“This is the perfect recipe for when you want the silky, luxurious richness of bolognese but you want something lighter and quicker and no meat! It’s also very adaptable and you could use a mixture of vegetables (I used a tiny bit of cauliflower and lots of cabbage) and then top it with lots of parm and lots of freshly cracked black pepper and lemon zest.”
Vegetarian Bolognese
1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion
2 stalks of celery
2 carrots
6 cloves of garlic
1/2 head of cauliflower or 1/2 head of cabbage
1 tbsp red pepper flakes (or less if spice sensitive)
4 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup red wine
1 cup whole milk
1 cup chicken stock
Orange or lemon peel
Cinnamon or nutmeg
Parmesan rind (optional)
Anchovies (optional)
Salt
Black pepper
Sugar
1lb pasta parmesan (for serving)
1. Finely chop the onion, and garlic and shred the carrots using a box grater or pulse everything in a food processor. Do the same with the cauliflower or cabbage.
2. In a large saucepan or dutch oven, heat the olive oil on medium heat. When shimmering, add the chopped veggies and cook until browned and starting to stick to the bottom of the pot.
3. If using, add in anchovies as well as the red pepper flakes and tomato paste and the wine, making sure to scrape any of the browned bits at the bottom of the pan and bring mixture to a simmer.
4. Once simmering, add in the milk, chicken stock, orange or lemon peel, and a sprinkling of cinnamon or nutmeg. Season with salt (2tsp) and black pepper and 1tsp of sugar. Add in the parmesan rind if using. Allow the sauce to simmer for 15-30 minutes and taste along the way. Add in more salt or pepper according to taste. You want the sauce to look meaty and thick.
5. Cook pasta according to package instructions in salted water. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.
6. Add drained pasta to the sauce, as well as some of the pasta water and toss until the sauce is clinging to the noodles.
7. Serve pasta with freshly grated parmesan cheese, more black pepper and extra red pepper flakes, if desired.
Chantel Lagos is an Edmonton-based, incredibly talented makeup artist whose artistry I fell in love with the day I was introduced to her for a photoshoot. Here, she shares her fun little tip for sexy lips…and a game-changing skin care tip that will make you go *chef’s kiss*
When and how did you fall in love with makeup?
Some of the earliest memories within my life revolve around makeup and beauty. I remember watching my late grandmother apply her golden lipsticks from Estee Lauder, I believe, in a fuchsia pink shade and being so fascinated by this process of getting ready.
Observing how it could make a woman feel even more beautiful and confident with herself was amazing to me, and it is a big part of what started my love and passion for makeup.
Additionally, what added to this fascination for makeup was playing with dolls as a little girl. More specifically, I loved Bratz Dolls. The eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lips were everything. I remember applying actual lipstick to the dolls just for fun. Little did I know it actually served as practice for lipstick application.
These events in my childhood led to a never-ending passion for beauty that allowed me to continuously discover more within the makeup industry.
I remember seeing so many reviews on that little palette when I was younger that I had to try it, and it quickly became my favourite thing about my very minimal makeup routine. The nude shades were just enough to add a little something to the eye, and because it was a creme shadow, it sheered out to be just a shimmer, which I enjoyed.
When it comes to cosmetics, what’s your favourite high-end brand & drugstore brand. Why?
This is a tough one cause I usually go for drugstore brands when it comes to cosmetics.
When it comes to drugstore brands, one of my go-to’s would have to be Maybelline. I really enjoy the coverage many of their foundations give and how they can blend very quickly. Another drugstore brand I recently discovered was Makeup Revolution, I fell in love with their concealers, and it helps to know that the brand is cruelty-free and has a vegan range of products.
However, I tend to splurge on high-end products when it comes to my skincare.
Fair enough! What high-end skincare products do you think are worth the splurge?
My favourite brand and what has led to a significant improvement in my skin have definitely been the OLEHENRIKSEN products.
I use these products in my day-to-day skincare routine to get rid of acne marks and discolouration and give my skin an overall glow and radiance. These products are on the pricier side. However, skincare is such an essential part of your life, so it’s definitely worth it for me.
I know you’ve mentioned you mostly prefer drugstore brands when it comes to makeup, but what was your first high-end makeup product?
My first high-end product was MAC lipstick called Candy Yum Yum, a bright matte neon pink. I wore this colour day to day as a teen, never getting sick of it, and I remember getting several compliments on this shade. Regardless of anyone’s approval, I wore the lipstick because it made me happy and boosted my confidence a lot at the time.
It was such an exciting day for me because it was my first high-end product, and at the time, I was obsessed with MAC products based on all the makeup tutorials I had been watching featuring MAC makeup.
What is your favourite foundation?
The Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation, I love this one because it truly lasts all day if I need it to, and I really enjoy the coverage. A little goes a long way, so I don’t need much to reach the desired coverage. I also like that I have tried several different concealers with this foundation, and it mixes well with any formula I have tried.
I love to have defined lips and a wash of colour all over the lips, lip liner is pretty versatile, in my opinion, and I usually go for a more matte neutral lip, so I always have a lip liner on hand.
