Halloween may look a little different this year but that doesn’t mean we can’t still get in the spooky spirit. There’s no need to look anxiously at the weather forecast in anticipation of the 31st when your costume parties take place virtually from your living room. Rather than running out to find a Halloween costume, shop your closet for 6 surprisingly easy Halloween costume ideas inspired by your favourite TV characters. From the fashion-forward Emily Cooper of Emily in Paris to the slick comic book character Sister Night of Watchmen, find a look that works some of your favourite pieces into something special. Make use of anything from basics to workwear and give your closet a new life for the night.
Click through for TV-inspired Halloween costume ideas:
Make the expensive loungewear you bought to WFH home in even more worth it. A designer sweater and drop crotch pants in a palette of black and white is a look that would make David Rose proud.
On February 17, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, which would later be classified as triple positive.
As anyone who has been on this journey knows, the first few days and weeks are a blur of appointments and emotions. As it became clear that I would be losing my hair due to the type of chemo I would be receiving, I knew I wanted to go ahead and have it shaved to save me the emotional trauma of having to see clumps of my long (expensively highlighted!) hair fall out.
I made the appointment knowing my mom would be able to join me. Then to my surprise, my older sister flew across country to be with us as well. During the appointment, my mom asked if I wanted to keep a lock of my hair, but I remember telling her, “that part of my life is over, I need to look forward”.
And for me, looking forward also meant physically moving forward. I was determined to continue running through treatment and joked that I was more aerodynamic with my newly bald head. I live in an area where sidewalks and greenways are readily accessible so I continued to run my bald-headed self on the days that I could, through 6 rounds of TCHP chemo, surgery for a lumpectomy and lymph node removal and 20 rounds of radiation.
I have certainly struggled with aspects of having cancer but for me, losing my hair has not been one of those. In fact, silver linings! Not having hair during a pandemic meant not having to worry about getting to the salon!
While I have completed the majority of my treatment, having triple positive breast cancer means continued immunotherapy infusions every three weeks until May 2021 as well as chemically induced menopause at the age of 42.
Lack of estrogen can contribute to osteoporosis and joint aches but another silver lining? For us ladies running through cancer and menopause, these side effects can be mitigated with running!
So, while I continue to watch my hair grow, I will continue to watch my miles grow too.
As runners we all know what a race hangover looks like. When I finished my first marathon distance this May, I knew I had achieved something remarkable. Not only had I completed my goal using a Train Like a Mother Marathon Program, but I had done it inside of a pandemic when the physical race itself had been cancelled.
Everyone told me how amazing it was. Heck, I told myself how amazing it was! But once the high and the muscle soreness dissipated, I quickly fell into a deep race hangover with no end in sight as race after race was cancelled and runners were told to run solo wherever possible.
Enter Gary Robbins, organizer of the Coast Mountain Trail Running (CMTR) Summer Challenge. The challenge was teased on the CMTR Instagram page. Scrolling on Instagram, staring longingly at destinations which now felt out of reach, the Summer Challenge post hinted at something different.
“Who's sick of "virtual races" already!?” was the caption. Me!
I was geared up to see what this virtual, summer long scavenger hunt would look like. Completing 30 unique challenges over 100 days of summer to earn badges was right up my alley as a former Girl Guide.
I ran for ice cream. I ran for flowers. One run even had me carrying a canning jar full of tea leaves – that was the “Shop Local” challenge. I unlocked hidden challenges and I even ran with a stranger. On purpose! I ran up a local stair trail five times in a row. My calves still haven’t quite forgiven me.
I mentioned Gary Robbins earlier, as he is a local trail running legend where I am from. Seriously, look this guy up. He has tried three times in a row to finish the notoriously difficult Barkley Marathons in Tennessee. No Canadian has finished it yet. Gary also happens to be an avid camper. I am an avid camper. Do I sound like a fangirl yet?
During an August camping trip, I was taking a stroll around the campsite when I stumbled across a site with a familiar tent and a vehicle covered in CMTR race stickers.
Could it be?
What were the chances?
Indeed, it was GARY! I summed up my courage and introduced myself. He was super gracious and I kept it short and sweet. My husband and our friends and our children spent the rest of the weekend mercilessly teasing me about “Gary Glitter”, now nicknamed for my starstruck reaction.
I closed out my challenge on September 20 with a four-and-half-hour-hike accompanied by my 8-year-old daughter. We even managed to run parts of it.
I have no idea what the fall holds for me and the running world, but man, that challenge lanyard full of buttons feels glittery and fantastic.
Every year in November, Diwali, the five-day Hindu religious festival, also known as the Festival of Lights, takes place – and this year, Sephora Canada is celebrating the event with its first dedicated Diwali campaign.
