Something Else is a street-chic clothing line from down under. Australian Natalie Wood heads it up but collaborates with other fabulous designers on this edgy line that is truly something else.  Wood entered the fashion scene in 2000 with her cult label Sample, which was one of the first indie fashion labels in Australia. Since then the multi-talented fashion maven has gone on to create numerous clothing lines. Her most recent is Something Else; a collaboration of two sister lines showcasing tough yet elegant pieces using luxurious fabrics and polished designs.

Wood’s inspiration is said to come from many things including nature, record cover art and psychedelic imagery. I was introduced to this line last week when I tried on one of their dresses (pictured left) at Aritzia. This dress really fit my personality. It’s well-designed and neat in the front, but a little risqué in the back. It’s the perfect balance of naughty and nice. It took about five seconds for me to decide to buy it.

As soon as I got home I checked out their website. After about an hour I realized I had to spread the word about Something Else. To view their collections you can log onto their website or see them in person at Aritzia, Atomic Model, El Kartel, Hills, Nouvelle Nouvelle, Oliver & Lily’s and Vincent Park.

Although make-up can transform any woman’s face nothing beats great looking skin.  We spend endless amounts on cleansers, creams and scrubs in an attempt to better our skin, but what about our lips?  Make-up can hide skins imperfections.  But no matter how much lip gloss you put on, you’ll never hide peeling lips.  Those who suffer from lackluster lips absolutely must try Rosebud Salve.

Rosebude has been around since 1895 and is used the world over by make-up artists and celebrities.  Not only does this product moisturize your lips but it also soothes burns, skin irritations and heals dry knees and elbows.  It can even be used for diaper rashes – but I recommend you buy secondary tin for that one.  The best part is the packaging; it comes in a cute little container which is small enough to fit in your pocket, yet big enough to find in any cavernous purse.  Join the long list of celebrities like Eva Longoria, Jennifer Garner and Katherine Heigl who are all addicted to Rosebud Salve.  It comes in a variety of flavors and you can find it for around $8 at Beautymark in Yaletown.   It really is true what they say, good things do come in small packages. Happy Hydrating!

As you get older the skin around your eyes and mouth gets thinner, this is when dark circles begin to form.  For most this means pulling out the tube of concealer each and every morning.  Well now there’s a new way to brighten up your day – literally.  Give Philosophys’ Dark Shadows eye cream a try.

This daily cream helps to reduce puffiness and bags that have begun to form.  Dark Shadows is a great little pick-me-up for your eyes and upper lip and it comes from a line you can trust.  Philosophy can really do no wrong; with a huge celebrity following they believe in make-up being an option not a necessity.  If you’re tired of living in the dark ages pick up a tube of Dark Shadows by Philosophy.  It costs $53, and can be found at Beautymark.

For some reason we all seem to be fixated on big, gaudy rings.  I don’t know if it’s a sickness or because there are so many out-of-this world designs in every shop.  This particular ring is in the shape of a cobra and can be found at Club Monaco.  Although this ring is uber fabulous it is also uber heavy.  That feeling is quickly cast aside after you remember the golden rule: fashion before function.  When I first saw this ring I thought it was outrageous and therefore had to be coveted.    A few weeks after I bought it, I saw Dakota Fanning wearing it on a talk show, jury’s still out on whether that’s a good or bad thing.  As soon as you see someone else wearing what you have it diminishes its value a little.  But that’s what I get for shopping at such a popular store.  If you’re in the market for some more unique pieces I recommend Vasanji in Yaletown or BeautyBar on West 4th.  Both places had some amazing cocktail rings in this past weekend.

Vancouver is home to a remarkable amount of brilliant designers and Jude Feller is without a doubt one of them.  Feller is the womanbehind Lily&Jae.  After having worked seven years in a costume department for film, Feller quit her job to launch Lily&Jae in the spring of 2007 and quickly became a household name.

With only a year on the market Lily&Jae expanded into the US and six months later was a hit in Japan.   Lily&Jae is fun, flirty and relaxed.  They have figured out a way to be functional whilst still making a statement.

Worn by celebrities like Ashlee Simpson, Lily Allen and Sarah Polley, Lily&Jae is definitely growing in popularity.  They have been featured in British Glamour, Teen Vogue, Fashion Magazine and Lou Lou.  You can visit their website at www.lilyandjae.com to shop online, or you can check them out at Aritzia, Plenty, The Block, Fine Finds, Velvet Room and a handful of others.

The last pair of jeans I bought: Citizen of Humanity.  I love COH, got my first pair in Paris.

The last order I had at Starbucks: Chai latte with a blueberry muffin.

The last perfume I wore: Chanel: Coco Mademoiselle.  My Dad bought it for me.

The last book I read: Saffron Skies by Lesley Lokko.  One of my favourite authors.

