Monday Morning Must Have: Whole Living Magazine

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
-Leonardo DaVinci

Is it just me, or is it ridiculously hard to find a magazine worth five dollars these days?

I feel like I am stuck somewhere between Cosmo and US Weekly or Redbook and Canadian Living. There just aren't very many magazines targeted to or relevant for the married twenty something crowd, so I am constantly on the lookout for a fun, hip magazine that writes about things my friends and I would be interested in.

My mother-in-law is actually the one who first introduced me to Whole Living: body + soul in balance. She was already a subscriber and bought me my own subscription for Christmas last year, and I'm hooked. I love that one issue of Whole Living features everything from under 225 calorie ice cream taste tests and eco-friendly wall coverings to creating an edible garden and the ultimate beach cover-ups. With a bit of a focus on environmental sustainability and personal well-being, it's fresh and modern take on a women's issue magazine.

Whole Living is available at Chapters Bookstore or online at Whole Living Subscriptions.

The Simple Things: Ten Things To Do In June (Part Two)

“It is always the simple things that change our lives.”
-Donald Miller

I really hope you liked the first five "Things" featured on yesterday's post! It was really hard to narrow this months list down to ten things... I have so many ideas! I guess you'll just have to wait until July to read about the rest!


Here is the second part of the Ten Things to do in June:

6. De-clutter you closet

Closets can become our own personal black holes... full of all our old, badly fitting, out of style, mismatched things we just cannot bear to part with. Well, the time has come to de-clutter! Start by organizing everything by keep, storage, donate or garbage. Go through everything, and look at each piece critically... Be hard on yourself. Don't keep anything because you feel sorry for it! Finish by re-stocking your closet by category.

7. Protect your skin

Let's face it, every summer we can hardly wait to get outside to play and have fun. But before we do, it's important that we plan our daily sun protection. By practicing sun protection every day you can avoid sun related damage such as cancer, skin problems, poor eyesight and premature aging. Your sun protection plan should include wearing a hat, applying sunscreen to your face and body, wearing sunglasses, avoiding tanning and always seeking out shade if possible. This will promote healthier skin and a healthier you.

8. Go on a picnic

Think of nature as an extension of our living rooms. Why not throw a blanket in your car and keep it for impromptu picnics! A picnic is a great way to relax and reconnect with the people you love. Because picnics are outside they not only offer beautiful backdrops and fresh air, but also serves as the change that allows us to rejuvenate. You don't have to be super outdoorsy to enjoy a picnic either, try just stepping out your own back door.

9. Drink tea

If you find you are stressed out, cutting back on caffeine can help. If you're a coffee drinker, opt for the much healthier choices, herbal, green and black tea. Want to chill out? Drink them iced! Using fruit juice to sweeten the tea is a great alternative to sugar. Try this delicious Raspberry Rosehip Iced Tea pictured to the left!

10. Take the afternoon off

Wednesday June 2nd was National Leave-The-Office-Early Day, so why not do just that! Choose a day in June, clear your schedule and see where a free weekday afternoon will take you! The possibilities are endless, and it will leave you feeling refreshed and less stressed!


I really hope that these lists are fun to read and maybe motivate a few of you to simplify life just a little!

I'd love to hear your ideas for simple things that can make us feel better body, mind and soul! Leave a comment below or send me a message! Maybe I can feature you on Truly, Madly, Deeply!



Photo Credit:
Window & Picnic: marthastewart
Closet: evadesigns
Sunblock: buzzle
Tea & Bike: body+soul

The Simple Things: Ten Things To Do In June (Part One)

"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together."
- Vincent Van Gogh

June is finally here!

I'm really hoping that its arrival means the end of all the horrible weather we've been getting and the start of summer.

Snow on my birthday just isn't right!

Now that we're officially into June (and hopefully the summer as well), I thought it might be nice to start a new feature on Truly, Madly, Deeply. A list of small and simple things we can do each month that will help us to feel better body, mind and soul!

