Listen to This!

As you know, the earbuds that come with your iPod are not good for you. So, in search of new earphones, I have been doing a little research.

There are a lot of extraordinary high end ones, but you want to be able to listen to your music and still afford to eat.

And on the reasonable scale, they are either cheaply made and tinny, or they are massive waffles that side aside your head like Princess Leia’s braided buns. And forget about noise cancelling features. Those are only available on your highenders.

That is, until I found v-moda.

They are extraordinary earphones that sit so comfortably in your ears that you really don’t feel like you’re wearing anything at all. And in case the size doesn’t seal in your ear well, they give you 3 pairs of both black and clear silicone fittings in small, medium and large.

They are the most secure fit I’ve ever experienced in an earphone and for once, everyone on the subway doesn’t have to listen to your music as well, thanks to their “noise isolating BLISS (Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicone),” which reduces noise and allows for deep bass.

You won’t believe the difference in the sound.

Years ago, a neighbour lent me a CD that a friend of theirs had just release. The first track blew me away. I dropped to the floor. I listened to Katey Morley’s “Wreck” over and over for years. And though I only listen to it occasionally now, I play it with my new v-moda Red Roxx phones. I fall in love with it all over again. The sheer oomph and rawness of it comes through so clearly now. I hear parts of the sound that were previously lost. It is more multi-layered and ethereal than ever. I am hooked all over again.

As a music lover, bass has always been an important part of music to me. Back in high school, I was sure to get the “Bass enabled Sony Sports Walkman.” And it is so great to hear the percussion as much as everything else for once. Being able to hear the sharp drums on Jeff Buckley’s “New Year’s Prayer” for really the first time because of my lovely new ear gems makes me excited about listening to my collection again.

And listening to rock and hip-hop? It’s an absolute dream. I am rocking out like I’m 16 again.

v-moda has really thought about people who spend a lot of time listening to music. They come with a one-year warranty, a 24k gold-plated stereo plug, a beautiful gold lame pouch to hold everything (everything they make is beautiful and sexy – they’re in Hollywood, after all), a cord manager that keeps it from tangling at your chest (very stylishly too), and it is compatible with all iPod, mp3, CD, DVD and computers.

They really have thought of everything.

Earrings? No thanks. I’ve found my favourite ear candy. And if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rock out with my new phones. I can’t wait.

Talk about a product changing your life.

THE Most Beautiful Makeup

I am stunned.

First, you cannot but help but notice the exquisite packaging. It is beyond anything I’ve ever seen in makeup. As I open the boxes and containers, I am stunned by the sheer quality and innovation of Tarte cosmetics.

There are snakeskin textures and little gold chains belted around some items. There are many 2-in1 and multitasking products so that you only have to carry around one thing in your purse.

In purple, beige-y silver and gold wrapping with fun names (Lights, Camera, Lashes! - 3 in 1 mascara, Rock Royalty - bronzer, highlighter & blush Palette and Little Blot Book – shine control to go, to name just as few), this is the most exciting and invigorating line of cosmetics I’ve ever seen.

And then I try them.

And they surpass even my biggest expectations.

I used their gorgeous Picture Perfect eyelash curler and felt, for the first time, ready for my close up. The Lights, Camera, Lashes (With man made purple snakeskin lining the tube! The most extraordinary mascara I’ve ever seen!) give me the lashes I have always dreamed of and I quite honestly feel like a movie star. It was astonishing the difference I saw. After all of these years of dreaming of having starlet lashes and then having them was something I’m likely not to get over soon.

The Rock Royalty palette gives me the bronzed and highlighted look I’ve been craving and wondering how to achieve on my own. It’s so easy and though I have been using similar products for years, never have I looked more like my self, my better self.

It’s weird. It’s like this line knows exactly how to improve everything that I have. I have heard of makeup like this before, but I just thought it was hype. I never thought it would actually come true. And to me, no less.

Now, lip products have always been a problem for me. I have extremely dry lips and although many lines promise to moisturize and quench your pout, I have never found anything to live up to its claims.

Until now.

