Work In Progress

Changes

2009-09-08T13:03:00.007-07:00

For two years, I logged my every thought and feeling on my first blog over at Friendster. (It still absolutely breaks my heart that I lost all of my content from those early days...) Following that has been my (just about) two and a half year run here at Blogger... but I suppose it was only a matter of time before I was antsy for another change. This weekend, I finally bit the bullet and made the move over to WordPress. I have to admit that I was fairly pleased with myself for doing as much of this on my own as I did; however, I also owe a million thanks to my little bro, Janine and Raul for all of their help with the transition.

Please update your feeds, bookmarks and blogrolls accordingly. The home of my "shiny new blog" is right here: Work In Progress

Thanks everybody for all of your support! I hope that you'll follow me into the next phase...

I Had To Find The Brake

2009-09-07T06:48:00.002-07:00

I often feel like if I stop for one minute, I'll shut down and I won't be able to start back up again. Then like a house of cards, everything will come tumbling down. I'm a control freak and I'm attracted to extremes, so sometimes I don't even realize how hard I'm pushing myself.

In the last few weeks, I have been sicker than I can ever remember being. It has made me realize that I'm not invincible; that if I don't take care of myself, I won't be capable of doing what I need to do. Caught up with "being in the zone, " and so busy congratulating myself for how much weight I'd lost, I didn't even realize how little I was eating, the limited hours of sleep that I was getting, or how hard I was pushing my body with intense workout sessions. Commitments on top of commitments, and I couldn't ever bring myself to just say no. I kept motoring through. I hate letting people down, so will go to just about any length to avoid it. Go, go, go is what I did, until I finally hit my breaking point, and ended up being forced to do nothing but rest for almost two whole weeks. I started to genuinely worry that I was never going to get better. I guess this was my body's way of pulling on the reigns. Without balance, bodies, minds, and even machines break down. How easily I seem to forget that.

Finally starting to feel better, I have spent this weekend allowing myself to unravel, digging deep underneath all those layers of muck to see what was going on in the cluttered up parts of my mind and the empty spaces of my heart.

Life involves constantly readjusting priorities and trying find balance. I recognize now that I need to start making my health and well being a priority. I need to listen to my body and learn how to relax. Oh, how I've fought it. As it turns out, I'm actually not the energizer bunny.

I will rest tonight,
to the tips of my toes.

Butter And Blogs

2009-09-06T13:48:00.005-07:00

I saw Julie and Julia, and loved it! It really made me want to think about some sort of short-term goal that I can set for myself, that makes every day a little more fun and challenging. Hmmm…

And if Sophie Dahl's book wasn't enough inspiration to get me to put on an apron and spend some time in the kitchen, this film certainly gave me an extra push in that direction.

Photos: Sony Pictures

Tennis, Anyone?

2009-09-05T19:09:00.027-07:00

The season's final Grand Slam is here, and the all-white outfits from Wimbledon and clay-stained duds from Roland Garros have given way to some of the season's loudest fashion statements. Long the home of John McEnroe's headbands and the understated styles of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, the courts at Flushing Meadows have seen everything from Serena Williams' cat suit to Roger Federer's monogrammed jackets in recent years. This year's U.S. Open is no different.

I've been glued to the action. Since opening day of the tournament, we've not only seen lots of seriously bold colours and designs on the athletes, but some great, classic looks as well.

Serena Williams rocked Fuchsia by Nike, while her sister Venus came back from a knee injury to win in a bright pink tennis dress featuring her specialized crest.

Bouncing back victoriously from her shoulder injury, Maria Sharapova advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Bulgaria's Tsveta Pironkova. As always, Sharapova looked fashionable in her black tennis dress with silver straps and a silver headband. Coordinated on all fronts! I'm lusting after her gorgeous Tiffany's earrings too. Maria always brings glamour to the court.

Today, she donned the same style dress in a pink tone with bright neon yellow details and swapped her headband for a visor.

17 year old Melanie Oudin knocked off the three-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 Sharapova 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 this afternoon in a huge upset. The youngster brought some style to the court with her colourful kicks.

Photo: Ladydragon

There are so many fashionably coordinated looks on the court at this tournament. If anybody understands how a great outfit can enhance your performance, it's me! (wink) Just putting this post together has pumped me up to get to the gym in some cute Roxy Athletix gear!

These days, a good sense of style seems to be just as important as good racquets and sneakers.

Here are some more of my favourite U.S. Open looks:

Okay, I've got my wardrobe, my sneakers and my racquet ready to go. Who wants to play me?

Photos courtesy of Sports Illustrated

A New Season In The City

2009-09-04T03:31:00.010-07:00

The first episode of the second season of The City is set to air September 29th on MTV and I'd be a lying if I didn't admit that I can't wait. So many rumours, and by the sound of it, so many changes. As usual, what excites me the most, of course, is the fashion.

via People TV Watch:

First of all, her former boss Kelly Cutrone has made Whitney an offer she can’t refuse, to come back to People’s Revolution in New York, working “five, six hours a day” while at the same time working on her own fashion line.

Meanwhile, her former nemesis coworker at Diane Von Furstenberg, Olivia Palermo, is turning her promotion into a new job at Elle, where she’s already clashing with Erin Kaplan, a PR director for the fashion mag.

Since her days on The Hills, Whitney has always been focused on a career in fashion, but there will be two big distractions for her as season 1 continues. First, a pal from Los Angeles, Roxy Olin, has arrived at the doorstep of Whitney’s new West Village apartment, looking for a place to stay and a new job.

Second, of course, is a new guy. With Jay Lyon in her past, Whitney is single and hanging out with a cute new guy named Freddy.

Check out the trailer:

My girl crush on Whitney Port will undoubtedly carry on into the fall. Here are some recent photos of Whit out and about in New York. As always, I'm loving her quirky LA meets NY style.

**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.**

Carrie's Back

2009-09-03T10:19:00.016-07:00

Filming for the second Sex And The City movie has begun in New York City. It's true, initially I wasn't totally pumped on the idea of another film, but I'd be lying if didn't admit that I am absolutely giddy over these first glimpses of the fabulously fashionable Carrie Bradshaw's wardrobe. Check out these photos taken on set this week...would you look at those Louboutins? Oh my!

SJP looked stunning in a white Halston dress and Christina Louboutin heels, carrying a Chanel clutch bag. The kicks are my favourite part... (how hot are those??)

Loving this gorgeous purple pleated dress and super glam flapper-esque Christian Louboutin Gino T-strap shoes.

Fashion guru Patricia Field is getting sky high marks right off the bat. Now bring on Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha!

Photos from various sources

Voluptuous Delights

2009-09-02T15:15:00.021-07:00

Photo: Sermulher

Sophie Dahl, one of the most glorious women on the planet, shares delicious secrets from her slinky kitchen, funny stories and favourite recipes in a beautifully illustrated hardback:

Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights: The Art Of Eating A Little Of What You Fancy

As somebody with a pretty rocky relationship with food, (and who is by no means a cook) I really appreciate Miss Dahl's honesty (and fantastic suggestions). Her book, full of delectable recipes for each season, photographed to magical perfection and accompanied by her positively Mitford-esque writing voice and a luscious abundant take on food. Sophie also writes about her battle with weight and her body. Flirting with every food fad from Atkins to raw food over the years, she has had both misadventures and victories in her quest to have a sound healthy relationship with food. She writes about the how press never understood that her weight ballooned during her modeling years not because she was a compulsive over-eater or a "fatty," but because she felt the pressure of a hardened industry where she did not fit in. She ate for comfort, she ate for sadness, she ate because she felt the expectations of everyone telling her 'you are an inspiration for everyone normal and large', she ate because it seemed like she had to be big, otherwise what the hell was she doing in this glamourous world? Then she discusses how later, after she lost the weight, she had to deal with people all over the world commenting on her shape. People were telling her that she had sold out, that she had lost her confidence, that she was much better and more authentic when she was full- figured. Sophie's frank analysis of her body throughout her life shows considerable and commendable hindsight. She writes with such poignancy and pathos, I felt very sympathetic. I could also relate.

"I have been as round as a Rubens and as skinny as a twig," she writes in the introduction. Ultimately, her book is less about food and more about eating, if that makes any sense. The happy medium where she finds herself now, slim and fit, leaves her in a healthy position- which is where this book is coming from.

As Sophie writes, "we have to change our understanding of what is beautiful and what is sexy." She says that she has seen and been that woman who is "reed-thin and creamily voluptuous. The women who are truly sexy are those who eat sensibly, but don't count calories or stuff their faces. They exercise, but in a way that they enjoy. They are not prisoners to their body"

"Sexy," Sophie writes, "is inherent in a healthy appreciation for food, in having the energy to romp with your beloved, pick up your baby, cook dinner for your friends... it is feeling sated, having opinions and feeling alive."

Original, funny, quirky with a bit of whimsy, this glorious book is full of memoir, anecdote and delicious recipes, scattered with lovely Matisse-like line drawings that slope off the page. Love Sophie, love her book. I even find myself inspired to whip up some of her suggestions in my own kitchen. (Imagine that!)

Footnote:

Sophie Dahl now lives in London after an eight year sojourn in New York. Her grandfather was the late author Roald Dahl. Her first novel, Playing with the Grown-Ups, was published in 2007. She was contributing editor for Men's Vogue for three years and now works for, amongst others, British Vogue, American Vogue, Guardian, Spectator and The Times.

Photos: BBC

UPDATED:

Miss Vancity Allie asked a great question in the comments about the recipes in the book, so I thought I'd answer right here for everybody.

Each recipe takes a few good quality ingredients and with just some simple preparation and cooking a lovely dish emerges. The recipes are mostly vegetarian, with just a few chicken and fish dishes. There are no demands for special equipment or techniques. Just assemble your ingredients and, as long as you have a basic understanding of how a kitchen works, you’ll be fine. (This is perfect for somebody like me!)

Here are a couple of the first ones that I plan to try:

Pear and Ginger Muffins

Warm Winter Vegetable Salad

And just to give you all an additional little taster, here’s an example of a possible day’s menu for each of the four seasons:

Autumn

Breakfast: Indian sweet potato pancakes
Lunch: Chicken & halloumi kebabs with chanterelles
Supper: Aubergine Parmigiana

Winter

Breakfast: Kedgeree with brown rice
Lunch: Pasta puttanesca
Supper: Monkfish with saffron sauce

Spring

Breakfast: Lemon & ricotta spelt pancakes
Lunch: Crab & fennel salad
Supper: Hortense’s fish soup

Summer

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with watercress & smoked salmon
Lunch: Fish cakes
Supper: Wild rice risotto

DC's King Of Vancouver

2009-08-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

The top finishers from the DC Nationals City Qualifiers all over Canada hit the famous Vancouver Skate Plaza in the heart of the city this past weekend for DC's King Of Vancouver, the final stage for this summer’s series.

