When should you get your brakes changed?
Do you know what signs indicate that your brakes need to be changed? Regular all over vehicle maintenance will eliminate costly repairs and grief down the line. Your brakes should be an integral part of that maintenance. Many vehicles now have alerts built into the electrical system to signal when something goes wrong or requires your attention. With or without an electrical warning system, it’s handy to be able to recognize the signs of trouble so that you know when you should get the car into the shop. If you’re on top of having regular maintenance done, you’re less likely to be caught with a big surprise repair bill, not to mention the hassle of getting to work without your own wheels while it’s down. As the authority in North Vancouver for brake repair, here are some signs that suggest you need to make that call to your mechanic.
Have a look– The first way to check for brake wear is to simply look at them. You should be able to see your brake pads if you look between the spokes on your wheel. Typically, 4mm of brake pad is recommended, so if you think they’re thinner than that, it’s time to get them checked and possibly replaced. This is the easiest way to keep on top of your brake pad condition and requires no tools or training to carry out. If your car wasn’t made to accommodate a peek through the spokes, you can remove the tire to get a look at the pads.
High pitched squeal– If you’ve heard a high pitched squealing sound from underneath the vehicle, it could just be a little rust burning off the rotors, but if it’s consistent, this is another sign that your brake pads are worn and should be professionally inspected. Make sure to keep those tunes at a volume that won’t drown out important signals from your vehicle’s undercarriage! Unfortunately, if you’ve ignored the warning signs and hear a growling or grinding sound, you may have worn the brake pads beyond replacement and may even possibly need to have your rotors turned (which is a process that evens out the surface of the rotors again) or replaced. To avoid a heftier repair bill, don’t ignore those first screeching sounds! It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Pulling or Jerking to one side– If you feel a “pulling” or jerking motion towards one side or the other while you’re driving, it could be a sign that your brakes are in need of a check. It’s possible that your brake linings aren’t wearing evenly from a Brake Pad sticking, a Brake Caliper dragging or even brake hose collapsed. A pulling motion is a good indicator of one of these conditions.
Leaks– Wetness on the inside of a wheel or a puddle under the vehicle could signify that your brake fluid is leaking and that the hose will need repair. One way to help determine if this is the case is to lay a sheet of cardboard under the car overnight and check it in the morning. If you see a puddle of nearly clear fluid (it should have the consistency of cooking oil) then brake fluid is a likely candidate. Check your brake fluid level in your engine bay, it is time for a service or repair if the brake fluid level is close to or below the min level line.
A Soft Brake Pedal– You could also have a leak in the system or a failing brake master cylinder if your pedal sinks to the floor or you’re finding the brakes just aren’t as responsive as they used to be.
High sensitivity- You might be having the opposite issue with overly sensitive brakes, bringing your vehicle to a decidedly rough stop with only a gentle touch. This could be a brake booster issue, a portioning valve, the brake master yet again or a brake rotor fault.
Pulsation or vibration– If you feel a pulsing or vibrating when braking under normal conditions, you may have a problem with warped rotors. When their uneven surface hugs against the brake pad, it results in a vibrating or pulse since it’s not creating a consistent squeeze.
If you’re looking to get your brakes checked or replaced, leave your vehicle in our capable hands. For a limited time, one of our mechanics will replace your oil and filter and do a courtesy inspection with every brake replacement. See our promotions page to learn more about this awesome awesome deals! Don’t let your vehicle maintenance get away on you, leading to costly repairs and time away from the important things in your day to day. Let us do the heavy work and get you back on the road quickly, safe and sound!
Article Source:
Ryan Derosa, Derosa Automotive (2016, January 10) Retrieved from https://www.derosaauto.ca/when-should-you-replace-your-brakes/
Many teenagers ‘neglected by uninterested parents’
Tens of thousands of teenagers are being neglected in some way by parents who do not check up on them or offer enough support, a charity says.
The Children’s Society says as many as three pupils in every GCSE classroom in England could be experiencing neglect.
It says a lack of parental interest can lead teenagers to act more waywardly, by getting very drunk for example.
Teenagers need as much care as younger children, it says, adding that many parents do not see it that way.
The charity commissioned researchers from the University of York to investigate teenagers’ experience by surveying a representative group of 2,000 12- to 15-year-olds.
Teenagers are often viewed as more resilient than younger children, says the report, “but they still need dedicated care to meet their physical and emotional needs, to support their education and to keep them safe”.
“A lack of consistent attention to any, or all, of these aspects of parenting can constitute neglect,” it says.
The researchers said neglect of teenagers could include “parents failing to monitor their children’s activities outside the home, not making sure they get health care when they need it, not taking an interest in their education, or failing to provide the crucial emotional support teenagers need by helping them if they are facing problems or if they are upset”.
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‘Rarely caring’
The researchers asked if the teenagers’ parents and carers:
- showed an interest in what they were doing at school
- offered support if they had problems
- took care of them if they were ill
- monitored what they were doing when they were out of the house
A significant minority, some 15%, said they had experienced some form of neglect.
