Debbie King

Sweetly Satisfying – & salted Chocolate Chip Cookies

A perfect Valentine’s Day treat with a balance of sweet & salty in very bite. If you love a great chewy chocolate chip cookie then this recipe is for you.

This is better than the average chocolate chip cookie recipe because of a few changes to basic ingredients. The sugars are a combo of organic brown, *coconut and cane. Usually I don’t add any nuts but this time I added some chopped macadamia nuts for deliciously added crunch. Then some extra vanilla in the form of pure vanilla bean paste and sprinkled the tops of each cookie with lavender sea salt just before baking (but any sea salt is good). My hand mixer wasn’t working properly which resulted in having to manually mix most of the ingredients….which turned out surprisingly good (as over mixing is not recommended especially when adding dry ingredients).

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature (try using one stick of unsalted & one salted).

1 cup sugar (I like using a combo of organic cane and coconut sugar). *Coconut sugar is more nutritious and lower on the glycemic index than regular sugar.

2/3 cup packed light brown sugar

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

½ tsp pure vanilla bean extract (optional)

2 large eggs

2 cups of chocolate chips or chunks (try using a combo of the best quality you can find of bittersweet, milk, semi–sweet & white). *I drizzled some melted dark chocolate over top for added punch (optional).

Go Nuts: ½ – 1 cup (depending on how much you like nuts) of finely chopped walnuts, pecans or *macadamia. (optional)

Sea salt flakes, for sprinkling on top.

Directions

Center one of the racks in the oven; preheat to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda. Working with a stand mixor (preferable fitted with a paddle attachment) or hand mixor in a large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed for about 3 minutes until well blended. Beat in vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition. Reduce mixer to low; add dry ingredients in three portions, mixing only until each addition is incorporated (don’t overmix). By hand or with rubber spatula mix in chocolate and nuts. Spoon dough in slightly rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Sprinkle with sea salt.

Bake cookies rotating sheets and switching position from top to bottom at the midway point (about 8-10 minutes is halfway), or until they are brown and the edges are golden in the center. They may still be a little soft in the center, and that’s fine. Remove from oven and allow cookies to rest 1 minute, then carefully transfer them to racks or cookie tray to cool, using a wide metal spatula. Repeat with remaining dough, cooling baking sheets between batches.

The cookies can be kept in a sealed container for about 4 days or wrapped airtight and frozen for up to two months.

TIPS:

1) all recipes call for unsalted butter at room temperature. I keep the butter cold in the fridge until a short time before mixing and cut it into little cubes. Apparently Mrs. Fields makes her cookies like that so now I do too.

2) Rest dough before baking by leaving batter in the fridge for up to 24 hours. It allows the flavors to meld and the sugars to become more like molasses. You can also freeze half or all of the batter.

3) Use a lower temperature and leave them cook a bit longer than recipe calls for (if it calls for 375F, use 350F. If it calls for 350F, use 325F).

4) Never place your batter on a warm cookie sheet. Instead, let it cool between batches. A hot sheet causes the dough to melt before it goes into the oven, which tends to uneven baking, compromising the texture.

5) If your cookies are a little too crispy you can always put a piece of bread in the cookie tin – this will help soften them.

Makes about 40 cookies

FUN

Art/Culture – Chinese Lantern Festival

An Authentic Chinese New Year Sky Lantern Festival was held at Spanish Banks, Vancouver on Friday, February 7th.

Images

In parts of Asia, the festival is typically celebrated on the 15th (last) day of the Chinese New Year period to mark the end of the holiday.

Some of the lanterns are works of art, in the shapes of animals or painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legends and history.

According to one of the most common legends, the origins of the Sky Lantern Festival dates back more than 2,000 years when Chinese villagers were forced away from their homes by raiders. Village watchmen would use small “hot air balloons” as a signal to inform those who had taken refuge that their homes were now safe to return to.

Falling on February 14th, 2014, the Lantern Festival marks the last day of the Chinese New Year season. Traditionally, the Lantern Festival is a day for lovers. In the past, it was the one day of the year when a woman could come out – chaperoned, of course! – and be seen by eligible single men. In the days when women’s feet were bound, it was often the one time when she could appear in public with unbound feet. Of course, these restrictions no longer exist, but there is still a hint of romance in the air at the Lantern Festival celebrations.

