womens accent #1

1

column

womensaccent.com

2 wOMEN’S aCCENT DIGEST

column

Editorial HEad/ FoundErElena Zolotko

GEnEral ManaGEr / co-FoundEr rita Hellenbrand

Editorial assistancEJulia austin, anna lobsanova

crEatiVE dirEctor olga Pashkevich

WEB ProJEct ManaGEMEnt art dimension creative Group

ProoFrEadinGcynthia Hutchinson

salEs & MarkEtinGtatiana little

madison centre: 4950 Yonge street, suite 2200toronto, ontario, m2n 6K1

tel.: 416.360.5228 ext.2160. Fax: 416.360.6181e-mail:

[email protected] [email protected]@womensaccent.com

Printed in canada. all rights reserved.

THE TEAM

PuBlisHEr: EZ intermedia inc.

ISSN 1929-9303 November December 2012

3

column

womensaccent.com

BECCA

sMokE and GracE MakEuP collEction For Fall 2012

www.beccacosmetics.com

not

eT en years ago, my weekly column, - Women’s

Accent appeared on the pages of a toronto’s community weekly newspaper.

since then, it has steadily gained popularity, transmitting a dose of information on fashion and make-up trends, anti-aging breakthroughs, fitness, and nutrition.

People who inspire, entertain, challenge, and change us provided their words of advice on the column’s page. sophia loren offered her favorite family recipes, while Madonna and claudia schiffer shared their diet and exercise tips. laura Mercier revealed to the readers her Secret Camouflage, and issey Miyake explained the philosophy behind his groundbreaking designs.

today, this column is moving into a new phase of its amazing growth, expanding to an elegant digest that brings to the table a fresh new style and one great new feature: cross-cultural influences. these influences increasingly permeate every facet of our modern life, and have produced great pieces of art, music, food, and clothing. the diverse backgrounds of innovators from many fields have impacted and enriched our cultural and social environment.

although we all live together, we all experience life differently. an exquisite cross-cultural fusion may encourage a woman to break down stereotypes and rise above mediocrity. We, at Women’s Accent, believe that to feel and look exquisite is more important than to be born a beauty, because this is what really makes you beautiful!

Elena Zolotko

Appreciate the diversity in your life.It’s a great opportunity to see life from a new perspective and experience

a whole new world that you might not have noticed before.

CANADIAN ETHNIC MEDIA ASSOCIATION

ED

ITO

R’S

5

column

womensaccent.com

la

Rg

ER

- T

ha

n-

lIf

E

fr

uit

s

8

14

if Grandma talks funny and We Don't,ThEn WhO ThE

hEll aRE WE? 20

Sh

aR

Ing

an

in

spir

ing

stor

y

22gIRl POWER BEhInD the Luxury Car

24

hOW DO I chOOSE a Plastic surgeon? 28

Holistic Approachto Dentistry30

th

rivi

ng

inW

InT

ER

36

FEaturEs FEaturEs FEaturEs FEaturEs

MakEuP fOR ThE hOlIDay SEaSOn-2012 48

2012/2013

FashionaccEssoriEs51

‘i want to get it perfect’

Jaso

n W

u

54

VIEW DuBaIBy nIghT

with a Cruises in Dubai

58

60

62

for Women to Lose Weight than it is for Men? Why IS IT haRDER

44

New ANti-AgiNg Drug May Double

Human Life span

40

FEaturEs FEaturEs FEaturEs FEaturEs


tHE tEars oF tHE GoddEss oF loVE FEll to EartH and turnEd into HEart-sHaPEd straWBErriEs; aPPlE, tHE FORBIDDEN FRUIT, is an anciEnt sYMBol For tHE root oF all ProBlEMs; a siGn oF JoY and ProtEction, PEacH rEPrEsEnts iMMortalitY; incrEdiBlY diVErsE, JuicY and succulEnt, toMatoEs arE tHouGHt to rEPrEsEnt tHE sun and HEaltH.

la

Rg

ER

- T

ha

n-

lIf

E

The work of two extraordinary artists explores historical

symbols, myths and legends to reveal the grand story of nature. the founders of an award winning cohn-stone studio are Molly stone and Michael cohn. they express the beauty of design by literally re-producing nature and breathing life into their art.

the artisan couple is the foremost producers of one-of-a-kind masterpieces out of glass. inspired by the wonders and beauty of the world the artists re-create nature on a fairly large scale. Exhibited at the cohn-stone studio

garden, are organically-blown artificial nature creations. in the garden there are glass fruits, flowers, shells, pumpkins and decorative designs, all blown out of proportion.

the cohn-stone studio and its magnificent garden are located in richmond, california: The garden is different every day and so is the glass. The morning light streaming through a flower petal is simply inspirational. The Glass Flowers are homage to the radiance of the Natural world.

the environment at cohn-stone studio is like an alchemy lab. the artisans are masters of their craft, transforming natural materials into innovative designs.the art of hand blown glass is perfected in the process. The studio bustles. We employ three assistants everyday and we blow glass as a team. The atmosphere is exhilarating. Anything is possible!

fr

uit

s Organically Blown in California

Molly Stone and Michael Cohn are esteemed art professionals, known all over the world for their exemplary work. With degrees from University of California, Berkley and from several other distinguished schools, Molly and Michael are blessed with the gifts of creativity and intelligence. In making artwork, they are keenly aware of natural harmony and divine wisdom.

spotlight

9womensaccent.com

Molly seeks to incorporate nature and spirit in her work: The design of my work is influenced by my respect and awe of the Natural World, beauty of form and color, and the inner Spirit of the moment. I choose to look towards the positive, the beautiful, and the spiritual for inspiration. Nature is my mentor.

Michael combines wisdom and imagination in the creative process: Even after working so closely with this material for so many years, I am still amazed

that a pile of what appears to be basically sand can be shovelled into the furnace and the next day can be transformed into essentially anything ones imagination, skill and strength will allow. Physics, alchemy and magic each play a part in the process.

art imitates nature. By re-creating the world, art shows an intrinsic truth. there is a story written in nature, it is an analogy and mirror of life. the incredible design of nature is the greatest work of art. artists reflect this message of life through images, metaphors and symbols.

spotlight

The

Blu

ebir

d o

f Hap

pin

ess


All about

the word pumpkin originated from the Greek word Pepõn which means large melon. the word gradually morphed by the French, English and then americans into the word pumpkin. Pumpkins and squash are believed to have originated in the ancient americas. these early pumpkins were not the traditional round orange upright Jack-o-lantern fruit we think of today when you hear the word pumpkin. they were a crooked neck variety which stored well. archeologists have determined that variations of squash and pumpkins were cultivated along river and creek banks along with sunflowers and beans.

this took place long before the emergence of maize (corn). after maize was introduced, ancient farmers learned to grow squash

with maize and beans using the Three Sisters tradition.

the three sisters are squash, corn and beans which grow and thrive together. corn serves as the natural trellis for the beans to grow on. the beans roots set nitrogen in the soil to nourish the corn. the bean vines help to stabilize the corn stalks on windy days. the squash plants shelter the shallow roots of the corn and shade the ground to discourage weeds and preserve moisture.

the early native american farmers were practicing an early form of sustainable agriculture. How cool is that?!? We can learn

many lessons today from them. these early native americans roasted pumpkin strips over campfires and used them as a food source, long before the arrival of European explorers. Pumpkins helped the native americans make it through long cold winters. they used the sweet flesh in numerous ways: roasted, baked, parched, boiled and dried. they ate pumpkin seeds and also used them as a medicine. the blossoms were added to stews. dried pumpkin could be stored and ground into flour.

they dried the shells and used them as bowls and containers to store grain, beans and seeds. it is said that columbus carried pumpkin seeds back with him to Europe. there they were used to feed pigs, but not as a human food source.

Pumpkins

11womensaccent.com

Without pumpkins many of the early settlers might have died from starvation. the following poem is a testament to the Pilgrims dependence upon pumpkins for food:

For pottage and puddings and custards and pies

Our pumpkins and parsnips are common supplies,

We have pumpkins at morning and pumpkins at noon,

If it were not for pumpkins we should be undoon.

Pilgrim verse, circa 1633

the Pilgrims were also known to make pumpkin beer. they fermented a combination of persimmons, hops, maple sugar and pumpkin to make this early colonial brew.in early colonies, pumpkin shells were used as a template for haircuts to ensure a round and uniform finished cut. as a result of this practice, new Englanders were sometimes nicknamed pumpkinheads.

How did the squash get its name?