And one in 12 said they lacked emotional support, with their parents rarely or never encouraging them or helping with problems over the previous year.
The research suggested that those who were neglected like that were more likely to behave in ways that risked their health or future prospects.
Nearly half (46%) of teenagers who said they had experienced emotional neglect – with parents who rarely acted in a caring or supportive way towards them – said they had got very drunk recently.
They were more than twice as likely as those who did not experience neglect to have played truant from school and three times as likely to have smoked.
Teenagers who had experienced this neglect were also significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with their lives and pessimistic about their futures.
‘Tension’
These neglected teenagers also tended to report doubts about their competence, having little faith that anyone cares about them.
These feelings became more severe if more than one of these types of neglect had been experienced over the same period.
Children who reported frequent support from their parents were more likely to have better levels of wellbeing.
However, the research also suggested there was a difficult balance to be struck between showing concern and care and intruding in teenagers’ new-found freedom.
“So maybe it is not surprising that the 14-15-year-olds in our survey said they were less happy when parents were frequently asking about what they were doing away from home,” the report said.
The charity says although bringing up teenagers is seen by most as a challenge, there is little support available for parents who struggle.
Its senior researcher, Phil Raws, said: “There is a tension between the need for parents to supervise and monitor their children and the need of teenagers to have independence.
“It is certainly the case that the desire of young people to have freedom and choice in their lives can conflict with the need for parents to keep their young people safe.
“We plan to explore these issues in more detail in future, but it is certainly the case that, to negotiate these challenges, parents and teenagers have to communicate well and build trust over time.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “All children, whatever their age, must feel safe and supported at home.
“We are strengthening the child protection system to make sure children who are at risk are identified early and get the help they need – this includes support to help parents to better care for their children, where necessary.”
Article Source:
A child’s cough that doesn’t go away can make parents sick with worry
‘Love, and a cough, cannot be hid,” the English metaphysical poet George Herbert wrote 400 years ago. It can be hard on parents to live with a child who keeps coughing – sometimes maybe harder on the parents than on the child.
I saw a two-year-old recently whose mother was worried about a cough that had been there for more than a week. It bothered her son mostly in the evenings, she reported. He was running happily around the clinic exam room, and I hadn’t heard him cough once. But his mother was clearly distressed as she described – and tried to imitate – the staccato noises that occasionally came from his room at bedtime. Isn’t there something you can give him that will make it go away, she asked.
Although it is deeply frustrating to parents who want quick solutions, with a child this young, who is otherwise well, the best response may be to wait for the cough to go away on its own.
Coughs are one of the most common reasons for both adults and children to seek medical care, and as a pediatrician, part of my job is to worry about what it means when a cough sticks around. Coughing is the reflex response of the airways to anything irritating, a useful defence that can help a child get rid of everything from pollutants to microbes to mucus. And a great majority of children who have coughs that hang on after colds or other viral infections don’t need any treatment beyond a certain amount of patience and maybe – if they are over a year old – a spoonful of honey now and then. (We don’t give honey to infants under a year for fear of infant botulism, a rare but potentially fatal illness.)
In recent years, pediatricians have had to argue against the dubious benefits of over-the-counter cough medications for young children. But not all persistent coughs are equal, and sometimes children do need more tests, or more medications.
When a cough doesn’t seem to be getting better, it’s worth paying attention to the pattern of coughing, and to the character of the cough itself. Dr. Anne Chang is a senior pediatric pulmonologist in Brisbane, Australia, and the head of the child-health division at Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin. Her research has included extensive reviews of chronic coughs in children, and the development of clinical protocols for evaluating and treating those coughs that last more than four weeks.
“The most common cause of cough where parents seek medical attention is acute cough related to upper respiratory infections,” she said. Most such coughs resolve in seven days, but in some children they can persist for several weeks.
“In the majority of cases, we tell parents not to worry if the child looks well,” unless the cough lasts for four weeks, she said.
Mind you, for small children in the winter, especially if they’re in preschool or daycare (or have older siblings bringing home infections from elementary school), those four weeks could bring the onset of a new and different upper respiratory infection with its attendant cough and congestion; this contributes to the frustration of parents who feel the child has been unwell for a very long time.
Chang emphasized that the quality of the cough is important; a dry cough is generally less worrisome for infection than a wet cough, and any child with (or without) any kind of cough who looks unwell and especially who is having any trouble breathing should definitely see a doctor; breathing trouble can show up as rapid breathing or as the chest muscles around the ribs tugging in with each breath. Those who study coughs in children also distinguish the barking cough of croup, and the paroxysmal cough of whooping cough, with or without its characteristic whoop.
Dr. Alan Goldsobel, a pediatric allergist immunologist who is an adjunct clinical professor at Stanford, and the author of a 2010 review article on coughing in children, said: “I always teach, if it’s a wet cough, think about antibiotics; if it’s a dry cough, think more about asthma.” A young child who is coughing through the night, he said, should raise the question of asthma.