I try their 24.7 moisturizing lipsheer in Thursday and Summer Fling. It’s like I have completely new lips. Soft and plump and just slightly blushed, they are beautiful for the first time. I look at them for a long time in the mirror, just to be sure they are real and they are mine.

They are. It’s unbelievable.

Not sure that I can believe this can continue, I apply Rise & Shine plumping lip stain, thinking that there is no way that this will work. Not on my lips.

I am apply the stain in Cherry, which is really dark on the applicator. I worry that I will look like Dita Von Teese and wait the 15 seconds until applying the plumping gloss.

I wait about 10 minutes before looking in the mirror. I’m also scared to look.

But then I see before me lips certainly darker than my own, but no scaringly so. They are bodacious and beautiful and I am glad that I am on my way to a seminar. There is no way that I want to keep my new look to myself.

Tarte lists all of the ingredients on their products, which I love, and the descriptions of how to apply are short and to the point while telling you exactly the steps you need to take.

I still have the fat blush brush to try, which comes in a purple snakeskin changepurse and Celebutante, a mosturizing dry-oil shimmer spray.

Like a new haircut that changes the shape of your face, Tarte has changed the way I look.

And although it’s all very subtle, I see the difference and it makes me feel amazing.

I’ve never had that with makeup before. But now I know it’s possible.

I’m a changed girl. And if you look real close, you’ll see it too.

Hunchback No More

Recently I wrote about working at my sweet little rolltop desk. Crunched over my laptop from my rockin’ orange desk chair, I have been experiencing neck, back and shoulder pain for the past months.

A chronic complaint among writers, it is difficult to try and compensate for sitting, writing for 8-14 hours a day. I know the advice is often to take a break, go for a walk or do stretches, but there are days where I am lucky if I take more than 10 minutes to have lunch before getting back to work, and so getting up and going out isn't always feasible.

That’s why I am thrilled about my new Obus Forme Ultra Backrest and Seat! Although I do not intend it to replace exercise and stretching, it will alleviate my back on those days where I am at my desk chasing stories and deadlines.

The backrest is “specially designed and scientifically proven to relieve even chronic back pain,” and I have the piles of papers and charts to back it up (they come with the backrest).

It turns out that people who have tried it reduce their pain by “up to 50%.”

I have tried it for a number of days now and it is amazing how differently I sit. I am really upright for the first time ever, and I feel like I am lighter on my feet for the rest of the day.

The backrest works on relieving the pressure on your lumbar discs and lower back muscles, while the Ultra Seat works on 3 things:

• Encouraging proper alignment between pelvis and spine
• Assisting circulation through the lower extremities
• Further reducing strain on the back
  

It’s amazing the difference it’s made already. And I’m not the only one to be thrilled to be sitting in comfort. The backrest was put to the test with Los Angeles bus drivers, where over 90% said they experienced “a significant decrease in pain while sitting.”

And it’s not just your back that benefits from this scientific wonder. It can also help alleviate headaches and improve breathing and grip strength, just to name a few improvements that you may experience along the way.

I haven’t had them for long enough to attest to anything other than my neck, back and shoulders, but I will keep you posted.

In the meantime, if you see a girl skipping down the street - that would be me. I can do that now that my back isn’t killing me.

I may just take up hula dancing next.

Rhubarb Never Tasted So Good

I have always been fascinated by soda.

When I went to the States with my folks for vacation, I would rush into the nearest 7-11 and scan the shelves for new chips and pop. The States were always a couple of years ahead of us, so seeing Black Cherry Coca-Cola and Honey Mustard chips was such a thrill.

Through the years, being enamoured by food, it is has always been difficult to find drinks that stand out of the crowd.

But recently I found a company that has created a line of 4 incredible drinks that have just become a permanent part of my pantry.

They were deigned by Sharelle Klaus, a woman who was desperate to find something to drink that was natural and caffeine-free while pregnant.

Her company, Dry Soda, has created lightly flavoured sodas in what I think are really inventive and exciting flavours that are inspired by the culinary world – Lavender, Lemongrass, Rhubarb and Kumquat.

