Horoscope:May 21- May 27

In Canadia Land, May Long Weekend fall a little before Memorial Day. The Canadian version, is much the same as the American lots of booze, music, and time with friends and family. May long weekend is always a righteous party for the town of Banff. As Victoria Day, marks the end of the ski season for the Canadian Rockies. Every May Long, Sunshine Village celebrates the end of the season with "The Slush Cup." Where slightly insane skiers and snowboards through themselves of a jump and into a pool of freezing water; warmed with snow.

The ski conditions at Sunshine Village are surprisingly good. While I won't be partaking in Slush Cup I look forward to some park laps, BC*DC, and the show of drunken stupor. With that, I'd like to remind everyone that there will be police check stops today, so please party responsibly.

And check out your Georgia Nicols Horoscope for May 21-27.

Gemini:

"...the envelope please. And the winner is Gemini!" All this good stuff snuck up on you, didn't it? Well, I say grab the baton and run with it. Life is full of up-and-down cycles as well as cycles within cycles. It's important to recognize when you're on a roll and things are going well. In fact, things are going to be even better and better! Don't take this for granted. Not only do you have a great summer ahead, you have a fortunate year ahead of you. Make the most of this. That saying, "Make hay while the Sun shines," is true! Fortunately, you don't sit around getting dusty. But why not go one step further? Hatch a plan. Set some goals. Write down what your perfect world would be about a year from now. Be specific.

Cancer:

Because Gemini is the sign next to yours in the zodiac, many of you have some planets in Gemini in your chart. This means all this Gemini pixie dust will sprinkle on you as well. We know you've been working hard to secure your home base and feel good about where you live. (You're a nester.) But for the next four-to-six weeks, it behooves you to think about what you want your "new" year (birthday to birthday) to be. For starters, why not look back over your shoulder and size up your last year. How are you doing at the art of living? If you clearly define the goals you want to achieve in the coming year, they will more likely become a reality. After all, are you steering your life or just responding to whatever happens?

Leo:

You're looking at a popular six weeks ahead. (Do get out of bed.) Invitations will pour in as friends, clubs and organizations make demands on your time. Expect to hang out with younger friends and creative, artistic types. (These are your people.) And while the next six weeks are the perfect time to schmooze and enjoy the company of others, they are also a good time to think about your hopes and dreams for the future. You're a leader. It's not your style to muddle along relying on management by crisis. Your reputation is getting a lovely boost now so what can you do to best use this advantage? (He who hesitates is miles away from the next exit.)

Virgo:

Of course, you're still a force to contend with because fiery Mars has been in your sign since November (staying until July). Small wonder this Gemini hit occurs at the top of your chart. It boldly calls attention to you, especially the attention of bosses, parents, teachers, VIPs and the police. You are definitely high viz during the next six weeks, and take note: This spotlight is flattering! Others see you as capable, which is why you'll be asked to take on increased responsibilities. Say yes because you don't have to be an action hero to please them. (It's the great lighting, get it?) Romance with someone older, richer or in a position of authority might percolate. (When you don't know what you're doing - do it neatly.)

Libra:

In the next six weeks, you want to blow town. You want a change of scenery. You want to see new places, new faces and hear new ideas. In fact, you want to be stimulated by fascinating conversation with intelligent people who transport you to new levels of awareness. You want mind-blowing experiences to make your life exciting. Obviously, if you can travel, do so. If you can't travel, then explore your own sandbox. Go someplace you've never been. Talk to people from different backgrounds. Do things that are out of the ordinary (nothing as extreme as jogging, but you could get a window table in an ethnic restaurant and watch runners go by. Of course, cyclists are more fun because they dress better. And the guys shave their legs.)

Scorpio:

Keep your pockets open because all kinds of gifts, goodies, money, as well as favours and perks will come your way in the next six weeks. Ka-ching! (Would I kid you?) People will give you things directly and many of you will benefit indirectly because your partner or someone close to you gets a windfall. The next six weeks are the perfect time to ask for a loan or a mortgage. They're also the perfect time to decide how to share jointly-held property or an inheritance or settle insurance disputes. Sex will be very hot as well. Hey - you're laughing!

Sagittarius:

You are on the other end of the teeter-totter with Gemini because Gemini and Sagittarius are 180 degrees apart. In other words, you are two ends of the same plank. Therefore, all this wonderful stuff swirling around Gemini mirrors you! In fact, life will be so dazzling you'll need to wear shades. Relations with everyone will be smoother, more gracious and diplomatic. A casual relationship could become more committed. It's a great time to begin new partnerships (personal or professional). This is not the time to go it alone. Form working units with others and let people help you! Good time to consult experts as well. ("Is there a taxidermist in the house?")

