Blogs on More

No editor likes to have missed a mistake, as I did this week. So today I bring you links about mistakes, serendipitous and otherwise!

(Re-open your More.ca newsletter and play spot the grammatical error, if you want to play along. By the way, if you’re not signed up, you really should be!)

“I make mistakes; I’ll be the second to admit it. ”
― Jean Kerr

If you have friends like mine, “spot the continuity error” is a common party game. Funny mistakes in our favourite movies:

And also from Cracked.com: 6 Baffling Mistakes Every Movie Criminal Makes.

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”
- Napoleon Bonaparte

From Photoshop Disasters: The missing thigh. I remember that one!

One of my favourite ethics – and Joe Morgenstern – stories regarding an engineering mistake made in building the Citicorp tower in New York: “‘I had information that nobody else in the world had,’ LeMessurier recalls. ‘I had power in my hands to effect extraordinary events that only I could initiate. I mean, sixteen years to failure–that was very simple, very clear-cut. I almost said, thank you, dear Lord, for making this problem so sharply defined that there’s no choice to make.’” (The New Yorker via Duke University)

Wired‘s Stupid Engineering Mistakes.

The Business Insider‘s 15 Life-Changing inventions that were created by mistake.

Flickr’s Beautiful Mistakes group.

And no mention of mistakes is complete without a mention of Canada’s own Craig Silverman‘s website.

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.”
- Elbert Hubbard

And of course, More.ca sincerely regrets the error.

As questions about the shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin continue to appear in the news, I’ve heard — and seen — a few people comment that this is really a U.S., or Southern U.S., problem.

But I remember reading Toronto writer Jasmine Miller’s Memoir in the Summer 2007 issue of More, “Running from the inevitable” where Miller shared lessons she had taught her son:

“When the police stop you, I said, bending down to move Calvin’s Ninja Turtle knapsack out of the way, keep your hands out of your pockets and away from your sides (See? Like this). Never raise them above your chest: they’ll think you’re guilty of something.”

As well as her experience when, as a – yes – black youth jogging home to make his curfew at night, he was stopped by the police. Calvin reported that the officer said “It’s late and you’re running. For all I know, you could have robbed someone’s house, finished raping someone, I don’t know. What’s your birthday and where do you live?”

Miller filed a complaint and as she expressed in the story, “The results of our complaint come as no surprise. Six pages of words, but no answers or advice.”

I don’t know enough about the Martin case to judge, but I do know that racism is not just an American problem. I have a biracial friend with biracial — and slightly lighter-skinned — children, who is regularly assumed to be their nanny. It seems like an honest mistake until I consider that when I’ve been out with her kids, I’ve been complimented on “my boys.”

Let’s continue to work on our biases, not to be smug about others’.

I made a New Year’s resolution to always keep my nails prim and polished. But the constant maintenance doesn’t fit with my active lifestyle (or most women’s).

So I had all but given up on the manicured life — until I found a shockingly easy solution. Nail Dress from Kiss have become my mani lifesaver. It took less than five minutes to apply the product (you simply stick on a strip that fits your finger and file off the excess), there’s no drying time and the strips lasted five full days before I got antsy and peeled them off. I washed my hair, I did dishes, I forgot to wear gloves in -10 degree weather and none of it made my nails chip. The real bonus? The strips didn’t cause any damage to my nails — they simply grew long and strong underneath without any peeling or breaking.

Kiss Nail Dress ($11) at drugstores and mass retailers across Canada. (kissnaildress.com)

Associate editor Kate Daley (pictured at right) shares weekly beauty junkie picks here on the blog. You can follow her on Twitter: @katedaley1

And of course you can follow us on Twitter @more_ca or like our Facebook page!

This week the online sphere’s abuzz about Vogue writer Dara-Lynn Weiss’s piece on putting her 7-year-old daughter on a diet. It’s not available online but you can read excerpts at Jezebel [warning: strong language] – has been discussed everywhere from, well, Jezebel to the New York Times‘ parenting blog.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about parenting it’s that you’re never doing it right according to someone.

But I think this story’s caught fire not just because of the controversial weight loss method for such a young child, but because it hits on one of the hardest parts about parenting: Walking the line between helping our kids accept themselves, their bodies and their flaws, and teaching them to take charge of their health and appearance and function in the world. And it doesn’t get any easier as they come into their teen years, from what I can see on the road ahead.

What have you learned about walking the line between accepting your kids – or yourself – where they are, and working for change?

A lot of what’s caught my eye this week relates to work, so I declare it a theme:

From Inc.: 8 qualities your best employees must have. Or that you can develop.

