Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
It’s so flattering when a bride sends in her wedding pictures so soon after her wedding! Amanda and Rob just got married on May 4th, and we just received her email and pics. She looks stunning in her gorgeous lace dress!
As Amanda says,
“Thanks to The Brides Project for giving me the perfect dress. I had this dress picked out a couple of years ago and put a picture of it into a “future wedding folder”. Just as I was about to leave the store, I found it! Perfect size and all. It was meant to be… I added a chiffon bolero to the strapless lace gown to have a modest vintage look. The headpiece I am wearing in my photos was also purchased at The Brides Project.”
Congratulations Amanda and Rob! And thank you so much for remembering us 
We’re so delighted to have been a part of making your day special.
(Photos courtesy of Steve & Cindy Clay)
Now that there really IS evidence of spring – leaves are starting to appear and daffodils, crocuses and other bulbs are popping up all around – our staff went through our collection and picked their 4 favourite dresses that remind them of spring and summer! These, and many many others are available in the shop. Book your appointment here!
The first two that they chose are beautifully simple, closely fit dresses with simple focal points. We chose the one below because mermaid styles are very in vogue, and the lines of this dress seem to make everyone who tries it on look really tall and lean!
The second one has a slightly different focal point with a vertical bow… also very stylish right now. This silk piece would also be extremely comfortable and light for outdoor ceremonies in the heat.
Speaking of heat, and yes, soon I’m sure we’ll all be commenting about it… they picked a lovely chiffon dress that would also be suitable for an outdoor wedding whether here or in the Caribbean! It’s simple, elegant and practical.
And finally… we all agreed that we needed something a little more fun and frivolous to add to our list of spring favourites! This silk gown is also very light, but has a lovely fluffy skirt accented with silk flowers with shoes to match… and what a wonderful piece to wear for a garden wedding!
Remember… these are only a few of the hundreds of dresses that we have available, including many pieces that are one of a kind. We receive at least one dress every day so the collection is constantly changing.
This week we had a great visit from Michelle Lawrie who is the National Executive Director of Camp Quality (on the right, below). Camp Quality has been one of our beneficiaries since the beginning, and they do incredible work offering the camp environment and other services to children with cancer.
Michelle’s also a newlywed… with a wonderful new addition coming to her family in October!! Congratulations twice over Michelle!
When she dropped by, she brought her stunning gown to offer to another bride, which Helen looks extremely excited about!
Michelle’s dress is a stunning size 10 Maggie Sottero in ivory lace… absolutely DELICIOUS! While she was here, we had a chance to chat about Camp Quality and their amazing services. Michelle had this message to pass along to our Brides’ Project staff and friends,
On July 28th – August 3rd, Camp Quality is partnering with Outward Bound Canada to run a week-long canoe trip in Algonquin Park for young adult cancer fighters, survivors and their siblings. We hope this will be the first of many trips aimed at getting young adults together to meet, bond and overcome some amazing challenges together.
It’s being able to provide kids and youth affected by childhood cancer with opportunities like this that make us so appreciative of the amazing donors who are there to help make them happen! Thank you to the Bride’s Project!
Thanks to all our clientele who have made this possible! And Thanks to Michelle for donating her gorgeous dress! It won’t last long… that’s for sure!
This is a guest post by Sarah Ramsden MA CNP NNCP.
Your wedding day is sure to be one where looking and feeling your best is most important. Preparing for this day and your lifetime ahead 0f you with your partner. Take a natural approach with these tips!
Weight Loss
We are all unique. Learn how to lose weight effectively, sustainably, and healthfully in a way that works for YOU. Your wedding day might be your motivator, but long-term health should be your ultimate goal.
- Eating low fat to lose weight is a myth. Eating healthy fats such as olive oil, coconut products,avocado, or nuts & seeds with quality protein at every meal will make you feel full longer.
- Choosing low glycemic foods helps keeps blood sugar low, which in turn keeps the “store fat” hormone (insulin) low, and the “burn fat” hormone (glucagon) higher.
- Your body expects nutrients to come from food. When they don’t, it sends a signal to tell you to keep eating until it receives them. Eat whole, un-processed foods to maximize nutrient density.
- Lifestyle factors such as stress and lack of sleep can hinder weight loss efforts.
- Underlying health conditions can make it harder to lose weight.
Glowing Skin
There’s only so much a facial and a make up artist can do—truly glowing skin comes from the inside.
- If your digestion is not optimal, your skin is going to show the signs. Indigestion, constipation,and poor absorption of nutrients all need to be tackled to get glowing skin.
- It may sound clichéd, but you actually ARE what you eat. Eating nutrient dense, whole foods will provide your skin with the building blocks it needs to build healthy skin right down to the cellular level.
- While eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin can be tackled topically, you will get the best results by working from the inside out. This starts with optimal digestion, and the consumption of healthy fats and probiotics.