However, if the cough doesn’t respond promptly to asthma medications, the child should be re-evaluated for other possible causes.
Old-fashioned methods are still worth a try: Parents can attempt to soothe a coughing child with a favourite book, a cozy blanket and a bowl of chicken soup.
Article Source:
Christopher Plummer set for Canadian Screen Awards honour
Whether you think of him as Captain von Trapp, John Barrymore, Archbishop Vittorio or even the Shakespeare-spouting Klingon general Chang, there’s no doubt Christopher Plummer’s career has been jam-packed with memorable performances.
The iconic Canadian actor will be recognized for his wide-ranging career with a lifetime achievement honour at the upcoming Canadian Screen Awards.
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, which administers the annual awards celebrating homegrown productions, made the announcement Tuesday morning.
“Every year, the academy has the honour of celebrating those who have made immense contributions to our cultural landscape through their artistry,” academy chair Martin Katz said in a statement.
“Christopher Plummer is one of the greatest actors of his generation who has delighted audiences with his iconic performances. We are elated to have him as this year’s distinct guest of honour.”
Plummer was among the guests at the 2016 ceremony, taking the stage to present the award for the year’s best film.
Star of stage and screen
Toronto-born, Montreal-raised Plummer, 87, began his show business career performing on radio and in theatre.
He’s delivered unforgettable, award-winning stage performances — including acclaimed turns in Cyrano, Barrymore, King Lear and Inherit the Wind — at Canada’s Stratford Festival, on Broadway as well as in London’s West End.
Over the years, he’s also had a prodigious slate of movie and TV roles, from the famed miniseries The Thorn Birds to the beloved musical The Sound of Music to films as varied as Star Trek VI:The Undiscovered Country, The Insider, Up, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and The Last Station.
Article Source:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/plummer-christopher-csas-award-1.3919684/
101 Fashion Tips and Tricks That Will Change Your Life
When it comes to fashion tips, it sometimes seems that everyone and their mother (literally!) has tried-and-true style advice they absolutely swear by. Some are useful, while others … well, not so much. With that in mind, we’ve culled 101 style tips from the best: designers, lifestyle experts and, of course, our staff. Trust us: With these gems, you’ll be well on your way to living your most stylish life.101. Despite what it says on the tag, cashmere is best washed by hand. To dry it, use a salad spinner, which releases excess water in seconds.
100. Use white wine to remove red wine stains.
99. Wash new jeans twice before taking them to the tailor. Why? Because jeans will always shrink in length when washed.
98. To stop angora or mohair from shedding, fold the garment and place it into a zip-top bag and freeze it for at least three hours.
97. Remove odors from vintage or thrift clothing by spritzing them with a mixture of one part vodka, two parts water.
96. “Remove white deodorant marks from a garment by gently rubbing the protective foam used on hangers against the fabric.” — Jonathan Simkhai, designer
95. If you get an oil stain on your favorite handbag, coat the mark with baby powder and let it stand overnight. By morning, the stain should be gone. If a bit still remains, repeat the process until the stain is completely gone.
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94. The best at-home method to keep diamonds sparkling: liquid dishwasher detergent and an old toothbrush.
93. The secret to well-fitting everyday clothes is Lycra. The formulas to look for: 95% cotton/5% Lycra spandex for T-shirts, and at least 2% Lycra for jeans to hold their shape.
92. “Always organize your clothes going light to dark from left to right in your closet. Your eye will follow the color and thus help you stay organized.” — Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, Founder, Clos-ette and Clos-ette Too.
90. Wondering about the quality of your cashmere? Gently stretch the body of the garment to see if it snaps back. A lower-quality cashmere won’t.
89. “If you don’t have time to try on jeans in the store, try the Neck Method: You can determine your size by placing the waistline of the jeans around the diameter of your neck. If the waistline of the pant comfortably meets at back of your neck, then the jeans will fit.”— Sarah Ahmed, Creative Director, DL1961 Premium Denim
88. Cut down your closet by 25% by asking yourself this one question: “If I were shopping right this second, would I buy this?” If the answer’s no, out it goes. — Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, Founder, Clos-ette and Clos-ette Too.
87. “Never put your swimwear in the washing machine, and always hand dry. The machine will damage the suit and it will lose its elasticity. The only exception: At the end of the summer or vacation, wash your swimwear in lingerie washing bags on the gentle cycle with a bit if Drift or Woolite. But only after many wears.” —Shoshanna Gruss, Designer
MORE: The 7 Habits of Highly Stylish People
86. To drop bloat five days before a big event, stay away from dairy and whole grains, which can do a number on the digestive system.
85. A useful style tip: While fake designer bags are a huge don’t, fake diamond studs are a huge do. Faux stones are hard to spot to the untrained eye.