They are surprisingly accurate without being overpowering. A subtle flavour that’s just slightly more than a hint (what I am calling “just perfect”). And being barely sweet (but not at all salty like soda water), it is perfect for having with lunch or dinner.

I grew up with rhubarb in the backyard and I am shocked by my first sip. It was like Sharelle took fresh rhubarb and pressed it into the bottle. And also surprising was how much I liked it – So refreshing! Like summer in a bottle!

The kumquat and lemongrass were just as refreshing and thrilling. The lavender is a more delicate flavour, but instantly I am enamoured and picturing it paired with chocolates and meringues, and am reminded of my mother’s drawers lined with lavender-scented paper.

With the ingredients being only purified carbonated water, cane sugar, natural flavour and phosphoric acid, and a clear, it is a good, natural choice (sweetened with a small amount of pure cane sugar and only 50-70 calories per 12 0z. bottle). And the clear, streamlined bottle is just damned pretty.

I have been looking for something fun (and non-alcoholic) to drink for a long time. I have finally found it in Dry Soda.

Hey, I like it so much I might even cook with it (I’m thinking the lemongrass with shrimp and lentils with rhubarb. Mmm).

In the meantime, one more sip…

Eat Chocolate, Save the World

One bite at a time. No, really.

Working with Chimp Haven, The Ocean Conservancy, Nigerian Sponsorship, SEE Turtles, The International Coastal Cleanup and The Florida Wildlife Program, to name just a few, you’d think I was writing about an environmental group.

And I am. But I’m also talking about Endangered Species, the people who make the most delicious chocolate.

Chocolate that you can not only feel good about buying, but you will want to support them as much as you can, because they ethically trade their products, use all natural ingredients, offer organic bars and donate 10% of net profits donated to “help support species, habitat and humanity.”

The list of good that they do is too long for me to mention here. Please check out their website to see how you can help.

As you must know by now, having a little dark chocolate every once in a while is good for you – antioxidants, helps reduce “bad” cholesterol, etc – and so I shared with my friends and neighbours little squares of heaven from my Hoppy Treats Fun Pack (24 bite size all-natural dark chocolate).

Over and over, people told me how good the chocolate was, how they’d not had chocolate like this before. And there are some serious sweettooths among the group. They know whereof they speak.

We then moved onto the 3 oz. All-Natural Chocolate Bars that contain ethically traded cocoa and all-natural ingredients, and each bar comes with educational information about the plight of the animal or habitat represented on the wrappers. We savoured the Elephant (milk chocolate with peanut brittle), Black Panther (extreme dark chocolate – 88% cocoa) and Panda (dark chocolate marbled with white chocolate).

Onto the organic bars, we fell for the Butterfly (dark chocolate – 70% cocoa) and the Snow Leopard (milk chocolate with mocha).

We loved all the animals the same and pledged to always cherish them.

Eco-Rounds were fun and flavourful. Caramelized Cocoa Nibs are a blend of milk and dark chocolate that give a crunchy finish and have 3 rounds per pack – perfect for sharing either while watching or movie or having a friend over for coffee.

I am trying to be more conscious of supporting causes I believe, making sure the money I spend is going to something good.I can do that with Endangered Species and enjoy amazing chocolate.

It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Muzing Over Excellent Tea

I strive every day to improve the way I take care of myself.

I have arranged my desk so that I have more space to work. I make myself have something for breakfast, though I am not usually the least bit hungry upon waking. And pretty much every day, I drink a cup of green tea for its tremendous health benefits.

Over the years, I have gone from the 99 cent box from Chinatown to trying blends mixed with actual rose petals and switching to roasted green tea for awhile.

But I have recently found muzi Matcha, a superior brand that is “the oldest variety of shade grown Japanese green tea ground into a fine powder, and has been a part of the Zen Buddhist culture for over 800 years."

That’s quite a testimonial. I mean, how can you beat that?

This authentic tea is a real treat to make. It is suggested that you prepare it with a bamboo whisk (muzi sells these, whisk holders and many other accessories at their website) and you won’t believe how green the powder it is – it is fresh, dewy grass, Kermit the Frog, moss-on-lake-rocks green. You can see the power of the powder even before having a sip (muzi’s powder teas offer ten times the nutrients of regular steeped teas).

