Bobbi Brown's Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara Changes Everything

Just because the holidays and New Year's are over, doesn't mean wanting to look glam goes out the window. 

In fact, aren't the gray doldrums of January the perfect time to put a little oomph into your everyday look? 

All it takes is a few swipes of  Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara by Bobbi Brown. I first experienced it at the TIFF Suite back in September, where makeup pro Melanie from Murale put it on me. It's her favourite, she said, because it doesn't clump and lengthens like no other.

Which is why I love it as not just a special occasion mascara, but an everyday one.  The brush is so finely designed that as you swoop it on, the mascara - boasting olive-derived emollients, Vitamin B and humectants - adheres to each lash, lengthening it beyond anything that you've experienced and never clumping like you're used to. Or flaking. Or smudging.

Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara is one of those products that once you find it, you hold it near and dear, because it not only changes your look, it changes your day.

Can you say that about your current mascara? 

Get Bobbi Brown's Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara now.

Soap & Glory's Peace Hand Hand Care Kit Is Insanely Addictive!

Before moving into a new house last month, I went in to clean the dust and residue off of everything. Then of course, it all came back once we moved in and tore open boxes full of our stuff. Between the cleaning products and breaking down box after box, I needed to not only wash my hands a lot, but pamper them too as they became chapped and sore.

Soap & Glory's amazing Peace Love Hand Hand Care Kit has given me super soft, clean hands with the bonus of smelling so good, I can't stop inhaling their slightly sweet, springtime-is-here scent!

This super fun duo is wonderfully packaged and named - Wash Your Hands Of It soft liquid hand soap is pretty in pink and delivers the wonderful softness of shea butter . The fun photo of a 1950-ish housewife adds instant kitsch to your kitchen or bathroom. Hand Food nourishes your skin with shea butter, grape seed, macadamia and sweet almond oils and a fragrance that lingers, thank goodness. It even comes with a retro metal rack for extra visual interest.

This set makes a wonderful birthday, housewarming (hint, hint) or hostess gift. And if you just want to get one for yourself just because, that's okay too. In fact, get a couple. You're going to love it that much.

I do.

Buy Soap & Glory's extraordinary Peace Love Hand Hand Care Kit now.

Ruby's Red Wash Get Those Stains Out

Look, I'm just going to say it - some of us, many of us, have bloody underpants. It comes with being a lady and that's the simple truth.

But instead of having to throw away some of your favourite panties because of your period like you've been doing all of these years, it turns out you only need one thing - the amazing Ruby's Red Wash.

It's super easy to use:

- Rinse your undies under cool running water as soon as you can

- "After rinsing, use a small basin or plug up the bathroom sink and fill with just a bit of water, just enough to cover the stained area of the garment or material. You don’t need to immerse the entire piece in the water (or the solution). In fact, if you do, the blood will often travel or ‘bleed’, to the originally unstained areas, and then you’ve got more of a mess on your hands. If you’ve already done that, however, don’t worry, you can submerge a whole pair of panties, for instance."

- Pour a capful of Ruby's on the stain and rub with a soft-bristled brush. Most stains dissolve under 30 minutes, so you can leave it soaking if you need to go do something else.

The solution smells clean and fresh and is non-toxic and biodegradable. You can use it on any blood-stained clothes and bedding in addition to undies, so it saves you from having to get rid of your stuff, saving you a lot of time, money and energy.

It turns out that just because it's bloody, doesn't mean it's ruined. 

Get Ruby's Red Wash now.

DesignZeit Has the Coolest Diary So You Can Plan the New Year in Style!

Every year, DesignZeit creates a new diary, giving you the opportunity to own a very limited-edition journal in which to record your appointments and commitments. Every year they include a colour editorial section on a visual arts topic (next year it's Australian architecture!). Isn't that soooo much better than something black, plastic and b-o-r-i-n-g from an office supply store that everyone and their brother is using?

The 2012 Edition is the beautiful A4 Architects & Designers Diary, featuring their 42nd topic - Comic Masters - An Idiosyncratic Overview. This scholarly commentary includes illustrations of Batman and Superman, L'i'l Abner, Joe Dope,  The Spirit and Star Ledger and is found at the front of the diary. The artwork is truly stunning - it's like having the original comics right at your side!

 

I love the large size format (8.25" x 11.75") and that it's not only hardcover, but you get to choose the rich cover material: Black linen cloth, Metallic steel charcoal with new hammered texture (currently sold out), and Iridescent Red/Russet with weave pattern that shimmers gold. Talk about personalizing it to your taste (again, why would you choose a black plastic one when you could have this?)!

I am also head over heels with what feels like a European layout with a full week-at-a-glance across the top of two pages. Under each day's white box is a space for notes, time sheets and expenses. This fits right in with my freelance lifestyle, but also works whether you're contract, a full-time employee or an entrepreneur.  I like that this is a different layout than most calendars I've used - it gives me a chance to work and think differently. What an opportunity to start the year off right.

