Had a FAB time at the 2nd session of the Funtastic Feminar Series last night!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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, 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.
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."
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?
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
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!
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.
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?
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!
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!
 |
| Hey, don't judge me. |
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. |
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 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. |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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.
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.
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!
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