The world just got a bit sweeter – but our toothpaste didn’t! Xyla has introduced both child and adult toothpaste and mouthwash in their new oral care line. It’s got the same xylitol we love for our morning coffee and strawberry jam, but it is light years better for our teeth than our typical sugar-filled pastes. Cavities are the world’s most common chronic illness and nearly 4 billion people suffer from untreated oral disease globally. The Xyla REFRESH Oral Care line has the ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria, plaque and dental cavities by 80%.I don’t often enjoy writing about bacteria that cause both tooth decay and ear infections. Eewww. So hopeful that the kids would make the switch easy for me, I slipped the new products onto their bathroom counter and waited. They carried on. And on. And they loved it! I’ve been attempting to reduce sugar in every possible place and oral care was a sneaky one I hadn’t considered. I’m a happy mom and they are happy kids.
Xylitol is a natural sweetener that helps reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth and aid in the re-mineralization of tooth enamel. There are several different xylitol brands but Xyla, a Canadian brand, produces xylitol from North American hardwood trees and is non-GMO and completely natural.
Knee. Kick. Jab. Feel empowered? I sure did. Founded in 2004, the 
After signing in on the electronic board, you warm up by skipping. (If you remembered to do your kegels while pregnant.) Not only had I been lazy in that regard but I hadn’t skipped since the pink ribbons came off of my pigtails. Not to worry. The friendly environment and trainer helped get me warmed up in ways that suited my needs. Like in a traditional boxing ring, there’s a bell. I felt hard core – except for the gorgeous pink boxing gloves. At every ding of the bell I graduated to the next station, alternating between arms, legs and core strength.
As I went through the circuit, not only were my muscles getting stronger, but my confidence and self-esteem were improving in ways far beyond the tightening of muscles or slimming of the waistline. The end of the circuit involved ‘Bob’, a foam torso and head (who is actually quite ripped despite being attached to a pole). I was able to do anything I wanted to him using the boxing techniques I had learned. Sure I felt sorry for the guy at first, but I also felt fit, strong and resilient. And I was in and out in 30 minutes. I’ll be back, Bob. And sorry for that wicked uppercut.
If you’ve cared for kids during summer break, you know how those ten weeks can stretch out! But summer is also a wonderful time to learn with your kids, in ways that might not normally have time for. Best of all: they can help someone (or something!) in need, and feel really great about it.
Diane’s Lingerie invited me and a group of notable Vancouver women to become a work of art. To honour the beautiful shapes and sizes of women they assist every day, Diane’s asked 25 women to paint their naked bodies and create art. The concept would be rolled into the new look and feel of the brand and exhibited at a gallery be creating an art exhibition and silently auctioned, with proceeds going to support the 
What I realized as I wrapped myself in the snuggly robe provided by Diane’s Lingere was that society’s current ideals should never sway our sense of whether or not we are beautiful. Different shapes have been idealized over time, and every body tells a story. A curve here, a scar there, a bellybutton that implants so clearly onto the canvas it reminds us of our origins. We are a community and I am so grateful to have been a part of such a groundbreaking campaign. No wonder there are so many shapes and sizes of lingere! In the end I began to value my body and its curvaceous shape. I am a phenomenal woman. And Diane’s really does fit them all. 
Silken is best known for her amazing comeback from a serious leg injury to win the bronze medal for Canada in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics for single sculls rowing. In her 2014 memoir Unsinkable, she revealed that she has battled with restrictive eating and an eating disorder throughout her years as an Olympian.
UM: How do you combat all of the mainstream media that encourages kids to diet?
UM: How did you feel when you took the Oath to never diet again?
Well, it’s been quite the week. We were on Spring Break vacation skiing for the beginning but the family took the 