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Photo: Stewart Shining on People

Yesterday People magazine released their annual list of Sexiest Men Alive and named Australia’s Hugh Jackman as the cream of the crop. Amy was quick to point out that the list should correctly be named the Sexiest Male Celebrities Alive, and she’s absolutely right. After perusing the list, I decided that there is less than a handful of 2008’s picks I can agree with.

1. Hugh Jackman
2. Daniel Craig (Ack! He’s blonde!)
3. Jon Hamm (Uhhh…who?)
4. Zac Efron
5. Robert Buckley
6. Blair Underwood (Well hello there, Dr. Leeds.)
7. Ed Westwick
8. Michael Phelps (Normally I’d disagree, but check out that photo!)
9. Blake Shelton
10. Lang Lang
11. Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Welcome back, Zack!)
12. Javier Bardem
13. Robert Pattinson
14. Joshua Jackson
15. David Beckham (The Mickey Mouse voice just kills it for me.)

My biggest beef with this annual rollcall is the way in which it’s seemingly chosen. Then men aren’t necessarily chosen for their “sexiness,” but rather their current presence in the entertainment scene. All of these men have had the spotlight shone brightly on their stars over the last 12 months, whether it be movies, television or even the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Photo: Anzuoni/Reuters/Landov
on People

While I understand everyone’s tastes are their own, I can’t for the life of me understand how virtual boys can make a list like that - I want to see men! Thank goodness for hairy-chested hotties like Javier Bardem. I don’t care for men who are half a decade my junior, considered sexy only because they’ve been prettied up by Hollywood. It wasn’t too long ago that I saw Zac Efron on an episode of CSI: Miami as a gap-toothed, bushy-eye browed kid. Considering him “sexy” seems almost downright wrong.

If I had my way, here would be my personal top five picks for who’s sexy in 2008:

1. Javier Bardem
2. Chris Meloni
3. Jenny Lewis
4. James Franco
5. Dean Winters

Your turn: Who are your top five sexy beasts of the year?

1. My Hair

Thank you all for your marvelous input and suggestions on my new ‘do this weekend. I suppose it comes with no surprise that “the big reveal” will take place on Saturday, so stay tuned for the drum roll…

2. The Women

Last night, after a gorge-fest on Olympia pizza and Pacific Pilsner beer (what can I say? I’m an Island girl), Amy and I burned off calories by heading across the Burrard Street bridge and found ourselves at Fifth Avenue Cinemas. In the spirit of all things womanly, we took in the 2008 remake of 1939’s “The Women,” starring, well, a lot of women.

In particular, some of those women include Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen, Cloris Leachman (who was terrific!) and Annette Bening (who is very quickly becoming one of my favourite actresses). Though I felt the movie lacked in character development, it made up for it with humour, relatable storylines and a few fabulous handbags. [website]

3. Stella McCartney CARE

I’ve now had a few days to try out the full line of Stella McCartney CARE products sent to me last week by Matchstick. My tote bag full of delicious-smelling, pretty-packaged, 100% active organic ingredient skin care has proven to be a lot of fun to try! Here’s the breakdown…

Purifying Foaming Cleanser - This by far my favourite of the two cleansers sent to me. It has a delicate and light - yet luxurious - foaming quality to it that truly leaves my skin feeling clean.

Gentle Cleansing Milk - This was the second of two cleansers I tried, and while the idea of a gentle milk to cleanse my skin sounds dreamy, it didn’t feel as though my skin was clean after (and that feeling is important to a girl!) so it’s not the cleanser I’d choose. Smells great though…

Toning Floral Water - I wish I had this a few months ago in the heat of summer! It’s a refreshing, aromatic water mist that spritzes in a steady stream, leaving my skin feeling cool, dewy and fresh.

5 Benefits Moisturizing Fluid - One of two daily moisturizers and this one has been receiving the majority of my attention. It’s a milky, light cream that locks in the love I get from the Toning Floral Water. I’m totally okay with natural, woodsy scents, so this one gets two thumbs up from me.

