#10 - Walk with nature

Last week, my husband & I spent some time up north visiting Dyer's Bay and Collingwood. Not having hiked in the fresh outdoors for over 2 months, I was itching for a walk amongst the trees, sunny blue skies and fresh fresh air.

Imagine yourself lying in a field of grass staring at the skies, seeing the clouds move past you (or the stars, if gazing by night), and simply watching time pass you by. Imagine opening your senses to the surroundings and feeling life with your eyes, ears, nose and body: lying there with your eyes closed as you sense the earth rotating on its axis; listening to the rustling of the trees in the gentle breeze and the birds chirping away; and inhaling the freshness of the tall grasses and trees around you. Imagine being embraced by nature, feeling the significance of your surroundings and appreciating life & beauty in the most basic and natural forms.

It's times like this, when I'm hiking through a forest or on an old dirt road, or through a farmer's field (like the one my husband snapped a shot of, inset here), that I'm reminded of the simple pleasures in life and how basic it really can be. When you're in nature's moment and breathing in fresh clean air, it's easy to forget, or tempoarily at least, leave behind the stresses of everyday life and become enamoured by natural surroundings.

Hop in your car one weekend, skip town and go for a hike up north or wherever the great outdoors may be for you. Notice how your shoulders relax and stress-levels subside as you leave behind the concrete jungle and head towards the open fields, tall tress and lakes. Powerful. Magical. Natural.

10 down, 90 to go!

#9 - Wear sunscreen!

After a sizzling hot summer-like long weekend, perhaps now more than ever - with the thinning ozone and increasing temps and UV indexes - no matter what your age, sunscreen is a MUST!

In my mid-30s the first signs of sun-damage started to appear on my face. A cute, what I thought was, 'freckle', appeared out of nowhere. Its diameter expanded and colour darkened as the years passed. This wasn't a freckle after all but rather, melasma. A few years ago the melasma started to appear on the highs of BOTH my cheekbones; and what at first seemed barely noticeable, soon turned into obvious and annoyingly distracting brown patches - wonderful reminders of how I was a careless worshipping sun-goddess in my youth. Of course, it could be worse.

Excessive exposure to UV rays is the main cause of skin cancer and while it is rare in individuals under the age of 40, the incidence of carcinomas increase with age. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada and an estimated 75,000 Canadians were diagnosed with skin cancer last year.

Sunscreen is something that should be part of ones daily ritual - just as brushing your teeth is, so should applying suncreen every day be. Kids and teens especially need to be taught about the hazards of sun exposure so that they protect themselves and minimize the possibility of developing skin cancer in later years. If you're not a regular user of sunscreen, then it's time to start.

Prevent skin cancer - this link gives pointers on how to minimize your risk.

9 down, 91 to go!

#8 - Cheat on your hairdresser

I've been seeing my hairstylist for the past 20 yrs. At one point in his notable career, Chazz was styling runway models in NYC, Paris, Milan; starring in his own television program doing makeovers (waaaay before makeovers of every variety were as mainstream on TV as they are today); launching his own cosmetic line; and employing over 25 stylists at his salon & spa. His hectic schedule meant that he was frequently out of town which often times, left me with no other alternative but to stray. However, I didn't stray too far as I was booking appts with stylists from his own shop, so it's not like I was really cheating. Thankfully, he's settled in Oakville now - he sold his shop to get out of the 'rat race' of the styling world so that he could slow things down and focus on his other budding career as a painter. Working out of his very own art gallery/salon, he's very accessible now - lucky for me!

When I was out of the country for 5 months, I dared not get my haircut anywhere or by anyone - I was saving my unmanageable mane that was growing increasingly longer by the minute for him. That all changed this past Friday when I met a friend of a friend who was flaunting MY next hairstyle! Next thing I new, I was getting the name & number of her stylist and flipping through my calendar for available dates!

