WOW! Spanx kept me humble!

Molly Shannon showed her trick to slick: Spanx!

OK, I am 42 in a couple of months. I treasure my Glamazon style, and love the feeling of sucking in the  jiggly bits when I get all dressed up. Spanx has been my friend for some time now. We have an agreement. I wear breathable clothing, and Spanx puts the slap in that ass. At least, that's been the agreement.

This was my 2nd year attending the WOW Conference, founded by creator, Christine Awram. The lineup of speakers was amazing, and I enjoyed a playful session getting hypnotized with most of our table of women by Troy Mitchell of Hypnotica and Life By Design. At one point, frustrated and embarrassed I couldn't remember the number 5. With my four children in the audience at the event, I was sure I was going to lose homework points with them!

The first WOW moment for me was sitting at WOW with my favourite bunch of women:

• Brita McLaughlin of Brita McLaughlin Coaching, AKA Buddha, my personal coach for 15 months and counting, and my biggest fan, and one of my deepest heart-based friendships. I was at WOW because Brita has spurred me on to reach in and find my source and achieve a success with value and meaning. Brita = Buddha in my world.
• Isabelle Mercier Turcotte of LeapZone Strategies, a special woman of spirit and humour. She makes up her own words. I like that.
• Kristi Davis of Magnetic Skins, a friend of Brita's, and a mother of a young one like me, we had great laughs over how sleep deprivation makes life easier when you are in a cloud, and how sex is optional.
• Taaja Kayler of Own the Room, who lives up to her presence with a powerful mane of gorgeous blond hair and statuesque height. Her smile and positive energy during the event was infectious.
• Heather Scott, a new acquaintance from my participation in Women & Words, a 20-something up-and-comer with a lot on the go, a defined path, and a garden full of vivacity.
• Dawn Carson, Operations Guru for Ideas In Bloom and founder of Bliss Health Oasis, the other side of my brain, and a brilliant vocalist with a spiritual twist!
• Maureen Coroliuc of Angelic Teapot, one of my longtime clients turned friend, her spirit is calming, supportive and visionary.
• Jessica Hollander of Rasoee, a hip and sassy professional with brains and beauty, and one of my bestest gal pals!

Gosh, the day went WAY too fast, and I cannot even BEGIN to tell you as much as I would like to squeeze into this little blog today... I have come off a 4 conference tour since April, and now that the dust is settling...

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

This Amazon Aboriginal Goddess from the little town of Ketchikan, Alaska, took home the

WOW Award for 2011 Spirit Success & Soul

Soul Sistah!

Woo hoo! My journey as a mother, business woman, author, aboriginal, healer who is healing, wife and friend... all led to this defining moment as I stood in front of a room full of hundreds of women (and a few men) to accept an award that had a lot of hearts and minds involved. I didn't do it on my own, and I worked damn hard on myself and for others this year from a place of utter mother goddess love. I felt I was representing a community of women, and proudly share my light with you!

Even greater was the pleasure that Elke Babicki of United Girls of the World was chosen 2011 Leader of the year. Elke and I shared time coordinating the recent Women & Words Conference as members of the Leadership Group, and further deepened our heart-based connection at the recent weekend getaway, everyWOMAN Whistler!

Sandwiched in between two amazing Women of Worth, Elke Babicki - 2011 WOW Leader of the Year & Brita McLaughlin - 2010 Leader of the Year. They are each a beacon of light in my life, and it is a blessing to share my heart with them.

K, here is the rundown, as quick as I can get it out of my head and through my fingertips:

Linda Edgecombe, Award-Winning Humourist, returned to share her experience with United Girls of the World and her "hot, younger-looking hubby"... both of which put a big smile on her face, and laughter in our hearts.

Christine Awram, Founder of WOW, got us to do some fun hand movements with our hands... and my fave quote from her presentation was: "have you tapped your thymus today?" Her advocacy on women's health was passionate and compelling!

Jan Jantzen founder of the Breast Health Revolution, and writer of the wildly successful book, "The Truth About Breast Health, was my fave presenter. She opened my eyes about breast cancer, and gave three great tips about preventing breast cancer, one of which is my fave: "Don't wear a bra!"
I'm sitting here, typing this, completely braless and my lymph glands on my two sisters are thanking Jan. Yahoo, baby!

The Manzier - At least I don't have to worry about Moobs.

