lonely child that is in need to become independent and content. Well written and incredibly witty, The Matchbreaker falls nothing short of a great laugh and concludes with a great twist. I highly recommended this book for those who are looking for a comical, surprising and a quick read book for the summer.

Tall Tales and Wedding Veils (by Jane Graves)

What do you do when you wake up one morning in Vegas and find out you’re married to a complete stranger? This is exactly what happened in the new Jane Graves fiction Tall Tales and Wedding Veils. The story surrounds the uptight, 30-something accountant Heather Montgomery and ladies’ man Tony McCafferty who meet in Vegas, drink a little too much champagne and end up married – all in one night. Unlike other romantic cliché novels, Tall Tales and Wedding Veils gives a fresh look at a blossoming romance between two characters – albeit in an unexpected circumstance. At first glance, Heather and Tony are an unlikely pair, however Graves convinces the audience that love can be found in the most surprising way!

Tall Tales and Wedding Veils is both every girl’s nightmare and every girl’s dream come true. This brilliantly written novel captures the reader’s interest and affection for Tony and Heather. What makes this book special is how we learn about Heather and Tony at the same time as they do. If you’re looking for a sassy and clever romance novel, I highly recommend marking this book on your summer reading list!

Have a hot summer read you recommend? Share it!

Sumaya is a ChickAdvisor member and writer. She is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto and looking to expand her horizon. She is passionate about environmental causes and is soon presenting her ideas at the 2008 Youth Summit on Sustainable Transportation in Vancouver.

Organic Skin Care 101

by Krizia

If you’ve never used organic skincare products before, get your hands on the starter kits! It’s the best introduction to a line at the most reasonable cost. Organic skincare lines such as Lavera, Jurlique, and Stella McCartney all sell introductory starter kits.

Why chose organic products?

Organic skin care products are made with products derived from ingredients grown in a way that is both gentle to your skin and kind to the earth. One thing to keep in mind is that while these products may be gentle, it doesn’t mean they are not effective at treating your skin and maintaining your skin’s youthful glow. An organic label simply means that there are no man-made chemicals added at any stages of the product’s development.

Designer organic skincare

For those who’ve not heard, Stella McCartney has added skincare expert to her already impressive résumé.

After proving herself as England’s most influential fashion designer, Stella McCartney is now establishing herself as a skincare guru. This devote environmentalist matched her incomparable creative talent with her need to preserve the earth in her new CARE line of 100% certified organic skincare. Stella’s strict vegetarian diet and philosophy have been the inspiration behind this line that is totally cruelty-free and that doesn’t use any products that have been grown with pesticides or herbicides.

Stella McCartney’s Discovery Set is the perfect place to start your introduction to the world of organic skincare. The set includes four CARE products all in the 5 ml/0.169 oz trial size. You get the 5 Benefits Moisturizing Fluid, the Calming+Soothing Elixir, the Radiance & Youth Elixir and the Nourishing Elixir. The kit will cost you less than $40 and it's a great way to figure out which products work best for your skin before you invest in the larger size products.

You’ll find Stella McCartney’s CARE Discovery Set across Canada at Holt Renfrew, Sephora stores or Sephora’s Web site.

Krizia is a ChickAdvisor member and writer. She created an online magazine, a podcast, and soon-to-be video channel aimed at smart, savvy and mobile consumers, who don’t have time to read every single article on skin care, anti-aging and aging-well methods, but who intend on looking as young as they feel.

Newsletter August 5th: August Giveaways

Join our Product Review Club and get some awesome free products this month!

August may signal the last weeks of summer but it ain’t over yet. Take this next month to really enjoy yourself. Chances are your boss is on vacation and so there is no time like the present to slow down, unwind and explore. Take a road trip, spend a Saturday walking around your city, visiting local cafes. Spend an entire “mental health day” at the beach with a good book.

We plan to do our part to make this a great month by giving away over 100 new products to members of our Product Review Club. We’re also gearing up for our 4th Shop Crawl (October!)

More exciting news to come later this month!

XOXO, Your ChickAdvisor Team


Become a writer for ChickAdvisor
You may have noticed some great new articles popping up on our blog. In our last newsletter we posted that we were looking for writers. Wow, did you respond! If you haven’t noticed already, hop on over to the blog and take a peek at some of the best submissions so far.

