Taylor Swift is exactly how you imagine she'd be: really friendly. She looks just as great in person as she does in magazines, her blonde curls highlighting her striking eyes. As soon as I meet her at the fancy hotel she's staying in, she gets up from a regal chair and dainty cup of herbal tea and says, "I like your glasses, those are awesome! Do you have bad eyes or do you wear them for style?"
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NICOLLE WEEKS, Canwest News Service
Published: Monday, July 06, 2009 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Being a bride is stressful. There's so much to plan, do, eat, et cetera. But you know what else is stressful? Being invited to three or four weddings a summer whilst pondering why you (who is, frankly, smarter and hotter than these brides-to-be) are still living single. Or maybe you're not single, but you absolutely hate weddings. Worry not! We've got some tips to get you through the nuptials season. Decline, especially if the happy couple are more acquaintances than good friends. Send a polite response on that little card. You have a prior engagement or a scheduled bladder infection or something. It's polite to send a gift but at least you won't have to waste a weekend on a wedding you don't care about, spend money getting there, scramble to find a date, or sit through a million boring speeches. Find a date. If you can't decline and you're expected to find a date, that's your first concern. If you already have a honey, you're in the clear. If you've just started dating someone, tread lightly. You don't want to scare the guy (or girl). I was once asked to a wedding four months away by a guy I'd been dating for a month and the relationship promptly went sour. Ask yourself; is it worth showing off your new squeeze and risk potentially scaring the bejeebers out of him? by Nicolle Weeks
It started with hip-hoppers like Jay-Z and Sean Combs and quickly spread to the likes of pop stars Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez, Now everyone from Avril Lavigne to Hilary Duff to Justin Timberlake count themselves among a growing crop of celebrity fashion designers. But for regular fashionistas like us, the rise to top of the fashion world is slow and incredibly complicated. Without dedication, determination and sacrifice, it's inevitable that you'll be eaten up by the fashion hounds and left for nothing more than some scrap fabric on the studio floor. Skill? Yes. Determination? Definitely. Backstage at the Vivienne Westwood show at London Fashion Week last fall, fashion veteran Westwood waxed poetic about being young in the fashion industry. "London is probably the best city in the world, but Paris is better for fashion. You don't get far [in fashion] unless you put something into it," she warned London's fashion ingénues. And who better to give advice on getting somewhere in the fickle fashion industry? Read the rest of the article on the Project Runway Canada site With a title like that, I feel like I should be wearing a smoking jacket and smoking a pipe, but instead I’ve got on my laundry day attire. No matter, I did the interview over the phone with Lidell as he hungrily waited for a meal at a truck stop somewhere in Washington State. It got slightly weird, but it was always interesting. If you want to win an awesome tour poster, a cute button and Jamie's amazing new CD, Jim (one of my faves this year by far), mosey along to our newsletter page to enter our Jamie Lidell contest. Now sit back and enjoy what might go down as the best interview in Sword Swallower history. For the rest of the interview, go to showcase.ca By NICOLLE WEEKS
Where to spot the celebs during the Toronto International Film Festival If you're from Toronto and worth your salt, you know that Yorkville (the area around Bay subway station) is the place in the city for spotting celebrities - especially during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The Four Seasons, Avenue Bar (where the Olsen twins were seen clinging to each other for dear life - and probably warmth, given their lack of body fat), the Yorkville Starbucks (Hilary Duff and Paris Hilton have both been spotted there) - these are all places you can catch a glimpse of fame. But what about the celebs who venture outside the chi chi district in search of a chill hangout spot? This year, it's said that Brad Pitt will be in town along with Jodie Foster, Woody Allen, Cate Blanchett, Jake Gyllenhaal and Kiera Knightley. We wanted to find the juiciest celeb-spotting places in Toronto, so we went to the expert. Debra Goldblatt, superstar PR diva (president and director of publicity and promotions) of rock-it promotions, has been dealing with celebrities for years. She dished the goods on finding the stars near you. Read the rest of the article on aol.com Top ten DVDS for your existential crisis
