Vitamin Daily

Are your very best memories from summers at the family cabin? Whose aren't?

Now you can preserve the time that Grampa Bob went waterskiing in a bikini, the time cousin Phil put a garter snake in the bathroom, when uncle Murray caught the octopus in the prawn trap and the Famous Family Monopoly tournament, forever.

Echo Memoirs Cabin Memory Books are a coffee-table tome commissioned by you and designed to reflect the look and feel of your cabin.

Full of stylishly assembled photographs and stories based on interviews by professional writers, it's a family heirloom like no other.

Put your Christmas gift order in before December 12 and they'll prepare a mini-book of pictures and memories that will evoke the spirit of the hardcover book that they promise to deliver by the time the kids are out for the summer.

See samples and read more at www.echomemoirs.com

Echo Memoirs, 604-261-1858.

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Are your very best memories from summers at the family cabin? Whose aren't?

Now you can preserve the time that Grampa Bob went waterskiing in a bikini, the time cousin Phil put a garter snake in the bathroom, when uncle Murray caught the octopus in the prawn trap and the Famous Family Monopoly tournament, forever.

Echo Memoirs Cabin Memory Books are a coffee-table tome commissioned by you and designed to reflect the look and feel of your cabin.

Full of stylishly assembled photographs and stories based on interviews by professional writers, it's a family heirloom like no other.

Put your Christmas gift order in before December 12 and they'll prepare a mini-book of pictures and memories that will evoke the spirit of the hardcover book that they promise to deliver by the time the kids are out for the summer.

See samples and read more at www.echomemoirs.com

Echo Memoirs, 604-261-1858.

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Know someone who's a star waiting to be born? For Christmas, you can give them their name in lights.

The Star Registry will name a real star anything you want. Can't decide what their star name should be? You can get them a gift certificate and they can name the star themselves.

In the custom package ($54), the Registry will send a certificate with the star's name, the date, the coordinates and a personalized star chart.

In the deluxe package ($139), they'll send a frame and an official wallet sized card - because your friend needs to be able to prove their star ownership when they're out and about.

Call 800-282-3333 or visit www.starregistry.com

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Know someone who's a star waiting to be born? For Christmas, you can give them their name in lights.

The Star Registry will name a real star anything you want. Can't decide what their star name should be? You can get them a gift certificate and they can name the star themselves.

In the custom package ($54), the Registry will send a certificate with the star's name, the date, the coordinates and a personalized star chart.

In the deluxe package ($139), they'll send a frame and an official wallet sized card - because your friend needs to be able to prove their star ownership when they're out and about.

Call 800-282-3333 or visit www.starregistry.com

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Forget wall-sized red sunsets and tropical vistas from the '70s (unless, um, you're into that kind of thing) and instead blow up your favourite piece of artwork, a picture of your dog Bobo, or your fah-bulous headshot for your very own customized wallpaper.

You can also take a photo of some fabric, stones, concrete, grass or anything else your heart desires.

Too much work? Local company Roll Out has a roster of artists who will create an image or design for you: abstract art, photography, graphics, whatever.

They'll print the image as small or as large as you like, so you can cover part of a wall, or a whole room.

The bottom line: If you provide your own art, it's about $12.50 a square foot, for a custom design it's about $20 a square foot.

Surprise someone at Christmas by covering a whole room with your photo … la Victoria and David Beckham. Ok, we're kidding.

For more information, call Roll Out at 604-681-3780 or visit www.rollout.ca

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We admit our ears perked up at the word sail.

But in this case, it refers to oversized tote bags made of recycled boat sails by local company Red Flag Design.

Designed by two young men with a background in art and film, they are strong and waterproof, with a somewhat "crunchy" feel, and come in neutral colours with flourishes of brights collaged in modern patterns.

Not just for the yachtsman or the avid recycler in the family, it's the perfect gift for the person who has everything. Because she probably doesn't have a sail bag yet....

Or does she?

View products and find retailers at www.redflagdesign.ca

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We admit our ears perked up at the word sail.

But in this case, it refers to oversized tote bags made of recycled boat sails by local company Red Flag Design.

Designed by two young men with a background in art and film, they are strong and waterproof, with a somewhat "crunchy" feel, and come in neutral colours with flourishes of brights collaged in modern patterns.

Not just for the yachtsman or the avid recycler in the family, it's the perfect gift for the person who has everything. Because she probably doesn't have a sail bag yet....

Or does she?

View products and find retailers at www.redflagdesign.ca

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Does your annoyingly accomplished friend have an interior designer, a gardener, a landscape architect and a topiary trimmer?

Now you can one-up her by hiring your own plant decorator.

Yes, that's right - the young horticulture expert (with a background in fashion) will come to your home or office, assess your d‚cor, lifestyle and travel schedule, and create your own personal plant profile.

Are you the lush type? Exotic? A sucker for succulents?

Presented in carefully chosen containers, the plants are modern looking and easy to care for, providing a simple and peaceful element to your space. Think geometric moss gardens and bamboo steamers full of white blooms.

Corporate gifts are also available: Perhaps you should send your client a cactus and hope that he becomes the low-maintenance type?

Kermodi Modern Plant Decor, 604-215-7738. www.kermodi.com

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You write it, we post it. Thanks for all your recent fan mail, and please keep it coming!

Dear vitamin v... (*letters have been edited for length and clarity).

vitamin v has been my guide to lovely Terra Nova in Langley; Body Bling at beautybar on West 4th; the fashion fair at Heritage Hall (I won a door prize! thanks v v!), not to mention some of Vancouver's swell new cafes--including LilyKate in Yaletown. Needless to say, I've enjoyed every experience and product you've brought my way. So thank you. Victoria

I've enjoyed vitamin v's daily doses from the beginning - keep up the great work! I usually save the daily dose for sharing amongst friends & employees. Thank you for the information a few weeks back on Marcie's - I ordered cookies for a baby gift and not only were they absolutely gorgeous, but they tasted amazing and Marcie was an absolute pleasure to work with. Cheers, Lori

Thank you so much for your helpful, witty, and entertaining daily doses! I look forward to them everyday! Take care, Chantelle

Vitamin v is so much fun to receive every day - I was just thinking that as I opened it this morning. I love that one special "tidbit" in the morning and I have a special folder in my email just for you! I do and will continue to forward to friends and daughters! Marilyn

Congrats on your one year of vitamin v. I read mine religiously every day and look forward to the arrival of my daily dose. Keep 'em coming! Tiffany

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Spending the holidays with the in-laws in the Big Smoke?

Here's the latest to see and do:

eat

Izakaya (69 Front St. East, 416-703-8658, www.izakaya.ca). Get the whole gang together at once with square communal tables, inexpensive Japanese nibbles and noodles in a bright, art-y room.

B Espresso Bar (111 Queen St. East, 416-866-2111). If you're stuck downtown at lunchtime, this forward Italian deli is one of your best bets for fast fare. Inventive paninis, killer minestrone, and much entertainment behind the counters.

Czehoski (678 Queen St. West, 416-366-6787). A deli-turned-diner, it's so hot that reservations are only starting to open up now-six months after it opened. Dine well downstairs, then head up to schmooze and drink.

shop

H&M (15 Bloor St. West, 416-920-4029, www.hm.com). Check out the great kids' clothes and pray that they've unearthed a forgotten box of the Stella McCartney for H&M collection that sold out in a matter of hours earlier this month.

stay

The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. West, 416-531-5042, www.thedrakehotel.ca). In one ultra-hip stop, find your dining, entertainment, art and bed.