Tomorrow night, Thursday March 1st 2012, hundreds of hungry foodies will gather at the North Building of the St Lawrence Market for an annual event appropriately entitled “Recipe for Change“. The event is a fundraiser for LFP partner Foodshare and helps them provide the fantastic services they have become known for including providing local, sustainable and [...]
more...February 2012
Feb
29
2012
Bah, humbug. That’s how some people respond to Leap Day. To them, it’s no big thing. Just another day. Not so for me. I remember that, 20 years ago, I was lying on a couch hoping to delay the onset of labour so my daughter would have an ann…
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Feb
29
2012
Hospital food is unmemorable at best, often consisting of reheated meals made off-site. However, it’s no wonder that this is what hospital food has become; as budgets are slashed, it is easy to see the solution in low-cost, low-labour meal alternatives. But there is another option. Exciting things are happening in hospital kitchens across Canada, [...]
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Feb
29
2012
So many of us are already doing all we can to improve the quality of our lives. We are more careful with the foods we eat, we meditate, do yoga, listen to inspirational speakers, chose kinder relationships, etc. But what happens to this good energy and…
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Feb
29
2012
I recently had a terrifying experience. The organizer of a series of flamenco events (according to local media, the biggest gathering ever of local and international flamenco artists) invited me to perform. My schedule was already packed, so I initia…
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Feb
29
2012
“When a child is locked in the bathroom with water running and he says he’s doing nothing but the dog is barking, call 911.” – Erma Bombeck – Here are a few Bathroom Decorating Do’s and Don’ts DO – Use a light relaxing and sooth…
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Feb
29
2012
If you’re a small business owner who’s serious about enhancing your online presence through your own website or social media, then you absolutely must have a professional headshot that will help you boost your image and personal brand. I am…
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Feb
29
2012
Like most people I was saddened to learn of the recent death of Whitney Houston. It seems such a waste to see such a talented person taken from us. As I read the tributes to her, one of her quotes stuck with me. “We all die. The goal isn
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Feb
28
2012
Top interior designer and designer mentor, Lisa Kahn, is principal of Kahn Design Group in Naples, Florida. Lisa is a pro at collaborative wins and speaks for many designers when she shares insight into how best, as a supplier or rep, to get more business from busy designers.>> THE 6 THINGS DESIGNERS WISH EVERY SALES …MORE
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Feb
28
2012
Local Food Plus’ committed institutional partner The Scarborough Hospital is pleased to present the third It’s Time to Talk Speakers’ Series, “Food for Thought: You Are What You Eat” on Thursday, March 1, 2012. Let The Scarborough Hospital’s experts guide you on how to have conversations on topics like heart healthy lifestyle changes, eating well on [...]
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Feb
28
2012
Unlike Lisa… through the month of January and early February I have been feeling the very opposite of Polly Anna. I was experiencing the “winter blues” and needing some inspiration so a friend suggested that I meet an amazing women named Janet Pliszka. She is a photographer and the owner of Visual Hues Photography (visualhues.com). [...]
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Feb
28
2012
Good morning Rock Stars, Happy Tuesday! Today marks my 122nd blog post…amazing! Who knew that when I began this little experiment, it would turn into something so much more. Over the course of these 122 posts, you have given me the privilege of sharing ideas, perspectives, and who I am. You have inspired me to [...]
Feb
28
2012
This is a workshop for Women Wanting More Love in their Life Many women today are challenged with trying to get closer to their guy (or “get” their guy); their efforts often backfiring on them – creating more distance instead. Ask yourself: Are …
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Feb
28
2012
“If I want to be alone, some place where I can write, I can read, I can pray, I can cry, I can do whatever I want – I go to the bathroom.” – Alicia Keys – What is making a splash in bathroom designs? Well these days there seems to be fe…
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Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
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Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
28
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
more...
