Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Mother’s Day is weeks away so it’s time to get a leg up on how to celebrate the mom in your life.  Here are some gift ideas to start you off.

If you live in Vancouver check out The Urban Tea Merchant’s Mother’s Day Tea Service.  It features a splendid selection of handcrafted tea-infused tea sandwiches, petite savories, and delightfully luscious sweets. Offered in the tea service is an optional sparkling tea cocktail infused with TWG Tea.  Each mom will receive a 50g TWG Tea gift to take away. There is no better way to show your love and appreciation for the most important woman in your life. This special tea service is available from May 10^th to May 12th at The Urban Tea Merchant’s Downtown Vancouver Tea Salon.

If you can’t take your mom for tea, maybe pick her up a tea stash from The Urban Tea Merchant. My favourite tea of the moment is Bain de Roses Tea from TWG Tea.

 

Bain de Roses Tea from TWG Tea

In the month of May, the roses of Grasse come to bloom, enveloping Provence with an incomparable and luxurious perfume. Masterfully blended by TWG Tea, this sensual Darjeeling is a magical union of extraordinary roses and hints of vanilla and sweet spices. Show your gratitude for mother’s feminine touch with this outstanding tea.  You can also couple this tea with the Bain de Roses Tea Scented Candle which will add to a lovely ending to her day.

http://www.urbantea.com/

What lady wouldn’t like a posh eau de parfum on her special day?  I like Penhaligon’s Artemisia Eau de Parfum.

 

Artemisia Eau de Parfum 100ml

Head Notes

Nectarine and Green Foliage

Heart Notes

Green Apple, Lily of the Valley, Jasmine Tea, Violet and Vanilla

Base Notes

Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Musk, Amber and Vanilla

Created in 2002, Artemisia is both floral and fruity with a beautifully sensual powdery dry down. Caramel soft, sweet, powdery and silky. A tumble of green apples and nectarines washed with jasmine tea and sprinkled with a luxurious medley of violet, cyclamen and lily petals. All this softly unfolds with great subtlety surrounded with layers of honeyed vanilla, warm spices, a touch of amber and a hint of musk. Haunting and addictive.

http://www.penhaligons.com/shop/fragrance/artemisia-eau-de-parfum-100ml-496881.html

For a gift that will keep giving, consider giving her the latest and greatest book from Kate Atkinson entitled ‘Life After Life’?

Life After Life

by Kate Atkinson

How do writers tell a story? How do they choose the minute details to make time’s arrow chart a straight path? Take a fork in the road, make a mistake, deal with it. Kate Atkinson, who keeps reinventing herself, has created a character who spans Britain’s course through the two “world wars,” who keeps dying and being reborn into the same person, who with each subsequent rebirth retains atavistic cellular memory of past experience, and thus the pageant of history unfolds through the same eyes with differing results. Her family core retains its shape as does her personality, but with each variation there is further insight into life at its moments of indelible change with Ursula at the center. This is a rich, satisfying book that resonates with intelligence, humor and compassion. Atkinson has never let me down — I’ve been reading her since the late ’90′s, and continue to be amazed at her virtuosity.

http://www.randomhouse.ca/books/211671/life-after-life-by-kate-atkinson

I like the idea of picking up a cool note card and using your own words to convey why your mom is important to you.   Check out Cath Kidston Mini Notes.

Cath Kidston Mini Notes

These irresistibly petite notes are perfect for dashing off a quick, pocket-sized message or adding a little card to a mother’s day gift.

http://www.chroniclebooks.com/titles/paper-goods/stationery/notecards/cath-kidston-mini-notes.html

Finally, pop on top of a Cath Kidston mini note card a cool Rimmel London:  Royal Gloss Lip Gloss.  It will sure put a smile on your mom’s face for those on the go days.

Rimmel London:  Royal Gloss Lip Gloss

Rimmel Royal Gloss Delicious Lip gloss is deliciously sweet and fabulously juicy.

http://us.rimmellondon.com/

Happy Mother’s Day from Thirty Four Flavours!

Book Report: ‘Mick Jagger’ by Philip Norman

‘Mick Jagger’ by Philip Norman

Let me start off saying this book is an unauthorized biography but nevertheless offers interesting insight into the life and lifestyle of Mick Jagger.