Feel free to plan the hell out of this year and next with a 4-page year planner for 2012 and a 2-page forward planner for 2013. I know I'm going to! And for your convenience, there are also pages on international paper sizes and proof correction marks, as well as space for your most used names and addresses.

I spent a lot of time these last few months trying to find a planner that is really something. I found that and so much more in the 2012 Edition is the beautiful A4 Architects & Designers Diary from DesignZeit. And at the same price that you'd pay for a plain ol' boring one from the office supply store. 

Oh yeah, it's going to be a great year. Order yours now!

Start the New Year Off Right with Calvin Klein's Forbidden Euphoria

Calvin Klein's fragrance Forbidden Euphoria is like sex between the sheets - sensual and just a little bit naughty. A little bit like letting your bra peek through your blouse, its just that little nudge toward sexual boldness.  What an amazing scent. All at once young and fresh, it also has the depth to it that quite sophisticated. It's the perfect place to be.

I love how it evolves - sometimes there's a really deep pluminess and warmth and sometimes it is almost effervescent in its lightness. A heady mix of sparkling mandarin, peach blossom and iced raspberry gives way to the florals pink peony, tiger orchid and jasmine. The warm, pillowy part comes from patchouli, skin musks and cashmere woods.

Even the wide bottle with sensuous curves and swoops is gorgeous. What a great present - for yourself or someone you'd like to indulge.

Forbidden Euphoria will no doubt have you slow dancing and edging close to someone this new year. It is completely and utterly addictive - in and out of the sheets.

It's available at Bay stores across Canada, so get it now.

Happy Holidays from the knack!

Happy Holidays to my lovely readers. I hope you are enjoying time with family and friends and some downtime finally.

We just moved into a new house a few days ago. We were supposed to move at the end of the month, but the floors were done early, which is unbelievably amazing. However, our internet won't be started up until then. So I won't be able to post again until the 27th. I really appreciate your understanding during this hiatus. I have so many exciting products and services to introduce you to, so hopefully it will be worth the wait!

Huge holiday hugs,

Stephanie Dickison
Publisher & Editor - the knack

Get Organized In Style with Letts of London and Filofax!

I know what one of your goals for 2012 is - to finally get organized.

I know, because it creeps up on everyone's list every year. The demands for our time get harder and harder, so juggling everything also becomes more difficult.

That's why you need Letts of London and Filofax to help you along! They offer unique and stylish options for you to record all your information so you stay informed and up-to-date on what needs to be done and when. And thus, they make the most wonderful gifts.

One of the most fascinating items this season is the Letts of London 1812 Bicentenary Edition:

Letts of London is celebrating the bicentenary of their fist published diary in 1812! It was one of our founding fathers who originated the idea of a diary, back in the days when London merchants were trying to keep track of their blossoming global businesses. With a 7th generation of the Letts family still in the business today, they thought it would be a great idea to publish a commemorative diary in a style and finish as close to the original 1812 version as they could make. What a fantastic and unique gift! But hurry - this limited-edition diary should be purchased now as there were only 2,000 made for worldwide distribution and only 50 copies have been made available for Canada!!

Now as you may know, I used a Filofax system for many years. Many, many years. It was my life. And I'm proud to say that their designs have kept up with the times and our demands.

What's going to keep me together in 2012 is the stunning Malden Personal Pocket Organizer in Vintage Pink (pictured above). Normally, I don't tend to lean towards pink, but this raspberry colour is so calming and pretty, that it is a lovely pop of colour on my desk and in my purse. The vintage look buffalo leather will wear beautifully (my old ones were over a decade old and they just softened over time) and it's a binder that can actually double as your wallet (saving much needed real estate in that crowded bag of yours!) with two credit card pockets and one zipped pocket. There's also a full-width wallet pocket for dollar bills and a notepad and wallet pocket - even a pen loop so you're ultra organized at all times.

It comes jam-packed with a whole system for 2012: The week spreads out onto 2 pages giving me a great overview for what deadlines and projects are coming up. The black ruler-page marker gets me to today's date in an instant. Lush cream index tabs separate my diary, notes, info, financial and addresses. Ruled pages in pretty colours (pink, yellow, beige, blue, lavender) allows me room to make notes on the go and to-do pages keeps my lists organized (and you know I've got lists upon lists!). There's even room for addresses, all indexed in beautiful cream, A-Z, 2 letters per tab and a transparent envelope for receipts, movie tickets, etc.

This is an ideal gift as it can be totally customized and personalized by the person receiving it. It truly is a system that anyone can - and should - use. It's like having a personal assistant right at your side throughout the day (the only thing it can't do is pick up your lunch order). Isn't that exactly what most people want and need to keep up with their busy lives and schedules?

