My May-December Romance

Like everyone else, I am awaiting the warmer weather. But my spring-summer style will always have a winter sensibility. Often when others are in short shorts and tanks, I’m in a blouse and jeans. I don’t know… I’m just more comfortable in that silhouette, and I like fabrics that conceal instead of hug. Makes me feel more chic. Spring colours are beautiful, but it’s just too soon for me to commit. Instead, I’ll build my seasonal wardrobe around black staples. All which will go nicely with the brights I buy later, when they go on sale.

Ciera Black Metallic Detail Chunky Heel Boot, $50.
My winter boots are worse for wear, but these cute booties are ready for my skinny jeans and cropped trousers. I love the silver heel and stacked heel.

Leather Link Necklace, $74.
Imagine this Banana Republic adornment on the inside of a white collared blouse. Swoon. I love the leather trim.

Single Post Belt, $130.
Slick. Simple. Beautifully designed. And it’s made in Canada by The Leather Atelier. ’Nuff said.

Pinstripe Trousers, $60.
Zara pants always fit me so well. I never have to try them on. I like the idea of a menswear-inspired pinstripe, which will look smart when I pair them with a floral blouse.

Liam Pocket Tee Bright White, $198.
I think this will pair nicely with a pair of printed jeans. After writing about the Equipment blouse and how many brands brought out their own version, I’ve been a fan of the brand. I even bought one for myself in NYC in January while on a press trip. It’s like a tattoo: Once you get one, you need another.

Tomas Maier Cutout Cross-back Swimsuit, $330.
Full confession: I have not worn a bathing suit in over 15 years! This one-piece with gunmetal details has made me take a double take… Would I? Could I? We’ll see, we’ll see. I might be converted into  a summer girl after all.

Quinoa-stuffed peppers.

Quinoa-stuffed peppers.

via Tumblr http://lisahannam.tumblr.com/post/46714058547

I think I can show some self control and just eat the ears. Ear...

I think I can show some self control and just eat the ears. Ear nutrition facts in April issue of @glowcanada

via Tumblr http://lisahannam.tumblr.com/post/46666168123

Craving: Breaded Potato Wedges I was actually craving chicken...

Craving: Breaded Potato Wedges

I was actually craving chicken fingers. But since it was Good Friday, all the grocery stories were closed. I had no chicken, and I had no car that day anyways. So I came up with this for lunch.

What I had in my fridge & pantry:

5 fingerling potatoes

1 egg

1 cup rice flour bread crumbs, aka panko (You can use regular breadcrumbs, but I just find that these make a crispier batter)

Seasonings, as desired (I used ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper and 1 ½ tsp red pepper flakes for a kick.)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Prepare the potatoes by scrubbing the skins coarsely with a vegetable brush. Cut out any eyes and bruises. Don’t worry about the appearance as the breading will hide any flaws. Cut in half lengthwise, and cut in half lengthwise again, so that potatoes are cut into quarter wedges. Rince with water.

Meanwhile, put breadcrumbs into a bowl that is wide enough for potatoes to lie flat. Add desired seasonings and blend well. In another bowl, crack egg and beat to blend yolk and white. Add a splash of water and whisk.

Add a handful of potatoes to egg, and coat wedges evenly. Then drop them into breading and coat evenly. Place on cookie sheet so they don’t touch each other. Do the same with remaining wedges.

Cook in oven for 10 minutes, or until brown. Turn over. Turn oven down to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and let cook for 10 minutes. Potatoes should be crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Serve with your favourite dipping sauce. I had it with barbecue sauce, but next time I would go for hot sauce.

via Tumblr http://lisahannam.tumblr.com/post/46665496820

Why having an untraditional wedding sucks
Getting married is much more about expectations than anything else. I want a wedding that will be fun, stylish and entertaining. But I don’t want the traditional white dress, a lineup of bridesmaids and the typical clichés you could expect from a reception.

But saying that instantly means I want an untraditional wedding. I didn’t even realize that until my mother said it to me the other day. I was like, yeah, I guess that’s what I want. Until…. I learned that meant tacky.

Just search “untraditional wedding” on Pinterest, and the usually stylish social media site becomes a source for purple tiered cakes, Pepto-Bismol gowns, groomsmen with their drawers dropped and anything else that will make you wince.  When I tweeted that I as having trouble finding anything thing “untraditional” that I liked, my writer friend Jowita Bydlowska (yes, that’s a name drop) tweeted me the above tiara-adorned bride.

So there I have it. Untraditional means tacky. And that sucks.

Heck, why not read more. Here are three published articles I wrote:
Evangeline Lilly in a dress that isn't bridal white.
What to wear to your engagement party.
Wedding dresses you can buy at the mall.

Everything you need to know about CrossFit

Want to try CrossFit? It’s easy to see why it would be intimidating. The hardcore workout mixes Olympic weight lifting, powerlifting, kettle bells, gymnastic and endurance exercises. The military-style of training is said to have heart-health and fat-burning benefits. Even Jessica Biel and Cameron Diaz have embraced the exercise trend. But if you’re still a bit nervous about stepping into a CrossFit gym, I interviewed John Vivian of crossfitto.com to find out what you need to know.