However, lately, I’ve been pulling out my glosses a lot more, so it is a bit of a mix for me, but pairing a lip liner and a gloss together? * Chef’s kiss*
What cosmetic brand have you always wanted to try but still haven’t?
I have wanted to try MILK makeup products for a while now. Their products are vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, and I always gravitated towards their simple, slick packaging. I have tried samples of their primer in the past, but I would like to try a few other products in the future.
Do you avoid certain ingredients in cosmetics?
Yes! I try to look at the ingredient list as much as possible on any cosmetics I purchase.
I try to look for cruelty-free and vegan labels on cosmetic brands’ packaging as I feel safer knowing the ingredients will be clean and not tested on animals. If I don’t see these labels on the packaging, I will usually feel detoured to purchase.
When looking at the ingredient list, I try to avoid products containing ingredients such as carmine, which are crushed cochineal beetles and used for red dye. Mink oil, which is fat from mink carcass and used in cosmetics, is believed to make the skin softer. Just to name a couple, you should avoid many more cosmetics ingredients, so always be sure to check if the cosmetic brand has a vegan and cruelty-free label on it.
If you could bring back a makeup look from the past, what would it be?
I have seen a lot of old-style makeup looks coming back recently. I really like that we know many old trends come back whether they are here to stay or not. We continuously see old-school looks coming back and intertwining with modern-day styles.
So I think the best way to answer this would be to choose a makeup look that has come back, and I am currently loving, and it is this 1960’s inspired makeup with the cut crease liner. I love seeing this look being recreated and even modernized. I know many artists doing their own take on a cut crease liner, and it continues to inspire me to stay out of my comfort zone and try new looks.
I saw Alexa Demie do this kind of look, and it is definitely one of my favourites. Here’s the look:
As a young girl, what is ONE thing you’re glad you did to master your makeup skills?
I am glad that even as a young girl, I experimented with different colours, shades, textures that made me feel happy and confident, and the first makeup items I had purchased definitely did that for me.
Describe your personal beauty/skincare routine (AM/PM)
AM:
In the morning, I wash my face with the First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser and apply First Aid Beauty’s moisturizer as well, which is their Ultra Repair Cream. It’s an intense moisturizer but absorbs so nicely into the skin. It has been my favourite moisturizer for my face.
After that, I use the OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Eye for my under eyes. I love the Banana Bright Eye Cream; it truly brightens up my under-eye area and leaves them feeling very soft and moisturized.
I then finish off my morning skincare routine with a cold jade roller to further penetrate the moisturizer into my skin and also de-puff any areas on my face.
And that’s pretty much it for my morning routine. Not much goes into it because I like to focus a lot more on my nighttime routine.
After cleansing, I then go in with a toner, I have loved the OLEHENRIKSEN Glow2OH Dark Spot toner to get rid of excess dirt or makeup, and this toner has really helped with brightening my skin, evening out my texture overall.
Next, I’ll add some moisturizer if needed, and I use the same Ultra Repair Cream by First Aid beauty, as well as the same under eye cream by OLEHENRIKSEN (a little tip: put your under eye cream in the fridge, you won’t regret it.)
After I have applied all my creams, I like to finish off by massaging my face with a Jade Gua Sha Tool.
EXTRA HOT TIP:
The Gua Sha has been a game-changer for my skincare routine. It relieves muscle, joint pain and reduces inflammation. And overall, just an extra step of self-care in your skincare routine, and it feels good to take the time to treat yourself to a time of relaxation, especially before bed.
Do you like experimenting with new skincare products, or do you keep a specific routine?
Yes, I do enjoy trying new skincare products! It has helped me find some of the favourites that I use day to day. However, I have sensitive skin, so I pay close attention to the ingredient list on any new products that I may want to try.
With that being said, I try to stick to a specific routine, and if I do change anything within my skincare routine, it will only be one to two products. For example, I am a bit more open to trying new serums, lip balms, and eye cream.
For the most part, I like to keep it to the products that have been really working for me and maintaining my skin with moisture and that healthy glow.
One beauty product you can’t leave your house without?
To be very honest, my purse has several products at all times… just in case (you never know, right?)
One of the main products I can’t leave my house without would have to be lip liner. I love the look of a defined lip. Without it, I feel kind of bare. You can also use a lip liner as a full lip colour (which I always do). It gives the lips a very natural look while still adding a shade to the lips but not looking too harsh.
Your most cherished beauty product?
This is a tough one because there are so many beauty products that hold particular memories, milestones, or whether it be a heartfelt gift, etc., which I’m sure many makeup lovers can relate to them.
However, one product that holds a lot of sentimental value is an old-school DermaBlend translucent setting powder that I found in my late grandmother’s purse. It was such an amazing feeling to see it because I had the same powder sitting in my room, just a more recent version of it. Needless to say, this sits with my other powders untouched, of course, and will probably always just sit in my collection as a keepsake and as a reminder of what initially influenced my passion for beauty.
A beauty guru that you look up to the most?