And that first sip is divine. Earth, water, body and spirit become simultaneously intermingled and you are transported to earlier centuries, where one took time and grace with their cup of tea.

It tastes so good, so pure.

Savouring each sip to follow, I feel the ingredients going to work on my body, feeling energized and powerful, yet completely at peace. I close my eyes and inhale the aroma. I allow for a few deep breaths and focus on the task at hand.

Although I will not always be so zen about my tea time, having this Matcha does make me pause and think about letting go of the daily stresses and just allowing the moment to be enjoyed.

That to me, is the perfect cuppa.

Paper Tamer

I loooove organizing products.

Being a writer, I am constantly battling paper of every kind – scraps of paper with ideas scribbled haphazardly during a jolting streetcar ride, promotional flyers of products and events I’ll be writing about, catalogues, business cards, files of research notes, printed out emails for reference, etc.

It really can be quite the mess.

So, keeping my sweet little rolltop desk organized can be challenging. I have to have enough room for my cute laptop and mouse (there goes half the desk…) and then keep all of my “current” files at my side to work on and refer to throughout the day.

One of my favourite companies to help you keep your papers in order is Pendaflex.

Years ago, I got my friend an accordion file (their Mobile File) that you could carry with you and then hang from a door. It would then expand vertically to display all of your files, for easypeasy all day access, until you rolled it up into its little briefcase self for the trip home. They are constantly thinking, these Pendaflex folks…

And again, they have come up with an ingenious product to help you save both time and energy searching for the document that we need RIGHT NOW.

PileSmart Label Clips allow you to keep your papers piled and yet, you can quickly clip and label your documents and files and instantly find what you’re looking for. I got the blue, red and yellow pack, but I like the idea of the navy, purple and green ones. They come in packs of 12, so you can go to town on organizing everything.

Other than my laptop, planner and photos, these are going to my desk must haves. I have a filing drawer at the bottom of my desk, but this allows me to access files straight from my desktop – huge timesaver, let me tell you.

So, now that I have all this extra time, I’m off to enjoy the sun-shiny day and leave the paperwork behind. Ahhh.

After all, I’ll be able to find it right away upon my return.

Summer Lovin’, Having a Blast

Usually, I am a very patient person.

But when a snowstorm hits the city after 2 days of sun-shiny warm weather, it is hard not to long for spring and summer.

So when I received a box of essie’s new Summer 2007 collection nail polishes, 6 in total, all I could taste were lime popsicles and the smell of suntan lotion overwhelmed my senses. I even started planning my summer wardrobe. All of a sudden, my day was full of sunshine, despite the bracing wind against my face.

Though the Spring collection is just beginning, it is exciting to think ahead to summer and these shimmery bright gemstone colours are a great start.

They were created to go with this summer’s biggest trends – big sunglasses, shiny, metallic bags and shoes – as well as complimenting the season’s colours – white, silver, canary yellows, bright oranges, purples, and of course, the staples – browns and khakis.

And as always, essie has created some great names to go with these new and fresh colours:

Below the Belt (bright white)

Loophole (satiny chrome)

Huckle Buckle (glistening deep lilac)

Chastity (so pink)

It’s a Cinch (coral-kissed pink)

Click It or Ticket (heavy metal coral)

I am going to put some on today, despite the minus-5 degree weather. After all, we all need a little sunshine in our lives. And today, mine’s coming in the way of It’s a Cinch.

Painting on the thick coral polish, I am transported. Lobster rolls, sangria, SPF as high as you can go, platform sandals, warm breezes. I’m in summer mode already.

And my nails look fabulous. For once.

I Can See Clearly Now

I have not worn a watch for the last 6 or 7 years.

I’ve never had a good watch, so I’d wear an okay one and it would be uncomfortable or I’d think it wasn’t nice enough, so I just gave up. If I couldn’t wear a nice one, I wouldn’t wear one at all.