84. Dressy occasions aren’t the time to play with trends, so know your silhouette and stick to it to always look your best. Perfect example: Sofia Vergara knows she looks good in mermaid dresses, and always chooses variations of the shape on red carpets.
83. “Never put a garment on immediately after ironing, as this can actually cause new wrinkles to form. Instead, let it sit for five minutes to set the press.” — Althea Harper, Designer and Rowenta Brand Ambassador
82. The best way to de-fuzz a sweater: use a pumice stone.
81. Snap clip-on earrings onto flats for an instant evening shoe, or onto shirt collars for DIY embellishments.
80. If you get wax on a piece of clothing, layer wax paper over the hardened wax and then run an iron over it to loosen it up. Once you pull off the paper, the wax should come right out with it.
79. Pour a dash of vodka into vase water to extend the life of your flowers.
78. Spray tights with sticky (read: cheap) hairspray to avoid holes and runs.
MORE: 6 Fashion Habits That Make You Look Old
77. To clean dirt off suede, remove the crust from a piece of bread and allow it to become stale. Gently rub dirt and stains with the edge of the stale bread, and they’ll disappear. To de-scuff suede, use an eraser or nail file.
76. Shopping for a wedding dress or another big-event outfit? Head to the store with makeup on, proper undergarments, and your hair semi-done to get a better sense of how it’ll look.
75. Double-stick tape work to shorten a hem in a pinch if you can’t get to the tailor before an event.
74. Blot, don’t rub, when you spill something on your clothes. Wiping or rubbing will actually further ingrain the stain into the weave.
73. “Panty lines are not okay! Every woman should invest in nude, seamless underwear.” — Giuliana Rancic, HSN designer and E! host
72. If you don’t feel like trying on a dress but still want to see where the hem will hit you, align the shoulder seam exactly with your shoulder bone (not your collarbone).
71. Repurpose old or thrift sweaters and blankets by using them to reupholster a throw pillow, a chair seat or cover a stool.
70. “Use hairspray to remove a lipstick stain.” – Kaelen Haworth, designer, KAELEN
MORE: 30 Genius Uses For Common Household Products
69. Add a 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to the final rinse cycle while doing laundry to maintain the wash of your favorite pair of dark jeans.
68. To stretch tight shoes, fill two freezer bags with water and place into each shoe. Let it freeze overnight. As the water freezes, it’ll gently expand your shoes.
67. Frame vintage scarves for cool original artwork.
66. Due to its high level of surfactants, Dawn dish detergent is especially successful at removing grease and oil stains from clothing. 65. “A flattering silhouette begins with the right underpinnings. Never underestimate the power of Spanx—they’re a girl’s best friend!” — Lucy Sykes Rellie, Fashion Director, Rent the Runway
64. Revamp an old coat by swapping out the buttons and having a tailor replace the lining with something eye-catching, like a pattern or a bright color.
63. When getting jeans shortened, always ask your tailor to reattach the original hem. It may cost extra, but it’s worth it.
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62. If blush or bronzer breaks in your handbag, pre-moistened makeup removing wipes will clean up the loose powder flawlessly.
61. Break in stiff or too-snug shoes by slipping them on with socks and blasting your feet with a hot hairdryer….
Article Source:
https://stylecaster.com/101-fashion-tips-tricks-every-girl-should-know/
50 Best Beauty Tips: The Only Beauty Advice You’ll Ever Need
To help you make 2013 a huge sartorial success, we recently brought you 50 of the best fashion tips of all time. And now, we turn our attention to beauty. Feast your eyes on 50 of our favourite get-beautiful tips.We scoured the net for every bit of advice we could find, and threw some ideas of our own in for good measure. From basic beauty dos (wear sunscreen every day) to don’ts (avoid popping pimples) as well as obscure secrets (beer and vinegar rinses?), you’ll find advice to keep you as beauty-full as ever.Go ahead, get gorgeous!
Freeze Your Eyeliner
Does your eyeliner constantly crumble while putting it on? Our friends at You Beauty recommend leaving it in the freezer for 15 minutes prior to applying your makeup. It should glide along your lash line seamlessly after that.
Shave With Conditioner
If you’re out of shaving cream, lather your legs with conditioner instead of soap. Conditioner will soften the hair on your legs making it easier to shave (and it will leave your skin feeling extra silky).
Source: You Beauty
Rinse Hair With Beer Or Vinegar
Rinsing your hair with beer helps restore moisture to your locks while using vinegar will up the ante in shine. Soak your hair in either liquid (not at the same time) for a few minutes, then rinse with cold water.
Source: You Beauty
Turn Up The Heat
For curlier, flirtier lashes, the experts at You Beauty recommend heating your lash curler with a hair dryer for five to eight seconds before curling them.
Use Ice Cubes To Keep Fat, Acne And Wrinkles At Bay
The experts at You Beauty recommend massaging an ice cube over your face until it melts. Do it every night before bed and keep fat cells, acne and wrinkles under control.
