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It’s been a long while since your last lurk into my bathroom. For a girl who can get ready at the start of the day in the blink of an eye, I admittedly have a lot of “stuff” with which to do so. Some of it almost never gets used, some of it only comes out for special occasions and other items I can’t live without. We’ve all got our favourites. Here are a few of mine…

I’m very particular when it comes to body moisturizers. Naturally they need to smell as though they’d taste equally delicious, but endurance is important. I require something that will keep my skin supple all day and the Body Shop’s body butter does just that. It’s not unusual for me to go through a jar each month. Brazil Nut is my pony.

Never one to give powder a chance, I always assumed it would be messy and leave unsightly residue in my hair and on my skin. Not so, and I’ve discovered Sugar Leaf powder from Barefoot Venus. Locally made and infused with red fruit, peach and vanilla essences, this subtle product is quickly becoming my daily perfume replacement.

Despite how much I love Lush’s bubble bars, $8 doesn’t go a long way. Many other drugstore bubble baths are made with far too many chemically-produced fragrances – even the supposed naturally scented ones. Thankfully some are designed for more delicate skin and are far less abrasive. Life brand from Shopper’s Drug Mart has created this lavender and chamomile bubble bath designed to lull babies to sleep at the end of the day. They must be doing something right because I too fell asleep in the tub on the weekend.

My quest for skincare seems to be an eternal one, but I somehow always end up back with my old pal, Clinique. It’s dermatological formulated and approved and never fails to leave my skin feeling clean and refreshed. You can’t top a classic.

Months ago when my hair was breaking all over my crown and sending me into a frantic panic, I wasted no time in fixing my hair – and keeping it that way. Prior to that, I’d been skimping out on my usual dousing of Bumble & bumble.’s Tonic spray. To ensure that me and my hair never again break up, this daily dose of vitamins, minerals and essential extracts is a non-negotiable.

You’ve probably heard your girlfriends mention them. Maybe you’ve even considered buying a pair of Tweezerman tweezers. Yes, they are worth it.

Anyone who has ever gone shopping with me in an attempt to purchase body wash knows first-hand how arduous I find the task each time. I do want something moisturizing but I don’t want a cleansing cream. I do want something that lathers but I don’t want a soap-based wash that strips my skin. And don’t even get me started on how many body washes overpower with their scent bouquets. I was elated to discover Neutrogena’s Rainbath Deep Moisture body wash with butters of cocoa, mango and shea.

What would I find in your bathroom?

For the first time in all my years, I’ve begun to realize what Christmas shouldn’t be about. As a child, it’s fun to indulge in the Santa Claus tale, but for whatever reason, that tradition has kept on rolling in my family.

The thought struck me the other day that if it’s Jesus’ birthday we’re celebrating, why do I still get a truckload of gifts at this time of year? It makes zero sense to me as someone who celebrates Christmas based on its true origin, and I’m really not doing much of anything to honour that. However, sometimes it’s too little, too late, but I am dead-set on making huge changes next Christmas and throughout the coming year in this regard.

Photo: jenny downing (r&r) on Flickr

I think that the best gift we can give our families and our friends at this time of year, with or without money, is not presents but presence. There is nothing more I am looking forward to than being with my family, laughing joyfully with them, eating food that’s been lovingly prepared, putting good mileage on my stretchy pants, drinking wine, resting my body, resting my mind and making memories. I’m sure I’ll manage to squeeze some SNES in there too.

To all of you, my friends and readers, I want to wish you the very best that this season has to offer you – no matter what or why you’re celebrating. Be there with and for the people you love and the people you have yet to love. Bring it all back to the place it should be about.

There is something to be said for knowing one’s self, but identifying one’s self is something entirely different. It’s nothing short of amazing to me to see the ways in which I have changed through each year of my life, and of how I have transformed from girl to young lady to woman. And even as such, I still have next to no idea what that really means. I know who I am, I know my name, what I like, what I dislike, what I’ve experienced and what I desire. All of that is pertaining only to me, but what about me as a woman? That’s an entirely separate entity, however marked with many of the same traits that I likely share with the other more than three billion women in this world.

