This Makes Me Feel Old

Remember way back in school, when pens and paper still existed, and your in-class entertainment had to come from your - gulp - own imagination?  There are many, many (infinity) things that make me feel old, but for some reason this one stuck out.  Gone are the days when your future could be decided upon by these 4 simple letters: 

M-A-S-H

M.A.S.H was a game that solicited many a giggle, blush-red cheeks, and overall good times.  

I remember it looking something like this:

But, these days - it looks like this:

I'm happy that the game still exists, because who doesn't want to end up living in a mansion, with 4 kids, driving a porsche and married to Jonathan Taylor Thomas? (Yah, I went there) The part I frown upon is the lack of creativity and imagination involved.  

Wait -- that sounds like something an old person would say...

Saint St Grill: hard to be moody with a meal like this

Location: 2514 St. John's St, Port Moody

Place: Saint St Grill

Google defines it as a 'fine dining' experience, both highly recommended and reviewed. I'm here to confirm Google, once again, was right.  We happened upon the Saint St Grill as we searched for somewhere new' to lunch.  We walked right in and got a table beside the front window (best lighting). We ordered our meals and munched on warm bread.  Mmmm.  Nothing makes me happier to start a meal then warm bread, except maybe if that bread happens to be buttered...which it was (silent cheer!)

gorgeous paintings with even more gorgeous frames are found throughout the restaurant.  If I could have interrupted peoples meals to take more pictures of the pictures, I would have.  Trust me, I thought about it.

Something tells me dinner would be quite romantic here, so if anyone out there is planning to propose *hint hint* this would be a great little spot *wink wink, nudge nudge* 

all smiles from this foodie, and the food hasn't even come yet!  Something about chandeliers and eclectic settings gets me all giddy.

a burger on focaccia w/ chowder for him.  A delicious wrap for me.  If it hadn't of been noon, we probably would have tapped into their extensive winelist as well.  Boundaries people, boundaries.

I took a business card and made a mental note of location when we left. This place is a definite 'must visit' if you're touring in and around the Vancouver area.  Moderately priced, friendly service ($30-$50 per couple). Saint Saint St Grill is definitely a menu worth exploring again.

Note to Self: do not buy a car based on "cuteness" factor alone

Car shopping is, possibly, the only kind of shopping I would rather avoid.  I don't pretend to know what I'm talking about when it comes to '1.5L' this or '4 cylinder' that, so my choices tend to lean towards the cosmetic appeal.  I'm purchasing a new car in January and require something safe, reliable, hatchback that's good on gas, and small enough to squeeze into busy, downtown Vancouver parking spots.  Yah, who am I kidding...  It should also be cute.

I have narrowed it down to my top 5 choices, which have little to nothing to do with the specs and more about the overall experience. Can I see myself rockin' out like it's no ones business? Can I deliver a cake safely? Will my friends be able to hang out the sunroof ?(not that they would, because that would be very irresponsible ;) 

 When I saw the Honda Fit, I  said "Yep, this is the car I want! Look at it!" 

This led my boyfriend to accompany me for a test drive, where we both felt "lost" in the front seats.  It almost feels like you are sitting on stools, and with such large windows, I felt disconnected with the car.  The dials on the dashboard were as big as turn tables, I got a hand cramp from turning on the window de-fogger.  It felt like it was having a hard time getting  up speed, and honestly - the drive was not smooth.

Some perks were the huge trunk space, big enough for even the biggest of cakes, and I also liked the look of the tires.

The dashboard resembles the inside of a cockpit - so much fuss, so little cup holders...

I'm biased with Hyundai, as I currently own an '02 Elantra that I just love.  Hardly ever breaks down, and is amazing on gas.  I'd keep it, if it didn't mean having to get the car back to BC from ON. Been there, done that - no thanks.
The Touring felt BIG.  It had a huge trunk, the option for a sunroof and a neat little trunk organizer.  The ride was smoooooth.  The exterior of the car reminded me of a modern day 'station wagon', in which we could go to the drive-in with.  The bf said he'd never been to the drive-in theatre before, but he's seen movies and was all for the idea.
The salesman at Hyundai said, "Are you sure you don't want to buy the car now?"
Don't push me, sir.  I will tell you when I want to buy the car, thanks very much.

The whole time we were looking at cars, I said that I didn't want a Yaris.  I think it just came down to the fact that everyone under the sun seems to drive a Yaris, and I want to be marginally different.  Then I saw this car and squealed in excitement.  How incredibly cute and tiny!! Like a little bubble!!
me, happily: "Oooohhhh what's this?!"
bf: "hahaha It's a Yaris, you know, the one you said you 'for sure' didn't want?"
I didn't test drive this car, but I at least gave it a second glance.  Basic interior, smaller trunk space, but optimal for the chaos that is Vancouver street parking.
It also had me wondering if the colour white was not so bad after all...

