If you sat down with Chatelaine’s Editor-in-Chief Jane Francisco, you’d ask her what’s in her medicine cabinet, right? Riiiiiiight?
Well, I did and she told me.
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Between the masks and the BB creams, hair care is looking an awful lot like skin care these days.
Enter AG Hair’s new Keratin Repair Serum. It’s like a light leave-on conditioner that’s made with keratin protein, not unlike your hair come to think of it. Meant to repair the damage you do to your mane by, you know, living (weather, etc.) and styling (guilty), I like it because it adds moisture without weight. Its texture is lightly creamy — not oily — so it doesn’t weigh down hair, and it doesn’t look heavy even when layered on top of conditioner.
In fact, you’d never guess there’s product in it. Which means it’ll give you the no-makeup makeup look for hair.
P.S. Go get your hair did, then like The Anthology on Facebook.
I’ve been rather mum on this subject (that’s a hilarious pun, you guys!), but I’ve gained a bit of weight around my midsection. And it’s the kind of weight that kicks you, if ya know what I’m sayin’, not the kind of weight you kick yourself for when you indulge in seconds at a baby shower buffet (see above).
Why didn’t I shout this news from the virtual rooftops eight months ago, the moment I saw that little plus sign on a stick? After all, I happily had my wedding profiled in a magazine and I share so much of my life on The Anthology. Why not chronicle every fetal hiccup? Well, I’ve been preoccupied with trying to figure out how on earth I’m going to take a few weeks off from running my company post-kid (seriously, business-owning moms, how do you do it?) and I haven’t wanted to bore you with ultrasound updates, so I haven’t written much about it (unless you count this list of my top five maternity must-haves).
But boy have I been talking about it. And you know what’s surprised me most? The third question people ask me. The first is always “When are you due?” (in theory less than a month) and the second is always “Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?” (Nope!) The third? “Are you going to turn The Anthology into a mommy blog?” No, it’ll stay the same design-focused, fashion-loving, travel-obsessed blog it’s always been. Though I will be giving a bit of air time to cute gifty finds like this handmade stuffed fox because we all have nieces and nephews we need to buy for.
[My non-maternity dress is from H&M]
P.S. You can follow me on Twitter without worrying that I’ll tweet from the delivery room. My name may start with a K, but I am no Kardashian.
I haven’t yet caught up on Mad Men’s latest season. But Banana Republic’s latest Mad Men collection? That I’m up on. It’s the third of its kind and it’s inspired by the look of the new Mrs. Draper (who’s played by a Canadian actress, btw). Earlier this week I stopped by CTV Morning Live to talk all things Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and spring.
But first, a little pre-show war paint (you’ll find my dissertation on what to wear and how to paint your face for television here.)
Let’s talk about these pants for a second. I can’t wait for real sunshine, but in the meantime cropped lemon-yellow trousers will brighten up days filled with spring showers.
And menswear. I’ve always loved it because the silhouettes change subtly each season and the tailoring remains classic, so the focus tends to be on texture and fabric. Two things I adore.
Then there’s this dress. It’s one of my favourite dresses from the Mad Men-inspired collection and it looks an awful lot like one worn by the new Mrs. Draper. The model also bears a striking resemblance to the new Mrs. D., doesn’t she?
And for something a little Mr. Draper-inspired, a skinny tie and slim-fitting textured cardigan. A look that’s as dapper as Draper can be.
Missed the morning segment, sleepyhead? Catch it online here. Thanks for having me, CTV, Banana Republic and Tara Parker Tait PR!
[I’m wearing a JNBY sweater, Joe Fresh tanktop, Topshop jeans and Elizabeth and James shoes.]
P.S. Get your mod on — like The Anthology on Facebook.
Second only to cooking with a personal chef is grocery shopping with a personal dietician. While I’ve never had a chef (because, I mean, come on), for an all-too-brief moment I went grocery shopping with dietician Melodie Yong.
It’s National Nutrition Month, you see, and Healthy Families BC has just launched their Shopping Sense tool. I’ve worked with Healthy Families BC through my former agency (skip 30 seconds into this behind-the-scenes video and I’ll tell you all about that) and through my own creative consulting company Northill.
Plus, I love me some healthy eating so I wanted to know what I didn’t know, ya know?
These nine grocery-shopping tips stood out.
1. Shop with a list. It’ll cut down on impulse purchases (like Swedish Berries — those little gummies get me every time.) Need a little help with prepping and planning? You’ll find a few helpful tools here.
2. Eat your veggies. “It’s a boring message,” Melodie says. “But no one wants to hear what they can’t eat — they don’t want to hear they can’t eat cookies — they want to know what they can eat more of.” Besides, you feel like a superfood hero when you actually eat your greens and purples and yellows.
3. Colour your plate. Speaking of greens and purples and yellows, eat a rainbow of vibrantly coloured veggies. Melodie recommends putting at least three colours on every plate.
