US Tgiving

Since moving to Cali I get asked at least once a week where I’m from – clearly it isn’t here – nothing against my new neighbors, but I don't take this as an insult. I get a lot of "Are you Australian? British?" Others know it’s Canada right away (although six months in, I’ve finally gotten away from ‘eh”… thank GOD!!) – I even had one person say “your from Toronto?!” about two minutes into a conversation. I asked what gave it away, and he said “everything, I go to TIFF every year..." I get teased for my “out” and “about”s on a daily basis – although I’ve yet to start saying “owt” and “abowt”. It’s not like I’m from somewhere where in C with a thick accent. Born and raised in downtown T isn't exactly the boonies. Don't get me started on "z" versus "zzz" - or "o" versus "zero"... creating daily confusion when giving a zip or phone number. And if I ever start with “huh” – please just shoot me right then.

Other things that are a dead giveaway are saying sorry all the time – like if someone walks into me coming out of the elevator – I say “Sorry!” Or hand signaling thank you when someone lets you into their lane. I’ve never had anyone return the favor outside of the Great White North. Although I will say, Americans in California are generally nicer than the rest of the US. Likely because of the weather, or maybe because for the most part – people are probably on vacation!! Or living like we are ☺

My favorite question since moving here has been, “You guys have your own Thanksgiving? What’s it for?” Ha. Yes, we have our own Thanksgiving (not to be confused with America’s Columbus Day, which falls on the same day) – in a different month, and yes we were also founded. It’s almost as good as the blank stares I get when I talk about Boxing Day (usually brought up in the context of Birthday Boxing Day – or the greatest shopping day of the entire year… a day where for years I’d wake up at the crack of dawn to spend my Christmas $$, getting in & getting out before the masses). Our beloved Boxing Day doesn’t exist in the US – ironically, they have their best shopping of the year over Thanksgiving!! It’s a good thing I’ve done enough shopping over the last few months to justify heading to T next week, missing the sales, and catching up with as many of you as humanly possible in four days. Along with the rest of the US, WATW will be closed for business next Wednesday-Friday – oh wait… we haven’t opened yet?!

Clearly Canadian.

k

Perfect "10"

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of conducting an interview with Jill Martin for WHAT ARE THEY WEARING. Jill is an US Weekly Contributor and TODAY fashion expert. As an Emmy-nominated reporter, she is a famous subject expert for both fashion and sports. Jill’s latest endeavor was her November 16th launch of “Fashion For Dummies”. After being thoroughly impressed by our conversation (this girl knows her stuff!), I sat down with the book this past weekend and within minutes I couldn’t put it down. I’ve read many, many, MANY style and fashion related books and this one is by far the best. It’s informative, well organized, efficient and productive. All of my favorite things! Jill’s message is to find your personal style and simplify your wardrobe - her goal is for you to never say “I have nothing to wear!” again… and to never refuse an invitation, or a night out, because you simply don’t look and feel your best. It's very much in line with WATW's mottos of "great style for all" & "looking great to feel better".

Jill’s simple system has you go through your closet, only keeping things that are a perfect “10” – to quote Jill, “Every item you have should be evaluated on a scale of 1 to 10, and only 10s should remain in your closet.” She goes on to provide a list of guidelines to help you identify what qualifies as a “10”. The same rule applies when shopping - Jill guides you through a list of questions to ask yourself in order to identify if what you buy is something you need, and if so – whether it’s your “10”. She also has a fantastic list of the top ten things every woman’s wardrobe should include, from your go-to little black dress to your classic set of pearls. Jill breaks down dressing for your body type, along with the fundamentals of fabrics, cuts, and styles to help you become a more informed shopper – all the way down to what you wear underneath it all... Most importantly, she tells you how to do it without breaking the bank – with several suggestions such as helpful discount and value retailers and websites. I found it so well written and informative, I pretty much flagged every page (all 332 of them).

Although a good closet clean always seems like an onerous task to get started (like anything, starting is the hardest part) – there are few things as gratifying and cleansing when you're done. Not wanting to set aside the majority of a day, I started with my dresser and I already have a full bag for charity. I’ll be tackling the rest this weekend.

"If you stay ready, you never have to get ready."

- Nick Cannon - Mariah Carey's husband, host of America's Got Talent

“10”s for life.

k

♫ Only thing that's on my mind...

Is who's gonna run this town tonight ♫

Last night I went to the best concert of my life – hands down - a bold statement I don’t make lightly. Who thought I could top U2 only two weeks later – to the day. Shawn Corey Carter – aka Jay-Z - at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion. The Pauley Pavilion is best known for hosting the UCLA Bruin’s basketball games – an intimate campus venue holding less than 15k people (especially in comparison to the Rose Bowl’s 95k). Since his latest greatest album “The Blueprint 3.0” dropped in August, Jay’s been touring North America. He was in Toronto last weekend on Halloween Saturday. If you don’t have his album (you’re one of the few - HOV’s 11^th number one sold over a million copies in a matter of weeks) you need it. I bought it - I love it - I listen to it exclusively – along with some of his old skool classics, “Girls, Girls, Girls”, “Izzo”, “Big Pimpin”, “Renegade”… there are too many to list and count. The hip hop mogul has won nine Grammies & nine MTV VMAs – and if last night is any indication... he’s not ready to go home.

