Quiksilver Canada Sample Sale

A luxe, new wardrobe at discount prices? It can be yours if you catch the Quiksilver Canada Sample Sale this weekend. It's happening at The North Shore Winter Club on Saturday May 30 and Sunday May 31.

Featuring Quiksilver, Roxy and DC …up to 70% off on men’s, women’s and kids’ streetwear, footwear, outerwear, snowboard boots, watches and more!

You don't want to miss out on this!

Boom Boom Pow

On Saturday night, we rounded up the troops for an evening of fun. A limo picked us up after dinner and drinks at Jimmy Mac's and took us to Foggy Dew where we drank, danced and got our party on. The after-party happened back at Tom and Danielle's place. Danielle, of course, was happy to make a massive, incredible meal for all of her guests at 4am. She fed everybody (twice) and somehow, we managed to keep the party going until 6am- insanity. Super fun times. God knows that I can't pull off nights like that on a regular basis anymore, but it sure is a blast to pretend I'm 19 again every now and then.


"The happiest moments my heart knows are those in which it is pouring forth its affections to a few esteemed characters." - Thomas Jefferson

Please Don't Change, I'll Never Be The Same

With a massive collection of hits to his credit, past drug problems, a lofty ego, a flashy wardrobe and an ever-present cigarette, Scott Weiland is a living cliché of the classic "rock star." But there's no denying it: Even after 20 years in the music business, he still has what matters most- talent. He proved it with an absolutely incredible show at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver last night.

Val and I scored last minute tickets to check it out. She's probably the biggest Scott Weiland fan I've ever met and of course, I'm always happy to tag along to see a live show at one of my favourite venues in the city. I wasn't disappointed. I've always been entranced by the way that Scott moves about on stage while he performs. He has a unique stage presence which I enjoy very much. The man pushes glam rock to the limit and possesses the kind of sex appeal that I just can't quite articulate with words. The sound was brilliant, his demeanor was sober and clear. The performance was flawless. After nearly two decades, Weiland's work as an artist and musician has hit a unexpected high point.

You can check out more of my photos from the show, plus a little video here.

Funny Girl

My favourite funny blonde, Jenny McCarthy is joining forces with Oprah Winfrey – for, among other projects, her own talk show. Her new blog has also been launched on Oprah's website.

Jenny McCarthy posed for Playboy magazine in 1993 and was named the magazine's Playmate of the Year. McCarthy parlayed that fame into a breakthrough role hosting the MTV dating show Singled Out.


Jenny tempers her sex-bomb image with a careful combination of kookiness and Oprah-style empathy. I remember seeing an appearance she made on The Rosie O'Donnell Show when I was about 15. She came out and explained how her CD poster had been digitally altered. "I'm doing this to show all those young girls at home," she told O'Donnell, "you look at a poster and you look in the mirror, you want to cry and kill yourself because you don't look like that. I'm going to show you what I looked like that day for real. Because I had huge zits, I was P.M.S.-ing pretty badly that day. I had a huge cold sore on my lip, which you can't see because they airbrushed it. Stretch marks all over my butt, which are gone. Birth marks, bruises. You name it. It's airbrushed." Her honesty blew me away. I was instantly taken by this gorgeous, hilarious and seemingly down to earth woman. I read her first book Jen-X: Jenny McCarthy's Open Book when it was released later that year and discovered that not only did I think she was super cool, but I could relate to this woman to a large degree. Then came her various shows, including a sketch comedy show, which ran for just one season. I can't be the only one who loved The Jenny McCarthy Show. I love a girl who doesn't take herself too seriously and who isn't afraid to laugh at herself and admit that she's human.


She's gone from Playboy model to fearless comedienne to New York Times best selling authour of tell-it-like-it-is “mommy” books:

• Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth
• Baby Laughs: The Naked Truth about the First Year of Mommyhood
• Life Laughs: The Naked Truth about Motherhood, Marriage, and Moving On
• Louder than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism
• Mother Warriors: A Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against All Odds
• Healing and Preventing Autism Co-written with Dr. Jerry Kartzine

After a heart wrenching battle to get her son Evan properly diagnosed after he fell terribly ill with seizures at the age of two, to her son’s devastating diagnosis of autism and her arduous journey to find answers and get him healed, Jenny McCarthy has discovered her life’s work. She is determined to use her celebrity to bring attention to a condition that has reached epidemic proportions among pre-school age children: rapidly rising occurrences of autism. In recent years, McCarthy has been a frequent guest on Oprah's show, discussing her efforts in helping her son combat autism. I'm more than a little excited to see what Jenny will bring to the table with her own show.

**Photos are not property of Work In Progress. They have been taken from various websites. If your photo has not been credited and you would like it to be, please e-mail me.*

Just Lose It

After thousands of pounds lost, and an infinite number of tears, this week was the inspiring and touching three hour season finale of The Biggest Loser. I have to admit, of all the reality shows on television, this one sucks me in the most. I watch the contestants each week, as they set out on a journey to radically transform their bodies and their lives.

I started watching the show when I was at the gym. It often seems to be on while I'm running on the treadmill or givin'er on the stationary bike. Tears roll down my cheeks during every single episode, as I relate all too well with what the people on the show are going through. Have I ever been obese? No. Have I had to worry about my weight for as long as I can remember? Absolutely. I've been up and down and all over the place with my weight. It's always a struggle for me and I have had to accept that it just always will be.