If the person on your holiday list doesn't need something that full, then the NEW Flex System is the perfect accessory. It's a "flexible, modular personal stationery system," with a  textured cover that allows you various formats and layouts  into which you can put their accessories including Notebooks, Diaries, Contacts and Jot Pads. So this too is completely customizable, allowing the recipient to cater it to their needs and schedules.

The Flex by Filofax system is available in three sizes - Pocket, Slim and A5, in a choice of three colors - Black, Slate and Magenta. A starter pack contains a cover, ruled notebook, jot pad and pen holder. I got the First Edition Slim Cover in Magenta, which not only gives me the ability to keep my running list of things to do and to get, but it also has room for business or credit cards, allowing me to keep things simple should I not want to lug my big purse everywhere. 

In other words, Filofax has a solution for everything!

Get your holiday list finished once and for all with the amazing Letts of London and Filofax.

 

p.s. Be sure to also check out my previous posts about Filofax's bags and wallets (I still use them all these years later!) and Letts of London journals and Filofax organizers and planners. You'll soon see why they continue to be my favourite go-to brands for all things organizational.

Indulge This Holiday with Kat Burki's Incredible Lilac & Rosemary Body Lotion

One of the things I love most about the holidays is that for a few short hours, the world seems very quiet - folks are all cozied up at home, there is little street noise except for the occasional car or group of people heading out to celebrate. Even email slows to an almost stop. Which means that I get a short window in which to pamper myself.

The way I like to do that is take long showers and have a little spa treatment at home. It's such a luxury to linger and use luxurious products instead of my usual daily 5 minute shower, throw on an outfit of varying success and rush out the door to meetings and events or spend the day scrunched over my laptop to madly meet deadlines.

Kat Burki's Lilac & Rosemary Body Lotion from her NEW Tete a Tete Collection is one of those bath and body products that once you try, you are dedicated to it for the rest of your days. Using natural and organic ingredients, this exotic blend of ingredients - lilac, rosemary, rain showers, coconut milk and honey - smells incredible (if you catch me nose to skin, you'll understand why), like a Hawaiian vacation (I've never had one, but this is what sheer luxury smells like)! 

But it's got looks too, which makes it a fantastic holiday gift. The white and gold foil box means no wrapped required and the square pump dispenser with gold collar and gold foil writing looks good whether it's on the bathroom countertop or on your bedside table.

And in case you think it's just a pretty face, it hydrates and nourishes too. My skin is soft, supple and yes, incredibly scented. 

Shop the entire Kat Burki's Tete a Tete Body Lotion Collection and give gifts this season that people will actually use and love.

Great Italian Meals in Minutes with Bavaro's Pasta Sauces

As you know, I like to cook and whenever possible, from scratch.

But you know how crazy it can be. And especially at this time of year, where you leap outta bed, heart racing, just trying to get work done and then rush out into the crowds to shop for the people on your gift list that keeps growing instead of shrinking (if you're going to get something for the crossing guard, you'd better get something for your dry cleaner...).

That why you need to stock your pantry with Bavaro's Italian Sauces.  

Dan Bavaro's restaurant in downtown Tampa specializes in hand-crafted pizzas and pastas and now you can bring that restaurant quality fare to your own home with Bavaro's Pasta Sauces. I like these sauces because they are made with all natural, organic ingredients, are very affordable and you get restaurant "gravy" that you don't have to leave the comfort of home for. Ahhh, doesn't that feel good?

If you like a nice basic sauce for pasta or topping chicken, veal or fish with, Antico Pomodoro pasta sauce is a great choice. Using only Italian Plum Tomatoes, Organic Yellow Onion, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Garlic, Sea Salt and Organic Basil, you get a robust sauce that enhances whatever you pair it with.

Want a little heat without breaking a sweat? Bavaro's Arrabiata (pictured above) has just the right amount hot that even your relatives with meek palates can handle. This blend of Italian Plum Tomatoes, Organic Red Chile, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Garlic and Sea Salt ensures that you can enjoy a healthy, tasty dinner in just minutes.

You won't always have time to make tomato sauce from scratch and you can't always afford to go out to a restaurant. Bavaro's Pasta Sauces gives you the best of both worlds!

Sugru is the Solution to Almost Everything!

After a decade of loving this home, we are moving to a place just slightly bigger. And you'd be surprised what you come across when you're moving - sentimental things like photos albums from your youth (aww, look at how big my glasses were and how small my head was!) and things that you always meant to use, but never did. All the things that you meant to fix, meant to tweak, meant to hack at some point.

That's why you've got to get yourself Sugru. You won't believe all that it can do!