DC’s King Of Series is a global grassroots skateboarding contest. It travels to local street skate spots in cities across the globe, welcoming the city’s best unsponsored skateboarders to compete in a jam format contest. This weekend Vancouver also welcomed members of the Global DC skate team including Colin McKay, Josh Kalis, Lindsey Robertson, Marquise Henry and Matt Miller.

The choice to have a King of contest in Vancouver was obvious—Vancouver has always been one of Canada’s best skate cities. The streets of Vancouver have spawned many pros including DC riders Colin McKay and Ryan Smith, with Vancouver's wooden indoor play lands (like the Skate Ranch) bringing up other future pros like Moses Itkonen, Sluggo, and Rick Howard. The city’s skate terrain is unique and versatile. On any day, you can skate the streets of downtown, the plaza in the heart of the city or hit up one of the many parks.

DC's Canadian Team Manager Trevn Sharp did an incredible job of heading up the DC Nationals Tour, culminating in the big show at KOV this past weekend. Reflecting on the summer's events, Trevn said, "We saw some amazing skating go down and realized that kids are getting better and better every year. This year we saw a lot of young guns coming out and ripping hard to secure a spot at the finals, proving that anything is possible when your knees are still fresh. Because every city is different, as is every skater, so were each of the city qualifiers. With different elements associated with each province, each skater had their own unique bag of tricks that they brought to the table.The line up for the King Of Van is a mix of raw street skaters, buttery smooth control freaks, big gap assassins and young 'ins who seem to think that nothing is impossible. Fifty skaters will meet up in Vancouver and each has a shot at becoming the king."

In the end, it was 16 year old JS Lapierre from Notre Dame, QC who reigned supreme. He placed first on both Saturday and Sunday, earning him the title of King. Lapierre walks away with instant global exposure throughout the skate world, a spot on DC's Canadian amateur team and $7000 of the $10,000 purse. He will also receive a “SHAZAM” in Color Magazine, where he will be partnered with some of the best photographers and writers in the industry.

Plus, not only did DC hook up the skaters this weekend, at the end of the King Of Vancouver, a cheque for $10,000 was presented to the city of Vancouver for repairs and maintenance on the downtown skate plaza. The money will help ensure that the plaza remains the center for the Vancouver skate scene for years to come.

Under sunny blue skies, it was a fun filled and entertaining weekend at the skatepark for myself and the massive crowd who joined me.

Back To Fall Basics

2009-08-24T05:12:00.001-07:00

After being holed up in my apartment for what seemed like an eternity last week...with barely enough energy to get popsicles from my freezer and capable of little more than sleeping and whining (on account of being taken out by a case of strep throat), I found myself with time to think about what lies ahead...that's right kids, fall fashion! Today I felt inspired to share with you a few key things that I have on my radar for the coming season.

1. First up, jeans are an absolute wardrobe essential. Jeans go with everything and there’s a pair out there to flatter everyone. No matter your personal style, there’s no way you can go into fall without at least one amazing pair of jeans. They’re the foundation of a look, part of countless great outfits, and one of the most comfortable and classic pieces you can own. This season there's no one style to have but rather, there are several great fits and washes that work. Skinny, bootcut, boyfriend, ripped, bleached, tie-dyed, wide-leg trouser, ankle length, black, grey, dark indigo or brightly coloured- you can do no wrong with a great fitting pair of jeans this fall.

2. Who wouldn't want their hands free to sip a latte, send a Blackberry message or flip through the sale racks? Enter crossbody bags. Totally practical, totally hip. This fall you can sling your purse across your stylish outfit. I just picked up a cute one by Roxy; it's perfect for Saturday shopping trips.

3. Another key piece for your fall wardrobe is the basic tee. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a top more versatile or essential for daytime than the slouchy basic tee. It keeps you cool when it’s hot out, layers perfectly under everything, never looks too dressy and can be worn a million different ways. Even better, if you’re shopping on a budget, you can’t get more budget friendly than the slouchy basic tee shirt. I own the American Apparel one shown below in several colours, and I love it. Soft, comfortable, and cheap. What more could a girl (or boy!) ask for? the Quiksilver Women's line also has a ton of perfect, slouchy tees. Dress it up or dress it down, a comfy t-shirt never disappoints.

4. A great jacket is perhaps the most essential fall piece that every girl needs in her wardrobe. Not only do jackets keep us warm on cool fall days, but they’re also important for wardrobe versatility and layering. Feeling like you wear the same thing every day? One new jacket can add tons of new looks to your rotation. Jackets are also the perfect way to cover up any perceived body “problem areas” – a well-cut blazer, for example, can cinch you in at the waist, making you look thinner and perfectly proportioned. The hottest jackets this fall include: the denim jacket, the motorcycle jacket, the embellished military jacket and the boyfriend blazer.

5. Sweaters are another must have for fall. I don’t know about you, but when I think of fall fashion, I always think of layering – it can be warm enough that you don’t need always coat but cool enough that you do need sweaters, scarves, and the occasional fabulous jacket...perfect layering weather. Of course a great cardigan remains a staple in every wardrobe, but the "destroyed sweater" has become a must have item this year as well. The incredible Alexander Wang got us obsessed with this trend last fall when he sent his coveted grunge sweater dress down the runway. Ever since, high-end retailers and discount shops alike have been stocking their own versions of his shredded knitwear. A destroyed sweater is a perfect piece for fall because it will keep you warm but not too warm, it can be layered over your favourite tanks and skinny jeans, and will give you that effortlessly chic grunge look.

Photo: Fashion Toast

6. One of the most talked-about trends for fall? Over-the-knee boots. This trend first appeared at the Spring 2009 Ready-to-Wear shows when Givenchy sent an amazing shiny black pair (pictured below) down the runway. Then Blake Lively’s character Serena famously caused an internet uproar when she wore a suede pair during Gossip Girl’s first season. Ever since, the trend has taken off! Over-the-knee boots showed up on all the Fall 2009 RTW runways, spotted everywhere from Louis Vuitton to Prada. Celebrities love this trend too: everyone from Lindsay Lohan to Rihanna to Kate Moss and even Miley Cyrus has worn over-the-knee boots recently. Whether they’re thigh-high or slightly above the knee, leather or suede, flat or stiletto-heeled, every possible incarnation of over-the-knee boots will be available in stores this fall.

My big purchase of the season (I hope) will be the perfect moto jacket. I'm officially on the hunt. What items will be tops on your shopping list this fall?

**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.**

The Heat Of The Summer Sunshine

2009-08-22T15:44:00.019-07:00

I felt compelled to share with you how much I've been loving Reese Witherspoon's style lately. Her outfits, no matter where she is or what the occasion, have been absolutely flawless this summer.

Reese is so graceful and classy. She really knows what works for her. Boyfriend jeans, gladiators, cute dresses, high waisted skirts, eclectic jewellery, fedoras, amazing bags and a large collection of stylish sunnies. Reese embraces trends that she likes and she wears them well. I think that her style is classic, elegant and effortless, even when she's enjoying a casual chic afternoon with her family.

Let's take a look at some of my favourite outfits, shall we?

Keira, that last one is especially for you!

**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.**

Louie, Louie

2009-08-21T07:19:00.002-07:00

Today is my lovely friend Leah's birthday. What can I say about Leah? She's truly one of a kind. She is hands down one of the funniest people I've never known and she has this really contagious, positive energy about her that I can't even describe with words. I laugh until my face hurts every single time we hang out. There's no doubt in my mind that Leah could be a famous stand-up comedienne, but she chooses instead to take her talent and ability to create smiles to her very important work as the Community Relations Coordinator for Union Gospel Mission. She's changing the world, she really is.

Leah is also a brilliant photographer (check out her work here) not to mention, an awesome basketball teammate, fantastic tennis partner ("give it to me!") and someone who I share over 15 years of hilarious inside jokes and fun memories with. Happy Birthday, Louie! I hope that all of your wishes come true!

I Like To Dance All Night

2009-08-17T19:49:00.011-07:00

Photo: Sony Music

So Christine and I casually bumped into the Kings Of Leon when we all happened to be dining and drinking at Yew on Friday night (P.S. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens were there too!) It was a pretty stellar start to the weekend, I must say.

A humble little band from Nashville, Tennessee, Kings of Leon consists of the Followill brothers; Caleb, Jared, and Nathan, and their cousin Matthew. They are among a small handful of bands today, mainstream or otherwise, who keep themselves fresh. Their most recent album Only By The Night is a much slower paced, but cleaner sounding record than previous efforts. That's part of what makes them good, in my opinion. They didn’t just find a formula that worked and stick with it, plowing out repetitive record after repetitive record (I’m looking at you Nickelback.) Their formula is that they just click...and when they click, they write music. The Followill boys simply play amazing music without an agenda- which is refreshing.

Last night, they took the stage at GM Place for the second time in as many nights. The setlist was a perfect mix of new and old favourites- featuring tunes from all of their albums. The energy on the floor was absolutely mind blowing. (This is also why I hardly took any photos. I was way too busy singing and dancing and trying to maintain my spot in the crowd to fuss with my camera.)

It’s pretty easy to be cynical about the current state of “live” music in an era of pre-recorded tracks and lip-synching artists; but the Kings Of Leon proved that rock and roll is alive and extremely well, thank you very much, with a scintillating and booming performance last night. It was a hell of a night. I can't wait until this modest and brilliantly talented family rolls back into Vancouver.

Search Your Heart

2009-08-15T17:06:00.009-07:00

Photo: E-Online

Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson are scheduled to release a collaborative record this fall. Entitled Break Up, the nine song set is due September 8. The lead single "Relator" is available via iTunes and streaming on the album's website now.

While best known for her film work, Johansson released her first album Anywhere I Lay My Head in 2008. The album featured 10 Tom Waits covers along with one original and was met with mixed critical reception.

Yet the conception and recording of Break Up predates Anywhere I Lay My Head by two years. Inspired by a bout of sleep deprivation and the 1960s duet recordings of French song craftsman Serge Gainsbourg and his muse Brigitte Bardot, Break Up includes eight original compositions by Yorn and a cover of Chris Bell's "I Am The Cosmos."

