Where better to see a new film by the director's director, Terrence Malick, than the Lightbox, a cinema built in ode to all other cinemas?

Malick has made, famously, five feature films in thirty-eight years. This one, Tree of Life, is already reputed to be his masterwork—or, at least, worth the wait. Starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain, it attempts to explain nothing less than innocence and the eternal, refracted in archetypes. It's the story of a nuclear, golden family in America's age of becoming, the 1950s. It's the story of America itself. It's the story of humanity, or Christian humanity. Or it's the story of a child.

Any way you see it, see it. —SNP

TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., Toronto, find show times here.

"Concealers are like undergarments. They make you feel taller and thinner," said cosmetic queen Bobbi Brown in the British Guardian.

In her new book Beauty Rules, Brown offers countless more beauty truths, tips and tricks to beeline you to healthier, fresher looking hair, skin, nails and makeup. Famous friends such as Hilary Duff, Coco Rocha, and Jenna Lyons make contributions too.

"Do use your finger to apply makeup. Your finger is the best application tool around (except for eyeliner). Fingers are great for lip stains, cream blush, and shimmer. Have fun, experiment, and don't worry about being perfect."

Sounds like our kind of beauty.

Available at Amazon.ca
Read our in-depth interview with Bobbi Brown on today's Editors' Diary.

Jam making is enjoying a comeback of late. Even Kate Moss is reportedly starting her own line of preserves.

While we wait for Kate to ask us over for tea and scones, we’re devouring jars ($14.95) of Jamie Oliver’s delicious new raspberry and apple plum jams. The packaging (designed by Pearlfisher) oozes homemade charm. 

Now, who’s making the porridge?

Available at Williams-Sonoma stores across the GTA.

Does the thought of your daughter looking up to socialite panty flashers keep you up at night?

Creating an outlet for bright and funny females is web series Smart Girls at the Party. Hosted by Amy Poehler (of Saturday Night Live fame), the short webisodes are filmed with a wink towards Inside the Actors Studio, but instead of celebrities, you get intelligent females, like 7-year-old skateboarder and feminist Ruby.

This is Girl Power we can get behind.

Watch Smart Girls at the Party here.

Mother, model, designer and author, India Hicks lives an inspiring life with her four children and partner on the island of Bahamas. Hot off the heels of her third marathon, Hicks whizzed into Toronto for the 2010 Canadian Fragrance Awards. Here, she shares anecdotes from London, the Bahamas and one monumental royal wedding:

You have a speedboat named 'Spider Lily' after your Crabtree & Evelyn fragrance. What other floral scents do you love?
Tea Rose. Princess Diana wore it on her wedding day and she gave all her bridesmaids a small glass vase of it.

Do you remember the first scent you ever bought?
I had rather avoided fragrance growing up. However, my happy but perfume-less existence was interrupted by the arrival of Crabtree & Evelyn, whose name alone stimulated memories of an English heritage capturing home comforts and remedies. Apparently my Caribbean island sensibility and simple aesthetic had caught their eye. We have since had a happy marriage.

You have modeled for Gap, J. Crew and Ralph Lauren, among many others – what other designers do you wear?
I love Day Birger et Mikkelsen, a Danish brand that designs very wearable clothes. I sell a lot of the collection in my shop The Sugar Mill, which I own with my Canadian partner Linda, who shares my sartorial taste.

Whether it’s fashion or interior design – how would you describe your style credo?
Modern classic, but not too modern. I love to look at modern rooms and trendy clothes, but I don't want to live in them or wear them.

You were bridesmaid to Princess Diana in 1981 and wore a very frothy dress. Can you share a funny moment from that day?
Ever since that day I have had an aversion to frills.  However, I am enormously proud to have played a part in that historical event. There were so many moments chronicled before millions and millions of people but there were also many tender private moments, such as Diana dressed in jeans wearing a diamond tiara on her head, waiting to climb into her wedding dress, or the tin cans Prince Andrew and Prince Edward tied behind the carriage that Charles and Diana rode away in with the Queen, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret running behind joyfully. It's not often we see our Majesty run.

What do you look forward to most as you touch down at Heathrow?
The seasons ...leaves falling, snow on the ground, fog in the air, or the smell of summer grass wet from the rain. The Caribbean does not experience seasons and our smells are entirely different.

What do you always bring back to the Bahamas after a trip to England?
English marmalade, marmite and licorice Allsorts.

Once we’ve gobbled up every last crumb of Christmas pud, there’s little left to do but kick back and watch a flick.

With its star-studded cast from Penélope Cruz and Nicole Kidman to Judi Dench and Sophia Loren, there’s no way we are missing Nine on the big screen.

Based on Federico Fellini’s 1963 classic autobiographical film 8½, Rob Marshall’s version focuses on Italian film director Guido Contini (Day-Lewis) as he struggles to mount his ninth film while juggling the seven women in his life: his wife (Cotillard), his mistress (Cruz), his star (Kidman), his costume designer and confidante (Dench), his mother (Loren), an American journalist (Hudson) and a prostitute (Fergie).

How better to spend Christmas night than watching a bevy of big screen stars singing and dancing their hearts out? Don’t mind us if we jump up on our chair and join in.

Happy Christmas!

Nine is released on December 25, 2009, www.nine-movie.com

Not only has the mother of two been traipsing around premiers in ultra minis and sky-high shoes, but Gwyneth Paltrow has also found time to launch her own website, GOOP.

Billed as a “collection of experiences,” Gwyneth spills on her favorite tuna sandwhich recipe, best jeans (Grey Ant), and London hot spots. From philosophy (Deepak Chopra) to Philosophy (beauty products) it's like walking a mile in Gwyneth's lace-up booties as she dishes tips on how to find a little black dress, or whip up a perfect batch of buckwheat pancakes.

But nowhere does it mention how to survive on sashimi or if she really is the one in the house who gets to clean up the goop….

www.goop.com