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I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for this weekend’s Green Living Show at BC Place Stadium. Educating myself, particularly with respect to subjects that fit in with my values, has always been something I’ve held in high importance. I’m always excited to go on adventures with Becky, and this was no exception. My plan was to review the show, share some pictures and point you, my readers, in some interesting directions (if you planned on visiting the show). However, it turned out that there was so much to learn, see, do, take in and read about that to re-cap it all in one post will be impossible.

That being said, I plan on creating a series of posts which will appear here and on the frogblog over on the happyfrog website, breaking down some of the ideas shared, products presented and anything else that I think will be beneficial and of interest to you all.

The truth is, sustainable living is something that can be applied to a part of nearly every facet of everyday life, from food and clothing to transportation and construction. Each and every one of us are responsible for doing our part, and to do so is much easier than most may realize. Even just changing one aspect of your life is a change for the better, whether it be eating locally-produced vegetables or incorporating more eco-friendly fabrics into your wardrobe (bamboo is terrific and irresistibly soft). Organic beer is even an option if you just need to take baby steps!

That being said, here’s a look at some of the shenanigans us ladies got up to:

Here’s a quick list of particular booths, products, ideas and services I recommend checking out:

Also, make sure you stop by the Clear FM booth and enter for a chance to win a $2,000 “Eco-Dream Deluxe Bedroom Makeover” from Dream Designs, including 1 queen size organic cotton supreme futon mattress, 1 queen size organic cotton sateen sheet set & duvet cover, 2 standard size organic buckwheat comfort cloud pillows, 2 standard size kapok filled pillows, 1 bamboo filled duvet, 1 hemp shower curtain and delivery anywhere in Vancouver.

Two final pieces of very important advice I leave you with:

1. Though you will be tempted to try samples of all the foods and beverages you see, once your tummy is full of no less than organic chocolate, organic beer, coconut oil, hemp butter, organic wine and hemp milk, that same tummy will be very, very angry with you.

2. The guy running the Zipcar booth is very cute.

Becky messaged me this afternoon:

“I want to play that online geography game.”

I love geography.

“What online geography game?” I asked.

She sent me the link.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

…But you do have to see this. I’ve long been the kind of person who jumps on the “good movie” bandwagon weeks, and sometimes months, after a flick first hits the screens. I’ve wanted to see ‘No Country For Old Men‘ for quite some time, but only got my act together last night.

Amy and I made use of our Festival Cinemas’ memberships and made our way into Fifth Avenue Cinemas for the 7pm show. I knew nothing of the story and went in without any preconceived notions. I knew it was directed by the Cohen brothers, I knew it featured some supposed stellar acting and I knew it was the Best Picture winner. Thankfully, that’s seemingly a forumula for success.

Photo: Miramax Films

‘No Country…’ tells the story of a West Texas man by the name of Llewelyn Moss who stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong in the middle of the dessert. Amongst the massacre is a satchel containing $2,000,000 dollars. Taking the satchel is a bad idea. Before long, a psychotic man by the name of Anton Chigurh is on his blood trail in fast pursuit. Also trying to track down Moss is the local sheriff, Ed Tom Bell, played by Tommy Lee Jones.

I’m not one to spoil a good thing, so if you haven’t seen it already (though I am quite sure I’m the last person on the planet who hadn’t), cross your fingers that it’s still on screens near you. That’s the beauty of living in a city with indie theatres.

Oh and…is it wrong that I find Javier Bardem sexy in this film? Even with blood on his hands and that god-awful haircut circa 1980?

A few days ago, a girlfriend e-mailed me and asked why I only committed to a “maybe” on the Facebook event page for my 10-year high school reunion this July. I couldn’t really give her an answer, but for one reason or another, I haven’t yet been fully inclined to say yes.

She responded: “out of all the people, I figured you would want to go and show all those girls who are fat and have popped out a couple kids how beautiful you are! And the guys who used to be assholes as well!”

What the eff is up with my Le Chateau pants, circa 1996?

Perhaps my girlfriend has a point because, as I can freely admit, I was considered neither attractive nor popular in high school. And isn’t showing people up at your high school reunion something to look forward to? However, as I’ve gotten older and am less than a handful of birthdays away from 30, one thing considering friendships has become abundantly clear to me. When you are younger, your friendships are most often based and formed through circumstance; as you get older, you have the luxury of choosing your friends based on shared values and experiences. The friends from high school that I do still keep in touch with are few but precious, and I think the fact that we’ve managed to reconnect says so much.

Truth be told, a lot of the people I went to high school with still get excited to get drunk and high on weekends, party like it’s 1998 and, in the end, have nothing in common with the woman that I am today. That being said, I find myself asking myself why I would even want to go to my high school reunion. I know who I am and have nothing to prove to people that are no longer a significant part of my life.

