A: Hi Melinda! It is so great to see you! Hope that you’ve been having a great break you start filming Degrassi Season 12.

M: Yes! Absolutely!

A: Recently, you told me that you started a new “raw” food diet! Raw gets a pretty bad rap, most people think it’s all about eating stocks of celery all day. What made you want to try it out?

M: Yeah I know! But since the New Year, I’ve put my sister and I on this new plan. We’ve always been healthy and active so this is just taking things to the next step for us. We live together now in Toronto and we grew up doing martial arts for most of our lives (16+years for me 18+for Melanie). I started ballet when I was 3, so that combined with karate always lead me to a healthy life style.

Eating healthy at home when I lived with my parents was important to them, my family owns a martial arts school in Ottawa (Where I was born and raised), and for as long as I can remember we’ve always been very health conscious especially since our father has diabetes. Going raw wasn’t hard because my diet previously wasn’t much different. My sister and friends call me a health sergeant because i’m always bringing up health facts or guilting them out of butter or fatty foods. I’ve always heard of this diet and met someone before the new year who lived 100% raw and I loved the facts and things she told me regarding the lifestyle. It was the little push I needed to commit, I was sold on the idea. Basically our new diet consists of any and every fruit and vegetable, lean meats and limited carbs. Sushi is a huge part of our diet which is amazing because it happens to be our favourite food.

A: What kind of foods to you make? Any favourite recipes?

M: Coming from a household where I was spoiled into never having to cook a thing ever, this is a fun way to explore my inner master chef. Luckily the stove/oven usage is limited when raw but necessary when cooking the meat unless it’s prepared like Japanese sashimi (raw fish).

Learning how to cook has made me happier because I know exactly what’s going into my body unlike when eating at restaurants. I’ve even become housewife and I prepare my sister’s breakfasts and lunch so she doesn’t have the urge to cheat. Quinoa -a grain, has been a large part of my diet. That must be boiled but its a rice/heavy carb substitute in meals. The point of the raw diet is that the nutrients in food are killed when heated up and cooked, so we avoid that as much as possible. Salads sound boring but the trick is to switch up the contents, adding new types of fruits/veggies, using different greens as the base, variety of meat, making your own dressings etc.. My favourite recipe is a Mango ginger soup that I make from scratch, it’s amazing if I say so myself :)

A: Do you have any favourite cooking sites? blogs?

M: I Google Raw recipes almost every day but Goneraw.com is my favourite site because the variety keeps me loving the diet while getting to whip up fun meal ideas. Most people thing going raw means eating like a bunny but they’re wrong, check it out for yourself on that site!

A: OH! I’ll definitely check out the site. Since starting this diet, do you feel a difference in your health? Do you ever crave anything?

M: Since starting this diet I feel like I have more energy, and i’m more excited to prepare meals since it’s up to me to not be hungry or bored of food. My parent’s laughed when they found out that I was the one in the kitchen preparing our meals and didn’t believe me until my sister vouched for my kitchen skills! Unlike most diets, this one doesn’t limit eating in the slightest.

I think I’m actually eating more than I used to because everything I eat is unprocessed, limited to no preservatives and healthy so moderation isn’t as big of a factor as it would be if ordering from McDonalds. Luckily I don’t have a huge sweet tooth and I genuinely dislike greasy fried things. I do however, have a weakness for red velvet cake. If I ever have a craving, i’ll substitute a slice of cake for a mini Red velvet cupcake to compromise. Cravings can be the death of diets, If I ever really want something, i’ll just have it. It goes back to that rule of the more you restrict something the more you want it. As long as you don’t go overboard with the cravings, you’ll be fine.

A: You are so right. It’s all about balance and about sustainable habits.  Are there any food or health tips you’d like to leave us with?

M: The main food tip I can give is just having the right kind of food/snacks available at all times. I started walking around with pre made snacks in my purse to avoid having to go to the “whatever’s closest” if I want something to eat, unless I find a healthy restaurant or store. The day I do my groceries, I wash and cut up the fruits and veggies right away and put them in containers, make salads, and smoothies so that when I open my fridge I have ready made options so I don’t have the temptation for anything else.