5 Benefits Moisturizing Cream - This is the sister product to the 5 Benefits Moisturizing Fluid and to me is really no different except in that it’s seemingly got a heavier concentration and a richer viscosity. I haven’t used it as much but have no doubt that it will be fantastic when those drying days of Winter hit.

Nourishing Night & Day Cream - Definitely not something that is necessary on a daily basis, but sometimes a girl’s skin needs a bit of extra TLC. This is where the Nourishing Night & Day Cream comes in. It’s like the 5 Benefits Moisturizing Cream on natural steroids. It’s rich, it’s deep and it’s intense. Use only before bedtime.

Radiance & Youth Elixir, Calming & Soothing Elixir and Nourishing Elixir - Ahhh…the elixirs. My absolute favourite part of the line! Remember those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books we all loved as kids? Consider the elixirs to be somewhat of a “Choose Your Own Skin Today” potion. Each is a heavily concentrated serum intended to pair up with your moisturizer for added benefits, and each is designed with a different skin goal in mind.

I’ve found the Radiance & Youth Elixir great in the mornings before applying make-up for a brand spanking new skintone and the Calming & Soothing Elixir does just that at the end of the day. The Nourishing Elixir is strong and derived of natural oils, so use it sparingly and only when your skin needs a bit of extra attention.

IN SUMMARY

My overall impression of Stella McCartney’s CARE skin care line is definitely favourable! I’ve long been a big fan of natural and organic products when available but find they often miss the mark. While I feel there is a bit of room for tweaking, I am quite sure Stella is onto something really good here.

Suggestions for the future? One absolute essential that is missing from the line is a daily exfoliant or scrub to slough off dead skin cells. Also, I am rather fond of cleansers that take off all make-up - including mascara. It was a bit of a pain in the butt to employ the use of a specific make-up remover. Sometimes a girl just doesn’t have time!

While I can’t say I would purchase the entire line, there are certainly a few pieces that I can’t imagine not having in my bathroom - in particular the Toning Floral Water and a couple of the Elixirs. Stella McCartney CARE is available across Canada at Holt Renfrew and in the United States at Sephora. For more information on the entire line of products, please visit the official Stella McCartney CARE website.

Years ago, when I still spent the Summer months at a beachfront kids’ camp, I was given the nickname “Princess of Products.” I had stuff - so much stuff - in bottles, jars and containers. Lotions, potions, perfumes and make-up. In fact, I am constantly on a quest for a skin care line to call my own. After 27 years of searching, I settled on Clinique, if only because I consider it to be “Old Faithful.”

Then one day last week I got a phone call…

As it turned out, the lovely folks at Matchstick thought me and Stella McCartney would really hit it off. Stella McCartney has recently released a full line of luxury skin care products called CARE, made with 100% organic active ingredients. Agreeing to try out the goods was a no-brainer for this chica, and today I received a tote bag full of goodies!

Aside from some yummy essential orange oil and organic tea, the tote bag contained nine items from the Stella McCartney CARE line:

I’m such a sucker for pretty packaging. Each product came in a shiny, silver tube which can easily be reusable. And the product inside? All items in the Stella McCartney CARE line are ECOCERT certified, guaranteeing social and ecological values. I should also mention that the inserts were printed on 100% recycled paper - thoughtful touch, Miss McCartney.

The natural scents danced lightly under my nose as soon as I opened the packages. The fragrances are composed of 100% organic essential oils. Before hitting the bathroom with my new loot, I logged into the official website to read more about the products and how they’re best used. Surprisingly, I also found some tips on alternate uses for the items - check them out for yourself.

Tonight I cracked open a few to try, so make sure to check back in a day or two for the re-cap. Because there’s such a variety to experiment with, I’ll need a few days to give them all a whirl.

And last, but certainly not least, a few words from Stella herself:

“My skin is important to me. It’s one of the first things people notice about you. But for many years now, I have found myself dissatisfied with what is available in the world of skincare. Just because I don’t want to put something unnatural on my face, doesn’t mean I should have to make sacrifices. I ask the same things as you do from my skincare; I want it to help me feel and look younger, more radiant. I also expect it to feel rich and luxurious and to sit proudly on my bathroom shelf. It needs to fit into my lifestyle in an uncomplicated way. Why shouldn’t it be possible to adopt a more natural, organic lifestyle without foregoing luxury?”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

For a small(ish) community, the Comox Valley has a wide range of diverse restaurants to cater to all tastes and preferences. It’s been eight years since Tita’s Mexican Restaurant [website] opened its doors 536 6th Street, but it was only Friday evening that my mom and I managed to get there for our first visit.