My question to you all is this: did you attend your high school reunion and do you think it’s ultimately worth it?

When I was very young, not quite 10, I had been forbidden by my father from watching a very particular movie that my mom and aunt seemed to be somewhat fond of. I was disappointed, but girl power ruled the house one week. My dad was out of down on business for a couple nights, so being very sneaky, my mom popped some popcorn and pushed a VHS copy of “Dirty Dancing” into our VCR. I was entirely excited - mostly because I felt like such a little rebel. I was not allowed to let dad know.

Since that night so many years ago, the timeless story of a young girl’s first taste of summer love at a resort in New York’s Catskill Mountains has become my essential ideal of romance. Francis “Baby” Houseman and her family spend three weeks at Kellerman’s, and Baby’s soon wrapped up in the dancing and excitement that takes place after hours in staff quarters. There she meets Johnny, a modern-day rebel without a pause who’s fast on his feet. Together they embark into a whirlwind love affair, one that neither of them expects nor are they really ready for.

Photo: Alliance Atlantis Films

In a fit of Diet Pepsi-induced sleeplessness, I popped the DVD into my portable DVD player last night, hoping 20 minutes or so would lull me into sleep. It didn’t, and I stayed awake right until the very end. I even watched the extra behind-the-scenes footage. Which, I might add, was incredibly exciting to watch as nearly the entire dance cast wore legwarmers in rehearsal - the girls and the guys.

It was probably the millionth time I saw the film because, as much as I watch it on DVD, I also can’t resist whenever it’s showing on TV. However, it wasn’t until last night that I finally understood how, in a huge way, I relate to the main character. Sure, every girl dreams of playing Baby, but I never before realized how much I’m quite like her. We’re both nurturers who like to fix a problem and save the day and make sure that everyone is okay. We’re both also the simple wallflower; the girl that (believe it or not) most people don’t look at twice, but really just want our moment to shine.

And, like all great 80s flicks, Dirty Dancing left behind in its legacy a whole dancefloor full of memorable quotes that you and I still use today (aside from that classic one-liner in the video above):

“Oh, come on, ladies. God wouldn’t have given you maracas if He didn’t want you to shake ‘em.”

“Look, spaghetti arms. This is my dance space. This is your dance space. I don’t go into yours, you don’t go into mine.”

“Most of all I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.”

“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”

Stay tuned because you never know what I’ll dig out of Mr. Dressup’s Tickle Trunk next time.

More often than not, when reading blog posts, viewing pictures or hearing news stories out of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, we are faced with images and stories that are, at the very least, heartbreaking. To describe the lifelessness and defeatist existence that is mere blocks away from the glittery condos is near impossible. Even more impossible is understanding it.

Sometimes all it takes is a simple sentence.

Photo: cyclonepower on Flickr

This morning the sun poured through the windows as I stretched out of bed. It was a beautiful day and decided that I couldn’t waste it indoors. That being the case, I asked a friend if I could steal their dogs for a walk to the park and enjoy the sunshine. The park, located at the top of Main Street, already had its fair share of off-leash dogs, and the two I was toting along were eager to join the pack. As we entered the soggy and muddy grass, I heard a girl shout out “cute dogs!”

She called to them and they, in turn, trotted towards her because they’ll take any opportunity they can to be petted. The girl frolicked with them for a moment or two, all the while smiling and laughing. She stood up and asked me how old I was. After giving her my reply, she laughed and simply said: “You’re 27 and you have a life; I’m 23 and have no life.”

Two weekends, two disappointments. The head cold from hell dropped it’s bomb on me Wednesday evening and fully exploded by last night. I woke up this morning feeling worse than I can remember, even after a 12-hour, Nyquil-induced sleep. That being said, I was unable to attend this year’s Northern Voice conference at UBC. I was really looking forward to meeting a lot of bloggers whom I’d only read or heard about, as well as picking up a few tricks of the trade for myself.

Photo: Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group, a division of Walt Disney Pictures Group

Instead, I occupied my day under covers with the likes of cowboys, cowgirls, suspected terrorists, AWOL U.S. Army officers and the like. I watched no less than Tombstone, The Quick and the Dead, Rendition and In the Valley of Elah. All fantastic movies featuring fantastic casts.

However, I’ve been known to have somewhat of a stellar immune system, so I have no doubt that I’ll be up and running again soon. Here’s hoping for NV09…

After December’s lack lustre teaser-trailer for the upcoming ‘Sex and the City’ movie, the studio behind bringing the glamourous girls to the big screen are finally satiating our appetites. The full-length trailer was released sometime today and has been burning up the web. I have yet to find an embeddable version on YouTube, but for now, click over here to check it out.

Thanks to Jennifer for the heads-up!











Photo: New Line Cinema