Make Your Manicure Last.. And Last
Before applying nail polish, wipe nails with an acetone-based cleanser. Essie Weingarten, founder of Essie Cosmetics, told the pros at Redbook that cleaning excess dirt, oil or moisturizer from your nails will ensure that the polish adheres properly. Follow the rest of these tips at Redbook and your perfectly polished manicure will last for a week and a half.
Soothe Your Stomach.. And Your Face
Apparently Pepto-Bismol isn’t just a stomach soother, it can also be used as a facial mask. It contains bismuth subsalicylate, which is commonly found in facial creams. In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Dr.Frances Jang, a dermatologist at Skinworks, recommended spreading two teaspoons of Pepto-Bismol on your face, then letting it dry for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
Apply Sunscreen Daily
Wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine. Even when it’s cloudy. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 80 per cent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays pass through the clouds.
Don’t Neglect Your Elbows
It’s easy to forget about your elbows, but they need just as much protection and care as other parts of your body. Cure dry elbows by massaging Bio Oil onto them daily. You’ll see and feel softer elbows in at least two days.
Lighten Hair With Chamomile Tea And Lemon Juice
In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Popie Poulos, hairstylist and owner of The Salon, recommends rinsing your hair with a mixture of chamomile and fresh lemon juice instead of conditioner to permanently lighten your tresses. Allow your hair to dry while sitting in the sun or use a blow dryer — the heat will lighten your locks.
De-Puff Your Eyes With Raw Potatoes
In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Dr.Frances Jang, a dermatologist at Skinworks recommends using raw potato slices to soothe your eyes. She says they are astringent which means they help decrease water retention and they also contain the enzyme catalase which helps lighten dark under eye circles. First, wash and peel a potato. Cut two slices and place one on each eye for 10 minutes. Lay down, relax and let the potatoes work their magic. Rinse the eye area gently with lukewarm water when you’re done.
Maximize The Lifespan Of Your Blow Out
We love walking out of the salon with a fresh blow out, but how do you prevent your locks from going limp in the days after? The experts at Allure say plan early. Your hair naturally secretes oil so be two steps ahead and spray your roots with dry shampoo before you start producing oil. This way the dry shampoo will absorb any moisture before it weighs down your tresses. Also make sure you protect your hair from moisture (rain is sure to ruin your mane) and touch up your blow out in the morning using a hair dryer and round brush. It will give you an instant boost of volume.
Countouring Creates Dimension
The trick to achieving a chiseled celebrity-like face is to contour (Angelina Jolie cheekbones, anyone?). Your face is three dimensional so applying foundation in a single tone will only make your face appear flat. Add a highlighter to areas of your face that would usually catch light but create enough shadow to emphasize your jaw line and cheekbones. For tips on how to contour your face according to its specific shape, visit Total Beauty
Say Goodbye To Makeup Sponges
Makeup sponges help you apply make up, but not without a cost. They usually soak up more liquid foundation than what ends up on your face. The result? You’re wasting foundation and constantly buying new sponges. The fix? Get a foundation brush. You waste less foundation and it allows for a more even and precise application than a sponge would.
Avoid Overly Rosy Cheeks
Giving yourself a natural glow avec blush is an in look for spring. But you’ll want to avoid brushing on too much (lest you look like a clown). So always start your blush line two finger widths away from your nose and only apply it on the apples of your cheeks. This will ensure you create a natural glow without going overboard.
Keep Misbehaving Brows In Check
Spritz an old toothbrush or a clean mascara wand with hairspray, then brush brows and style them as desired. Even the most hard to tame brows will fall in line with this trick.
Applying False Lashes
Adding extra eye fringe amps up the glam instantly. First, take your falsies and loosen them by gently flexing the eyelash band, then curl your natural lashes to make sure your falsies line up with your actual lash line. Apply glue on your falsies using a Q-tip. Using tweezers (or finger tips if you feel that gives you more control), place your falsies as close to your lash line as possible. Let your lashes dry for a minute before you add a coat of mascara (this is optional).
Toothpaste Zaps Pimples
You’ve heard it before — don’t pop your zits! The folks over at Daily News suggest applying a bit of toothpaste to a pimple before bed and washing it off with warm water when you wake up in the morning. They say that toothpastes draws impurities out of clogged pores and dries the skin with shrinks the pimple. Opt for organic toothpastes rather than gel toothpastes which don’t work as well.
Blot Away Excess Oil
Do you start the morning with matte, fresh-looking skin only to find that by the time 5 p.m. rolls in you’re a shiny mess? If you have oily skin then blotting papers are a beauty godsend. Don’t use powder to soak up the oil. Using too much periodically throughout the day will make your skin appear cakey because you’re just layering makeup on top of more makeup. Opt for blotting papers instead. They will soak up all the oil.
No Makeup Remover? Try Lotion Instead
If you’re out of makeup remover, use body lotion to get rid of makeup. It works especially well on tough mascara.