Don't get me wrong - Chazz is the crème de la crème as far as stylists go (although I bet we all say that of our stylists, huh?) but really, he has NEVER disappointed. In fact, at one point in his career he was considering moving to NYC, so I threatened to kill him if he ever left Toronto. He never left, and I never would have killed him but I was utterly mortified at the prospect of having to find someone else who was as perfectly amazing at their craft as him. He knows precisely where to part my hair; that I like bangs long enough to tuck behind my ear; that when I say trim, he trims AND spends an hour doing so; and when I say 'let's go drastic change' (something I used to ceremoniously do each year for the company Christmas party), he has total carte blanche to do whatever he wants and I walk out of the salon in love with my new hair and him. He is perfection, beyond perfection and so now, here I am, admitting to you that I'm thinking of cheating on him... and I have absolutely no valid reason for needing to.

So when this friend of a friend, let's call her Pam for simplicity's sake, turned the corner and walked into my world, I fell in love with her hair and instantly needed to know who cut it! While I haven't booked my appt with her stylist yet, I plan on it. I'm in desperate need of a cut AND I want Pam's hair! I want it now! Of course, time will tell if her stylist is as 'amazing' as she claims. Will he know who this Pam person I'm referring to is? Will he actually remember the cut he gave her? Will mine turn out the same, better, or... worse? Time will tell indeed. But here's the thing, no matter what happens - good or bad - my hair WILL grow back and it will beckon for Chazz as it always does. I just have to make sure that the next time I see him, I'm prepared with a response to the 'I didn't cut this last, did I?' question he's bound to ask.

Just remember, that while you might consider cheating on your stylist, you will get caught. Whether or not they're comfortable or bold enough to ask, a truly talented stylist that treats each customer as his one and only, will know without a doubt that you strayed but a truly talented and professional one, will also be happy that you came back.

8 down, 92 to go!

#7 - Get romantic!

Hubby gets home from his 2-month hiking trip in Australia/NZ this Saturday and I can't think of a better reason to prepare a delicious home-cooked meal, enjoy it with a tasty red by candlelight and punctuate the evening with dessert! ;)

Too bad for me, honey will have been travelling for 30+ hours straight and will be severely sleep-deprived and jet-lagged. He's already requested that I prepare his pj's and comfy bed for his arrival home - I'm sure he'll be hitting the sack (alone) moments after he steps foot in the door.

So much for getting romantic... but then again, Sunday's a new day.

It's easy to get caught up in this, that and the other of everyday life, but love is like a flower that needs watering every so often in order to keep it fresh and alive. And getting romantic, however you see to it, is a great way to add fuel to the fire and keep the flame a'burnin'! ;)

7 down, 93 to go!

#6 - Get a bra that fits!

So you've just gotten dressed and the top that used to look good on you, just isn't sitting right... you toss it to the floor and scour the closet for something else; that too ends up looking odd and suddenly the thought of an after work shopping spree pops into your head BUT, instead of more clothes, ever thought that what you really might need is a new bra!?!?

Believe it or not, approximately 80-85% of women are wearing the wrong bra size according to stats I've come across. And while you might be quick to remedy the situation with a simple tightening of the straps (haven't we all tried this?!), at the end of the day, it's not enough to make your bra fit 'just right'. Chances are, you're simply wearing the wrong bra (be it size, style or both).

A properly fitted bra can make the world of difference in your appearance, how you feel about yourself and how you carry yourself. Throughout our lives, our bosoms will change in size and shape for a variety of reasons, so it's good practice to check measurements regularly (at least once a year, if not twice) to ensure you're buying something that lifts, separates and keeps them pups in their place!

Bear in mind that bra-sizing isn't an exact affair (getting professionally fitted is always a helpful option) but the trick is to know your measurement and use it as a base for when you are shopping around as different styles and different brands will not fit you the same. Below are links to a some great guides that provide step-by-step instructions for measuring and finding the perfectly fitted bra!

How to Measure Your Bra Size
Bra Fitting Guide: 7 steps to finding a bra that fits!
Bravissimo's guide to 'the perfect fit'!

6 down, 94 to go!