“I was having a strange week of insomnia and when I finally passed out, it came to me in a dream,” says Yorn. “I woke up and the whole thing was in my head, fully formed.”

With his idea laid out, Yorn became one of the few lucky men in the world to actually act on a dream they’ve had about Scarlett Johansson. After receiving an out-of-the-blue invitation to record with Yorn, Johansson was readily on board. “It sounded like an interesting little adventure,” she says. “The idea of two people vocalizing their relationship through duets.”

I'm totally digging this first single...what do you think?

If Only...

2009-08-12T20:16:00.004-07:00

...I could just escape to this place on days like today.

Sweet Darlin' Come Hold Me

2009-08-06T08:31:00.005-07:00

I have always had an enthusiastic love affair with vintage clothing, but the more I see indie darling Zooey Deschanel in vintage dresses, the more my need for vintage dresses increases. After watching her in (500) Days of Summer the other night, I wanted to run out and buy a whole new wardrobe à la Summer. With her saucer-sized blue eyes, her thick bangs and her impossibly cute clothes, she inspired me. Zooey's offbeat and charming style has stolen my heart.

She is one of the most adorable women on the planet, and her style really seems to transcend time. She wears vintage like she was meant for it and in a way that never looks outdated. She has the ability to make vintage look...fresh? Oxymoron much? I love the contradiction.

Everything about Zooey is out of another era, including her singing voice which is often heard on-screen. (She also sings in a band called She & Him). Her fashion choices reflect this throwback style. While most young actresses are showing boobs and legs, it's surprising how many times you see Zooey covered up in a sweet frock and tights. She wears dresses that have a retro feel with charming details like bows or flowers. Her ensembles range from French hippie with her high-waisted, wide leg trousers to sixties mod in a crisp, bell sleeve dress and nude stockings. Although the style and cut of her ensembles could come off as stuffy and prim, Zooey has a carefree attitude that softens the look. She's absolutely flawless.

**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.**

"I Love Us"

2009-08-05T19:31:00.009-07:00

I saw (500) Days Of Summer last night and it absolutely melted my heart. It also launched a full fledged obsession with Regina Spektor's voice (the rest of the soundtrack is all kinds of awesome too!) I'm not going to lie, I practiced singing Us while driving in my car to and from work today. I'm fairly certain that I'm almost ready for my big debut. (Or maybe I should sign up for those singing lessons first.)

Back to the film...
Boy meets girl, boy loses girl. It’s been done a million times over. That’s why the sublimely smart-sexy-joyful-sad (500) Days of Summer hits you like a blast of pure romantic oxygen. It turns the genre on its empty head and sees relationships for what they are — a bruising business. Someone’s heart always gets ripped out. This movie is a different kind of love story: an honest one that takes a piece out of you.

Oooh, L.A.

2009-07-29T06:26:00.007-07:00

I wanted something light to read while I was away. I just needed a book that I could escape into before bed, to take my mind off work and stresses, so I decided to pick up my girl Lauren Conrad's first book, "L.A. Candy" last week. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I figured since I heart LC and The Hills, plus the fact that it spent some time at the top of the New York Times bestseller list, it was worth a shot.

"L.A. Candy" is loosely based on the reality star turned designer turned best selling author's life. It tells the story of a young girl named Jane Roberts who moves to L.A. and unexpectedly becomes the star of a reality television show. Was it deeply thought provoking or absolutely brilliant? Not exactly. But it certainly was entertaining. I totally enjoyed it and I'll admit, I'm pretty pumped for the sequel. Lauren is currently working on the second installment of her series. "It picks up where the first left off, " she says. " I signed a three-book deal, so this is all part of the same story. The second book will be more dramatic than the first. It’s a relief, because I didn’t have to worry about character introductions."

Art definitely imitates life. "Some of the characters may symbolize people in my life," LC has said, "but it is in no way calling anyone out." I don't know. It really felt to me like it was a glimpse behind the scenes of Laguna Beach and The Hills. I think that's why I got so into it. Adds the star, "I've always loved books that I could lose myself in, ones that would transport me to another place, but had characters I could relate to. So, I'm so excited to have this opportunity to write books like that for other readers." That's what we all love about Lauren, I think- we can relate to her. She's someone you'd want to be friends with and hang out with. Well, at least I would. It's her "realness" that we're attracted to. “Imperfection is relatable,” Lauren explains. “If you look at the show, there are a lot of skinny girls with big boobs, and they’re always perfect. I don’t think perfect is relatable. I’ve screwed up a lot.” Indeed, she has screwed up so often, she wanted to publish a book titled How Not to Date “and basically write down every mistake I’ve ever made.” Ha, I would read that too.

LC has had the last five years of her life documented on national television. Since she only turned 23 in February, this means that nearly 22 percent of LC’s time on earth has been transmitted to homes around the world. And that’s not including the countless tabloid articles chronicling her anxieties about her work (at Teen Vogue and fashion-public-relations firm People’s Revolution), her friends (Whitney Port, Audrina Patridge, and Lo Bosworth among them), her frenemies (Heidi Pratt), and, of course, her love life. Her novel does seem to be a peek at what happens on the other side of the reality show, and the line between what is shown on camera and what happens when the cameras aren't rolling.

Word on the web this week is that LC's book could be made into a feature film, if the pieces fall into place. If that happens, I'm quite sure I'll be able to twist Mel's arm to join me at the theatre on opening night.

I encourage you to pick up the book if you're a fan of Lauren's, it's a fantastic summer read.

**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.**

Losing Faith, Gaining Courage

2009-07-28T05:49:00.003-07:00

"Sometimes you climb out of bed in the morning and think, I’m not going to make it, but then you laugh inside remembering all the times you’ve felt that way."
-charles bukowski

There have been a lot of miles in the last few weeks. I still have a couple more weeks ahead that will be full of a lot of this:

...and more. Being home by no means signifies the end of the madness, but I sure am happy to be back in Vancouver.

We are always rushing, rushing, rushing and forgetting to feel the world beneath our feet, the blood in our veins. Maybe if we could all. just. stop and let ourselves breathe, we could smile more and have hearts that pump, pump, pump to a new beat.

How about this for a new morning routine?

1) Wake up.
2) Lay in your bed and look at the ceiling.
3) Say: hello world, hello day.
4) Listen to your breathing.
Feel the blood in your veins.
Notice your skin waking up with you.
3) Stand and stretch.
Side to side.
Touch your toes.
Touch the earth.
Touch the sky.
4) Look in the mirror.
Say hello to yourself.
Smile.
Give yourself one compliment.

Photo: Sarah Ashley

My Saskatoon Celebrity Sighting

2009-07-26T19:27:00.015-07:00

Photo: StarPulse

Exhausted and ready for home, I sat at a table across from Alfred at the Saskatoon airport this morning. As I nibbled on a Tim Horton's breakfast sandwich and looked up to reach for my cup of tea, I noticed a striking woman walking towards the next table. She caught my eye immediately; tall and voluptuous, dressed in a black t-shirt, faded blue jeans and black Tory Burch flip flops. Her thick, luscious, cascading blonde hair fell below her shoulders and her perfect face looked like it had come right off a magazine cover. She sat down at the next table with a small group of people. I nudged Alfie and lowered my voice to a whisper.

"Hey! Do you watch Gene Simmons Family Jewels?" I asked, my eyes still fixed on the next table.

"The reality show?" Alfie asked, scrunching up his face in confusion.

"Yeah." I continued whispering, without taking my eyes off her, "That woman over there looks so much like Shannon Tweed...you know, Gene Simmons' woman? I think it's her!" I didn't want to point, nor did I want him to turn around in an obvious fashion to get a look, but I needed confirmation. The more I stared (yes, I have a staring problem...apparently it becomes a more serious problem when celebrities are involved) I became certain that it was indeed the 1982 Playmate of the Year herself. I just knew it was. I watch their show all the time. I love it, and I love her.

Finally Alfie was able to crane his neck around to get a glimpse without drawing any attention. "Yep, it's her," he said matter-of-factly as he turned back around to face me. He nodded his head with complete certainty. "She's Canadian. It's her."

Since I never believe Alfie right away, even though he's usually right, I quickly typed her name into Google on my BlackBerry. I discovered that she was born and raised in Newfoundland and that she graduated from Mount Royal Collegiate in Saskatoon. It had to be her!

A few minutes later an awkward, young girl in a Tim Horton's uniform approached the glamazon's table and held out a piece of paper and a pen. I could practically see the poor, young girl's heart beating out of her chest. Shannon put down her iPhone, which she'd been busy texting on, took the pen and paper from the shaking girl, smiled graciously and signed the autograph. The girl walked away with a huge grin spread across her face.

Alfred dared me to go up and talk to Shannon, or to get my photo taken with her. "Blog material!" he teased. He knows me too well. I wanted to, but I also felt like an idiot. As much as I'm intrigued by certain celebrities, I'm just not one to go up and bother people. I shook my head and the two of us headed off through security.

It seemed that everybody in the airport was buzzing about Shannon Tweed. Even the security guys wanted to get her autograph and talked about what a fox she is as they scanned our bags and waved us through the metal detectors. I wondered if we'd see her again before our flight took off.

Photo: The Insider

Sure enough, about 15 minutes later, up the escalator she came with her travel group. They all sat down right at our gate. A few more people approached her for autographs and photos. Others just pointed and whispered and tried to sit near her. She didn't seem to mind, but hardly put down her iPhone unless somebody came right up.

I sat there across the room star struck. I was tweeting and texting my Dad about my celeb sighting, and then all of a sudden I looked over and she was gone. "Damn it!" I said out loud, " I missed my chance!"...even though I knew I wouldn't really have done anything about it anyway.

Photo: Zimbio

Our boarding time was drawing closer, so I figured that I better hit up the ladies' room before the flight. As I came out of the stall, it just so happened that Ms. Tweed was coming out of the next one at the exact same time. We walked up to the row of sinks and began washing our hands pretty much in unison. I glanced up at her in the mirror and she was already smiling back at me. Nervously I said, "Hi Shannon! I'm a big fan of your show..." or something equally dorky. "It's a real pleasure to meet you."