Sugru is an "air-curing rubber that can be formed by hand." Basically, it's like modelling clay for adults, made to fix and enhance your stuff. It will adhere to most things and after 24 hours, it develops into a strong, yet flexible silicon rubber that you can mold however you wish. It can be used in a variety of ways, one of my favourites being fixing your computer cable at the points where it starts to wear thin and you'd better believe that I'll making soft, cushy handles on all of my aluminum pots that heat up like nobody's business! And finally I can fix the dials on my stove where the lines wore off years ago (I have a new stove waiting for me at our new place, but I would like to help the next oven owner)!

Whether you get the Multi-Colour or Black &White, I think you'll see how many things you can save and fix, things that you probably thought were unsalvageable. A piece of my luggage broke when I was traveling last month and I couldn't think of a way to fix it so I was going to throw it out. Now I just have to add a bit of my Sugru and voila - my suitcase is saved!

I'm telling you, it's a freakin' lifesaver. 

Get yourself and folks on your list Sugru. You'll never find a bunch of happier, satisfied people.

Want to Have a Healthy Holiday? Use A. Vogel Herbamare Aromatic Sea Salt

While many people use the holidays as an excuse to indulge in "bad" food, I always try and use it to improve mine. I think about what I'm currently using and is it out of habit? Is there something else, something better than I can switch to?

One of the best finds of the year for me has been A. Vogel's Herbamare Aromatic Sea Salt. This is not the salt that you're used to - oh no, this one's chock full of celery, leek, watercress, onions, chives, parsley, lovage, garlic, basil, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and kelp, all organically grown. These raw ingredients are "brought in from the fields, mixed with real sea salt and allowed to marinate: the mixture is then dried under vacuum. This process brings out the flavour of the vegetables." Talk about bringing vitality to your cooking!

And here's the best part - you'll use more of this and less salt (because of all the other ingredients in there), so it's win-win: you don't have to sacrifice taste for health. In fact, you'll be gaining it!

Normally, I don't use dried blends in my cooking, but you'll see that A. Vogel's Herbamare Aromatic Sea Salt is different because it's so fresh and the ingredients bring so much depth to your food (when's the last time you have lovage in something - have you heard of it before?).

And while I tend to to use the Original Blend, it comes in a variety of flavours that can really add allure to your food - Herbamare Bombay, Herbamare Spicy, Herbamare Diet, Herbamare Ocean and Herbamare Provencale.

If any of your goals and/or resolutions for 2012 are to eat healthy, reduce your salt intake or make more vibrant meals, then be sure to get A. Vogel's Herbamare Aromatic Sea Salt.

EvolutionMan's Nail Varnishes & Paints Are a Fantastic Gift - For Both Sexes!

I know that this might be a bit of a leap for the fellas in your life, but EvolutionMan's Nail Varnishes and Paints are so sexy, they might just win him over. Especially if you swoon for them as much as I have.

The other bonus of getting them for him is that YOU can use them. And no doubt, you'll be the one hoarding them because the collection offers the most exquisite shades and textures and they dry quicker than anything you've used before. Yep, they're made for a man, but we're going to take them for ourselves! Sorry, fellas! But you can absolutely borrow them.... Take a look and see what I mean:

Pure Matte: You can't tell that you're wearing it, which is a way to ease your fella into wearing polish for the first time. And ladies, if you have a polish that you want to transform to matte (so unbelievably alluring, you won't be going back to gloss for awhile), just put this right on top. Also great for anyone who bites their nails. 

Pure Bling: Ooh, I love this one for when you want your nails to look taken care of, without adding any colour. The finish is so perfect (for some reason I think Kate Middleton would favour it) - high shine without being flossy or glossy. And the formula boasts nail protein, calcium, and vitamins C and E, so that your nail look good and stay strong. This is one of those standbys that you discover and then never let go of. This is a good next step for your fella too.

Pavement: Grey polish is super hot this season and it's no wonder - it goes with everything. This particular light dove shade has just enough shine on it to keep it from looking dull so it works with everything from skinny jeans and a tee to that rockin' dress you're wearing for New Year's Eve!

Stand Out: I always like to have edgy colours in my collection and one of the best I've ever found is this one. This medium grey has an incredible texture to it with a matte, metallic look that is part industrial, part fashion maven. And the concrete-style look and feel is completely bump free, so when you run your fingers over your painted nail, all you feel is complete and utter smoothness. None of my "girl" polishes do that!

Alter Ego: If I had to give out an award for most innovative colour, it would be Alter Ego. It is gorgeous and original and so completely beautiful that I'll probably have it on the next time you see me. It goes on like a dream - not a bump or ridge anywhere - and has such a unique quality to it that it is almost otherworldly. The metallic purple is so flattering (not too dark or light) that it is incredibly modern and seductive all swirled into one. Oomph, I think I'm in love.

If you're smart, you'll get one set for each of the fellas on your list and one for each of your gal pals. And whatever you do, don't forget to get a set for yourself. Not only are they completely alluring, they dry quickly and they last (I've been packing moving boxes for days now and not a chip anywhere!).

Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter (top of sidebar) so that you get the knack everyday. Next week, I'll tell you all about EvolutionMan's amazing skincare line that you'll be stealing from your fella too!

The MoMA Modern Playhouse is Not Just for Kids!

I admit it - I got the MoMA Modern Playhouse for myself, not any kids on my gift list.

I love the idea of having this little art installation on my shelf, where I can create only contemporary and modern spaces. Finally, something that matches my aesthetic. Now I just have to find the piece in life-size form!

Sure a kid who loves to play house would cherish this, but I don't think they'd love arranging the furniture and accessories as much as I do!

This amazing kit includes 6 nesting boxes, 8 mix-and-match furniture pieces and 12 removable vinyl clings. You get 50 decorating options including walls, furniture, flooring, lighting and other home accessories. I'm having so much fun with it, so you can just imagine what a joyful time kids will have.

Maybe this will lead to a career in interior decorating - in the meantime, I'm working on a lovely living room arrangement with seating for the entire family.

Get yourself - or the kids on your list - the MoMA Modern Playhouse this holiday. You can also get a Modern Family and other accessories to go with it!

Harajuku Lovers Jingle G Fragrance is also an Ornament!

I have been covering Harajuku Lovers Fragrances for a while now (my most recent review of Super G, back in the summer). I love the spirit in which they are designed and made. They are fun, girly scents that speak to a generation that wants fun and cool items.

The latest addition to the collection - Jingle G - is holiday themed, so if you need a gift or stocking stuffer, it doesn't get more perfect than this. Not only does this scent celebrate the season with warmth and spiciness, Jingle G is wearing her Santa suit (form fitting and oh-so-flattering of course!) and has a red ribbon in her hair that extends out so that you can hang her on your tree. Aww, how cute is that?

Long after the tree has been taken down, you'll be rockin' this amazing, festive scent with notes of Tangerine, Gardenia, and White Star Fruit blended with Jasmine, Orange Blossom, and Honeysuckle and finished with the warmth of Vanilla, Cedarwood, and Laos Benzion Tears.

The holidays suddenly got a little better, didn't they? Shop Jingle G now.

Look Luminous this Season with Snowberry Beauty

Have you switched your skincare over to all natural yet?

If you haven't you should. Things are different nowadays and companies have discovered that certain all-natural ingredients give you the powerful protection and nourishment that your skin needs without all the chemicals.

Snowberry Beauty was created by Soraya who wanted to offer "skin care that will be as gentle but as enduring in its effect as possible." She says, "It seeks to enhance rather than intervene. It supports rather than attempts to replace wellness and good health as the source of naturally beautiful skin."

What a wonderful way  to start and end your day - feeding your skin without petrochemicals, silicones, artificial preservatives and colours, glycols and parabens. And you know by now that what you put on your skin goes into your body, so switching to Snowberry will not only give you better skin, it's better for you.

Nourishing Lite Day Cream is one of the products that once you find, you hold onto. It's an anti-aging cream designed for combination skin that moisturizes without feeling heavy. And it's light, spring-like scent transports you into the middle of summer fields. Your skin will be smooth, hydrated and protected. Your wrinkles will fade so that you look younger, more rested. It is made from the most amazing extracts - honeysuckle, cultured white pearl and Mother of Pearl! - as well as exotic oils like coffee bean. Don't let the word "light" fool you - this right here is one luxurious cream.

If you want brighter, more luminous skin this season, get yourself Snowberry's Bright Defense Day Cream No. 2. It too is designed for combinations skin, so it works on both your dry and oily parts. Skin brighteners mix and mingle with  herbal emollients such as rosehip, grapeseed, passion flower and macadamia, as well as New Zealand Harakeke Oil, "cultivated in the Snowberry gardens."  This light cream is the colour of medium foundation but you'll notice brighter, smoother and more even-toned skin within just a few applications. Oh, and this one smells good too.

Snowberry Beauty makes products that make you look and feel good inside and out. Now that right there, is a true gift.

Shop the entire Snowberry Beauty Collection now.

This Southern Pies Cookbook Will Make Mouths Water This Holiday!

Whether you decide to give it as a gift, or simply cook from it this holiday, Southern Pies by Nancie McDermott is a fantastic present for the entire family.

As you know, I love all things Southern and even though I don't have a sweet tooth, I can't help but be enchanted by Southern desserts. But many people up my way aren't exposed to much of this food, which is why Southern Pies: A Gracious Plenty of Pie Recipes, From Lemon Chess to Chocolate Pecan is high on my gift lift this year. What are the chances that someone will have it? That's what I'm talkin' about!

And this book has everything you need whether you're a novice or expert (I, for one, am not a great baker). I truly appreciate the fact that there are sections on "Patching Holes" and "Meringue Anxiety," for those of us who are not as confident with baking as others, ahem. So I'm going to work my way up through the ranks, as it were. There are 70 pie recipes in here, so it gives me dishes to work towards. That and the tons of different pie crusts that it's going to take me awhile to get the hang of (If only I had a Southern grandma to show me!).

