“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” ~John F. Kennedy
“Just because you’re not sick doesn’t mean you’re healthy” ~Author Unknown
“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.” ~Doug Larson
“If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it” ~Common sense
“In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.” ~Author Unknown
“Health is like money, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it.” ~Josh Billings
“Time And health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.” ~Denis Waitley
Just like apples and oranges you can’t compare bowls… but they sure look nice with apples and oranges in them.
or ice creammahogany from Durban, S.A.Scallop glass from Italyhand painted ceramic from Israel & local artists.From Gabriola Island, British Columbiawood oblong from KenyaFrom local “Clayzone” ceramics artist Beth Aline. I won this one – lucky me.
Shopping online for a bra can be an ordeal. YET there are several lingerie websites that do incredibly well selling online. One of my competitors Her Room is one of them. The problem is you see something you want but you’re not sure of the fit. Then to make matters more confusing there’s the European & South American brands where size becomes a guessing game & you just hope for the best.
This from the Vancouver Sun – ad for “Dianes Lingerie” where they offer bra fittings.blush bustier
Intrigue Imports features two distinctive brands of lingerie. The beautiful blush line from Montreal in basic North American sizing so if you normally wear a size 36B then you would purchase the same size and there should be no problem – you can consult the blush sizing chart on our website just to make sure.
Then we have the lovely jesusfernandez couture collection from Buenos Aires available in French sizing only. Again, you can consult the jf sizing chart to find out what your equivalent North American size would be. It might take a bit longer but I assure you it’s worth the extra trouble.
Tomima Edmark founded HerRoom selling lingerie online since 1998 and gets what women are looking for – at least when it comes to underwear. She started her business with entrepreneurial instinct and exhaustive research – learning from consumers, design teams and manufacturers. She probably knows more than she wants to about the complex engineering that goes into designing lingerie and about the unique relationships our bodies have with the lingerie we wear. Tomima’s Bra Fitting Tip: “You’re a smart person. Since you’ll be wearing the bras, you’re better off taking a few minutes to understand what a perfect fitting bra should look and feel like, and recognize the signs if your bra is the wrong size for you.”
HOW TO MEASURE AND FIT A BRA IN THREE EASY STEPS.. Note: if you receive this blog via e-mail and the numbers come out in a jumbled mess please click on this link to my blog at https://intrigueimports.wordpress.com
STEP 1: Measure forBand size:
Keeping the measuring tape parallel with the ground, measure around your bra directly under your bust after expelling all air from your lungs – you want this measurement to be as small as possible. Round all fractional measurements to the nearest whole number. Look below the measurement to find your correct band size.
After a 38 band size, the band size should be the closest higher even number to your actual measurement So, 41.5″ is a 42 band. A 41″ measurement is a 42 band.
STEP 2: Measure for Cup size:
Standing straight, with your arms at your side, measure at the fullest part of your bust (while wearing a non-padded bra) making sure the measuring tape is parallel with the ground and not binding. Round all fractional measurements to the nearest whole number.
STEP 3: *Calculate your bra size:
Subtract your band measurement (step 1) from your cup measurement (step 2). Generally, for each inch in difference, the cup goes up by one size. See the cup size conversion chart below.
Example:
Step 1: 34″ under measurement = 36″ band size
Step 2: 39″ over measurement
Step 3: 39″ – 36″ = 3″ or C Cup Size Your Size is probably a 36C
The cup size calculation starts falling apart at 4 inches larger than your band size, and if you have droopy or pendulous breasts, your measurement will not be accurate.
If The Differtence Is:
Your Standard Cup Size Is:
0″ to 1/2″ (1.3cm)
AA
1/2″- 1″ (2.6 cm)
A
2″ (5.1 cm)
B
3″ (7.6 cm)
C
3″ (7.6 cm)
C
4″ (10.2 cm)
D
5″ (12.7 cm)
DD * or E *
6″ (15.2 cm)
DDD * or F *
7″ (17.8 cm)
G *
8″ (20.3 cm)
H *
9″ (22.9 cm)
I *
10″ (25.4 cm)
J *
*Important Note: this measuring system tends to become less accurate as the cup sizes go above a D. Additionally, some manufacturers name larger cup sizes differently.
A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt
“Remember the tea kettle – it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings!”- Unknown
“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” – Henry James
“Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one.” -Ancient Chinese Proverb
“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.”
“You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”
“Nobody asked your opinion,” said Alice.”
― Lewis Caroll – Alice in Wonderland
“In Ireland, you go to someone’s house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you’re really just fine. She asks if you’re sure. You say of course you’re sure, really, you don’t need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don’t need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn’t mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it’s no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.
In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don’t get any damned tea.
I liked the Irish way better.” – C.E. Murphy, Urban Shaman
Here’s my go at it..
Nothing soothes the soul better than having a hot cup of earl grey in the afternoon while reading by the fireplace (with anything chocolate).
Tea tastes better over gossip (so I’m told).
Life is sweeter when you can share a cup of tea with someone.
I promise not to waste your time with my tea quotes ever again.