We were both instantly impressed with the authentic charm Tita’s exudes even before you set foot on the property. One of Courtenay’s older homes was splashed with a fresh coat of yellow paint to allow it to stand out amidst a lush, green and tropical-inspired garden; the front steps to the door are dotted by a black olive bush.

The food is, undoubtedly, authentic Mexican cuisine with a wide-ranging menu including everything from standard fare such as burritos and nachos to more traditional eats such as Taquitos de Pollo and this girl’s favourite, Molé con Pollo. I washed down the complimentary handmade tortilla chip starter with a lime margarita on the rocks - the only way to have it.

Obviously I had to check out the bathrooms. I also checked myself out in the bathroom. And it was at that moment that our waitress came in - presumably to relieve herself - to find me snapping photos of yours truly in the bathroom mirror. Awwwwkwarrrrrrrd.

And speaking of, I couldn’t quite figure our waitress out. Sometimes I thought she was nice, and sometimes I thought maybe a bit sour. However, it’s safe to say, generally speaking, that one can no longer expect service that is above and beyond in the food service industry anymore.

Much of their fare is organic, local and most certainly fresh, and overall, Tita’s was a thoroughly enjoyable dining experience. Being that I have an incredible love for all foods Mexican, it won’t be long before I return to sample something different off the menu.

I can’t stop looking at this. Every time I’ve toggled to that page this morning while sitting at my desk, I’ve died a little on the inside.

I hate you, Internet Explorer. Everytime I blog with you, you squish my pictures and make me look schmucky. I should basically just always use my laptop, me thinks. (Translation: click each picture to see it in my Flickr stream, not looking schmucky.) Safari FTW.

Okay, so Lady Phae wanted to treat yours truly to a divine dinner at my absolute favourite spot. The first time I went to Boneta was on my birthday last year and I have been back a handful of times since.

We let the amazing men of Boneta pick wine for us, and so we had some Italian red vino. My friend Toni claims to be Italian red wine but I am not sure he’s as drinkable.

We had cheese. And crustinis. And cheese.

Normally I’m pretty lush-ous when drinking red wine, but for whatever reason I managed to remain pretty sober. The same cannot be said for my hot date. She’s charming.

“Boneta loves you.” It’s written all over their restaurant, literally and figuratively. We were treated like royalty, and at one point, one of the owners actually stabbed at one of the fresh, local strawberries with my fork and fed it to me.

Being that Jack popped my Pimm’s cherry on my birthday at Boneta, I decided Phaedra needed to do the same, so we capped off the evening with a Pimm’s-based cocktail of our own. Needless to say, it was a hit.

Just yesterday, Duane wrote a blog post that touched down on customer service. I agreed with his points in that I feel as though it’s largely a lost art. I am rather adept in the kitchen and know very well how to pick out a good bottle of wine to tote home, so when I go out for dinner, it’s the service and experience I am paying for.

At Boneta, phenomenal food, killer wine and service to knock your stillettos off are all guaranteed, all the time. Why else would my darling and I have gone two times already?

Thanks for a truly stellar date, Phaedra…

Since Tony didn’t feel like writing a review of Pineapple Express, I’m taking matters into my own hands. After a sunny-ish Sunday afternoon spent wandering up Robson Street with Jen, we decided to cap the afternoon off with a matinée.

Less than 30 minutes in, my initial thoughts were “awesome…I just spent $12 on a stoner comedy.”

Oh how wrong I was…

Photo: Sony Pictures

The film follows devout stoner, Dale Denton (Seth Rogan), and his dealer, Saul Silver (James Franco). The title of the movie itself reefers (very much intended) to a particular strain of marijuana that Dale and Saul fall head-over-heels for. It’s also what links them back to a murder of which Dale accidentally witnesses in his capacity as a process server. I think that means he’s a butler or something.

