You’ve probably seen the TV commercials pitting blondes against brunettes (“Poor blondes, guess they’ll have to tan more and wear less”). Why yes, Sunsilk has come up with quite a clever campaign (and a now infamous YouTube “ad”) for its colour boost line. Targeted to women who already colour their hair, the Sunsilk Blonde Bombshell and Beyond Brunette line of shampoo and conditioner is designed to give your colour a little oomph. Not totally sold by the cutesy ad campaign, we decided to put these products to the test, pitting one blonde against one brunette here at the Winnipeg Women offices. Here’s what they had to say:
The Blonde: I used it once and someone asked me if I had just had my hair done. After that it made my highlights brighter, but did nothing for the colour of the rest of my hair.
The Brunette: It didn’t do much for my colour, but did make my hair very shiny…then flat and limp.

After a failed “shortcut” on your way home from the annual family ski trip to Banff, you find yourself broken down on a remote stretch of highway in the middle of a storm. No one is around and your cell phone has the no service indicator flashing.

This winter there were countless news stories about people freezing to death after leaving their car in a storm or being trapped for days waiting for help. As the final winter storms pass, it’s a perfect time to outfit our cars with emergency kits, as a breakdown can happen on any road, during any season.

CAA Manitoba spokesperson, Jeanie Dalman says it’s important to have a few crucial items in your vehicles to keep in case of emergency. Year-round, everyone should have at least a warm blanket, some flares, and a first aid kit in your glove box. And most importantly, she says, do not leave your vehicle.

It’s also a good idea to keep some cat litter handy, which can be used to help you get out of a jam by giving traction on muddy, gravelly or icy roads.

For winter trips Dalman suggests extra winter clothes for every person in the vehicle, candles, waterproof matches and some food items like honey. It’s good anytime because it can be eaten in frozen or liquid form, plus it will give you a sugar boost.

CAA sells a Deluxe Survival Kit for $54.95 (members) or $59.95 (non-members) that can be kept in your vehicle year-round, including all of these items and more. But if you don’t mind going out and making your own kit, it’s just as simple if you know what you’re looking for. Below are items which CAA recommends having in your car at all times.

In your trunk:
Shovel
Traction mats
Compass
Warning light or road flares
Emergency food pack
Booster cables
Road maps
Matches or “survival candle” in a deep can (to warm hands, heat a drink or use as an emergency light).
Sand, salt or cat litter
Tow chain
Cloth or roll of paper towels
Extra clothing or footwear
Axe or hatchet
Ice scraper and brush
Fire extinguisher
Methyl hydrate (for fuel line and windshield de-icing)

In the car:
Flashlight
First aid kit
Blanket
Sterile gauze
Nonstick dressings
Bandaids
Medical tape
Tweezers
First aid manual
Scissors
Safety pins
Packaged alcohol wipes
Instant cold packs
Reflective rescue blanket

HEALTH IN YOUR HANDS

Calgarian Nancy Scott’s son Jack was prone to ear infections, which often came during visits back home to Winnipeg. Without Jack’s proper medical information on-hand, Scott says her son was prescribed antibiotics that hadn’t worked in the past, because she couldn’t remember what he had previously taken. The frustration of incidents like this inspired Scott, along with her partners Jana Sinclair and Marci Andrews, to create a new product: Health Pod Baby. Developed with the expert help of 20 doctors and health-care professionals, this portable health organizer stores all of your child’s health information in one handy zippered folder, which fits easily into a purse or diaper bag. The organizer has sections for keeping track of doctor’s visits, health and development milestones, your child’s health history, as well as a family health history. Convenient pockets allow you to store health insurance cards, immunization records, birth certificates and a current photo of your child, all in one place. Once all of this vital information is compiled, you can easily leave it at home with your child’s babysitter, or quickly grab it as you head out to your child’s next physical. The Health Pod Baby is $59.95 and can be found in Winnipeg at E-Children, Sharon’s Linens, The Gift Shop at St. Boniface Hospital, Room for Style, The Baby Bin Boutique and 9 Boutique. To find out more, visit healthpod.ca.

SPRING SHOWERS

April and May babies are arriving in the world, which means plenty of baby showers on the horizon. Not sure what to buy the new parents? We’ve compiled a list of the cutest baby gifts spotted around town.

• Made with fun fabric patterns like retro cowboys or sushi rolls, Funkie Baby bibs have a waterproof layer hidden between a reversible cotton exterior. From Molly Jacobs, 2090 Corydon Ave, 475-2400.

• Calendula, lavender, green tea and chamomile are infused into the line of baby body products from Tiber River Naturals. The hair & body wash, solid soap and lotion can be used by anyone with sensitive skin, including mom. From Tiber River Naturals, 408 Academy Rd, 474-2333.

• Every fashionable baby needs a pair of Robeez soft-soled shoes (right). This wildly popular line was started in Manitoba and now sells around the world. Find them at A Child’s Place at Grant Park Shopping Centre or St. Vital Centre.

• Companies like Parade, Kee-Ka, Kumquat, and Munki Munki are coming out with fun, colourful and practical baby outfits that put a plain old terry sleeper to shame. Find them in Winnipeg at: Humboldt’s Legacy, 887 Westminster Ave, 772-1404; Elephant Shoes, a Winnipeg-based online company, 797-2826, www.elephant-shoe.ca; Anticipation, 941 Corydon Ave, 831-8103.

• Babylicious makes receiving blankets so cute they are coveted by adults. Find this line, with its bright colours, and bold stripes and polka dot patterns, at Anticipation, 941 Corydon Ave, 831-8103.