February 4th, 2012
We’ve Seen the Light
Being scared of the dark is no longer an excuse for putting off bedtime.
Meet the Glo Nightlight, a bedside lamp with removable glowing balls that act as portable nightlights. The phosphorescent balls aren’t electronic and don’t get hot, so they are safe to snuggle with when the room goes dark.
The balls’ light will fade 30 minutes after they’ve been removed from the base, and you can select one tone, or have a rotating array of colours. We suggest you choose the colour that will best ward off any monsters lurking in the closet.
Boon Glo Nightlight, $84.99 from Saf & Benjamin, 1081 Marinaside Cres., Vancouver, 778-328-8194 and online at www.safandbenjamin.com —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg
February 3rd, 2012
More Macarons
A girl can never have too many shoes, too many bags, and too many macarons.
Don’t believe us? Then try and resist Soirette’s 17 delectable takes ($2 each) on the most precious French confectionery. Freshly settled in Coal Harbour, Soirette Macarons & Tea will easily break through any will power you may think you have when you say “I’ll just have a couple.” Start with a sweet coconut Malibu, add a savoury element with Caramel Fleur de Sel and Pink Peppercorn, then get nutty with Pistachio before getting intense with chocolate and, lastly, freshening up with some Mandarin. One, two, three… Who’s counting? —Anya Georgijevic
Soirette Macarons & Tea, 1433 W. Pender St., Vancouver, 604-558-3308, www.soirette.com
February 2nd, 2012
Thrive Alive
Junk food, we need to have a word with you.
We get it – you’re irresistible. You’re salty, you’re sweet and you’re always there for us when we crave you. But you see, we’re trying to stick to our eat-healthier-and-work-out-more resolutions so it’s time we parted ways. We’re going to opt for plant-based recipes designed for peak athletic performance (or at least the occasional jaunt on the treadmill) instead. While we may not be able to stick to the whole Thrive Foods diet, we love snacking on homemade energy bars instead of, you know, junk food.
So brush that potato chip off your shoulder. —Kelsey Dundon
Thrive Foods by Brendan Brazier ($20.36) www.amazon.ca
February 1st, 2012
The Best New Band You Haven't Heard of (Yet)
They’re new but you’d never know it.
No Sinner hasn’t even release their EP yet (it’ll drop in March) and already they seem poised for great things. Led by a husky-voiced powerhouse of a lead singer, their sound is big, blues-y, and Janis Joplin-esque. In fact, you’d never guess No Sinner was from Vancouver, until you watched the video for “Boo Hoo Hoo” which features one of the city’s most famous landmarks: the Waldorf Hotel. And speaking ofVancouver’s iconic landmarks, No Sinner is playing the Biltmore on Friday.
Can’t say no to that. —Kelsey Dundon
No Sinner, Friday, February 3rd at the Biltmore, tickets ($10) at www.ticketweb.ca
January 31st, 2012
A little much
Our favourite home décor oxymoron of the moment? Refined rustic.
It captures the aesthetic of Much & Little, a quaint new Main Street shop filled with beautiful, humble homeware. Like traditional blue-and-white Turkish bath towels ($68.00) that can be used as anything from table cloths to beach towels, Pendleton fabric eye masks ($35.00) to match our Navajo throws, and some of the coolest DIY supplies we’ve ever spotted — Merchant & Mills Oilskin Bag Kits ($110).
It’s proof that less is more. —Kelsey Dundon
Much & Little, 2541 Main St., Vancouver, 604-709-9034, www.muchandlittle.com
January 30th, 2012
White & Bright
Coffee makes the world go round. Well, it does for a certain beauty editor with three cups a day and counting.
The joy of a caffeine buzz aside, my espresso habits have left my formerly pearly whites looking more like muddy whites. Well, thank heavens for electro-ionic technology! Wait, what? Rewind. Meet Tanda Pearl, the newest at-home teeth whitening tray system that uses gentle micro-currents to generate an electro-ionic reaction when combined with a whitening gel. Sounds scary, but the emphasis is on “micro” since one can’t really feel these tiny pulses.
Five days and, um, fifteen espressos later, these pearly whites are back in the game. —Anya Georgijevic
$195 at The Bay, 2nd Floor, 674 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-681-6211, www.thebay.com
January 28th, 2012
DOTE In Style
If Suri Cruise taught us anything in 2011, it’s that stylish pre-school attire is just as important as learning to tie your shoes.
Inspired by shopping trips to Paris and, of course, les chic petits enfants, Canada’s Dote Baby was born, a brand-new online baby boutique for fashionable parents with a discerning eye.
The store’s extensive international brand selection (shipping to: everywhere) includes adorable, trendy pieces from Sweden’s Cheap Monday, Bébé by Australia’s Minihaha, as well as the must-have, celebrity-adored Minnetonka Moccasins.