What better topic for a top ten list than the ol’ existential crisis? What are we here for? What’s it all about? Who moved my cheese? These are all-important questions that we, as humans, were forced to learn about in philosophy 101. Seriously, don’t you ever just get the feeling that manis and pedis might give way to something bigger? Like a full-body massage? And after all that, if you’re not satisfied, throw these movies on for some instant soul-searching. 1. Stranger Than Fiction (2006) If you’re wondering if your life couldn’t be any more boring, check out Harold Crick’s sorry existence. He’s an IRS auditor who realizes that his life is empty, till something really strange starts happening: he starts hearing voices. Check out this flick and get inspired to break out of old routines. It’s got a great soundtrack, too. 2. I Heart Huckabees This one might be the obvious choice. Just when you think your life is perfect, you examine the cracks and realize that nothing is right at all. At least, that’s what the characters in I Heart Huckabees discover. If the star-studded cast weren’t enough to draw you in (Jude Law, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Lily Tomlin, Mark Wahlberg, et al), the film manages to make existential crises entertaining and humourous. 3. Being There (1979) Kind of the Forrest Gump of his time, Chance is oblivious to all the impact he’s having on the world. In fact, he’s sort of oblivious to everything, unless it’s been on television. But everyone else thinks his simplistic talk holds some kind of deeper meaning. “Being there,” two very important words for existentialist thinkers, allows you to see the value of the present and how easily we’re distracted from true meaning. Film buffs like Roger Ebert think this movie is the ish, so check it out. Read the rest on slice.ca By Nicolle Weeks
Whether it’s your first Valentine’s Day with your sweetie or your tenth, you’ll want to impress him or her this February 14th. Putting your heart into an amazing meal is a great idea, but how do you do it? Cook this rich, luxurious meal and you’ll be basking in brownie points till Easter. Appetizer Sure, everyone and his grandmother suggests oysters as a Valentine’s hors d’oeuvre. If you’re set on it, we won’t try to dissuade you. We’ve got a great Champagne and Caviar Sauce Oyster recipe by one of Canada’s most celebrated chefs, Michael Bonacini. But if you’re looking for something a little more original, try these Scallops in a Saffron and Rioja Wine Sauce. The sumptuous taste and sparks of rose-coloured saffron will whet the appetite and encourage nibbling and romance, perhaps not in that order. Other indulgences: * Goat Cheese Souffle * Grilled Figs Wrapped in Prosciutto with Balsamic Drizzle Main Dish Spoil your beloved with an unbelievably succulent main course. If you’re willing to spare no expense, the Filet Mignon with Pomegranate is a wonderful classic dish that’s guaranteed to impress. A tender cut of high quality beef wrapped with prosciutto is the perfect way to your honey’s heart. Who wouldn’t be impressed if someone took the time and care to prepare a dish at the height of fanciness? Pair this dish with any French Cabernet Sauvignon. If you prefer something other than red meat, but you don’t want to sacrifice the indulgence theme, try preparing some Butter Braised Atlantic Lobster with a Red Beet and Horseradish Sauce. There’s nothing better than a delicious lobster meal paired with a Sauvignon Blanc from the New Zealand Marlborough estate. Other indulgences: * Osso Buco * Sauteed Shrimp with Penne in a Fennel Cream Tomato Sauce Side Dish To perfectly compliment the filet mignon, use the leftover wine from the scallop dish to make this elegant side dish. Broccoli in Wine is simple enough to let the star of the show, the main, shine. If you want to infuse a little of whimsy into your meal to go along with your steak, call these tasty $20 French Fries frites and serve them alongside your filet mignon. Other indulgences: * Forbidden Rice Risotto * Minted Snap Peas Dessert Finish your lavish meal with an equally indulgent dessert. The heart-shaped Double Caramel Cake from Anna Olson’s Sugar Valentine special seems especially fitting. Since you have to prepare this dessert a few hours in advance, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon to prepare the rest of your menu. If you aren’t a chocolate fanatic, tempt your sweetheart with some sensuous fruit and cream. The Angel Food Berry Shortcake will tempt the most refined taste buds. Other indulgences: * Chocolate Mousse-Filled Hearts * Bananas Foster After a meal full of delicacies like scallops with saffron and a scrumptious steak dish, your significant other will feel pampered beyond belief. Hopefully after all that care and work in the kitchen, you can convince him or her to give you a million-dollar backrub. Originally published on foodtv.ca With tremendous success comes a price, but Zadie Smith is realistic about paying it