The last CD I listened to: Enduring Soul by Etta James

Glowbal Group parties are without fail fantastic.  You know why?  Because they pump out the appies!  Just when you think they’ve run out – platters of glorious, rich, beautiful bites reappear in the hands of graciously sweet servers.  The spicy lobster tiger prawn skewers were exploding with flavor a beautiful sight for protein lovers like me.  Also floating around were braised beef short rib nuggets with truffle aioli (deadly) and oven dried oyster mushrooms.

The focus of the night however was steak (glorious steak) and a new glass-walled meat cooler which has become the unique centerpiece of the room.  I fantasize about hand picking the biggest, leanest piece.  My heart went out to the vegetarians at this party; the thick wafting scent of steak reached the Subway at Mainland and Nelson.  This smell was the secret reason I spent most of the evening grill-side on the enclosed patio.  It was byfar the best spot in the house.

I snuck back there for some cooking too.  Aged beef strip loin was our product, and by the end of the night over 1,200 of these sliders (lathered with horseradish aioli) had been crafted with strips of this flavorful cut as its mouth-watering center.  They were the perfect snack for multi-cocktail-drinking minglers who, from what I’m told, lasted until the wee hours…. Read this article »

“Money may not buy you happiness, but it sure takes you shopping.”   At the corner of 57^th street and Fifth Avenue in New York City lays a Mecca of sorts.  For the past 70 years it has been the address of Tiffany & Co. `s flagship store.

1945 was an important time in history.  But what many don’t realize is that it was also the year Tiffany employed its’ first-ever women salesclerks: Marjorie Hart and Marty Garrett.   Summer at Tiffany is the story of that magical summer, as told by Marjorie Hart.

Marjorie and Marty left their small town lives in Iowa and hopped on a train to the big apple for their summer break, and managed to score jobs at the infamous Tiffany boutique.  Although this book is a biography it reads like fiction.  It’s filled with endearing moments like celebrity encounters and mishaps with pearl necklaces in elevators.  What’s astounding is that even though we’re separated by 70 years of inflation, necklaces were still selling at $250K!!

A lot of people hate moving but I love it.  Moving means decorating a new home, which in turn means shopping!  There are some extraordinary stores in Vancouver for decorating and furnishing one’s home.  But your first stop should always be The Cross.  Located in the terribly trendy Yaletown district, The Cross is 5,000 sq ft of decorating delight.  Owned by Stephanie Vogler and Darci Ilich, The Cross opened its doors seven years ago and has earned itself a loyal following.  Products fly off the shelves in this store, and it’s easy to see why.

There is something for every taste and budget at The Cross, with prices starting at $5 and going up to $5,000.  They carry bedding, furniture, candles, wrapping, sculptures, lamps, paintings, dishes, clothes – the list goes on and on.  Some of the fabulous lines you’ll find at The Cross are: Designers Guild, John Derian, Voluspa and Cross’s own custom furniture line.  They even have their own in-house design team that provides a multitude of services.  So stop by The Cross at 1198 Homer Street in Vancouver as soon as you can, you’re guarantee d to fall in love with this store as soon as you walk in.

Before this book I didn’t know much about pregnancy, other than it wasn’t for me. Knocked Up is a hilarious memoir by Canadian Rebecca Eckler about her experience with her not-so-planned pregnancy.  After getting drunk at an office party she and her boyfriend have unprotected sex.  They awake the next morning with bad memories of the night before.

What so great about this book is that it’s honest.  Eckler doesn’t paint things as being sunshine and roses; it’s all about the struggles she faces when her life gets flipped upside-down.  Her boyfriend lives in another city so they only see each other a few times a month.  This leaves Rebecca having to deal with the pregnancy by herself; but that doesn’t stop her from phoning her other half while he’s at work in meetings to complain about her weight gain.  Eckler also has to deal with leaving her job, moving cities and getting married.  She bares it all in this entertaining memoir.  Now I can’t see myself every having a child, but if I did I think my experiences would be a lot like Eckler’s.  This book is a must read!

Briers Home Decor is a store I have been going to for years and cannot get enough of.  It’s one of those boutiques you can’t walk out of without buying something.  Located at 2070 West 4th Ave in Vancouver Briers is the store that carries it all: purses, furniture, jewellery, dishes, aprons, key chains, picture frames, stationary, gardening tools, clocks, clothes, bottle openers –  you name it they have it.  Whether you’re looking for a housewarming present or birthday gift for the person who has everything; Briers is the store for you.  It’s the best place for finding those unique gifts for friends and you’ll undoubtedly leave with a bunch of items for yourself.  They are constantly receiving new inventory so everytime you go back you find more things you ‘have’ to have.  So the next time you find yourself racking your brain for the perfect gift, head down to Briers and take a browse through this amazing store.  Just remember to bring the charge card with you!

Back in September I went to Toronto to visit friends.  I had never been and was itching to see what all the fuss was about.  Two days in I thought the big smoke was just a big joke.  I don’t know why people think it’s the centre of the universe.  I’d pick Vancouver over Toronto any day.