These days, the mass release of the lanterns is a symbol of peace and good fortune. People are also encouraged to write messages on the lanterns and hope that their wishes come true. The largest of such celebrations is in the town of Pinxi, Taiwan (one hour away from Taipei) where millions flock to each year to release and watch the ascension of as many as 100,000 lanterns.

What an amazing sight. Have you experienced it?

FUN

words – family values

We have A NEW HOLIDAY! Any holiday is great but this is the second time since last year that British Columbia will observe Family Day (Monday, February 10th) as a statutory holiday. One of the reasons for introducing Family Day (after all we have mother’s, father’s and grandparents day) was that there was too long a gap between New Year’s Day and Good Friday which when you stop to think about it – is way too long to go without taking another day off.

I woke up one morning thinking about wolves and realized that wolf packs function as families. Everyone has a role, and if you act within the parameters of your role, the whole pack succeeds, and when that falls apart, so does the pack. – Jodi Picoult

I don’t care about whose DNA has recombined with whose. When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching–they are your family.” ― Jim Butcher, Proven Guilty“There is no such thing as a “broken family.” Family is family, and is not determined by marriage certificates, divorce papers, and adoption documents. Families are made in the heart. The only time family becomes null is when those ties in the heart are cut. If you cut those ties, those people are not your family. If you make those ties, those people are your family. And if you hate those ties, those people will still be your family because whatever you hate will always be with you.” – C. JoyBell

Family doesn’t always depend on blood. Family members can be your best friends, and best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.”

Enjoy your day whether you decide to stay home and play games or go play outside – just do it together. If you don’t live in the same city make sure to catch up by phone or skype.

FUN

health MATTERS – the IRONy of it all

If you’re feeling exhausted is it because of a low Iron count or something else? How can you be sure that you’re getting enough?

You might be surprised to learn that low iron is the most common nutritional deficiency in the U.S. Almost 10% of women are iron deficient, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Let’s look at why iron is so important to your body, what can happen if you’re not getting enough of it, and when you need to take an iron supplement.

WHY DO YOU NEED IRON?

Iron is an essential mineral. “The major reason we need it is that it helps to transport oxygen throughout the body,” says Paul Thomas, EdD, RD, a scientific consultant to the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.

Iron is an important component of hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to transport it throughout your body. Hemoglobin represents about two-thirds of the body’s iron. If you don’t have enough iron, your body can’t make enough healthy oxygen-carrying red blood cells. A lack of red blood cells is called iron deficiency anemia.

Without healthy red blood cells, your body can’t get enough oxygen. “If you’re not getting sufficient oxygen in the body, you’re going to become fatigued,” Thomas says. That exhaustion can affect everything from your brain function to your immune system’s ability to fight off infections. If you’re pregnant, severe iron deficiency may increase your baby’s risk of being born too early, or smaller than normal.

Iron has other important functions, too. “Iron is also necessary to maintain healthy cells, skin, hair, and nails,” says Elaine Chottiner, MD, clinical assistant professor and director of General Hematology Clinics at the University of Michigan Medical Center said in an email interview.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE IRON DEFICIENT?

“People often don’t know they have anemia until they have signs or symptoms — they appear pale or ‘sallow,’ are fatigued, or have difficulty exercising,” Chottiner says.

If you’re low in iron, you may also:

Feel short of breath
Have a fast heartbeat
Have cold hands and feet
Crave strange substances such as dirt or clay
Have brittle and spoon shaped nails or hair loss
Sores at the corner of the mouth
A sore tongue
Severe iron deficiency can cause difficulty in swallowing

HOW MUCH IRON DO YOU NEED?

How much iron you need each day depends on your age, gender, and overall health.

Infants and toddlers need more iron than adults, in general, because their bodies are growing so quickly. In childhood, boys and girls need the same amount of iron — 10 milligrams daily from ages 4 to 8, and 8 mg daily from ages 9 to 13.