The Diwali campaign is the latest in Sephora Canada’s ‘We Belong To Something Beautiful’ campaign series, first launched in 2019 to honour “the inclusion of all communities shaping Canada.” Through the series, Sephora Canada says it “strives to create a space where diversity is celebrated, self-expression is honoured and all Canadians feel a sense of belonging.” For this campaign, the brand has tapped Canadian influencers Ankita Bhardwaj and Thanuska Subramaniam.
On how beauty and Diwali go hand-in-hand, Bhardwaj told FASHION, “Before officially being allowed to wear makeup, Diwali was one of those rare times that I would get a chance to test out my skills. The beginning of my makeup journey consisted of gold eyeshadows and red lips which quickly became a Diwali tradition, reflecting the dazzling display of bright lights and colours.” She adds, “To be able to share and celebrate our communities’ beautiful tradition through the SEPHORA Canada Diwali campaign is an opportunity I am extremely grateful and proud of.”
Ankita Bhardwaj. Photograph courtesy of Sephora Canada
For Subramaniam, the campaign signals more than just an image. “As a South Asian dark-skinned woman who grew up not seeing many faces that looked like mine in this industry, it makes me really proud that SEPHORA Canada is celebrating Diwali and sharing creators’ stories of our culture and traditions,” she tells FASHION.
Thankuska Subramaniam. Photograph courtesy of Sephora Canada.
The campaign will also include ‘Get The Look’ imagery to help others recreate the stunning looks at home. There will also be an additional ‘Get The Look’ visual featuring Neru Yasokumar, a beauty advisor at Sephora’s Bramalea location.
Neru Yasokumar. Photograph courtesy of Sephora Canada.
“We are humbled to launch our first-ever Diwali campaign as it marks another step we are taking to deliver on our commitment to diversity and inclusion,” Deborah Neff, the vice president of marketing, said in a release. “We’re proud to continue to work with local Canadian collaborators and champion representation of the many demographics that make up our diverse country and Canadian clientele. We hope this campaign inspires our clients to celebrate new beginnings.”
Canadian-owned sister hotels Matachica Resort and GAÏA Riverlodge just released a trio of tees, illustrated by renowned Montréal-based creative Cécile Gariépy, in the name of COVID-19 relief. Proceeds from sales of the Egyptian cotton shirts – which are manufactured by Kotn – will go to supporting food sourcing, housing and education for local resort staff and their kin who have been greatly affected by closures of the resorts (both of which will reopen on November 21).
Photography courtesy of Matachica Resort.
“Over the last 13 years of owning my hotels in Belize, our dedicated staff have become like family to me,” said Daniel Lighter, owner of Matachica Resort and GAÏA Riverlodge, in a statement about the launch of the optimistically-named collection, The World Can. “The COVID-19 pandemic has hit them hard and most lack the financial means to afford basic needs that many of us take for granted, like food, housing and education. With this launch, we’re not only offering a unique and high-quality product, but also an important opportunity to lend a hand to those who desperately need it now.”
Keeping with this team spirit, the tees are named after staff members at the two resorts – Charlie, Sam and Abi – and the visuals represent the culture surrounding Matachica and GAÏA’s gold standard-certified locations.
I miss marathon finish lines. The accomplishment of crossing a finish line is so special. I thought I’d be a one and done kind of marathon runner. Turns out, I got hooked not only on the race, but on the entire experience, even the months of training. The challenge of seeing a plan come together, ultimately ending at that finish line is magical.
Like many other runners, in January I signed up for my 2020 races and planned for my fall marathon. My overall goal is to finish a marathon in each New England state; this year was the Hartford Marathon in Connecticut.
Calendar in hand, I mapped out a year’s worth of training.
Seven months into the pandemic there is no finish line in site, but all those miles of marathon training have helped me deal with life in general. When gyms had to close, I still had my running as a stress relief. Even as races started being cancelled, I stuck to my training calendar because there was a chance that a spring race may happen, and I wanted to be ready.
When the kids came home and shifted to distance learning, I woke up earlier to get miles in before my husband left for work, still holding out hope a finish line was in the future.
Then, there was the winter running streak I just couldn’t give up. I’d already run or walked a mile outside every day from January 3 so why not keep going?
While this year’s marathon hasn’t happened yet, I’ve crossed off many more milestones that I didn’t even realize would be there back in January. There has been more time to include our kids in my miles because they just assume that mommy has a mile to do today and we are going to do it together. Sticking with my training has also helped my patience. When I just want to scream in frustration after long days balancing work and life while the WiFi struggles to keep up, and I want to throw the modem out the window, I use my marathon mantras that I use to get up over difficult hills in a race to make it through the hard days.
And, just like in a marathon, when I’m feeling depleted and drained, there is a strength hidden inside that I can draw on to get me through to the end. There have been times I have had to take a deep breath when the next depressing headline crosses the screen. Just like digging deep at mile 22 because you’re almost there, I know we are so close to the finish. We might get there a little worse for wear, missing a couple toenails, but I can feel the finish line cheers.