I'm nine weeks off chocolate and sweets. I've been keeping a close count of my calories and working out like a maniac. I've dropped close to 20 pounds since I started this little "diet," which I began without any solid weight loss goal in mind. I know I'm never going to be a bone rack. I'm 5'9" and I just don't have a narrow, little build. I've also got knockers that don't seem to want to go anywhere, no matter how much I wish they would disappear. I suppose my goal is to feel healthy, strong and fit; but the fact is, I have to be (a little) neurotic about it or it won't work. I have to literally work my ass off. And I am.


Last night the lady in hot pink, 48-year-old Helen Phillips, took the top prize; her 140-pound weight loss was a higher percentage of her starting weight than that of finalists Tara Costa and Mike Morelli. The transformations of all of the contestants on the show this season were, in my opinion, unbelievable though. How adorable is Mike?


Tara Costa was my favourite contestant from the beginning of the season. She's a charming young lady who carries herself really well. She is very easy to relate to and I found myself able to identify with many of her issues and struggles. Through the show, she's been able to discover a new, healthy lifestyle, and she has found the self confidence to go along with it. In my opinion, she won this show in every way, shape and form that counted - except that last frivolous stipulation, "weigh loss percentage." Tara dropped a total of 135 pounds in the competition. She looks absolutely incredible.


The Biggest Loser definitely gets its share of criticism and has come under harsh scrutiny for its unrealistic standards of weight loss. Personally, I think that the show needs to be taken with a grain of salt. I mean, it is reality television after all, people. Somehow, I don't think the average 150 pound woman is going to try to duplicate an obese contestant's 10 pound per week weight loss. What the show does do is demonstrate to the average overweight North American that they can exercise, eat less, and lose weight; because if the 400 pound middle-aged slacker can do it, who are we to say it's too tough?

Thoughts?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Repeat

Photo from here

I am putting on the headphones.
The ones with the long cord.
I'm going to fall asleep with that song on repeat.
And in the middle of the night
I'll wake and wonder where I am -
why the cord is tangled around my shoulders,
and if there could be something better around the corner.

Mom's The Word

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ”

- Washington Irving (via Mary Rambin)


Words can't express how much my Mom means to me. I feel like the luckiest little girl in the whole wide world. She's not just a mother, she's also a best friend. I (still) tell her everything. She's always the first person I go to when I have something to share; good or bad. I can count on her for love and support, no matter what. I look forward to talking to her every day (often more than once). My Mom is always capable of calming me down when I'm anxious and helping me put things into perspective. She's more than a role model- she's my hero.

Mom, I am so blessed to have you in my life. You inspire me more than you could ever know. I love you.

Drop Your Denim

Photo: Imapix on Flickr

Union Gospel Mission is asking you to drop your denim...for a good cause. On May 11-14, UGM is partnering with Rock 101 and the Vancouver Fire Department for the 2009 Denim Drive. Your new or gently used jeans could give someone less fortunate a chance to turn their life around. So please, dig deep into your closets and see what you can find. It could make a huge difference in someone's life.

Via UGM:

At UGM, we believe hope begins with a meal, but a new life can also begin with a new pair of pants. By dropping off your slightly-worn denim, you can help someone have a fresh start. Maybe your old jeans will encourage one of our guests to leave the streets and return to a trade, or to feel so good about themselves they choose to go back to school.

But we need your help to pull this off. Here are some ways you can help:

1. Spring Cleaning
Dig deep into your closets and dressers and bring down any new or slightly-used denim to our official drop offs.

2. Inspire Your Workplace
Now that you’ve battled the dust bunnies in your own closet, encourage your co-workers, colleagues, or teammates to do the same. Download and print our posters here, paste them in your lunchroom. Collect donations and bring them to the closest official drop-off.

3. Challenge Your Competitors
Once you’ve got the ball rolling at your workplace, why not put your competitors to the test? See if they can meet or exceed your organization’s generous donation.

4. Spread The Word
Get your friends, family and social network in on the action. Spread the word on your blog, Twitter, or Facebook. You can even phone, fax, email, or, get super old-school and use a carrier pigeon.

Denim can be dropped off at any of the 20 Vancouver Fire Department locations, Rock 101 or UGM's main reception at 616 East Cordova (between 9am and 5pm.)

Nuck Yeah!

Canucks fan fever has hit my office BIG TIME! I'm not about to get over confident here, but the guys are looking good so far. The whole city is getting revved up behind the Canucks. Today our sassy "Nuck Yeah!" t-shirts which Proper Design and Boulevard Skate Shop designed, were delivered to our door at work. Obviously, we had to do a photo shoot. Clearly the shirts are good luck too (knock on wood!) because the boys pulled off a 3-1 win tonight over the Blackhawks to give them a 2-1 lead in this second round series. Luongo was in top form and he had the support of a strong team around him. GO CANUCKS GO! Let's keep the momentum going!

Limitless/Fearless

Photo Source Unknown

"You walk through my walls
like a ghost on tv.
You penetrate me.
And my little pink heart
is on its little brown raft,
floating out to sea.
And what can I say?
But I'm wired this way,
and you're wired to me.
And what can I do?
But wallow in you,
unintentionally."

Everytime I blink I have a tiny dream.

I've been thinking a lot about
fearlessly expressing,
limitless loving.
It's because I've read a lot about it,
and talked a lot about it,
so I took that,
and applied it to my heart.
It echoes in everything.
It echoes in everyone.

I keep dropping ice cubes,
everywhere.

Yesterday I crushed my finger
in the heavy front door,
it throbbed for hours.
Then in my sleep,
I bent it and silently screamed
Because of that, my whole body felt bruised and achy this morning.
But tonight, as I ran on the seawall in the sunshine, my whole body felt strong.

It's spring and I want to take long walks
and drink lots of iced mint green tea.