I have one friend who is dear to me for reasons that are unique to her. Emily and I have known each other since we traded juice boxes in kindergarten, and more than two decades later, I’d still share my lime Kool-Aid with her. Two years ago she found herself moving to Europe, and as of right now, she’s dreamily drifting back and forth between Spain and Portugal.

Yesterday Emily and I were talking like we normally do every few weeks, and as she shared with me some of the challenges she’d been facing lately, the topic of being a woman surfaced in our discussion. While it’s honest to say that the delicacies of the fairer sex can at times be a source of great frustration and eye-rolling for many men, make no mistake that we frustrate our own selves just as much. Men may find us to be complex, complicated, emotional and even – at times – ridiculous, but we women often paint ourselves with the same brush. It’s difficult to grasp objectivity when we look at ourselves.

The epiphanies that Emily and I concluded on seemed to be an incredible light bulb moment for us both. Women over-think, overanalyze, over-scrutinize, calculate and solve problems. While those traits can, on the surface, be charming to very few, Emily and I realized that it’s simply in our nature as women. It is ingrained in our feminine disposition to nurture, to love, to resolve, to maintain control, create order out of chaos, to make peace and to roll up our sleeves and get the dirty work done. So often we’re encouraged to do the opposite, but going against the fabric of what defines us is nothing short of stifling.

Many may argue that the Bible is an unreliable source, but it’s been trusted in by hundreds of generations as a compass for life. While some will fight tooth and nail to prove that it’s the absolute Word of God, it’s hard for me to believe that, through countless versions and languages, more than a few things haven’t been lost in translation along the way. However, the messages and parables of peace, love, kindness, righteousness and trust are never off course. This afternoon I found myself at the end of Proverbs:

“Her worth is far above jewels…

[She] works with her hands in delight…

She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night…

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain.”

Proverbs 31: 10-30 (NASB)

Too often I find myself beating myself up for what is in my very nature. Society commonly lends itself to unspoken and unwritten expectations of cynicism, hopelessness, guarded and implicit behavior in women. Women who display love and a gentle nature are often the first suspects.

Just as it is for Emily, so too will your life never be without challenges, tests of strength, events that shape your character and dealings that result in ultimate joy. At times things can seem downright frightening, but the only thing worth fearing is an existence so stagnant that we are no longer presented with the opportunities that are imperative to becoming the people –and the women – that we are each capable of being. No one knows whom the woman King Lemuel spoke of in that particular passage is, but I know for certain that’s the type of woman I aspire to be.

Growing up on BC’s coast, I’ve always said that I adored living somewhere that the residents experienced four distinct seasons. It wasn’t until visiting the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale last week that I realized I really just tolerate the four seasons because it’s what I’m accustomed to. Once you realize that living without rain is an option, downpours are much more loathsome.

Photo: mikemac29 on Flickr

As I flew into Sky Harbor International Airport around dinnertime, I was instantly blown away by the sprawling size of Phoenix. Twinkling city lights stretched further than I could see through my sliver-sized window. Upon arrival, my host-with-the-most wasted no time in acclimatizing me to Phoenix nightlife. After a tasty little dinner at Hanny’s, a restored men’s department store, we walked a few steps to the US Airways Center to witness the Phoenix Suns completely slaughter the New Orleans Hornets.

Photo: jasontho on Flickr

To say I was instantly hooked would be an understatement. Between sitting fourth-row, center court and the hip hop music thumping while the teams were playing, the game had a genuine schoolyard feel to it. Steve Nash has quickly become a legendary name, but it’s only when you see him on the court that you understand why.

Being that it was Veterans’ Day in the U.S., a first-quarter patriotic display instilled swelling pride within the entire crowd. And sadly, it was the only time I took a picture during my entire trip.

Photo: Frank Kehren on Flickr

On the following day we found ourselves getting through a lazy morning with a trip to Nordstrom’s Last Chance outlet – one of only two in the U.S. I managed to score a current season DvF silk party frock for 85% off and a Marc Jacobs handbag for 90% off retail; he snagged some Diesel jeans down from $350 to $30. No word of a lie.