Maybe this race turns into an ultra; I’m on day 294 of my streak so bring it on!
Light and fluffy with an egg-like taste, Yorkshire Pudding is a delicious side dish perfect for serving with your Sunday roast. This easy recipe will show you how to prepare the dish traditionally with beef drippings or using standard fats like butter and oil.
This is a delicious bread dish that is dessert like. If you love Yorkshire pudding then try this focaccia bread, perfect naan, or soda bread next.
Yorkshire Pudding Recipe
Whether you plan on making a large pot of beef stew or a simple pot roast you’ll want to whip up some Yorkshire pudding to accompany your dish. This eggy side dish is perfect for soaking up the gravy on your roast or those last drops of your stew. Just making this recipe took me back to a vacation I took with my husband to the English countryside years ago. We spent some time in Surrey and dined on meals with Yorkshire pudding in traditional pubs.
It’s Aimee here from Aimee Mars. This delicious side dish, which is somewhat like a bread that pairs with your meal, can even be served as a dessert. Just top it with something sweet like whipped cream and you have a quick and easy treat.
What is Yorkshire Pudding?
This common English side dish contains eggs, flour, and milk or water and has a bread pudding-like texture. The base is meat-drippings or a combination of fats such as butter and oil. Commonly served with beef and gravy or a Sunday roast this side can be made in a large skillet and torn apart or as single servings using a muffin tin.
Yorkshire pudding tastes similar to a popover and can even be served with syrup and vanilla ice cream as a dessert.
Ingredients in Yorkshire Pudding
Beef Drippings (or butter and oil): the next time you make a roast beef save the beef drippings to prepare Yorkshire pudding, however, you can just as easily use a combination of butter and oil.
Flour: a standard all-purpose flour works best for this recipe. I prefer to use a white whole wheat option.
Whole Milk:
Eggs: the eggs are a key ingredient in the pudding batter, which needs to sit for a little bit before cooking to allow the eggs to set.
Salt: a tiny amount of salt is needing for seasoning.
How to Make Yorkshire Puddings
Prepare the batter:Place the flour, milk, eggs, and salt into a large bowl and whisk until fully combined. Set aside
Heat the fat:Remove all the oven racks except the one at the very bottom. Pour the butter or drippings into a 10-inch sized skillet or divide between a 12-cup muffin pan. Place the skillet into the oven or if using a muffin tin place on a large baking sheet and place into the oven. Bake for 5 minutes until the oil and pan is heated.
Cook:Pour the batter into the skillet or divide between the muffin cups. Bake for 25 minutes or until the batter begins to puff up and turn a golden brown.
Serve immediately!
Yorkshire Pudding vs Popover
Yorkshire pudding has a light and fluffy texture. It’s made using the drippings from roast beef or you can use a butter and oil combination. By heating the leftover drippings and pouring the batter into the pan you get an airy bread pudding. The pudding will pop over the pan when baking. The pudding is then cut up to serve alongside the beef.
Popovers are similar in texture but are made using butter and oil instead of beef drippings. A special tall muffin-tin called a popover pan is used to achieve the tall thin muffin-like shape.
Can You Make Traditional Yorkshire Pudding In Advance?
Typically, you will prepare Yorkshire pudding just before your meal is ready. It comes together so quickly. If you open the oven or when you remove the pudding from the oven it will fall quickly. It’s best to prepare them along with your meal, however, you can freeze them. Let them cool completely before wrapping them individually and storing them in a freezer-safe bag. To reheat place them in the oven set to 350ºF for 3 to 5 minutes.
Light and fluffy with an egg-like taste, Yorkshire Pudding is a delicious side dish perfect for serving with your Sunday roast. This easy recipe will show you how to prepare the dish traditionally with beef drippings or using standard fats like butter and oil.
CourseBread, Side Dish
CuisineEnglish
KeywordYorkshire pudding
Prep Time20minutes
Cook Time30minutes
Total Time50minutes
Servings12Servings
Calories68kcal
AuthorAimee Mars
Ingredients
1cupFlour
1cupWhole Milk
3largeEggs
1½teaspoonsSalt
1/4Butteror beef drippings, bacon fat, or a combination of butter and oil
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Place the flour, milk, eggs, and salt into a large bowl and whisk until fully combined. Set aside and let sit for 20 minutes.
Remove all the oven racks except the one at the very bottom. Pour the butter or drippings into a 10-inch sized skillet or divide between a 12-cup muffin pan.
Place the skillet into the oven or if using a muffin tin place on a large baking sheet and place into the oven. Bake for 5 minutes until the oil and pan is heated.
Remove the skillet or muffin pan from the oven carefully and whisk the batter again. Pour all of the batter into the skillet or divide between the muffin cups. Bake for 25 minutes or until the batter begins to puff up and turn a golden brown.
Serve hot, immediately.
Notes
Don't open the oven during the baking process. The pudding could fall easily.