Now something you should know about me is that I’m addicted to pasta.  I might as well skip a step and walk around with a marinara drip in my arm.  The whole trip I was told I had to go to a certain famous Italian restaurant.  So on my last night we had girl’s night (at the restaurant that will not be named).

We had this bubbly waitress who looked like Amy Winehouse, except actually pretty.  She took our orders and then came back with bread and olive oil.  I thought this was odd, so I asked ‘Amy’ if she could bring us some vinegar.  She said no.  This was followed by an awkward silence.  How can a server turn down a request from a paying customer, and for something so small as vinegar?  I mean come on, it’s an Italian restaurant, it’s not like they don’t carry the stuff…. Read this article »

Let’s face it, sometimes the weather in Vancouver just plain sucks.  When the rain starts up all you want to do is be somewhere cozy with a hearty, home-cooked meal.  Two words: Burgoo Bistro.  You get the hearty, home-cooked meal without actually having to cook it.  You’ll love the atmosphere at Burgoo, doesn’t matter which of their many locations you’re in, they’re always full.  It’s a great date night restaurant.  It’s never a good thing to be on a date in quiet restaurant, just makes those lulls in conversation that much worse.

Everything on the menu is delicious but I have to single out a few dishes.  First up is the burgoo biscuits, these puppies are made with parsley and warm cheddar.  I think you’re meant to eat them with soup, but I just order them as a side onto their own.  This is probably why I have to wear my skinny jeans sans top button.  Next up is the butter chicken, which is divine, it’s almost as good as my Grandmothers’.  Just don’t tell her I said that – seriously, don’t.  I also have to mention the sunset corn chicken soup.  If you think soup isn’t a meal and can’t be filling, well then you haven’t tried a Burgoo soup yet.   Burgoo is the best darn comfort food in town.  If you don’t finish your meal stuffed beyond belief then try their Bundt cake.  Not only is it fun to say, but it’s fun to eat.  The only thing better than Burgoo is their prices.  You have to love big portions that don’t break the bank.

Man oh man there are sales happening all over this City!  Another great sale to check out is at Plenty, 30-70% off their fall and winter apparel.  Plenty is one of my usual haunts, they carry a whole slew of great designers.  Even though they have four locations their stores still have a boutique feel to them.  There are so many labels to choose from at Plenty, and even after 20 years in business they’ve managed to stay away from becoming a cookie-cutter store.

It doesn’t take much for me to buy shoes; actually it doesn’t take anything at all.  I’m a shoe slut.  I’ve lost track of how many pairs I own. All I know is my shoe closet is beginning to overflow!  One of my favorite places to buys shoes is Gravity Pope.  Right now the store is absolutely stuffed to the brim with great deals.  They have a special promotion on right now, if you buy 1 sale shoe you get 15% off the sale price, or 2 sale shoes and get 30% off the sale price of both pairs.  Check out their website for restrictions and further information.  Gravity Pope is located at 2205 West 4th Ave in Vancouver.

The sale is on now until Saturday January 30th, unfortunately that is also the day Jonathan+Olivia will be shutting their doors at 2570 Main Street in Vancouver.  But the good news is they are working on their online store so you won’t be without them for too long.  To say goodbye and thank you to their Vancouver customers J+O will have deals as big as 50-90% off!  Now that’s a deal!  For more information or to read their blog you can visit their site at www.jonathanandolivia.com.

Aritzia’s fall/winter sale is still going on and there are some amazing deals to be had.  Selected items are 20-70% off!  Yesterday I went to the new Aritzia in Pacific Centre and was blown away, it’s HUGE!

I’m a sucker for a sale, as soon as I saw those four letters stamped on their window display I got sucked in like it was a tractor beam.   There is definitely something for everyone inside; if you’re looking for a new pair of jeans there are some great deals on denim.  After only twenty minutes I had spent $200!  Some of the items I picked up included a super comfortable grey sweater made by Community, as well as two Talula shirts.  Each item was only $40!  Community makes some of the most comfortable clothing I have ever worn, must be the organic cotton they use.  If you are in the mood for some great deals check out Aritizia!

Ok today I’m talking bracelets.  I’m addicted to bracelets.  I NEVER leave the house without wearing at least one on my wrist.  This causes some problems at work.  My wrist candy is constantly getting chipped or scratched; and I’m sure my co-workers are going insane listening to my bracelets crash and bang on my desk.

My preferred type of bracelet is the cuff.  The last one I purchased was this stunning white and gold piece by La Vie Parisienne.  It features a Swarovski encrusted Eiffel Tower in the middle with a white enamel outer layer.  For those who need a splash of color this piece also comes in blue.

Catherine Popesco is the designer behind La Vie Parisiene.  Her inspiration comes from traditional French jewellery making.  All the pieces originate from moulds and stamps going back two centuries.  Manufactured in the heart of the Loire Valley in France, each piece is hand made by a skilled artisan.  You can notice the personal detail with the Austrian crystals and the painstakingly perfect enamel coating.

You can find this cuff and other La Vie Parisienne pieces at blue ruby.