If you’d like to contribute articles to ChickAdvisor, send an email to Claire for details on how to get started.



Product Review Club: Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express Mascara

Maybelline New York’s latest mascara has a big name for a good reason. It’s their most dramatic volume packed mascara yet. Designed to fatten your lashes up to 9 times, Volum’ Express Colossal has a patented MegaBrush and Collagen Formula that plumps your lashes one by one instantly. The packaging is cute too! Encased in a fat vibrant yellow tube with purple lettering, this is one mascara that won't get lost in your makeup bag.

Haven’t heard much about Colossal yet? That’s because it’s brand spanking new and the buzz is only beginning. We tested it ourselves and reviewed it here...

Want another reason to love it? Get it for free!
Maybelline New York is offering 40 full-sized Volum’ Express Colossal Mascaras (retail value of $7.99) to members of our Product Review Club. The Product Review Club is free to participating ChickAdvisor members who agree to review items they receive within 14 days.

To put your name forward to receive one of these Colossal mascaras, fill out this survey here ASAP. Selection is quick and there are only 40. Good luck!


5 Days in Montreal

There is something so charming about being in a place where you don’t understand the language very well. At least I think so. Between the incredible cuisine, the language and the stunning architecture, it felt like a little slice of Europe.


Everyone has their own style of traveling and Alex and I are lucky that ours jive. We love to walk the city. We get a hotel located in the heart of the action and walk absolutely everywhere. We visited with some of my favorite beauty brands and clothing retailers in the mornings and spent the afternoons walking the city. That often meant at least 4 hours of walking a day, which was great for exercise and getting a feel for the city. We sat at outdoor cafés, enjoyed takeout lunches from Beniamino & co sitting on the grass at the waterfront or got rich cappuccinos to go from MBCo... (keep reading)

We'd love to hear your thoughts on Montreal. Review your favorite places in Montreal on ChickAdvisor and help us grow that amazing city!


The Boys of Summer: Fling, Flirtation or Forever After?

If you’re someone who’s more interested in “happily ever after” than “happy to know you right now,” take a look at these tips for figuring out whether a guy is just a fling – or the real thing.

Signs that he’s only into you until September:

1. He religiously avoids any mention of plans after Labour Day.

2. You don’t know where he lives when he’s not at his family’s cottage.

3. His cell phone rings often and he asks the person on the other line, “Can I call you back?” (Are you sure you’re the only one he’s seeing?)

Keep reading…

About The ChickAdvisor Product Review Club

The Product Review Club is a fun way for our members to test new products and start the conversation about them on ChickAdvisor. It serves two purposes:

1. It gets ChickAdvisor Members access to fabulous new products to test, review and keep! Past items have included Makeup, Shampoo & Conditioner, Body Lotion, Body Wash, Spa Products, Books, Electronics Accessories and even Chocolate! All products are full sized (not samples).

Members are not charged anything to participate in the Product Review Club nor are they paid for the reviews. It is 100% unbiased and based on their individual opinions.

2. It gives Brands the chance to get a lot of buzz going about their products all at once. Often our members will get to try something new before it even hits store shelves. By the time it's available in store, there is enough of a discussion going on it that others will want to try it for themselves.

Eligibility
The Product Review Club is open to all registered ChickAdvisor members who have reviewed at least 5 items on their own first. Members are required to complete this survey and are selected for each product based on compatibility. For example we may be looking for people with oily skin within a certain age range, etc.

Reviewers must agree to review the products on ChickAdvisor within 14 days of receiving them.

Join
Brands interested in participating should contact us here:
Send us an email

Members interested in participating must meet the above criteria and then fill out this survey here: ChickAdvisor Product Review Club Survey

Weekend Movie Recommendation: Definitely, Maybe

It's a beautiful long weekend here in Canada but in case you'd rather cuddle up with a movie and a bowl of popcorn Definitely, Maybe is really kinda cute.

After being served divorce papers, Will spends a weekend with his young daughter who begs him to share the story of how he met her mother, hoping the memories will bring them back together. Abigail Breslin is fantastic as the smart mouthed daughter and there are plenty of laugh out loud moments.

Enjoy!