I love watching @iluvsarahii. I get so inspired by her looks, I love her blending techniques, and I also always listen to the skincare products she recommends because her skin is flawless! I love that she gives a variety on her YouTube channel as well. I get new ideas for food recipes, home decor, accessories, and organization. So I’ve been pretty obsessed with her content, and it doesn’t hurt that she’s a Latina beauty guru!
Do you have a makeup artist you look up to or the one that inspires you? And why?
I have to say Makeup by Mario is a huge inspiration to the makeup industry in general. His makeup looks are perfection, as everyone knows, and he is definitely a makeup artist I look up to.
However, more recently, I came across Hung Vanngo’s Youtube channel and fell in love with his techniques and, of course, his makeup looks.
I am obsessed with his 90’s looks, and I love that he walks you through the skin preparation before the makeup application even begins. He introduced me to many new techniques and has definitely been a huge source of inspiration for me.
He works in any age group, which I appreciate because he shows many different skin types and skin tones. When I start to work on more clients, I want to apply many of these techniques I have learned from him to my work.
If you could do the makeup for any fashion runway show, which brand would you choose?
I had a few brands in mind while answering this question, but then I came across this brand, Missoni, and I really gravitated towards the looks I saw on the runway. I loved to see the range from minimalistic makeup that just focused on a wash of colour on the eye, dewy skin and bronzy cheeks, but then I saw looks that featured a neon blue liner across the eye or a bold lip as well.
I loved to see the variety of Missoni’s fashion shows, and I think it would be really cool to do the makeup for a brand that likes to keep the models’ makeup minimal while still having a variety.
What is your advice for makeup beginners?
My advice would be to try new things, even if it scares you.
New colours, new methods, new looks, and the only way to discover what works for you, and you may just find a new makeup technique that you love.
Another tip would be to get familiar with products. Product knowledge is essential in this industry and can definitely set you apart in some cases. Educate yourself. If you are in the direction of being a self-taught makeup artist, I would recommend picking up several books on the industry. Especially from artists who have paved the way within the beauty community, some of my favourites are the books from Kevyn Aucoin, such as “Making Faces” and “Face Forward.”
Lastly, I would advise makeup beginners to work on different skin tones, different skin textures, get familiar with colour matching, and become comfortable with touching clients’ faces. This can be nerve-wracking for beginners, but it is essential to build up your confidence as an artist, be comfortable in your abilities, and recognize your talents.
As a makeup artist, how do you keep up with the latest beauty trends?
Mainly through social media, if I see a look that stands out to me and wants to try, I will definitely re-create it. However, I don’t usually get inspiration based on trends.
Some of the most inspiring makeup artists I follow have some very “out of the ordinary” looks, and even if it is not something I would wear day to day, it’s still a source of inspiration for me because it truly stands out as art not just merely makeup.
What, in your opinion, is an essential quality in a makeup artist?
I love this question!
I believe an essential quality a makeup artist should have is being empathetic towards their client. Sometimes you have clients who want a breakout covered, scars, uneven skin texture, etc., and as an artist, you have to understand your clients’ needs (where product knowledge comes in handy, especially with skincare).
Be friendly, make people feel comfortable in your presence, think about how you would like to be treated if you were having your makeup done.
If you feel judged or feel like the artist does not know how to work with your skin, especially if your skin is not at the place you would like it to be, chances are you would not want to come back a second time.
If you weren’t a makeup artist, what else would you do?
Makeup is a huge passion of mine, so it is difficult to say. However, I would like to take a business course as a foundation for myself as it coincides with wanting to pursue a path in the beauty industry. Ultimately though, I would like to see where this industry takes me.
When/ What makes you feel the most confident?
It definitely varies for me.
At times, I feel confident when I have those around me who support and care for me the most in my life. Having good vibes around me makes me feel very confident within myself. Knowing you have a solid group of friends and a fantastic family who supports you boost your confidence a ton!
Sometimes I feel my most confident in moments of solitude as well. I’m sure many can relate to being on both ends of the spectrum. However, when I am in my own company, I genuinely have the time to reflect on many aspects of my life, and I like to take the time to give myself appreciation and praise for how far I have come, even for the small wins. This truly helps to boost self-esteem and confidence. Having pleasant conversations with yourself is a must for some self-confidence boost.
What self-love activities do you do to feel good about yourself?
Journaling to help clear my thoughts and writing affirmations, I can read back to myself to help me in times of stress or low confidence.
Again, writing things that make me proud about myself, my strengths, and even my weaknesses/things I would like to improve. Knowing yourself fully and admitting things to yourself about what areas you can improve takes strength and ultimately leads to more self-love.
Another activity that helps me feel good about myself is working out, distressing, becoming more in tune with myself, and my body is a huge one for me.
Similarly, meditation is a huge self-love activity that I try to do as much as possible and definitely do more of it. Listening to guided meditations helps me get grounded, destress, and truly be in the moment.
How do you boost your confidence as a makeup artist and get out of your comfort zone?
Definitely experimenting a bit more with colour! (Blues, greens, pinks, yellows, etc.) it really gets you out of your comfort zone, and wearing these looks that are more vibrant than the usual boosts your confidence because I get to explore my talents as an artist, whether it was a recreated look or something that came to mind.