She’s 30 years old, has already published three international bestsellers, taught a class at Harvard and wants you to know that it’s not “a race to the finish line of death”. Zadie Smith is poised, sharp and conventionally beautiful with a simultaneously soft and angular face. She wears a brown headscarf, a brown trench and a wooden bracelet. She tells the crowd at the International Festival of Authors (IFOA) that she doesn’t like to be a young celebrity (in her native England, Smith is followed and photographed like a certified famous person) and likes America because, “Nobody bothered me in America, that was nice. America is too big a country for writers, they have actors.” Fame has definitely changed Smith’s life – she says that instead of living most of her life, she was reading. And reading and reading. “If I had to make a choice between reading and writing, I would give up writing,” Smith says, “it would be a desperate life to not read at all.” Smith spends a good amount of time on book tours, travelling around the world. Though she says, as soon as she gets anywhere, she makes sure to make it as much like her native North London, England as possible – and sets up her hotel room so that she can immediately settle in to start reading. At a reading at the IFOA, Smith’s reads with three other young notable authors, one of which is her husband Nick Laird. Her performance receives the most applause out of her group, though Laird comes considerably close. He is known to be a bit sensitive about his wife’s fame, especially uncomfortable when people refer to him as “Mr. Zadie Smith” – it happens. After the reading, as Smith attends to a line-up of tens of people clutching her books and waiting for autographs, Laird waits at the bar. Geoffrey Taylor, IFOA director, swears that Smith wasn’t given any special consideration. Smith did go on last, but he says, “We just used alphabetical order.” As an afterthought, he mentions, “Sometimes we do reverse chronological order if we need to, though.” Smith’s career started when she was still studying at the University of Cambridge. She wrote White Teeth (2000), her first book, while in her early twenties (it came out when she was 25). After graduating, her sophomore attempt, The Autograph Man (2002) was met with less acclaim than White Teeth, but it still ended up in the hands of readers across the world. After that, Smith took a fellowship at Harvard, where she taught, worked on a non-fiction book on writing, and got working on her latest book, On Beauty, which she is now promoting after it was released in September. The day after reading to an audience of pleased fans, Smith appears at an interview with Rebecca Caldwell, again at the IFOA. Not surprisingly, On Beauty deals with American academia and its nuances. The main characters in On Beauty are of mixed decent, a constant quality of all Smith’s books. The reading was met with a great response and her fans are still enthusiastic. “I wanted to write about how it feels to be taught,” Smith tells the IFOA audience. She mentions that although she doesn’t feel much for the characters she’s written after she finishes a book, she identifies with Kiki, one of On Beauty’s main characters. “Kiki is the only character that I could talk about – I can sort of imagine what happens to her after the book ends.” The audience at the interview is almost as diverse as one of Smith’s novels – people of all races show up, as well as a good mix of young, old and in between. Smith, unlike the other authors she read with the night before, did not speak before or after her reading. She simply stepped to the podium, read her bit and hurried offstage when she was done. The author is known for hating to be in the public eye and hating to speak with reporters. When Caldwell asks her about her reluctance to speak to the press, Smith says, “I would never stand by anything I say in an interview, I only stand by my fiction. If anyone wants, they can come up here and do my interview for me.” Smith makes earnest jokes and handles the questions asked of her frankly. One man in his fifties sticks his hand up right away when the audience is given the chance to ask questions. “I notice that you’re quite attractive,” he says to a sea of giggles, “I wonder, would your books be any different if you were frumpy?” “I have to inform you,” Smith starts sharply, “that in 2000 I was 80 pounds heavier. I was very frumpy. So they wouldn’t be different. You know, Paul Auster is a good-looking man – would you ask him these questions?” Her answer is met with much applause. Zadie Smith read at the International Festival of Authors. For future readings and schedules, visit http://www.readings.org. Originally appeared on bravo.ca by Nicolle Weeks