The name of a unique little shop I discovered for the first time last week after having sushi. It looked intriguing from the outside (as in not so sure exactly what to expect) and it’s not your typical tea shop. Indeed not! I had to step inside. (double click on any photo to enlarge).
I loved all the different one-of-a-kind hand painted tea cups from the Orient and their great smelling variety of teas. Not to mention a few healthy skin care products, jewelery and cooking oil.
I bought what is supposedly the “world’s best” Earl Grey loose leaf. It apparently won the award but even if that wasn’t the case the smell alone was enough to grab me. Yes; I’d love to take a few photos and write something for my blog so more people will know about this new find.
cups & canisters
Stephen the owner is clearly not impressed and asked me why I would want to do that when he hadn’t even explained to me the “real” uniqueness of his shop. I was missing a few key elements.
For instance, his magic tea cups made of Tourmaline & 20 other crystals that generate far-infrared rays & negative ions. So they were more than just a pretty cup! He is the only person carrying them and explained that it makes any drink taste better.
Stephen holding up a “magic” cup.
Makes tap water taste like spring water, tea & even coffee smoother, sweeter, softer & cleaner. He really educated me on the whole deal and all the health benefits involved. Soft clean water boosts metabolism, blood circulation, weight loss, immunity & well being. How just holding the magic cup brings relaxation & clarity to the person holding it. He insists the cup will change my life. Magic words. Maybe he’s just a really good salesperson but he was so convincing that I’m going back to pick my “perfect” cup. I have to give it some thought as it will be my “cup for life!” We’re not finished…
Then
there’s the Tea “Seed” Oil (not to be confused with tea “tree” oil) which is cold pressed and extracted from green tea seeds and Stephen says it has better health benefits than that of both virgin coconut & olive oil. He’s very convincing but it’s almost too much for me to take in. I start looking into it myself and find out that yes, it contains one of the LOWEST levels of saturated fats and is one of the HIGHEST levels of healthy mono unsaturated fats. It has a great source of vital Vitamin E, antioxidants, healthy omega 6 and 9 fatty acids. Rich in vitamins & minerals, it contains high levels of vitamins A, B and E. It is also a good source of the minerals phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and iron manganese. Hey there’s even more but the thing is it is also the healthiest all-purpose cooking oil as it has one of the highest smoking points (252 C, or 486 F). Also an excellent carrier oil for skincare products. AHA moment! In that case we’re looking into adding it to our new “get spOILed” facial oil. I leave feeling slightly overwhelmed but satiated with this new discovery. I’ll mull it over a cup of tea at home.
This one appeals to meThis one too.
Store location: 3175 W Broadway in Kitsilano. Tel: 604.783.3909
p.s. This could be a whole post on its own but yesterday I went in to take these photos and was in for an unexpected treat. Feeling a bit run down I was ordered asked to sit down and drink several cups of healing tea inside a magic cup of course, while sitting in front of an infrared heat lamp (he has so many gadgets not available in North America) while wearing an infrared heating pad, crystal chain, healing bracelets and was treated to a very effective but somewhat painful Meridian point neck massage. This guy is not fooling around & he seems to know what he’s doing because I did feel better after. Not to mention more relaxed and centered. Talk about getting spoiled!
At Vancouver Urban Winery. The concept at this appealing new spot is to bring the consumer closer to the winemaking experience in a more meaningful way. Yes I get it. I sampled a few wines last week at this place which is unlike any other tasting experience in British Columbia or the rest of Canada. It is a unique experience because you can sample wines from the different wine appellations across BC with 36 rotating wines-on-tap. You can choose from the 5 tasting menu options or customize your very own tasting. You can learn a bit about wine making too.
My friends and I decided to go with the sommeliers recommended 5 tastings perfectly paired with the chosen local food selection. Pairing wines with distinctive local foods makes for an experience that your taste buds won’t forget. You can always expect something different as new food selections and rotating wines-on-tap come in weekly.
The Vancouver Urban Winery tasting bar focuses on promoting local artisan foods with locally made jams, jellies, salts, antipastos, pasta sauces, banana breads, beef jerky and much more available in their local wine shop. The winery manufactures, packages, imports and distributes wine for multiple brands including their own “Roaring Twenties Wine Co.” which you can also purchase.
The Vancouver Urban Winery is also currently the home of FreshTAP, a company specializing in packaging fine wines in stainless steel kegs for the emerging wine-on-tap category. We were fortunate that founder Steve Thorp was in the house and told us about the process.
The 7,700 square foot location with 24-foot ceilings and large exposed wood beams dating back to 1923 is just two blocks off Gastown’s historic Railtown district and also operates as a unique special events space. Right now their tasting room is only open to the public on Thursday & Friday evenings from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Cheers!
What can be aggressive, multiply rapidly but the naked eye cannot see? Bacteria!
Only viruses are smaller than bacteria. A tiny drop of water can contain billions of these usually single-celled organisms that have only one chain of DNA and no nucleus (control center of a cell). In favorable environments they multiple rapidly and are either aerobic (must have oxygen to live) or anaerobic which means they can flourish without oxygen.