Philip Norman’s tells the story about Mick from his early life in Dartford and how he turned into rock’s most notorious yet enigmatic icon. Throughout the five decades of fronting the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger has been seen as the ultimate arrogant, narcissistic superstar, whose sexual appetite and cavalier treatment of women rival Casanova’s and whose supposed reckless drug use touched off the most famous scandal in rock history. Now a grandfather nearing seventy and a British knight of the realm, he still creates excitement at the mere mention of his name; still remains the model for every young rock singer whoever takes the stage.

Adam Levine, Tom Cruise in ‘Rock Of Ages’, Axl Rose and various other hair metal bands from the 80’s demonstrate Jagger’s elusive onstage sex god persona.  I remember being a teen and wondering what all the fuss was about.  The first time I really appreciated a Stones song was when I heard a band called The Sundays perform ‘Wild Horses’.  It blew my mind and led me on a path of discovery to learn more about the Stones music.  Than there came ‘Brown Sugar’, ‘Paint it Black’, ‘Miss You’ and ‘Satisfaction’.  As an adult – I still don’t feel particularly attracted to this man but the Stones Music is proving to be a burgeoning love affair.

I appreciated how Norman painted a portrait of Jagger warts and all in a historical retrospective.   I dwelled upon Jagger’s first gig as a Rolling Stone, his womanizing (which was not as shocking as I thought it would be), film roles and the influence behind  The Rolling Stones early songs such  as ‘Gimme Shelter’ and ‘Start Me Up’.

I thought my time had passed to see The Stones but fear not, it hasn’t.  As per nme.com, ‘yesterday (January 4), the band hinted that they would like to play more live shows in 2013, saying that their shows at the end of 2012 were “not enough”.   Mick Jagger revealed how, after their brief run of gigs in London, New York and New Jersey at the tail end of 2012, the band are in fine form and keen to get back on onto the stage to continue performing stating: “I’m going to see what’s on the table and discuss it with everyone. We’ll announce it when we’ve figured it out.” Guitarist Keith Richards, meanwhile, added: “Really, all you’re going to have to do is wait for an announcement.”

Their comments came after Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood recently claimed that the band will “rock till they drop”.’  Rumor has it they are playing Coachella this spring – move over Tupac Hologram, these gentlemen will be the real thing.

Mick Jagger:  By Philip Norman

Hardcover: 640 pages

Publisher: Ecco (October 2, 2012)

Buy it here!  http://www.chapters.indigo.ca

Book Report: ‘Grace: A Memoir’ By Grace Coddington

“If Wintour is the Pope . . . Coddington is Michelangelo, trying to paint a fresh version of the Sistine Chapel twelve times a year.”—Time

I was dead excited to watch ‘The September Issue’ three years ago.  I wanted to see Anna Wintour in her natural ‘I’m holier than thou’ habitat.  But for some reason all of the fashion porn somehow blocked the majority of the oddness.

Being a fan girl of Fashion Television with Jeanne Beker, I watched the same episode that ran on Saturday and Sundays nights at 6:30 p.m. when I was a teen just so I could soak up all of its goodness.  Even today when by fluke I catch old episodes of FT – everything stops in my flat.

I remember seeing this redhead woman with wild frizzy hair always in the front row of fashion shows with Anna and think ‘what the?’.  That was Grace Coddington.  Last year as I watching ‘The September Issue’ and it all clicked.  Grace has been the Creative Director at Vogue for the past forty years.

Grace describes her early career as a model, working with such world-class photographers as David Bailey and Norman Parkinson, before she stepped behind the camera to become a fashion editor at British Vogue in the late 1960s. She began creating the fantasy “travelogues” that would become her trademark. In 1988 she joined American Vogue, where her breathtakingly romantic and imaginative fashion features are now part of fashion history.

I really loved getting into bed every night and reading this book.  It’s a hardcover so yes a bit heavy but I was able to plough through it in 1 week easily. Grace is a well travelled and seasoned woman.  She is very English and at times simple but elitist.  Sure she does come off as the softer one next to Anna – but Grace has her vices, attitudes and her fair share of uppityness.  She is a true redhead.  Plus some of her commentary on other races and cultures could be considered offensive.