She thanked me and then we chatted back and forth for a few minutes (I'll be damned if I remember exactly what we said) but I definitely did my nervous laugh at least a couple of times. She was so sweet and friendly and jaw-droppingly beautiful. She's 52 years old and looks just fabulous. Glamourous...so, so glamourous. Clearly, there was no photo op, as I didn't think it would be appropriate to whip out my camera in the bathroom, but I was secretly pleased that I got a chance to talk to her without feeling like I was interrupting or being intrusive. I came back to our seats in the waiting area beaming. Alfie didn't even have to ask.

My real moment of glory came a little later though...
It turned out that she was on our flight. As we were getting ready to board the plane, a couple of people (who obviously didn't know who Shannon was) tried to cut in front of her and her group in the lineup (we were standing right behind them) so I made a little joke about the "budgers" and Shannon and her whole crew cracked up. You see, it really doesn't take much more than getting a genuine laugh to make me feel cool for a second. (Which is probably why I still dream of being cast on Saturday Night Live one day...or maybe I should just pitch my own reality show...)

So that, my friends, is the story of my Saskatoon celebrity sighting of the day. Conclusion: Shannon Tweed is one hot mama.

Keeping Up With Kim

2009-07-23T04:26:00.003-07:00

One celebrity who has been on my radar lately is Kim Kardashian. Her personal style is one that I have seen evolve- and she is looking more fabulous than ever these days. Her style is city chic mixed with seductive glamour. She dresses up and down to perfection. The reality television princess prides herself on being sexy and alluring- which she does very well. Unlike most curvy women, Kim strives to enhance her assets and draw attention to them in a positive way. She has a hot body and really dresses to flatter it. Her head to toe is always impeccable- she understands that a great bag and shoes really pull a look together and take it to the next level. I have a great appreciation for attention to detail and Kim definitely has it.

Kim comes across as very down to earth, in my opinion. She connects with friends and fans through her daily Twitter updates and writes blog posts regularly on her official website, where she shares tons of awesome fashion, fitness, diet and beauty tips and tricks, plus as a ton of personal stories and photos. I also must admit that Kim has been a motivating factor for me to get my butt to the gym, at times. She works hard to keep her body in shape and tweets about it all the time. She also released a series of workout DVDs called Fit In Your Jeans By Friday, from which I've incorporated many moves into my own workouts, especially when I'm travelling.

Kim also started a charity auction, for which puts her outfits and accessories up on eBay. A portion of auction proceeds benefit The Dream Foundation, the world’s largest “wish granting” organization for adults battling life-threatening illnesses. She calls it "Kim's Closet" and you can access the page by clicking here ebay.com/kimscloset. She feels that it's a way to give back, offering her fans the chance to bid on some of her outfits, shoes, handbags, and much more, with proceeds going straight to this excellent cause.

Make sure that you tune in to the latest season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians to check out what Kim and her family are up to (as well as what they're wearing!)

**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.**

Happy Now

2009-07-20T19:25:00.017-07:00

After a delicious pre-concert nosh on the patio at Section 3, Melissa and I skipped on over to The Garage last Saturday night for a fun filled evening of 90s ska-pop nostalgia.

Through three glittery costume changes, Gwen Stefani and No Doubt took us back in time. Ms. Stefani, at 39 years old with her peroxide blond hair tied up in knots on her head, looked absolutely incredible. An animated and chatty performer, Gwen (as I've said before) seems more in her element with the band than she does when she's out doing her solo thing. Her charisma shined on every number. After a five-year absence during which Stefani started a family and kicked a solo career into high gear, the band returned looking and sounding better than ever. While Young’s appearance (bare chest, heavy makeup and a gelled Mohawk) remains full-on flaky, Stefani, Dumont and Kanal were resplendent in white-hot attire matching a well-designed and wide-open-spaces stage that allowed for a lot of running, high-kicking, and group calisthenics.

With no new album to push this go around, the quartet, which was aided by a trumpeter and trombonist, stuck to the hits. The bouncy "Spiderwebs" opened the 90-minute set that also included near-studio-perfect renditions of favourites like "Hella Good," "Underneath It All," "Running" and "Simple Kind of Life." The crowd gleefully transformed the anthems "Just a Girl" and "Don't Speak" into massive sing a-longs.

The show felt inspired, even though it was a reunion. Melissa and I shook our booties and sang along to every single song. It was hands down, one of the best shows I've ever seen- no doubt about it. (Ha)

Teaser

2009-07-19T23:00:00.002-07:00

Last night's No Doubt show was completely amazing. I actually prefer to see Gwennie Gwen with the band, as opposed to doing her solo thing. She's absolutely unreal live (so are her abs, even after two kids, just in case you were wondering). Gwen's stage presence is really what made me fall in love with No Doubt way back when. I'm too beat to blog tonight, but I couldn't resist sharing a photo from the show. Check back for a full report and more photos sometime this week.

“Nothing is exactly as it seems, nor is it otherwise”

2009-07-17T14:26:00.005-07:00

I'm right back into the full swing of craziness at work. Travel, travel, show, show, packing and unpacking. Truth be told, as hectic as it is, this is also what I enjoy most about my job. I don't think I'd want it to always be like this, but by the time the madness begins, I'm usually ready for it. I'm home right now for two days in between trips. Next week, I'm off to the prairies with a zillion garment bags in tow. Sell or die.

via Jon McGregor:

"You must always look with both of your eyes
and listen with both of your ears. This is a very big world
and there are many many things you could miss if you are not careful. There are remarkable things all the time, right in front of us,
but our eyes have like clouds over the sun
and our lives are paler and poorer if we do not see them
for what they are. If nobody speaks of remarkable things,
how can they be called remarkable?"

Skatepark Saturday

2009-07-05T18:30:00.020-07:00

The DC King Of Series will be landing in Vancouver this summer on August 22 - 23, 2009. DC’s King Of Series is a global grassroots skateboarding contest which tours to new skate spots all over the world, welcoming the city’s best unsponsored skateboarders to compete in a jam format contest. A win at these contests gives undiscovered street skaters more than just their local city’s respect.

“We are super excited to combine the DC Nationals final contest with the DC King Of series this year,” says Trevn Sharp, DC's Canadian Skate Team Manager. “I have already seen tons of sick skating and I am sure the level of skating at the Finals will be even higher. I’m really looking forward to seeing who will be crowned the King Of Vancouver this August.”

The DC Nationals City Qualifiers will send the top 5 skateboarders from each contest to attend the King Of Vancouver, acting as the final stage for this summer’s series. In order to skate in the King Of Vancouver, skateboarders must qualify at a City Qualifier. The winner of the King Of Vancouver will walk away with instant global exposure throughout the skate world, a piece of the $10,000 cash purse and a spot on DC’s newly formed DC Kings Team, DC’s latest skate squad based completely off DC King Of contest winners. They will also be eligible to receive an article in Color Magazine, where they will be partnered with some of the best photographers and writers in the industry.

Yesterday I rounded up the troops and headed out to Port Coquitlam to check out the Vancouver City Qualifier, which was happening at the Railside Skatepark. It was the perfect Saturday afternoon: sunshine, friends, fun and incredible skating.

There are 4 City Qualifiers still to take place, the next being this coming weekend in Regina.

For more information and full contest details visit DC Nationals. Videos from all of the City Qualifiers will be available at Push.ca. You can also follow @DCNationals on Twitter for regular updates.

You can read Trevn Sharp's blog about the Poco event, which is included in his series about the national contest here.

Operation Beautiful

2009-06-27T09:09:00.016-07:00

nutritionista:

Caitlin over at Healthy Tipping Point recently launched Operation Beautiful. The goal is to end toxic fat talk. Like Caitlin says, “It hurts you emotionally, spiritually, and physically.”

To participate in Operation Beautiful, all you have to do is leave an anonymous positive message (or several!) on mirrors in public restrooms or wherever you see fit. Mine is pictured above (“You are beautiful in every moment!”), but I plan to do more. If you want to participate, email Caitlin a photo of your note and description of your experience.

What an absolutely brilliant idea this is! I fell in love with this project the moment I read about it. I have struggled to have a positive body image for as long as I can remember. I certainly know what it feels like to hate your own body; to dissect every flaw and imperfection, to wish that your stomach was flatter and your nose was smaller. These are things that I still think about and worry about, even though I know that I shouldn't. We are constantly being bombarded with unrealistic images, telling us what we "should" look like and making us feel like we're not good enough. It needs to stop! We need to be kind to ourselves and kind to each other. This is why it's very important to me to spread the word about Caitlin's mission.

Caitlin has created a website dedicated to this project which features every single Operation Beautiful note you send in and it's updated daily. I'm heading to the gym this morning and I will definitely leave a note in the locker room today.

Be sure to also check out the Operation Beautiful video featured here.

Photos: Operation Beautiful

Tribute To A Legend: Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

I remember seeing the Thriller video for the first time on television when I was a little girl. I watched the whole thing, jaw agape and shrieked out loud...first in fear and then in delight. It scared the hell out of me. I had nightmares for weeks, but I still wanted to watch it again. This is the first of many memories that I have of Michael Jackson, whose complicated, fantasy infused and tragic life ended yesterday at 50 years old in Los Angeles.

via Sony Music here:

Michael Jackson, one of the most widely beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time, leaves an indelible imprint on popular music and culture.

**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.*

"When it comes to settling down, never settle"

2009-06-25T19:26:00.008-07:00

Photo: Focus Features

I needed some quality "me" time last night, so after my sweat session at the gym, I decided to take a walk up the street and see what was playing at the movie theatre. Sam Mendes' newest film, Away We Go. Perfect! It's an absolutely lovely little film that manages to strike an artful balance between satirical comedy and heart-wrenching drama. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Maya Rudolph ("Saturday Night Live") and John Krasinski ("The Office") are thirty-somethings preparing to have their first child. As they travel around North America in search of the perfect neighborhood, encounters with old friends and now neurotic parents, become hilariously terrifying paradigms for their baby's potential future. Soon the couple must define their responsibilities, or be swallowed whole by them. These eccentric friends (Allison Janney, Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Josh Hamiltion, Melanie Lynskey, Chris Messina) and quirky relatives (Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Carmen Ejogo, Paul Schnieder) offer valuable lessons in family dysfunction and help the couple discover "home" on their own terms.

On a side note, the soundtrack is also seriously brilliant. I bought it on iTunes last night and haven't stopped listening to it on repeat.

Away We Go is a film about love: feeling it, making it and being in it with somebody else, all the way up to your necks. It's a soaring meditation on the endless transformations of family that is at once brutally honest, desperately funny, warmly absorbing and vibrantly illuminated.