Starting at adolescence, a woman’s daily iron needs increase. Women need more iron because they lose blood each month during their period. That’s why women from ages 19 to 50 need to get 18 mg of iron each day, while men the same age can get away with just 8 mg.

After menopause, a woman’s iron needs drop as her menstrual cycle ends. After a woman begins menopause, both men and women need the same amount of iron — 8 mg each day.

DO YOU NEED TO TAKE AN IRON SUPPLEMENT?

If your iron is low, eating a diet that is high in iron-rich foods such as fortified cereals, red meat, dried fruit, and beans may not be enough to give you what you need. Your doctor might recommend that you take an iron supplement.

Prenatal vitamins usually include iron, but not all prenatal vitamins contain the recommended amount. Check with your doctor before taking any supplement.

While you are taking iron supplements, your doctor should test your blood to see if your iron levels have improved.

CAN IRON SUPPLEMENTS CAUSE SIDE EFFECTS?

Iron supplements can cause side effects, usually stomach upset. Adding extra fiber to your diet can help relieve this symptom. Starting with a low dose of iron and then gradually increasing the dose to the daily recommended amount may help minimize side effects. If your iron supplements are bothering your stomach, your doctor can adjust the dose or form of iron you use. You can also try taking the supplements with food.

Getting more iron from you food– pair up foods rich in vitamin C (like broccoli) with souces of iron (chicken stir-fry for example) to boost the iron your body is able to absorb.

My preference is salmon with quinoa & veggies — My preference is **salmon** with **quinoa** & **veggies**.

Liver is good but I don't like it. My mom used to make us eat it. — **Liver** is a great source but I can’t stomach it anymore. My mom used to force us to eat it as kids.

How many of you take supplements?

Taken from WebMD.com

**Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.

Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health

FUN

personally…appreciating the Shoe Horn

It may sound crazy but I’m starting to realize the value of keeping a few on hand.

Preventing shoe crush – Why deteriorate the backs of your shoes by sloppily slipping your heel in? Shoe horns are great because they protect the backs of your shoes and make it easy to get into snug slip on dress shoes.

A lot of people do not appreciate how important a shoe horn is. I was one of those people until recently when I tried to slip into my old loafers without the help of my horn (which was nowhere in sight) and the heel got all crunched up. Shoe horns have been around forever and most people have one but never use it.

If you don’t use a shoe horn then there are two ways of putting a shoe on. 1) You can either, stick your finger in to the back and pull it on to your foot, stretching the shoe, or you can go for the worst of all options and 2) try to put your shoes on with no hands (my loafer style), sliding your feet in and crushing the counter as you do so. Both ways are going to cause damage to the counter. This is actually very serious and no good for the health of the shoe.The counter is extremely important for the structure of the whole shoe, if it is damaged and loses its stiffness then the whole shoe will lose structure and no longer fit correctly or offer good support. A firm counter supports your heel and arch and reduces over-pronation. Pronation being the flexing of the ankle. Over-pronation stresses the tissues around your ankle and foot which will lead to various foot conditions including flat feet and heel pain. Doesn’t sound too sexy does it?

Now I believe having at least one shoe horn handy by the front entrance should be mandatory and especially if you ask people to take off their shoes before entering your home.

TIPS:

Did you like going down slides as a kid? Well with a shoe horn your feet can go down a little slide every time you put your shoes on.

Gentlemen love them.

The metal ones are the best because they will last forever and have the added advantage to open your paint tins or beer bottles.

I like these elegant long versions in a fashionable color – so you can stand while putting shoes on. You can match them to your shoe color.

A “how to” video for dummies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ3pDZYwAY4

Do you agree?

FUN

Beauty Biz – no more Bleeding

ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE who right after carefully applying lipstick run out the door only to find out later (when catching yourself in the mirror) that your lipstick has run all over your mouth? Not so attractive right?

The simple solution: A CRAYON.

I’m always skeptical about these new products (some work well – others a waste of money) but ended up buying one at Shopper’s Drug Mart for only $14.99 and it seems to work very well for darker shades especially…you know, the ones you definitely don’t want to run. And it’s very easy to apply.

This indispensable Secret Lip Liner is new in Canada, first introduced in New Zealand and quickly expanding around the world. No Bleeding Lips™ Secret Lip Liner stops lipstick and lip gloss from bleeding & feathering, and creates a sheer defined lip shape.

