by Geri

Imagine a group of people walking around screaming ‘ NO TO WAR’ and another group yelling ‘YES TO PEACE’ – think about it… The difference is subtle but it makes a world of a difference. 

Monday, April 30th 2012 was the premiere of Girl Model, a movie that talks about young women (kids) who audition and travel in the hopes of becoming a ‘top model’ in the industry.

A must see movie - Girl Model!

Now this is nothing new here, we pretty much hear about how certain agencies sign models, promise them the world and these young girls are left alone and disappointed. It is simply the worst when the girl’s family depends on them to bring back money to help out. I will even say that certain parents live vicariously through their children’s lives and are aware of the conditions but choose to look away. Who wouldn’t want a famous and rich daughter or son?!  These stories are heartbreaking and this movie shows just that, the reality of certain girls around the world. When you speak of certain random girls going away in foreign countries for modeling contracts and are being taken advantage of, it doesn’t create the same impact as oppose to showing us the case of one girl. In this movie, we get to meet the model Nadia, as well as her parents, and through their journey I became attached to their story; therefore it makes sense that I was affected by it. For example, when you talk about hunger in this world it seems vague and surreal but as soon as you see one hungry child, the effect is immediate. So yes, this movie has its purpose and I wish more movies like this were created because I believe that awareness is key, but I have an issue with the energy of the campaign for this movie.

Rachel Blais, a Canadian model, who has been modeling for more than 10 years, plays a role in the movie and she is also an avid spokesperson for the cause. Her main motivation is to be the voice for all these young women who are trapped in this  twisted system and also wants the industry to create an “18 or over” law for any girl who wants to start modeling. If you take my example of the ‘hungry child’, Miss Rachel Blais has been around this energy because she was there and saw the despair. She is entitled to her emotions and opinion, but the challenge at hand is ‘how to make us feel what she feels if we haven’t been in her shoes’?

Rachel Blais

Modeling at 18 instead of 13 sounds good to me, especially when 13 year olds are asked to take suggestive and sexy pictures – that’s just disturbing. Some might argue that 18 is late, we should start at 16. What do you think?

The 'gil model' Nadia Vall-in the movie

Young model....the clothes are wearing her! credit: Bazaar Mag

Seventeen year old...Dakota Fanning for Marc Jacobs

The Girl Model premiere was followed by a discussion with key people from the fashion industry and also advocates for women’s rights, but there was one MAJOR actor missing on the panel; someone from a modeling agency! THEY ARE THE ONES WE NEEDED TO TALK TO!   When you think about it, there is a vicious cycle of blame in this story. The agencies provide for the clients who ask for these young girls. The client will argue that ‘youth’  is what sells, thus they put a young girl in their ads and people purchase the mags and buy the products.  Now who is to blame?! The consumers? The clients? The agencies? What if the consumers would stop buying into this whole movement? Now how to get the consumers to stop obsessing with youth? As you can see it goes deep! At the end of the day, everybody is trying to make money here. Everything that is geared towards  ’looking young’  and having a flawless body is  very lucrative in the fashion industry! We need to find a solution that will still allow all those big corporations to make money while changing their ways! I guarantee you, they will listen!

This ad was banned because it was too far from the reality by the ASA

The movie Girl Model  is worth seeing because it is important that everyone knows what really goes on in the industry! I could wrap up by sharing my opinion to the ones ‘fighting’ for this cause.

Every major change in this world takes time and you have to trust in the power of change. If you stand for women to get enrolled in agencies at 18 and not a day younger; you will get there!  Will you still be alive to see it?! Who knows!  JUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE! This is a serious matter that one should not look away and the best way to start shifting the energy is going to the root of the situation.  Ask yourself why are you/we so obssessed with looking young and staying young? How can you be attracted to a young girl wearing women’s clothes? That is the root of the issue here. Next time there is a panel of game changers, we need someone from an agency because they would help clarify this situation.

If there is a petition to raise the age of the girls who start in an agency (16? 18? Who knows…) YOU HAVE MY VOTE. But in the meantime, know that by raising your voice and bringing an agressive energy to the table leaves no space for discussion. Back up your arguments, trust that the change is already taking place and ALWAYS stay in control of your emotions.

Love, Forgive and Respect yourself!

Geri

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feature image credit: www.dark-skin-is-beautiful.tumblr.com

by Myriam Richard

“When skin suffers, instead of over treating it, teach it how to live”

Baby soft skin – the climax of skin texture. A 20-year-old healthy skin – the climax of skin condition. During these first two decades theoretically, skin looks and performs at its best. It contains all the natural nutrients, molecular “soldiers” and shields working in symbiosis to keep it looking as it should – healthy and flawless. Pollution and poor eating habits are several factors which may cause our skin’s natural defense to lose or forget how to properly work.