It Started With Some Woop Woop

2009-06-22T06:11:00.001-07:00

Jessica planned a special night this weekend for me and some girlfriends to celebrate my birthday. After a delicious glass of Woop Woop at my place (thanks Kristina) we headed over to our reserved table for the 7 o'clock Candy Girl Cabaret show at Maxine's Hideaway. Maxine's offers a unique dining and entertainment experience in the heritage space that was once an infamous brothel. It's Vancouver's only cabaret restaurant & lounge featuring Broadway Burlesque entertainment. It's provocative, classy and sexy. The girls dance and sing such burlesque favourites as the Roxanne tango from Moulin Rouge, Candyman and I Want Candy, naturally. Let me tell you, those girls were awesome! And they made me want to dance. I'm seriously considering taking a class at the Harbour Dance Centre after watching that show on Saturday night.

We were treated like royalty and the food and wine were delish. I definitely recommend this spot for a fun night out. The place was packed with birthday parties and stags, which made it a really fun atmosphere. We had a blast! I think it could be a pretty hot date spot too. Just sayin'.

Jess gave me the sweetest card (which obviously made me cry at the table) and the most beautiful necklace. Here I am showing it off. The charm says the word "inspire"...I love it.

When the show was over, we headed to The Lamplighter in Gastown so that we could bust out some moves of our own and shake our booties on the dance floor. Thanks for an absolutely fantastic evening, girls!

My Father's Daughter

2009-06-21T17:02:00.008-07:00

Father's Day is a celebration of all the wonderful things that dads do. It's a day to give thanks for their wisdom, principles, confidence, strength and unconditional love. It's a day set aside to make sure dads know how much they are loved every day of the year. I'm lucky, because I have the best Dad in the world.

Not only is he my favourite person to watch a basketball game with, he's also a constant source of advice, encouragement, motivation and support. He is someone that I can always count on and I have learned so much from him. He also happens to be one of the funniest people I know. He calls me 'Francine' and he can do any accent known to man perfectly. We have the best talks. We well up at the same moments, whether they're in life or in movies. He'll always be my date for a concert or a sporting event. He helps me through my fears and failures, and turns all that he can into successes and dreams. He’s a true family man who has always worked his butt off to keep us on our feet. I love and respect him more than I can put into words. His love of life and down-to-earth wisdom are appreciated so much.

I’m absolutely honoured to have a dad I can confide in without fearing judgment, a man who would do anything to see me happy and who makes no secret of how proud he is of me. I'll always be my Dad's little girl.

Happy Father's Day, Dad! I love you.

"Hey! There's Skittles In There!"

2009-06-11T08:29:00.008-07:00

The Hangover is flat out hilarious from start to finish. The intricate plot choreography has a giddy rush, and the actors are just right for their roles. I know I'm not the only one with a massive crush on Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms is a genius (plus he sings so well) but it’s Zach Galifianakis who makes this film required summer viewing. The bearded underground comic’s character is essentially his own intense and awkward stand-up persona with a few extra-special needs thrown in for good measure. (I'm a huge fan!)

Sheer brilliance. You must all go and see this film.

Going To The Chapel Of Love

2009-06-09T06:00:00.014-07:00

I'm sure you've noticed that the updates around here have been rather sporadic lately. Truth be told, blogging just hasn't been a big priority for me these last few months. I haven't felt inspired to put much energy into regular content. Life has been busy with, among other things, several days and nights of fun and celebration leading up to my dear friend Danielle's wedding to Tommy- which happened on May 30.

Rather than go into too much detail, I'm going to share some photos with you. Two stagettes, a bridal shower, the rehearsal and bbq that followed it, a bridal party spa day at Salon Montage for pedicures in the private room-featuring wine and amazing platters of food courtesy of Liane. The night before the wedding, we spent a fun filled evening on the Franco's patio. We drank more wine and feasted on Diana's delicious homemade lasagne and then we had a girls only slumber party. I don't think any of us slept much. We were all nerves and excitement.

As for the wedding itself, once the nerve-racking part where we had to walk down the aisle in stilettos was over, it could not have been more perfect. Danielle was absolutely stunning. She looked like a princess. The bride and groom asked if I would write something to be read at the beginning of the ceremony.

Here's what I wrote:

Danielle and Tom...

Separately, you are two incredible people, but together you are complete.

“As you sit side by side through the roller coaster of life, remember to scream from the peaks, hold hands through the dips, laugh through the loops, and enjoy every twist and turn.”

Your relationship was carefully built out of commitment and understanding, hope and love. May the same love and caring, warmth and sharing that has touched your lives from the start, always make your home happy, your life complete, and be the guiding light in your hearts.

The whole event on the wedding day was so "Tom and Danielle"... with the "wows" and the chants, the clapping instead of clinking to get them to kiss, not to mention all the incredible circles and singalongs out on the dance floor. My voice was raspy for days after singing to Journey and other group favourites at the top of my lungs. At one point, all the guests at the reception did the wave. I loved every minute of it.

I was so honoured to be a part of Danielle and Tom's special day. We're a tight crew, so of course we're very protective of one another, but we couldn't have ever asked for a better man to marry our best friend. Danielle and Tom truly are made for each other and we wish them all the happiness in the world as man and wife.

P.S. I did not catch the bouquet.

Marilyn Monroe- Never Before Published Photos

2009-06-07T14:04:00.005-07:00

via Platinum Blonde Life:

LIFE magazine has released never before published photos of Marilyn Monroe, taken in August of 1950 in Los Angeles' Griffith Park by Ed Clark, a contributing LIFE photographer. The photos were discovered while LIFE was digitizing their archives. View all of the photos here.

Reaching

2009-06-02T21:00:00.005-07:00

Photo: here

“I want health and healing and holding close. I want treasures. I want similar souls. I want passionate yeses. I want to be blown away. I want to trust. I want calm gladness and prayers and deep true breath talks.”

There is a stillness in the way we speak to each other.

At times I know how hard I seem,
the difficult way I look at things.
I know this. The real problem lies when
I don’t think people will see past this part of me;
how underneath, I am not like this.
I wish for my eyes to show this.

I think of this, automatically:

"I tell you that I have a long way to go before I am-
where one begins …
You are so young, so before all beginning,
and I want to beg you as much as I can to be patient
toward all that is unresolved in your heart and to try
to love the questions themselves. Like locked rooms
and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue.
Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given to you
because you would not be able to live them.
And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now.
Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it,
live along some distant day into the answer.
Resolve to be always beginning- to be a beginner."
-Rilke

My fingers are reaching, but I know it is wrong.
Still, I cannot help this, or myself.

Quiksilver Canada Sample Sale

2009-05-26T20:25:00.007-07:00

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

2009-05-24T20:41:00.016-07:00

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

2009-05-19T10:37:00.017-07:00

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

2009-05-18T13:03:00.022-07:00

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

2009-05-13T19:22:00.020-07:00

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

2009-05-11T10:08:00.008-07:00

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

2009-05-10T11:42:00.010-07:00

“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

2009-05-08T06:49:00.012-07:00

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!

2009-05-05T20:29:00.010-07:00

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

2009-05-01T20:05:00.007-07:00

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.

Love Marie Claire?

2009-04-26T07:24:00.006-07:00

In honour of the finale of the Style Network show Running In Heels , Shop It To Me is giving away FREE subscriptions of Marie Claire to lucky fashion blog readers like you. To win, click over to the Shop It To Me Blog and leave a comment with what you consider to be the greatest office fashion faux-pas. The five best will be given a FREE subscription. Winners will be chosen on May 1st.

Make sure that you check out Shop It To Me, too! As a Shop It To Me Trendsetter, I'm proud to support this site that promotes savvy shopping. After you join Shop It To Me, you'll receive daily or weekly "Salemail" customized with your favourite brands and sizes on sale. You'll never miss out on a discounted Marc Jacobs bag or Alexander Wang dress again.

Bananas!

2009-04-25T07:34:00.015-07:00

Photos: The New York Times

I have an obsession that I want to share with you. I just can't get enough of the Bravo docudrama, The Rachel Zoe Project.

The series follows the life of celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe and her attempts to balance her professional life with her personal life while dealing with her fighting assistants and her husband-partner Rodger Berman. The Rachel Zoe Project also features Zoe's longtime assistant Taylor Jacobsen and Brad Goreski, Jacobsen's newly hired assistant who clash due to conflicting personalities. [source]

Admittedly, I watched every minute of every single episode last season. Rachel Zoe herself, is a tiny, tanned woman with long blonde locks, carefully styled to look carefree. She usually has ropes of gold chains around her neck, stacks of diamond bangles on her wrists and enormous sunglasses nearly obscuring her face. Even wearing high heels, she is short and stick-thin, but Zoe does not seem fragile. The masses of jewelry, the sunglasses, the whole noisy, ’70s-inspired look adds up to a hectic, ostentatious, theatrical sort of glamour. It’s the look she has duplicated on her clients, making the so-called "Zoe-bots" paparazzi favourites, as well as walking ads for top designers. A cross-pollinator of the worlds of Hollywood celebrities, high fashion and tabloid magazines, Rachel Zoe has become a powerful image broker, a conduit to the ever-more lucrative intersection of commerce, style and fame. She's incredible. If only she would hire me to work for her. I could totally shut it down.

Photo: The Frisky

Zoe's sultry style is grounded in 1970s sex appeal -- part biker chick, part disco denizen. During the day, she favors super-skinny jeans, sky-high studded or python stilettos by Gucci or Alexander McQueen, cropped Chanel jackets, and gold chains with shark-tooth charms from Kaviar and Kind. For evening, Zoe goes for drapey goddess gowns -- vintage Chloe or Yves Saint Laurent, and always clingy.

Photo: DayLife

Though she may be something of a lightning rod for controversy, I must tell you that I love, love, love her and her Zoe-isms. Seriously, I die. This woman is talented as hell, works her ass off and lives a fabulous life.

I think that seeing Rachel interact with fashion's darling designers on her show — Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Giles Mendel — gives her more credibility. Though the season came to a close with Rachel "shutting it down" at the Oscars, my favourite episodes were when she attended New York Fashion Week. I thought my schedule was crazy!

Photo: Altamira

Zoe was spotted during Paris Fashion Week 2009, being followed by a TV crew filming footage for Season 2, which is scheduled to start airing on the Bravo network in the fall.

Frankette Stagette Etc.