I'm hoping that the "Ten Things" can become a regular post on my blog. I absolutely love the idea of making small changes or performing small acts toward a more whole way of living. It just seems so much less overwhelming when you break it down this way... more simple! And I'm all about simple. Most of us have way too little simple in our lives these days!

This post is really long, so I've decided to break it into two parts. I'll post part one now and part two tomorrow!

So, for the first installment, here is my list of Ten Things to do in June (Part 0ne):

1. Switch to pretty summer sheets

It's time to remove those cozy winter sheets from your bed now the weather is warming up. Get your bedroom ready for summer with a set of light, cool, crisp sheets. Try adding some life to your bedroom with a set of floral sheets... They last longer than fresh flowers!

2. Have some berries

Berries are full of healthy antioxidants, and in June they just so happen to be in season and inexpensive! Eat them alone or try them in salads, fruit salsas and of course desserts! There are an endless variety of berries out there, so be adventurous and try something new!

3. Bake a better dessert

Eating well is about keeping things simple. Making little changes to our favourite foods means delicious, healthier options. You shouldn't have to give up the food you love to be healthy! This Beetroot Chocolate Fudge cake is guilt free chocolate perfection! Even my skeptical sweet-toothed father is a fan!

4. Exercise outside

Getting outdoor exercise can be more beneficial for mood and self-esteem than doing the same thing indoors. Fresh air, vitamin D from the sunshine and wide open spaces are just a few reasons why taking a workout outside makes you feel so good. Go for a walk, do some yoga in your backyard or even start a group workout at the park with friends. Get outside and play!

5. Quench your thirst

Water is the secret to good health! Proper hydration improves mental clarity, enhances digestion, softens your skin, slows the aging process and helps to control body weight. All systems in the body perform at their best with good hydration. Still, it's always a challenge to stay hydrated in the summer. New research advises you ditch counting glasses and instead let your thirst be your guide. Can't get much simpler than that!


Check back here later to see six through ten of my June list...




Photo Credit:
Hammock - marthastewart
Sheets - jcpenny
Berries - berry101
Cake - channel4
Walk - body+soul
Water - potobank

The Simple Things: Spa Cucumber Water

“Water is the only drink for a wise man.”
-Henry David Thoreau

As part of my never ending quest to live a healthier lifestyle, I've been trying to drink more water lately. It's hard work to get the recommended two liters a day and I like water! I actually think a tall, cool glass of water is hard to beat. The problem is having to drink 8 of them when I'm constantly tempted by diet coke and pink lemonade! I find after a glass or two I just get bored... so I decided if I was ever going to make this whole water thing permanent, I would need to get creative!

The first thing I did was went out and bought some pretty glass water bottles to keep in my fridge. I really like having a constant supply of ice cold water, and to be honest, it just feels so much more special coming out of a bottle than a tap and sink over flowing with dishes!
I picked up four of these from IKEA for only $2.99 each!




Next I decided to recreate one of my favorite parts of going to the spa at the Banff Springs Hotel ... the cucumber water. This water is amazing! It is so refreshing, looks and smells fabulous and actually helps to improve the look of your skin! How great is that! Here's how its done:

Spa Cucumber Water

2 liters of water
1 cucumber, sliced and unpeeled
1 lemon sliced and unpeeled
fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Lots of ice

In a large pitcher (or a pretty glass bottle!) combine the water, cucumber (hold a handful for decoration), lemon and a few sprigs of mint.
Let it chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours, but preferably 24 hours. If you want instant gratification, and just can't wait 2 hours, squeeze the juice from the cucumbers into the water instead of stirring them in.
Before you enjoy, remove the original cucumber slices and add the ones you set aside, along with some mint, for decoration.
Stir in some ice and you're good to go!


I hope this helps you stay hydrated!


Photo Credit: www.apartmenttherapy.com