* Side Note from Gloria: This girl can drank! She wrestled down shot after shot during her performance without flinching. Good on ya, lady.

Abby: Hey guys, thanks you so much for meeting with me. I love checking out your videos on youtube and I can tell you have all had a fun time filming and traveling. It’s nice to catalogue your own experiences for your own memories, as well as to share them with others. Tell me what you wanted to accomplish with MissAdventures?

Ellie: we’ve all individually traveled and we wanted and opportunity to showcase our personalities, as well as a fun new way to travel. We like to be spontaneous, we like to get a real experience. It’s a very laissez faire style of travel.

Steph: we’ve all travelled a lot individually, and MissAdventures really grew out of our love for unplanned trips! For example, we all booked a trip to Vancouver for the Olympics last minute because we thought it would be a great experience. That was the first time we started documenting our travel experiences and we loved it. It’s about being fun, spontaneous, and adventurous!

Kat: We also wanted to encourage travel and to show girls that travel is accessible. You don’t need a lot of money, you can create your own unique cultural experience. We wanted to show that there is more to travel than just all-inclusive getaways.

A: How did you guys form your foursome? Finding compatible travel buddies is always a very difficult task!
S: Yeah. Our first trip as a unit was in Vancouver. We just had the right dynamic right off the bat. We were compatible! We’re all the kind of people who make the most of everything.
E: We like to socialize, live-up and live-in every moment.
K: Plus, people saw our videos posted of our Vancouver experience and it became a catalyst for the show! We knew people liked our dynamic as well.

A: You all mentioned that you’ve all done a lot of travel individually. What is your favourite place you’ve been?
K: El Nino. It is an island in the philipines. It is just stunning. Looks kinda like a “Lord of the Rings” limestone opening beach. There are the most beautiful beaches, you can go island hopping, and I spent my time there in a rented cottage. it was beautiful.
E: Moroco was my favourite. It was a crazy experience. Totally mixed emotions about the trip, but it was one of the most difficult, but funny moments. We travelled and slept in the desert in Moroco. I was a shocking experience. But it’s something I look back on, and really appreciate.
H: Tel aviv, Israel I also loved Jeriusalum. It was amazing. The history, the food, the party-scene. Everything was just amazing. It was a wonderful experience.
S: My favourite trip would have to be Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand for the full moon party. It was such a ridiculous night of partying and I don’t know how I made it through. *haha.

A: Yeah. I’ve been to Thailand and I know what you’re talking about! With MissAdventures, you make note that you don’t advise people to travel like you do, but rather show them that there are different more easy-going ways to travel. But with all your experience, do you have any advice?
K: Don’t buy malaria pills if you are going to South East Asia. You won’t need them and they give you hallucinations!
H: People always say don’t travel. It costs a lot of money! But there are options.
S: Exactly. You don’t need 5-star hotels. It’s always possible if you are pasisonate and want to go!
E: People are always terrified of hostels! Maybe it’s cause of the movie…but it’s safe, and it’s fun!
S: A lot of the times we get some of the best ideas, tips and fun things to check out through the people we meet at hostels. You get to hear first hand what works, doesn’t work and what might be fun to try out.
E: You can always be “open” and still safe! Use your judgement. Push yourself to try something new.
H: It’s all about finding some “good scary” things to do. Something that challenges you and scares you in a good way.
S: Our show is not about telling people what they should do. We just want to show everyone that sometimes leaving things unplanned can be really fun!

A: Your videos give a great view into how you like to travel and what your personalities are like!
E: Yeah. We want to show that you don’t have to be a glamorous traveller and you don’t even have to clone our travel experience. We want to be entertaining and we want to inspire people to pick up and check out the world too.
A: So what’s next for MissAdventures?
E: Wherever the flights are the cheapest! We’ll do something last minute, and probably unplanned.
S: I hope somewhere in South East Asia!
H: World domination would be my answer. *haha

A: Well, I can’t wait to see your map continue to fill up, along with your passports! Continue to have safe travels!!
All: Thanks! We had a fun time.

For more on MissAdventures and to check out their videos, find them here! You envious and checking out Expedia for travel deals yet? I know I am!