How to get less bacteria in your diet: The Cook’s Illustrated kitchen ran a test on the best way to wash fruits and vegetables using apples and pears an an example. They tried four ways:
Washing with tap water, scrubbing with a brush, washing with antibacterial soap or spraying with a vinegar solution. They took surface samples, grew the bacteria in Petri dishes and compared results to a non-washed control group. Here’s what they found after four days:
A cold water rinse eliminated 25 percent of the bacteria and scrubbing with a brush removed 85 percent. The best way was with something we all have at home: a 1:3 distilled vinegar-water mix (sprayed) which removed 98 percent. Don’t forget to wash off the vinegar mix before eating. There was no comment on using the anti-bacterial soap.
Bad Bacteria – better known are the harmful bacteria in our world like Clostridium tetani (which causes tetanus) or Clostridium botulinum (which causes botulism). These bacteria are responsible for causing illness and death since the beginning. But with the bad there is always some good so…
Good Bacteria – are either harmless or helpful to humans. Our digestive system is full of billions of bacteria, including Escherichia coli (commonly known as E. coli), which helps us digest our food. Bacteria are also useful in producing some of our favorite foods, like yogurt, cheese and sauerkraut. Some bacteria are decomposers, cleaning our environment of dead and decaying plant and animal material. Some beneficial bacteria are known as probiotics, live and active cultures that promote the body’s digestive system.
It’s like a really bad relationship that you just can’t get rid of. Try to make the most of a bad situation by eating more probiotic yogurt, buying organic as much as possible and properly washing your fruits and veggies.
Also: Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health experts – 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
and ALL was not still…..cause there was still shopping to do and stockings to fill.
If you haven’t completed your list then here are some ideas from HOMEWERX on Davie. 
“Just because you’re not sick doesn’t mean you’re healthy” ~Author UnknownJust like apples and oranges you can’t compare bowls… but they sure look nice with apples and oranges in them.
Then we have the lovely jesus fernandez couture collection from Buenos Aires available in French sizing only. Again, you can consult the jf sizing chart to find out what your equivalent North American size would be. It might take a bit longer but I assure you it’s worth the extra trouble.
Tomima’s Bra Fitting Tip: “You’re a smart person. Since you’ll be wearing the bras, you’re better off taking a few minutes to understand what a perfect fitting bra should look and feel like, and recognize the signs if your bra is the wrong size for you.”
The name of a unique little shop I discovered for the first time last week after having sushi. It looked intriguing from the outside (as in not so sure exactly what to expect) and it’s not your typical tea shop. Indeed not! I had to step inside. (double click on any photo to enlarge).
I loved all the different one-of-a-kind hand painted tea cups from the Orient and their great smelling variety of teas. Not to mention a few healthy skin care products, jewelery and cooking oil.
I bought what is supposedly the “world’s best” Earl Grey loose leaf. It apparently won the award but even if that wasn’t the case the smell alone was enough to grab me. Yes; I’d love to take a few photos and write something for my blog so more people will know about this new find.
which is cold pressed and extracted from green tea seeds and Stephen says it has better health benefits than that of both virgin coconut & olive oil. He’s very convincing but it’s almost too much for me to take in. I start looking into it myself and find out that yes, it contains one of the LOWEST levels of saturated fats and is one of the HIGHEST levels of healthy mono unsaturated fats. It has a great source of vital Vitamin E, antioxidants, healthy omega 6 and 9 fatty acids. Rich in vitamins & minerals, it contains high levels of vitamins A, B and E. It is also a good source of the minerals phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and iron manganese. Hey there’s even more but the thing is it is also the healthiest all-purpose cooking oil as it has one of the highest smoking points (252 C, or 486 F). Also an excellent carrier oil for skincare products. AHA moment! In that case we’re looking into adding it to our new “get spOILed” facial oil. I leave feeling slightly overwhelmed but satiated with this new discovery. I’ll mull it over a cup of tea at home.
Part One – DOORS OF TUSCANY
The concept at this appealing new spot is to bring the consumer closer to the winemaking experience in a more meaningful way. Yes I get it. I sampled a few wines last week at this place which is unlike any other tasting experience in British Columbia or the rest of Canada. It is a unique experience because you can sample wines from the different wine appellations across BC with 36 rotating wines-on-tap. You can choose from the 5 tasting menu options or customize your very own tasting. You can learn a bit about wine making too.
My friends and I decided to go with the sommeliers recommended 5 tastings perfectly paired with the chosen local food selection. Pairing wines with distinctive local foods makes for an experience that your taste buds won’t forget. You can always expect something different as new food selections and rotating wines-on-tap come in weekly.
The Vancouver Urban Winery is also currently the home of FreshTAP, a company specializing in packaging fine wines in stainless steel kegs for the emerging wine-on-tap category. We were fortunate that founder Steve Thorp was in the house and told us about the process.
How to get less bacteria in your diet: The Cook’s Illustrated kitchen ran a test on the best way to wash fruits and vegetables using apples and pears an an example. They tried four ways:
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
You must be logged in to post a comment.