Teresia Laroque shared some anecdotes from her Baby Kenny in an on-stage conversation with the participants. Teresia’s motto is “If you can dream your dream alone, your dream is not big enough,” and pointed to the power of cooperation and connecting with other women.

Cheryl Cran from 2020 Leadership got us to draw animals... my animal was a horsey with a long, flouncy tail. Apparently, I am stable (chuckle, snort) with complete contentment with my life (bang on, baby!)



If you missed the WOW event this year, consider joining the Ideas In Bloom table next year AND you have other opportunities through the WOW evening series on Granville Island. Each evening is themed with powerful speakers like our own Isabelle Mercier Turcotte from LeapZone!

K, I am going to hit the shower and sing to the shower walls while I reflect on this whirlwind dreamboard-turned-pinch-me-am-I-really-here-dream-come-true-triumphant-holy-s***-we-did-it-I-am-actually-my-own-dream-girl-pay-it-forward-moment.


Now, here is my moment: send me a cause for me to put heart and soul into by commenting below, and give me time to do it before December 31. Criteria? Passion, uplifting women, opening minds and hearts, changing the world, helping girls feel ENOUGH about themselves.

Bring it on. The community of She is waiting!
Do you want me to speak? Do you need me to broadcast your cause and help get more awareness? What matters to you? I want to hear from heartfelt women about their heartfelt causes.

So after all of this, what does the title of this post have to do with what I just wrote?

My dear friends, I had my Spanx holding up their end of the bargain throughout WOW. I got home, whipped off the confines of sassy savvy girl clothes and got into some cotton comfies. By Saturday night, my midriff felt a little irritated. By Sunday, I had a rash. By Monday, I realized I was having a wicked reaction to the synthetic elastic in the Spanx. Loving hubby went to the medicine cabinet and got a lovely floral liquid for me to drink down in a tablespoon, and the rash went away. Love that Euro medicinal lovin'! So, at the pinnacle of my year, Spanx kept me humble... and kept me laughing!

Peace & Flowers, and a bunch of good stuff at ya!

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Tonia Lenk is a brand specialist and owner of Ideas In Bloom, a brand design studio specializing in collaboration on projects with clients who are dedicated to excellence, committed to the community and sustainability in the environment. She is a proud mother of four, and writing her first novel, Mended Wings. Tonia shares her knowledge & expertise on print, web and brand design freely!

Fun, Fat & Fashion!

Had a FAB time at the 2nd session of the Funtastic Feminar Series last night!

Hey, don't judge me.

I'm munching right now. It's 12:33 am. As I ticked away at my Mac, I got the hungries, and went up to the kitchen like a teenage boy with the Holy Mary J. munchies. I scooped a banana, two Sweet & Salty bars (they are healthy, right), and an open faced baguette with unsalted butter, ham and gruyere.

As I chewed each bite down, savouring the flavours and textures of my blessed midnight snack, the voice of reason (which sounded strangely like one of the Femtor Presenters, Carolyn...). Carolyn's voice loomed in my head and the food stuck like a lump in my throat. Damn it. My midnight snack now looked like a lump of fat. She has forever changed the way I look at food.

Food used to be my bud, the one who would comfort me when hubby was busy, the willing participant in my mindless Internet surfing, the filler in between meals, the late-night-out-of-sight yummy nibbles. I rationalized that the snacks were healthy and crunchy... well, at times, at least crunchy. I tried to eat apples and carrots. Sometimes, a few chip crumbs would find their way into my bed sheets, but there is no conclusive evidence of my involvement in that crunchy activity.

Now, I hear the word "fat" - not in the condescending, societal judgment sense of the word we see in the media - but in the healthy vs. unhealthy body & how our body produces and burns fat, and builds or **eek** cannibalizes it's own muscle.

OMG - Fat Cells Can Eat Muscle!

OK, after 30, it's supposed to be downhill for muscle production for women - we have to work twice as hard as when we were 29. So, I want to hold onto whatever muscle is still hanging out on my bones. At this rate, I thought, Fat cells are winning. No, no, no! So, meet the great lineup of Fems from the second night of this 4-night series!

The Femtor Lineup

Deadly fierce in her mission to help
people make healthy choices
for lifestyle, exercise & eating,
Fab Fem Carolyn Collins rocked the house.