In the mood for a fun new artist? Check out Lynzie Kent, a Toronto-based pop artist and YouTube sensation (with over 10M collective views for her popular cover videos!)

Lynzie writes her own music and is bringing her DIY fashion approach along for the ride! I got the chance to catch up with her for an interview and a Q&A.

(1) First off, I love your new video “Whoop Dee Doo”! What was your inspiration? It was so lively and fun.

I was inspired by proms from the 1950′s, DIY wedding projects and bold colour. I wanted it to be really bright and fun to contrast the serious message of the song. I wanted it to feel like we were making fun of ourselves by doing everything in excess. I made the giant flowers surrounding the band and those green shoes, and I helped style all the clothing in the shoot. It was an absolute blast and a great opportunity to get creative.

(2) I like the folky meets dance meets great vocals in your music. From some of your older tracks such as Seventeen and Dreamer, there is definitely a wonderful Taylor Swift and Lizzie vibe. Just really strong vocals and emotion. Was that your intention? What are your musical inspirations?

Thanks for the Lissie comparison, I absolutely love her. Seventeen and Dreamer aren’t actually older tracks- everything on my album Something Wild is totally brand new and just released. I feel like music is very narrow minded these days and I wanted to make an album that was pop music, but that differed from your traditional view of pop. I didn’t want to pitch correct my voice or over produce it. I wanted the songs, the lyrics and the vocals to feel authentic and honest, but still relevant to music today. I am so inspired by female artists who can sing and who are not afraid to be themselves and I wanted to make a record that would put me in this category of women.

(3) What are your top 10 songs on your iPod?

Right now I am totally obsessed with Florence and the Machine’s “What the Water Gave Me” and “Only if for a Night”, Ellie Goulding’s “Guns and Horses”, Foreigner’s “Cold As Ice”, The Black Key’s “Lonely Boy”, “You and I” by Gaga, “The One you Belong to” and “I Don’t get by” by the Sheepdogs, Janis Ian’s “At Seventeen” and Janelle Monae’s “Cold War”.

(4) You have already achieved a lot in your music and art career- notably accomplishing over 11 million views on YouTube for your originals and covers! What is the one thing that you want to accomplish, and get that “you’ve made it” feeling?

It’s really hard for me to define “making it”. I would obviously love to hear my music on widespread radio and to touch listeners all over the world. But, I feel like I am so lucky to be making music and creating ideas for a living. If I can keep strolling along the path I’m on, then I will get to live life doing something I’m truly passionate about and that is a true blessing.

(5) Where are you heading next? You create art, photography, music! So much! How do you find the time, and what are you creating next?

I will be spending the next while promoting Something Wild. Right now I am running a contest where fans can make a Christmas song cover request and win a prize pack from me and Dress911. I’ll be releasing these covers online in December. And then in the new year, I will be holding an official album release celebration forSomething Wild which no doubt will keep me busy. I’m trying to plan some surprises for the audience and I’ll be releasing info about this on my facebook page and my website, www.lynziekent.com<http://www.lynziekent.com> .

(6) You have done a lot of performances, appearing at the Montreal Jazz Festival, NXNE, Midpoint Music Festival! If you could choose ANY band/ artist to tour with, who would it be?

Oh man, this is a toughy- there are so many! I’d love to perform with Anne Wilson from Heart as she is my absolute favourite singer or Chris Martin, as I would feel like I died and went to heaven, so dreamy. I would love to tour with so many artists who I believe are doing something unique with music these days like The Sheepdogs, Ellie Goulding, Florence and the Machine, Lissie and so many more.

(7) Now that we’re approaching the end of 2011, looking back at the year- what were your favourite albums?

Well, I know I was late to jump on the bandwagon, but Janelle Monae’s Archandroid has been a huge fave for a while, I loved 21 by Adele, and althought I have said their names so many times now, Lights by Ellie Goulding and Learn and Burn by the Sheepdogs are still on repeat.

(8) You are a supporter of Canadian Fashion! What are some of your favorite designers and places to shop in Toronto?