Shall we need extra-dermal resources, say, found in nature, to bring our skin back to functioning properly? Or does it just needs a boost, or better yet an active reminder?

Recently tried on my skin, in office and for a whole month as a cure – this product I’m about to tell you about is quite amazing and got me excited just from hearing exactly what it does. I did see an improvement on my skin, getting firmer and smoother, and no blemishes popping out of nowhere – it literally regulated my skin.

But let’s get technical with the “what” and “how”?

The laboratories of Institut Esthederm Paris promises to change the destiny of our skin by helping it self-regenerate through self re-education. After fifteen years of research and three internationally patented technologies comes E.V.E. (essential vital elements) and UV inCellium Spray. Cosmetic revolution in bottles as they say.
For the purpose and to fully grasp the Esthederm experience, I used the Osmoclean Lightening cleansing foam gown here below, first from the right), which is light, penetrating and easily removes makeup. It left my skin feeling refreshed without the tightness. It was a personalized recommendation as I have a normal to oily skin type.

E.V.E. is a penetrating serum that restores the skin’s metabolic faculties and physiologically strengthens and revitalize it. It contains 51 natural vital elements already found in our skin, like amino acids (protein and enzyme producers), mineral salts and vitamins. UV inCellium spray is the skin’s protecting shield while E.V.E. is at work. It controls exposure to sunlight to retain only its positive effects, it also protects the skin from photo-aging and optimizes the skin’s vital cell.

Both E.V.E. and the UV inCellium work amazingly better when combine with Institut Estherderm’s popular Cellular Water. The Cellular Water spray boosts skin’s treatment effectiveness by optimizing cell’s energy environment and stimulates cellular activity. Basically it prepares the skin to treatments. And truthfully, I really liked the refreshing effect it gives following cleaning my face. And the UV inCellium works great to set make-up!

The box set: $279

Enroll your skin back to school. Re-education awaits. It definitely it! And graduation is blissful. Your skin will thank you!

Live. Laugh. Love. Your skin!

M

I N F O & C O M M U N I C A T I O N

The web : www.esthederm.com

Connect: Facebook

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No matter how much pressure you feel at work, if you could find ways to relax for at least five minutes every hour, you’d be more productive.
Dr. Joyce Brothers (1928 – )

By Myriam Richard

A good night sleep is the best you can get to start off your day on the right track. A power nap during the day can make wonders for productivity, just as a quick weekend getaway can be the boost you need during the year, especially after a hefty and busy week, like say, Montreal Fashion Week.

Recently, Gerardine and I were courteously invited to visit the 4-star award winning hotel Auberge Godefroy, in Becancourt, QC to experience their ‘Girls Night Out’ package which turned out a great power trip.

Located halfway between Montreal and Quebec City, this lovely hotel, opened in 1990, offers 71 spacious and nicely design rooms, all offering the many nice features we all love at hand. A nice garden surrounds the hotel where you will also find the pool, jacuzzi and nice hammocks to on nap and relax during the hot days. Neighboring the Augerge Godefroy is a notable golf course, parks and several historical places for all to enjoy.

Image credit: http://edibleink.wordpress.com

The Girls’ Night Out package we tried includes a one-night accomodation, a welcoming cocktail at Le Balzac Pub, breakfast, a four-course dinner, a 50-minute relaxation massage at their on-site Amerispa facility, one box of body sweets from the amazing and charming Carpe Diem soap factory, one animated tour of the factory and on-site activities, like their pools, sauna, gym and outdoor jacuzzi.

Here below is a gallery depicting our journey there with some added info. Hope you enjoy it, and that you get to one day enjoy a weekend getaway with your friends at Auberge Godefroy! #WeRecommend

Live. Laugh. Love.

M

C O M M U N I C A T I O N S & I N F O

The door: 7575, boul. Bécancour, St-Grégoire Sector, Bécancour (Québec), Canada, G9H 1A5

The call:
Phone: 819 233-2200
Reservations: 1 800 361-1620
Fax: 819 233-2288

The web: www.aubergegodefroy.com

To connect: Twitter Facebook Youtube TripAdvisor

The Carpe Diem Soap Factory : www.savoncarpediem.com

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By Myriam ‘M♥’ Richard

It’s not because it’s different that it is weird or crazy. However, in this line of thought… few in my eyes go untraditionally with class or humility. Many I feel tend to overdo their style only to be talked about. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for authenticity, that sea drop that differs from the others of its ocean. But unlike many, one sea drop that caught my special attention and have admired since discovery is artist Ms. Janelle Monae.