On Target

I was recently invited to a Hamilton Target store, 24 hours before the opening. There’s so much buzz about new location that I was stopped in the parking lot by an eager customer, wanting to know when she could shop.
The store is gorgeous, clean and seemingly easy to navigate. The style for decor and fashion is simple and classic. That should make it easy for customers to say yes to a purchase. Like many mass market stores of recent, the grocery aisles are impressive. If you think bigger is better, then you will like new Target at The Centre on Barton.
Many bloggers have been talking about the exclusive merchandising partnerships tagged as being local/Canadian, from Michael Bublé for his latest album, Foxy Originals for a jewelry line, and more. So imagine my surprise when I see Ti-Cat merch, including hats and jerseys. I was pretty excited for my hometown team (I’m a season ticket holder). That was until I contacted the Ti-Cats to ask about the partnership. Unfortunately, that’s a CFL deal, not a local one. (But I guess since the Canadian Football League is Canadian, that’s local for Target.) So I will continue to buy my gold and black garb from the Tigertown store on Jarvis Street in Hamilton.

Heck, why not read more: Here are three published articles I’ve written about shopping.
How to shop a high-end sale
Online shopping at Zara.com
Purrfect for the game

Seeing Red

This past Thursday I was backstage at World Master Card Fashion week, covering The Heart Truth Red Dress runway show. It's a lot more fun, exciting and less tense than the other shows. Why? The models are celebrities and survivors, women who want to spark a conversation about women's health. Each is paired with a Canadian designer to create a red dress, and they really ham it up for the audience on the catwalk. We were all on our feet by the end of the show.

I covered the show last year for Glow Magazine: You know about the style power of a LBD (Little Black Dress), but do you know what a LRD (Little Red Dress) can do? About this time every year, celebrities and fashion designers take on the LRD to celebrate women and help fight against heart disease with a fashion show called The Heart Truth to bring attention to heart health. The point of the show is to bring awareness to women about their risk for heart disease and stroke. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, heart disease is the number one killer of women in Canada. A big reason why? Women are too busy taking care of others in their lives to realize the risk factors. Here are some runway shots from the 2012 The Heart Truth Fashion Show.

Stay tuned for my coverage for this year's show at glow.ca.

 Work it, at home

When I do work from home, I make an effort to get showered and dressed. Unless I’m sick, I’ll put on flats, skinny jeans or cigarette pants and a blouse. Nothing is worse than having to answer the door to the FedEx guy while I’m wearing my pajamas.

For my last Hamilton Spectator story, I profiled three successful women and their fashion issues for working at home. Jodi Prosovard of Grassroots HR Consulting, Amanda Kinnaird of Inspire Marketing and Karen Hewko of That Mom Blog, say that it’s not all PJs and yoga pants. So we chatted about their fashion challenges and solutions. Check out the the article.

 

Eating at your desk?

Been there, done that. Instead of getting tempted by the nearest burger joint or giving into the vending machine, frozen meals might be the solution. Many are now labeled to show how nutritious they are, including “steamed,” “whole grain,” “whole wheat,” “low fat,” and more. But to ensure you’re having a healthy, well-portioned lunch, here are seven tips on choosing the best frozen meal for you. (And four frozen options you can try!)

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Hannah Simone on the cover of Glow.

I said "Okay!"

This past December my boyfriend of 16 years proposed. I thought he was kidding at first, so I told him “noooooo…” We were out at a restaurant in NYC with family. Even his cousin asked “Are you serious?!” When he said he was, he put the ring on me and I said Okay. We were all laughing at how he shocked every single one of us. Except his stepfather who was in tears because he was with him when he bought the ring. And that was it. We were engaged.
Accepting the beautiful Dior Oui ring was easy. Now the tough part. They don’t tell you any of this in wedding prep books.
• Some people will ask for the date to coincide with their weight loss or baby plans. Unfortunately, for me that stuff doesn’t matter. It should be a good thing. In the end when we chose a day, people were just excited about it and got their own baby-making/diet schedule in gear.
• When I said I didn’t want a bridal party, some felt it was a statement about my friendship with them. My friends have busy lives, and while they would be more than happy to oblige me, I would prefer them to sit, eat and drink at the party and be treated as guests. Besides, I want them to wear a dress, shoes and makeup they want to wear. As I’m getting closer to my 40s, I can appreciate their established personal style instead of a bridesmaid dress. Close friends get it, but those who I was close with and grew apart from didn’t.
• No big white wedding dress. That idea shocks people. Makes them think sad thoughts for my mom who won’t be able to share in that process. But I never said I was excluding her from planning. In fact she’s the person who has helped us the most at this stage. Never, ever underestimate the support of a mother. She knows who I am and doesn’t expect anything less of me.
• Aren’t I taking away from his big day? Adults say the darnedest things. If he had dreamt of seeing me walk down an aisle, he wouldn’t have waited 16 years to ask me. I guess being engaged is a little (I said “a little”) like being pregnant: people think they can solicit the most inappropriate advice like it’s no big deal. And besides, I’m fairly certain if he had any issues with me he’d bring it up, much like he does about how I leave nail polish on the coffee table or how I continue to work on the couch despite having a beautiful office upstairs.
Don’t worry, I’m not kidding myself. I’m expecting more of it!