Shopping is exhausting work, so after a quick late lunch stop at The Vig (and believe me, the VigAzz burger lives up to its name), the rest of the day was a write-off. After seeing a bit of Scottsdale by bike, I was toast.

Photo: Daniel Greene on Flickr

It’s kind of impossible to visit the City of Scottsdale without partaking in their shopping – it’s practically a sport to some of their residents. Scottsdale Fashion Square is certainly the pièce de résistance as it stands towering over the canal-woven Scottsdale Waterfront. With in-mall shops like Barneys New York, Louis Vuitton and Burberry mixed in with Anthropologie, Forever 21, Sephora and J. Crew, it redefines the term “a shopper’s paradise.”

Photo: 427 on Flickr

As we made our way through Old Town Scottsdale, we noticed crews setting up for that evening’s The Big Pour, a street festival of (mostly) local breweries. After heading home to engage in an entirely sweaty and intense game of basketball for two, we were ready to shell out $10 and purchased our passports to debauchery. By the time I’d indulged in more than my fair share of 4 oz. samplers, we decided to kick it up a notch by making our way to a hopelessly chic cocktail bar, AZ88, where the whiskey flows like milk and honey.

While dramatic art installations – like the Dead New York City Taxi Driver exhibit below – can largely be argued as the bar’s claim to fame, I must put in a vote for their vicious Sidecar martini. A healthy splash of Cointreau was enough to finish me off. The rest of the night was a blur, including a trip to the Mondrian. It may – or may not – have involved a burlesque swing, too often nearly falling down and puking onto Hayden Road from inside the hired car. (Damn you, Sidecar!)

Photo: cam.riley on Flickr

It should come as no surprise to any of you that Saturday was black-marked by a hangover, so after spending half my day in bed, I finally had it in me to get up and out into the sunshine. Like Greater Vancouver, Phoenix is comprised of neatly parceled suburbs.

Photo: Conekt on Flickr

After grabbing mondo-sized iced Americanos (note that it’s pronounced “Ameri-con-o” down there), we made our way to the southeastern neighbourhood of Tempe – home to Arizona State University. It’s entirely picturesque, featuring a gorgeous waterfront walk around Tempe Town Lake, stunning sunset views and fresh air. For dinner, the Vancouver girl that went all the way to Arizona had sushi. Though, I wasn’t complaining – it was surprisingly fresh and delicious. We capped the night off with a flick at Harkins Camelview, catching a showing of The Damned United. Cute British football movie but it never engaged me. Take it or leave it.

Photo: phxpma on Flickr

By the time Sunday arrived, I had a hard time believing I had to leave already. Normally whenever I’m away from home – even if only to Tofino or Seattle – I feel entirely unsettled and can’t relax, but my time in Scottsdale was amazing. Thankfully we had a bit of time (though not enough if it were up to me) before my flight for a short jaunt half-way up Papago Peak. The views were breathtaking and I can’t begin to convey the sense of absolute peace I felt sitting on those red rocks. My boots are still covered in dust from that desert and I hesitate to wipe them clean.

While some – mostly my mother – are disappointed that I neglected to take any photos, my reasoning was simple: why lose time clicking shots to capture memories when you can experience them? I wasn’t there to play the role of the tourist; I was there to just be there. My time spent there was entirely precious, rejuvenating and incredible to me, and it should come as no surprise that I can’t wait to return.

What happens to be my most favourite season never ceases to stun me. As soon as the afternoon light changes, I know that Autumn is on its way, bringing with it change, renewal, crisp air and colours that cannot be duplicated. It is a season that is particularly beautiful on Vancouver Island. That said, and without any further words, I’ll let the photos do the speaking for me.

Photo: maplemusketeer on Flickr

Photo: Calypso Orchid on Flickr

Photo: thorinside on Flickr

Photo: fleshelectrons on Flickr

Photo: ecstaticist on Flickr

Photo: paulhami on Flickr

Photo: alaskapine on Flickr

Photo: Phil’s Photos. on Flickr

Photo: iwona_kellie on Flickr

Photo: Cyprien on Flickr

Photo: maplemusketeer on Flickr

Photo: iwona_kellie on Flickr

Photo: junemaffin on Flickr

In European Renaissance, those of royalty or upper-class society often married simply for the preservation of bloodlines and social status. More often than not, these men and women sought entertainment and companionship on the side from particular people who were educated, independent, trained in the arts and added a sense of sensuous luxury to life.