I was actually hoping for more information about her love affairs with Michael Chow and her other men.  Those portions of the book fell a bit flat.  Her experiences with Madonna, Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Liz Tilberis, supermodels, her partner Didier Malige and other A-lister celebrities were also intriguing but too short.  Her storytelling about Anna felt overly edited.  Again I felt like she was holding back.

I loved her pages and pages of descriptions about clothing she would source from designers, her views of the collections on the runways, swish location shoots, discussions with designers, makeup artists like deceased Kevyn Aucoin, hairstylists like Vidal Sassoon, photographers on product styling as well as the accompanying cheeky illustrations made the book a light and a fashion fan’s instant mate.

Grace is 71 and is still working at Vogue.  I respect that and I also respect that even though she works in such a fickle industry, she fully aesthetically honours her age.

Some of the photo from previous campaigns she has worked on up to the present year are located in the back of the book are a historical retrospective into her career.  I would see them as a teen every month as I tore them out of Vogue library copies to adorn my locker walls.  Who knew they would be considered advertising art in the decades that have passed?

Now for a Memoir from Anna Wintour.

‘Grace: A Memoir’  By Grace Coddington

Hardcover Book:  $46.00 CAD

Publisher: Random House

Book Report: ‘Charlotte Street’ by Danny Wallace

If you are a fan of Nick Hornby’s style of British cheeky writing you will enjoy Danny Wallace’s ‘Charlotte Street’.  It’s an easy and fun read woven within an endearing story line.

It all starts with a girl . . . because yes, there’s always a girl.

Jason Priestley (not that one) has just seen her. They shared an incredible, brief, fleeting moment of deep possibility, somewhere halfway down Charlotte Street.

And then, just like that, she was gone—accidentally leaving him holding her old-fashioned disposable camera, chock full of undeveloped photos.

And now Jason—ex-teacher, ex-boyfriend, part-time writer and reluctant hero—faces a dilemma. Should he try to track The Girl down? What if she’s The One? But that would mean using the only clues he has, which lie untouched in the beaten-up camera.

Unlike Nick Hornby’s style of writing, Danny Wallace doesn’t plug in loads of ‘between you and the writer tongue and cheek jokes’.  I did enjoy the music and cultural notes that Danny Wallace did pop into ‘Charlotte Street’.  It keeps me interested and reminds me that I have likeminded interests to the main character.

Danny Wallace writes characters that are holding their own lil secrets from the reader.

If you are looking for a fun book to get stuck into for a holiday or even as you commute to work and school – pop this into your bag.  It’s a clever twist on the age old story of boy meets girl.

But the book at amazon.ca and chapters.ca.  Voila!

http://www.harpercollins.ca/books/Charlotte-Street-Danny-Wallace?isbn=9781443411844&HCHP=TB_Charlotte+Street

‘Garde-Manger’ by Chuck Hughes

GARDE-MANGER Written By: CHUCK HUGHES Published by La Presse

Garde-Manger Restaurant in Montreal

When I was in Montreal in May – my friend and I checked out the cutie chef, Chuck Hughes yummy restaurant Garde-Manger.  If you are a foodie and find yourself wandering the streets of Montreal in need of a slap up meal that will leave you feeling gastronomically satisfied amongst locals, a mix of hipsters and tourists, Garde-Manger is your spot.

‘Chuck Hughes is the star of Food Network Canada’s and The Cooking Channel’s (US) “Chuck’s Day Off”, a show featuring the charismatic chef cooking for friends and family on his day off at his Montreal restaurant, Garde-Manger. Fabulously energetic, fun and a skilled chef, Chuck definitely has star quality and “splash factor”. His star is on the rise in the US, with his show airing there on the Cooking Channel, and his impressive win last spring on Iron Chef, beating none other than Bobby Flay.

Our meal was hearty and the service delightful at Garde-Manger.  The guys that work there have Chuck’s aesthetic as well. Young, hip, tattooed and of course dreamy.  Whatever our waiter recommended we bought and ate.  Simple.  Easy.  Not us.  The food!

If you can’t get to his restaurant his cookbook, appropriately called ‘Garde-Manger’ is a great investment.  The cookbook features recipes from his restaurant and his show, and they are down-to-earth but festive, yet never fussy.