I’m mostly obsessed with vintage fashion and I just can’t tell you all my fave’s as I don’t want them to become to popular so I never get the good stuff!! But I will say I love Penny Arcade at Dundas and Ossington, Tribal Rhythm always has great stuff on Queen. I also love Headmistress hair accessories, and this adorable  shop on Queen called Durumi and Chocolate Shoes.  Fashion Crimes, whose dresses I wear in the “Whoop Dee Doo” video, is an obvious Toronto fashion mecca.

Thank you Lynzie. You can find out more about her at: www.lynziekent.com.

The name Crywolf came about in a very random way. We were basically thinking of a new name for our company and tossed around different ideas. We both by chance agreed upon and liked the ring of Crywolf (which comes from Aesop’s fable of The Boy Who Cried Wolf). It fit well because there is a lot of animal imagery in our designs and we were able to envision a logo almost instantly. We really wanted to focus on creating a solid brand so all of the pieces just seemed to fit and we went with it.

2. How does your previous venture p0isson affect how you put together your crywolf collection?

We learned a lot from p0isson. We were both in school and working part-time jobs when we started p0isson so it was more a side-project. It taught us a lot about the business side of things. Since neither of us had any business education (aside from high school accounting), p0isson was our teacher. We took from our successes and our failures and figured a lot of stuff out the hard way but p0isson was the stepping stone in making Crywolf into what it is today. Sometimes you just have to jump into things and hope for the best. The key is not getting discouraged when things don’t turn out the way you had planned, just pick up and keep on keeping on.

3. You detail slinging 1″ buttons at people on the street – what’s the best and worst reaction you’ve received?

Haha, looking back, I can’t believe we did that. Some people get REALLY freaked out when you approach them trying to sell something, even something as innocent as a 1″ button. We did sell some but most people just look at you like you have a third eyeball and quickly walk away. On the other side of the spectrum, we did get some people who were really excited about them, and that is why we continued to do it and kept on going.

4. I love the Maneki Neko tank (the waving cat tank top – you know, the cat that greets you at every Chinese restaurant entrance). What drew you to this idea?

We both have an interest in Chinese imagery and culture and it’s one of the many things that sneaks its way into our designs. We have a little porcelain maneki neko that sits on our counter at our booth at the Canadian National Exhibition to bring us some luck. Of course I dropped it one day and part of its paw smashed off. I felt horrible but glued maneki back together. After that I did a drawing of him and we made a button out of the design. Then this year decided to bring back the design as a shirt and voila!

5. Sharky boy, narwhal, mr eggplant – where do you get your creativity? Where do you find the best ideas hit you?

As mentioned above, we pull our ideas from a huge ocean of things that inspire us. I think our best ideas hit us when we are doing shows, especially long ones because we’re together for long periods of time and sometimes delirious from being tired. It can spawn some ridiculous ideas and also some great ones. I think some of our best designs were concocted during a show. Doing shows also gives us a good idea of which designs people get drawn to, and sometimes that inspires us to make something along those lines, but different and new. But really, you never know what designs are going to fly. Mr. Eggplant, he’s just this eggplant that is ridiculously happy and has crazy arms. We weren’t sure if people would actually be into it but it made us both laugh so we figured it would have the same effect on others. Luckily, it did!

6. You’ve expanded into quite a few accessories too – buttons, pins, zipper pulls, necklaces. Any key favourites?

I think both of our favourite new product at the moment is our vinyl toy Bü. For the launch in June we had 18 artists whose work we love and admire customize their own Bü and had a launch party/showcase to show people the realm of possibility of what you can do with Bü! We didn’t give any of the artists direction and each of them specialized in different mediums so there was such a wide range of customization that came out of it. We were blown away. Anyone can buy their own Bü off of our website and we’re hoping to have them available in stores in the new year and we’ll also be holding a contest for submissions from the public of their custom Bü;s. Can’t wait to see what people come up with!

link: www.whatsyourbu.com

7. Where’s crywolf running to next?

We will be at the One of a Kind show from November 24th – December 4th! It’s our first time doing the full length of the Christmas show, so we’re really excited. In the meantime we’re going to be scheming up some cool stuff for 2012 – sorry, no spoilers!