These particular people were known as courtesans.

Less than two months ago, fifteen years of planning finally came to fruition in the form of Yaletown’s newest boutique, Qortezan. The shop reflects owner Edie Orenstein’s personal sense of empowerment, manifested in retail form: “I wanted to create a sensual environment of pleasure that includes all the senses.” Edie believes there’s a difference between sensuality and sexuality, and Qortezan has been designed to highlight taste, touch, smell, sound and sight through textures, layers and an expansion of these elements.

Filled with beautiful silks, rich colours, enticing scents, entertaining books and candles designed to flicker just right, Qortezan was a boutique I fell in love with the moment I walked in the door two weeks ago. I should also add that Jordy accompanied me the first time – Qortezan is completely dog-friendly!

Men will find no shortage of handsomely tailored, hand-made shirts, crafted in Montréal from Italian and German fabrics. What’s more, the entire line is accompanied by a number of shiny cufflinks to provide contrast and refined style.

Some cufflinks are just for fun too…

One cannot enter Qortezan and ignore the fact that it’s also somewhat of a treasure chest of pleasure. Too often there’s still a stigma attached to items, lotions and potions designed for romps in the bedroom, but this is one shop aimed at breaking down any potential shame. Instead, Qortezan provides a comfortable and safe ambiance to indulge your carnal side.

Aside from her desire to bring a few of her favourite little things from overseas to our slice of the globe, Edie Orenstein also has an immense passion for flamenco dancing. Not only are traditional, hand-stitched manton scarves and leather flamenco shoes available for purchase (direct from Seville, Spain) at Qortezan, the shop will soon be transforming into a dance space for special events.

My personal favourite part of the shop is the vast array of bras, panties, nylons, bustiers and feathered delights. Largely featured is one of my most-loved lingerie lines, Blush. I should also mention that, in addition to mens’ clothing, us ladies can also find some fabulous pieces that can be worn outside of the bedroom.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Qortezan is fully stocked with everything one would need to bring this sensual environment from the shop to the home. Rare mens’ colognes, sweet perfumes and essentially-scented candles can be found all through-out the shop. I’m not normally a girl who likes cologne on a man, but I certainly wouldn’t kick him out of bed for wearing Pal Zileri’s signature scent or a dab of Lab.

If you’d like to visit Qortezan for yourself, visit the shop in person at 1035 Mainland Street in Yaletown, downtown Vancouver, just south of Nelson Street. No stranger to social media, Qortezan can also be found online, on Twitter, on Flickr and on Facebook.

Regular musical acts (including an upcoming appearance by Jim Byrnes), wine nights, fragrance evenings, phenomenal sales and so much more will be happening on a regular basis, so be sure to sign up for Qortezan’s e-mail list.

It’s no secret that Vancouver Island is full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. The only secret is figuring out where one can find those gems. It’s places like Cape Scott Provincial Park that brought about the Island Profile series; Vancouver Island is so much more than just Victoria and it can be yours for exploring.

Photo: snarlenarlen on Flickr

Just 64 kilometres west of Port Hardy lies more than 22,000 hectares of rainforest with rocky shores, peppered with densely lush trees. Endless kilometres of often muddy trails meander their way through the park. The park is home to a large number of wildlife, including a significant bear and cougar population. Stretching from Shushartie Bay, around Cape Scott and south to San Josef Bay, Cape Scott Provincial Park boasts a combination of rugged bluffs battered by the sea and beaches with snow-white sand.

View Larger Map (Please note that Cape Scott reaches further north on Vancouver Island than Google maps illustrates.)