The No Bleeding Lips™ Secret Lip Liner offers a super-glide formula that is soft & creamy ensuring even product deposit around the lips.

It’s waterproof and long-lasting (5+ hours), non-transferable and smudge-proof so you can wear your lipstick & lip gloss with confidence.

Goes with any shade of lipstick or gloss (as it’s clear), especially bright and bold colors, creating a sheer defined shape.

The Huffington Post has this to say:

The Downfalls: There are none. It works — really, really well. The only catch is if you don’t wear lipstick a lot, it may not be worth buying. If you’re a lipstick lover, you will become obsessed with this product.

Can’t say I’m absolutely obsessed with it but it is useful and worth buying. Just don’t try to get more of the product out by winding it too much – it will not go back.

Have you tried it?

FUN

style & substance – in Neutral

Mastering MINIMALism:

The LESS-IS-MORE look requires more work than you realize.

See things in black & white. FilmMagic (left & center), Getty Images (right).

In theory, the minimalist trend seems fairly easy to pull off. It’s all about simplicity, so there’s no complicated pattern mixing involved, or piles of jewelry to layer just so. The “is this too much?” stress of glitter, sparkle and embellishment isn’t a factor either, and loud colors are usually kept to a palette of one or two—if that. Most pared-down outfits are centered around neutrals. Yet, for such a perfect-sounding sartorial scenario, less-is-more dressing requires some serious finesse. Unlike the bigger-is-better ensembles, there’s no room for error: with only a few pieces to work with, the styling job needs to land somewhere between jeans-and-T-shirt basic and beautifully breathtaking. The basics:

Black and White is the easiest and fastest way to nail down this look.

Making color the Main Event:

If you’re going to add color in a minimalist look, you’ve got to really add color. Display your hue (or hues, but you really shouldn’t do much more than two—it complicates things) of choice in a big splashy way, and keep the rest of your outfit quiet.

Stick with Statement Accessories:

Never, ever coordinate matching earrings, bracelets and a necklace—it’s better to go with one bold piece. Pick something striking (like a high-shine metallic or chunky crystal accent piece) to balance your otherwise unadorned look.

Consider Shape and Texture:

Details like pleating, an asymmetrical hemline and multiple layers of the same colored fabric make the best understated statement.

one of my favourites - neutral on neutral — **keeping neutral** – a favourite

Are you more Minimal or Maximal?

Follow our style board on PINterest: at: http://www.pinterest.com/intrigueimports/style-inspiration/

Food + Drink

simply satisfying – a Chinese dinner YOU CAN DO

Peppered Chicken & Steamed Halibut with Ginger serves four

Very seldom, if ever do we make Chinese food at home because…1) we think it’s too much work and 2) it’s easier to go to a Chinese restaurant for the assortment. Yes, you will get more selection from going out but you can experiment with a couple of delicious recipes at home that will be on par with any fine Chinese restaurant. Aside from these two main dishes, you can add sides like fried rice and an easy broccoli (gai lan) with oyster sauce to round out the menu for variety. The rice and vegetables for peppered chicken can be made in advance & easily re-heated.

Steamed Halibut with Ginger (fresh & lovely Asian dish)

Ingredients:

1 lb. halibut fillet – 1 tsp. coarse kosher or sea salt

1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger – 3 Tbsp. thinly sliced green onion

1 Tbsp. dark soy sauce – 1 Tbsp. light soy sauce

1 Tbsp. peanut oil – 2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

¼ cup lightly packed fresh cilantro sprigs

Directions:

Pat halibut dry with paper towels. Rub both sides of fillet with salt. Scatter the ginger over the top of the fish and place onto heatproof ceramic dish.

Place into a bamboo steamer (widely available in Chinatown) set over several inches of gently boiling water, and cover. Gently steam for 10 to 12 minutes.

Pour accumulated water out of the dish and sprinkle the fillet with green onion. Pour both soy sauces over the surface of the fish.