What begins under the guise of just another stoner flick, Pineapple Express ends up delivering so much more. It has memorable characters, lines that will certainly go down in pop culture cinematic history, more action than you can begin to expect - truly, and best of all: it’s funny. Really funny. There are more than a handful of instances in which you may not believe that what you just saw is what you really did see.

Photo: Sony Pictures

Truth be told, when Jen and I walked into the theatre, I was convinced that her and I were the only two that didn’t indulge in a smoke before the flick. And in saying that, some of the humour can probably only be truly appreciated by those who do smoke…particularly the lady in the front row who incessantly laughed her head off at all times, funny or not.

Don’t be fooled though. Pineapple Express is not a comedy to be missed. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if soon enough, people will flock to any and all Seth Rogan movies simply because it’s known that the flick will be great. Here’s just hoping he doesn’t crash and burn like Will Ferrell has in recent years.

Check out the film’s official trailer below and the website here.

As the first few waves of frigid, salty Pacific Ocean water crashed over my braided head, the only thing I could think was that surfing was better than sex. Really. It’s been close to a decade since I last set foot on a surfboard, and even then I was no good. This time I wanted to do it right and signed up for an afternoon session with Tofino’s legendary Bruhwiler Surf School [website]. While there are a handful of schools on Vancouver Island’s West Coast, it seems to me that the Bruhwiler crew teach simply for the reason that they want to share their passion and way of life with others.

It’s all about the love of the wave.

We arrived at the shop a bit early in time to sign in, and were happy to hear that our wetsuits were already loaded onto the truck for us - one of the many advantages of sending in your body specs by e-mail prior to arriving.

Raph Bruhwiler and Dave the Moustache Man (who gets props for wiping the snot off my face) were our instructors for the day, and I can truly say that both did a stellar job. After a quick 15 (or so) minutes of chat on the sand - including important safety rules and basic theory - we grabbed our boards and headed out. In the words of Johnny Castle: “the best place to learn really is in the water.”

Snaking is definitely not allowed. Catching a “double up” is also not recommended.

Jenny and I hoped to ride another day without instructors, but due to less-than-favourable weather (more about that in the next post), we were forced out of our campsite earlier than we’d hoped.

To say that I can’t wait to head out again would be the understatement of 2008. The boys of Bruhwiler were phenomenal teachers and the encouraging vibe in our small group gave me the get-up-and-go that I needed. After about half an hour in the waves, I was actually standing up on nearly every other wave that I caught, and the feeling was simply euphoric. Like I said, better than sex.

I’d like to catch one of Bruhwiler Surf School’s two-day Roxy surf camps next summer with some girlfriends (and I think they know who they are). To find more information on the sport, the instructors, rates and camps, visit Bruhwiler Surf School’s site by clicking their logo in my sidebar.

To view all the photos from our ultimate surfing experience, click on over to my Flickr.

You don’t have to like the music of ABBA, you don’t have to like glitter…you don’t even have to like musicals at all. Anyway you slice it, however, “Mamma Mia!” is certainly “a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget.” When you have a superb cast helmed by Meryl Streep, there’s nearly no conceivable way it could go wrong. I saw the super-hit musical at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre a few years ago, and by the end, the entire audience was on their feet, singing and dancing right along with the cast. I’d hoped the film would have the same magic to it.

Much like the live musical, “Mamma Mia!” follows the story of a young girl, Sophie, who’s raised on a small Greek Island by her mother, Donna. As Sophie’s wedding approaches, her desperation to find out who her real father is becomes impossible to ignore. After finding her mother’s journal from the year Sophie was born, she invites three possible men in hopes that one of them will be her father. When ensues after that is anyone’s guess - and surprise!

Photo: Universal Pictures

Luckily, seeing “Mamma Mia!” transition from stage to screen was nearly seamless. The point of the film, in my opinion, is pure entertainment, and entertain it does. The characters seemingly have a way of connecting with the audience in such a way that one could almost understand their inside jokes together. Each and every song and dance number is a treat to watch and Meryl Streep’s turn as Donna had me astounded. The woman’s got pipes!