When she first came on the scene, I had only seen a picture of her. I really liked her hairstyle – oh my, how it gave me a sudden nostalgia from when I used to have an afro myself. She is, if not, always dressed in black and white, in trousers and bowling shoes. I had to check out her music.

Huh… W-W-Wow!!

The first song I heard was Many Moons part of her EP Metropolis, Suites I (The Chase), this upbeat modern soulful 60′s style go-go track got me hooked. She reminded me of a female version of André 3000 of duo Outkast. Just by the look of Metropolis’ cover did I know that there was something about this artist that was not seen in Soul R&B scene today – for a female that is.

Her albums are, on a musical point of view, very intricately conceived from the album Metropolis to her latest The ArchAndroid. Her lyrics, poetic, but still tells a story – the love story of Cindy Mayweather, her alter-ego and android from Metropolis with a human called Mr. Greendown. This is what she had to say about Cindy during an interview with MTV:

“Cindy is an android and I love speaking about the android because they are the new “other”. People are afraid of the other and I believe we’re going to live in a world with androids because of technology and the way it advances. The first album she was running because she had fallen in love with a human and she was being disassembled for that.” (oh how I’d love to sit one day with her and chat of music, art… life! Hopefully sooner than never!)

Her voice niches itself in variegated styles, whether down-tempoed beat as in “Peachtree Blues” and “Neon Street Valley” or more upbeat like ‘Tightrope’ or ‘Come Alive’. Many of her music are fitting enough to be tracklisted in 1950′s movies (think Wizard of OZ). The musicality is eclectic and appeals to a wide range of music lovers. Rock, Jazz, Be-Bop, Neo-Soul, Soul, you name it… she’s got it. I’m just waiting for the day she comes to Montreal. I mean, we do have a venue called the Metropolis, but to me she deserves the Bell Center.

Wanna see genuineness? Check out the “Cold War” video. It’s the actual video… you’ll understand?

And the Many Moons short film. The scene takes place in Metropolis.

Live. Laugh. Love. Music.

M♥

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by Gerardine (Organik D’va)

There is a new market downtown for all of you who live around the area and have been wanting (or yearning for) a great food shopping experience!

This precious and unique location is on de Maisonneuve in the ‘Quartier des Spectacles’!

The new customer friendly place is called Fou D’ici! The decor from the outside is very humble, well designed and intriguing!

Once inside, I was first impressed by the layout of the place, you can breathe! Its clean and everything is well put together. It surely creates a good ambiance to walk around the isles.

There are a few qualities that sets Fou d’Ici apart from the other markets in the area :

80% of their products are LOCAL so you get to discover the existent talent and passion from our area.

They have a fresh ready-to-eat counter with daily recipes that you can enjoy on the spot or to take-out (THE spot for a lunch break).

The recipes are created by chef Daren Bergeron (#slow food #Decca 77)

The artists behind the counters are also chefs, so you only get professional advice (I always have questions so thats perfect for me)

Media Opening Night pic credit: Vadim Daniel

The different kind of mushroom from Myco Sylva! Available at Fou D

The

Last but not least, there was a wonderful chef at Fou D’ici (pardon the fact that I don’t remember his name) who introduced me to THE winter drink that I will be sharing this winter with my family and friends! As you can see in the picture below…I am a little intense when I see or speak about food! haha but he was as passionate!

My head practically IN the pot….lol…..

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feature image credit: La Cabane

by Myriam Richard

Après une soirée bien arrosé… Alors il faut expliquer le contexte, bien arrosée sous les espaces chauds et froids du Spa Scandinave Les Bains du Vieux Montréal, je rejoins Gerardine à La Cabane, le restaurant éphémère, au menu riche, rafiné et recherché, teintée de l’essence de la traditionnelle cabane à sucre… Oh wow i just realized I started writing this in French. I guess the expression “excuse my French!” has its place here, hahaha! My apologies…

In true French Canadian culinary fashion, we are entering the “Temps des sucres” ( Sugar time in English). The Temps des sucres is the high period when sugar shacks collect the sap of sugar maple trees to mainly produce sugar maple syrup and when their restaurants are fully in service. It’s a tradition for many a-city slickers, like myself, to take a road trip to the countryside with family and/or friends to savor on their very filling buffet-style cuisine, the infamous DIY maple taffy (or toffee), or a carriage ride in the woods and maybe a quick visit to the animal farm!

As sugar-shack-visiting city slickers around, bringing the tradition to the city was just a matter of time, thanks to Komotion. Back to “La Cabane” – from March 8th to April 15 will be the 3rd edition of their pop-up urban city sugar shack in the beautifully converted of the Old Port of Montreal’s La Scéna.