SqUASh coMEs FroM tHE narraGansEtt natiVE aMErican Word askutasquasH, WHicH MEans EATEN RAW OR UNCOOkED.

squashes are one of the oldest known crops-10,000 years by some estimates of sites in Mexico. since squashes are gourds, they most likely served as containers or utensils because of their hard shells. the seeds and flesh later became an important part of the pre-columbian indian diet in both south and north america. de soto, coronado, and cartier all saw melons (probably squash) in the americas.

spotlight


northeastern native american tribes grew pumpkins, yellow crooknecks, patty pans, Boston marrows (perhaps the oldest squash in america still sold), and turbans. southern tribes raised winter crooknecks, cushaws, and green and white striped sweet potato squashes. native americans roasted or boiled the squashes and pumpkins and preserved the flesh as conserves in syrup. they also ate the young shoots, leaves, flowers, and seeds.Virginia and new England settlers were not very impressed by the indians’ squash until they had to survive the harsh winter, at which point they adopted squash and pumpkins as staples. squashes were baked, cut and moistened with animal fat, maple syrup, and honey.

squashes come in many different shapes and colors including tan, orange, and blue. there are many kinds of squashes, all part of the genus cucurbita

(Family cucurbitaceae). the terms pumpkin, winter squash, and summer squash have been applied to fruits of different species.

cucurbita maxima (round, thick stems) are winter squash (buttercup, Hubbard, turban, winter pumpkins). usually larger fruit with hard seeds, they ripen in the fall. We have to peel them. they can be stored for several months.

Moschata (round stems) are also winter squash such as butternuts, musky winter squash, and the cushaw.

Pepo (pentagonal, prickly stem) is summer squash: zucchini (italian for sweetest), marrow, courgette (French), yellow squash, ornamental gourds, crookneck, spaghetti squash, and summer pumpkins. usually soft edible shell and seeds, they ripen in summer and need to be eaten soon after harvest.

and why is the game also called squash? it used to be called Rackets and a squashy soft ball constructed of thin rubber was used. it had a number of holes that caused the ball to collapse when hit hard■

Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress

Fun Facts about

Squash:For pie, Pilgrims first hollowed out a pumpkin, filled it with apples, sugar, spices and milk, then put the stem back on and baked.

one of the first published recipes for pumpkin pie (Pompkin Pudding) was in amelia simmons’ 1796 cookbook, american cookery. this the first cookbook to be written by an american and published in the united states

an average pumpkin weighs 10-20 pounds, though the atlantic Giant variety can weigh 400-600 pounds, enough for perhaps 300 pies!

Presidents Washington and Jefferson grew squash in their gardens.

the Hubbard squash was formally introduced to american gardens by James J. H. Gregory (1857) from Marblehead, Massachusetts. He became an authority on squashes, publishing in 1893, squashes: how to grow them.

squashes are a good source of minerals, carotenes and vitamin a, with moderate quantities of vitamins B and c. summer squash is high in water content, thus low in calories.

spotlight

13womensaccent.com


VieWpoint

WE arE VErY FortunatE to liVE in Fantastic tiMEs. tHE World BEcaME a MucH MorE accEssiBlE PlacE, WHErE You can rEacH out to a PErson on tHE otHEr sidE oF tHE GloBE litErallY WitHin sEconds. WHEn WE coME toGEtHEr, WE Want to sHarE our culturEs, our knoWlEdGE and ExPEriEncEs to EstaBlisH Points oF contact For BuildinG stronG and succEssFul PartnErsHiPs. cultural Fusion Has BEcoME a PoWErFul stratEGY For succEss. aBilitY to intEGratE is tHE kEY coMPEtitiVE adVantaGE noWadaYs.

tHErE’s a PlacE For EVErY ladY undEr tHE rooF oF tHE

As women advance more and more in all professional and business directions, it is no wonder that women’s social networking hubs

have become some of the most popular online destinations in recent years. these networks allow women to gain access to new knowledge and resources, enabling them to find novel solutions, access new markets, and extend their spheres of influence.

lIOnESSWOMan’S cluB

We discuss the value and importance of cultivating world-class women’s networks with Jenny katkova-Brown: a thriving immigration practitioner, entrepreneur, and the founder of the lioness Woman’s club, a fast-growing network for elegant, intelligent and successful women.

JeNNy KatKova-BrowN

15womensaccent.com

VieWpoint

What is the Lioness Woman’s Club all about?

the lioness Woman’s club is an international online media and networking community for women, which promotes a well-rounded, elegant lifestyle.

the news, topics, and resources we provide are carefully selected for our lioness ladies to engage in a meaningful conversation, to enjoy the arts and beauty, to expand their mind, while pursuing their professional goals and effectively networking to advance their business. in addition to our online presence, we organize live meetings and events where women can successfully combine business networking and pleasant pastime!

the club provides an inspiring and fun environment, which fosters and encourages creativity, as well as personal well-being of the body, mind, and soul. striving for self-advancement and self-development, treating yourself as a masterpiece-in-progress, that’s what we are about!

Does the club name relate to a lioness as a magnificent animal that appears as a symbol of power in many civilizations or a woman who is an object of public interest and admiration?

this symbol embodies the ideal of feminine power and beauty. if we must indulge in animal metaphors, a lioness is one of the world’s most iconic female animals: fierce, strong, intelligent,

and protective. By the way, lions are the only feline species that form groups instead of hunting alone. similarly, this social aspect is important for women: we need other ladies, our like-minded lionesses, to support and inspire each other, to achieve and success together.

the intelligent and talented women of today should connect and exchange in order to make our world a more tolerant, welcoming, beautiful place.

What makes your club different from other networks for women?

the philosophy at the heart of the lioness Woman’s club is based on the ideal of a modern lady.

to be a successful female figure today requires us to be intelligent, educated, and independent, all the while maintaining our feminine qualities and responsibilities. the lioness lady is all of these things.

our ability to “do it all” makes us creative and accomplished, confident and humbled.

the lioness Woman’s club wishes to inspire women to develop their potentials and network with each other, but we also encourage and adore elegance, beauty, and sophistication.

What differentiates us from other networks is our philosophical underpinning with a focus on a well-rounded, wise and beautiful modern lady.

Why do you think there are so many hardworking and successful women today?

times have changed, and women have become self-made. We have come a long way in terms of rights and opportunities, compared to our mothers and grandmothers. in this fast-paced modern life, a woman needs to think about herself, her personal and professional growth, but also to care for others. if there is one thing that propels successful women forward, it is passion. successful women are passionate about what they do and that is


why they build businesses around what they love to do best. to stay afloat and adapt swiftly to the ever-changing trends, modern women also keep studying, learning, and communicating; they read professional journals, books, and magazines; they attend various events and update themselves regularly on the latest happenings in diverse fields. the key is to learn when availed of the opportunity.

How can women of different backgrounds find common ground, get along, and communicate better?

as the world becomes more interconnected, cultures have the opportunity to meet, and social networking unites women from all walks of life. We use our differences in a positive way, to

teach one another about what makes us unique. But even more important is that when we share common values and interests, we can also transcend our differences.

in the pursuit of constant self-development and education, we find mutual understanding and a shared innate feminine wisdom that resides within each of us.

the more we learn about the world, the more we interact with women from different cultures and different backgrounds, the more apt we become for integrating and embracing other people and other cultures.

the fusion of both our similarities and differences is key for uniting together. the freedom of self-expression always transforms into personal success. through the incredible interconnectedness that

the online world allows, we can unite to explore so many amazing new grounds in the arts, fashion, and beauty. We now have the ability to become acquainted with charitable projects and numerous other aspirations of women all over the globe. the possibilities are truly boundless.

What is your family background? Were you able to get exposure to diverse cultures and traditions?

i grew up in the beautiful riga, an 800 year old capital city of latvia, bustling with numerous historical sites and rich cultural heritage.

My parents were very intelligent and well-educated people. literature, music and the arts

MakinG liFE BEttEr, toGEtHEr

VieWpoint

17womensaccent.com

were the topics of our family discussions and get-togethers with friends. When i was a little girl, my parents often took me to museums, plays, and concerts, so i enjoyed the cultural offerings of our small yet charming European city from my early childhood.

My mom took me traveling around the vast country of the former soviet union, so rich with different cultures and traditions.For most of us, international travel outside the ussr was not allowed at that time. My father, who spoke seven languages, was really a person of the world, his interests were numerous and his curiosity was limitless. He had a unique collection of stamps from all around the world. He enjoyed telling me the wonderful stories about histories and traditions of the different countries, as he showed me the stamps from those places. these were my very

first “travel experiences”. i will be forever grateful to my parents for teaching me how to love life and for instilling in me the thirst for learning. and, of course, i will be forever thankful to my mother, a medical doctor, for teaching me the importance of being an aspiring professional and a feminine, well-mannered and elegant woman.

How do you see the nearest future for the Lioness Woman’s Club?

the club’s membership is growing and flourishing. at the moment, the lioness Woman’s club has members on a local,

national, and global scale. We are also developing the lioness licensee initiative for partners and supporters in other countries who want to start the club in their respective locations.

our club hopes to continue organizing meetings and events to inspire a global network of like-minded women. We created the lioness list: a directory of various services that our members provide. Because our members are entrepreneurial perfectionists, the high quality of the services listed in list lioness is guaranteed.

the list is growing daily, helping our members advance their businesses and gain exposure to the targeted women audience that lioness provides.