Vitamin C, baby

Lately I've been thinking more and more about vitamins. Maybe it's my aging age, trying to maintain a balanced diet, finding time to exercise more, but I'm more aware how my body reacts to certain nutrients – or rather when I'm missing out on them. While not eating enough fish has never been a problem, I've started taking Krill Oil (Jamieson's is the brand I'm taking now). My knees have always been a problem from playing soccer, but now I'm finding I'm not as achy in the joints. (I'm also taking another fish-type supplement, but that's for another blog post, as I just wrote about it for an upcoming issue of Glow.) I am also taking a women's multivitamin. So, what are you taking?

 

* If you decide to take any supplements, vitamins or over-the-counter health products, talk to your health care provider first. They can advise of possible side effects, interactions or other issues that may arise.

This makes me hoppy!

 

Hop into the festive spirit with Easter decor accessories.

The Converted

I was invited to try a preview shopping experience at Zara.com. Full disclosure: I often shop at Zara. I find it to be an easy store to navigate. They keep all the ripped denim in one area and the business with a twist in another. And their prices are easy on the bank account. If I’m trying a new trend that I’m not sure about investing my Louboutin money’s worth into, I will find it at Zara.

I’m a pretty skeptical online shopper. First, I don’t look like the model online, so I won’t know if the jacket will hit my thigh at the same spot it does on her. Books and makeup are one thing, but clothes are another. Second, I don’t always have good experiences online. There was that unexpected lump of duty the first time I ever ordered (likely with the launch of the internet). Years later, another site had me on it for two hours looking for that shoe I saw in a magazine, only to get to the final click to say that it didn’t ship that specific shoe to Canada. Another site canceled my order for fear of fraud as the promotion code I was given should have been unique to me, instead it was given to many people that day. And last summer I ordered a pair of sunglasses from a Canadian high-end site, to not get the discount. When I called to request my reduction they couldn’t give it to me, telling me that I would have to order it again and request a cancellation of the first one. But, they couldn’t process it for me. To make up for the bad service I was offered $20 off my next bill – that was my first time (and last) on the site. So shopping online is fashion roulette, really.

Today, I got a keeper: Blazer with gold appliqué on shoulder. Ordered it on Friday, and got it today. Very impressive. It took two weeks for me to get those sunglasses. Shipping was free as my order was over $50, but it’s also free if you get the package sent to your local store. Standard shipping is $5, and express is $10.

Back to my jacket. It is a polyester-elastane blend blazer with no lapels. There’s a short slit in the back and the pockets are faux (dang it). I love, love, love the metal structured shoulders – plus they have shoulder pads, perfect for power dressing. I often will wear a blazer instead of a jacket for spring, so this is a good buy for me.


Heck, why not read more: Two more published stories I wrote  with Zara fashions.

http://www.thespec.com/living/style/article/731036—the-bold-and-the-beautiful

http://www.thespec.com/living/style/article/625355—black-out

Forget the winter blahs, I’m dealing with winter skin blahs.

As pretty as the snow is outside, my skin sees it differently. I’m one of those people whose face instantly tightens when I step out into the cool air. So I always pile on the moisturizer.

This time of year I like a thicker cream, and lately I’ve been switching things up between Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream (love the consistency), and Physicians Formula Wrinkle Filler & Deep Moisture (a bit thinner, but works well). I’m not crazy-concerned with wrinkles just yet, but I just find these really plump up the skin for the whole day. I don’t need to reapply it, and I don’t feel like my face is going to crack.

For an at-home treat, I’ve given myself the Rodial Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Mask. The press release said “moisture-drenched.” They got me – I had to try it. And I heard Angelina Jolie uses it too.

A few things first: Dragon’s blood isn’t blood from a fire-breathing dragon. Go figure! It’s actually a natural red pigment that has been buzzy as of late for its skin-plumping properties. Hyaluronic acid is the ingredient that moisturizes.

The mask itself smelled sweet. I found it thin and super easy to apply. The instructions said to put a thin layer all over the face. Since it’s shiny you can see exactly where you put it. Plus, it’s a quick one – just 10 minutes. It felt like a mini facial.

Deets: Rodial Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Mask, $45 for 50 mL


Heck, why not read more: Here are three published articles I’ve written about winter skin.

http://glow.shoppersdrugmart.ca/articles/moisturizer-picks

http://www.thespec.com/living/style/article/876819—the-shopper

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/look-great/skin/staff-tested-treatment-masks