Cape Scott Provincial Park is rich with history, first settled by the Nahwitti First Nation. The park was named in 1786 in honour of a Bombay trade merchant by the name of David Scott. Soon after, Danish settlers from the midwestern United States attempted to call the area home. However, with the lack of a direct trade route and incredibly hostile weather conditions (rainfall often exceeds 500 centimetres while battering the region with high winds), most of the settlers waved white flags, packed up their homesteads and left Cape Scott.

Photo: clompers on Flickr

Photo: snarlenarlen on Flickr

Apart from the aforementioned bears and cougars, Cape Scott Provincial Park is a virtual menagerie of animals, sea creatures and birds that are synonymous with British Columbia. Between land and sea, the park is home to coastal black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, black bears, cougars, wolves, Canadian geese, seals, sea lions, sea otters, orca whales and gray whales. Keep in mind that you’re in their home and the more accustomed to human contact they are, the more vulnerable these animals become. Follow the safety rules, keep a safe distance and avoid feeding any wildlife.

Photo: ahisgett on Flickr

Photo: nrtphotos on Flickr

Photo: brendan.lally on Flickr

“Roughing it” defines the experience you can expect when visiting Cape Scott Provincial Park. There’s parking located at the Cape Scott and Josef Bay trailheads, but the entire park is essentially only accessible by hiking. Dotted with boardwalks, several pit toilets and an extremely limited water supply, park users are cautioned to bring all the supplies they’ll need (whether it be for a day-trip or camping).

Photo: snarlenarlen on Flickr

Photo: nrtphotos on Flickr

Outdoor enthusiasts will be excited and possibly even overwhelmed with the number of activities available. The park is open all year round and even offers winter camping. Visitors can also partake in boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and canoeing. Those wishing to camp are in for a bargain as backcountry camping is only $5.00 per person, per night for those over 13 years of age. There are 11 first-come, first-serve camping pads at Eric Lake, though camping is permitted throughout the park. Park staff prefer that visitors camp on the beachfront (not that you wouldn’t want to).

Photo: clompers on Flickr

Photo: nrtphotos on Flickr

It’s important to remember that this space is here for all of us to use, and it’s up to us to keep it usable. Leave no trace when leaving the park – take all your belongings and garbage with you. Campfires are currently banned within the park; the forest bed is tinder dry and will light up like a match, so use care and show respect. Know where you’re going and carry a compass and map. It’s smart to leave a detailed itinerary with family or friends before embarking on your adventure.

Photo: gfroese9 on Flickr

Photo: nrtphotos on Flickr

Cape Scott Provincial Park is accessible by a combination of public roadways and logging roads from the nearby town of Port Hardy. There is also a water taxi service and shuttle for those seeking a little more guidance. For more comprehensive information, please visit the official BC Parks website. Maps, trail information and hiking precautions can be found here.

There are enough elements, places to discover and activities around Tofino and the surrounding region to fill a year’s worth of Island Profile posts. However, as it’s my first day back from holidays, I thought it would instead be nice to view the seaside village through my eyes.

To view all the photos I snapped on the wet coast, please visit my Tofino Set on Flickr.

I had a dream a few nights ago.

Photo: gcraig3si on Flickr

I was alone by myself in a tiny villa, not far from the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was the middle of the night and everything outside was blacker than ink. Desperately wanting to take pictures of the summit against a blanket of stars, I ventured outside and started snapping.

Out of the night a tiger came up behind me. Instead of attacking, he nuzzled my hand much like a domestic cat. The tiger just wanted affection. What was more apparent to me than any other element to my dream was the sense of peace that prevailed.

Photo: Markies on Flickr

Photo: Dennis Leidelmeijer on Flickr

As a child, my family never, ever went on distant vacations so I had never been bitten by the “travel bug.” Aside from New York City, no place around the globe has ever drawn me. That is, however, until now.

I must go.

Photo: Randy OHC on Flickr

Photo: Dennis Leidelmeijer on Flickr

I’ve been researching, calculating a budget and even consulting with those that have been or have lived there. 2011 will be the soonest this venture will happen. While I would like to spend time in Kenya and Tanzania to see Mt. Kilimanjaro, I’m also drawn to South Africa, namely the area around Durban.