MakinG liFE BEttEr, toGEtHEr

ww

w.li

ones

swom

ansc

lub.

com

VieWpoint


We know that you also host very popular local events in toronto for the Club’s members and their guests. What is the purpose for these functions, which are traditionally held in very upscale and exquisite venues?

the main goal of our networking events is to provide a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere for all the club’s members to see each other in person and to meet new people. all of our events offer a great opportunity for networking in a pleasant and elegant environment. We bring interesting workshops for our guests to learn new useful techniques to improve their life and grow as leaders. and, of course, we also want everybody to have fun! We believe that style matters in everything we do; therefore, we work hard to create a special stylish ambiance for each event. our events are usually themed, suggesting a certain style for our dress code. Because when we get together, we come not just to network and connect, but also to celebrate our femininity and sense of style.

We had the pleasure of attending the event organized by Lioness Woman’s Club in collaboration with inspirational Lifestyles this past May 2012. Please, tell us more about this partnership.

diane di donato, the president and founder of the inspirational lifestyles club, is a wonderful and inspirational woman who i had a pleasure of meeting about one year ago. diane is a very spiritual and multi-faceted talented lady with an amazing history.diane has been hosting breakfast events for women for the past 8 years. she also hosted a Wellness trade show and retreats for Women in kleinburg, niagara Falls, and Vancouver, where she studied native spirituality,

yoga, tai chi, martial arts, and eastern philosophies, and is now sharing with women what she has learned. the goal of diane’s inspirational lifestyles is to empower and inspire women to self-care, personal development, and spiritual enrichment. Having tried different kinds of meditation, diane created her own, very unique guided meditation series relax to Go, based on the distinct energies of the animal kingdom. We are deeply grateful to diane for her continued support and encouragement. diane is more than a beautiful lady with who we collaborate in organizing the events. she is a trusted friend and an inspiration for me. With diane, we share a passion for art and fashion. our personal friendship and professional collaboration i think is a perfect example of fusion of ideas, cultures, and mutual support. these ideas lioness believes in and stands for■

Pho

to c

ourt

esy

of V

ito A

mat

i

VieWpoint

19

column

womensaccent.com

if Grandma talks funny and We Don't,

ThEn WhO ThE hEll aRE WE?

heritage

wOMEN’S aCCENT DIGEST20

Several years ago i had the opportunity to speak to women

across the country on who had been a role model for them.

the insights were honest, and the stories inspirational. From those discussions a collection of short stories was born, Our Grandmothers, Ourselves: Reflection of Canadian Women.

this book is a tribute to our grandmothers and the significant role they have played in shaping who we are. it celebrates the women who have bound us to our cultural and historical roots and honours the power of narrative to promote understanding among people of diverse backgrounds.

the contributors in this book are canadian women raised in immigrant homes. to survive, we learned at an early age to tuck away our first language and culture as we scurried off to school each day. the effort to assimilate into the dominant culture left us little time or energy to examine our dual identity; many years of denial have kept us from sharing our experiences. in writing our stories, we were able to establish a vital link with the past. our voices, from eighteen different cultural and racial groups, speak with passion and dissonance as we examine our identity in light of our grandmothers’ experiences.

there are many ways in which to define cultural heritage, and one inherent way is in language.

as bicultural children, we inevitably face the loss of our first language in a land where English predominates, but our grandmothers somehow kept the language of our ancestral lands alive within our homes.

linguistic adaptation is a common immigrant experience. often intergenerational ethnic families develop a language distinctly their own, where there is a merging of two languages, which in turn becomes unique to each family environment.

implicit in these stories is the dilemma of ethnic identity. culture and language affect each person differently, as we face the rewards and pain of biculturalism. What we know of the world arises from our experience of that world. as immigrant children, we are bicultural individuals who have learned to view reality from several vantage points. the stories found in this collection remind us of the universal notion of continuity, and what that means is when you know your origins you have a sense of belonging. as such, our grandmothers have bequeathed to us a value system that marks our heritage. the grandmother-granddaughter relationship has undergone little examination in literature. Our Grandmothers Ourselves portrays the wise woman, our grandmothers, as multidimensional and keepers of our first language and culture.

the stories affirm that cultural heritage is manifested through language, food, storytelling, music, religion, holistic healing and symbols.

owing to our grandmothers’ presence in our lives, these rich traditions will be preserved for yet another generation.

as we unravel the differences behind each of our stories, you will note that this anthology fosters a very real understanding of canada’s pluralistic character◄

Gina Valle, PhD,

gina Valle, PhD, is a leading expert in diversity and multiculturalism. Dr. Valle's work in diversity is multi-faceted. She is the curator of the photo exhibit Legacies, the director and producer of the documentary the Last rite as well as the author of the most recent book teachers at their Best - enseignants sous leur meuilleur jour.

For more information,

please visit:

www.ginavalle.com

heritage

21womensaccent.com


meaningFul Women

Sh

aR

Ing

an

in

spir

ing

stor

y

MaDonna

entertainer, singer, and humanitarian

in my life, i've had the opportunity to meet strong, smart, independent women from every walk of life. they've inspired me in many ways, and continue to remind me that women around the world are connected by many common threads.Sharing stories of women's achievements is an amazing way to honor and pay tribute to the incredible women who have inspired us to be the people we are today. My dear friend and the CeO of the raising Malawi Academy for girls, Anjimile Oponyo, recently shared a story with me that i will never forget.Please take just a few minutes to read a story from Anjimile that brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.

23womensaccent.com

meaningFul Women

Sometimes, if we're very fortunate, we meet the one person who will

forever change the course of our lives. Working in the Planning unit of the Ministry of Education in Malawi i met mine.

i met nwanganga shields, a nigerian woman who was heading the World Bank team that was working on the Education and Health programmes in Malawi. i could not believe that this african woman had so much power; every time she sent a message that she was bringing her team to Malawi everybody in the Ministry was running around preparing for her visit. she requested that i work for her, and with every meeting she gave me more challenging work-including me in the studies and giving me more responsibilities on the ground.one day she said to me, “if you are doing this work without training then you need to go to graduate school.“ she found a place for me at the George Washington university at the school of Education. the battle now was to convince the men in the Ministry to let me go.

she noticed that when we had meetings, i was always sent to go and inform the kitchen to bring the tea. one day as i stood up in the meeting she asked me why i was going to call for the tea when i needed to contribute to the meeting. she said this is the last time you are doing tea duty, you have a degree and you are going to graduate school. she asked the meeting if anybody had an objection, everybody was quiet. she said she would take it as agreement since nobody had objected. nwanganga is an african woman and she knew that there was no agreement; the men around the table were just shocked and stunned.

after she left, i was called and informed that i would not be going to graduate school at the George Washington university - i was devastated. i believed i wanted an american education because i wanted to be like nwanganga shields, fearless, confident, knowledgeable and proud to be african. in all the time i knew nwanganga, and even though she was married to an irishman, i had never seen her put on western clothes! she was so proud to be african, even though her views and attitude were completely western.

i was so crushed to be calling nwanganga to tell her that i would not be taking my place at George Washington as planned. i should have known this fearless, determined woman would not be stopped. nwanganga immediately sent me to the British airways office where she had a ticket to america waiting for me.it took a month after i arrived, but she managed to convince the Ministry to allow me to start school. she helped me find a place to stay, she got me a tutor to learn even basic skills like keyboarding, and she got me a job at

the World Bank so that i could continue to work on research projects.Every time i was homesick or discouraged she would invite me to her house and cook me african food and remind me that it was important that i succeed for the sake of other Malawian women who had never been given the same opportunity because of the assumption that they couldn't do it.

she not only inspired me to strive to be like her, she inspired me to fight to open doors for other women.if this one woman had not made that decision to fight so that i could go to graduate school i would have never left Malawi. i owe that one woman my education. Because of her i have educated my own children, and because of her my daughters do not think they might go to graduate school, they know they will. and because of this woman, every time a woman tells me that she wants to do something and there is a stumbling block in front of her, i start looking for solutions right away.nwanganga showed me that you should stop at nothing to open a door for a fellow woman. My way of saying thank you to her is helping other women the way she helped me. i took the job as Head of raising Malawi academy for Girls because it gives me the opportunity to do for hundreds of girls what nwanganga did for me.

What an opportunity, to be able to say thank you to nwanganga over and over again. i hope that one day, when raising Malawi academy for Girls is open she will come to Malawi and speak to the girls in the school and give them the same inspirational talks she gave to me■

The Huffington Post

sHarEd BY anJiMilE oPonYo:


FlashbacK

By: Michelle Krebs, Nancy ManPhotographs: courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

gIRl POWER BEhInD the Luxury Car

Girls’ naMEs HaVE oFtEn BEEn usEd as aPPEllations For Motor cars, WitH ElisE, GiuliEtta, clio and MEGanE Just soME oF tHE MorE rEcEnt ExaMPlEs. HoWEVEr, tHis custoM can BE tracEd Back to tHE VErY daWn oF tHE Motor car, tHanks to an associatE oF tHE dE Facto FAThERS oF tHE autoMoBilE, carl BEnZ and GottliEB daiMlEr.