Chuck does seafood best as part of his repertoire but the cookbook contains great recipes focusing on the usual beef, chicken, veal and vegetarian.  The chapters of the book are broken done into easy to find Cocktails, Staff Meals, Amaazing, Garde-Manger, Fish & Seafood, Potato Crazy, Small Plates and Desserts.  I love that Chuck is humble and also gives props to his staff that help in customizing the constantly evolving menu at his restaurant.  There is a dedication in the book just to them.

Some of the delectable recipes you can find in this cook book that you can also have at Garde-Manger include of:

Bloody Caesar with Crab Legs – an in-house specialty drink.  Pricey but all the rage for first timers at Garde-Manger.  Now you can make this in your own house to dazzle your mates with.

Sardines and Roasted Tomatoes on Toast – mmm is right.  I usually have sardines in my kitchen cabinets and love to toss this lil baby together on a Saturday afternoon when I can’t be bothered to go out and do a grocery shop.

Lobster Poutine – we had this when we visited Garde-Manger as an appetizer.  It was warm, pure comfort food, fully laden with the richest and juiciest lobster on a bed of homemade fries with the silkiest gravy I have ever tasted in my life.  A Canadian classic indeed.

Is this book a good investment?  Indeed it is.  Not only is it a great souvenir if you have visited his restaurant and want to try your hand at the meals or as a neat gift for a friend and family member in your life.  It is a true foodie lover’s dream, but also speaks in language that you and I can really get giddy over.

Buy the book here:

http://www.harpercollins.ca/books/Garde-Manger-Chuck-Hughes/?isbn=9781443413268

http://www.amazon.ca/GARDE-MANGER-CHUCK-HUGHES/dp/2923681495

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Garde-Manger-Chuck-Hughes/9781443413268-item.html?ikwid=garde+manger&ikwsec=Home

Happy Birthday Mr. Strummer!

Today marks the 60^th birthday of Joe Strummer.  60.  This past weekend was also the Annual ‘Strummer of Love Festival’ coordinated by his lovely daughters in Somerset, England.  I’m thinking next year possibly hitting it up for my 40^th birthday.  http://www.strummeroflove.com/

I have a funny relationship with The Clash.  I liked them as a teen but didn’t get really into them until my early 20’s.  I remember having a crush on a boy in highshcool that used to make tapes for me which always had ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go?’ on them.

A few years ago, my friend A reintroduced me to them and again it was a love affair.  Time passed and again, The Clash got shelved for some new music of the moment.  Then recently another chap sent me home with another bagful of Clash books, DVD’s and the like.  The Clash on the brain much?  I need to stay away from boys who like The Clash methinks.

I’ve liked many a band growing up.  In a way I sometimes think I have music adhd.  But whenever my iPod and mood find myself coming back to ‘Combat Rock’ and ‘London Calling’ – I feel so happy.  The music instantly takes back to my teen years when it was all about spinning vinyl on the crappy record player in my bedroom and forgetting about homework for hours on end.

Last week I received a fresh paperback copy of The Clash with a lovely hot pink cover.  It tells the unique story of the Clash, by the Clash. The Clash was a band like no other. Pioneers of British punk rock, their incendiary gigs, intelligent song writing, definitive style and passionate idealism caught the spirit of the times and made them a worldwide phenomenon. Rolling Stone magazine declared London Calling one of the greatest albums of all time, their autobiographical documentary Westway to the World won a Grammy, and their music lives on, influencing emerging bands and exciting new audiences today.

This is the first official book to be created by the band. With unprecedented access to the Clash archive, this landmark publication brings together previously unseen material–including tour posters, artwork, and photos of the band at home, on stage, in the studio and on the road–with each member telling it like it was, in their own words.

Trendsetters, icons, revolutionaries: their story is steeped in mythology. Many people have an opinion about what made them who they were – this book gives the chance to read the full story, from all four band members themselves.

What I appreciated about this book is that it gives small bit size pieces on each of the lad’s stories at certain times in their musical history.  Paul Simonon is my favourite but between him and Mick Jones they kept me giggling throughout this compact pocket edition.

Initially when this book came out in hard cover I thought ‘how am I going to read this book tucked up in bed?’  It’s an easy read and so unlike in the long windedness of ‘Redemption Song:  The Ballad of Joe Strummer’.

There are so many good bits to the book:  the disco graphic snapshot retrospective, global historical tour dates, film information highlights and fantastic vintage pictures of the band.

Ah yes, not only is the book a good chuckle but reading it will bring you closer to the band.  It’s pretty emotional at times – be prepared.