The fact that I explored creatively with makeup and branched out of my usual looks makes me feel really good and definitely makes me step out of my comfort zone.
One makeup tip you would love to share with our readers?
I know many people may already do this. However, I didn’t start doing it myself until way later, so maybe it could help someone. But do your skincare routine before applying any makeup!
Having a fresh, smooth canvas to work on does wonders for the final result of the look. I also found that you don’t even have to apply as much product with a fresh, clean face, and everything blends out much more seamlessly.
Another tip that kind of goes along with a fresh face has your brushes clean and fresh. This helps to maintain your skin free of breakouts and not putting previous products or bacteria back onto the skin, and it helps blend out eyeshadow colours a lot easier too!
Thank you so much, Chantel! for all the hard work and dedication you spent in putting this together 🙂
It’s funny how a hallmark holiday can stir up such strong feelings in people- from cheesy, quirky lovey-dovey stuff to utter lonesome. With its beautiful flowers, presents, heart-shaped candies, and velvety decadent chocolates, it does precisely that. Regardless of your relationship status, I think you need to celebrate yourself, even if it’s just you. Especially if it’s just you.
Whether you’re celebrating today with a valentine, a galentine, flying solo or anything else- I hope you all feel love and spread love in your day.
If you’re single, you need to be your beautiful, cherished and funny valentine!
You need to cook yourself that delicious dinner, buy yourself beautiful flowers, wear your favourite dress, indulge in lots of chocolate (and I mean, a lot!!) and spoil yourself to a day of self-love.
As for me, I’ll be celebrating Valentines with my one true love: food.
Speaking of food, I reached out to some of our readers, asking them how they’d be spending this quarantine on valentine’s day and A LOT of their responses revolved around food too! Here are some of their answers-
“We’ve been together since 2018 and last year was our first Valentine’s Day together in one location, so we dressed up nice (we usually like to keep it casual almost always), so we made an effort and went out for dinner. This year, I would say it won’t feel any different as in we won’t be missing much because I will still get to eat good food with the person I love. All I need is a bomb dessert with my man. Being together is a blessing and luxury in the times like these, and we are grateful for that. When the quarantine started in March last year, I was stuck in Vienna for almost 4 months. Those were difficult months so just being together is a privilege. 😊” – Karaj
“Usually, we’ll dress up and go out for a fancy dinner, but this year with the lockdown in place in Ontario, we have our day planned a little differently. We’re driving to our favourite restaurants and will be grabbing appetizers, our main course and dessert at all 3 different ones, and then we will come home to a paint night and some champagne!” – Jasmeet
” I don’t think there’s much that I can give you!!! But, I think Alan and I are just gonna make the Tiktok pasta at home this year 😂 We usually don’t do anything except for just dinner at home anyway.” – Ellen
“So for Valentine’s Day, Brenda and I have sort of a whole weekend planned. Valentine’s day used to be really sad for me because I was in a bad car accident on that day five years ago. Now that we’re together, we try to celebrate our love and make the most of it. Friday, we are picking up dinner from Rosewood Foods as they are doing a Lunar New Years’ menu; we’ll also be watching Rupaul’s Drag Race and drinking some wine. Saturday, I’m making ramen for the first time from scratch, since it’s one of Brenda’s favourite meals and it’s so cold out! And on Valentine’s day, we will be sleeping in, probably having mimosas and a romantic dinner of homemade ricotta gnocchi with pesto and a delicious chocolate cake.”- Andrea
“This year my boyfriend, Sachin and I are long distance. We’ve been dating for six years, out of which three years have been long distance, so I am not new to this. We’ve survived the distance before. Speaking of plans, our plans aren’t that exciting because we can’t be together but just knowing that there’s a special one to make me feel beautiful and wanted. Our plan is to facetime each other and just have a date where we cherish our moment, giggle over some lame jokes, and promise to be together through thick and thin. I plan to surprise him by sending him a small surprise with a cake and lots of love. But u know Valentine isn’t just meant a romantic partner, it’s for all the people we love- friends and family, so make sure to celebrate or wish all of your loved ones not just today but every day.”-Manpreet
“Vic and I are not that big on Valentine’s day. I think there’s so much more to a relationship and making it special than just buying roses and presents on one day in a year. For us, every day should be special. Instead, we do date nights every month. This valentine, we’ll just be spending baking. Before we got married Vic use to send me flowers and presents since we were long distance. And after we got married, we had one valentine together in which I was one month pregnant. Vic decorated the house, made me dinner and brought me presents. Later that night, I was taken to the hospital due to having a bad reaction to eating mangoes (this wasn’t the dinner. I was just eating fried mangoes for a week), And it’s a high risk to eat mangoes in pregnancy. So my body reacted to it very differently. It’s not because of pandemic we’re not celebrating. We just mutually decided to celebrate our love once a month by doing date nights, not only once a year.” – Henna
A few weeks ago, I asked my readers on Instagram to share their precious stories of love in less than 100 words inspired by The New York Times Column, Tiny Love Stories. To my surprise, several readers reached out and shared their lovely and delightful stories of love with me. Treat yourself to these short and sweet stories- one at a time.