What do you think of when you hear the word Mercedes? if

you’re like many people, a luxury car is the first image that pops into your mind; the Mercedes-Benz is a well-known, high-performance brand of automobile that has been in production since the very first years of the 20th century.

But Mercedes didn’t originate as a car name. Mercedes is actually a traditional spanish name that means mercies. it refers to one of the titles of the Virgin Mary: Maria de las Mercedes, or Mary of Mercies. (the spanish names dolores, remedios and Milagros - meaning sorrows, remedies and miracles - have similar origins.)

Mercedes is so strongly associated with automobiles that its original link to religion has been largely eclipsed. Because of this, Mercedes is a name that tends to polarize expectant parents: some find the car connection unappealing, while others see it as modern and fun. this name has been moderately popular in the u.s. for well over a century. in the past few decades, the name reached its apex in the early 1990s and has been declining slowly in popularity ever since.

How did Mercedes become so inextricably connected to cars in the first place? through a little girl named Mercedes Jellinek (1889-1929), who happened to be the

25womensaccent.com

FlashbacK

daughter of a wealthy austrian automobile businessman Emil Jellinek (1853-1901).

Emil Jellinek, was a bon vivant whose own father had sent him to Morocco to seek his fortune. Jellinek traded tobacco, married into a prominent family and turned to banking. He took his young family to algiers, then to Vienna, and his wealth and status grew.

in 1896, Jellinek saw an advertisement in a German magazine for an automobile by daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft. to get one, he traveled to cannstatt, Germany, where he was said to have marched into the factory wearing a pith helmet and pince-nez, along with his trademark mutton chops and a dark moustache that he was fond of twirling.

that first car was reliable but uninspiring, with a top speed of just over 15 miles an hour. Jellinek wanted to go faster. in a letter, he promised to order more cars if they would go 25 m.p.h. daimler filed the order.

Jellinek loved to race. He constantly urged the factory to build cars that were faster, lighter, lower, wider and longer.

His letters to the factory were frequent and caustic. “Your comment, namely that you would prefer to do without the direct top gear, just goes to prove once again that you have no idea at all about the motorcar business,“ was but one example. Jellinek agreed to order 36 cars if they bore the name of his daughter and if the factory gave him an exclusive sales agency for america and parts of Europe.

the cars were completed by March 1901, when wealthy Europeans gathered in nice on the French riviera to race their new vehicles.

the competition included a 244-mile distance race, a one-mile sprint and a hill climb. the new Mercedes dominated every event.

realizing the business potential for the new car, Jellinek secured the franchise for selling them in several countries.

the racing car model that utilized the engine was consequently named the Mercedes 35 hp (horse power). Jellinek had his own name legally changed to Emil Jellinek-Mercedes, after his daughter.

The recently-discovered and only known picture of Mercedes Jellinek at

the wheel of a Mercedes, 1906

One horsepower Mercedes (!) Image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Classic Archive

Adriana Jellinek, known as Mercedes

Emil Jellinek


the life of Mercedes, the girl, was not so long or happy. during World War i, her father, then a diplomat, was accused of espionage and fled from nice. the French government seized his

villa, yachts and cars, and he died in exile in switzerland in January 1918. Mercedes was forced to beg from neighbors.

Her adult years were filled with illness and tragedy. Mercedes lived in Vienna, and was notorious for marrying twice scandalously.

she had a magnificent wedding in 1909 in nice, on the cote d’azur, with baron von schlosser. the couple lived in Vienna until World War i, which ruined them. they had two children Elfriede (B 1912) and Hans-Peter (b 1916).

a little later, leaving her husband and her two children, she married baron rudolf von Weigl, a talented but poor sculptor.

she played music and had a good soprano voice, but never shared her father’s passion for automobiles. she died in Vienna from bone cancer in 1929, at the age of 39, and was buried in

Vienna in the familial grave near her grandfather, the former chief rabbi of Vienna, adolf Jellinek.

she is survived by a stepsister known as Maia (her real name was andrée), born in 1906. Maia had a car named after her, too. an electric model designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the Maia made its debut in Vienna in 1907, but never caught on. in March 2009, Maia Jellinek-Mercedes left her home in Vienna to attend Mercedes-Benz’s 100th-anniversary celebration. at age 95, she traveled to nice, where it all began.

the Mercedes trade name was registered after daimler’s

death in 1900 and the 3-pointed star became the trade mark. daimler had once drawn the emblem on a postcard to his wife,

the star symbolizing the growth of the

business into transport on land, sea and air.

the companies established by two automotive pioneers, Gottlieb daimler and karl Benz, who never met although they lived and worked less than 60 miles apart - merged in 1926. Mercedes-Benz went on to become one of the world’s best-known brand names.

the preadolescent girl in the faded photographs has long curls, a noble profile and an expression of intelligence and good humor. But who could have known then, a century ago, that her name would live on, long after she is largely forgotten, as one of the best-known automobiles in the world?■

if there was one thing Emil Jellinek loved more than his cars, though, it was his daughter Mercedes adrienne Manuela ramona Jellinek who was born in Vienna in 1889. Her mother rachel died in 1893, only 4 years after the birth of the daughter. since then, Emil Jellinek started to idolize his daughter, thinking that the Mercedes name would carry good fortune. one of his children wrote: he was as superstitious as the old Romanos.

Jellinek’s loving adoration of Mercedes was clearly evident – among other things naming one of his boats after her and unveiling a large picture of her at the 1902 Paris automobile Exhibition.

FlashbacK

27

column

womensaccent.com

ExCiting shopping, dining And EntErtAinmEnt At thE FAshion show mAll, lAs VEgAs, nEVAdA

will BE opEn ChristmAs EVE & dAy


a Word From the Wise

hOW DO I chOOSE

a Plastic surgeon?

cHoosinG a Plastic surGEon tHat is riGHt For You is oFtEn tHE Most iMPortant dEcision in HElPinG You acHiEVE tHE rEsult You arE lookinG For. it is VErY iMPortant tHat You MakE a Good connEction WitH Your surGEon, But You sHould also BE surE tHat HE or sHE Will BE aBlE to GiVE You WHat You arE lookinG For.

In canada, Plastic surgeon’s have completed at least five

years of surgical residency after finishing medical school.

they must then pass written and oral exams before being certified as a specialist by the royal college of Physicians and surgeons of canada. Many surgeons have additional formal training and attend conferences and seminars for continuing medical education. someone who does not have these

credentials may be performing cosmetic procedures but they are not a surgeon.

some surgeons have hospital privileges, which means they are annually reviewed to be able to perform procedures in a public hospital and they have a home hospital to look after their patients if there is a need for medical care.

the best referral is often by word of mouth. if you have a friend, acquaintance or family member

who has a result you like who has had a good experience ask them who their surgeon is.

a family doctor may be able to confirm if a surgeon has a good reputation. these days many surgeons are found on the internet or by advertising and you should be sure you are comfortable with their websites, philosophy and the response you get contacting their offices even before you go for your consultation. on line before and after galleries may give you

ask dr. atul kEsarWani

column

Dr. atul Kesarwani, MD, FrCsC

Dr. Kesarwani is the medical director of the Cosmedical rejuvenation Clinic, where he performs surgical and non surgical cosmetic procedures and oversees all procedures. He has also been Head of the division of Plastic Surgery at the toronto east general Hospital for 12 years. He is a Lecturer in the Department of Surgery at the university of toronto.

Dr. Atul Kesarwani has a reputation for being a caring, experienced physician, who keeps current on innovations in cosmetic surgery to deliver superior artistic results to his patients. He is contacted by the media regularly for information and has most recently been featured on Diagnosis M.D., Skin Deep and Style by Jury. He has been listed among the best cosmetic surgeons in Canada by Fashion Magazine, has been awarded the toronto Sun’s readers Choice award as Best Plastic Surgeon and is regularly quoted in the popular press.

Dr. Kesarwani is a painter with an avid interest in art, architecture and woodworking.

For more information, please visit: www.cosmedical.ca

an idea of the surgeon’s work but remember that only good results may be posted. Physician rating forums and testimonials are sometimes biased and should be relied on cautiously.

after doing your research, patients often attend consultations at a few offices. You should be comfortable with the surgeon. You should feel that he listened to your concerns, discussed the options of treatment, and suggested recommendations that sounded right for you.

Many surgeons are able to show you before and after photos of patients similar to you who have had the same procedure. You should not feel rushed into making a decision and should feel that you know all about the procedure and had a chance to ask questions you were not sure about.

there is an aesthetic judgment and knowledge that is needed so that you get the result you are looking for. Plastic surgeons want all of their patients to have great results but you have to be confident that your surgeon has the experience and compassion to look after you should a problem arise.

