Babe on a Budget: So many sad endings

By Stephanie Trembath,
Life & Style Editor

t seems fitting that the last week

of my reign as Life & Style editor

was the same week I cracked my
clothing cleanse. Yes, it happened; three
months and two days into my cleanse,
I was tempted by a pair of silk harem
pants with zippered pockets and a
drawstring waist. ‘

“Seriously, Steph? What’s wrong
with you?” you may ask, as I hated
harem pants up until last week. Well,
I'll admit it, I was tempted by a half off
sticker that claimed the pants were a
bedazzling $14.99! In my own defense,
a colleague of mine has been sporting
these style-savvy sweats for a few
months now—and as swim instructors,
we prefer clothing that is baggy and
warm to go over our chlorine-soaked
skin (prior to my extravagant purchase
of silky harem pants, I was tucking
myself into a friend’s baggy pair of
field hockey sweats that dragged on the
ground in the rain). Nobody likes to
wear wet clothes, which is why these
MC Hammer-style sweats are preferred,
as they are baggy on top and taper to
tighten around the ankle to prevent such
occurrences.

Rather than dwell on my weakened
willpower (and feel guilty every time
I put on the pants), I decided not to
punish myself too much, and added
two long sleeve shirts to the pile. It is
winter, right? If I was going to nitpick
wet pant cuffs, I figured I should
probably have a few extra long sleeve
shirts to prevent getting sick too. This
shopaholic logic then led me to my
current boot and scarf situation, which
then had me thinking I needed to go on
a clothing cleanse again.

That’s where I am now: cleansing
and detoxifying myself (again) of all
superficial purchases. I was originally
going to lie and tell everyone a friend
bought me the pants, but like any addict
I realize the first step to recovery is
admitting you have a problem. Which
is why I am coming clean instead of
wallowing in denial.

In any case, since I am planning
on being cozy and warm for the next
few months, I’ve decided to share a
few tasty drinks with my fellow readers
that will have you warmed up from the
inside-out. Starbucks recently released
their infamous Christmas collection
of peppermint drinks and ginger-spice
delights, but rather than indulge in too
much sugary goodness (and spend $5
a latte), try ordering an Americano and
adding your favourite special syrup. A
White Mocha Americano consists of
Starbucks signature White Mocha syrup
in espresso; add a little bit of milk or
cream to cool it down and for only
$3.75 it’s just as delicious as the pricier
Christmas-themed lattes.

Another warm beverage to try
that’s easy to make at home is a
caramel apple spice. Simply heat up
apple juice and add caramel syrup and
cinnamon, with a little bit of whipping
cream on top. For an extra bit of spice,
you can add a shot of whisky. Sortilege
makes a smooth Canadian whisky
with undertones of maple syrup and
caramel— which makes it the perfect
addition to this winter beverage as it
brings out the tart flavors. If you’re
planning on throwing or attending
Christmas parties this year, this bold
bevvy finds the perfect balance between
slightly tipsy and too toasted. Nobody
wants to be the person labelled “drunk”
at the work Christmas party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Naomi Ambrose

h oh, fellow Dougie students —

autumn is back! This means

that raindrops are back again to
fall on your head! Whether it’s a light
drizzle or heavy like a monsoon, the
rain often puts us in crappy mood. So,
if you want to beat the autumn blues,
I'll present you with my top five picks
to survive the gloomy November days.

Exercise regularly. Yes, yes
I know that some of you might
say, “Exercise? Yuck!” However,
researchers from the Mayo Clinic
suggest that “physical activity
stimulates various brain chemicals
that may leave you feeling happier and
more relaxed.” This physical activity
doesn’t necessarily involve intense
45-minute cardio workout sessions or
running fast like Usain Bolt. Instead,
you can do what I do— walk briskly
for 30 minutes at least three times per
week. Or, if you don’t have 30 minutes,
you can walk around the campus for
seven or eight minutes when you don’t
have class. You might just discover a
secret stairway that you never knew
existed on the campus!

Get some sleep. I know that, as
college students, we have all stayed up
all night to do an assignment. However,
most of us tend to get cranky when we
don’t get enough sleep. So try to sleep
around the same time every night for
at least seven hours. Getting enough
sleep will help to improve your mood

‘and you will become re-energized and

revitalized.

Take a nice warm shower. I know
some of you might say, “seriously
Naomi, should this even be on your list?”

And I’ll answer, “Yes, it should!”
Sometimes, we may feel too tired,

lfFE ana SCYIE

Five ways to beat the fall blues

    

 

too lazy, or too busy to take a shower,
especially when we have to rush out
of the house in the morning or come
home late after a long day at school.
However, taking a warm shower for
five to 10 minutes relaxes your muscles
and ultimately relaxes your mind. So
turn on that faucet and enjoy some
singing in the shower!

Watch sitcoms. We’ve all heard
the saying that “laughter is good for the
soul.” Well you’ll surely be laughing
all the way to the end of the semester
by watching a 30-minute sitcom. Dr.
William Pry of Stanford University,
who is also one of the pioneers in
laughter research, states that “when we
laugh, our bodies release hormones and
chemicals that have positive effects on
our system. Laughing [also] raises your
mood; joyfulness through laughter is
the fastest way to create a positive state
of mind.” So if you watch some of my
favourite sitcoms like Modern Family,
Will and Grace, Frasier, or Seinfeld,
you'll surely forget about the rain and
laugh it out.

Wear bright clothing. The sun
has officially gone into hiding, so
we need to bring our own sunshine
back to our rainy neck of the woods.
What better way to do this than by
“colourizing” your wardrobe! Instead
of reaching for your black or navy blue
sweater, grab an olive green or fuchsia
sweater. You’d be surprised to know
how a simple change of clothing can
improve your mood!

By following these five suggestions,
you’ll be dancing and singing in the
rain—all the way to campus!

 

   
   

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