Create Fuller Lips
If you’re tired of having thin, pursed puckers, extend your lip line using a neutral-toned lip liner. Then apply lipstick over top. Be careful though — don’t extend your lip line too much.
Lashes For Miles
Curl your lashes both before and after applying mascara for longer lashes. You may want to re-curl them throughout the day to get some extra lift, just remember to be gentle when you apply pressure with your curler.
Don’t Pop It
No, no, no! Don’t pop your zits. Not only does it increase the chance of scarring, it’s also likely that you will worsen the blemish and spread bacteria to other places on your face which could give rise to another breakout.
Stop Your Hair Colour From Fading
If you’ve just had your hair dyed, the last thing you want is for the colour to fade. One surefire way to prevent such a mishap from happening is to use a deep-conditioning treatment once a month. This will help lock in colour and has the added benefit of staving off dry and damaged locks.
Use A Flat Iron To Create Waves
Flat irons are amazing tools with multiple uses. Not only can you use it to straighten your hair, you can also create tight curls or soft romantic waves.
Exfoliate Your Lips
Dry, flaky, chapped lips are the worst canvas for lipstick. To ensure that your puckers are in perfect pout condition, the experts at The Beauty Department recommend exfoliating your lips. To do this, apply lip balm to your lips, then using a toothbrush or clean mascara wand, scrub your lips (don’t be too rough). Then, use a tissue to wipe away excess flakes and voila! You’ll have a perfect pout in no time.
Microwave Lotion Into Luxury
Who doesn’t love a spa day? If we could go every day, we probably would, but that would also put a dent in our wallets. A quick, easy and cheaper indulgence is to put your favourite lotion in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Make sure the oils in your lotion don’t separate and that it isn’t too hot. Apply it on to your skin and enjoy!
Exfoliate Daily
Exfoliation is an important and easy way to buff away the dead skin cells that cover up your skin’s natural glow.
Know Your Shade
When choosing a foundation, test a product on the skin near your jawline. And be sure to do it in natural light. This will ensure the foundation tone you choose for your face isn’t too different from the natural shade of your neck.
Uses For Old Mascara Wands
Don’t throw away your old mascara wand, it’s still got a few uses left. Clean it and use it as a brow brush instead. You might even find it handy around the house — use it to unclog sinks or clean tough to reach areas in your home.
Wear Pantyhose Or Tights
What’s worse than having to wear a skirt with absolutely no time to shave your legs? We’ve all been there. The hassle free fix for this is to wearing pantyhose or tights (try a patterned pair for something new). It will disguise stubble as well as any blemishes on your stems.
Tweezing Tips
Before you tweeze, make sure you soften your skin by dabbing a cotton ball soaked in warm water or cream. When you start tweezing, do so in the direction of your hair’s growth.
Camouflage Grey Hair
If you want to camouflage some strands of grey hair on the go, the folks at Real Samples suggest using mascara if you have dark hair. For blondes or redheads try dusting your roots with bronzing powder.
Cut Back On Pedicures
Save money on your beauty routine by taking care of your feet on a daily basis. Simply scrub your foot with a pumice stone each morning in the shower. Once you step out and dry off, apply a moisture cream to your feet. This will increase the amount of time you can go without a pedicure and will keep your toes healthy and fungus-free.
Use Dry Shampoo
We absolutely love dry shampoo, especially Klorane (we use this brand religiously). It absorbs excess oil on your strands and scalp and keeps your mane looking clean and fresh. If you don’t have dry shampoo, try washing just the top of your head (or wherever there is oil), with regular shampoo followed by a quick blow dry. Your tresses will look as good as new.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Be beautiful and environmentally savvy while you’re at it. Recycle your old beauty products by shipping them to Terra Cycle (you can download their pre-paid UPS shipping packages online so it’s completely free). They’ll take your old beauty products and transform them into something new.
Don’t Pump Your Mascara
The experts at Beauty Is My Duty say that you should never pump your mascara (i.e., moving the wand up and down in the tube really quickly) because it will only allow air into the tube which will cause your mascara to dry (and ultimately shorten its lifespan).
Apply Bronzer Evenly
Before applying bronzer or self-tanning lotion, mix a drop or two of the solution with moisture cream. Blend using your finger or a Q-tip then apply to skin as you would regular moisturizer. This will ensure the cream blends in — and covers skin — evenly.
Use Oil On Your Skin.. Even If It’s Already Oily
This probably sounds crazy, but using an oil-based product to remove makeup or excess dirt from your skin can actually improve your epidermis’ condition. Why? Over-cleaning stimulates the sebum glands, which causes skin to over-produce oil. Using oil-based products will have the opposite effect.
Avoid Chipped Nail Polish Like The Plague
There are only two options for your nails — with nail polish or without. Do not allow your nails to be caught somewhere in the middle (there is nothing worse than nails donning chipped red nail polish). Even if you think no one else will notice, trust us, someone will.
Moisturize Properly
Sometimes less is more. Don’t slather your face with moisturizer because it will take 10 minutes or more to be absorbed by the skin before your face is ready for makeup. In an interview with Real Simple, Susan Evans, a dermatologist, said the best way to apply face cream is to blend a dime-sized amount on your cheeks, nose, chin and forehead instead of moisturizing heavily.
Clean Your Makeup Brushes
Make sure you clean your makeup brushes regularly to avoid a buildup of makeup residue and bacteria. You can purchase makeup brush cleaner from a drug or beauty store, or you can simply use shampoo and conditioner to clean your brushes as you would your own hair. Clean brushes guarantee a super smooth and even makeup application every time.
Treat Ingrown Hairs
Apply a product containing azulene or witch hazel to help reduce the swelling and redness that’s associated with ingrown hairs. From there, coax the ingrown hair from its location with a pair of tweezers (don’t pull it out, though — this will only make the ingrown hair regrow in in the same way later).
Towel Dry The Right Way
Don’t rub your hair dry with your towel; it will cause your hair to frizz. Instead, before getting out of the shower gently squeeze excess water from your hair. Then, wrap your hair in a towel and pat it dry to absorb any remaining moisture.
Consult A Doctor Before Popping Pills
Do you really need all those supplements? It’s true the healthier you are, the healthier your skin and hair will be. But popping supplements without discussing them with your doctor can do more harm than good. Why? Because mixing certain vitamins and minerals can have the opposite effect of what you’re hoping. Talk to your physician before popping any pills.
Remove Nail Polish Without Remover
If you run out of nail polish remover, you can remove cracked or chipped nail polish by applying a clear top coat to the nail and removing it promptly with a cotton ball.
Perfume Basics
Don’t douse yourself with perfume before you leave the house (you don’t want to bombard other people’s nostril with strong smells). Just because you can’t smell it doesn’t mean other people won’t be able to. If you wear it every day, chances are your olfactory sense has just become desensitized to the scent.
A Top Coat Is A Must
Add a top coat to freshly painted nails, and then again once they are dry. This makes your nail polish less likely to chip and will ensure it lasts longer.
Clarify Your Hair
In order to remove product build-up from locks, use a clarifying shampoo once a week. This will also help prevent dandruff and other annoying hair/scalp conditions.
Smile.. Lots
Our best beauty tip? Smile! It’s the most beautiful asset you have. Where it every day.
Quit Making These 8 Weight-Loss Mistakes
As I walked past a magazine stand the other day, I couldn’t help but notice the barrage of sensational nutrition-focused headlines that promised weight-loss success. Doesn’t it also seem that everyone – from your news anchor to your hair dresser – has an opinion about how to lose 10 pounds in 10 days, without giving up your favorite foods? Get real.
Just because someone swears by the latest fad or TV testimonial doesn’t mean such a plan is scientifically sound – or even safe – for you. Following the lead of someone who may not be a credible expert could leave you with a quick weight loss and even faster weight gain after.
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Doctors’ Notes: Preventing Alzheimer’s may start with what’s on your plate
In a year crowded with bad news, there was disappointment for Alzheimer’s sufferers: In November, Eli Lily announced the results of a heavily anticipated new drug designed to delay the progression to Alzheimer’s disease. Like every other Alzheimer’s prevention drug before it, this too has failed.
This has raised a whole new set of doubts about the treatment of degenerative diseases of the brain. As a neuroscientist, I can’t help but think it is unlikely we will have medicines that can decrease the risk of brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease in the foreseeable future.
Yet all hope is not lost. An emerging body of evidence suggests that what can’t be solved by pills might well be solved by food. But like everything in the complex world of nutrition and brain health, the story is anything but simple or complete.
The answer isn’t cutting out sugar, or going on a detox — it’s adopting a healthy diet in general. Diets rich in green vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and olive oil that include a glass of wine or a cup of coffee here and there — and by that I mean one or two per day — are associated with better brain health. It has long been known that this kind of “Mediterranean diet” is good for the heart, but emerging research shows that it appears to also be good for the brain, too.
The brain, however, appears different from the heart in one interesting respect — eating berries a couple of times a week with a Mediterranean diet appears to benefit the brain. That said, with the possible exception of fish, there doesn’t appear to be one single food or magical nutrient that can make a difference to brain health on its own.
So what is bad?
Supplements. Shelves and shelves of pills and apparently magical extracts promise to improve your memory. They don’t work.
Also, eating too much — of anything — continues to be a problem. Just as it is with heart disease, obesity is a risk factor for brain diseases. Similarly, diets high in fried and fast food, sweets and some fats, especially those high in what are called omega-6 fatty acids, and, possibly, soft drinks, are also associated with poor brain health. Most of these foods only show benefit or harm when eaten as a pattern.
In other words, the odd cheeseburger won’t cause memory loss. But the odd handful of almonds won’t prevent it, either. It isn’t about how you eat once a week, but how you eat every day.