2009-04-23T17:56:00.017-07:00

I haven't had much time to document life as it's been happening lately, so instead I will briefly bring you up to speed with the Coles Notes version. Some highlights from the last couple weeks:

A road trip to Vancouver Island with Alfie. Mission: sell, sell, sell! So many of my favourite faces in the industry are over there. Plus we had sunshiney, beautiful weather the entire time, which was lovely.

Canuck playoff action, which included pulling out the brooms to sweep the St. Louis Blues in the first round [fist pump]. I'm crushing on Burrows harder than ever.

Two nights of debauchery in Whistler for the beautiful Danio's stagette. We had an absolute blast: shopping, drinking, dancing, watching hockey, hanging out with firefighters, swimming and jumping fences. So many classic moments. We missed our little Lani lots, but she was there in spirit (and provided us with adorable tees, which we photographed each other in- a lot!) I love my ladies so much and can't wait for Danielle and Tom's big day next month. One thing is for sure- it's going to be a massive party! (Side note: the Moms were totally wild party animals. They even busted out their old wedding dresses and danced around to "Going To The Chapel"... it was beyond adorable!)

Score, Score, Score!

2009-04-19T22:53:00.003-07:00

Since I really don't want to say anything that might jinx it, all I'm going to say is GO CANUCKS GO! After a weekend of debauchery in Whistler, I happily collapsed on the couch at my Mom and Dad's place this afternoon to watch the Canucks take down the St. Louis Blues in game three of the first round of the playoffs, putting them up 3-0 in the series. Nice work, boys!
(Sadly, I can't say the same for my other team.)

In the words of Rod Bruno via Twitter, "Bow to the whale!"

2009-04-15T17:32:00.007-07:00

I wish I could say that the reason for the lack of updates this week is that I've been laying on a hot beach somewhere fabulous. Unfortunately, that's not the case. It's because I've been busy selling my little heart out- which, I suppose, is also a good thing. Stay tuned. Regular posting should resume in the next week or so.

Up In Smoke

2009-04-09T06:46:00.016-07:00

By now I'm sure you've all heard about the drama that ensued at the Britney Spears concert last night at GM Place in Vancouver.

Brit took the stage, performed three songs, disappeared for a costume change, and didn't return for what seemed like forever. We sat there for ten minutes wondering if she'd hurt herself and hoping that everything was okay. Then a female voice spoke to the crowd, “The building is awfully smoky. It is uncomfortable for everyone on stage, including Ms. Spears. Please extinguish all cigarettes – this is a non-smoking building and the show will resume when the smoke on the stage is cleared.”

The funny thing is, Di and I both commented that the building seemed smoky when we walked in. We joked that they must have been testing out the smoke machines before the show started. It seemed like that kind of smoke- not cigarette smoke. I also have to say, I didn't see anybody physically smoking- weed, or otherwise. I've been to more than my share of concerts in that venue, many of which, a majority of the crowd was smoking something. This is the first time that I've been conscious of the air. I think it must have been some kind of ventilation issue that the building was having, as there certainly wasn't more people smoking last night than there ever is at shows of this nature. I really didn't think that she was being a diva- it seemed to me to be more of a technical issue with the ventilation than anything else.

A little more than half an hour from the time the lights went dark, Britney was back on stage. Had it been any longer, I'm quite sure that a riot would have broken out. The crowd was pissed. At that point, I really didn't think that she'd be able to recover and finish the show well, considering all the negative energy brought about by the extended pause in the show. However, to my surprise, she made it happen. The circus-themed extravaganza, played out across an adventurous three-ring set, featuring clowns, acrobats and jugglers was elaborate. This may not have been the best of the four shows that I've seen Ms. Spears perform over the years, but I still had a blast. Yes, she only actually sang one song ("Everytime,") but with her blonde extensions blowing in the artificial wind and her hips grinding, Britney completely owned the stage. The show was hot. Her dancing was completely on point (even if not quite as tight as it was in her prime)–it definitely was nothing like the lethargic disaster of VMAs 07. Many of Brit’s critics question her choice to lip-sync through almost the entire show. To them I say: do you really want to hear our girl huffing and puffing through “Toxic”? I don’t think so. Britney’s strength was never in her girly pipes, but in her pull as an all-around entertainer.

Britney exited amidst a flurry of sparkly confetti, waving goodnight, telling Vancouver to drive safely, not to smoke weed and to "rock out with [our] cocks out"...then retreating out of the stadium skipping like a little girl. I found myself skipping out of the venue after the show as well, and obviously, I headed home to mimic her dance moves in my apartment.

You can check out the rest of my photos from last night's show here.

Baby, It's Real

2009-04-05T10:01:00.001-07:00

Okay kids, it's time for another style spotlight. Today it's all about triple threat actress, singer and style icon, Mandy Moore. She's 5'10" and just has this glow about her. She seems to epitomize goodness in the "I want to be best friends with her" kind of way. I'm a big fan of her simple and understated style, as I find that it's very wearable. I can relate to it, but it's not dull. She mixes simple pieces with edgier ones, embraces trends and always looks effortlessly hip, no matter where she is or what she's doing.

When Mandy Moore first came onto the scene, she appeared to be just another blonde poptart. As it turns out, that wasn't the case, and she has ended up surprising everyone with an impressive and lasting career in film. Somehow she's been able to emerge unscathed from the muck of teen culture. After taking a hiatus from the recording industry, she will release a new album this Spring. Her new record Amanda Leigh, described as a “collection of personal reflections and insights about life and love,” is set to be released May 26. Stoked.

Besides her wardrobe choices, Mandy also always manages to look natural, healthy, and happy. She has experimented with nearly every hair colour and style, and has not only pulled off, but looked beautiful with every one.

**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.*

Help UGM Brighten Things Up

2009-04-04T08:39:00.011-07:00

On April 10, over 3,500 people in need all across Metro Vancouver will be served a delicious Easter Dinner at UGM - and given a fresh orange at the end of the meal. They call it Orange Day.

via UGM

Here's how it works:
Enjoy the Outdoors: Between March 27 - April 10, get out of your house, enjoy the outdoors and participate in the free parks & attractions in Vancouver. But don’t spend any money!
Help the Homeless: See how much you can squeeze to donate to UGM instead, whether it’s $0.32 (the price of an orange), $32.90 (10 full meals from UGM) or $329 (if you had spent the day at Whistler)
Share Your Stories: Tell Vancouver about your Orange Day experiences: take photos, shoot video, blog or Tweet about it. If you tag your content with #orangeday, it’ll be automatically displayed right here.

via UGM's blog

...why all this talk about oranges? Well oranges are fresh, bright, fun, and juicy (the list could go on). But most importantly every one of UGM’s Easter Dinner guests gets an orange at the end of their meal. It is usually received with a smile. It’s a tangible reminder that its never too late for a fresh start. No matter how much time has passed on the streets or in an addiction, UGM’s doors are always open. With your help, fresh starts can be made this Easter.

As part of Orange Day, Wallblank.com is selling limited-edition prints of a photo called Hastings Street taken by my beautiful and talented friend, Leah Gregg. All of the proceeds go to UGM (and if the photo sells out, that means $5,625).

via Wallblank.com

Photo Description: The day is breaking on Hastings Street. It's cold. It's rainy. You wake up on the pavement, your pillow made of concrete. It feels like every door has been slammed in your face. But there is a light. An open door. Union Gospel Mission’s Vancouver Drop-in Centre is open. This photo was taken at dawn on the busiest street in Canada’s poorest neighborhood just steps away from Union Gospel Mission’s Vancouver Drop-in where people were finding help, solace and love.
This is a No Profit Print. Each 8” x 12” print sold will buy 6 meals & each 12” x 18” print will buy 20 meals for the homeless on Orange Day – Friday, April 10th.

Please consider feeding the homeless by acquiring some incredible artwork for your home : http://www.wallblank.com/products/hastings. Help UGM make this Easter special for every one of the guests they serve.

Friday Morning Love List

2009-04-03T06:00:00.002-07:00

I got up extra early this morning so that I'd have time to hit the gym before my work day started. Turned out, I had a little time to spare, so I decided to share a few things that I'm loving at the moment with all of you...

Boyfriend jeans. I'm late to get on board with this one and I swore that I never would, but the fact is, they look incredibly comfortable and the casual, slouchy, laid back look is really growing on me. I'm considering investing in a pair from Current/Elliot.

Whitney's gold DvF top. I want it.

Pink and purple for Spring 09 from Balmain.

I saw Duplicity the other night. Besides lusting after Clive Owen, I also can't stop thinking about how much I want the Marc Jacobs Blake bag that Julia Roberts carries in the film. It's so classic.

MAC Fast Response Eye Cream: it's like a shot of espresso for sleepy eyes. Trust me, I need it these days.

The fact that I get to see BRITNEY live in concert in less than a week.

My Dolce Vita boots. I can't believe how much I've worn these babies. They're the perfect flat black boots.

Oh Hi

2009-04-01T18:47:00.018-07:00

It's Wednesday. I'm checking in from the road. Another day closer to home. I ask myself what I want. I ask myself what I'm doing. I let my mind wander a few more miles. A little encouragement goes a long way, really.

I did something this evening after my last showing of the day that I have never done before. I had a massage therapy treatment at the spa. I swear, I haven't been as relaxed in my entire life as I was for that hour. It was absolute bliss. I've always known that there are tremendous benefits to be achieved through massage therapy, it's just not something that I've ever indulged in. I was so in need of a moment of relaxation tonight. It reduced my muscle tension and gave me relief from my back and hip pain. I know they tell you that therapeutic massage can enhance your overall sense of emotional and physical well-being as well as your quality of life, but I had no idea how right they were until tonight.

"I believe that reality is a sublime comedy staged for my education and amusement, and that there is a benevolent conspiracy to liberate me from my ignorance and help transform me into the unique masterpiece I was born to be."

My horoscope told me that I should repeat that over and over again.

"Up In The Gym Just Workin' On My Fitness"

2009-03-30T14:46:00.031-07:00

Would you look at that sweaty glow? One very good thing about being on the road is that although the days can be very loooong, a gym is almost always just an elevator ride away- which makes getting my sweat on rather convenient. My daily escapes to the fitness centre in the hotels that I stay in while I'm away have really become what keeps me sane out here. True, it's not always easy to fit a workout into a busy and stressful day. Often, it means waking up extra early, but there's no doubt about it being worth it- and let me tell you, it sure helps with the stress factor.