Carolyn Collins, Owner of Trainers, is a National Strength & Conditioning Coach NSCA/PT, Certified Sports Nutritionist & Rehabilitation Specialist, and a Fitness & Lifestyle Consultant. What that means, ladies, in English: She rocks your abs, body, eating habits & kicks your ass into fitness with a no-nonsense proven program.

Stop Dieting!

Carolyn shared how to turn the fat cells off. Those little buggers are intelligent little creatures, and hold on for dear life if you keep feeding them with bad eating habits (not just in the food you eat, but in HOW and WHEN you eat). Whoodathunkit? And, forget about Diets. If they worked, we'd all be doing one diet, not hundreds, right? Diets CREATE fat cells!

Feed Your Body NOT Your Fat Cells!

Ewwww! Weight loss diets = BAD
Frequent, light eating = GOOD

Carolyn walked us through how to eat right & when, how to shrink & multiply meals, how to implement weight training & cardio, and how to go into battle to COMBAT the FAT. I LOVED how she compared that we need to treat our eating like a bodily function, such as taking a trip to the loo. I am serious! Carolyn has a point... I mean, we wouldn't be having a conversation (I admit, I have had many a chat while visiting my friend, John), watching TV, distracted... with our body function of pooing and peeing, we are entirely engaged in the activity. OK, weird example, but hey, how many of us are sitting with our food, and it is JUST our food we are focused on? Hello!

Carolyn says the first key to burning fat cells is to PAY attention to the relationship your body is having with food, girls, so you can LISTEN TO YOUR HUNGER SIGNALS! If you are gabbing away, schlurping a glass of red wine (which deadens the hunger signal), or eating standing up, you are not listening to how your body is receiving the food, and we ALL overeat when that happens.

Eat only between 6 am and 6 pm

I have been breaking that rule for 41 years. Carolyn gave me tips on all of the substitutes I can do to walk away from the midnight craving. OK, so I flubbed. At least I am conscious now. I am learning. I get it. I can do it. No more midnight snacking.

Are you getting sleeeepy?

Janet Ellis easily slid on the shoes
as one half of the Hypnosisters pair
and guided us gals through a
reeeeelaxing visualization.

Janet Ellis, Founder of Funtastic Feminars & Co-owner of Hypnosisters, took us through a guided vision using hypnotherapy. Janet addressed the snake-oil bar-room variety of hypnotists right away, and helped us see the practical application of using focus hypnotherapy in talking to our subconscious and creating thoughts that feed positive action. In other words, tell yourself "facts" that you want to live and breathe, and your subconscious automatically kicks in to make it happen. Janet also shared Positive Action Suggestions and what they should look and sound like.

I got to lounge on a beach. Ahhh.

Janet effortlessly took us through a visualization experience that left me feeling like a million bucks! Our elevator took us from the 5th floor, down to the 1st, and then opened up to the vista of a beautiful tropical beach (at least in my visualization). Meandering on the beach, I felt more and more relaxed and able to let go. As we rose to the surface again, I felt calm, clear & definitely focused. Kaia, my little divalicious daughter awoke from the session saying, "That was cool, I could feel the beach breeze on my cheek."

The energy in the room was totally zen.

Joanne took in the feminar
while wearing
Canadian Designer
Tonia Debellis

Joanne Franks, Fashionista, shared her trunk show of gorgeous pieces from tips on the Broadway Jacket to giving us a fun quiz on whether we are a City Sophisticate, The Fashionista, Boho Chic or down with Studio Style. I learned that I am a fem with a foundation of City Sophisticate, with a smattering of Fashionista and a Touch of Boho Chic. Fun!

Don't dig the retail experience? 

Delicious prints caught my eye!

Neither did Joanne Franks. Joanne shared a wide selection of tops, skirts, slacks, casuals & jackets from Medium up to 2X - which, coincidentally - miraculously fit compactly in her hatchback!  She is one of 5 suppliers in North America that carry the talented Canadian Designer, Tonia Debellis. Yum!

OK, listen carefully now, here is the kicker: Joanne has a trunk show atelier in her home studio for one-on-one clients! She has a huge warehouse of pieces to handpick for you. We are not talking high prices, either girls! The pieces she sells are affordable foundational pieces to carry throughout your wardrobe, from cajjjj to diva dressy... you pick! How cool is that for those of you who hate shopping retail and changing in cluttered or confining dressing rooms... relax with Joanne and pick up some new pieces for your wardrobe. Loving it!