And surprisingly, you can get by without one. There are clocks everywhere and now myself and everyone I know has slipped into the awful habit of checking our cellphones for the time. How pathetic is that?

But recently, I’ve been aching for a chic watch. Something adult, yet with a little bit of fun infused in there. I cannot check my cell for the time anymore. I’m not 13, after all.

So off I went to search for something to satiate my grown-up need for a flirty and fun wristwatch.

And I found it all in a BobbyHBobby.

After swooning after them on line, I had to see them in person.

Samples arrived at my door. Many more than would fit on my wrist. I put them on the bed and just sat quietly amongst them, knowing that this moment of being swathed in fine watches would not come again soon.

Mostly clear plastic, they come with a ring of colour around the face, like orange and navy or with a face the colour of catgrass or pink candy floss. A woman shot her arm out towards me to show off her gold-faced one. Ooh. This is the problem – which one do you choose?

Somewhere between a Tag Heuer and Swatch, the BobbyHBobby is both fun and fancy. Durable and plastic, the watch is simultaneously rich and playful. And although they are heavy on the swank, they are a reasonable price - $150 CDN (they donate $5 from the purchase of each watch to Save Darfur Coalition).

I like the clear on clear (BHB call it white on white) because it reminds me of a delightful hard candy, an opulent hotel fishtank and all the clear things that make me swoon like water, wine glasses and see-through necklaces (so sexy). It also goes with everything.

But now that I have witnessed the beautiful face colours - there is even black, which is a problem as black is one of my favourite colours. I remain undecided.

Good thing too, because I had to give the watches back. A hard moment for sure, but it will give me more time to dream of one day having my own.

p.s. I’m think I’m gonna get the white on white, though the navy is definitely sexy…

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life

There’s always something that in the back of our minds we’ve wanted to do, but never followed up on – either due to lack of time, money, or, if you always dreamed of being a cowboy, then lack of a nearby ranch.

One thing I’ve always wanted to do is DJ at a club. After dancing at clubs for years, I learned what the crowd likes and the rhythm and energy of the night. From a night at a club years ago, I wrote this to a friend:

The music thumped and thudded its way outta my chest. The epic 20 minute set courtesy of Paul Oakenfold and Tiesto were hauntingly layered tracks that you could really get lost in, and the frenetic beats of The Chemical Brothers’ ‘Morning Lemon’ pushed their way directly into the crowd’s bloodstream, leaving us breathless yet wanting more.

The power of music is something I’ve always been fascinated by. And now you can direct the crowd, thanks to Scratch Lab DJ Institute, “Canada’s first and premiere facility for the training of DJs.” It offers both group and individual classes, so you can either learn on your own or make it a night with friends.

There are other things that I want to do, but this will be a dream come true.

I can’t wait to try out my new skills at our next party. I’m thinking of leading with Clipse and fading into Sarah Vaughan’s “Fever (Adam Freeland Remix).”

I think it’s going to rock the joint.

I can’t wait.

Travelling Lighter and Smarter

There’s nothing I like more than a small little guide to something that you can take with you, without much fuss (or weight in your briefcase).

And that’s just one of the many reasons why I love the new The Smart Traveler's Passport: 399 Tips from Seasoned Travelers by Erik Torkells and the readers of Budget Travel.

Filled with actual helpful tips, this little guide will get you safely around anywhere you need to go.

The help comes the way from Torkells and readers of Budget Travel, so they are what I would call "tried and true." Jim Citron, of West Lebanon, New Hampshire writes that “If you arrive in a foreign city after hours (and you can’t use an ATM), convert only the money you’ll need for the night. Some exchange booths offer a less favourable rate after banks close and then switch back to competitive rates when banks reopen.”

Now that’s news I can use.

I’ll let you read the other 398. After all, with sections on planning your trip, packing, traveling, keeping your belongings safe, lodging advice, public and private transportation, shopping and eating, visiting and sightseeing and connecting with others, you are bound to find tips that change the way you travel forever.

Now I just have to go somewhere so I can use all of this new information.