Capricorn:

Your urge to organize (which is always there) is going to be strong in the next six weeks. You'll want to alphabetize your CDs and colour-code your closet. ("A home for everything and everything in its place.") Not only will you enjoy getting better organized at work and at home, you'll become more active at work in a hands-on way. Partly, this is because your relations with co-workers are so good right now. (Good enough for a romance to spark!) This drive for self-improvement will expand to your health as well. The high standards you set for yourself could earn you a raise or praise from others. Kudos!

Aquarius:

The next six weeks are going to be one of the most fun-filled times of the year for you. Grab every opportunity to enjoy a vacation (even a tiny one). Attend musical performances, summer fairs, sports events, the arts, craft fairs and anything to do with theme parks and the hospitality industry. Playful times with children will be rewarding. Romantic relationships will get a wonderful boost. Singles could start a new romance. Existing relationships will heat up in a sweet way. Look for ways to express your creativity because this will be satisfying.

Pisces:

You're entering a domestic phase for the next six weeks. This is why you will enjoy gardening, redecorating, puttering around your digs and tweaking things. You will definitely enjoy entertaining at home, which is also why you're keen to tackle home repairs. This impulse to improve your living space extends even into your family, which is why family relationships will become a stronger focus and also more rewarding and affectionate. For those of you who are exploring real-estate deals, this will be a busy time. Profitable opportunities are possible so keep your eyes open.

Aries:

Your tempo is quickening. In the next month, you'll be running around like you've got an outboard motor on your ass. The pace of your days will accelerate because you're cramming more into each day. Short trips, busy errands, conversations with everyone plus increased reading, writing and studying are just some reasons your pace will be approaching Warp 9. But you'll welcome the challenge! (You love being out there, flying your colours, talking to everyone.) Look for ways to make money from talking and writing because you can do this in the next four-to-six weeks. Hey, you're more than just a pretty face.

Taurus:

This heavy-duty Gemini trip makes you focus on money, money, money! You've got money-making ideas and opportunities to earn money. Naturally, since you're earning some coin, you're thinking about major purchases. (You do love your treasures.) But at a subtler level, when you think about your assets and what you own, you'll also think about your life values. What are your values? What guides you? You know you want to be happy, and you know you want financial security. (Mortgage-free land!) So what can you do that's fun and rewarding and makes lots of money? (Will this make you happy?)

Eat: Vegan French Onion Soup

I love soup for lunch, especially when I am up at the mountain. The fresh snow, mountain air, and the excitement of shredding always makes cheesy soups looks so enticing. The Chimney Corner, at Sunshine Village has a pretty fan-fricken-tastic French onion soup. I always drool in envy over it as other dinners dig into their cheesy pot of warm goodness. 

I have been playing with some French Onion Soup recipes, trying to find a decent alternative. I don't have a dutch oven, or one of those oven friendly soup bowls so this recipe has forced some creativity out of me. My French Onion Soup is tasty, hearty, and soul warming. 

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 red onion (sliced into skinny moons)

2 white onions (sliced thinly)

Fresh thyme (about 4 or 5 twigs)

3 cloves garlic (minced)

1/4 balsamic vinegar

1 cup white whine

4 cups vegetable broth

1 bay leaf

1 tsp rosemary

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

Topping

Sprouted grain bread

1 tsp coconut oil

Daiya vegan mozzarella  cheese

In a large sauce pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the yellow onions, thyme, and salt. The onions will appear to take up the whole pan, however, I promise that they will cook down. Cook the onions on a medium low heat, until they begin to caramelize (about 45 min). Add the balsamic vinegar, and stir the onions until the vinegar is absorbed into the onions and they are a deeper brown. Add the stock, wine, red onion, garlic, bay leaf, and pepper. Bring to boil and let simmer for 20 minutes.

You can year the soup now, as is, or for the extra gooey goodness of non-vegan french onion soup preheat the oven to 350 F. On a baking tray place several pieces of whole wheat, or sprouted grain bread- preferably fresh. Lightly brush with oil, and top with tons of Daiya Cheese. Bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is uber gooey. 

Pour the soup into a large bowl, and then cover with the baked cheese bread. 

- Enjoy

Calm: Grounded and Stretched.

Only in the dictionary, does Success come before Work. Success is a result of a commitment to yourself and your goals. Success is not guaranteed, and does not come easy. If it did, success would be taken for granted; and we would feel entitled to the praise and reward associated with achievement. 

I am a Stress-A-Sourus-Rex, right now. I have midterms, life, my gmat, and a million little dudes inside my head pounding with a sledgehammer as they renovate my mind. I'm fighting the renovation; even though I know it is for my self betterment. 