For those who appreciate the finer things in life, for the little ones in your life, yourdoting hours are about to go into overdrive. —Caroline Gault
January 27th, 2012
Oil Change
If our winter wonderland has left your skin feeling a bit parched, there is no need to worry: you might just need a little oil tune-up.
Adding a bit of oil to your skin routine for the duration of the winter season will help to restore your skin’s lustre without adding unnecessary shine. Just a couple of drops is all you need.
Ren’s sweet-smelling Rose O¹² Moisture Defence Serum improves skin elasticity and provides a velvety base for your moisturizer. Rosehip seed oil contains essential fatty acids that help to repair skin. Bonus: it leaves your skin smelling like a fresh bouquet of roses — irresistible. $87 Kiss and Makeup, H5 - 925 Main St., West Vancouver, 604-922-6292, www.kissandmakeup.ca
This new Biodynamic Herbal Recovery Oil by Eminence contains age-defying clary sage, an ingredient that is also known for its calming properties in case you also need a little aromatherapy. It can be used on its own for those with really dry complexions, or mixed with your daily moisturizer for just a dab. $38 at Spa Boutique, 3630 W. Fourth Ave., Vancouver, 604-734-7114, www.spaboutique.ca
If you are looking for a little nighttime treat, look no further than Dermalogica’s Overnight Repair Serum. This new addition to their Age Smart line combines peptides with Argan oil to restore the skin’s lustre and works against those pesky fine lines. Use under your moisturizer only at night, and you’ll wake up with fresher looking skin. It literally smells like sleep: dreamy and warm. $88 at BeautyMark, 1268 Pacific Ave., Vancouver, 604-642-2294, www.beautymark.ca —Anya Georgijevic
January 26th, 2012
On the Scottsdale Food Trail
A recent trip to the “West’s most Western town” uncovered a hot new hotel, sizzling kitchens, and fab food carts.
Drinks
Does this outdoor fireplace look enticing? And so are the gorgeous pickled red and gold beets (served with whipped ricotta and crostini, $8) as well as the handcrafted classic cocktails at Old Town Whiskey, The Saguaro, 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-308-1068, www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/saguaro
Lunch
Overlooking a beautiful park, the patio at Distrito lures with the scent of barbeque from the smoker. Serving modern Mexican fare, the whimsical décor (like this wall of Mexican wrestling masks) compliments the fun, interactive tasting dishes. Tortillas are pressed inside the restaurant and delivered to tables still warm in baskets. Fill them with whatever is in the smoker and you will be one happy camper. Distrito, The Saguaro, 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-308-1068, www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/saguaro
Dinner
A play on “Food and Beverage,” FnB has been a hit with industry folks, serving street food dishes late at night on Sundays. But everyone will appreciate the chef’s hustle as she prepares delicious little dishes like braised leeks in mustard breadcrumbs topped with a fried egg ($14) in the salamander while grilling lamb tenderloin ($32) over charcoal in the middle of the room. It’s like dinner and a show, all in one. FnB, 7133 E. Stetson Dr., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-425-9463, www.fnbrestaurant.com
Room-Service
The new Saguaro Hotel is the place to stay so you can order the Old Town Burger ($12) with beef that’s coarsely ground in-house and tangy house-made Thousand Island, poolside or bedside, your choice. 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-308-1068, www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/saguaro
Breakfast
Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market. Beautiful produce (pink grapefruit for a quarter each) plus a row of food carts around the perimeter make it a great way to start the day. Go early for croissants from the French bakery stall, and coffee from this retro trailer called Shine. Saturday, 8am to 1pm, corner of Brown St. and First Ave, Scottsdale, AZ, www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com —Sarah BancroftFor more photos from our Scottsdale trip, please visit our Editor’s Diary.
January 25th, 2012
Winter Sun Dresses
One of the best ways to beat the winter blues is to book a holiday as far away as possible from the cold. Of course you’ll need some new threads to go with that holiday. Here are some of the best resort 2012 dresses, depending on your holiday budget.
Hut on a private dock in the Maldives
A dream holiday deserves a gorgeous dress, and this Jason Wu number fits the bill. $1785 from The Room at The Bay, 674 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-754-4672, www.thebay.com
Villa in Bali
This candy pink Sachin + Baby dress has discreet woven pleats and will be perfect for dinners overlooking the sunset. $532 from Violet Boutique, 3012 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-569-1514, www.violetboutique.ca
Hotel in Hawaii
Allison Wonderland’s belted pink dress can be worn barefoot on the beach, or with flat sandals whilst sipping Blue Hawaiis. $184 from www.allisonwonderland.ca
Timeshare in Mexico
This dress’ loose back leaves lots of room for a cooling breeze, and we love the abstract painted print. $69.95 from H&M Pacific Centre, 609 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-692-0308, www.hm.ca —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg
