Holiday Gift Ideas: 5 Ways to Be Thoughtful For Less Than $50
Wondering where to find unique christmas gifts for everyone without emptying your wallet? This year resist the urge to be predictable and express your love in a meaningful way. Here is a list of five memorable choices that are sure to delight your friends and family:
1. GIVE INSPIRATION WITH BOOKS
A gathering of some of the greatest wisdom from historical figures, spiritual leaders, philosophers, Nobel Prize winners and the best of Oprah—her most memorable moments, her advice on aging brilliantly, her favorite ways to give thanks, and her take on pursuing your wildest passions. $15, Words That Matter: A Little Book of Life Lessons, Amazon
2. SPREAD PEACE WITH CDS
Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you could have more stillness? Imagine if you could feel peace amidst the chaos… calm inside the storm. Whether you’re new to meditation, or have been meditating for years, this cd is sure to relax your mind, body, heart and soul. $22, Guided Meditations CD, David Ji
3. SHOW LOVE WITH TOKENS
The reasons are infinite, and now nine of them carved in stone. A memorable idea to appreciate the special people in your life. Each token will be a reminder of your love and can magically shift moods on a bad day. One side of each brushed-nickel says “I love you…” and the other bears a compelling reason, from “…because you are so much fun” to “…because you rock!” and “…for always getting my jokes.” $30, Reasons I Love You Stones, Red Envelope
4. BRING NOURISHMENT WITH LOTIONS
A body care ritual infused with Morocco’s liquid gold formulated to give skin a healthy, youthful glow. Its high level of omega-6, argan oil helps tone and firm. This rejuvenating set comes in a handy travel pouch perfect for the globetrotter on your list! $40, Argan Nourishing Body Care Ritual, Fruits & Passion
5. MAKE WISHES TRUE WITH CANDLES
These joyful candles are printed with best wishes for harmony, knowledge, adventure, health and more. As the center of the candle burns down, the words are lit from within. Set of two includes one blue and one green. $40, 100 Good Wishes Candle Set, Red Envelope
Holiday Style: 3 Chic Looks That Make a Huge Statement
Look fabulous with a quick styling solution: it only takes one red accessory to get your clothes in the holiday spirit! Here are three fun combinations that will help you create a festive outfit without having to shop for a whole new wardrobe.
OFFICE PARTY
FAMILY GATHERING
WEEKEND GETAWAY
Desk To Dinner: How To Rock Your Blazer Outside the Office
Do you always wear your suits as sets? It’s time to re-think this dressing habit!
Here is a fun way to break up a suit and transform your blazer from work to party.
Express your inner rockstar by wearing this glam combo everywhere after 9 to 5:
Need Fall Shoes? See 6 Stylish Boots You’ll Love To Wear
Hey woman! What I’m about to share will save you a lot of money this season. Do you want to be a smart shopper? YES!!! I need your undivided attention. Remember when you asked: Where can I find great boots at affordable prices? These will make you look the hottest chick on the block:
1. Chic, elegant, and slim. The unexpected ruffle at the side gives a high-fashion twist.
Frilled Ankle Boot, Zara, $99.90
2. Earthy and casual enough to be flattering too. Comfort without sacrificing style.
Faux Leather Ankle Boots, Old Navy, $39.94
3. Fierce and a bit tough, this is the kind of statement shoes that make any outfit super-cool.
Deppert, Spring Shoes, $69.99
4. A rare pair with timeless sophistication. Warm camel is neutral and a softer option to black.
Riding Boots, H & M, $79.90
5. Designed to be pretty and playful, you can’t go wrong with this simple, ultra-roomy-boot.
Nellie Western Boot, Payless, $59.99
6. Sporty and easy to walk in. Covered wedge heels give you height and buckles a hip attitude.
Elzinga, Aldo, $80
One Pair of High Knee Boots: Three Fun Looks
Are you ready for Fall? This month I invite you to revisit your closet and put together outfits for different occasions with the same pair of shoes. Look at the following combinations and start playing with your clothes. If I did it, you can do it too!
Hot Summer Dresses Under $100 That Flatter All Shapes
If you think you are “too” – old, fat, small – to wear a dress every day, think again! I’ve hunted down five glamorous styles that make any shape look instantly better and save you money:
MONDAY
The draped v-neckline is great for larger chests, deep enough without revealing too much. Vibrant reds add a touch of alluring elegance and spicy up your weekly wardrobe. V-Neck Wrap Dress, CAD $90, Mango
TUESDAY
Strategic pleats are very effective on camouflaging uncomfortable areas. An asymmetric neckline brings eyes up and away from the midsection. The voluminous sillhouette make your legs look 10 pounds slimmer. Asymmetric Dress, CAD $30, Zara (On sale now from $99)
WEDNESDAY
The decorative fabric draping creates a feminine hourglass figure. Its suede tie belt enhances your waist line and gives your hips attractive curves. Wraparound Dress, CAD $40, H&M
THURSDAY
With its flattering ruching and seductive neckline, this style falls beautifully on the body. The luxurious stretch fabric allows you to move around with ease and sophistication. Reine One Shoulder Metallic Dress, CAD $92, BCBG (On sale now from $220)
FRIDAY
Laid-back and soft, this silky tunic is everything you need to be vacation ready! To finish the look in style, wear beachy flats and a straw handbag. Oceanic Satin Dress, CAD $40, Old Navy
Summer Reading List: Eight Books That Will Transform You
Summer is a great time to relax and renew yourself. Here are eight of my favourite authors and chapter excerpts that will inspire you to create the life you’ve always imagined:
How To Say No Without Feeling Guilty by Patti Breitman & Connie Hatch – 272 Pages
“Ideally, your inner circle of close friends and family is the perfect place where you can most easily relax and be yourself. With the people you’re closest to, you want to be able to say, ‘No, I’m too tired’ or ‘No, it’s not convenient for me to do that,’ without agonizing over the possible consequences. However, the atmosphere inside the inner circle isn’t always so amicable. At times the nature of close relationships can make saying no more difficult. There may be individuals - a parent, sibling, spouse, friend, or lover – who exert a power over you that others don’t have. Perhaps they manipulate you by withholding affection or approval unless you do things their way. As a result, you may find yourself trying vainly to please, always saying yes in hopes of getting what you want and need from them. Others may intimidate you with their anger or belittle you by mocking your attempts to make your own decisions. To spare yourself the trauma, you agree to whatever they ask and behave the way they want you to. Guilt is another powerful weapon that loved ones may use to control us. We say yes to their excessive demands out of fear that if we don’t help, they will be very hurt or even come to harm.”
Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui by Karen Kingston – 179 Pages
“When all your available space is filled with clutter, there is no room for anything new to come into your life. Your thoughts tend to dwell in the past, and you feel bogged down with problems that have dogged you for some time. You tend to look back rather than forward in your life, blaming the past for your current situation rather than taking responsibility for creating a better tomorrow. Clearing your clutter allows you to begin to deal with your problems and move forward. You have to release the past to create a better tomorrow.”
Beyond Motherhood, Choosing A Life Without Children By Jeanne Safer – 208 Pages
“Challenging convention comes naturally to the majority of the women I interviewed. Having a mind of their own is an important source of their identity and self-esteem. They were the most ambitious ones; they were often the only child in their families or the only girl to move away, get an education, and not reproduce. The most basic reason why motherhood does not suit a sizable minority of women is that people are not all the same. For them, choosing childlessness has a dual function; it simultaneously prevents them from being oppressed by certain types of duties and demands and ensures that they retain what they consider essential for their own happiness. Their personalities compel them to choose between child development and self-development.”
Happier Than God by Neale Donald Walsch – 272 Pages
“It is addiction – to people, to places, and to things – that creates agitation where once there was peace, misery where once there was joy, pain where once there was pleasure, sorrow where once there was happiness. You can tell that you are addicted if the absence of a person, place or experience causes you to lose your happiness. When facing any life experience there is a formula, a process, through which every person may move forward toward mastery. Simply make the following statements: 1) Nothing in this world is real; 2) The meaning of everything is the meaning I give it; 3) I am who I say I am, and my experience is what I say it is.”
Present Moment Wonderful Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh – 120 Pages
“Each toothpaste advertisement promises that this particular brand will make our mouth clean and our breath fragrant. But if we do not practice Right Speech, our breath can never be completely fragrant. Our speech can build a world of peace and joy in which trust and love can flourish, or it can create discord and hatred. Right Speech means that our words are both truthful and beautiful. When we remember to speak words that are true, kind, and constructive, we nourish a beautiful flower in our hearts, and we can offer its sweet fragrance to everyone.”
Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life by Wayne W. Dyer – 416 Pages
“Your primary relationship needs to be with yourself, not your family, your business, country, culture, or ethnicity. Affirm: The number one priority in my life is my relationship with my Source of being. Go there first, before any other considerations, and you’ll automatically discontinue demanding more of anything else. You’ll begin living heaven on earth. Practice knowing when to stop. Alert yourself to recognizing when it’s a good time to stop demanding, chasing, talking, walking, working, sleeping, playing, shopping, complaining, striving, and so on. By practicing cessation, you’ll move into prioritizing what’s important in your life in that moment. The more you are attached to wanting and possessing, the more you lose in your relationship to the Tao.”
Secrets Of The Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker – 224 Pages
“It is essential you recognize how your old ways of thinking and acting have gotten you exactly where you are right now. If you want to move to a higher level of life, you have to be willing to let go of some of your old ways of thinking and being and adopt new ones. The results will eventually speak for themselves. Here’s the rub. All the statements you heard about money when you were young remain in your subconscious mind as part of the blueprint that is running your financial life. If your motivation for acquiring money or success comes from a nonsupportive root such as fear, anger, or the need to ‘prove’ yourself, your money will never bring you happiness.”
The Success Principles by Jack Canfield – 512 Pages
“There is only one person responsible for the quality of the life you live: you. If you want to be successful, you have to take 100% responsibility for everything that you experience in your life. This includes the level of your achievements, the results you produce, the quality of your relationships, the state of your health and physical fitness, your income, your debts and your feelings. That means giving up all your excuses, all your victim stories, all the reasons why you can’t and why you haven’t up until now, all your blaming of outside circumstances. You have to take the position that you have always had the power to make it different, to get it right, to produce the desired result. For whatever reason – ignorance, lack of awareness, fear, needing to be right, the need to feel safe – you chose not to exercise that power. The past is the past. You only have control over three things in your life – the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and your actions. If you don’t like what you are producing or experiencing, you have to change your responses. Change your negative thoughts to positive ones. Change your habits. Change what you read. Change your friends. Change how you talk.”
One Pair of Jeans: Three Easy Looks
Spring Shoe Guide: Six Glamorous Styles Under $100
Breathtaking details – elegant color, tiny peep toe, and luxurious textile flowers – make these pumps quite special. The perfect choice to transform a basic top and jeans from drab to fab. ABADI, $80, Aldo Shoes
Everyone needs a pair of hot shoes, let it be playful, sexy and wild! These lines are undeniably attractive, and the color has been turned up a notch. Wear them to liven up your black dress. FLORETTE, $30, Forever 21
A little height helps every woman look tall and lean. These studded heels have presence, making them practical but still posh. Keep jewerly minimal to avoid looking overadorned. STRAPPY, $50, Le Chateau
Chic, easy and comfy wedges. Whether cork, wood or leather, this is the most casual heel of all. They give you height and stability without sacrificing your style. They are great for on the-go moments, but also do well for laid-back lounging. KENDAL, $30, Payless
This round toe favourite is soft and feminine in faux leather. A dressy but less formal alternative to wear with a three-piece-suit for work or play. Chain Applique, $25, Old Navy
Whether you walk to the supermarket or run to the metro, these earthy sandals get you are ready for anything.You’ll feel confident with your feet planted firmly on the ground. They are the kind of statement that make a tailored shirtdress cool. SWANZY, $40, Spring Shoes
Whatever Magazine, Spring 2011 Issue
Monica de Liz is a contributor as the style expert for the Lifestyle Column. This magazine is produced by Whatever Publishing Inc. and it’s published four times a year. Readership is estimated at more than 200,000 per issue. For more information on future advertising opportunities in print or online, contact WHATEVER by e-mail at info@whatevermagazine.ca or call 905.326.3733
How to Reclaim your Life and Be the Star of our Own Story!
Every year give us the opportunity to channel our inner James Cameron and produce a masterpiece like Avatar. Our lives are like a Hollywood production waiting to happen. Day after day, the choices we make write our script, and the story line is created. Are you being the star of your own movie or are you letting others write your script?
I’m serious. Life is short. Are you having fun in Pandora? Your movie is playing in the Cinema of Life and there is no time to waste. The truth is we must decide for ourselves what kind of movie we want to play. Some of us create inspiring documentaries lifting others through real life experiences. Others keep busy to avoid reality creating an action-packed-flick that has no soul or meaning. And there are those who choose the role of victim because their life is a never-ending-drama. I’m re-writing a new script in 2011 to transform my current reality. A movie that will move, touch and inspire me to express my authentic self while inspiring others to do the same. So far, here is what I’ve discovered on my journey:
1. ACCEPTANCE BRINGS INNER PEACE
When my friend called to postpone our meeting due to a flight cancellation, I felt sad. We were both excited about getting together after a long time and suddenly that possibility vanished in a second, there was nothing we could do to change the outcome – it was what it was. At that moment instead of feeding my frustration, I chose to be proactive about my emotions. The Universe had just given me a special gift: the opportunity to practice Acceptance. By surrendering my need for control, I regained balance and connected with my true nature. If you find yourself in a similar situation, remember Deepak Chopra’s Law of Least Effort: “Today I will accept people, events and circumstances as they occur. I will know this moment is as it should be.”
2. LIVE MORE WITH LESS
It was Christmas 2007 when I found myself without a plan for the holidays. It was too late to book a trip, everything was sold out. Since my family lives in Brazil, I decided to rediscover Montreal by being a tourist in my own city! I made a reservation at the St-Paul Hotel, packed my bag and drove as if I was going out-of-town. What happened next changed my life forever… I had so much fun living downtown for a week and got used to the hotel’s minimalist room style that when my vacation ended, it was very hard to drive over the traffic jammed bridge and go back to a cluttered home in the suburbs. This experience showed me there was a huge gap between who I was and my living space: the big house was not me anymore, it was a heavy burden requiring constant maintenance that was holding me back from creating new possibilities. After that realization, I chose to simplify my lifestyle by selling the house and renting a condo in the city. I’m happy to report it has been three years since the downsizing and my well-being has improved tremendously. The simple act of detaching from the old way of living opened up space to manifest people, events and circumstances that support who I’m NOW.
3. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY
Last November my lower back collapsed and I wasn’t able to move or stand up. For weeks, I could only sit or lie down to avoid massive pain. This event forced me to listen to my body. The message was clear: if I kept ignoring the warning signs, it will find a way to stop me until I paid attention. Louise Hay’s enlightening book “You Can Heal Your Life” helped me understand what was going on with this simple question: What could be the thoughts in me that manifested this dis-ease? It was clear the answer was mental stress. Born as a Gemini, I’ve always lived in my head, not in my body. Before something happens, I imagine all the possible scenarios in my mind and that was the source of my physical discomfort: living in the future prevented me from being fully present in my body. After many visits to the chiropractor and body-talk-sessions, I regained my strength and joie de vivre. Since then, I’ve been nurturing my body, mind and spirit through meditation every day.
4. BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH
One of my friends lived with her boyfriend for many years. They were not married. Unfortunately he passed away and left her a large pension. The fact she never showed interest on discussing the couple’s personal finances created a series of unnecessary problems. Like most moms, she spent a lot of time taking care of their children and the house. She paid a high price. It took her months to prove their union was legitimate to the court so she could collect the money. In the meantime, she relied upon the generosity of family and friends to survive, feed the kids and pay the bills. The reason I tell you this is because our society does not empower women to be financially independent, it’s quite the opposite. As little girls, we grow up with the illusion that once we find Mr. Right then we will be happy. I see many women getting married and loosing their identity in the name of raising a family. For a while, there is nothing wrong with that since is a matter of redefining priorities, what I find extremely disturbing is the belief of expecting a relationship to fulfill all our needs (emotional, physical, mental, financial & spiritual). By giving undivided attention to the family, women sacrifice the most important person in their lives: themselves. Watch “Until Debt Do Us Apart” and learn how to take control of your finances before it is too late.
5. BE FEARLESS
Do something you have never done before and surprise yourself by discovering how brave you can be. Every year I challenge my comfort zone with a activities that will help me exercise fearlessness… In 2008 I was zip linning from one tree to another at 60-feet from the ground, in 2009 I rappeled down a 26 story building for the Drop Zone Challenge and sang Madonna in my underwear in front of 200 people, in 2010 I’ve joined the inspiring Nancy Chernoff and walked on fire + broke a wood board with my bare hands. I’m fascinated by the fact I never thought I was able to achieve these things until I actually did them. Build your courage muscle. Get out there and be unlimited. Everything is possible when you believe there are no limitations. What am I going to do this year? I still don’t know… In the meantime, watch Neal Donald Walsch’s phenomenal video explaining the emotion of fear.
Follow these five steps and you will become the person you wish to BE!
"A SMILE IS ALWAYS IN STYLE"
Monica de Liz is a Brazilian Image Consultant that inspires women to look and feel their personal best. She is also a Style Maven, Speaker, Visionary and Impossibilist.
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