Vitamin Daily

There are two ways you could wear a snake around your neck.

And if Britney Spears at the VMAs circa 2001 isn’t a look you’d rock, then this just might be. Tiffany’s snake necklace by Elsa Peretti has arrived on the scene just in time for the Year of the Snake. Available in sterling silver and 18k gold it’s subtly serpentine and oh so elegant, suited more to a real princess than a pop princess.

http://www.tiffany.ca

—Kelsey Dundon

Betty or Veronica? The enduring question…for Archie, at least.

Now the famous redhead’s amours have teamed up with MAC Cosmetics for a special Valentine’s Day collection titled “Archie’s Girls,” available February 7. Veronica delivers vixen-y goodies like the Boyfriend Stealer ($20) lipstick, a broody dark berry shade. But Betty’s got a couple of tricks up her sleeve as well: never underestimate the power of a fresh-faced beauty with her Cream Soda ($26) peachy blush.

Why these two beauties still fight over Archie is beyond us, but love often needs no reason.

Available at MAC counters and www.maccosmetics.com

—Anya Georgijevic

You have your favourite sushi joints and you have your favourite cocktail bars, but do you have a favourite sushi bar?

If The Eatery is that place for you, then you’ll be especially happy to know The General Public is now open on Main Street and feels very much like The Eatery 2.0 (it’s backed by the same team). We tried three of their house rolls: the Green Hornet with tempura prawns and mango ($6.95), the KFC with chicken and avocado ($5.95), and the GP with tuna tempura on the inside and spicy tuna on the outside ($7.50). We left stuffed. Which means the Malaysian Retreat – tempura-battered banana and ice cream ($6.50) – will have to wait until next time. —Kelsey Dundon

3289 Main St, Vancouver, 604-558-4676.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
—Pride & Prejudice

The biting social commentary of Jane Austen may be lost on most toddlers, but it’s never too early to start them on the classics.

A new Pride & Prejudice board book tells the darkly romantic tale of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in just 12 words, each accompanied by sweet images of needle-felted figures. If your tot seems more of a Herman Melville fan, the Cozy Classics series also includes Moby Dick. Come spring look out for Les Misérables by Victor Hugo and Tolstoy’s War and Peace.

At this rate, we see a Man Booker prize in our babe’s future.
—Marianne Wisenthal

$9.81 at Amazon.ca

Belize might be small, but it packs a punch for its size – and you'll never have a chance to get bored. Choose your own adventure with these highlights from our recent visit, and mix and match with your own must-dos from the list of top attractions: think Mayan ruins, yoga retreats, diving adventures and – let's be honest – drinking cocktails in a hammock.

stay

Hopkins is off the beaten path as it is; to really get away from it all, book a room at Hopkins Bay Resort at the north end of town for its chic, spacious rooms, quiet beach and refreshing pool, plus gracious staff always at the ready to make your stay an enjoyable one.

eat

In Hopkins, don't miss the excellent pizza at beachside Driftwood Pizza Shack, best served after dark with a local Belikin beer in hand. In San Pedro, the fresh fruit smoothies at Wild Mango's kept us satiated by day, and the fresh coco-jitos – that's a mojito with the addition of coconut cream – by night.

do

Activities for all energy levels are the name of the game here, from low-key hikes and bicycle outings to the more intense diving, ziplining or rappelling. We loved snorkelling with sea turtles, nurse sharks and stingrays (don't worry, they won't bite) at Hol Chan Marine Reserve off San Pedro, and have our hearts set on kayaking Glover's Reef next time around.

see

There's wildlife to see farther inland, too. We adored our visit to the Community Baboon Sanctuary, a community initiative that helps conserve tree cover on private land for local black howler monkeys and offers tours for visitors to see them and other wildlife in their natural habitat.

shop

In San Pedro, you'll find carvings and textile crafts sold beachside by locals and art galleries in town. But our favourite purchase was in the village of Hopkins in southern Belize, a rosewood cheese board from Dave's Wood Carving, a locally owned and operated shop that sells handmade sculpture, jewellery and dishes crafted from indigenous timber.

—Kat Tancock

Gluten sensitivity and delicious Italian staples have finally found each other.

The masterful chefs behind the Campagnolo restaurants have been perfecting their gluten-free cannelloni recipes since the summer, and the dishes now claim a permanent place on the menus. Over at the original Campagnolo, Squash Cannelloni ($17) is accompanied by ricotta, brown butter, and sage, while Campagnolo Roma embraces a meaty version with Cannelloni al Forno ($18), featuring braised chicken, kale, and a tomato sugo made with the legendary tomatoes from the Stoney Paradise farm.

Free of gluten, but loaded with flavour. —Anya Georgijevic

Campagnolo, 1020 Main St., Vancouver, 604-484-6018, www.campagnolorestaurant.ca

Campagnolo Roma, 2297 East Hastings St., Vancouver, 604-569-0456, www.campagnoloroma.com

Originally from England, Russell Hackney is a local master ceramicist whose work is owned by the Queen herself.

While our homes are not as grand as Buckingham Palace, we too can have a little something fit royal quarters. Hackney’s elegant collection of porcelain tumblers, vases, jugs, and jars - featuring Canadiana motifs like antlers, bears, and owls - would sure make for an impressive table setting, Elizabeth-approved or not. —Anya Georgijevic

$80-150 at Walrus, 3408 Cambie St., Vancouver, 604-874-9770, www.walrushome.com

Skin and winter aren’t pals, but unless we win the jackpot and move to Maui, we’re stuck with this for at least another month.

Make the best of a bad match with a Canadian rescue product, like Bare Love Body ($38). This antioxidant-rich serum is packed with essential fatty acids, and vitamins, plus Omega 6 and 9, known to ease dry, chapped skin.
One pump goes a long way. Rub it in wherever your skin feels reptilian and prepare for smoother, softer skin in no time.

It’s no love affair, but friendship at least, could be on the cards. —Athena Tsavliris

http://www.barelovebeauty.com

If your culinary adventures have taken you around the world, make your next stop Israel.

Jerusalem: A Cookbook is a collaboration between two chefs: Sami Tamimi, who grew up in the Muslim east side of the city, and Yotam Ottolenghi, who grew up in the Jewish west side. If the style of the book looks vaguely familiar, it is because Ottolenghi is the non-vegetarian chef behind the vegetarian cookbook Plenty, a Vitamin Daily pick. While some of the recipes will have you grocery store-hopping in search of harissa paste, others, like fried tomatoes with garlic, are quite simple. And each is photographed so beautifully the book deserves to be displayed on your coffee table.

Tell your tastebuds to start packing. —Kelsey Dundon

$39.95 at Chapters.ca