- Factors that contribute to acne are oily skin, hormonal imbalances, menstruation cycles,candidiasis and medications.
- Food sensitivities and allergies can contribute to skin problems. An elimination diet can help you discover what those might be.
Steady Energy
Learn how you can have steady energy throughout the day by making the right food choices.
- If your energy levels fluctuate throughout the day, you “crash” at 3pm, or get irritable and experience uncontrollable hunger if you miss a meal, you may be having blood sugar regulation problems.
- Eating a diet of whole foods higher in protein, healthy fats, and fibre, and low in packaged, processed foods and sugars, can help you maintain constant energy.
- If you feel tired and heavy after eating a fatty or protein-rich meal you may be struggling to digest them. This can be aided with dietary changes and simple digestive supplementation.
- Caffeine, alcohol and tobacco cause large swings in blood sugar levels, which can ultimately cause drowsiness and fatigue.
Stress
Learn how to support your body nutritionally so you can be cool, calm and collected while preparing for your big day, and far beyond.
- Stress is not all in your mind. Long-term stress can tire out your body’s stress-management mechanisms and can cause deficiencies in the very nutrients that feed your body’s ability to handle stress.
- Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, excessive perspiration, food cravings, allergies, being startled by sudden noises, and exhaustion from emotional upset are all signs of poor physiological stress management.
- Refined carbohydrates in the diet such as sugar and white flour deplete many of the nutrients required for stress management.
- Lifestyle changes such as stress-management techniques, adequate sleep, and proper exercise that does not increase stress on your system are important strategies to adopt.
Are you interested in being a Healthy Bride? Holistic Nutritionist Sarah Ramsden MA CNP NNCP offers free 15 minute consultations to see how you can start on the path to looking and feeling your best for the big day, and healthy and vibrant for many years beyond. To book an appointment with her at the Liberty Clinic call 416-591-1123.
You can learn more about her approach to health at:
sarahramsden.com
facebook.com/HealthyRamsden
@HealthyRamsden
pinterest.com/healthyramsden
About Sarah Ramsden:
The Bride’s Projects mission to raise money to fight cancer through the sale of pre-loved wedding dresses is one that is close to my heart. A mere five months after my wedding in Banff, everything changed when I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Luckily a meningioma is non-malignant and I recovered over several months from the surgery that removed it. Finding a new home for my dress couldn’t have been further from my mind at the time, but when I stumbled across The Bride’s Project I knew it was the perfect place for it.
This life changing experience led me down a different career path, and today I practice as a Holistic Nutritionist where I help others achieve their health goals through traditional food, and lifestyle choices. I believe there is more to health than just the absence of disease. You should feel energetic, alert, happy and confident. Everyone is unique, and whether you are feeling run down and not your best, want to lose weight, deal with stress better, or have a diagnosis you are not willing to let rule your life, you can do something about it.
We love to dress up for events at The Brides’ Project—after all, we do donate our time to hang out in a house full to the brim with white wedding gowns. Every November, TBP switches it up from our usual gowns and veils and don some ‘staches for Movember. This year we will be making a donation to Prostate Cancer Canada.
To get in the spirit, our volunteers got our moustaches on!
Allison went all out – mustache, goatee, and… fascinator?
Dawn gets shows some sass for Movember!
Sasha rocks the ‘stache and veil
On September 8-9, 2012, fourteen courageous women walked 60km through the streets of Toronto, in both rain and sunshine, for The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers. They asked for our support, and we were delighted to sponsor them $5000 in this event that supports the Princess Margaret Hospital. Team leader (newlywed and Brides’ Project client) Stacy Burns has a very compelling story about why she and her team of family and friends have taken part in this event for the past 2 years, and their motivation to keep on walkin’ in the years to come.
We formed a team composed of many sisters, most of whom had a parent who fought breast, brain, or prostate cancer. That led us to our team name, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Boobs, Brains, and Bums.
Each person walks for their own reasons, but we all walk together to make a difference and help to put an end to cancer. Just three days before the walk, my family found out that my mom’s brain tumour has returned. At this time, there are no treatment possibilities for her. The doctors have already exhausted all treatment options, as this is the fourth time the cancer has come back. They said she likely has about two months to live. We were shocked and devastated, but fiercely reminded of why we walk. We walk for all the fighters, the survivors, and those who have lost their lives to cancer. My sisters and I walked 60k to honour my mom’s strength and courage. Our entire team wore special pink ribbons in her honour.
In 2011, The Sisterhood raised over $20,000. In 2012, with the help of The Brides’ Project, we raised nearly $30,000! Looking forward, we’re gearing up for The Weekend in September 2013, with nearly 25 team members and a goal of raising $50,000! Check us out at www.endcancer.ca/goto/thesisterhood
Thank you to The Brides’ Project for supporting our team and making our Weekend matter!
Congratulations to the entire Sisterhood, and we wish you and your family every comfort in the tough weeks ahead.
(416) 469-6777
(734) 418-3332