We all want beautiful skin, especially during the “skin showing” months of summer. So how do we get it without spending a fortune at the Clinique counter? By eating antioxidant rich foods, that’s how. Your skin, just like every other organ in your body, needs antioxidant laden foods to keep it healthy and toxin free. Here are some of the most important foods to eat for beautiful skin. Try to get these delicious foods into your diet as often as possible and I promise you will love the results.

Foods for beautiful skin:

Sunflower seeds, Swiss chard, and almonds- What do they all have in common? Vitamin E! Vitamin E works to protect skin from ultra violet rays and rejuvenate the cells. Sauté swiss chard with garlic and olive oil and top with a mix of toasted almonds and sunflower seeds. Vitamin E never tasted so good!

Cauliflower, walnuts, and cabbage- Did you think wild salmon was the only place to get Omega 3 fatty acids? Well get excited because they are in vegetables too! Omega 3’s are essential in creating beautiful skin for they help maintain cell membranes. It is these membranes that act as barriers for the body, letting water and nutrients in, and keeping toxins out. Make an easy cabbage slaw topped with walnuts then steam cauliflower and serve with a lemon tahini sauce (also packed with Vitamin C). After these two dishes, your skin will be good to go!

Carrots, Kale, and Apricots- Not only are these foods quick and easy to get your hands on, they also serve up a giant does of Vitamin A (aka Beta Carotene). Vitamin A is involved in the repair and growth of body tissues, which is particularly beneficial when dealing with sun damaged skin. Stir-fry carrots and kale with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce for a great side dish. For the apricots, try throwing them on the grill for a great summer dessert!

Bell peppers, broccoli, and strawberries- Loaded with more vitamin C than an orange, these foods work to create collagen in the skin and protect your lovely epidermis from oxidative stress. Best ways to eat them? Grill the peppers and broccoli or eat them raw with hummus. As for strawberries, just pop them in your mouth (or put them in a crisp).

Shitake mushrooms, cod and shrimp- Mushrooms (both shittake and crimini), cod, and shrimp are chock full of selenium, a potent nutrient that promotes skin elasticity and quality. Broil cod with a fresh tomatoes and basil. For the shrimp and mushrooms, toss them into an easy Thai curry. So good!

*This post was written by Jamie Dougherty for the Please feel free to contact Jamie with questions or to share your health, wellness and foodie stories. Email: jamiegd@jamieliving.com Facebook: JAMIE LIVING Twitter:JAMIE LIVING

What do you love most about photography?

There are so many things to love about photography! Foremost, I love the interaction with people–It’s strange, but it’s not necessarily the actual image that drives me to shoot; it’s generally the process of making an image that I love the most. I get to meet so many interesting people on a totally different level than day to day interaction. I also love the problem solving–No shoot is ever the same.

How do you de-stress?

I play my guitar or paint, eat well and hang out with my girlfriends.  I’m also very clear that during my personal time I do not think about my business.

Have you ever spent hours at the mall, trying on an outfit after outfit in an attempt to find that perfect look for yourself?  Once you find the clothes, you have to start searching for the right shoes and once you find the shoes, you have to get the perfect accessories to complete your outfit.  Then you finally come home, exhausted – to say the least – and try on the whole outfit only to start second-guessing your choices.  If looking good were any easier, it would be called football!  Thankfully, there are stylists and personal shoppers to coach us on looking fab.  Once they are done with you, you will be a pro fashionista!

Sandra O’Connell

Having developed her love for fashion at an early age, she now shares that love with others as a personal stylist and a wardrobe consultant.  She will teach you her ways and have you looking fab every single day!

Operation Style

Ladies, we can’t always trust the opinions of the sales associates.  What we need is a brutally honest and helpful shopping pal with an amazing sense of style and that, we have found in Jillian and Kristy from Operation Style!  Whether you need a personal style book, help cleaning out your closet or even a stylist for your men, Operation Style has got your back!

A Good Chick to Know

“Outfit?  Check!  Fab house?  Check!  Completely ready for a party!” – that is exactly what you will be saying after A Good Chick to Know is done with you.  They offer style refreshers not only for your wardrobe but also for your home!  Jennifer and Rachel are definitely ‘good chicks to know!’