Ahh...here we are.  This was my favorite car of the day.  I loved the body, the size and leather seat option.  The trunk was adequate size, (60/40 split - which I now know is what they refer to the space in the trunk with the backseat folded down, thank you salesman guy)  On the test drive, the car was quiet, smooth and wonderful. I felt cozy and safe, nestled in the drivers seat.  With 3 of us in the car, there was plenty of leg room and cup holders were everywhere.  The display was fancy, but nothing I needed to go to school to figure out.
I liked the look of the Mazda 2 (bottom left corner) but the trunk space is limited.  When I heard the colour choices were basically endless, I almost bought the car on the spot.  Could this be the one? We shall see....


I'm open to suggestions, and would love some opinions, comments or feedback on what other makes and models I may be overlooking!  And remember: cute isn't everything, it's just the main thing.

How To Sell A Car To A Girl

We went car shopping today.
It went something like this:

"Here we have our 2010 model..."

"Or I could show you our pre-owned selection?"

"You know you can't walk away from me, I mean -- just look at me.  I'm adorable."

"Wanna take her for a test drive?"

"I'll go write it up."

Those car salesmen are getting sneakier and sneakier, I swear....

Bunny Tactic? Pure genius. 

Bin 941: cozy, artsy, delicious

Objective: Romance & Dinner Location: Bin 941  Tapas Parlour Inc

941 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC.

Decor: take an art gallery, incorporate tables, food and wine, and there you have it! From the paintings to the light fixtures, right down to the little dolls that label the bathrooms - there is plenty of eye-catching decor that sets the perfect, intimate mood for romance.

The Wait: the organic menu is single page,but for a newbie, you definitely appreciate the wait time to be able to have a chance to go over each item.  Order a drink, have a seat, or if there's room - check out the guys in the kitchen.  I appreciate a place where you can see your meal come to life - it makes me pretty sure that no "3 second rule" was used in the making of my dinner.

The atmosphere: Bin 941 is so cozy it feels exclusive, like somewhere a celebrity may be spotted on a top secret date (that I could later report to TMZ via blackberry)... I liked that part about it.  Nothing wrong with feeling fancy.  The waitresses were happy and helpful, and the smells from the kitchen were drool-worthy.  We held out for a front window booth, which gave us a perfect spot to get down to business. (food wise, that is)

Food: All I have is 2 words: Flank Steak.  Ok, I have more words then that but I highly recommend the flank steak with a maple sauce and pomme frites.  Heaven on a plate. Then in your mouth. We also had the goat cheese and sundried tomato w bread, and then the mussels.  The shared dishes are a great date scenario and the portions are spot-on.  I don't think I have to say much more then this: when we ran out of bread, the waitress offered more before we could ask (I'm lookin' at you, Kelsey's spin dip...tsk tsk).

 Overall: Go there if you are looking for something different and delicious. For a solid night of food and drinks you're looking at $75-$100, and be prepared to sit and wait for a key front window table.

Pre-Christmas Cupcake Tupperware Giveaway!

Consider it an early Christmas, Cupcake Lovers!

This brand new, nifty little Tupperware brand cupcake holder is perfect for one XL cupcake or muffin, and it will hold in place even if there's a mountain of icing..

Contest Rules: Please post  your favourite Christmas dessert below (links to recipes always welcome!) and a winner will be picked at random on Dec 1, 12:00pm pst.

***UPDATE: Contest now closed***

Five Alarm Funk: Should be Eleven Alarm Funk

I recently went to a show at the 560 Club in Vancouver, to see Five Alarm Funk.  I have to admit, my boyfriend bought the tickets and I wasn't sure what to expect - since you tube kept playing "sample clearance only" over every video I could find...most annoying.
After many a beer, a swanky 23rd floor penthouse party and a skytrain/cab combo - we made it to the show.  To say it surpassed my expectations would be a bit of an understatement.  


It was like each of 11 members had individually drank 6 Redbull before coming on stage.  Their stamina and energy was intense! The afro-beat/funk sound coming from this group of guys turned the place into a giant dance party.  And they were kind enough to let me use their stage to hold my purse, whether they knew it or not.  The night was a blur of dancing and bongos and drum solos and guitar solos, as well as me taking 10 million pictures that didn't even begin to capture how much fun I was actually having.  And the guitarist had some amazingly sparkly shoes that basically made my night.


Kick ass show, boys. Thank You.


Here are some shots from the show, highly recommend attending a show, if you get the chance. 
And here's the links to their twitter account - so check them out :)

glitter shoed guitarist (best) & my purse  

the crowd loving life, and wait, is that Billy Corgan w/ hair? 

