The first thing on our to-do list of the day? Download Born to Die ($9.99 on iTunes), Lana Del Rey’s new (and much-buzzed about) album.

The up-and-coming lovely (heeding from Lake Placid, NY) has already made the internet explode twice: First after her clip for “Video Games” went viral, and most recently, after a less-than-stellar (read: really bad) performance on SNL. Some love her, some hate her, but it’s hard to be impartial to her soulful voice and melancholic songs.

As for us, we’re loving Lana. —Christine Laroche

www.itunes.ca

Our better(ish) half has seen his fair share of lady films on the big screen so we’re giving back by taking him to the Montreal leg of testosterone-filled Mountain Film Festival tour.

What we won’t tell him is that while the films are all themed around (mostly bromantical) mountain adventures – these are the best picks from the Banff Mountain Film Festival, after all – they also feature breathtaking scenery, moving storylines and heart-palpitation inducing scenes (like this image from the film Sfinga) that make them a delight to watch.

We love a win/win. —Christine Laroche

405 Ste-Catherine St. E., Montreal, 514-987-3456, www.banffquebec.ca

As 2011 comes to an end our editors share their New Year's traditions, superstitions and resolutions:

It’s a Greek tradition that finding the hidden coin inside the vasilopita brings good luck and happiness in the coming year. Serano Bakery in Greektown bakes dozens and dozens of the sweet bread. The best part is watching everyone dig through it in the hopes of finding the silver. From $8, Serano Bakery, 830 Pape Ave., Toronto, 416-462-2735, www.seranobakery.com —Athena Tsavliris

There is an old superstition that says luck, love and prosperity will come to those who dance in the open air on New Year’s Day. A group of friends and I plan on performing a jubilant jig on January 1st in the field across from my apartment. I’m going to keep it up and dance through 2012 when the mood strikes especially when no one is watching. — Jaelyn Molyneux, Calgary editor

Since this is my last post as the Montreal Editor, I’d just like to take the opportunity to thank you all for reading and wish you a very happy New Year! Keep exploring Montreal and enjoying all this great city has to offer!  —Jennifer Nachshen, Montreal editor

This blog post, Top Five Regrets of the Dying, really moved me recently. The top regrets included not letting oneself be happier, and not spending enough time with their kids. No one wished they had made more money, or had been more successful. As a result, my New Year’s resolution is not to do ANY more work on Sundays. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Vancouver fashion editor

Thirty cookbooks and counting, and I only cook, um, maybe once a month. That’s not counting quick lunches, but still… embarrassing. My resolution is to prepare one delicious dinner a week, with a little help from my friends Ferran, Thomas, Heston, Tony, Eric, David, Jamie, Julia, Vikram….— Anya Georgijevic, Vancouver beauty editor

Every year, I set goals, write them down and post them above my desk so they can literally hang over my head all year long. Top of my list for 2012? Go whale-watching. —Kelsey Dundon, Vancouver lifestyle editor

My grandparents used to take care of us kids when my parents when out on the town to celebrate New Year's Eve. Every year right before midnight my grandfather would open the back door to "let the old year out" and then open the front door to "let the new year in". For old time's sake and as a little ode to my amazing grandfather I still do this every year. —Kelsey Mulyk, Managing editor

There's nothing better than curling up with a good book, our editors share their favourite reads:

Will Ferguson’s Canadian Pie serves up slice-of-life stories the humour writer has collected throughout his career, all of which confirm we live in a delightfully quirky country. $32 at Shelf Life Books, 100, 1302 Fourth St. S.W., Calgary, 403-265-1033, www.shelflifebooks.ca — Jaelyn Molyneux, Calgary editor

Watership Down is one of my favourite books. My husband read it recently and he was enamoured. It is the beautiful story of a group of rabbits running away to start a new life, and a perfect feel-good-make-me-smile novel. $9.98 at www.amazon.ca —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Vancouver fashion editor

For some spine-tingling spookiness pick up Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children ($14.43), peppered with vintage photographs for a multi-sensorial reading experience. At www.amazon.ca —Jennifer Nachshen, Montreal editor

If you read one book over the holidays, let it be Téa Obreht’s debut novel, The Tiger’s Wife. What a beautifully written book from a young author with startling talent. $12.27 at www.amazon.ca —Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

Of the several books published on Coco Chanel just this year, Intimate Chanel gives us an unprecedented glimpse into her private life, thanks to Chanel’s grandniece and only living relative, who opened the family archives to the author. Through family photographs, correspondence, gifts from her friends and lovers, the book has a voyeuristic feel, like rummaging through someone’s secret drawers. In this case, it’s “Auntie Coco’s.”  $42.64 at www.amazon.ca — Anya Georgijevic, Vancouver beauty editor

I really loved Jeffrey Eugenides’s last book, Middlesex, so I’m going to spend some quality time with my couch this holiday and power through his just-published tome The Marriage Plot. $24.31 at www.amazon.ca —Kelsey Dundon, Vancouver lifestyle editor

For a seriously good cry nothing beats the tragic romance of The Time Traveler's Wife by Audery Niffenegger. Make sure you have ample Kleenex, a cozy blanket and glass (or bottle?) of red wine while you wallow in the delicious sadness of this beautifully written novel. $15.88 at www.amazon.ca —Kelsey Mulyk, Managing editor

Over the holidays there is nothing quite as indulgent as spending an afternoon watching your favourite movie, our editors share their top picks:

The Future
The Future begins with a thirty-something couple adopting an injured cat and continues through 30 days of questioning mortality, the need for attention and profound loneliness, all told through the poetic mind of writer/director/ star Miranda July. $34.95 at www.amazon.ca —Jaelyn Molyneux, Calgary editor