When my life gets crazy, I have to remember to take to ground my self, breath, and stretch through the feeling of discomfort. In a work shop I attended with Christine Hassler, Hassler stressed the importance of making a priority a time to center yourself and breath through the demands of the day. I have been working on managing my priorities, and making a point of stretching more regularly. 

This is a short stretch routine, perfect for after a Tracy Anderson Workout, Ski Day, or simply a catalyst for relaxation. 

Melt into the stretches, and let go of any negativity holding you back. You are beautiful, capable, and kind. Success is waiting for you. 

Much Love!

Ski: Red Mountain, Rossland BC

Today it seems that so many ski towns are a variation of the intrawest cookies cutter model. The towns are all shiny and new. The ghost of the old land fill that once was before the influx of condos and hotels is a distant mummer silenced by the noise of memories in the making. 

Rossland BC, is not your cookie cutter ski town. And Red Mountain is not your typical ski resort. Rossland BC is tucked away in the Canadian Kootenays. Rossland is a world of its own, just 3 miles north of the US boarder. Rossland BC was a town long before it became a skiers haven. Rossland was originally settled in the 1800's during the gold rush. In 1897, Rossland was one of the largest cities in Western Canada. In the early 1900's, some Rossland local, who might have been perceived loco, realized that the Monashee Mountains with the combination of excessive winter precipitation would make for ideal ski conditions. Red Mountain ski club, and now resort was born. 

Red Mountain, is not your typical ski resort. With a rustic charm, and older lifts its easy to make the mistake of discrediting the resort. The lifts are slow at Red; the difference being that you're grateful for the chance to catch your breath after skiing nearly 3000ft of vert. Red Mountain, is dream for the advanced skier. With fluffy pillows, dreamy cliffs, and stunning views of the entire Kootenay Valley, Red Mountain will seduce you with one turn. 

Red Mountain, doesn't have the constant ewwing and awing attention of the glitteratii ski resorts. Red Mountain doesn't need to create hype about their terrain park, or their restaurants. The mountain speaks for it self. Loudly. 

Red Mountain, and Monashee Mountains of interior British Columbia are kept private. They are the Mountains that the shred elite holiday at.

Above the Mountains: Sarah Burke

Life is dangerous. There is an element of risk in all of our daily actions, and in all activity. On Thursday January 19th, The ski world lost an amazing athlete who truly helped elevate woman's freestyle skiing, and subsequently female snowboarding. Sarah Burke was an incredible athlete who truly pushed the limitations of woman's action sports.

As a girl in a very man driven sport it can be hard to prove yourself. You want to keep up with boys. If you are slow you will be left behind. You want to fit in so you mute your self, you don't complain you just troop. As a girl you have to work twice as hard, and push your self in comparison to the boys. It is survival, and it is the only option. Because your love is for the mountain and sport first.  You want to ride as hard as you can, and you want to master every angle of the mountains you call home. It's not about being a girl, it's about being in love with something bigger; and hoping to inspire others to fall in love with your beach.

Sarah Burks tragic fall has been broad casted across main stream media news stations. Her fall has triggered debate into the safety of freestyle skiing and snowboarding. Media stations have been falsely reporting on her fall. Sarah was in the super pipe at Park City Mountain Resort. She had just landed a trick that she was working on, and was coming into the flat bottom of the pipe when here weight was a little too forward and she clipped an edge. Her fall, at first did not look serious; it was an edge catch not an 20ft inverted aerial gone wrong. Her fall was unlucky in every sense of the word. When her edge caught she fell forward, and the whiplash tore a critical artery in her neck that supplies oxygen to the brain. Sarah did not loose control in the air.

I had only met Sarah a hand full of times, but I do know that her love was for the sport. If her accident spurs any action against the sport of freestyle skiing and or snowboarding I can only imagine how livid and hurt she would be. Sarah spent her career pushing the limitation of female action sports, and she pushed for the equality of female athletes in winter sports. The features in terrain parks are getting larger and the air that recreational skiers and snowboarders are catching is being inflated. Skiing and Snowboarding are extreme sports. I believe that skill, and technicality should have a higher importance that sheer amplitude. I believe that ski resorts terrain parks are resulting in more injuries because many users of the terrain park neglect the importance of developing strong fundamental ski/snowboard skills. One should be able to ride a chair, and turn comfortably down the mountain before entering the park. Sarah was an incredibly talented skier, who's ski ability was not confined to the terrain park. She could ski, and she loved to ski.

I am grateful for what Sarah accomplished for females in winter action sports. I admire that she was able to incorporate her personality into her brand, and into her athleticism; proving it is okay to be girly and a serious athlete. Thanks Sarah! I'll see you on the flip side- still riding hard.