Fun Fems

Young, talented and gorgeous,
Ashley gets you camera ready beautilicious
with great make-up tips and techniques!

It's In the Eyes

Ashley Lauren, Licensed Hairstylist & Make-up Artist, jumped in and joined the event, offering beautiful eyes for participants with her oodles of expert advice and steady hand. Tons of gorgeous eyes were roaming the room last night!

Bat your lashes, ladies!

Fun Fems made their way over to the make-up table with Ashley and got done up throughout the feminar presentations. It was a fun way to break up the evening.

Speaking of breaks, the Feministress herself, Janet Ellis, handed out slips of paper with "Abbott" to one person, and "Costello" to another, and other fun pairs like, "Salt" and "Pepper" or "Peanut Butter" and "Jelly." Each participant had to find the match in their pair, and get to know the other fun fem. I got to know "Abbott" - a lovely Winnipeg transplant and two-time cancer survivor with a warm, keep it simple attitude. She found Funtastic Feminars in a local newspaper, and signed up to join in the fun. FABULOUS!

The room was full of smiling, fabulous, fun fems, ready for the next fun adventure!

Do you like Bling?

A smorgasbord of amazing pieces begged
to be tried on... Magpie has something
for EVERY look!

Delicious handbags in just the right
colour palette for Spring & Summer

Cathryn Tucker of Magpie Fashion Accessories & Gifts, an ex-pat of the UK and new in our neighbourhood, gave us gals a bevvy of trinkets and baubles to oggle over... with a table chock full of gorgeous, hand picked jewelry collections from suppliers all over Canada. The girl has an eye for gorgeous. I couldn't stop trying on pieces, and added two to my jewelry collection.

Looking good doesn't have to cost loads

Magpie does home parties, and whoa, these pieces are affordable! With bracelets at $15, and necklaces ranging from $18-$22, you can look amazing on a dime - and still have enough for that latte with the girls.

Want to feel warm & fuzzy?

Cuddles and Kaia made
fast friends

Laureen Barker is warm &
fuzzy sweet, just like
her alpaca.

I would be amiss if I left out the new Alpaca addition to our family - Cuddles the amazingly soft and special bear from Peru - courtesy of Laureen Barker and Catherine Simpson, partners in Kensington Prairie Fibre Wear.

My daughter and I even played with their fun hats, and cuddled with their furry patch pillows - soooo touchable!

Beautiful & natural
The pieces from Kensington Prairie were featured in Stimuli Mag, and have GORGEOUS quality alpaca pieces that are comfortable, easy for people who cannot wear wool, much warmer as winter wear, and sustainable and natural for our environment. Win, win! All my daughter cares about is that little Cuddles is the best hugger she's met in ages. She's over the moon for her new buddy.

One of the participants, Alaina, brought along the lovely Char to the evening. Char was wearing red, of course. Alaina looked fabulous in her flawless makeup, using tips from last Tuesday's feminar. Awesomeness!

Share your light with the world!

Thank you, Vanya, for the scrumptious nibbles (after 6 pm)! Amazing Draw prizes were handed out to the group, and I gave each participant a small citrus candle, sharing the native tradition of lighting of the fire at the close of ceremonies. A fire is lit, and passed from the elders outward to the men, women, and young ones, and they pass forward the wisdom of the ancestors and share their light with the world. Without getting too mushy on you... remember to share your amazing light with the world!

So, ladies, it's now time to let my metabolism rest. My Positive Action suggestion for tonight: "I will go to bed now and wake up skinny-mini at 7 am, and my body and mind will be full of healthy thoughts." I know, I know, it has to be realistic and attainable.... I think I'll go to bed at 5:30 tomorrow so I can avoid the fridge.

Peace & Flowers!

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Tonia Lenk is a brand specialist and owner of Ideas In Bloom, a brand design studio specializing in collaboration on projects with clients who are dedicated to excellence, committed to the community and sustainability in the environment. Tonia is on the Leadership Group for Women & Words Writing & Publishing Conference, the first ever of its kind in BC, and is the official sponsor of the Funtastic Feminar Series. She is a proud mother of four, and writing her first novel. Tonia shares her knowledge & expertise on print, web and brand design freely!