All of this, it should be said, is qualified by a big caveat. The field of nutrition and brain health is relatively new. Most of the data we have is generated from what are called “observational studies.” When we look at the population, we see that people who eat diets rich in green vegetables, nuts, whole grains and so on seem to have a lower likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This shows an association. But it doesn’t prove that the healthier diet is actually preventing Alzheimer’s. For that you need what’s called a randomized clinical study.
On a positive note, some clinical studies are starting to offer corroborating evidence for what we see in the observational studies. For example, over the past few years a large study looked at people eating a Mediterranean diet. The study was designed to measure heart disease. However, when the authors took a second look at the data, which is by no means ideal, they noticed that the subjects on the Mediterranean diet also had better cognitive function.
What we need now are more of the big nutrition clinical trials similar to the kind we use to test the effectiveness of new Alzheimer’s drugs. Until we run studies of this nature, directly testing if nutritional interventions work, we won’t truly know if we can eat our way to better brain health.
A toast, then, to a diet rich in green vegetables, nuts, whole grains, berries, fish and olive oil. It’s good for your heart, and it’s probably good for your brain. I can’t think of a better New Year’s resolution.
Richard Bazinet is a professor of nutritional science and the Canada Research Chair in Brain Lipid Metabolism at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine. Doctors’ Notes is a weekly column by members of the U of T Faculty of Medicine. Email [email protected]
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Whole Foods’ Canadian expansion plans slow
CALGARY—A plan to quadruple its Canadian presence to 40 stores has hit a snag for Whole Foods Market, which confirms it will not proceed with planned store openings in Calgary and Edmonton.
The gigantic American natural and organic foods supermarket chain says on its website it has a total of 12 Canadian stores: five each in the Vancouver and Toronto areas, one in Ottawa and a new store that opened in Victoria in November.
“Whole Foods Market is committed to expanding in Canada with two stores in development, but we will not be moving forward with the Calgary or Edmonton store locations,” wrote spokeswoman Beth Krauss in a one-sentence email late last week.
In a followup email Monday, she said the two stores in development are in Toronto and North Vancouver, both slated for 2017 openings, but did not respond to a request to explain why the Alberta stores aren’t going ahead or clarify longer range expansion plans.
Two years ago, CEO John Mackey told reporters at a Montreal conference the chain would eventually grow to 40 Canadian locations from 10, without giving a specific timeline. He said the chain was then actively looking for a Montreal location.
Whole Foods announced in February 2015 it would open a 42,000-square-foot location in south Edmonton by the fall of 2016, along with a new store in Calgary by the summer of 2017. It said each store would create an estimated 150 jobs.
In September, a Whole Foods spokeswoman confirmed published reports that the chain had terminated a lease deal for a store in Calgary’s North Hill Mall due to “timing challenges” but said the company remained committed to expanding in Canada with four stores in development.
Maureen Atkinson, a partner with retail consultancy J.C. Williams Group in Toronto, said Whole Foods’ financial results have been slowed by competition throughout North America as grocery competitors including Loblaws and Walmart introduce organic food sections whose offerings are often lower priced.
“I don’t think formally they’ve made any announcement that they’re not going to continue to expand in Canada but my guess is they will be very careful about where they do that and more selective . . . than maybe two years ago,” Atkinson said.
She added the low value of the Canadian dollar versus the greenback makes it difficult for U.S. firms to justify expansions in Canada because the payoff will come in “75-cent dollars.”
Kevin Grier, a retail analyst based in Guelph, Ont., said the poor Alberta economy, hit hard by low oil prices, likely also played a role in Whole Foods decision.
“An upscale store like that needs a critical mass of affluent, confident shoppers and the fact they are cancelling or postponing stores tells me it’s indicative of the market there,” he said.
He added Canadians love of grocery flyers and bargains — and the fact Statistics Canada reported average grocery prices actually fell in 2016 — would also discourage the American company.
On its website, Whole Foods says it has 467 stores, all in the U.S. except for the 12 Canadian stores and nine in the U.K. It started out with one store at its home base of Austin, Texas, in 1980.
In a regulatory filing for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, Whole Foods said its international stores contributed three per cent of its overall annual sales revenue of $15.7 billion (U.S.).
On a conference call in November, CEO Mackey said the company had adopted a plan to cut operating expenses by $300 million (U.S.) per year to deal with an “increasingly competitive marketplace.”
He also reported the company had opened its first three “value format” stores, called 365 by Whole Foods Market, in the U.S. and would be opening more there.
Article Source:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/01/09/whole-foods-canadian-expansion-plans-slow.html/
Ontario school support staff reach tentative contract extension agreement
Ontario’s Liberal government has reached a tentative two-year contract extension deal with school support staff, which would ensure a measure of labour peace through the next election.
The Ministry of Education announced Saturday evening that it had reached a tentative agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 55,000 support staff.
The current contracts with CUPE and the teachers’ unions are set to expire in August, so if ratified, CUPE’s deal would last until August 2019 – well after the June 2018 election.
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