“When thinking of a love story I’d like to share, I can’t help but immediately think of one. It was one that didn’t even work out but, it was so magical and special that it’s the one that makes me smile. Our first date was terrible, so awkward and uncomfortable at the end. I remember walking away thinking I would never go on another date with someone like that, ever again. I felt so bad inside. When I got home, I noticed he had texted. He said how sorry he was and how hard he was trying to think of something to say or do but was completely blank. We didn’t meet up again for months but when we did, it was so fun and so special and there was a connection. A connection. When his face touched my face, a connection. Away we went on the stupidity that was this relationship, up and down, off and on, to the end when it was done. It didn’t work, but when I feel it when I think it when I see it in my mind, I smile and its magic still warms my heart.” – Irene
“Our newest youth was a 14-year-old boy from Kugluktuk. We made endless paintings, and I let him cover my eyebrows with concealer. If we weren’t baking, we were dancing or playing hide and scare. I braided his hair almost every day until he was moved to another group home in Ontario. I went to a psychic a few years later who told me a boy thought about me a lot. I messaged him on Facebook, and now we talk at least 3 times a week.” –Janelle
“If you’d asked me what I came to do in this world, I’d say: I am born to create art. It all started with playing with clay as a child, which was just the beginning of exploring this magical world. There’s no specific moment or day I can pinpoint and say this is the day I fell in love with art. A nostalgic memory on my canvas or a cute dragon tattoo on an ankle, or my bestie’s face sculpture, I have felt the euphoric soul of life in my art. I remember this one time, I made art from all the candy in my fridge. It’s like reading poetry for people that love to read. That’s the best way I can explain it. My most hilarious, deeply personal, moving, unspoken word, unexplainable feeling manifests itself into the art I create. I live in my beautiful dream world and make art of it.” – Diksha
“The words ‘Love’ and ‘food’ are often used together. Evolutionarily and biologically speaking, we only eat when we feel a sense of safety. We won’t find a gazelle grazing the grasslands if it is aware of the lion’s presence. When we find ourselves stressed, we may notice either the absence or insatiability of our own hunger. ‘Food’ and ‘love’ are absolutely intertwined.
Our love affair with food is so intense that it is present in most of the highly impactful and greatest moments of our lives—i.e. first dates, romantic dinners, marriages, sexual moments, birthdays, funerals etc.
It would be hard to clearly define our’ love affair’ with food without realizing that ‘people don’t dine with an enemy.’ We dine with our friends, our families, to make deals, and to enjoy the process of connecting over food. Food is a symbol of safety, a symbol of comfort and a symbol of life itself.” – Kartik
“I didn’t always see my story as a LOVE story. It wasn’t until one recent late-night cruise that I realized that how much of an ungrateful turd I was not to see the love and support around me.
It has been extremely difficult for me transitioning from 2020. I fell back into unhealthy patterns and relapsed. However, I was no longer alone. I didn’t make the situation worse by reaching for a bottle as the solution. Instead, I relied on the immense amount of support coming from my friends.
I am definitely dramatic about this, but here it is:
I was like Captain America, standing alone, tired and discouraged, facing the impossible task of battling Thanos on my own. It’s then when my friends emerged behind me, taking on Thanos by my side. It never occurred to me that there are so many of them. They showed their love by not allowing me to go under. They love me too much to let me self-sabotage.
I am so grateful for each one of them! Romantic love is not the only love worth celebrating. Look around; there is love that accepts us at our worst. It’s easy to overlook yet fundamental to us. Anyways, to conclude my love story, we killed Thanos! Peace and Love.” – Magda
Thank you so much to everyone who shared their stories.
To be quite honest, I’ve been feeling so low this chilly week in Edmonton. I stayed indoors for the most part. That being said, now is the time for me to hop on to the whole charcuterie board rage. Can you believe I haven’t made one yet? So, I turned to my chef friend (aka the charcuterie board expert)Andrea and asked her to help out with a guide to the perfect charcuterie board at home. Here goes:
This is called a “guide,” but I would use that term lightly as I don’t think there should be strict rules about what can and cannot be on a charcuterie board, rather suggestions of how to build one that will have all your close friends on Instagram heart-reacting to your story.
Simplicity
The most important thing about the board is keeping it simple. A lot of the time, I see food bloggers or websites post pictures of huge wooden boards, filled to the brim with meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, glitter… you’ve seen these! I’ve even come across pictures on Pinterest of “charcuterie tables” where a whole table at a party is just covered in snacks? Especially during the pandemic, this makes me cringe— it’s just a table full of meat and cheese that people are continually touching???
How much?
So I think it’s important to try not to get carried away because that can get daunting. I usually like to go with 2 types of meats and cheeses per person. As for quantity, I would say it really depends because some people think of it as an appetizer, whereas sometimes I just like to set up a board as our dinner, and we can pick at it throughout the night. In an article by Epicurious, they suggest about 50g of meat per person for an appetizer and about 150g of meat if it’s the majority of the meal. Again, it really is dependent on the person, but getting too much shouldn’t be a problem since you can always make another board on a different occasion, or use the leftovers for a sandwich or to cook with.
