Blogs on More

The delicate undereye area is the first place to show your age. But because many women’s makeup focus is also the eyes, finding the right daytime cream can be quite the task. You need something that will absorb quickly so you can apply your undereye concealer, eyeliner and mascara in the five minutes you have between making lunches and running out the door.

That’s why the latest offering from La Roche-Posay really appealed to me. The gel cream texture is lightweight and literally sucked right into my skin without making it tacky or pilling when I applied my all-important concealer over top. It also hasn’t clogged the pores around my eyes which some thicker creams tend to do.

It contains hyaluronic acid fragments to really lock in that hydration, the same skin-soothing thermal water integral to all the brand’s products and caffeine go help sooth puffiness. You can use it day or night but I loved it as an early morning fix.

Find it for $35. Laroche-posay.ca

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

Training for the Reggae Marathon 10k is changing my life, no lie.

While I have loved to canoe, swim and dance, a lot of my life my body has been, if not the enemy, at least someone with whom I had poor border relations. I was always happier reading a book than kicking a soccer ball around. I was that girl in gym class that was always finding a reason to sit on the bench. (I actually claimed a case of “the vapours” which didn’t work but did make my gym teacher laugh.)

And yet with age I’ve also come to appreciate my body like I never have before. Watching friends and family go through serious health issues has forced me to appreciate my own generally good health. And I have become pretty serious about trying to preserve that, basically subscribing to the view that it’s time to “use it or lose it.”

But even the commitment to exercise because it’s good for me is not the same as loving to use my body. And when I run, I’m starting to feel that way.

I actually look forward to running. Part of it is the other stuff I do while I’m out pounding the pavement, which I’ll cover in a later post. But it’s also the actual sensation of moving. Feeling the ground, sidewalk and grass alike, under me. Shaking my hands out and feeling the fingers stay loose, which is a nice change from typing or holding things. As clichéed as it sounds, the feel of the air against my skin.

If you’re starting out, I want to share: I did not feel that way at all for the first 6 weeks. I was partly running and partly walking and I felt breathless running and a bit like I was failing when I was walking. But now that I know I can run for a while without stopping, I relax into it.

Not just that, but I can run farther and feel better than I did when I was 16. And I think that’s what I needed as a boost. My legs might be showing more vein than ever but they move. Normally I think the advice to do what you love for exercise is the best. But in this case, conquering an activity I hated as a teen is working well.

What it comes down to is that I feel strong when I run. Strong like a turtle, maybe, at my pace – but strong, still. I feel like I can rely on my legs to get me where I want to go. And by the way, this picture is where I want to go.

Don’t forget you can come run with me at the Reggae Marathon! Enter here for a chance to win!

What’s your relationship with your body like?



Jenn Gruden is the web editor for More.ca, and has been in love with the Internet since 1991. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Lisa Genova is probably best known for Still Alice, her debut (and New York Times bestselling) novel about a 50-year-old woman’s descent into Alzheimer disease.

Now she’s releasing her third book, Love Anthony, and we’re happy to be offering a giveaway to 3 lucky winners!

To win all you have to do is comment on this post telling us the title of a book that’s changed your mind about something (anything – you don’t have to tell us what it changed your mind about!) before October 10, 2012 at midnight ET. We’ll select three winners at random from the entries. You must be of the age of majority in your province, you cannot be a resident of Quebec, and you must agree to accept the prize as awarded. Make sure your email is correct when you comment (it is only visible to us)!

Each prize pack consists of:
Still Alice, paperback, $17.50
Left Neglected, paperback, $17.00
Love Anthony, hardcover, $29.99
Total value: $64.49

I do not always find it easy to solicit my social network for funds, even when I really believe in the cause. You’d think by now I would be past my shyness when it comes to money but no, I’m still the same person who had trouble asking people to sponsor her in the MS Read-a-thon in 1979.

So when one of my former classmates shared this idea I thought it was worth talking about: Host a dinner party, and ask the people you invite to contribute about what they would have spent on a meal out to the cause you’re working to fund. (People who didn’t want to cook also suggested wine and cheese parties or dessert parties where the desserts came from a local bakery.)

She raised over $10,000 this way! And asking people to dinner, even with the fundraising component, just feels cosy to me – like forming a team rather than asking for a handout. (Not that there is anything wrong with that!)

Do you know people who are making a difference in their communities or across the world? We are always looking for Canadian women to profile in our Good-doer column, so get in touch and tell us about them!

Beauty editor Beth Thompson shared her top picks for fall in the September 2012 issue of More. Now we invite you to share yours and you could win the prize pack below!

Here’s how to enter: Just leave a comment below before midnight ET, Thursday October 4 with the one beauty product or tip you can’t live without this fall. You must be a resident of Canada but not of Quebec, of the age of majority in your province, and you must agree to accept the prize as awarded.

Reduce the size of large, congested pores and get make-up ready, matte skin with The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser. More.ca is offering you a chance to win a The Body Shop Community Fair Trade Tea Tree prize pack valued at more than $150. For more information, please visit www.TheBodyShop.ca You can also like The Body Shop on Facebook.

This contest is now closed. I’ve emailed the winner and will share who that is once I hear back! Thanks everyone!

I wore out my copy of Queen’s 1981 Greatest Hits album. (This, of course, was back when you actually could “wear down” an album — when the grooves on the vinyl actually flattened out.) I loved Queen and thought Freddie Mercury was the most unusual and powerful singer ever. So, the answer to an invite last night to see Hungarian Rhapsody: Queen Live In Budapest ’86 was, Yesss!