But just reading through the names of the recipes alone ought to get you drooling - Mrs. Natha Adkins Parker's Lemon Cloud Pie, Butterscotch Pie, Molasses Pie, Brown Sugar Pie - and many are steeped in Southern history such as sweet potato pie, chess pie, pecan pie (oh my!). There are some that I can't wait to not only make, but eat, such as Martha Hall Foose's Sweet Tea Pie. Barry Maiden's Hungry Mother Spicy Peanut Pie and New Orleans Creole Coconut Pie!

When I'm thinking about pies to do for the holidays, I think I'm going to either make David Guas's Apple-Pecan Crumble Pie or Persimmon Pie, which I've never seen or heard of before. I don't know what Surry County Peach Sonker with Dip is like, but it sounds like a good conversation starter as does Black Walnut Pie and Mountain Home Soup Pie, don't you think?

And don't worry if you're a chocoholic - you can absolutely get your chocolate on with thanks to delectable recipes like Mama Irene's Chocolate Meringue Pie and Joe Trull's Peanut Butter-Banana Cream Pie with Fudge Sauce.

I might not be Southern or have a grandma from the south, but I've got this book in my pocket now. I think that's all I need.

Buy Southern Pies by Nancie McDermott now.

Catherine Benoit's Handmade One-of-a-Kind Glass Necklaces Are Perfect Presents

Christmas is quickly approaching and I know it's hard to try and come up with original gift ideas. I've been floundering for weeks trying to figure out presents for some of the people on my list.

One of my favourite recent finds is Catherine Benoit's Handmade Glass Necklaces from Montreal. A glass blower who makes many different items, Catherine has created unique and one-of-a-kind necklaces that will set your gift apart from the rest of the last-minute, store-bought presents that most people end up buying.

She says that, "For me, working with glass and with wax brings me indescribable pleasure, an incredible adrenaline boost and an exceptional artistical effervescence. When I'm working on a piece, anguish sets in until it is finalized. Once it is completely finished and ready to show to the public, that anguish disappears to be replaced by pride, the pride of seeing my work admired and appreciated by others while it comes directly from the deepest part of my imagination."

How amazing is that, to give a gift of handmade, hand-crafted artwork that someone can wear around their neck?

Catherine blows the glass at a temperature of 1100°C. The colour is added at the beginning of the process by fusion of the pigment glass to the transparent mass. 

To contact Catherine about her necklaces or her other work - Vases, Bowls, Plates, Sets, Sculptures, Drops of Joy, Candle Holders and Paperweights - please fill out the form on her website.

Feel Good Naturally This Holiday with Pure Inventions Antioxidant Drops

This time of year is so crazy-busy. Don't you feel like you're just running from place to place, person to person, thing to thing? I need to fortify myself as much as possible in order to get through the crunch of the holidays, wrapping up work for the end of the year and plotting out my projects for the new year. And oh yeah, we just found a new place today so now we're moving in the next few weeks. My discovery of Pure Inventions came just in the nick of time.

Created by "lifelong friends" Lynne Gerhards and Lori Mulligan, they are also both Certified Clinical Nutritionists and Nutritional Consultants. Their liquid supplements help you achieve a little extra wellness that is "easy, convenient and simple to incorporate into a hectic lifestyle." You simple add a few drops to your bottle of water and you'll be enjoying "high antioxidant hydration"

The drops contain all natural ingredients and  have no calories, caffeine, sugar, sodium, artificial sweeteners,  preservatives, alcohol or gluten. Drops, as opposed to pill form, absorb more quickly into your system, so you'll feel better and have more energy faster and there are 60 servings per bottle, so that's a couple of month's worth if you have it every day.

I tried Cranberry & Elderberry which livens up my bottle of water and quenches my thirst. And I love Tranquility (pictured above) on those days where I need to take the edge off looming deadlines and last-minute assignments (or the stress out of times like these, like the harried holiday season!). Next I want to try Fit & Slender (it's a new year's resolution in a bottle!), Antioxidant Cocoa (might as well just call it sigh-of-relief in a bottle) and Green Tea Vanilla. Plain ol' water will never be plain again, thanks to the lovely Pure Inventions Antioxidant Drops - now a part of my every day health and wellness routine.

Shop the entire line of Pure Inventions Antioxidant Drops now.

Hugh Johnson's Wine Journal Hits the Shelves for the Holidays

Despite being a food writer and restaurant critic, I know only some skeleton basics about wine and that's it. The rest remains a mystery.

That's why I think Hugh Johnson's New Wine Journal is a fantastic gift this season - no one knows everything there is to know about wine. Uh, except for Hugh perhaps.