The elements
Pre-quarantine when having people over, I would make a board for about three to four people most often. Thus I would include:
Once you have everything, you can arrange it as you please, paying attention to the contrasting colours, textures and flavours. This will create something that is visually appealing and is sure to impress whoever you’re sharing it with
Drink pairing
I don’t know if this is controversial, but I don’t really think you have to either drink red or white wine specifically with a charcuterie board. I enjoy drinking a cold sparkling dry white wine to pair with the lighter elements such as the cheeses, just as much as savouring a deep red with the rich meats.
A note about quality
Your board will only taste as good as the ingredients. Although cured meats and specialty cheeses are expensive. Going to a deli or cheese vendor and choosing (post-covid sampling) your own board elements will be more delicious, better quality, and cheaper per quantity than you would pay for a board at a restaurant.
If you just want to know what I would buy and put on a board….
– Prosciutto di parma (24 months)
– Rosemary porchetta
– Spicy salami or soppressata
– Pistachio mortadella
– Smoked Salmon or Gravlax
– terrine or pate
cheeses
– Triple cream brie
– Manchego (12 months)
– Truffle Pecorino
– Beemster
– Cave-aged gruyere
Thank you so much, Andrea. You can follow her food page for all the mouth-watering pictures on Instagram here.
What are your board must-haves? Let us know in the comments below.
Several weeks ago, Ellen took it to her Instagram to share her painful feelings of grief and loss after a missed miscarriage. She left isolated and lonely in her sadness and realized how difficult it was for her to talk to anyone.
Here, Ellen’s personal reflection captures the grief, loss and isolation she felt after her miscarriage and its impact on her mental health in the hopes that it will help others in talking about their lost pregnancy without feeling any shame or stigma.
Just three weeks ago, Alan and I sat in our ultrasound clinic and saw our unborn baby’s heartbeat through the screen.
It was only six weeks and two days old, but our little baby had a steady heartbeat, and the next time we will be able to hear the heartbeat and walk out with a printed ultrasound photo.
I would have never imagined that I would be that one in four, to step out of there with nothing but a broken heart.
Up to one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage- good odds that suddenly seem stacked against you when you find out you’re expecting and start to think every little twinge is an impending catastrophe.
I am one in four.
A statistic I never wanted to be a part of but found myself in.
The worst part is, I wasn’t even desperately trying to get pregnant…it just happened.
But upon seeing that heartbeat, it made me feel like the only thing in this world that mattered was this baby and that I was the luckiest person in the world to be blessed with a child so fast.
On December 09, 2020, I woke up early to get my lashes filled because I wanted to take pictures to announce it to the world.
I didn’t know that some time between these last three weeks, very soon after we saw our baby’s heartbeat, it stopped beating for good. And, I had no idea.
My body went cold as I watched the tech try desperately to locate a heartbeat or any movement, and my own heart stopped in that room.
I googled and googled…and I found out it’s called a missed miscarriage.
Your baby dies, but for some reason, your body isn’t aware of it, and there are no signs or symptoms.
I still felt pregnant.
When I didn’t become nauseous, I just assumed I was breezing through it. My jeans didn’t fit anymore, and I was still more exhausted than usual.
I’ve never felt grief like this.
Everything is just a statistic until it happens to you.
Somehow I just lost track of time, it just went from being that dreadful Tuesday to the end of a Friday for three full days without me noticing it.
I just wanted to stay in bed and hide from the world because I feel like I’ve failed everyone.
As much as I tried to be healthy and productive, all I could bring myself to do is eat dessert for dinner and binge watch Netflix.
I look at Alan, and I feel like I failed him. I couldn’t make him a dad that he was so excited to become.
Sharing this terrible news with our parents gave me the biggest anxiety I’ve ever felt my entire life, knowing they will be so disappointed and feeling like I have wasted their time and energy over the last few weeks.
I never thought that I would share a struggle that is so private, but now I know that this is something that so many women experience but so few talk about.
Not sure when or if ever I’ll be completely okay.
About two weeks after the miscarriage, I went back to work for the first time.
It felt good to talk to everyone; it felt right for my mental health to share this experience.
However, many things still triggered me despite me thinking that I was mentally ready to move on.
For instance- I hid in the corner when a pregnant coworker came in, unable to look her in the eye and join the excited conversation of her due date.
I felt like a terrible person but just had to learn to accept that I wasn’t ready to celebrate someone else’s pregnancy after just losing my own.
And you know that Frequency Illusion when you learn something new you start seeing it everywhere?
Well, Alan and I may have started our stroller shopping early and decided on one particular model, and all of a sudden, this stroller is now appearing everywhere I go.
To make things worse, I developed a terrible pelvic ache that lasted two weeks and kept me from doing any physical activity.
I’ve always been an active person, and when I felt like I was finally mentally ready to get back to my routine, the physical pain kept me in bed feeling too depressed and reliving everything that “could’ve been.”
When people say time heals, they are not lying.
More than one month after this happened, I am finally somewhat back on track to finding normalcy.
My pelvic pain disappeared, my usual routine resumed, and Alan and I are ready to try again when we can. I wanted to document my thoughts and this journey because, honestly, nobody talks about it enough.