Re-mastered in high-definition, the film showcased the entire 90-minute concert, the first Western rock concert held in a stadium behind the Iron Curtain. Most of the hits you’d expect were there: “We Are the Champions,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Radio Ga-Ga.” The one disappointment was “Bohemian Rhapsody,” in the middle of which the band left the stage and the (ever-familiar) recording of the song played while the film showed awkward close-ups of the audience. Queen’s sexy and energetic cover of “Tutti-Frutti” more than made up for this minor lapse.

Mercury is mesmerizing; you cannot take your eyes off him. Even my son, weaned on MuchMusic, concert Jumbotrons and lip-synching, was impressed by Freddie’s raw power over an audience — that voice! I risk sounding cranky and old, but Mercury in his prime puts most of 2012’s rock “stars” to shame.

This remastered recording will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray, 2CD and DVD Deluxe Edition and a 2CD and Blu-ray Deluxe Edition on November 5th worldwide.

Jenn’s note: Catch Managing editor Sarah Moore, pictured at right, in her 40-second rant videos online. She’s also chatting on our Facebook page, so be sure to join us there!

Elegant, refined and balanced like the winemaker Sue herself.

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Shiraz Merlot
Coonawarra, Australia

Classic cassis and blackberry fruit aromas. Full-bodied and smooth. Pair with: pepper steak and a side dish of mushrooms and sliced leeks fried in butter.

Drink: 2012-2016.
Product No: 511600
Price: $19.95
Score: 89/100

Natalie MacLean is the author of Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search for the World’s Best Bargain Wines. Check out more of her wines and pairings at www.nataliemaclean.com .

Sandal season might be over but cracked heels and callouses are unfortunately seasonless. If you’re hard on your feet (and honestly, who isn’t?) then we’ve found a little sole saviour.

Instead of breaking out our foot files and pumicing for hours on end, we decided to test-drive a little device called the Micro Pedi. Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Do you really need to spend money on yet another beauty device? Well actually you do. This little tool has changed the look of my feet in ways only a pro session has been able to provide – it took mere minutes to transform my heels from grimy and cracked to smooth and pretty. And in case you’re wondering, it doesn’t hurt either for those with sensitive soles.

With a mineral roller that spins a full 360 at 30 times a second it very gently sloughs off the dead skin all over your feet. It has two rollers (coarse and extra coarse) that you can switch up depending on your needs . Make sure you try it with a towel underneath or with your dry feet in the tub (before you shower) so you don’t make a mess.

Find it for $39.99 on micropedi.ca


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

Tips from CBC’s Dragons’ Den

Whether you’re pitching on CBC’s Dragons’ Den or getting a project approved for your boss here there’s something to learn. We talked to some of the business-funding Dragons for their best advice to people putting pitches together for business or project ideas.

From David Chilton, the newest dragon as well as the well-known author of The Wealthy Barber:

Have a good story
“For the pitchers it is so important to be good storytellers. If you can engage the emotions of the Dragons, you’re halfway home.”

Do your homework
“Attention to detail is key…old fashioned hard work and pride is important.”

From Bruce Croxon, digital guru:

Know your numbers
“We get a lot of ideas who have some merit, but they haven’t put the same amount of time into valuation as they have into the idea.”

Fix a problem
“The best ideas come out of an identifiable need. If you’re trying to convince people that there’s need, that’s a problem.”

Put a lid on your ego
“If you’re not open to input and it is all about your ego, that’s a pretty good sign that you’re not going to be able to form a working relationship. I’m finished working with people like that….It’s not personal, it’s just business. Let’s take the negative emotions out of it.”

Arlene Dickinson, marketing communications entrepreneur:

Have a thick skin
“You need to have a thick skin in business..even though your business is personal to you, you need to be able to take criticism of it.”

Don’t fear emotion
“If you’re not passionate about what you do…and if you can’t believe that what you do adds value then what are you doing every day?”

Check out this season’s pitches starting tonight at 8 pm on CBC, or watch shows online at CBC.ca

I’m going to run a 10k race in the Reggae Marathon in Negril, Jamaica – and you can enter to win the trip to come with me! It’s an amazing prize package with a stay at the beautiful Caves resort.

As I blogged earlier, I started running this summer. I’d always envied runners because it seems like a simple way to exercise, as well as a beautiful way to connect with the city (or country) you’re in. But I have to admit that for most of my life I’ve hated running.

Then I came across the technique of running s-l-o-w-l-y so that runners don’t injure themselves and also don’t get that gaspy out-of-breath feeling some of us associate with horrendous gym classes back when we were all wearing Olivia Newton-John-inspired wristbands. And I tried it out. I also started following, vaguely, the Couch 2 5k ™ programme in my own style, which went pretty much like this: Run past two bus stops; walk to the next bus stop; repeat. And it worked.

I think I’m a convert. Next post I’ll talk about my (changing) relationship to my (aging) body.

I’m also so excited about the Reggae Marathon and visiting Jamaica for the first time – as well a bit scared about running a 10k. I’ve worked up to running 7k over the last couple of months, but I’m not sure how I’ll handle the pace of a race (although my mantra is going to be “be a turtle.”)

So please:

1. Share your tips for staying motivated. Fear of falling on my face in Negril is pretty good motivation. So is the idea of running in Negril, Jamaica – it is going to be beautiful. But that doesn’t always penetrate my lazy brain at 5:30 am.

2. Share your training tips…please? I’ll be blogging about gear, training routines and routes and race prep. You can follow me/More on Twitter and Facebook to see how I’m doing, as well as right here on the blog. I would love it if we can get a community of women supporting each other in their fitness goals.

3. Any encouragement is much appreciated. I was not kidding about being scared!

4. Do not forget to enter the contest to come with me! You could end up right here:




Jenn Gruden is the web editor for More.ca, and has been in love with the Internet since 1991. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.