10 amazing office designs from around the world from Coolist.

From Style at Home: a Mad Men-inspired home office.

Money, work and self-worth: From the Globe and Mail last Friday but I thought it was worth bringing forward in case you missed it.

Beat information addiction from Zen Habits. But beat it after you click.

What’s a challenge for you in your work? In mine it’s balancing the crazily amazing possibilities of the web with the reality that I don’t have a time machine in my cubicle to make more hours in the day…yet.

If you have sensitive skin like me you’ll be happy to know there’s a natural way to help solve your wrinkle woes.

Instead of harsh ingredients that increase irritation or photosensitivity like the oh-so effective Vitamin A derivative retinol, Hungarian company Éminence Organic Skincare has launched an Age Corrective Collection that combines natural ingredients such as chicory root and tara tree along with Swiss Green Apple stem cells to help firm your face. These ingredients mimic the effects of retinol and can help increase collagen creation along with coconut, bamboo, monoi and neroli oils for hydration. From a hydrating mist to a bamboo firming fluid, these products will nix irritation and increase moisture.

Éminence Age Corrective Collection, ($36 to $58). Eminenceorganics.com.

Jenn’s note: Associate editor Kate Daley (pictured at right) will be sharing weekly beauty junkie picks here on the blog. You can follow her on Twitter: @katedaley1

And of course you can follow us on Twitter @more_ca or like our Facebook page!

I’m in the wrong book club.

I understand from the trendier — dare I say, younger — book clubs, it’s all Fifty Shades of Grey this and mommy porn that. And after I figured out that BDSM did not stand for Book Discussion by Smart Moms, I was intrigued. Erotica, eh? Well, I don’t care if the New York Times says soft-core lit is helping heat up marriages across the continent, after a sneak peak I was left cold. I know I don’t get out much, but I’ll tell you what gets me all hot and bothered about at bedtime: slumber. Handcuffs and blindfolds? Please. Just hand me the earplugs and sleep mask, thank you very much.

Jenn’s note: Managing editor Sarah Moore, pictured at right, writes regularly at More Daily – don’t miss her fabulous 40-second rant videos online. She’s also chatting on our Facebook page, so be sure to join us there!

Gloss isn’t just for pre-teens — we’ve found one that’s just right for any age.

The Tendertone acts like a balm but gives just enough punchy colour and sheen to our lips to make it worth re-applying. It’s unique because you can blend it with a deeper shade on your lips or mix it with a bit of shadow on eyelids. It won’t last all day but the effect is glossy and beautiful. These pots have SPF 12, a slight fruity scent and aren’t tacky like your average goopy gloss. We love this sheer tangerine shade with a hint of pearl.

Shop M.A.C, Cook M.A.C Tendertone Lip Balm SPF 12 in Purring ($18). Maccosmetics.com.

Associate editor Kate Daley (pictured at right) shares weekly beauty junkie picks here on the blog. You can follow her on Twitter: @katedaley1

And of course you can follow us on Twitter @more_ca or like our Facebook page!

Here’s confirmation to what you were probably thinking this Monday: According to Cambridge academic Dr. David Bainbridge, middle age is when those of us whose skin may be sagging just slightly but whose brains are still in pretty top form transmit essential cultural knowledge.

Sadly no one’s informed the adolescents.

If the time change has your sleep disrupted – mine is – take heart: Segmented sleep is better than none.

Have you seen the Kate Walsh cover of Shape? At 44 she bares all. Amazing, or amazingly poor taste? Personally I’m just thinking I’d better get to the pool…

We asked you what you wish you’d known – or what you’d tell your daughters – and we got some great answers, including advice from a mum whose daughter’s success on the public stage is undeniable: Advice for young women.

As for me, I’m torn. I have a niece who will graduate from high school this fall, and there’s so much I’d like to tell her: Believe in yourself; never settle for others’ ill-treatment of you; wear sunscreen.

At the same time, part of my experience of being 41 is that first of all, it’s the advice I didn’t take that has often been the biggest source of learning for me – and even joy. I married young (23) and 18 years later, he’s still my best friend. I had kids late and although it wasn’t entirely by choice, I still feel they entered my life when it was best to have them.

And professionally while I have followed my hippie-leaning parents’ advice a lot of the time — “Do what you love; the money will follow” — I still often feel like I’m finding my way every day – my messy, fun, interesting way. I love that most of the time.

So maybe that’s my advice: Don’t be afraid to ignore advice. Although maybe not the specific points our wise readers have shared.

And, borrowing from the song below: Don’t forget about the sunscreen.