Shiny shoed one, rockin out.

most enegry, biggest smile, bong-oh guy!

you know those guitars, that are like, double guitars?!

it's like a gig and a workout, all at once.

Vancouver Flea Market: because where else can you pick up a hamster, a Rolex and a hot dog for under $20?

The Vancouver Flea Market is a thing of beauty.  Maybe not in the way beauty is typically defined; something attractive, something well preserved; 

But beauty, in the sense of being able to bargain for your finds.  

There is nothing better then having cash in hand, picking up your item, and being able to say "$30? I'll do you one better - how's $3?" and not being escorted out of the store by security.

Know why? There is no security.  Not from what I could see anyways.  Someone did yell at me to use the other door, but that's as chaotic as it got.

Located @ 703 Terminal Ave in Vancouver (and just a short walk from the main st/science world station) The Vancouver Flea Market costs $1 to enter, and a stamp you can use to come in and out as you please for the day.  Buying a chainsaw but still wanna browse for books from 1979? No big deal.  

If you're there for the fashion, it's a consignment shoppers dream and then some.  Bangles, headbands, rings, vests - they all sparkle here!  And even their display models have a certain "flea market princess" quality to them.  Love it!

Wonder Woman and Co. are all here - so there's something for all ages.  My Little Pony is still around, believe it or not, even the ponies that have already been given haircuts by their previous pony owners!

The art is my favourite.  We were browsing the tables and came across these sketches of downtown Vancouver, so we asked the lady to tell us a bit about the artist.  She said she knew him personally.  

"His first name is Allen - you can google him! He's very, very well known"

Got it. Allen.  I'm sure there's only one artist named Allen in Vancouver!  We happily paid $10 for 3 and carried on.

Seriously, who WOULDN'T need this book?!

I smell a stockinggggg stufferrrrrr!!!

From buttons to shades, to the purple plants outside,  this place is nothing short of awesome. 

A perfect way to spend a typically rainy, now somewhat snowy day in Vancouver.  Bring your camera for added good times.

Open: Sat & Sun 9-5 and Holidays 10-4

NBC's People Of The Year...Is this the best you could do?

Tonight, Matt Lauer will be spotlighting notable people on NBC's "People of the Year"  

Now, some of these guys, sure.  They caused a lot of controversy, or they saved their children from bullying.  One even had people crawling out of a mine, with a smile on their face.  But there is no way, Matt Lauer or anyone else on this planet can convince me that Susan Boyle needs to be on this list.  But she is, along with a few others that we'll get into.  And my guess is because ($) someone ($) sent ($) NBC ($) a nice christmas gift.  Perhaps it was the Susan Boyle Christmas special.

Here are this years "People of the Year" 

 Chilean- miner rescuer, Brandon Fisher

A high school graduate, college drop-out who started a business (Centre Rock) saving people's lives.  His company, that rescues miners, is close knit. I like that.  His wife is his sales director and he looks cute in a baseball hat.

Status: DESERVING 

James Jones is a father that every little girl wishes she had.
It's almost insulting for people to say that he has 'joined the ranks' of the other people of the year, because clearly I never saw Kim Kardashian get onto a school bus and stand up for children who were being bullied.  Although I'm sure she would have no problem getting on a school bus to stand up for a child without their Jimmy Choo's laced properly.


Status: DESERVING

I'm a girl, soooo I'm going to go with...


Status: DESERVING 


(Even more so if the story is about how he enjoys the single life and visiting Vancouver.....)

I 'Keep up with the Kardashians', so I'm not ignorant in saying that I haven't really seen anything on the show that would point me towards believing she deserves to be on this list. 
I have nothing against her, she's hot and rich and popular, what's not to love? My issue is that when I see what the first two did, and compare it to, say, opening another clothing store in NYC or starting a new perfume line, the logic stops there.
Thanks for the comical reality show, the impeccable fashion sense and stylish home decor.   


Status: MEH.

Attention Cities:  You cannot own a player.  Get over it.  He likes $, just as much as you do.  Despite what his legions of fans thought, it's not about the game (because this isn't 1900) and it is about the $.  
He's actually not that bad of a guy, but a lot of hoop-la (get it?) over nothing, if you ask me.  Let the man play basketball where ever ($) he ($) wants ($) to ($) play.


Status: $$$$$$(UNDESERVING)$$$$$

A bit of a touchy subject brings us to Sharif El-Gamar, who developed the Park 51 Project.  You know, the one where they build a so-called mosque on Ground Zero? 
Now, call me Canadian, but from what I take it from watching American television, is that this may not have been the best project to propose while the war is still ongoing.  I see both sides, but as a general consensus; this just sounds like a bad idea.  Good intentions, bad location. 