4. Eat something orange every day. Because beta carotene is good for you.
5. Go easy on yourself. It’s okay to have a couple nights during the week of less-than-perfect meals as long as most of what you’re eating is nutritionally balanced. It’s about balance, people. Balance.
6. Can’t pronounce an ingredient? That’s probably not a good sign. While reading the label is key, understanding what’s on it is just as important. But you don’t have to take our word for it: The New York Times has a fascinating — and frightening — article on the science of processed food.
7. Opt for plain yogurt. Avoid the sugary kind and flavour it yourself. Easy peasy. Greek-style will often — though not always — have more protein so compare labels.
8. Go Mediterranean. Comprised predominantly of olive oil, nuts, lean fish, fruit and veggies, a Mediterranean diet is great for preventing heart disease. Also, it’s delicious.
9. Shop the outside of the grocery store. That’s where the produce aisle, freshly baked goods and dairy are located. It’s also where the heavily processed foods aren’t.
Want to tour the grocery store with Melodie? Or at least her virtual self? Then click on over to Healthy Families BC’s Shopping Sense.
Bright and early tomorrow (Tuesday) morning I’ll be on CTV Morning Live talking spring style for ladies like Coco (above) and gentlemen like Jon Hamm.
Set your PVR, mom!
[Pictured: Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha in Banana Republic’s Mad Men campaign]
The Anthology’s Pinstagram column marries the dream (Pinterest) and the reality (Instagram).
A hand, please. My friend Ashley and I giving ourselves a hand at Heirloom Vegetarian and a model getting a hand (or eight) backstage at Valentino spring 2013.
Read up. Grabbing a seat at Lisa Tant’s spring trend presentation at Holt Renfrew and a coffee table book I’d love to add to my collection.
Blushing. Rose-shaped, raspberry-flavoured meringues at Gastown’s Cadeaux Bakery (a great place to go for tea) and a Max Factor ad from the 1950s.
Mr. Golden Sun. My speedy boy Roy frolicking in the golden sun and Elle Decor‘s spectacular gold kitchen cabinets, which has me tempted to spray paint my cabinets.
Keeping it old school. The Mighty Oak, a tiny general store/cafe tucked away near Cambie (I wrote about it here), and a vintage-inspired swimsuit from Anthropologie.
Reach the peak. The sun was out! (My Vancouver-based self got quite excited about it.) And a sculpture by New York-based artist Norman Mercer.
Go to (Gas)town. A shot I took after closing down the opening of Rennie Collection’s Robert Beck/Robert Buck show, which happens to be just a few blocks from one of my favourite stores Old Faithful Shop in Gastown.
P.S. There are more photos where these came from so follow Kelsey Dundon on Instagram and add The Anthology on Facebook.
Shannon writes:
Love your blog! I never miss a word (or photo!). I was hoping you might have some tips for dressing for TV?
Next Friday a crew is coming to film a very short house tour. Except, here’s the thing: I have no idea what to wear! I want to look stay-at-home-mom fabulous (in other words, casual) except I don’t think I have much that will work (black tees, white tees, loose sweaters and sweatshirts, distressed jeans.). I need to shop!
Good question, Shannon! It’s something I ask myself every single time I do a segment. Herewith, a few of the most helpful tips I’ve been given over the years.
1. Consider the theme. And then dress a notch better than you actually would if you were in that situation. If I’m doing a spring trends segment for Breakfast Television I’ll wear a brightly coloured Banana Republic blouse and skirt (see above). If I’m doing a “Camping on a budget” segment for CTV (which you can watch here) I’ll keep it casual in Joe Fresh cords. If I’m doing a “Dressing for your body type” segment (which you can watch here) I’ll wear a JNBY dress. It’s rocket science, this part.
Since you’re going casual I love the idea of a brightly coloured blouse or sweater (Joe Fresh has tons of these sorts of things) and a pair of smart pants (along the lines of those from J.Crew or Club Monaco). And some cool, comfy flats (I’m always partial to those by Loeffler Randall).
2. Get comfy. Almost as important as how your outfit looks is how it makes you feel. You need to be able to move so you can be relaxed on camera. Can you bend? Can you sit? Can you stand without fidgeting?
3. Dress like a box of crayons. The camera loves colour. ‘Tis smart to avoid wearing all white. Black, on the other hand, can work when you pair it with bold accessories and when you’re shooting on a well-lit set (since you’ll be shooting at home, I’d opt for colour). I was going to wear a dark shirt to host Timmy’s Telethon until I saw how dark the set was behind — bright blue popped more. Prints can work, though they’re a little trickier and you’ll want to avoid small, busy, high-contrast prints like herringbone.
Christine Vu submitted another great tip via Twitter: White is too bright for the camera but if white is what you want, wear light beige. It will appear white.
4. Remember the three S’s: skin, steam, cinch. (I know the third one isn’t technically an S, but if they can cheat with the three R’s…). The camera adds bulk so you don’t want to overly bundle up. Don’t be afraid to show some skin, whether your arms, legs or neck. And consider choosing an outfit that cinches you somewhere, likely your waist. Also, steam your clothes lest you look like Helen Hunt at the Oscars.