When you learn that you are pregnant, nobody tells you, “Hey, congrats, but just heads up, 1/4 pregnancy ends in miscarriage.”
You always only learn this AFTER shit happens. I know that even if we prepare ourselves, nothing will ease the pain.
Perhaps, it would prevent that first question from popping into your head, which is “What did I do wrong?”
Thank you so much Ellen for sharing such a personal experience with us. After listening to Ellen’s story I hope that we can continue to change the stigmas around miscarriage so that so many women don’t have to feel isolated through this gut-wrenching type of grief.
Sending warm hugs and lots of love to those out there who have lost pregnancies. I want you to know that you’re not alone!
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Does your mind draw a blank when you’re talking to your crush?
So many thoughts rush to your head when you’re talking to your crush, one of the frequent ones being, “oh no, what do I say?”
Getting to know your crush can be an exciting and nerve-wracking feeling all at the same time. Sometimes, you may find yourself in awkward silence, not knowing what to say (no, thank you).
We, as humans, deeply desire emotional intimacy, which is why I have put together 14 questions to ask your crush. Grab some wine and cozy into these nostalgic conversations to connect with your crush on a deeper level.
HOT TIP: If your conversation takes a turn, and you aren’t sure where it’s headed, just listen. You always look like a great communicator when you listen.
1) Who is the one person in the world that knows you better than anyone else?
It could be one of their family members, childhood friends, co-workers, or maybe even their hairstylists. Their answers could reveal the depth of their relationship with others and the kind of relationships they seek with others.
2) Where is your favourite place?
Everyone has a special place, a place where they go to disconnect from reality, clear their mind and connect with their deeper self; it could be their grand ma’s house where they spent their summers or only a place where they feel relaxed, or that special place perhaps is their dream city or a vacation spot.
3) If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
Maybe your crush has always wanted to learn a musical instrument or a language? Upon asking this question to a friend, she immediately replied, ” I wish I had skipped school more often. I could have missed a day and still learned what I needed to.”
Get creative with this one 🙂
4) Complete the sentence: I wish I had someone with whom I can share…
Let yourself be surprised with this one! Maybe your crush is a foodie and wants to explore their love for food with someone. Or, they love dancing in front of the mirror and wished they had someone to share their goofy side with.
5) Share a positive characteristic you consider about your crush.
Tell them what you admire and respect about them. Giving compliments and being vocal about them deepens the bond between any two people almost instantly. Maybe you like that they are always on time, keep their word, or they make you laugh. Use this as an opportunity to compliment the things you like about them.
6) What’s the song you listen to on repeat? (<333333)
Listening to someone’s favourite song, it’s like mentally holding their hand. There is not a deeper intimacy than listening to your favourite music together.
7) For what in life do you feel most grateful?
Gratitude is an emotion that makes a person feel happier. Tap into the simplistic beautiful things of life by unlocking the magic in this question.
8) Do you have a favourite book? A line in a piece of literature? A poem? Why is it special to you?
My favourite!!
Maybe it’s a book that remained with them ever since they read it or a story that influenced their life somehow, or perhaps they love to read travel books to learn about different people and cultures around the world. Di
9) If you could invite anyone in the world to dinner ( dead or alive) who’d it be?
What a fun question! Your crush could name their favourite celebrity, a god, or it could be something more personal like a deceased loved one they wished to spend more time with.
10) If you could take one day off to do anything you want, how would you spend the day?
I once asked my friend this question curious to know how’d she spend her perfect day. Her response was so profound, “I would not like to do, I would just like to be. To have a planless day, to live in the moment, to enjoy the company of my loved ones unrushed, to stop and smell the flowers.”
Her response was of the most beautiful perspectives on the question.
11) What is the most beautiful thing in the world?
We are all so different from each other and it’s these differences that makes us so beautiful and unique. Asking someone what’s the most beautiful thing in the world invites you into your crush’s world perspective.
12) What would you consider to be your deepest fear?
We cannot know a person’s life and its challenges at a glimpse. We all carry our own deep fears and insecurities within us. Through this question, it opens up space for being vulnerable, leading to a more meaningful conversation.
13) If you died tomorrow, what would you wish you had done?
This question opens up a person’s deepest desires. Not always are we vocal about our dreams in fear of it being silly, made fun of or even leaving it for tomorrow. Life can be so unexpected. If we are brave enough to follow our heart, it leads us to a beautiful destination. This question could spark a little fire in both of you to carpe diem!!
14) What scene in a movie has evoked the most feelings out of you?
We all have a movie that has moved us, inspired and sparked an emotion in some way or other. It could be a character, story, theme or a mood. Watching that movie can make them slip into their little world. Discussing themes, plots and story of your movies will add on to the fun and depth of the conversation.
Have you ever thought of asking any of these questions to your crush? Do you have any questions that you’d like to add? Let me know in the comments below 🙂
If you want to learn how to be confident and to be comfortable in your skin then turn to Thembie. Her life mantra, “when things go wrong, don’t go with them” continually inspires me to live a life where it’s okay to make mistakes and not dwell on them as long as you are learning from them. Here she shares her acne clearing tip, beauty rituals that make her feel beautiful and her go-to lipgloss.