Photo: Randy OHC on Flickr

Photo: Dennis Leidelmeijer on Flickr

Simply watching a scenic program on PBS or the National Geographic channel cannot replace the experience. I have no doubt that to go and to come face-to-face with such majesty will be something to last a lifetime.

Photo: Dallas75 on Flickr

Photo: Randy OHC on Flickr

If you’ve been or are planning on going, any thoughts and insight would definitely stoke my fire. However, spare me the basic facts on the intense political climate in many areas – to ignore such a factor would be ignorance on my part and I haven’t overlooked it.

Right now, I’m still dreaming…

Photo: Randy OHC on Flickr

(And yes, I realize tigers do not exist in the wild in Africa; I presume it was just a symbolic element to the dream I had.)

Tucked in amongst the towering trees on Qualicum Beach’s West Island Highway lies what I truly believe to be the crown jewel of the Oceanside region. Such a bestowment is rather fitting, considering the regal history of Milner Gardens and Woodland.

In 1937, Horatio “Ray” Milner purchased the 70-acre estate with his wife Rina. Both put such tender, loving care into the expansive gardens and surrounding woodland. Sadly, Rina passed away in 1952.

Two years later Ray married British Aristocrat Veronica who then cultivated her artist’s eye to turn the land into a horticulturist’s paradise. Importing unique flora from around the globe, Veronica and Ray transformed the gardens into a space that defines unique. Veronica was an incredibly talented painter and often specifically plotted and planned where particular items should grow in order to provide creative inspiration in the years to come.

A direct descendant of Sir Winston Churchill, Veronica had strong ties with the British Royal Family. Prior to her death in 1998, Mrs. Milner hosted the likes of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip, Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles at her home on the property.

Rumour has it that Prince Phillip once BBQ’d a steak for Queen Elizabeth II on the deck surrounding the garden’s pool. No longer used for swimming, it’s now a complimentary water feature adjacent to the gift shop.

Among Milner Gardens’ programs is Shoots With Roots, designed to instill a love and respect for nature in the children who participate through hands-on experience. Kids are encouraged to each take part in caring for the designated garden while exercising their artistic sides and inspiring critical thinking skills.

The blossoms on the Himalayan hydrangea grow to be the size of basketballs at their peak.

Perspective…

By the time Veronica passed away, much of the gardens had fallen into disrepair. Fortunately, in thanks to Vancouver Island University (formerly Malasapina University College) having acquired the property, Milner Gardens and Woodland have been fully restored to their former beauty.

Because maintaining the space is an enormous task, Milner Gardens relies on the support of the University, financial donations, admission fees and the work of volunteers to sustain itself. Once you can see the property for yourself, it is easy to understand the amount of work that goes into the gardens. The passion of Milner’s volunteers is evident in the countless hours of effort.

When she wasn’t wandering and enjoying her gardens, Veronica and her husband resided in their home overlooking the ocean. Today the house is used as both office space and a tea room in which visitors can fill their tummies with home-baked yummies, including traditional scones with jam made from the gardens’ berry bushes.

I was a tiny bit obsessed with the original wallpaper in the hallway.

As our tour wound to a close, Rebecca and I found ourselves on the front porch in the company of nursery grower Kim Hammond, treated to fresh croissants stuffed with egg salad and orange pekoe tea made in proper English style.

It’s clear to see how this space is so treasured by those who have experienced it. As the late afternoon sun and ocean breeze danced on our skin, I couldn’t help but wish I could spend every afternoon in that very spot. Parting is such sweet sorrow, and the same could not be more true of leaving Milner Gardens and Woodland. It’s a true treat for the soul.

Please take a few minutes to read Rebecca’s experience at Milner Gardens and Woodland here.

Milner Gardens and Woodland is primarily open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. betwee April and October with special events being held at certain times throughout the year, including Halloween and Christmas. Due to the delicate nature of the property, only certified guide dogs are permitted.

The gardens and woodland is located at 2179 West Island Highway in Qualicum Beach; look for the sign and interpretive centre. Summertime admission for adults is only $10, but consider an annual membership for only $25. You’ll be sure to want to experience this wonderland in each of the four seasons. For more information, please visit Milner Gardens’ website.