Status: UNDESERVING

Which brings me to this:

I get it.

She was misunderstood.

She was undiscovered, then discovered.

She knows the words to "Cats - the musical"

But People of the Year???

I rest my case.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow, as per spoiler tweets..

Haven't had a chance to catch the latest Harry Pott-ah movie? No worries.  The tweeps on Twitter have got you covered...

OliviaFagan Olivia Fagan

Spoiler Alert: Harry Potter is a wizard.

TeamPotter12 Michaela

(Spoiler) Harry Potter and the deathly hallows part 1 scene harry and hermion dancing

benhRjr ben Raifsnider, jr.

enjoyed Harry Potter: spoiler alert - it has the best flying motor cylce chase scene in theatrical history 

brandonrofl Brandon Elliott

*Spoiler Alert* Harry Potter still doesn't get laid.

JNateG Nathaniel Geiser

Saw the Harry Potter movie tonight and I do have to say its pretty damn good...**SPOILER ALERT** There's gonna be a sequel...

missjessicab Jessica Benson

Finally saw Harry Potter! Wanna know what happens? SPOILER ALERT They do magic and Harry is there

andymboyle Andy Boyle

HARRY POTTER SPOILER ALERT: Harry Potter is apparently played by a British guy. He's not very old. 

CazzyRockz cazmir

Saw Harry Potter. *SPOILER ALERT* - ZERO tits.

yaaytimmay Timothy Wan

i think the best part in harry potter was half naked, green, evil hermoine

stephbranco_xo stephanie.

OMG RON WEASLY IS SO FUCKING HOT

jpsketch JP Morales

Loved the beginning and the end of Deathly Hallows. The middle was zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

So, from these spoiler tweets, I have learned that Harry, possibly played by a British actor, is a young wizard that dances with Hermoine, does magic and currently may or may not be dead. There is a 'crazy' motorcycle chase that takes place in the sky, although the middle of the movie is somewhat of a bore.  Ron is apparently really hot, and maybe that's because Hermoine is somehow green, naked and evil - but sorry guys, no boobies or gettin it on in this film.  And, I hear they leave room for a sequel... 

hmmm...

very, very interesting...

Ann vs. Chelsey: The Final Showdown (SPOILER ALERT!)

It's the moment we have all been waiting for.   And by 'we', I mean the legions of women who will be tuning into The finale of America's Next Top Model, cycle 15.  It's hard to believe I have been watching Tyra slowly loose her mind for 15 seasons, but I have to admit I have loved every one of them.  I don't know what's better? The high fashion, make-over day,  or the crazy bitch fights - courtesy of some skinny little girl with an attitude and severe insecurities.

This year has been one of my favorites, and it all comes down to Ann Ward from Dallas, Texas and Chelsey Hersley from Boise, Idaho.  One loves deep fried oreos, and one now owns an insanely stylish Versace coat.  Let's compare further...

Ann

If I had 5 minutes alone with Ann, they would consist of me telling her that obviously by winning top photo, 5 weeks in a row, you should know that your awkwardness is no longer a flaw.  It's fashion, dah-ling, and lanky, awkward and deer in headlights is apparently as Vogue as it comes.  Even though each runway or commercial or human interaction with Ann has is cringe worthy, I think it all comes down to those assholes who made fun of her growing up.  If she doesn't win, hopefully she will at least get some self-confidence...I mean, how can you not when Gucci wants to book you, over every other girl in the competition?  I'd be the cockiest chick on the runway after that.  The preview for tonight has Ann displaying her ever-popular "face of terror" as she steps out in front of the crowds.  So the question is, will she stand tall (pun intended) or cave under pressure?  One thing's for sure, she has some serious competition...

Chelsey

Full of confidence, Chelsey has been leading the pack for the last half of this season.  Sure, she loves herself..what's not to love?  She has extensive knowledge of the industry, a crazy runway walk, and takes great photos.  She won a Versace jacket that I would sell my first born for, if I had one.  I also find there are less cringe-worthy, channel-changing moments when she is on the screen, and I appreciate that. Her past experiences with modelling have definitely started to give her an advantage with the judges, go-sees and overall critique - but is her look to common for high fashion?  Haute couture loves when models look dismembered, and something tells me her 5'10" frame won't ever look as broken as Ann's 6'2".

So the question is, who will take it?  

My money's on Ann, if she can get to the end and back in one piece.  Let's just pray they aren't roller-skating down the runway, having human interaction or making a commercial.....yikes...


***UPDATE: Does anyone else think this finale was biased towards Ann? I do.  But regardless, she won. Hurrah for the lil fried oreo eating girl who thought she was ugly.***