If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself constantly (and hypnotically) torn between admiring Meryl Streep’s flawless cheekbones or Amanda Seyfried’s near perfect breasts. Either is a welcome distraction from Pierce Brosnan’s unfortunate turn at singing. Let’s hope making musicals doesn’t turn into a new career move for the former James Bond.

Check out the trailer below if you haven’t already, and visit the “Mamma Mia!”
website for more goodies.

Thanks for another superb and super fun date, Becky!

Anyone who is truly from Vancouver Island can affirm how painful an endeavour it can be to return to Vancouver after time spent at home. After six near magical days on la isla bonita, I have returned to the city in which I reside, but it will never truly be home. Yesterday marked my four year anniversary in the city, living in the same apartment on the same street. My dwelling is the only thing that’s remained constant in my time here. The faces and experiences that have come and gone in these years are more than I can count.

Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr

I find myself becoming more and more cynical towards this place, its people, the events and the general attitude. Why that is, I’m not sure. The bitterness, however, is starting to take its toll on me and it’s really quite pointless. I think that the time is right for a shift in thinking.

Photo: I am I.A.M. on Flickr

When I was a little girl, my giddiness and anticipation for family trips to Vancouver was uncontainable. It was, in fact, somewhat amusing to my parents. The first major trip I can recall was to Expo ’86 at the ripe age of 5 and on the verge of beginning kindergarten. It was a quick whirlwind mini vacay, but I still have a vivid memory dotted with fireworks, the monorail, Expo Ernie, glittering high-rises and a kaleidoscope of colour.

Once I entered my mid-teens, with my coming of age came a fresh dose of independence. At 16, I was allowed to take my first trip across the Georgia Straight with a friend. Our plan was to hit the all ages Spacehog/Everclear double bill at the Vogue, but upon its subsequent cancellation, Nadia and I found ourselves at the historic Capitol 6 on Granville to see Trainspotting. (My parents saw the film once it was released on video and were rather adamant that, had they known what it was about, I never would have been allowed to see it at the time.)

Long before I actually made the move to Vancouver, I dreamed about the day when I’d finally live sky high in one of those concrete towers I’d so admired as a child. When I was younger, the city and its ideals held enchantment for me. On every ferry ride over, I’d sit at the front of the passenger lounge, skip ahead to Underworld’s “Born Slippy” on my Sony Discman and watch the distant city skyline as the ship pulled nearer to Horseshoe Bay. The anticipation I felt in my belly was intoxicating, and the excitement that struck me at 5 still held strongly at 16 and beyond.

Now that I have spent the better part of half a decade (yikes!) living in downtown Vancouver, the anticipation has dissipated, the magic has faded and the glitter of gleaming towers has grown dull. As I learn more about the world in which I live, the people with which I interact and the true state of humanity, my disillusions of city living have been nearly entirely wiped out.

What I have realized as of late, however, is that focusing on these shortcomings and pitfalls of the city are a wasted effort.

Instead of lamenting how disheartened I am to be back amongst the noise, pollution, yelling, smells and traffic of downtown Vancouver, perhaps it would be more helpful and make more sense to consider the ways in which living in Vancouver has fulfilled me and instead enriched the person that I am.

It is time to make an attempt at re-capturing the beauty I once saw here with innocent eyes.

Thank you, Vancouver, for being home to some truly amazing people that I am blessed to call my friends.

Thank you, Vancouver, for being the backdrop of experiences that have taught me invaluable lessons in life and love.

Though my square, concrete balcony in the West End can’t compare to the lush, green gardens at my true Merville home on the Island, it boasts a killer view that – both literally and figuratively – gives me a much needed perspective on a different side of our world. Vancouver Island will always be home, but I suppose this place isn’t as bad as I try to make it out to be.

Photo: Incognitocanuck on Flickr

P.S. High five to anyone who “gets” the post title.