Lord of the Rings trilogy
The Christmas tradition I look forward to the most is my annual viewing of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I always opt for the extended version, and it takes me a few days to watch since I usually fall asleep a couple times. There is nothing better than lounging on the sofa watching good looking, burly guys riding horses and saving Middle Earth. $68.99 for the Special Extended Edition Trilogy at www.amazon.ca. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Vancouver fashion editor

Jersey Shore
I’m only slightly ashamed of my addiction to Jersey Shore, but I’ll break open the boxed wine to enjoy the gang’s pre-rehab antics in Italy from Season Four. $19.99 at  www.amazon.ca —Jennifer Nachshen, Montreal editor

Age of Innocence
Martin Scorsese may be best known for his dark, brooding crime dramas, but this adaptation of Edith Wharton's 1920 Pulitzer Prize-winning, melancholy, yet cleverly funny novel about New York's high society is just as complex. “Period drama?” he’ll ask. “It’s Martin Scorsese,” you’ll explain.  $9.49 at www.amazon.ca — Anya Georgijevic, Vancouver beauty editor

Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet
I can’t wait to grab my girlfriends and reminisce about a time when “Love Fool” was all over the radio, Claire Danes looked all of 14, and Leo was like ohmigod so cute. $16.98 at www.chapters.indigo.ca —Kelsey Dundon, Vancouver lifestyle editor

Bill Cunningham New York
The Christmas holidays can be crazy, but if I finally get to watch the Bill Cunningham doc in a quiet room with leftover turkey and trimmings, I’ll be very chuffed. $23.99 at www.amazon.ca —Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

Amélie
This beautiful French film (shot in Paris) takes you along on a quirky love story just perfect for a snowy day. You'll want to practice your French on your sweetie after watching this adorable film.  $15.68 at www.amazon.ca —Kelsey Mulyk, Managing editor

Are you sticking around Montreal for the holidays? Instead of envying your south-flying friends, here are some ideas to make your staycation feel like a fantastic voyage.

1. Hit Mont Royal for some snowy (fingers crossed!) exercise

2. Spend a day relaxing at Le Spa Scandinave. We love that we can see snowy cars from the window by the hot tub.

3. Treat yourself to a night in a hotel to really feel like you’re getting away. Hotel Place d’Armes has a fab Christmas package and we love Hotel Nelligan for New Years.

4. Enjoy a classic afternoon tea at Birks Café, The Queen Elizabeth Hotel or Le Maître Chocolatier.

5. Avoid the usual crowds at Montreal’s amazing attractions, including the Big Bang exhibit at the MMFA.

6. Go see to The Nutcracker by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.

7. Stay in and curl up with great books, DVDs and wine (our recommendations coming next week!)

—Jennifer Nachshen

Our Holiday gifts to you this year are our free iPhone apps for Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal so you can be in the know when you're on the go

If you want to outshine your best frenemies in the who’s-hottest-at-the-hottest-hotspot game, there’s an app for that.

If you’re at the mall and you want to know if you should opt for a poncho, a parka, or a poncho-parka, there’s an app for that.

And if when your best client swoops in for an unexpected visit and a knock-their-socks restaurant is a must, there’s even an app for that.

With the new Vitamin Daily iPhone app, our editors’ intel will always be at your fingertips – our daily doses, editors’ diary updates, even muppet makeup tips. And, like the daily dose in your inbox, it’s free!

Click the icon to download it now.

Jason Segal may have helped make the Muppets cool again, but before he became a puppet advocate, Kevin Clash took a fuzzy red character that nobody wanted and made him the coolest kid on the street. Sesame Street, that is.

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey follows Clash from a taunted teenage amateur puppeteer to creating the character cherished by children around the world. Hang out behind the scenes at Sesame Street to catch a glimpse of the man behind the… what is Elmo, anyway?

“I knew that Elmo should represent love,” says Clash.

We love you, Elmo! —Jennifer Nachshen

Starts Dec 2 at Cinema du Parc, 3575 Park Ave., Montreal, 514-281-1900, www.cinemaduparc.com

Children’s entertainment is a bit of a minefield. Like, how do you explain the “Justin Bieber is my Baby Daddy” debacle? And it’s now impossible to screen The Parent Trap, in case a little one wonders where Lindsay Lohan is now.

Now there are even children’s books that may not be particularly suitable for children. As the resident Bad Aunty, even we know that writer Douglas Coupland and illustrator Graham Roumieu’s Highly Inappropriate Tales for Young People ($17.52) aren’t exactly bedtime material for tots. But with tales titled "Donald, The Incredibly Hostile Juice Box"; "Cindy, The Terrible Role Model" and "Hans, The Weird Exchange Student", we might just end up reading to our very naughty inner-child, instead.

It’s getting dark in here. —Jennifer Nachshen

At www.amazon.ca

The term “Big Bang” is usually used in the context of a theory describing the creation of the universe. To sum up and oversimplify, a hot, dense state caused a rapid expansion of the universe bringing us to where we are now.

The Museum of Fine Arts latest free exhibition, Big Bang, offers an explosion of artistic creativity, merging culture, time and genre to create a universe of possibility. Twenty of Montreal’s most renowned artists, including Denys Arcand, Melissa Auf Der Mar, Renata Morales and Wajdi Mouawad, were given carte blanche to create an installation inspired by a piece from the museum’s permanent collection. The result? Past meets present in an enthralling interplay between classic and modern, movement and stillness, darkness and light, formality and approachability. Our personal favourite was the room filled with mural art by the En Masse Collective, complete with bean bag chairs for a more laid-back museum experience.

Kaboom! —Jennifer Nachshen

Until January 22, 2012 at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1380 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, 514-285-2000, www.mbam.qc.ca