Trade your summer cottage look for autumn cabin warmth. Now that fall is here, besides dressing warmer for chillier weather, eating comfort foods and bringing in the harvest’s gorgeous-coloured fruit and veggies, we also feel a need to change up our homes. So tone down bright summer hues and try a more organic aesthetic. Texture Each season has a signature texture – think about it, in the summer, you can’t wait to use your freshest cotton linens. In the winter, you bring out the coziest, warmest blankets you can find. Autumn is about nature becoming dormant for another long Canadian winter. The leaves are changing and so are the textures. Bring in a great rattan rug or a chenille throw for your couch. Fall calls for a heavier material in your bedclothes – flannel can be reintroduced to your bed to keep you warm. Firewood brought in for the colder months also adds texture to a room. Changing accessories The great thing about accessories is that they’re flexible. Summery powder blue cushions can be replaced with earthy pumpkin and chocolate tones for autumn. A mantle display with vivid pink and yellow flowers is much more expensive to maintain when the weather gets cold. Instead, fill a beautiful decorative glass bowl with pinecones, smooth stones, or use a narrow vase with some twigs. For more information on changing your accessories for fall, check out Living With The Seasons by Bonnie Trust Dahan. Colour "It’s kind of psychosomatic, but taking off your white sheets and adding some deeper colours just makes you feel warmer," says Style at Home design editor Samantha Pynn. Of course thoughts of fall conjure images of rich, luxe colours reflected in nature like deep browns, reds and oranges. Incorporate these colours into your rooms with accessories and, if you’re ready for a commitment, paint. Colour can also be introduced by switching up pieces of art (try painting four canvases with your favourite fall colours and repaint as the seasons change), or simply by changing a summer display of lemons to a cornucopia of squash and eggplant. Original article published on CityLine.ca (Ghostwritten for Brian Gluckstein)
by Brian Gluckstein Mix in some glam between working late and driving the kids to hockey practice. Luxuriant stucco, gold leaf mirrored furniture, eternal sunshine and effortless glamour are images that rush to mind when one thinks “Hollywood.” But what can a girl do when she lives amidst snow, sleet and a cul-de-sac full of Tudor homes? The most important thing to remember about Hollywood is that the stars exude confidence, even when they lack the self-esteem to leave the house without a team of makeup artists, personal trainers, assistants and publicists. Nurture your ego and remember that tried and true mantra of go big or go home. Whether or not you’re confident about having a creamy white living room, do it anyway. Whites and creams spell rich and lavish. Just make sure to get that stain guard. Mirrored furniture, aside from being the quintessential ingredient in any 40’s glamour girl Hollywood home, is now one of the chicest things you can do. Stock up on mirrored coffee tables, chests and sideboards. Don’t forget that ubiquitous starburst mirror for over the mantel. Gold or silver leaf on etched mirror or as an accent on mirrored furniture is definitely complimentary and beautiful in an art deco room. In Hollywood, everything shines, so it’s fitting that mirrors are featured everywhere. Another creative way of using light is the silk incorporated into the damask wool rug, which sparkles subtly when the light hits. The raw silk in the sofa gives a nice shine as well. The patent leather chair is a great use of texture and another example of a shiny surface working its way into the décor. If you’re lucky enough to be blessed with high ceilings, oversized urns are a great example of how you can incorporate some dramatic plant materials into your living room or sitting area. This looks glam and sophisticated as it flanks our camel backed sofa. The sofa, which touts a beautiful shape and creamy colour is classic and modern at the same time. Originally published on CityLine.ca |
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