With a new season just around the corner, why not revamp yourself?

From runway show recaps to laid-back street looks, the world of fashion blogging is a vibrant virtual scene. It’s not necessarily about the newest, hottest, or spendiest trend — it’s about the textiles, color palettes and silhouettes that make us feel gorgeous.

For a jolt of wardrobe inspiration to pull you through the dog days of summer, bookmark Jazzi McGilbert, Sally McGraw and “Miss” James Kicinski. While their personal styles may diverge, their message is the same: get dressed, and get going!

Jazzi McGilbert of JazziMcG.com

Thrift store scenester? Or haute couture hound? Jazzi McGilbert (aka Jazzi McG) confidently struts straight down the center of the spectrum. Her blog traipses through the world of high fashion, throws the spotlight on intimate “intern confessionals” and shares a few DIY treasures (Alexander Wang sock garters, anyone?). As Jazzi puts it, her mission is to “let everyone know that the fashion industry can be tackled without a trust fund”. Can I get an amen, sister?

Sally McGraw of Already Pretty
Can one personal stylist change the way women view their bodies, and themselves? Sally McGraw thinks so. The lovely McGraw elevates her passion for chic clothing with an outspoken commitment to body acceptance. Blog posts like “What IS Flattering?” provide commonsense insights into topics that have frustrated shoppers since the dawn of time. And her weekly contests and giveaways — which range from cotton scarves to summer frocks to hefty gift cards — are not to be missed.

“Miss” James Kicinski of Bleubird Vintage
Chic baby mama. Vinyl record collector. Frilly knicker designer. Miss James is a retro inspiration — and a drop-dead gorgeous one, at that. In addition to writing about her latest Etsy obsessions and selling dreamy vintage-inspired collections through her online shop, James also blogs over at N.E.E.T. magazine. Best of luck as she stylishly feathers the nest for her new baby (due in July). What a busy little bird!

*This post was written by Alexandra Franzen for the CRAVE company:

ALEXANDRA FRANZEN is a writer + editor + organization freak. She designs rockstar resumes, leads personal branding jam sessions, writes marketing copy and teaches wallflowers how to hustle like a gangsta’. You can find her blogging up a storm at Unicorns for Socialism and tweeting away @alex_franzen.

Located at 3208 140 Street, in the Crescent Beach area of South Surrey, Belle’s Country Market is an exceedingly charming local gem. Mother, and entrepreneur Leslee Kerfoot brilliantly created a community centre when she opened the doors of Belle’s. Belle’s boasts the best of many worlds – a cafe, market, restaurant and live entertainment centre. With such a dynamic appeal,  it really is no wonder that Belle’s is able to successfully attract an array people from within and outside of the community. Belle’s truly has what many of us crave – a vibrant neighbourhood venue with a welcoming, comfortable feel. Leslee has truly created an  ideal  neighbourhood quarter  to  connect with family and friends. Below, Leslee shares some advice, and inspiration with the CRAVE community.

Inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?

I had worked in the Corporate world of Keg and Spectra (Bread Garden, Milestones, Boathouse) as VP Marketing and HR and had done all that I wanted to do in that world.   I always wanted to have my own business where I could be “hands on” and creative.  I also wanted a business closer to home where my children were.  So I packed in the Corporate World and started “Belle’s” – 2 blocks from home.  I started the business and also bought the real estate where my business sits, so I am my own landlord too!!

What do you love most about your job?

The people.  I love my customers – they are all from my neighbourhood – just fantastic people who really care about supporting a local business.   I also love my staff.  It’s a real neighbourhood place where everyone knows each other and it makes it a joy to come to work!   I also love the flexibility I have in my job now that I am out of the corporate world.  I can do whatever I want – introduce a new product in a day that used to take a year of meetings in the corporate world!  I also have had more flexibility and time with my family.

Other than all kinds of great food, not much.  I am very happy with my business and my life!!   I do look forward to retirement when I can hand my business off to my children and travel the world!

Advice for future entreprenesses?

If you are going to start your own business be sure that you are passionate about what you are doing.  You have to love it, because it is a lot of time and energy having your own business.  It takes years to build a successful business so you have to have stamina.   Make sure you surround yourself with good people – people that are different from you with different strengths and talents.  Be positive, never stop creating.