Another all-time fav – Rihanna – made a surprise appearance during “Run This Town”, and also sung the first live performance of her new single “Hard” after Jay-Z lovingly said “RhiRhi you ready?”– she was killer. Her new album “Rated R” comes out November 23^rd. Ready!

My LOVE for hip hop is nothing new - thanks to cottage, Collingwood, & early morning Blue Mountain drives (AN, first M's for you!) - and my desire to be of African decent (have you seen Taye Diggs? Please... ). I’ve always liked Jay-Z (especially since he married one of my ultimates - Beyonce "B" Knowles in 2008 after six years of dating – he liked it & he put a ring on it… a $3 million one!!), but recently I have grown to LOVE him. It started when he was on Oprah August 18 – what's not to love during birthday week? Jay took Oprah to the housing projects in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn where he grew up. He sold drugs (never taking them) from age 13 for survival – and claims this was how he learned integrity and loyalty. It was also here where he started rapping – fierce lyrics that highlight his incredible intellect. Listen to them closely, his wit is not to be missed☺ Jig has sold more than 30 million records, as well as launching his own Rocawear clothing line (I might wear black for a year straight) & Roc Nation entertainment company. He is a true story of rags to riches – a self-made protégée (so ambitious) who told the crowd last night - "although it might sound cliché, not to let anything stand in the way of your dreams. Screw the haters".

Everyday a star is born.

k

Hollywood Delicious

I’m such a big fan of Taye Diggs that I’m giving him his own post. I’d give him a lot more if he wasn’t married with a newborn…. Ah-hem – sorry L – step dad of the century ☺ Seriously though, he’s one of my top five. Delicious.

Awwwww…

It was last Sunday – my best friend’s parents were in town visiting from Toronto for the weekend – we LOVE visitors! Anyway, after watching the better part of World Series Game Four (damn yanks…) we were out for a quiet Sunday night dinner at a local Italian eatery on Beverly – Angelini (rumored to be the best Italian in LA, I don’t disagree) – when my friend thought she saw Nelly Furtado (go Canada). Turns out, Nelly was Taye’s wife… they do have a strong resemblance – and thankfully that brought her to realize Taye was the star-siting - only a few tables away. There were in a group of five – lucky friends.

Being a fan of all things Kate Walsh (seriously? they broke the mould on that one) – I’ve watched Private Practice since it spun off from Grey’s in '07. Shonda Rhimes has struck gold twice. Kate (Addison)’s clothes on the show are killer – think DVF, Tory, Pucci – you want it, she has it. Although Private Practice wasn’t my introduction to Taye – we go way back to '98 "When Stella Got her Grove Back". We met again in '99 when he was “The Best Man” – the soundtrack alone is worth a rental.

You'll be happy to hear I didn't harass or accost him during his meal - we did do a walk-by to the washroom when I stared and smiled.

That is one lucky wife.

k

Hollywood Halloween 1.0 *fratastic*

Los Angelenos’ L♥VE Halloween. Last Saturday (and most of last weekend for that matter...) was like nothing I’ve ever seen, and I spent Halloween 2006 in the Castro - San Francisco - the world’s best known gay neighborhood... where they reeeally got into it. This marked my first Hollywood Halloween, and I think there are a few reasons why LA gets so into the haunted festivities. Most people living here are in some form of creative work (writers, actors, producers, etc) – or at least strongly follow the entertainment industry (when in Rome...). Almost everyone shares a quest and admiration for vanity – so a somewhat acceptable reason to dress up as scantily clothed as possible seems to appeal to both sexes - in fairness this is also a regular weekend club occurrence for many of my beloved neighbors. There's short, and then there's LA short. So as you can imagine, there was no shortage of bare…

I’ve never loved Halloween (it’s no birthday!) – it reminds me of New Year’s where there’s a certain amount of pressure to have a fabulous night. But this year – I may have been transformed. Hitting up industry parties in Hollywood (Hollywood Blvd) & Silver Lake (East Hollywood to the West & Los Feliz to the Northwest) – my Canadian friend and I did have a fabulous night. I think there are three keys to surviving Halloween in Hollywood – and likely anywhere for that matter. #1 – have a kick *** costume – EVERYONE dresses up and tries to guess what you are. Don't be lame. If you're not feeling it, stay home. #2 – Stick to house parties and party hop – get in, have fun, and get out - on to the next one. #3 – Have no expectations. That way you can only be pleasantly surprised. And of course, just go with it!

“Where there is no imagination there is no horror.”

- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

We’ve definitely got imagination in the land of dreams.

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

- Walt Disney.

k