Feb
27
2012
Probably no-one needs to tell you there is power in saying “yes” and, depending on the situation, power in saying “no.” What happens, though, if you do not have the answer within yourself to a questio…
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Feb
27
2012
We Move Forward 2012 is a 3-day women’s conference that is about becoming clear on what you want the next chapter of your life to look like regardless of what stage of life you’re in. At the core of the conference is its title ~ We Move Forward ~ w…
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Feb
27
2012
Queen Seeking a King is a 12-week women’s circle with a focus on relationship coaching. This is for women who are successful, savvy and doing personal growth work. They are frustrated, at a loss as to what to do to really connect with “th…
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Feb
27
2012
Experience tells a story … “I got along without you before I met you and I’ll get along without you a long time after you’re gone.” – Willie Nelson – I’ve been doing this a long time and every once in a while we come across a cl…
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Feb
27
2012
As she stood up at the podium, Tanya Sarakinis admitted thiswas just her second time public speaking and asked the audience to be kind.
She needn’t have worried. She held their attention to every word as in her modest, down-to-earthway she shared her story. As she talkedabout the challenges of finding balance in her life – wanting a meaningfulcareer while raising her children – the women were nodding their heads. They could completely relate to this desire,it was one they all shared with her.
From a young age, Tanya had always wanted to be anurse. Seeing her younger brother whohad spina bifida and the challenges he faced, she knew she wanted to helppeople feel better. So she realized thatdream and became an emergency room nurse.
After a short hiatus after the birth of her first son, shefound when she went back to nursing that the quality of care provided in ERs,was just not there. Identifying this gapin service, she set about starting a temp agency that would provide quality,trained emergency room nurses to local hospitals.
At first it was a hard sell and a bit of a catch-22. Did she recruit the nurses first and thensecure the contracts, or get the contracts and scramble to get the nurses tofill the shifts? In the end she did abit of both. Then out of the blue, onehospital phoned and placed 82 shifts with her, she knew then that the businesswas off and running. Tanya smiled and jokedthat no sooner had she hung up the phone from the hospital, than she called herhusband, and said, “we’re screwed.”
But they weren’t. Since then she has grown the business to become one of the top 200fastest growing companies, with Tanya being listed as one of the top 100 womenentrepreneurs for three years in a row.
What struck me about Tanya’s story is she never rested, satback and said we’ve made it. No, she was always thinking ahead, like thesoftware they had developed so hospitals, nursing managers and nurses couldschedule shifts online. Or the trainingshe offered to nurses to bring them up-to-speed with latest technology andtreatment options.
She also tackled her challenges head-on such as the slowpayment turnaround at the hospitals, which with an ever-growing payroll tocover, could have dramatically impacted the business. She negotiated that they receive promptpayment instead of the typical two to three months experienced by other serviceproviders.
She recognized the importance of diversifying, a lesson shelearned the hard way when she lost one of her biggest accounts because of achange in hospital leadership. As aresult, she broadened her scope, partnered up with other similar organizationsto deepen her offerings.
And she did all this while raising her children – now fourof them. “It is ironic that I did allthis so I could have more time with my children, and that is not always thecase. I have to work at it, to make sure it happens.”
Before she talked, Tanya shared with me that she wasn’t surethe women would find what she had to say of interest. She was wrong. The women left inspired, believing that oneday maybe they too could build their businesses to become so successful.
We all need role models to show us that it can be done. And Tanya did just that.
Feb
26
2012
Mentor Kati Curtis, Principal of Nirmada, spills her top six mus haves for summer home, cottage or beach house decorating.>> Beach House Must Haves As cold as it is in NYC today, it’s hard to imagine summer will ever be here. But now is the time to be wrapping up your beach house decorating, cottage …MORE
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Feb
25
2012
She is a single mom, has been since her son was 2. He’s 8 now so he’s used to living in two houses, having two bikes, two beds and two parents who love him but not each other. She left … Continue reading →
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Sarah Liberatore
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Kristin Crowe
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