La Cabane is not only for an eating experience but also a celebration of our local producers and designers – from the subtle thematic interior design by Brut Design, uniforms by Rachel F, pretty handmade lampshades by Valerie Letourneau, the artful menu by chef Martin Juneau of restaurants La Montee de Lait and Newtown, for the latter.

As for the producers who added depth and authenticity to our gourmet experience were namely, Du Breton for their rustic pork and De L’Aubier for the first ever vegetal water made out of sugar maple sap. The very subtle taste of sap surfaces like a surprising after thought. I suggest closing your eyes for that discovery.

Plaid shirts were on the "hidden" dress code order of the day! Sitting, probably tweeting or "Instagramming" is our girl Carrie of Les Zurbaines. I did spot some polka dots too!!

Gerardine (in a polka dot head wrap), happily holding a Can't-be-more-French-Canadian-than-this "cé faite icitte" syrup container by ceramist Hugo Didier. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Rocked by DJ Debbie Tebbs on the spins playing Eric Soucy’s mix of traditional Quebec music to Electro and House beats, the evening promises to be quite a sensory event.

But what’s on the menu?

All-french menu, thank you very much!

First off and gladly, we were very pleased with the menu. Though I was expecting a more sugar-shack-ish menu but refined, I was blown and happy with by the dissimilarities. It was a total new song, with a background essence of traditionalism. New, refreshing, audacious, cosmopolitan – just like our city!

All the appetizers were delightful – from the smoked-meat style bison on homemade melba toast to the trout creton. With delicious wines from Balthazar Wines and La Face Cachée de la Pomme for ice wines, the evening was off to a very good starts.

Seperately presented, tasteful harmony!

Saying "Mmmm...." with a smile - thinking "this is so freakin' good" in my mind!

As a warm up, enters the chicken noodle sou- I’m sorry, duck noodle soup. The very savory broth poured over the solid ingredients right in front of you, does slightly tame the taste of the duck but how it hovers over gives place to no complaint. You will love it. Gerardine loved the salty duck fat soda cookies they served it with. A bit too salty for me, but hey – different palette, different taste!

Before: Pour it, boy, pour it oooonnn!

After: ready for tasting!

Next was the main course. Crunchy pork flank served in molasses-sweetened white beans poured in rustic-style pot with a side of roots veggies. I ate the pork with the apple chutney the dark blood sausage pie it came with. Though many did, I didn’t eat the pie. It did look dry and according to my fellow neighbors, like Maeve from the Hour, it was. The pork was juicy, well seasoned just as the perfectly crunchy veggies were.

Colorful plate : Roots veggies!

Pork flank in mollases-sweetened white beams - the alternative to the syrupy beans and ham slices. Needless to say I prefer the flank!

The blood-sausage pie and the apple chutney.

As a prelude to the dessert, a shot of hot chocolate for the fun of it. Topped with a twirl of mint jelly whip sprinkled with maple sugar, I was pleasantly surprised by its fine taste as I have an aversion to mint chocolate, but as the mint and chocolate barely mixed, it won me over. So much I had two!

Hot cocoa + mintyness = it's love!

Before the dinner’s curtain call, it concludes with a maple syrup whippet (it was my first whippet ever!), a “tarte à Farlouche” ice nougat – a citrusy mousse topped with golden raisins (I could swear there was a bit of rum somewhere in that one), and a mildly sweet maple butter doughnut.

All in all, I very much enjoyed this sensory experience at La Cabane and believe you will to. For the 60$ tab it’s worth (20$ for kids 12 years and under), you get a serious five-course meal made of well selected high-end quality local products. I didn’t feel the need to pour maple syrup on anything on the menu that night, which would have been, I believe, and now bittersweetly, is an essential move to characterize a sugar shack eating moment.

You may not get a horse & carriage ride in the woods, the trip to the animal farm or make your own maple toffee as you would on the countryside, but before or after your delicious sweet meal at La Cabane, you can step outside for a horse & carriage ride through Old Montreal’s concrete jungle, a trip to any museum, gallery or boutiques there and marvel at the fine scenery and architecture. Is it not worth the stay? I think so and I’m sure you will too.

So get your friends together and make a reservation for La Cabane. They’re waiting for you!

Live. Laugh. Love. Sweet Maple syrup.