Most important, choose a well trained surgeon, that you are comfortable with who is experienced with the procedure you are requesting■


29womensaccent.com


to D

enti

stry

Hol

istic

App

roac

h


MaintaininG tHE BalancE oF ProPEr nutrition, ExErcisE, strEss control, and suFFiciEnt slEEP Will cultiVatE a ViBrant, rEsiliEnt BodY Full oF EnErGY. HoWEVEr, disEasE can still rEar its uGlY HEad and rEquirE intErVEntion. at sucH a JuncturE, liFEstYlE is no lonGEr suFFiciEnt and PHYsicians PartnEr WitH tHE sick to rEGain oPtiMal and idEal HEaltH. an EasY and loGical aPProacH – staY HEaltHY, PrEVEnt disEasE, and stratEGicallY intErVEnE For tHosE inEVitaBlE HiccuPs alonG tHE PatH.

MiChael sCheCter

is a biological dentist practicing in toronto. His focus is on prevention and tooth replacement from a holistic perspective.As a biological dentist, Dr. Schecter describes integrating the best elements of conventional dentistry while focusing on the implications oral health has on the entire body. 'it's all about minimizing toxicity and invasiveness and respecting the effects of dentistry has on the whole body rather than just on the oral cavity.’

Holistic or biological dentistry may not yet be mainstream but more and more are realizing the benefits of having a holistic health team at hand.

to learn more, contact Michael Schecter at:

[email protected]

I feel comfortable discussing choices and concerns with both colleagues and patients. nonetheless, following the birth of

my nephews, i realized the responsibility of making decisions for someone else. My sister approached me with some questions. We chatted about the vaccine controversy, the risks and benefits of antibiotics, and the appropriate place for various modalities of medicine.

at one point we leaned back and acknowledged that many concepts boiled down to opinion. to sift through each controversy, we re-visited our fundamental philosophies.


31womensaccent.com


Prevention: the highest mission of a physician is educating people to follow a lifestyle that is conducive to good health.

Primum non nocere: in spite of the best prevention, people will be affected by numerous influences and will fall sick. any diagnostic or therapeutic intervention by the physician should not further harm the patient.

tolle causam: the fundamental cause of sickness must be addressed. a physician should get to the root of the disease, not just treat the symptoms.

Vis Medicatrix naturae:

it is neither the physician nor the treatment that heals but the vital force, prana or chi energy, within a living organism. therefore, the physician must seek to encourage this innate process with the help of the various forces and influences of nature.

nunquam pars pro toto:

never the part but always the whole; include the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and environmental aspects of each individual■

tHe following PrinciPles HelP forge My treAtMent Decisions:

Early in my education, it became apparent that the current medical model did not fulfill my needs or answer my many questions. there is more to health than isolating the body into parts, diagnosing discrepancies, and treating those issues as separate entities. it must be recognized that people are micro-universes, cohesive organisms working in a symbiotic fashion. Practicing dentistry, homeopathy, and reiki provides me with opportunity to delve even deeper, working with the delicate balance of spirit, soul, and body.as a dentist, i recognize that procedures are invasive, potentially causing iatrogenic harm. regardless, surgical intervention is required to combat structural disease.

reiki produces beneficial effects by strengthening and normalizing certain vital energy fields held to exist within the body. Homeopathy adheres to the principles of classical medicine while emphasizing the importance of hygiene and lifestyle as a pre-requisite.


33womensaccent.com



column


column

WIn

TE

R

suMMEr is oVEr and WE HEartY canadians noW nEEd to EMBracE (or at lEast BracE For) WintEr. WE knoW it MakEs Good sEnsE to PrEParE our HoMEs and cars For WintEr But HoW ManY oF us PrEParE oursElVEs? HErE's tHE rundoWn on WHat to takE and WHY.

th

rivi

ng

in

column

Winter is filled with fun challenges; bouts of flu, sore

throats, sniffles and a general malaise as the days draw short and temperatures plunge. ideally we would make the effort to counter winter's chills and blahs.

then reality sets in and we don't have the time or motivation to do what we know is best through diet and exercise. supplements can bridge the divide, boost our immune system, alleviate symptoms and fortify us for the cold months ahead.

Liquid Greens: Fall and winter sap our energy levels, making us feel run-down and tired. to make matters worse, we have fewer options in the nutrient rich fresh produce aisle. Greens are packed full of low (or no) calorie energy nutrients that we need, but don’t get enough of during winter. You can now buy concentrated liquid greens to boost your energy, without the calories.

Even better still is that they don’t have to taste like spinach or grass. they come in unflavoured (almost no taste), mint (very refreshing) and chocolate (indulgent). try adding a tablespoon to water a couple times every day.

Echinacea: this herbal treatment for warding off the common cold, flu and tonsillitis has anti-viral and antibiotic properties. there are multiple medicinal species of echinacea, the most potent of which is Echinacea angustifolia, and the most potent part is the root.

Echinacea has a very distinctive taste, tingling (not burning) the tongue. the most active form is in a fluid extract. if you can't handle

the tingling it can also be found in tablets, capsules and tea. aim for 10-15 drops of Echinacea angustifolia root fluid extract each day.

fish Oil: Fish oil is a good source of the omega-3 fatty acids dHa & EPa, which play an important role in brain function. People with depression may have low blood levels of these specific omega-3 fatty acids. additionally these omega-3 fatty acids help prevent heart disease, degenerative conditions and neurological disorders. the optimal dose of fish oil for depression isn't clear, but it appears that supplements containing at least 300 milligrams of a combination of EPa and dHa may be helpful in relieving depression.

Oil of Oregano: the winter essential in your arsenal for good health is oil of oregano. this oil blend, medicinal oregano essential oil (origanum vulgare) usually blended with olive oil, is a potent immune booster and virus killer (remember that cold and flu are caused by viruses). quite frankly if you take nothing else on this list, you should be sure to take oil of oregano each day. oil of oregano is available in various liquid strengths as well as capsules. if you can handle the strong oregano taste, i recommend the super strength liquid (2 drops 1-2 times daily). if you can’t handle the drops, you can take super strength capsules (1 capsule 2 times daily). Ensure the product uses true medicinal oregano (origanum vulgare) and has an nPn number as this ensures the product has been evaluated by government authorities.

Dr. ClauDe Gallant

Director of Science at global Botanical, Canada's leading manufacturer of Natural Health Products. with a Ph.D. in microbiology, Dr. gallant did independent research on infectious diseases and published multiple articles in well-respected international journals.

37womensaccent.com



column

st John's Wort: this herb has been shown in numerous studies to help relieve mild (not severe) depression including seasonal affective disorder (sad). it works by acting on chemical messengers in the nervous system that regulate mood. st John's Wort needs to be taken daily over a period of time before becoming effective. Before using, talk to your practitioner as it reacts with some prescription drugs. aim for 300mg (fluid extracts, tablets or capsules) 3 times each day.

Vitamin C: this popular and well known vitamin works in numerous body systems and helps to keep your immune system healthy as well as reducing the duration and severity of colds. Your body doesn't store vitamin c so be sure not to miss a day. if you have a sensitive stomach chose a buffered form to reduce stomach issues. aim for at least 1000mg a day.

Vitamin D: Most people meet some of their vitamin d needs through exposure to sunlight. However, during the winter months (october to March) northern parts of the world such as canada, lack the uVB rays needed to make vitamin d. low Vitamin d in the body has been linked to depression, poor bone health, rickets, and weakness or pain in joints and muscles (regardless of age). look for supplements containing Vitamin d3 (cholecalciferol) which is the more biologically active form. aim to get at least 1000 iu per dose.

Zinc: this common mineral has strong anti-viral properties, helping reduce the duration of colds and flu while strengthening your immune system. For maximum effect be sure to use in combination with vitamin c. Zinc supplementation within 24 hours of the onset of cold symptoms, and continued every 2 awake hours reduces the duration of symptoms. aim for 15mg doses: 1 per day for prevention, 1 every 2 hours once symptoms appear.

Good luck, and have a short, enjoyable winter■


age less

New ANti-AgiNg Drug

May Double Human Life span

By: Claire Bates (UK)

it MaY sound likE sciEncE Fiction But rEsEarcHErs BEliEVE tHEY HaVE discoVErEd tHE ’HolY Grail' – an anti-aGEinG druG tHat Has sYstEMic EFFEcts and Will add dEcadEs to our liVEs.

sciEntists saY

41

column

womensaccent.com

vladImIr SKulachev

The dream of eternal life has been woven into numerous myths over thousands of years.

according to legend, the Holy Grail - a cup that was supposedly used by Jesus at the last supper - would give immortality to whoever drank from it.

the russian scientist from Moscow state university, professor Vladimir skulachev, said he has created innovative anti-oxidants nicknamed 'skulachev's ions' after 40 years of hard work.

the ions neutralize active forms of oxygen at the cell’s mitochondria, its energy-producing “power plants”. the uniqueness of the skulachev ions is that positively charged parts of the molecule retain their hydrophobic properties, allowing ions to penetrate the membrane of the mitochondrion and concentrate themselves in its interior space.

thanks to targeted delivery to the mitochondria, only a very small amount of the powerful antioxidant is required to achieve the desired effect. the size of the molecule and its structure have been designed so that the antioxidant part positions itself inside the cell with the exactitude of only a few nanometers and rests close to the most susceptible spot in the mitochondrial membrane for the active form of oxygen.

this explains why, for an antioxidant, the skulachev ion has such high biological activity, and it is responsible for the high potential for its application as an innovative drug intervention.


age less

Vladimir skulachev explained, ‘these ions lessen age-related changes in tissues at all stages of aging. Preclinical studies demonstrated marked reduction in death rates among middle-aged animals and, because of this, a rise in average lifespan. the outer limits of lifespan rise only slightly; the animal, however, remains active, not showing typical signs of aging, almost to his death. this characteristic of mitochondrial antioxidants makes it possible to create drugs to treat a host of dangerous, age-related illnesses. the ions-antioxidants help fight changes that come with age, not death at a very old age.”

the professor said the most difficult part of the process has been trying to prevent any side effects. However, he said thousands of people have registered to take part in human trials and that the treatment will be available after around two more years of clinical testing.

in previous work the scientist received acclaim for showing how special anti-oxidants could double the average lifespan of mice and keep them healthier for longer.