Earlier this year, I let my lust do the typing and presented you all with a delicious list of men that my fiddle fancies. Unfortunately, there isn’t always room for everyone on that list, and the list itself may not appeal to everyone. Lucky for me, my tastes vary and I certainly don’t discriminate. Most of the men I pointed to were under 40 and rather typical of womanly crushes. It’s time to flip that and acquaint you with those over 40 who get me revved up. Be cautioned: before I go any further, don’t expect to see Brad Pitt or George Clooney pop up in this post.

This one’s for the underdogs…

Colin Firth (47)

Photo: Jim Wright/Montage for People

Often by-passed for the likes of Clive Owen and Hugh Grant, “Mr. Darcy” has an appeal all his own. Without being mysterious or badass, Colin Firth proves that you can still be a gentleman and sexy at the same time. As a matter of fact, I can even forgive him for the hideous jumpers he wore in Bridget Jones’s Diary.

Denis Leary (50)

Photo: Art Streiber/Montage for People

Ask me ten years ago what I thought of Denis Leary and my answer would’ve been less than favourable. Today, it’s a different story. While it’s anyone’s guess what he’s like in real life, his turn as firefighter Tommy Gavin on FX’s Rescue Me has him playing an Irish alcoholic bad-boy without much remorse just ups the sex appeal ante. Twisted? Sure. But I’m not the only one who agrees.

Dean Winters (43)

Photo: FX/Martin Cook for Yahoo! TV

Let’s be honest for a moment here: no one is going to remember Dean Winters as a phenomenal actor. Truth be told, he’s almost painful to watch on Rescue Me, but on HBO’s Oz, it’s as if his single-faceted style of acting was tailor made for the part of “Ryan O’Reily.” It’s that Irish bad-boy thing again - plus his alpha male nature - that makes this girl swoon. Oh and for anyone that’s seen Oz in its entirety, Mr. Winters’ appendage ain’t bad either. Jen knows what I’m talking about.

Sean Penn (47)

Photo: United Nations - Cuba

Can I get a bad-boy intervention here? Notorious in the 80s as Madonna’s husband for his brawling and belligerent ways, it seems as though married life to Robin Wright Penn has tamed the beast. A man with as much talent as Sean possesses will forever be sexy, but what I appreciate most (other than his passion for humane causes), is the tiny glint of Jeff Spicoli that still shines in his eyes from time to time.

Keanu Reeves (43)

Photo: MMB

Ah, my love…my long-time love. Since the days that he, Bill and their cohort of historical figures totally rocked San Dimas High School in 1989, I was charmed. Though there are others who hold a spot in their hearts for Keanu as I do, he tends to get a bad rap for some reason. Let’s all get over it (and forget that The Matrix ever happened), because his perfectly chiselled face and everything mysterious about him secure his spot in my over 40 list. And much like my husband-to-be, who missed out on this list by only a year, Keanu’s voice is one that would simply slay you were you to hear it in the dark.

Dougray Scott (42)

Photo: ABC/Bob D’Amico for Yahoo! TV

Nope, I don’t watch Desperate Housewives. I first caught on to the charm that is Dougray back in the late 90s in Ever After, in which he played Prince Charming (appropriately enough) to Drew Barrymore’s Cinderella-like character. His sweet demeanour and hasty abandon for following the life expected for him made my heart go “ga-gung.”

Patrick Swayze (55)

Photo: Unknown Source/Archival Image

I couldn’t have asked for a better segue myself. This guy’s got the solid lockdown on many a girl’s hearts, quite literally, around the globe. Though he’s made some stinker flop films (Ghost not included), Patrick need not worry because Dirty Dancing’s Johnny Castle could quite possibly go down as the greatest lover in cinematic history. You know you dreamed about being Baby at one point or another in your life.

Powers Boothe (60)

Photo: HBO

And last, but certainly not least, the man who inspired this post altogether. Being the oldest in the list, he’s certainly the grand-daddy of them all (pun not intended – I swear). Surely I’ve seen him in other roles, but this man’s taken the cake only recently. It was his role on HBO’s Deadwood as Cy Tolliver, the powerful owner of the high-end whorehouse, the Bella Union Saloon, in which his dominant and sexually-charged character appealed to the submissive within your humble narrator. I’ve already said too much. I simply cannot get enough of him.

Hmmm…maybe it’s just the moustache.