Heat peanut oil and sesame oils in a small skillet over medium-high heat until they begin to smoke. When the oil is hot, carefully pour on top of the halibut fillet. The very hot oil will cause the green onions and water on top of the fish to pop and spatter all over – be careful. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and serve immediately.

Peppered Chicken

Ingredients:

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

1 cup soup stock (chicken or vegetable)

1 hot pepper, diced

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 cup onion, diced

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

2-3 green peppers, diced

1 cucumber, diced

2 sweet red peppers, diced

1 lb. uncooked chicken meat, cut into ½ or 1 inch pieces

Marinate the chicken meat with 1 Tbsp. cornstarch and 1 Tbsp. soy sauce for ½ hour. Fry in peanut or sesame oil until brown and tender. *Saute all vegetables with remaining ingredients and stir constantly. Combine meat and vegetables. Serve hot. *If vegetables were made in advance, just reheat with the chicken meat.

For the Gai Lan (Chinese broccoli) with oyster sauce – parboil 2 lbs. fresh gai lan (or you can even use broccolini) in boiling water for 3 minutes with a pinch of salt. For sauce: 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. sugar, 2 Tbsp. dark soy sauce, 1 Tbsp. sherry wine vinegar, 4 Tbsp. oyster sauce, 1 finely minced slice of ginger.

Heat saucepan with oil, sauté broccoli for about 2 minutes, remove and pour sauce ingredients over top with ½ tsp. cornstarch which will thicken it like gravy. Pour a few drops of sesame oil over the broccoli and serve hot.

Fried rice is easy. Make or use leftover cold rice (it can be plain, jasmine or basmati) and fry in peanut oil with two beaten eggs, cut-up green onion, fresh or frozen cut green beans, mushrooms, peas and a bit of soy sauce, Chinese five spice (optional) & salt to taste. Garnish with green onion. You can also add shrimp, diced chicken meat or crab. *Make sure to pour slowly the beaten eggs with a bit of salt over the rice so that they will coat it but not settle in lumps.

Have you tried making Chinese food? It’s a lot easier than you think.

FUN

CULTURE – Celebrating CHINESE NEW YEAR

Goodbye Year of the Snake, hello Year of the Horse!

“Gung hay Fat Choy“/ “Gong Xi Fa Chai” – these mean “Happy New Year” in Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese respectively. “Kung hei fat choy” means: “We hope that you will be wealthy”.

Chinese New Year, or Chinese Spring Festival, holds the most significant position among all Chinese festivals and holidays. Friday marked the start of 15 days of celebrations to ring in a new zodiac calendar year for over a billion people around the world. It’s also called the Chinese Lunar New Year, because its date is determined by the Chinese lunar calendar, which falls sometime from late January to early February and varies from year to year.

Hong Kong, China An employee arranges a display of gold horse figurines in the window of a Chow Sang Sang Holdings International Ltd. jewelry store in the Mongkok district of Hong Kong, China, on January 30. — An employee arranges a display of **gold horse figurines** in the window of a jewelry store in the Mongkok district of **Hong Kong**, China, on January 30.

: Everything from grand lion dance performances to solemn temple ceremonies, the Lunar New Year is also a special time for individual and collective reflection amid the social gatherings..of which I attended a festivity at my neighbours house with plenty of food, wine and great company.

Here are eight (8) LUCKY ways to PAY HOMAGE to CHINESE TRADITIONS:

1) The Chinese New Year is accompanied by a belief in good fortune, and there are many decorations around to herald the new year.

Chinese celebrators head to temples to pray for good luck during the New Year celebration period. There they burn incense sticks and can also have their fortunes told. If you are not of Chinese descent but would like to participate, attend a Chinese temple and take a tube of fortune sticks which can usually be found at the entrance to the temple. Ask a question, shake the tube and the number that falls out can be interpreted by one of the fortune tellers at the temple.

2) Clean your home in time for New Year. This tradition is founded in the belief that cleaning the house at this time of year will sweep away the bad luck” that has accumulated inside over the past year. Cleaning also makes the house ready for the good luck to start entering again.

Be aware! Do not clean your home during the New Year, such as sweeping or wiping the windows. To do so is to “sweep away” the good luck you’ve just received for the New Year. Over the following 13 to 15 days, you’re relieved of cleaning duties. It may be a little dirtier than usual but it is an important part of observing the tradition.