5. Get your selfie on. Take photos from every angle. The camera sees things very differently than the mirror does.
6. Get your hair did. Remember how you and your ladyfriends would get a practice updo before prom? Well it’s time to do things high school style. Figure out how you want your hair ahead of time. And no, you don’t have to get it professionally blown out.
7. Paint your face like a tart. A makeup artist once told me if you do your eyes as if you were going out at night, your makeup will read quite naturally on camera. I always feel like a floozy walking around post-shoot, but that’s a small price to pay for looking polished on air. Oooooh, speaking of makeup — become best friends with powder.
Hope this helps, Shannon! Please send a link to the segment when it airs!
P.S. Find answers to your most burning questions like Meg’s How do you start out as a copywriter? Tara’s How do you make your blog look better? Emilie’s How do you gain exposure? And Shona’s How do you do it?
P.P.S. Have a question you’d like a reeeeeally long answer to? Send it to KDundon@TheAnthology.ca
In The Anthology’s Bookmark column we explore some of the most inspiring places on the wild, wild web.
My to-do list always involves DIYs. Sometimes they’re as simple as assembling an Ikea dresser, but often I have a list of legit DIYs I’d like to tackle. Do I often D them? No, but I love the idea. Maybe that’s why I love Oleander and Palm, a blog run by Canadian-turned-Californian Jeran McConnel.
It’s filled with serious DIYs like her ombre heart napkins and simpler DIYs like this framed geometric heart. Plus, a ton of recipes — cookies and such, sure, but I especially like the sound of lemon lime bitters.
And she loves to throw a themed party. Up next? St. Patrick’s Day.
Oh, and her lavender sachet business cards put my business cards to shame.
So bookmark Oleander and Palm already and bookmark The Anthology while you’re at it.
[Images from Oleander and Palm, obviously.]
P.S. Beef up your list of favourite links with The Anthology’s Bookmark picks.
This article by Kelsey Dundon first appeared in the travel section of The Province, BC’s most-read print publication.
These days, the Road to Hana isn’t exactly the one less travelled. Thanks to its place of honour on many must-see, must-do and must-experience lists, it’s easy to get caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way to the remote town.
But there’s another scenic drive on Maui that’s far less crowded: the road around the north side of the island.
It’s a trip that hotel concierges seem loathe to recommend and for good reason: one-lane roads, steep cliffs and limited guard rails make driving conditions sketchy.
Naturally it went to the top of my must-do list.
I started the trek in Ka’anapali, where long stretches of golden sand are broken only by dramatic Black Rock, a spot where daring swimmers leap off the cliff into the frothy waves below. It’s the most prominent feature of the Sheraton Maui, sheraton-maui.com, the first resort built on the now-famous beach almost 50 years ago.
Today Ka’anapali is lined with full-service resorts including not one, but two Westins, one of which I called home for a few days: the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, westinkaanapali.com.
Traffic started to thin around the time I hit the first spot beautiful enough to spend a whole day: Honolua Bay, a Marine Life Conservation District that I would return to the following morning on a snorkelling trip with Teralani Sailing Charters, teralani.net.
With a protected reef and sea turtles galore, it is considered one of the best snorkelling spots on the island.
But there was no time for that now so I continued down the windy road — no longer part of the State Highway — to Honokohau Bay, where I bought a half-dozen homemade oatmeal cranberry cookies from a couple at a roadside stand. I nibbled away as my toes played tag with the crashing waves.
Back on the road the terrain changed from rolling green hills that look like they could have been transplanted from Ireland to jagged oceanside cliffs that looked like, well, they too could have been transplanted from Ireland.
Soon it became clear why the locals don’t recommend this drive to visitors — the road narrows to one lane, without guardrails to protect you from the steep drop to the lush valley far below.
If I encountered a vehicle coming from the other direction, one of us would have had to reverse and delicately dance backward along this cliff-side trail. But the driving gods were with me so I was able to keep moving forward toward the postage stamp-sized town of Kahakuloa where roadside signs proclaim Julia’s Banana Bread, juliasbananabread.com, the best in the world. Truth in advertising? I can’t say, but it was pretty darned good.
Happily refuelled, I hopped back in the Jeep to climb the cliff that would lead to Kaukini Gallery, kaukinigallery.com, a sophisticated artisan gift shop with fine handmade jewelry and local artwork a beautiful as the shop’s view. The quiet road stretched for miles before I arrived at another gallery, Turnbull Studios, turnbullstudios.org, a sculpture garden that marked the return to well-populated Maui.
From there it wasn’t far to Paia, a picturesque surf town east of the Kahului Airport that houses high-end clothing boutiques, coffee shops that serve organic drip and cafés offering vegetarian curries.
It’s a sleepy town despite the fact it flanks the highway. A road that, if you’re up for it, will take you all the way to Hana.