See, Hugh has been writing about wine since the 70s. He wrote The World Atlas of Wine, The Story of Wine and Uncorked, his biography. The guys steeped in the stuff.

In this beautiful guide, there's room for tasting notes so you can keep track of what you like. And Hugh will show you what kinds of wines to try in various grape varieties, based on those likes. Of course things like opening, serving and storing wine is covered, which will help while you entertain this holiday season, but for me, I like the sections on wine - white, sparkling, rose, red and fortified wines. There are food and wine pairings included here as well, so you can host parties with not only ease, but confidence. That's a gift all it's own, don't you think?

This guide has captivating photos,  lots of room to write and even a ribbon place marker so you know where you left off.

Hugh Johnson's New Wine Journal keeps giving well after you've finished reading it. To me, that's the sign of a truly great gift.

Buy Hugh Johnson's New Wine Journal now.

Give the Gift of Amazing Grace from Philosophy This Holiday

Perfume is a popular option for holiday gift giving, but not every scent is as ethereal as Philosophy's Amazing Grace Eau de Parfum.

This is Philosophy's best-selling spray fragrance for women, and it's no wonder - it's clean and soapy with tiny floral touches, evoking a light scent throughout the day, never overpowering you or anyone else.

There is something very empowering to feeling clean and fresh and for me, it's the ultimate - like you've just stepped out of the shower, but it lasts all day long. 

Floral notes are courtesy of rose, freesia, muguet and jasmine blossoms. Citrus notes of bergamot, grapefruit and mandarin and fresh greens, passionfruit and musk come together to create a scent that if you had to describe what complete and utter bliss smells like, it would be this.

I'm telling you - she will love Amazing Grace. 

I cannot get enough of this scent.  And the best part? It comes in many forms, so if she's a lotion gal, perfume girl or body spritz type of women, she can enjoy the scent the way she wants.

Shop Philosophy's Amazing Grace now.

Ethically Handmade Clothes & Accessories by Lowie are Pretty & Practical!

The temperatures have dipped here north of the border (the US/Canada border, that is) and yet, it's still warm enough to don your fall coat and get away with a light scarf and hat - Hallelujah!

That's why I'm thrilled to still be able to wear fall gear before the heavy winter stuff  has to come out. And there's no better place to find clothing and accessories than Lowies in the UK.

Whether you're shopping for yourself or others at this time of year, you're bound to find something to suit everyone:

- I am smitten with the Grey Tea Dress - warm and alluring, a perfect winter staple!

- The Coatigan is the perfect in-between coat and oh-so-stylish.

- I like that the Stripey Boatneck Top can look both very Mad Men and very 80s at the same time, depending what you pair it with.

- Everyone's wearing endless scarves this season, so stand out in the crowd in this unique Virgin Wool Crochet Neckwarmer. For some reason, in my head I call it the Helen Mirren...

- These Nordic Vintage Long Socks in Cream are not only gorgeous socks, they'd be great Christmas stockings, don't you think?

- A Skinny Belt in Red adds instant pop to your old LBDs and cinches your waist with your blousey tops worn over skinny jeans. Perfect!

- Whether your cross-country skiing or simply heading out for a city walk, this Hooded Snood will keep you warm and looking pretty hot too.

- Purses, tea towels and pretty bows - what great stocking stuffers!

This season, I am showing off my Lowie's Handmade Crocheted Fingerless Gloves in Black (pictured above). These pretty gloves have crochet details and a contrast velvet bow that makes me feel like a modern Doris Day or Grace Kelly. My hands stay warm while I can still access my touchscreen phone with ease, carry my groceries and hail a cab in style.

For me, it's the quality of materials and details of design that makes a piece stand out in the crowd. Lucky us, Lowie has a whole line of them. 

Shop their entire collection now.

The Results Are In - Kérastase's Fibre Architecte Completely Transforms Your Hair!

 Lisa Marie & I apres treatment & styling

A few weeks ago, I underwent an amazing treatment for Kérastase's Fibre Architecte (read part 1 here).

This past week, I went in for the second round of treatments at Solo Bace Salon in Yorkville. 

This time, Wyn (pictured below) applied the masque. Though she is tiny, her hands are strong - she massaged my scalp so deeply that I almost drifted off. She is a-m-a-z-i-ng!

It was a real luxury to be pampered like this in the middle of the day! I think my esteemed colleague Lisa Marie of Beauty Crazed (below, forefront) must have felt the same way as we're looking pretty relaxed here:

Anna (pictured below) styled my hair in preparation for our final photo shoot that afternoon.  

The photo shoot was with my favourite photographer of all time, Josh Fee (pictured below - seriously, he is the best).

We posed for our final photos and went home to write to deadline.

But my hair weeks later is still crazy soft and shiny.

A lot of products claim to work. But I am living proof that Kérastase's Fibre Architecte can completely change the look and feel of your hair.