What do you think is most important to discuss about plus-size fashion?
Plus-sized people are consistently faced with a fat stigma of limited options in clothing. For the longest time, plus-sized people were excluded and marginalized by the fashion industry.
The tall, skinny and blonde were the universal standard for beauty. We have seen massive progress in the fashion industry-by normalizing different body types in the fashion industry. It makes me so happy to know that we, as a society, are breaking all the stereotypes and embracing ourselves-without any limitations.
What’s your beauty mantra?
It’s simple if you ever want to turn your day around, just wear your best outfit. If you’re going to feel good, you have to look good. Put a conscious effort towards your daily looks. We are staying indoors more than ever, it doesn’t mean we have to stop looking at our best. Get out of your PJs, style your hair the way you love and wear your favourite lipstick/lipgloss.
Your style is always on point. I’ve never seen an outfit on you that I haven’t liked. Where do you get your style/beauty inspiration from?
Thank you 🙂
I follow a lot of plus size women on Instagram, one of my favourite being daquanawhite. She’s very confident in her body and styles herself really well, which inspired me to explore my body and experiment with different clothing to explore my personal style. Likes and dislikes alike.
Your personal style in three words.
Flawless. Bold. Classy.
Has using social media affected your views on body image in any way?
Yes, absolutely. It started with the whole small waist, big butt trend. I would compare myself to other women and their bodies. I would always compare myself to them, and that would lower my self-esteem.
How do you cope with it, given we are spending more time online than ever now?
It’s an active process.
Loving my body is a conscious decision for me. One flaw that comes with social media is the comparison, and it is indeed a thief of joy. As I slowly stopped comparing, I started loving my body a little more. It’s a process. It doesn’t happen overnight. Being confident and comfortable in your skin is the start to a healthy and happy life.
Another thing that helped me be comfortable in my skin was that I wasn’t alone in this. Seeing other plus size women on Instagram embracing their bodies just the way they area and not afraid to show it has inspired me to do the same.
What’s your daily morning and night rituals?
It’s important to me to get my day started on a positive note because your mornings truly set the tone for the rest of the day. So, the first thing I do as soon as I wake up is- pray for seeing yet another day, followed by some daily affirmations and then some high protein breakfast.
What’s your skincare routine?
When it comes to skincare, my motto is “less is more.” I am scared to overwhelm my skin with too many products. I keep my skincare pretty simple.
I cleanse my face using the Masque bar and then moisturize with my body moisturizer, Jergens. That’s my skincare routine for now. However, this year, I plan to try out more of the masque bar products like their peel-off masks.
Do you have any beauty rituals that make you feel beautiful?
Every week l always have a self-care day, which is Saturday’s. After a long busy week, l take a bubble bath in Epson salt or bath bomb, put on my face mask from Masque bar. I find that it relaxes me and makes me feel beautiful all over again.
What is the one beauty product that you cannot go a day without, and why?
The Masque Bar, without a doubt. I have been using Masque for a little over three months now, and that has actually been the longest I have consistently used one product. It has charcoal and gold flakes in it, that’s supposed to help detoxify the skin by unclogging pores and removing excess oil.
After a good wash, my skin feels squeaky clean, like it’s breathing fresh air. It has also helped me with clearing up my acne after a month of using, which is one of the main reasons I stuck with it.
A beauty item that you can’t leave your house without?
Girl, l cannot leave the house without my lipgloss. It’s like engraved in me to always have moisturized lips.
Over the years, I’ve seen you pull off various bold hair colours such as red and pink. Those colours look so gorgeous and effortless on you. How do you pull that off?
Thank you so much! I just rock it. I guess you could say my melanin contributes to me pulling off all the bright hair colours I experiment with.
Let’s talk about makeup. Do you have a go-to routine?
Whenever my makeup is done correctly, it’s a makeup artist. I have recently gotten into makeup and cannot wait to experiment with more looks.
When do you feel the most beautiful?
When l have to go for some kind of event or outing because that means l get to dress up and look gorgeous.
One fashion advice/tip you would want our readers to know.
I would advise that you feel confident no matter what your skin colour, the weight you are. Remember you wear clothes, the clothes don’t wear you.
Some lighting round questions:
Your favourite city.
I visited BC Vancouver a few times, and every time l go there, l fall in love all over again. It just reminds me so much of back home (Zimbabwe), that’s why. The giant trees surrounding the houses are exactly like home. It’s my dream to move there.
Favourite food.
I love pasta, especially chicken Alfredo. Mmm, the cream, cheese, chicken and everything is to die for.
A person dead or alive you would love to have dinner with and why?
I would love to have dinner with my grandmother and great grandmother. Those two women have such a social place in my heart. We used to play cards every time they visited us. They taught me all the tricks in cards. I miss them so much and wish l had the chance to say goodbye. But l know they are in a better place watching over me.
A Netflix show you would recommend.
Netflix recently brought back some old show GIRLFRIENDS. It’d highly recommend that.
Thank you so much, Thembie. We cannot wait to see you take over the fashion industry!! All the best 🙂 xx