He has also created synthesised eye drops that restored sight to a group of blind horses, dogs and rabbits. Professor skulachev even used himself as a human guinea-pig and removed a cataract from one of his eyes.

Biologist Maksim skulachav, son of Professor Vladimir skulachav said: 'Finally, we hope that we will manage to convince people that a single pill treats many threats of ageing. so, it must be doing something with the ageing itself■

While many may dismiss the 69-year-old's claims as outlandish, his findings have been backed up by the international scientific community including nobel Prize winner dr Gunter Blobel. dr. Blobel from rockefeller university said: 'it has been shown that oxidative damage is huge. But we do not have an anti-oxidant of the type that Professor skulachev has developed. He is clearly the world's best biochemist and bioenergetic scientist.'

43

column

womensaccent.com

Fit best

tHE latEst studiEs arE suGGEstinG tHat MEn and WoMEn MaY ProcEss, storE, and usE Fat diFFErEntlY, BotH WHilE ExErcisinG and WHilE at rEst. so WHat is it tHat MakEs WoMEn GEt tHE raW End oF tHE stick? HoW coME it sEEMs likE all You HaVE to do is look at Food and You can FEEl tHE Fat accuMulatinG on Your HiPs WHilE HE Eats as HE PlEasEs?

fOr WOMEn tO LOsE WEiGHt tHan it is fOr MEn?

WH

Y is

it H

ard

Er


45womensaccent.com

the Hormonal Environment

the very first reason, and quite possibly the biggest reason why it’s much more difficult for a female to lose weight than a male is due to the hormones that you have present in your body. Females have a much higher level of estrogen and progesterone, which can encourage fat storage, while males are low in these hormones and instead have more testosterone present, which encourage muscle growth. in addition to this, females

also have higher levels of what’s referred to as ‘essential fat’, which is the amount of fat that is absolutely required to sustain life.

if you try and take your essential fat levels lower than they should be, you’re going to run into serious health consequences so the body fights back much more intensely in order to prevent this. this means that the female body will try and prevent further fat loss from taking place at a higher overall body fat percentage than a male’s will.

lEt’s HaVE a look at soME oF tHE Factors tHat inFluEncE WHY it’s HardEr For WoMEn to losE WEiGHt tHan it is For MalEs.

Fit best

shannon ClarK

A fitness and nutrition writer and trainer. She has a degree in Physical education, specializing in Sports Performance and has appeared in such magazines as iron Man, Bodybuilding.com, Askmen.com, and Her Active Life.

to learn more, contact Shannon Clark at:

www.shannonclarkfitness.com

Fit best


the ratio of Lean Muscle Mass

the second thing that must be taken into account as to why females tend to struggle more to lose excess body fat than males do is the amount of lean muscle mass that males have on their bodies. Males typically do carry more overall muscle than a woman does and muscle simply burns more calories at rest. Your lean muscle mass plays a heavy role on what’s referred to as your basal metabolic rate, so the more muscle you have, the easier fat loss will be. there’s no comparison in muscle mass tissue when looking at a female body versus a male body, on average, so this proves to be yet another reason why we see the discrepancy at play.

the food Choices

another important factor that can separate the females from males when it comes to ease with fat loss results is the typical food choices that are made by each gender. Females tend to be far more likely to snack on very carbohydrate rich foods when given the option, while males are far more likely to snack on protein rich foods instead. Protein rich foods are going to have the least likely chance of ending up as body fat stores, especially when compared to carbohydrates, so if their diet is on average higher in protein content, this is definitely going to work in their favour. Women are also much more likely to eat for emotional reasons, while makes typically take their emotions out by doing something active – usually aggressive such as

hitting a punching back or putting in a hard workout lifting weights at the gym, so while females take in more calories, males burn calories off. if emotional eating is playing a big role in your life, that’s a very big reason why you have likely not see the fat loss results you’re looking for.

the activity factor

Finally, the last reason why males and females tend to differ in their ability to lose body fat is simply due to their overall activity levels as well. Emotional eating or activity aside, males do tend to be more active overall in their leisure activities compared to males. While this definitely isn’t the rule and there are of course exceptions, you’ll often find males engaging in sports or outdoor pursuits, which are going to burn up far more calories than visiting with friends over coffee or reading for example.

this difference in total daily energy expenditure will then play a big role on how quickly fat loss moves along so must be taken into account. so there you have the main factors to keep in mind as to why it seems like females have a much more challenging time dropping fat weight compared to males. While this isn’t to say males don’t struggle at all as many do have difficulty losing weight, it’s clear that things are not going to favour the woman here. she will have to work harder, diet with a lower calorie approach, and often perform more additional cardio training to get down to her goal weight compared to her husband, boyfriend, or male co-worker■

47

column

womensaccent.com


column

MakEuP fOR ThE hOlIDay SEaSOn-2012

tHE HolidaYs arE a tiME WHEn WoMEn Want to FEEl and look EsPEciallY ExquisitE. dEcorations arE EVErYWHErE and EVEn Your WardroBE is in a HolidaY Mood. noW Just don't ForGEt to dEcoratE Your FacE. it is tHE onlY sEason WHEn You can GEt aWaY WitH GoinG a littlE Bit oVEr tHE toP.

49womensaccent.com

Face to Face

luCiano raFFaele

An international colour expert and celebrity makeup artist, whose roots go back to the great italian renaissance painter.

As a fashion runway makeup artist, Luciano works for fashion designers' shows and films, creating a unique expressive look.

As a colour therapy makeup artist, he creates a one-of-a-kind look, taking into consideration his client’s personal needs and desires. each of Luciano’s makeup sessions if infused with special dedication and includes personalized tips.

49womensaccent.com

Women are always looking for something just a little

more special during the holidays. they want to walk into a holiday party and wow people. and the holiday season presents a perfect opportunity to get a little more daring. the Holiday season’s-2012 makeup trends are inspired by the beautiful colours of this time

of year: gold, pink and red that come along with neutrals. it’s about shimmer, sexy, voluptuous lips, gorgeous lashes, and sparkling eye shadow. Even your cheeks deserve to enjoy the glittering fun of the season. and a little shimmering powder, dusted with a brush, in strategically placed areas for a look that says Wow!’

50 wOMEN’S aCCENT DIGEST50

Face to Face

Be careful not to match your makeup to your outfit: “matchy-matchy is tacky.“ if you’re dressed to the nines, your face should be low-drama. if you have a sparkly dress, don’t apply sparkly makeup. if you are wearing bold prints or color, keep your makeup neutral.

Your face has basically three areas to emphasize: eyes, lips, and cheeks. You never should full tilt in all three areas at once. in general, when you wear a strong lip color, it’s best to keep the rest of the face soft. strong mouth, soft eye. strong eye, soft mouth. one of the most stylish look is colour on the lips and cheeks with a barely-there shimmer on the eyes.

if you do go with the shimmery eye, don’t go overboard with the shimmer. apply shimmer to no more than 2 places. For example, shimmer your

eyelids and your cheekbones but don’t also add a batch of shimmer to your décolletage.

Mix it up this year and try a mauve smokey eye, a color that looks great on everyone. You can create a gorgeous smokey eye by using a brown eyeliner around eyes and then smudge a matte mauve from your lid up to your brow. smudge a bit under the eye with your finger. Pair the mauve lids with pretty pink cheeks. the color is especially lovely paired with a gray or metallic dress.

to get the perfect red lip, line lips first in a similar shade of lip liner then fill in with the lipstick. set with powder, and then apply another layer on top. this will help keep lipstick in place as the night goes on. remember to keep the rest of your face minimal with mascara and powder.