One of my biggest inspirations to shape up recently has been stylish NonSociety babe, Mary Rambin. I discovered her blog a while back and I was instantly drawn to her fab fashion posts and of course, I could relate to her serious shoe addiction. I adored her head to toe videos. Before I knew it, I was hooked to her lifecast and began following it avidly. Not only is she a handbag designer (check out her designs here), spinning instructor (sign up for her class here), and totally awesome blogger, she's also a seemingly down to earth and totally cool chick. Her regular posts about her workouts, and weekly tips have encouraged me to punch it up, and tone my booty too. It’s totally easy to become burned out with your workout. What I love about Mary is that she's always suggesting new elements that you can add to your routine to have more fun and stay motivated to be active.

The fun fitness videos and sweaty self photos that she shares on her blog always make me want to lace up my Nikes and give whatever she's trying a go. Mary says that, "Fitness is part of living a stylish lifestyle." I couldn't agree more. Now, I better get some shut eye so that I can wake up for my 6am workout.

Some photos courtesy of Mary Rambin

Update:
Mary reblogged my entry on her site. I'm so honoured! Look!

Ready, Set, Go!

2009-03-29T11:10:00.012-07:00

Last night I enjoyed an absolutely delicious dinner with the 'rents in the awesome atmosphere that is Rodney's in Yaletown. This places offers fun service, a fresh assortment of oysters and other seafood, and a casual buzz. We were thoroughly entertained by the banter between Rodney’s gregarious staff. Plus, who knew that I'd love raw oysters? They were amazing. We ate, drank and watched a barn burner of a Final Four game (yay Villanova!)

It feels like I've only had a second to breathe and now, here we go again. You'd think that after so many trips, packing would be a breeze. Not the case. Somehow I always end up with an enormous and completely full suitcase- apparently, I'm just not capable of packing light. And of course, I still always worry that I'm forgetting something. Last night I had the worst sleep of my life, tossing and turning, worrying about everything under the sun.

There are things happening in Vancouver this week that I wish I could be here for. That's probably the toughest thing about my job...sometimes I just have to go, even when I really, really don't want to. Like today.

Eating well on the road is definitely going to be a challenge, especially considering that I'll be with "The Candyman" himself...but I'm planning to be very diligent. Thank God for hotel gyms. Stay tuned for tales from the road.

Only One

2009-03-27T11:10:00.014-07:00

I keep seeing this meme all over the place so I decided to play along.

One Photo

One Poem

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near
your slightest look will easily unclose me

though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully,mysteriously) her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;
nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility:whose texture
compels me with the color of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

e.e. cummings

One Film

Stealing Beauty.

One Item Of Clothing

Dress by Alexander Wang

One Song

I love myself today
Not like yesterday
I'm cool, I'm calm
I'm gonna be okay!
I love myself today
Not like yesterday
Take another look at me now

Bif Naked- 'I Love Myself Today'

One Place

Photo: Imapix on Flickr

I heart Paris.

One Disney Princess

Cinderella.

One Quote

"Cherish your vision. Cherish your ideals. Cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts. If you remain true to them, your world will at last be built."

-James Allen

In My Head

2009-03-26T20:05:00.009-07:00

I don't know what my deal is this week. I've been seriously lacking the motivation to blog. The city is breathing on my shoulders. My mind is currently cluttered with a bajillion things that must be done over the next few weeks. All of which, by now I'm very familiar with but still produce a certain amount of anxiety up until the moment that I'm right in the thick of it again. I'm rushing with the hours of each day, trying to accomplish things that are mostly out of my control.

I'm almost three weeks into my complete ban of candy and chocolate. I'm not gonna lie, it's still hell on earth (especially this week since my hormones are making my willpower work overtime)...but I also still haven't cheated. It's quite miraculous really, especially considering it's mini egg season. And I'm stressed.

I've been fantasizing about braids, and daisies, little dresses, neon, sunnies and pedi exposing shoes. I love this time of year. Dusk, fireflies, tickling blades of grass, the smell of deep, true earth. Except that in a few days I'll be in Winnipeg, where it's currently -4 degrees and lightly snowing. I'm going back to Winter. I suppose I'll have to settle for coming home to Spring.

Très Très Chic

2009-03-22T09:29:00.008-07:00

It’s telling when a magazine editor becomes a more precise barometer of fashion than the catwalk collections. Then again, she's not just any magazine editor. As Editor of French Vogue, Carine Roitfeld creates a magazine that is edgy and seductive. The same could be said for her personal style. Carine has immaculate taste, and she is beyond unconventional in her thinking. She's a skinny fiftysomething with smoky eyes and sharp heels. Her straight hair is parted in the middle and hangs in her face. She is influential almost without knowing it. By choosing influence over power, Carine has an effortless credibility. Her definition of fashion is clearly hedonistic, embracing fashion's immediacy but with a broad cultural vision that puts everything in perspective. She has always been fully committed to fashion and also gracious to all (which seems to be rare in her business).

CNN recently released a documentary capturing her influence and importance to the global fashion scene called "Carine Roitfeld Revealed." You can check it out here.

(Merci Mark)
Photos taken from various sources

Peas And Carrots

2009-03-17T18:34:00.019-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! No Guinness or green beer for me this year, but God knows that I've celebrated enough on St. Patty's days past to warrant taking a year off.

It's been all Hollywood and fashion and cryptic poems around here lately. I've been pretty busy stalking vampires, but maybe it's time to catch up a little.

I decided a little over a week ago that my diet needed a major overhaul. Sitting next to Alfred aka "The Candyman" at work for the last couple months had made it all too easy for me to completely abandon healthy eating in favour of serious afternoon sugar binges. His drawers are full of everything from sour keys and gummies to chocolate bars, mini eggs, Nibs, chips (and basically anything else junky that you can imagine.) He re-stocks weekly, so there's never any shortage of calories to go around. I didn't even realize how bad I was getting. It was hard to resist scarfing down treats on a stressful afternoon when I was close to crashing. However, my dependency on Reese products was starting to really get out of hand and something had to be done. I had to launch an intervention with myself. There's only one way to do it: cold turkey. I had to completely quit grazing in Alfred's drawers. Let me tell you, it hasn't been easy. He still tries to torment me by opening up packs of gummy coke bottles and wafting the scent of them towards my desk. He also hosts afternoon gatherings with my coworkers who all stand next to my desk shoveling candy into their mouths in front of my face. Whatever, I can take it. I haven't even cheated once.

The new rules are stuck on my fridge. It's simple. It's healthy. I'm wearing my hunger like a badge of honour. I'm serious. Vegetables are a good thing.

The best part? Wanting to eat healthy has pushed me to prepare my own meals. That's right! I've been COOKING! I know, I know...those that know me know how truly amazing that is. You see, up until very recently, I thought that the only thing I was capable of making in the kitchen was a mess. Turns out, I can make some pretty yummy dishes. Now, I'm having so much fun planning my little meals and coming home to cook them every night. Look at me, I'm becoming an adult. Tonight I whipped up a tasty pasta dish. No big deal.

People Move And People Grow…

2009-03-16T10:35:00.001-07:00

...And sometimes people come back to each other better than when they left.
I've been there and I've done that
and I'm better and stronger and smarter and also more loving for it.
I worked so hard to try and hang on.
I said I love you 'til it sickened me.
If I had hung on any longer, I would have collapsed.
I would have shut doors that were wide open
and I would have stayed the same while the world grew past me…
I loved him.
He loved me.
I swore I could have loved him forever.
I told him that.
For always, I said. For always, I repeated.
It's still a memory-
and I remember every second
and it's not lost love-
it was perfect for what it was.

Put It In Your Heart Where Tomorrow Shines

2009-03-10T06:29:00.000-07:00

If the freakin' snow would ever stop for good this year, maybe we could really start to get excited about spring fashion.

Diane von Furstenberg describes her Spring 2009 collection as "an homage to Diana Vreeland, who taught us we could be goddesses and rock stars." The vibrant colours, the fabric's light, airy flow and texture; each piece exudes a stunning youthful femininity. With a big dose of flower child, the dresses and separates in India-inspired hues and adornments are just gorgeous. The white cotton lace pieces are sweet, and floor-grazing floral gowns, demure. Prints are plentiful and gold sequins sparkle. DvF's take on silk pants, (which I'm seeing everywhere) is wearable and pretty. And perhaps my favourite part...those headpieces. I want to put one on and run around in a grassy field playing ring around the rosy.

Photos: Various Sources

Nip/Tuck

2009-03-09T21:01:00.019-07:00

Photo: Source

In a moment of self loathing the other day, I found myself typing "cosmetic surgeons in Vancouver" into the search field of my Google homepage. A nose job would be nice, I thought. Maybe a little Juvederm? It seems like every time I turn around lately, somebody is divulging that they've had work done or that they're planning to have work done.

Beautifying one's image has always been a human tendency. Women over the centuries have used everything from powdered vermilion and ground up mother-of-pearl to black kohl and body paint to accentuate their various parts, always showing reverence to the idealized standard of beauty 'du jour.'

The worship of beauty, though, has reached its apex in our society today. Its temples are fashion runways, retail store posters, and glossy full colour magazine ads. They all feature airbrushed models with 'perfect' bodies, perky breasts and sex-inspired outfits, pushing a cruelly unreachable standard of beauty onto women everywhere.

Given our obsession with beauty and image, it is easy to understand the popularity of makeover stories. Long standard feature fodder in most women's and teen magazines, makeovers consistently feature a drab looking ordinary person in the "before"... followed by a glammed-up "after" shot of the same woman- or man- somehow so much more confident and "beautifully" appropriate to society's expectations.

Whereas in the past, makeover stories featured transformations facilitated by mere cosmetic enhancements; haircuts, changes in hair colour, makeup application, new clothing, or an exercise regime, today, the scope of makeover story possibilities has snowballed.

People are eager and willing to undergo every form of beauty enhancer that modern technology affords us: cosmetic surgery, breast implants, liposuction, dental re-work, eye-surgery, tummy tucks etc. etc. The list continues, and begs the question: what are the limits of human vanity and what lengths will people go to in order to be considered more beautiful in society's eyes? In truth, the lengths that I have considered going to, especially as I get older, kind of scare me. The fact that women will pay thousands of dollars to get the "perfect" pair of breasts, or that others are willing to inject something with a suffix meaning poison ("botox") into their natural bodies, puts our crazy world into a new harsh perspective. And yet, I find myself really struggling not to buy into it. I mean, who doesn't want to be pretty, right?