Hmm. I hear Buenos Aires is nice at this time of year…

A Guilty Pleasure That Isn't Guilty After All

A lot of the products and services I cover here is what I consider a guilty pleasure – wine, liquor, chocolates, exquisite clothing and jewelry.

And truthfully, aren’t I the luckiest girl in the world? But it is difficult to find products and services that are all that they are cracked up to be. That’s why I taste, test and wear whatever I come across.

So, in search of an affordable, tasty low-calorie snack, I have tried a lot of what I call “no-gos,” meaning that they don’t make the knack cut.

But recently I tried a brownie that was not only all of these things, but 75% organic too. You can finally have a scrumptious dessert without the guilt.

Glenny's offer many flavours, all coming in at 100 calories each. The chocolate chip, cranberry orange and blueberry Blondies didn't wow the crowd (I do think it must be hard to compete against the chocolate versions), but I really liked the peanut butter and regular chocolate brownies for a quick, sweet treat that wasn't full of calories.

The square is big enough that by the end, you feel like you've have just enough to satisfy you and not enough to weigh you down.

That’s hard to find, never mind be mostly organic and only 100 calories. They are also certified kosher, have 5 or 7 g of fiber (depending on which type you get) and have no trans fats or hydrogenated oils.

It’s not an everyday thing for sure, but I’m happy to have found something that will satisfy my occasional sweet tooth without adding extra pounds or guilt.

Now if I could only find a crème brulé that would do the same.

It's Hard to Be Classy Wearing a Green Top Hat

St. Patrick's Day is around the corner and I have to say, it's not really a holiday that I look forward to. I mean, green beer and loud songs sung in bars isn't my idea of a fun night out.

But I am trying to change that, by seeking out things that will make the holiday bearable.

Here's my way of making St. Patrick's Day this Saturday as cool as possible.

First thing - drop the green top hat. Not cool.

Unless you're Colin Farrell, Pharell or Maggie Gyllenhaal, there's no chance of pulling it off.

And now the drinks - NO GREEN BEER. There's way better drinks out there! Check it out:

Hpnotiq is one of my favourite new drinks. It's made of triple distilled vodka, fine cognac and tropical fruit juices and is very, very blue. They have created a very cool way to salute Green Day:

HPNOchaun

2 oz. Hpnotiq

1 oz. Green Crème de Menthe

1 oz. whipping cream

Instructions: Combine Hpnotiq, Green Crème de Menthe and whipping cream in a martini shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with St. Patty’s Day decoration.

And The Granite Brewery at Mount Pleasant & Eglinton has created a menu that is celebratory without being cheesy. Their homemade beer is great.

St. Patrick’s Day Menu

Friday, March 16 and Saturday March 17, 2007

Appetizers

Lamb, Barley and Vegetable Soup 5

Granite’s Spent Grain Bread Bruschetta 7

With guacamole, cilantro, and jalapenos

Goat Cheese and Bacon Spinach Salad with House Vinaigrette 7

Entrees

Keefe’s Irish Stout Stew
Served over basmati rice and granite’s spent grain bread 13

Braised Lamb Shank

With rosemary and mint red wine sauce
served with sour cream and green onion mashed potatoes 16

Grilled Chicken and Spinach Fettuccini
With mushroom, artichoke, green peas,
tossed in a goat cheese cream sauce 14

Bailey’s Irish Cheesecake 5

Complete St. Paddy’s Day Special

One appetizer above, soup or buschetta or salad
with
Keefe’s Irish Stout Stew
Or
Braised Lamb Shank
Or
Grilled Chicken and Spinach Fettuccini

Bailey’s IrishCheesecake

A Pint of Granite Ale
25.00

Here's to celebrating St. Patrick's Day in style!

Finally.

Pure Sense

I really love perfumes, but hate the idea of all those chemicals seeping into my skin. That's why I was so excited to find out about Aftelier, a company founded by Mandy Aftel who believes in natural scents and oils. You can read all about her philosophies and background here, but the short version is Aftelier uses certified organic and wild-crafted essences whenever possible. Woo woo!

My chocoholic friends would like the Chocolate Body Oil, but I'm smitten with the Fresh Ginger. It is like nothing I've ever experienced before.