Just FolloW these simple tips For a FestiVe, seasonal gloW

BaFFlEd BY HoW to GEt tHE PErFEct PartY MakEuP?

rEMEMBEr, tHouGH, no MattEr WHat You do, HaVE Fun. BrEak tHE rulEs! tHE sEason is BusY EnouGH WitHout HaVinG to WorrY aBout Your MakEuP■

51womensaccent.com

chic ideas

womensaccent.com 51

2012

/201

3

Fash

ion

acc

Esso

riEs

dispels negative energy and can be worn to protect against outside influences or pollutants in the atmosphere. it is excellent for depression and exhaustion, a symbol of friendship, and stimulates romantic love. turquoise can come in shades of green-blue or light blue. the fewer veins of inclusion a turquoise stone contains, the more valuable it is. in today’s fashion world, turquoise is an incredibly popular choice. turquoise has been showing up everywhere, with celebrities and fashionists gracing the covers of magazines decked out in their latest turquoise adornments.

the history tells us that the oldest coral to be used in coral jewelry was thousands of years ago. coral gemstones are known to have many healing powers and are specifically associated with the circulatory system of the body and known to have helped in curing many blood-related diseases. in some cultures it is a tradition for married women to wear coral beads throughout their married life in order to bring peace and harmony into the marriage.

noW and alWaYs natural stonE is a BiG trEnd in JEWElrY.it can BE said tHat soMEtHinG rEtro is alWaYs in FasHion, and noW is tHE tiME For HandMadE stonE BEad JEWElrY. rEtro–insPirEd dEsiGns and nEW Variations on VintaGE stYlEs arE PoPular itEMs noW. soME oF tHE GEMstonEs usEd For natural BEad nEcklacEs, BracElEts, FinGEr rinGs, Ear studs and EarrinGs arE:

Vintage-inspired shoes, bags, hair and neck adornments, and fur graced the runway this season with hints of gold and earth tones throughout.

chic ideas


signifies faith, charity and innocence. Pearl symbolizes purity and is known as a “stone of sincerity”. it increases fertility and eases childbirth. one of today’s hottest pearl styles is to wear multiple strands of pearls. to take your look from demure to dramatic, layer on the pearls! imagine a cascade of pearl strands swinging over your simple black sheath or sweater set.

quartz-like gem, mined in uruguay, india. Mexico, Brazil and Pakistan, onyx is the most affordable of the black gemstones. it has a smooth surface like marble. its hardness and fine texture make it suitable for carving into various shapes. cut and polished smooth or as a bead, onyx is a fine stone for bead jewelry. it is particularly beautiful in combination with other stones, pearls especially.

Jasper’s name means “spotted stone”, referring to the gemstone’s highly decorative, natural patterns. Jasper adds a rich, earthy element to necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. it sustains and supports through times of stress, and brings tranquility and wholeness, provides protection and absorbs negative energy. depending on the setting used, jasper jewelry can have a relaxed, everyday feel or set an elegant, sophisticated tone.

chic ideas

womensaccent.com 53


Fashion Flash

Jaso

n W

u

The Jason Wu collection is a manifestation of the eclectic and diverse background of its

designer Jason Wu. the collection is youthful, sophisticated and always with a focus on making each garment crafted as beautifully inside as out.

Jason has always been driven by a curiosity to learn about construction, workmanship and perfecting every detail of his designs. through merging american sportswear with old world sophistication he established a supremely feminine and modern sensibility.

By using old world couture techniques with a modern eye, he is able to create singular designs that are distinctly Jason Wu. over 90% of his fabrics are produced in italy and France, most of which are designed for and exclusive to Jason. Jason combines modern lifestyle dressing with the spirit and detailing of haute couture in a way that is both innovative and romantically reflective.

onE oF tHE Main trEnds tHis sEason is Jason Wu’s cHinEsE VErsion oF GlaMour. Jason sEnt doWn tHE runWaY colourFul Prints and BrocadEs FroM tHE roYal court oF tHE qinG dYnastY and usEd tHEsE as a Point oF rEFErEncE.

It was Jason Wu’s white, one-shouldered, silk-chiffon-and-Swarovski-crystal gown—that was selected by the First Lady for her inaugural-ball appearances.

China's military inspired chic. “I went back to Taiwan, where

I was born... I’ve lived in America, Canada, and Japan,

but to come back to this means so much to me.”

55womensaccent.com

Fashion Flash

Born in taiwan, he moved at age nine to Vancouver, where he learned English, later studied sculpture in tokyo, lived in Paris and is now based in Manhattan.learned to sew by designing and making clothes for dolls after his mother bought him his first sewing machine.attended Parsons the new school for design in new York city, interned with designer narciso rodriguez. one of the foremost american designers during the last two decades. launched his first ready-to-wear collection in 2006 and built an haute couture clientele that includes actors natalie Portman, diane kruger, amber Valletta and January Jones, socialite ivana trump and drag queen ruPaul. Won the Fashion Group international's rising star award in 2008. in 2008 he was nominated for the Vogue Fashion Fund award.

Got a career boost when u.s. First lady Michelle obama starting wearing his designs, including a floor-length, custom-designed white chiffon gown to the obama inauguration in January 2009, a magenta silk dress on the cover of Vogue and a chartreuse silk sheath dress and coat on her first official visit to Europe. uses luxurious fabrics, most made in italy and France exclusively for him. combines relaxed lifestyle dressing with old world sophistication, haute couture, and feminine styles in a way that is both innovative and romantically reflective. Won the 2010 cFda swarovski award for Womenswear and in april 2011 he was nominated for the cFda/swarovski award for accessory design.debuted an affordable line of women’s clothing and accessories through target stores in toronto, 2012■

10 Things to knoW aBout Jason Wu:

For

a fu

ll pr

ofile

and

mor

e in

form

atio

n on

Jas

on W

u, v

isit

Vogu

eped

ia.c

om

‘i want to get it perfect’


JeweLry

57womensaccent.com


eXQuisite traVel destination

Dubai, more recently has been viewed as an upcoming tourist destination. it offers world class facilities in all

spheres of tourist activities. adventure sports have also become a big thing here. among the activities on offer jet skiing, sand skiing, desert safaris etc are very popular. the 49 miles of natural coastline that dubai has also offers many attractions. First there are pristine beaches with very clear waters. You can Jet ski or for a more laid back option cruise in dubai on the open waters of the Persian Gulf. the waters surrounding dubai are known for being calm & sailing on this is a pleasure. no spilling drinks & motion sickness to spoil the occasion.

For those not on a budget you can cruise in dubai on a yacht. there are yachts of all sizes available for a cruise in the waters around dubai. these can be hired for a day or for a short

VIEW DuBaIwith a Cruises in Dubai

by: Steve Jobs

ABOUT THE AUTHOr Steve Jobs is a professional writer who loves cruises. He has more than 7 years of experience of writing reviews about Cruises from Dubai and Cruise in Dubai.

59womensaccent.com

choice destination

duration, hire one for a cruise in dubai for a group or just a romantic getaway. cruises from dubai have made their mark in the tourist circles. there is a lot of information on various sites on the internet with detailed information on the various options available. tour companies, companies hiring out yachts & cruise companies have websites which give details on their offers.

the local fishing boats called dhows are a unique way to take a cruise. these are handmade local boats that can take you across the dire creek that cuts through dubai. there are tour options of cruising in dubai with a yacht or a dhow or any other vessel to view dubai by day or by night. the towering buildings in dubai are magical at night when viewed from a vessel sailing past slowly.

cruises from dubai give you a feeling of luxury where time stands still when you are on the open waters. dubai has almost 900 miles of coastline which includes the area around their man made islands placed in the shape of a Palm tree. these manmade islands are also accessible with these cruises & are a definite must do■


is the Key to Cooking With

Cooking with spices is an aspect of cooking that frustrates many

people. the questions i receive all highlight a confusion over which spices to buy, how to use them, and how much of them to use. all of those questions can be answered with a simple change in thinking. use ethnic profiling.

First, don’t over-think it. Herbs and spices are best used to accent the natural flavor of a particular ingredient. they won’t make or break your dish in the end. a quarter-teaspoon too little or too much won’t be the line between wild success and horrible failure. cooking with spices or

adding herbs to a finished dish is like the artist’s signature on the bottom of his painting. it’s not meant to be the focal point of the creation, just the pronouncement that it’s complete and ready to be enjoyed. there is a big difference between “seasoning” and “flavoring”.

culinarY arts

toDD Mohr

Chef todd Mohr is a world renown culinary guru and is famous for his special cultural fusion cooking. He is a founder of Savor Hospitality, an award-winning Cary, NC, catering company. His vision for Savor Hospitality is «to provide an extremely high level of cuisine and personalized service for all events, both on-site and off-site.» And he has been very successful in achieving his vision. in 2008 todd launched his daily video cooking blog, Cooking Coarse and you will be finding many of his cooking videos posted on his new web site called i-hate-cooking-recipes.com

Being a cooking classes expert, Chef todd Mohr has helped thousands worldwide to discover the joy of cooking. you can get a Free “ Cooking with Spices ” guide from the Chef that will improve your cooking immediately.

seasoning is the act of bringing out the natural flavors of the food with herbs and spices. salt and pepper on a grilled chicken breast will accent the flavor of the chicken, but not change it. Flavoring is changing the flavor profile of the ingredient entirely. chicken in a heavy cream or sherry sauce may not be immediately identifiable as chicken. the flavor, not the seasoning of the chicken is changed.