M

I N F O & C O M M U N I C A T I O N S

The door: La Scéna – Montreal, QC
The web *for reservation too* : www.lacabane.ca
The connection: Facebook Twitter
By car/walking: map – Metr0: Champ-de-Mars

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Feature image credit: Nocochi Facebook page

by Myriam Richard

Last week, I professed my love of sweets with the newly launched chocolate chunk cakes by Monsieur Felix & Mr. Norton (click here for the post) and that I’d share my favorite places to have dessert. Why wait so long when I already have quite a number in my repertoire. Thus I present you, Nocochi.

Located on Mackay St. (corner Sherbrooke St.), in the very artsy quarter where the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Nuedge Gallery are, Nocochi is my place to go whenever I’m done visiting an exhibit at the Museum or feasting my eyes at nearby galleries, like that time. Nocochi, which means chickpea floor in Farsi but also a Persian sweet, is a charming, bright, gallery-style café, famous for their Persian and Middle-Eastern melt-in-your-mouth homemade bite-size cookies, mostly made out of nuts and traditional spices. My favorites are all made out of pistacchios. I love, love, loooooove pistacchios!

Hmmm... nocochis! (photo credit: www.facebook.com/nocochi.cafe.patisserie)

Still in the sweet delights, they also serve traditional turkish loukoums which are bite-size jelly cubes made out of sugar, starch and nuts, and often flavored with rose water and/or dry fruits as well as jelly fruits. As they now serve breakfast and brunch, the menu extends more elaborately and additionally to cafés must coffees and teas, as you can see in the menu here. Catering service is also offered.

I went a few weeks ago for lunch and had their shrimp linguini. Delicious!

What I love about Nocochi is that it’s bright and it’s a great place to mix light work (they have wi-fi) and eating at the same time, or to read. The many artworks displayed can trigger interesting conversations, just as the comfortable ambiance is a blank canvas to trigger the same thing.

A view from where I was sitting.

So next time you're in the area by yourself or with friends, consider Nocochi for its charm, delight and of course… the sweets!

Live. Laugh. Love. Be. Sweet.

M

P.S.: They also have a choice of glutten, egg and milk free delights!

I N F O & C O M M U N I C A T I O N S

The web: www.nococchi.com

The door: 2156 rue Mackay, Montréal, Québec, H3G 2J1 (Car/Walk: map – Metro: Guy-Concordia – Bus: 24)

The call: 514.989.7514

Connect: Twitter Facebook

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by Myriam Richard

Frederick William Faber once said “Every moment of resistance to temptation is a victory”. (Un)fortunately, when it comes to sweets and desserts, I am rarely, if ever a victor. I love it. Whether in a salad by adding golden raisins to it or a tablespoonful of maple syrup in a Crecy soup, a bit of sweet in my meals gets an automatic inner-cheer. But desserts, ah desserts… I sometimes start my meals with them (oh wow, did I just blurt this out out loud?)

I believe you wouldn’t oppose to me sharing my favorite (sweet) places, desserts and recipes with you then, no?

…

…

That’s what I thought. So let’s get the ball rolling, shall we?

BAM!!!

I apologize. Take these next seconds to catch your breath … … …

This is a shot of the newly launched Ebony & Ivory chocolate chunk cake by one of my favorite cookie makers, Monsieur Félix & Mr. Norton. Known for their so-scrumptious-they-melt-in-your-mouth cookies, and 27 years and millions of cookies later, the Montreal-founded company expands its expertise by dabbing in the world of cakes.

Sold exclusively at all IGAs across Quebec, two flavors are offered: the above-mentioned Ebony & Ivory, a three fan-favorite Ebony & Ivory cookie-layered cake sandwiching a white blend of chocolate butter cream and whipped cream topped with big chunks of chocolate, and Ménage-à-Trois, a three-layer cake made of their famous Ménage-à-Trois chocolate chunk cookie, with one layer of milk chocolate butter cream and dark chocolate butter cream. I must admit, it’s hard to write this without having a bite of them.

I gathered my sister and two of my best friends, including Paperplanes’ own left wing, Gerardine to be part of the tasting team. Both cakes were purely amazing but the Ebony & Ivory was favored by three of us. It was the sweetest! My other friend preferred Ménage-à-Trois as it was demure in the sweetness, without losing richness. Nonetheless, both ignited sweetgasms!

I very much recommend you experience these cakes with loved ones over nice conversations and a 10 year-aged Porto. You are allowed decadence once in while, make this one of them!

Live. Laugh. Love. Eat. Cake.

M

I N F O & C O M M U N I C A T I O N S

For Monsieur Félix & Mr. Norton

The Web: www.felixandnorton.com (by the way, you get to hear both sirs as they tag along while you browse the site!)

Connect: Facebook Twitter

For IGA

The Web : www.IGA.net

Connect : Facebook Twitter

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