The pure Jasmine is soft and musky and reminds me of Indian cotton and the old Morningstar downtown, with its dark woods and deep armoires filled with linens.

Parfum de Maroc is smoky and sensual and perfect for late night drinks and I'm saving Tango for a lively day scent. I like Pink Lotus, but am unable to come up with the right words for its seductive allure.

But it is the Cacao, Fig and Cognac scents that are most surprising. Don't think cheap drugstore manufactured smells, but pure extracts where the cacao and cognac are given room to expand and sing. Mmm. These collections will really make you reexamine how you look at scents and perfumes. It certainly did for me.

Tonight I'll be wearing an Aftelier scent. I can't wait to see how people react. One thing's for certain, though. I'm going to smell amazing.

Jot This

Umbra has long been a Canadian design staple. I mean, we've all have our cute Garbo cans follow us from university to our first apartment and now in our own kitchen and bathroom and office.

Umbra has always had their finger on the consumer and environmental pulse, despite having been in the business for almost 30 years now.

Each year I find something that I really must have of theirs, and this year is no different. In fact, when their catalogue arrived at my door, I had so many page markers sticking out the top of the book that it looked like a peacock's tail and really, a bit ridiculous.

This year Umbra is offering a limited design collection that includes vases that are wrapped in Organic Peruvian cotton and recycled Sari silk from Nepal and "The recycled Sari Silk is part of a community outreach to help dis-advantaged women and their children. The cotteon is naturally coloured and grown without commerical pesticides, fertilizers or defoliants. Each covering is a one of a kind."

Did I mention that they only made 200 of them?

But that's okay, because I want to get my hands on the Lawrence Chu-designed jot, a journal and organizer that is simply perfect for making notes in my interviews, carrying my iPod of favourite songs and even my passport for my upcoming trip.

I will finally have a catch-all that will hold all of my many necessities and it doesn't have to look like a nerdy briefcase or something plastic that will fall apart after 3 meetings.

It doesn't say that it's a limited edition, but I have a feeling that once people see them, there won't be many left.

I'm heading out right now, just in case.

Game Night with the Neighbours

I love board games and charades and well, all those games that people roll their eyes about and hurumph and cross their arms at. Yes, I am one those annoying "game people."

So, of course, when I got the opportunity to try the new Identity Crisis, I was pretty excited. The thing about this game, though, is that my friends and neighbours got excited too.

That's because it's all about famous people. Celebrities, historical and fictional folks and, as we recently found out, Kenny Chesney.

There are 3 colours of stripes and you roll the die to see which colour you will play throughout the game. Each stripe consists of names. We got green.

You play 2 rounds with your team. In the first round, you can say anything except for the person's name. So, for instance for Maddox Jolie-Pitt (I know, I love how it's so up-to-date, unlike most games that rely on old knowledge and superb memory recall), you could say his parents are Brad and Angelina.

In the second round, you play with the same cards and names, except this time, you can only use one word to help your team get the name. So, for the example above, you might say Angelina.

It sounds incredibly easy, but it's not. It's difficult if you or your teammates don't know the celebrity (as was the case with Kenny Chesney) and the one word round is hard because that's all the team has to go on, and if you don't choose carefully, it's an awfully long minute.

Speaking of which, the game comes with a nice digital timer, except the second time we played it, the battery died. So it's not long lasting, but it was a nice thought.

We had our neighbours over to play last Saturday night and had an amazing time. It's fun playing on teams with people who are not your significant other because you can't use shorthand, like "She's my favourite actress." (Answer: Maggie Gyllenhaal) and you never know how someone's going to describe a person - "Disney character - Zzzz!" (Answer: Sleeping Beauty).

We all liked it so much that we may make it a part of our monthly neighbour-get-togethers. And plus, we still have the rest of green to get through, along with tackling the white and blue stripes of names.

Right now though, I'm off to go get a People magazine. I need to be ready to describe Hayden Christensen, Jonathan Rhyes and Emily Possum at the drop of a hat.

Oh yeah, I'm ready to rumble.

I can't wait 'til next month.