The impact of this continual objectification of beauty in our popular culture continues to grow, in subtle yet significant ways, and most of us don't even realize it. We have become so desensitized to the constant barrage of tempting images we receive each day that we learn to live with them- as if they were the constant stream of background city sounds. They mask our hunger for the intangible... for the peace that comes not out of looking thinner or more beautiful with higher cheekbones (or a perfect nose), but with the eternal peace that is synonymous with love and appreciation for who we truly are. For after all, isn't our power to feel good about ourselves the ultimate beauty? I sure hope so.

One Week In

2009-03-08T14:55:00.009-07:00

Photo: NBC

Jimmy Fallon officially has his first week of taking over for Conan O'Brien as the host of NBC's Late Night under his belt. Jimmy is puppy-dog enthusiastic, totally cute, funny, and cool in an unassuming way. It’s an engaging blend that kept viewers laughing for six seasons on SNL, where he scored big with his impressions of Jerry Seinfeld, John Travolta and Justin Timberlake.

Despite the media's mixed reviews of his new gig, I have to say that I totally enjoyed watching him last week. Sure, he's still nervous and gets flustered at times, because it's all new to him, but I think that as he gets more comfortable in the role, he's going to just keep getting funnier. Jimmy's one of those great underrated performers. I find it kind of endearing the way that he laughs at his own jokes (perhaps because I've been known to do the same?) I get the sense that the guests can really be themselves with Jimmy, and he seems to be genuinely interested in hearing what they have to say. I predict that Jimmy will find his groove and be a huge success.

One of my favourite moments of the week was his dance-off against Cameron Diaz. It was like something I would do with my friends (well, to be honest, it's something I've done with my friends. For the record, I'm the champion). Check out the clip below.

Head Over Feet

2009-03-04T09:08:00.017-08:00

Dolce & Gabbana presented their Fall/Winter 2009-2010 collection on Monday as part of Milan Fashion Week. If any show has made me wish that I had an extravagant event to attend so that I might wear one of its collection's dresses, it's this one.

Inspired by the Surrealists, Salvador Dali, Jean Cocteau and Man Ray, the collection is full of details from buttons to decorated headbands, ruffled stocking seams and scarves that look like gloves. I'm obsessed with all the black and white prints, and (obviously) I especially adore the pieces which feature Marilyn Monroe's beautiful and iconic face.

The winter silhouette is slim at the bottom and elaborate from the waist up. The shoulder is super-large, created by complicated twisting and turning of fabric. Flashes of shocking pink (a la Schiaparelli) liven up the main black and white color scheme. Showy jewelry, wedged velvet pumps and a sturdy granny bag complete the eccentric yet contemporary look.

Dolce and Gabbana defied all fashion nervousness with their opulent show this week, whose production values gave no quarter to the idea that cutbacks should be the order of the day. Times may be tough, but these are two men who are not about to give an inch on what they believe in.

Photos: Coutorture

You Can Never Hold Back Spring

2009-03-04T06:59:00.015-08:00

Quiksilver opened a new concept store on Friday, February 20, in SoHo, NYC. The Quiksilver women’s line (which is taking up a lot of real estate in my closet these days) has taken over 800-square-feet of the existing Quiksilver SoHo store to create a “boutique-within-a-store” named QSW Mercer. It will stock the Quiksilver women’s Spring collection, including a full range of gorgeous, dreamy silk dresses and tops, knits, wovens, denim, essentials, organic-cotton tees and fab handbags co-designed by Lesa Wallace. The line's hot. I wish the weather here in Vancouver would warm up to match, so that I can start wearing more of my QSW Spring pieces.

The Soho space has a cozy boutique feel with a lounge area where champagne and water is served to customers as they shop, and a personal shopping assistant is on hand to advise on fits, styles and outfit ideas. CC Sheffield, a Quiksilver Woman, supplied eight images that she personally shot, which were blown up and are now on display in the store. The images are a collection of CC’s and represent the various “journeys” that a Quiksilver Woman might be going through.

Here's a little preview of the Spring collection. You can peep more images here and here.

Photos courtesy of Quiksilver

Black Holes

2009-03-01T20:05:00.001-08:00

Photo: Source

Staying in my candle-lit apartment with a glass of wine both last night and the night before was just exquisite. I spent both Saturday and today being perfectly unproductive- sleeping in, drinking endless pots of tea, reading Vogue, sitting at the beach, walking around downtown, buying these, watching movie after movie under the warm covers of my bed, browsing blogs, listening to Kings Of Leon and making plans for my upcoming detox. Sometimes an escape into my own little world feels exactly right.

In the movie Meet Joe Black, a lot of really wonderful things are said.
"Lightning could strike."
I always go back to it. I always think, "levitate, rapture, passion."
All those things.

"To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived."

There may not be any deep love for me at the moment-
but things like this-
words like this and ideas like this-
they keep the belief there.

Second Time's A Charm

2009-02-28T19:51:00.014-08:00

The Chloë Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Fall 2009 Collection is Sevigny’s second collection with the boutique and her first foray into menswear. During London Fashion Week, Sevigny unveiled her line which was a “slight homage” to one of her favourite designers, Miguel Adrover. The collection highlights included “skinny moleskin trousers, Fair Isle, tiger and leopard-patterned knits, little tweed blazers, dyed thermals and oversize jackets that fall past the hip.” Lots of bold print, voluminous silhouettes, high waists, and even a modern-day James Dean-esque red jacket. The line is a unisex venture, made for guys but scaled down to fit girls. Chloë's own effortlessly cool and idiosyncratic style is one that I have admired for as long as I can remember.

The leopard speckled cardigans, high waisted leather shorts, thick strap and buckle wedges. I need it all.

Photos by James Mountford

Shine Your Light Now

2009-02-23T10:21:00.023-08:00

Another year and a wealth of brilliant movies and performances to celebrate. I really wasn't sure what to think when I heard that Hugh Jackman would be hosting the show. But I have to say, within seconds of his opening performance, I realized that it didn't matter what else happened from that point on, because Jackman's opening was that good. He saved the Oscars. I had no idea that he was so talented and hilarious. For her part, Anne Hathaway was also delightful.

Many of my favourite performances were recognized last night: underdog Slumdog Millionaire (which I thought was just fantastic), Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (which as you all know is one of my favourite films of the year), Sean Penn for Milk (which Keira and I saw on Saturday and both agreed was absolutely brilliant- Penn is truly a genius) and of course, the absolutely darling Kate Winslet for her role in The Reader. I found myself bawling through more of the show than I care to admit. I also quite liked the format of the show this year. It had a more intimate feeling with the nominees all being seated in the front and I thought it was really special (and coincidentally, more emotional) the way that they mentioned each nominee individually and spoke about their performance.

One other note, while we're on the topic of the films: I saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button yesterday and I absolutely loved it. I really didn't expect to, but I was thoroughly entertained by this film from start to finish. Its bittersweet reverse angle on the aging process is inescapably moving. Performances by Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson were beautifully honest.

So besides the films, the other reason to watch the awards is, of course, for the fashion.

Here's a quick rundown of my favourite looks of the night:

Kate Winslet in Atelier Yves Saint Laurent by Stefano Pilati. Her gown was grey degrade satin and embroidered black silk tulle. This lady is all class. I couldn't take my eyes off her. I've been a huge fan since she played Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility in 1995. She is truly a brilliant actress and after several nominations over the years, I was pleased as punch to see her finally take a statue home.

Halle Berry in a strapless black and gold tulle Marchesa gown. Halle always seems to get it just right. She never looks like she's trying too hard, she always looks absolutely stunning. Last night was no exception.

Angelina Jolie in an Elie Saab gown, Lorraine Schwartz jewelry, Ferragamo shoes and a Lana Marks bag. Although I consider myself to be a member of Team Aniston, I have to admit that Angie looked beautiful last night. Her gown is elegant and I am in love with her emerald jewels.

Jennifer Aniston in a silver Valentino gown. I thought it was refreshing to see Jen in something other than black. Her silver gown was flattering and gorgeous. Perhaps I'm biased because I often wear my hair the same way that she did (hat tip to JR), but I think it looks adorable. I like that she's taking a risk- while I always think she looks great, Jen often looks the same to me. I give her points for trying something different this year.

Marion Cotillard looked exquisite in Haute Couture Dior and Chopard jewels. Although sequins and tulle can be frightening together, somehow she made this work to perfection. Maybe it's because she's French.

Who were your red carpet favourites? Total misses? What are your thoughts on the show? The winners?

Photos courtesy of Celebuzz

Oh, Thunder In My Heart

2009-02-22T09:39:00.001-08:00

Life has been a little crazy over the last couple weeks. I realized this morning that I hadn't even posted an entry about the Lykke Li concert, which was back on February 11th. On that Wednesday night my lovely date Angela and I made our way to The Commodore Ballroom (she walked, I limped). We were two giddy girls, so excited to see this woman perform live. After we checked out coats, it was drink time. Since the highballs that we'd planned on drinking cost upwards of a zillion dollars each, we decided to switch to cheap draft beer- which did us just fine.

While we were waiting for Lykke to take the stage (and talking through the opening band, which we weren't fond of), we met up with my friend Leah. Leah's always entertaining and definitely kept us laughing right up until the show started.

Then Lykke appeared on stage. Shrouded in loose, filmy black with a cowbell in hand for the melodic opener Dance Dance Dance – which she can, bouncing about with hip-hop-informed, shoulder-centric moves for much of the night. The 22-year old is charming, confident, and sings disarmingly pretty songs.

For her encore, Lykke performed, with genuine emotion, an exceptionally amazing live version of Tonight and an awesome cover of A Tribe Called Quest's CanI Kick It? (which is one of my favourite songs in the world...so I was stoked!)

Such an effortless combination of talent and wiles are hard to come by, and easy to fall for.

Falling Ahead Of My Dreams

2009-02-17T05:55:00.001-08:00

Photo: Source

We looked like penguins
in the early morning
drifting to and from
that part of sleep
that still feels comfortable.
Curled close-
warm breath on my temple

The longest eyelashes,
the longest lingering looks
how your lips hit the tip of my ear
(like someone familiar)

And I find some kind of happy in all this.
I smile to myself.

I just read about ache being the feeling
that something vital is disintegrating...
that loving all the way might ache and sting,
but loving only half way leaves us with a hope
that could never live out loud.