Hope in the City

Hope and the City

August 22, 2012

IVY Bar & Kitchen

Back in June, I received an invitation to the Halton Region's 3rd Annual Hope and the City event via email from Balance My Life, an online Oakville based magazine to which I subscribe. My goal in this, my 35^th year, is to better know the women in my community, so I immediately purchased two tickets to this event sponsored by the Canadian Cancer Society in support of women’s cancer research (breast, ovarian, cervical, uterine, vulvar cancers).

My fabulous friend and I arrived by limo, actually, we arrived by my little orange KIA, but we felt very glamorous because we were dressed to the nines as our invitation requested. While making our way from the adjacent parking lot to the Ivy Bar & Kitchen, which generously donated their facility for the evening, in Burlington, Ontario, my friend had a less than fabulous wipe out in her brand new heels. We made our way to the entrance as her knee dripped with blood, dropped our tickets into the grand prize draw, and made our way into the foyer amongst 550 beautiful women, fascinators and heels.

The Ivy Bar and Kitchen is a massive and modern venue tastefully decorated in at least  Fifty Shades of Gray (seriously!) with elegant sofa'd seating areas throughout and a patio boasting two full bars. Sweet Potato Fries and Sliders were being handed out as we made our way through this uber-femenine, 'girls only', event. A lovely waitress, among a few others, noticed my friends unfortunate looking knee and took us to the back of the kitchen where the manager doted over her as I eyeballed a very large brick of chocolate on one of the counter tops, assuming it was used for the chocolate dipping station we had passed on our way to the kitchen. The manager cleaned up her knee, put a bandage on it, and had the bartender make us a couple of drinks. One of the waitresses even snuck some fries into the back for us. The staff at Ivy are the most pleasant I’ve ever come across.

With bandaged knee, and drinks in hand, we wondered back into the party as the DJ picked up the tempo and the fashion show began. We were later instructed to find one of the firemen wearing pink shirts to buy some raffle tickets, which we happily obliged to do. We then browsed the jewellery and other eye candy that was for sale around the perimeter of the bar, watched an awesome belly-dancing show, and passed by the chocolate dipping station more than once as we observed other women getting their hair and makeup done, before checking out the hand and back massage area. You could say it was like every woman’s Favourite Things List all under one roof.

It was an atmosphere of sisterhood as a very brave young lady named Shannon Pethick, took to the stage and shared her cervical cancer survival story. She spoke of the importance of early detection and getting yourself checked annually. She was only a year younger than me and she had been through so much. I wanted to rush the stage and hug her.

Near the end of the night we did a little bit of digging for diamonds, this was a very unique way to raise money. For ten dollars, you were able to pick a ‘diamond’ from a nicely decorated container and win the corresponding prize based on the colour of the gem that you pulled out. What fun! We played a few times and I took home some lovely bracelets for my step-daughters. There was also a balloon popping game and a silent auction available with all of the $40,000 plus from the evening going to support the Canadian Cancer Society research for women's cancers - breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical.

With smiling faces and full bellies, we collected our swag bags on our way back out into the warm summer night and headed home.

For more information about Hope and the City visit their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HopeAndTheCity.

Hope to see you there next year!

Sylvia Wells

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A Letter to Timbits

Hello Sour Cream Timbits. It’s been a while hasn’t it? I stopped going to Tim Horton’s in the morning just to avoid you. Yes, I was that mad at you. You are so deceivingly tiny and sweet that I never thought you would betray me the way you did, leaving me with a bulging belly and no support. We did have some good times together though, on road trips to the beach and family holidays…but it wasn’t meant to be. I had to sacrifice my morning steeped tea just to keep away from your tempting little sugar peaks. I love the way they bunch up all around you and crunch in my mouth. But that was long ago…why am I thinking about you now? It’s like Michael Corleone said, “Once you’re out, they pull you back in.” I popped into Tim Horton's on our way to the beach last weekend and I met someone new, Lemon Timbit. I never thought I’d say it, but I can’t get enough of her. I’ve been with her four times this week already! I’m ashamed and embarrassed. She is just so refreshing and sweet. I can feel myself falling for her the way I fell for you, throwing all my discipline and willpower out the drive-through window! It’s terrible! I have to ban Tim Horton's from my life again until this summer lemon craze fades away into whatever evil master of seduction they will introduce in the fall.

Good-bye Timbits, I know we’ll meet again (unfortunately).

(Timbits are about 70 calories each! Multiply that by how many you eat and it adds up fast! - Little Bastards)

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Another Migraine - What Did I Do To Deserve This?

Migraines are the worst. If you are reading this, you are a fellow sufferer. I don't need to describe to you the unrelenting agony and the prayers for death that come along with having a migraine headache - for three bleeping days!
Can I help? Maybe. Here are some ways I've learned to deal:
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Just Breath

The Watcher is your inner-self, according to Martha Beck, PhD, author of The Four Day Win: End Your Diet War and Achieve Thinner Peace. The Watcher is not compulsive or tempted by empty calories. She does not like to be over-full and sluggish, but to always be functioning at a regulated pace. By nature, she eats to fuel and oil the machine that is your body. She is observant and calm, contemplative and wise.

If only she spoke up more often right? It's not that easy, but it can be. All you have to do is take time to listen. Something that most of us forget to do in our busy lives is to take time for ourselves and just breath.

Yes, I'm talking about meditation.

Meditation can be an intimidting concept for some. Pictures of uber-disciplined bald men in robes sitting silently for days on end flash into our minds. Well, no shaving cream required, just take five little minutes to sit quietly and focus on your breath. Inhale. Exhale. You can focus on those two words and keep bringing your thoughts back to them when your mind starts to wonder. Eventually you can just focus on your breath without the words, but it's good to start with that as a guideline.

Meditating for just five minutes per day will benefit more that one area of your life. Meditation is all about self control. Continuously bringing your mind back to your breath trains your brain to stay focused on a task and not give into impulsiveness. If you have an itch while meditating, try to ignore it and bring your focus back to your breath. It takes some discipline, I find myself stopping my hand just before scratching that itch on my nose some days. According to Dr. Beck, while listening and observing your breath you become one with the Watcher. The inner you that wants only the best for yourself in life, in love, in hapiness, and in health. You become the Watcher.

How does this translate into daily life? Imagine you are faced with a box of donuts as soon as you walk into work Monday morning. Your thin and peppy coworker says, "Happy Monday - have a donut!". Because you've been practicing meditation, you now have the self control not only to refrain from knocking said coworker into the sharp corner of the photocopier "accidentally", but you will also be able to take a breath and let the Watcher take over. She will not be interested in the high sugar, high calorie donuts because they will do nothing for her except throw her systems out of whack and blood-sugar through the roof. Instead you smile politely and say, "No thanks, I just had breakfast." Then go to your desk and reward yourself, not with food, but with self praise or something non-food related. Reward is important, pat the Watcher and yourself on the back for a job well done.

Although I chose to focus on the interesting aspect of meditation and inner-self, the main philosophy behind The Four Day Win is to make small changes and stick with them for four days. Saying I won't eat chocolate for four days is a lot easier to stick to then saying I won't eat chocolate ever again as long as I live. Small wins create a momentum of success that keeps you feeling enthusiastic and encouraged to continue on with the changes you are making in your lifestyle. Try meditating for the next four days and see how you feel. Four days doesn't sound very hard to commit to does it?

Good luck out there,
JB

This is too cute not to add:

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