3) Decorate your home. The color that is most recommended is red. Red is the color or symbol of good luck in Chinese culture. The number “8” also symbolizes good luck and wealth, as in Chinese the word for eight rhymes with fortune or wealth.

Take care not to overdo the decorations. Display a few good ones to bring life and fortune from their brightness and colorful nature.
Place flowers through the house, such as lotuses. Lotus flowers symbolize rebirth and new growth.
Place mandarins in bowls throughout the house. Mandarins with their leaves still intact are the fruits of happiness for the New Year. Keep their numbers even though, as uneven numbers bring unhappiness. When offering mandarins to others, always offer them in pairs.

4) Have a traditional dinner on New Year’s Eve. This is one of the most important parts of the holiday and the food eaten at this time of year has traditional meanings related to the Chinese New Year. Some Chinese choose not to eat meat on the first day of Chinese New Year because each new year carries the name of an animal.The remaining days carry no such restrictions. Traditional dishes include fish, jai, chicken, law pak ko, lin guo (sticky rice cake), noodles and desserts.

**Rolling out the dough for homemade dumplings & filling.**

Dumplings (love them – we’re assembling them in the photos) play a special role in New Year food because of their shape, a shape which resembles the ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots. Some of the food meanings include:

Jiu, a traditional hard liquor, and daikon, the Chinese radish, carry the meaning of longevity.
Red chilies mean good luck.
Rice ensures harmony.

5) Cook your own Chinese cuisine.

with Rita — Rita teaches me how to do it right

If you’d like to do more than simply order at your local Chinese takeout, try a recipe suitable for Chinese New Year. You can find them on the internet but I’ll put a delicious & simple one that I’ve made on tomorrow’s blog.

6) Dress for the occasion. If you have traditional Chinese clothing (luckily I did), this is the perfect time to wear it. Outfits can be purchased in Chinatown, and silk Chinese clothing is very beautiful. Prefer the color red for all your clothing during this time. Associated with joy, happiness, good luck, wealth and good fortune, red clothes will ensure that you’re fully participating in the spirit of the celebrations. Gold is another suitable color; try combining the two for a very elegant look. (fyi I wore red nails with a real gold flecked topcoat).

practice makes perfect. Rita & Lynn — Practice makes perfect – with Rita & Lynn.

Avoid wearing too much black during the celebration period. Black symbolizes bad luck and even death. This is a time of good fortune and life!7) Togetherness with family and friends (and neighbors). This is the most important part of the New Year and is a time of connecting and sharing the celebrations together.

Bring Angpau, the red envelopes, with you, to pass to children. Usually, the red envelopes are filled with money or treats (mine held chocolate coins). The red color is meant to scare away any evil spirits. I didn’t know that these envelopes are usually given to the unmarried from the married. Good to know.

8) Parades: look online or in your local newspaper for information about local Chinese New Year parades in your area. The Lantern Festival is held on the last day. People carry lanterns designed as insects such as dragonflies or animals with them on the streets. Sweet rice cakes and other sweets are eaten on this day and people put candles around their house to guide the spirits home. Meaningful traditions.

有乐趣不管你做什么

The above should mean…..”have fun whatever you do“

smoothing the edges - with Lynn — smoothing the edges – with Lynn

FUN

Zen…Words

Sometimes we don’t give ourselves permission to do nothing – but many great thoughts come out of “nothing”…and even if “nothing” comes of it, so what?

Author: Debbie King

Sweetly Satisfying – & salted Chocolate Chip Cookies

Art/Culture – Chinese Lantern Festival

words – family values

health MATTERS – the IRONy of it all

personally…appreciating the Shoe Horn

Beauty Biz – no more Bleeding

This indispensable Secret Lip Liner is new in Canada, first introduced in New Zealand and quickly expanding around the world. No Bleeding Lips™ Secret Lip Liner stops lipstick and lip gloss from bleeding & feathering, and creates a sheer defined lip shape.

simply satisfying – a Chinese dinner YOU CAN DO

CULTURE – Celebrating CHINESE NEW YEAR

Zen…Words