With that in mind, there are two ways to start creating your own combination of herbs and spices for a personal cooking repertoire. Either match the seasonings to the ingredient, or to a specific style of cooking or ethnicity. use the palate-stereotypes that exist to mimic the flavors of a specific culture.

i’ve arranged the dry spices in my cabinet by cultural or ethnic “teams”. these are the combinations i’ll use when cooking with spices to achieve a specific international flavor. if i want to cook an italian dish, i’ll use Basil, oregano and Garlic. those are the flavors inherently associated with italian cooking.

While the cooking methods may stay exactly the same, the type of seasoning accent you place on the food can create a wide variety of everyday meals using the same ingredient. For example, sautéed pieces of chicken accented with curry Powder, turmeric, cloves, and allspice will be reminiscent of indian cooking. the very same sautéed chicken seasoned with cumin, coriander, cilantro,

and chipotle Pepper is a Mexican

dish even though the cooking methods are the same.

if you’re not looking for worldwide flavors, and just want to make your everyday cooking better, there are some herbs and spices that compliment certain ingredients better than others. combining thyme, tarragon, and sage will remind you of the smell of a roasting turkey. these three seasonings are my “Poultry team”. i always use them to compliment chicken, turkey, duck, or quail.

think of a beef or pork roast in the oven. draw air through your nose deeply. What do you smell? it’s probably thyme, rosemary, cloves, and Black Pepper. if you can smell it in your head, you can taste it on your finished dish, and these four items should make up your “Meats team”. now, create a “Fish team” or a “Vegetables team” using the herbs and spices you like best with those ingredients.

the first step to perfect seasoning is to group and associate your spices with a particular style of cooking, or to highlight the main ingredient being used. through experimentation and tasting, you’ll know what to use with a basic chicken sauté, or how to season your own asian chicken dish that you created. aim at the ingredient or the culture for the best use of spices.

it’s okay to use ethnic profiling when cooking with spices. Your goal as the cook is to use these food stereotypes to communicate the ethnic flavour profile to those enjoying the meal■

culinarY arts

womensaccent.com 61


tHE last 25 YEars HaVE sEEn incrEasinG Focus on tHE aPProacHinG MaYan calEndar datE oF 21 dEcEMBEr 2012. noW tHat 2012 Has alMost GonE,

WHat do WE do and WHErE do WE Go FroM HErE?

The last 25 years have seen increasing focus on the

approaching Mayan calendar date of 21 december 2012. now that 2012 has almost gone, what do we do and where do we go from here? Most of us are not archaeologists or astronomers, anthropologists or astrologers. Yet the majority of what is written about one of the most exciting and relevant subjects of our day - the approaching Winter solstice 2012 end-date of the Mayan calendar – appears in words aimed at

specialists and couched in language that can be hard

to read. this article is written for those who may be hearing about the Mayans, their calendars, hieroglyphs and mysterious temples scattered throughout the jungles of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras.

let us begin with some questions. Why is there so much talk about the “end of the Mayan calendar“ and what does it mean? is there something significant we should know about the Winter solstice date of december 21, 2012? How were the Mayans able to track long periods of

time and why would they want to? Why should we care about the Mayans today? is there anything we can learn from them? i'll begin by sharing how my own interest in the subject developed and go on from there.

i first learned about the Mayans in 1987 from Jose arguelles' book the Mayan Factor. it was during the months leading up to the event known as Harmonic convergence that arguelles, artist and visionary, introduced me to the 20 Mayan day-signs and the thirteen Mayan numbers – and to the wonderfully engaging and mysterious 260 day Mayan

end oF the World? hOPEful VIEW

Of 2012 Mayan calEnDaR

mYsteries

JaMes K. PaPP

i grew up in the spacious Alaskan countryside with three siblings, raised by loving parents who cared greatly about us, the land, and raised large vegetable and flower gardens. My father’s ability to socialize and make friends, and my mother’s diplomacy and let-it-be attitude were primary influences on me. i went to college “outside,” in washington State, and found out how insulated i had been from the world’s cultural diversity. i began exploring, and my life began to open.today i realize that helping others by providing information and resources about how to be in the world – how to live a joyful, fearless life that is led by Spirit – is what i always wanted to do.

Please feel free to contact me with your

questions on the www.inquirewithin.com

ceremonial calendar, called the tzolkin (pronounced chol-kin). My pursuit of knowledge about pre-columbian culture had begun.

a great deal of scientific and visionary research work has been done about the Mayans, so i started reading. i learned that the Mayans tracked cycles within cycles within cycles of time. their calendar acted as a harmonic calibrator, linking and coordinating the earthly, lunar, solar and galactic seasons in an aesthetically simple and elegant manner. the provocative simplicity of the day-signs and the sheer harmony of the calendar drew me in. then a landmark article by John Major Jenkins appeared in Mountain astrologer magazine in 1994, revealing for the first time in our era the true meaning of the end-date.

the cosmic cross formed by the intersecting Milky Way and plane of the ecliptic was called the sacred tree by the Maya. the trunk of the tree, the axis Mundi, is the Milky Way, and the main branch intersecting the tree is the plane of the ecliptic. Mythically, at sunrise on december 21, 2012, the sun – our Father – rises to conjoin the center of the sacred tree, the World tree, and the tree of life.

this rare astronomical event, foretold in the Mayan creation story of the Hero twins, and calculated empirically by them, will happen for many of us in our lifetime. the sun has not conjoined the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic since some 25,800 years ago, long before the Mayans arrived on the scene and long before their predecessors the olmecs arrived. What does this mean?

due to a phenomenon called the precession of

the equinoxes, caused by the Earth's wobble that lasts almost 26,000 years, the apparent location of the Winter solstice sunrise has been ever so slowly moving toward the Galactic center.

Precession may be understood by

watching a spinning top. over many

revolutions the top will raise and dip on its axis, not

mYsteries

63womensaccent.com

Is there something

significant we should know about the Winter Solstice date of

December 21, 2012?

Yes. on this day a rare astronomical and Mayan mythical event occurs. in astronomic terms, the sun conjuncts the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic. the Milky Way, as most of us know, extends in a general north-south direction in the night sky. the plane of the ecliptic is the track the sun, Moon, planets and stars appear to travel

in the sky, from east to west. it intersects the Milky Way at a 60 degree

angle near the constellation sagittarius.


unlike how the Earth does over an extremely long period of time. one complete rise and dip constitutes the cycle of precession.

the Mayans noticed the relative slippage of the positions of stars in the night sky over long periods of observation, indicative of precession, and foretold this great coming attraction.

By using an invention called the long count, the Mayans fast-forwarded to anchor december 21, 2012 as the end of their Great cycle and then counted backwards to decide where the calendar would begin. thus the Great cycle we are currently in began on august 11, 3114 B.c. But there's more.

the Great cycle, lasting 1,872,000 days and equivalent to 5,125.36 years, is but one fifth of the Great Great cycle, known scientifically as the Great Year or the Platonic Year - the length of the precession of the equinoxes. to use a metaphor from the modern industrial world, on Winter solstice a.d. 2012 it is as if the Giant odometer of Humanity on Earth hits 100,000 miles and all the cycles big and small turn over to begin anew. the present world age will end and a new world age will begin.

over a year's time the suntransits through the twelvehouses of the zodiac. Many of us know this by what “sun sign“ is associated with our birthday. upping the scale to the Platonic Year - the 26,000 year long cycle - we are shifting, astrologically, from the age of Pisces to the age of aquarius.

the Mayan calendar does not really “end“ in 2012, but rather, all the cycles turn over and start again, vibrating to a new era.

it is as if humanity and the Earth will graduate in the eyes of the Father sun and Grandmother Milky Way.

Why should we care about the Mayans today? is there anything we can learn from them? the trees give us oxygen to breathe and help create the

nourishing rains upon which we depend, sustaining life. We are missing these rains in places where the trees have been cut down or burned. Fires begin that nature can no longer extinguish. For the Mayans, trees were intermediaries between the physical and spiritual worlds, andabsolutely essential to life. they believed that without the tree man could not survive and that “with the death of the last tree comes the death of the human race.“ the ancient carved stones and

the stars themselves tell us we are on the brink of a new world age.

there is no reason not to take a leap of faith into imagining what may be in store. We may trust that it is time for humanity to awaken into a true partnership with each other, with the Earth, and the cosmos. By accepting this partnership we may claim our birthright and become Galactic citizens who care for and sustain the planet, thus sustaining ourselves.

this is clearly the challenge of our times. Yet, arriving just in time and on schedule is the Winter solstice dawn on the day we may remember that we are truly children of the World■

mYsteries

womens accent #1

Documents

new phase

new perspective

modern life

new world

great new feature

new antiaging drug

fresh new style

life fruits814if grandma