If you would like to show your support to Sarah and her family please go to: http://www2.giveforward.com/sarahburke.html

My Beach

We all have our special place, where we feel perfectly content. Corona the beer company has employed the concept of finding your beach to their latest ad campaign. I like the metaphor behind the concept, because it acknowledges a universal difference in the search for utopia.  The beer company is currently running a commercial that features a snowboarder ripping up the slopes of a sand filled mountain.

As a winter enthusiast; I struggled with the believability of the ad. I really love what Corona is attempting to market, however I personally have no desire to ever ride on sand: the dust would be annoying, and awful to taste; and the sand particles would forever be stuck in my gear. If I were to ever shred on sand, I would be so petrified of falling and munching a huge mouth full of sand that I would not be able to enjoy a single second of my ride. 

So, I decided to define my beach. Sand free. 

And land locked in Alberta. 

Most Desired Holiday Accessory!

2011 has been a tough year for the economy. The recession hangover of 2008 is still very much a haunting presence as we approach the holiday season and 2012. The must have accessory this party season is not the conventional "Birkin Bag" nor is it a channel clutch. In polar contrast the most envied and coveted accessory a girl can have for the holiday party circuit is: "uber glam, show 'em off Legs." 

Everyone from Hollywood it girls, to local socialites are recession proofing their accessories and focusing on improving their bodies. Strong, toned legs, improve your overall fitness and strength. I love to snowboard, and these leg exercises will help prep you for winter activities as well, they will stir leg envy at all the holiday parties. 

This leg workout is inspired by Tracy's Mat Dvd. All you need is chair, and a strong focus to help you stay tall. 

I'm wishing you all, a fantastic Holiday Season. 

-xoxo Kendra

Shred the slopes; Get Fit.

I love winter! More specifically I love Snowboarding. I know that , I'm kind of the opposite of most people; because of my love for snow I am fitter and more toned in the colder snow filled winter months. The satisfaction and adrenaline of "dashing through the snow" on technical sled is unbeatable. A day skiing or snowboarding is not only great for your spirit, but it is a total body workout that requires large muscle movements to hold and edge, mixed with interval of anaerobic exercise. 

A single day on the slopes can zap over 1,000 calories ( and can help prevent the dreaded seasonal weight gain). 

For ski and snowboard reviews of resorts, check out: Board the World. My Personal favourite place to shred is the Canadian Rockies. I love Sunshine Village Ski Resort and Marmot Basin in Jasper.

There are a lot of great ski/board clubs; that can enrich you social life. Whether you are learning to ski or snowboard, or getting back into; you need to be patient, listen to your body, eat health foods, and always remember the importance of pre ski and post ski stretches.

So go,  get out, and enjoy winter!

Winter Beauty-Lushes Lips

As far as I am concerned winter is the best time of year. Snow beautifully dresses up the environment which makes for a picture perfect sight. Winter activities shine, and the lure of Hot Chocolate and mulled wine is enticing. Winter is a fairy tale come true, from tobogganing to ice skating, snow shoeing to dog sledding and of course my personal favorite Skiing/Snowboarding. Winter boredom is a myth, the activities are endless.

I grew up in Banff Canada and therefore with skis on. I spent the better part of my childhood ripping through tree lines in search of bumps. American Thanksgiving has traditionally been a time of the year in which I am thankful for because it means I can enjoy the mountains. Ski resorts open, and I'm pulled by an invisible force to occupy the chairlifts. 

Sunshine Village  in Banff Alberta, is my favorite. The snow is amazing, the mountain is huge, and the lifts are fast. I love cruising the resort, and playing in the terrain park. 

A minor irritation I have towards winter is, the curse of chapped lips. The cold air, dehydration, and outdoor activities do a number to my lips. I hate the feeling of stiff dry lips. Luckily with a few minor beauty adjustments you can prevent and avoid dry lips. Allowing you the freedom to flash a beautiful lushes smile all winter.

First: Ditch drying lip products such as matte and long wear lipsticks. If you need color to dress up your pout choose a tinted lip balm, and reapply often through out the day. If you go and enjoy the outdoors, remember to wear sunscreen and choose an SPF lip balm. The UV rays reflect of the snow and can hit skin with extra force. 

Second: Choose the right lip balm; you want  to fight and heal the cracking sensation. Choose lip care with ingredients like: shea butter, hyaluronic acids, dimethicone, and natural waxes.

Third: Add a soothing oil, oil can help restore moisture to dry skin. Try cocoa butter, beeswax, and Argan oil. Oil is rich in vitamin E and Fatty acids which help prevent skin dehydration.

Fourth: Avoid Fragrances!

Fifth: Eliminate Flakes by using a lip exfoliant or scrub. Lips need a more gentle exfoliant than your skin, so to avoid further irritation gently scrub lips and be sure to reapply lip balm and oil immediately after to help nourish the fresh skin.