Thank you ever so to NataPR, Solo Boce, Josh Fee Photography and Kérastase for making me feel like a star!

And if you see me on the street, come and say hi. In fact, go ahead and run your fingers through my hair and see for yourself - it's downright gorgeous!

Esquire's Eat Like a Man Cookbook is a Fantastic Holiday Gift

I'm going to let you in on a little secret - I eat like a man.

Not in terms of portions, but I love meat and I love cooking meat. I always tell people I want to open a Southern restaurant, but I should be more specific: I want to open a very meat-heavy restaurant. Now that's not to say that's all men eat. In fact, Esquire's Eat Like a Man Cookbook has dishes like oatmeal (Jalapeno and Ancho Oatmeal, though - how cool is that?), tuna melts (with ahem, Charred-Rosemary Mayo) and macaroni pie (you'll never eat just plain mac & cheese after this).

But let's be real here for a minute - there's a huge steak on the cover and what do I make for dinner almost every night of the week? Meat.

That's why I got this book. Because I need ideas for dinners and dinner parties. I need to change it up from time to time. And sometimes, I need to man up.

There are not just recipes here, but hints on how to host a party (most helpful at this time of year, wouldn't you say?), great drinks to make (you're going to need this most between now and New Year's Day) and Esquire classic dishes from the 50s that will bring a whole new level of excitement to the table.

Each recipe tells you how difficult it is to make, so you can instantly assess whether this is a Thursday night, cram dinner in before your favourite show or something you want to spend a little more time crafting on a Sunday afternoon.

This book is not just for men, but people who want to good food well. And that means I qualify. So I'm off to make Braised Beef Brisker with Horseradish Cream & Pickled Onion, Duck Fat Potatoes and William Styron's Clam Chowder from the Nov 1984 issue.

Feel free to make the Broiled Broccoli and Banana Bread French Toast if you like. There's nothing wrong with that. Just don't ask to try my Steak Au Poivre or Coca-Cola-Brined Fried Chicken.

Give Eat Like a Man: The Only Cookbook A Man Will Ever Need this holiday season. You'll not only have some very grateful folks on your hands, you might even finagle yourself an invite to dinner.

Green Your Holiday with Inn at Laurel Point's New Bath & Body Products

For me, the scents that arise around the holidays are as much a part of the celebration as anything else like pine trees and sticky sap. And during this time of year, when it's so hectic, you barely breathe or eat, all I want to do is relax and curl up with my piles of books and magazines and a cup of tea and pamper my skin with long showers and nourishing, luxurious lotions.

Inn at Laurel Point's New Exclusive Bath & Body line feautures  woodsy base notes from oils of conifer tree boughs, harvested from BC’s Great Bear Rainforest by members of the Coastal First Nations – Great Bear Initiative (an organization that works to create meaningful and respectful employment for First Nations’ people and communities), and are locally blended by the Silk Road Tea Company. It is not only indulgence in a bottle, it is ethically-sound and local.

The eseential oils of shore pine, fir, sitka spruce and hemlock has a way of transporting you to the forest whether you're in your own tub or a glass shower in a hotel room halfway around the world. Inhale the healing scents and suddenly, the stress leaves your body and your skin softens. It's the most wonderful feeling that doesn't have to happen just around Christmas time.

Shop the entire line of shampoo and conditioner, soap, bath foamand salts, body lotion, massage oil and face mist, and feel good about where your products are coming from.

The New 2012 Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar Calendars Are Here!

There are only 30 days left in 2011, so you'd better get yourself a calendar. And a good. A really good one. I mean, it's all right if you're parents are using that ugly recycling calendar, but you've got style and class, so your calendar should reflect that. It is a piece of art as much as a way of keeping track of the days of the week.

That's why you should get yourself - and folks on your holiday gift list - the new 2012 Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar Calendar. I discovered these amazing calendars last year and it brought me so much joy and delight, that I couldn't help but tell you about them again!

Created by the lovely and talented Noa Bembibre, she "writes the phrases, typesets the dates and quality controls every copy." Every year is a limited edition and each month contains a special sentiment that stays with you long after the days have passed. I love that it changes so that you never know what it's going to say. That's why I never peek ahead and only change the calendar on the 1st of the month, so I am surprised each and every time. Isn't that a nice way to celebrate the beginning of each month?

This seventh-edition calendar is printed in four colours on uncoated stock. You'll see the month's letters pop up in colour from the black sentence. This is how you know what month you're on. And I'm telling you, the sentences Noa crafts are unusual, but evocative. Sometimes I think they're even informing on what I do and how I think. Yeah, it's pretty deep.

And of course it's amazing to look at. Finished with its distinct signature black ribbon binding (which in itself involves a seven step manual process), it is a work of art that will intrigue your guests and enrich your days with merriment.

Get the new 2012 Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar Calendars now.