I have an extra fresh copy of The Clash book to giveaway to one of my lucky readers.  Thank you to Chapters Indigo!  All you need to do is sign up to my blog and you will be entered for a chance to win it.  The deadline for entries is August 31, 2012.

Lastly, Happy Birthday to my fellow Leo, Mr. Strummer!  Wherever you are in the heavens…we miss you.

Moleskine Passions: Music Journal

Moleskine Passions:  Music Journal

Being a total music geek, I love to learn about new and cool bands.  I love listening to music on my ipod to and from work, travelling, going on short subway trips as I run errands etc.  – It’s such a huge part of my self-care. 

There are times when I feel slightly inundated with tunes.  Last summer at Lollapalooza in particular – there were just so many bands, so much music and so many different things going that I wanted to research when I got back to Toronto.  I remember hoping I had something to write in to document my fav tunes and musical journeys.

This summer – I have myself sorted.  Why you ask?  Well I picked up a ‘Moleskine Passions:  Music Journal’.   Here are the deets (it’s a bit luxe, but that’s me):

Moleskine Passions: Music Journal

It’s fully embossed cover, 3 ribbon place markers and double expandable inner pocket.

6 theme-based sections to fill in: Artists, Lyrics, Playlists, Concerts, My Life in Music, Music Map.

6 tabbed sections to personalize as you wish with adhesive labels.

12 pages of staff paper and 28 blank pages in which to unleash your passion’s creativity.

Several adhesive labels: 80 to be used on the blank tabs, 150 with coloured icons and 12 to customize the cover.

13×21 cm, 5 x 8, 240 pages, acid-free paper.

This lil baby is something I keep in my purse and work bag – for easy access.  My friend’s mentions, tweet’s, Facebook status music updates – all go into it.  Gone are the days of me scrambling to pop it into my phone, scraps of paper or napkins.

It’s very sleek and just looks like an uber cool music notebook.  Very organized and a great place to pop in newspaper articles, Metro pictures, concert tickets and working playlists for working out and ‘on the go’ travel.  I’m always thinking about travel playlists so when I have a Genius Mix that pulls up a song that I haven’t heard in ages – the reminder goes directly into my Moleskine. 

The other night going home from work ‘Animal Instincts’ and ‘You and Me’ from The Cranberries appeared out of the blue.  It was so lovely.  I scribbled in a reminder to make a playlist around it for future trips home from work.  It’s the lil things people.

Yours in music,

Mel xo

Book Report: ‘Please Look After Mom’ Written by Kyung-Sook Shin

'Please Look After Mom' Written by Kyung-Sook Shin

‘Please Look After Mom’

Written by Kyung-Sook Shin

It’s very rare that I read a book and feel so utterly moved that I take moments out of my reading and think about what emotions and memories they evoke for me from my own past.

I had an emotional reaction whilst reading ‘Please Look After Mom’.  It made me think of my relationship with my own mom.  Those early years as a rambunctious teen with a whole lot of mod attitude and giving her the hardest trailblazing time.  Hey, I was the first born and I wanted my fun and fought for it.

‘Please Look After Mom’ tells the story of a family’s search for their missing mother — and their discovery of the desires, heartaches and secrets they never realized she harboured within.

When sixty-nine-year-old So-nyo is separated from her husband among the crowds of the Seoul subway station, and vanishes, their children are consumed with loud recriminations, and are awash in sorrow and guilt. As they argue over the “Missing” flyers they are posting throughout the city — how large of a reward to offer, the best way to phrase the text — they realize that none of them have a recent photograph of Mom. Soon a larger question emerges: do they really know the woman they called Mom?

Told by the alternating voices of Mom’s daughter, son, her husband and, in the shattering conclusion, by Mom herself, the novel pieces together, Rashomon-style, a life that appears ordinary but is anything but.

This is a mystery of one mother that reveals itself to be the mystery of all our mothers: about her triumphs and disappointments and about who she is on her own terms, separate from who she is to her family.

Getting back to my teen years – some battles I won.  Some I lost.  But all these years later I see how those battles and wins shaped me similarly to what the characters in the book experienced.  I only have my mom to thank for that.  My love of music, art, travel, drive, emotion and sometimes brassiness – all comes from her.  Her sacrifice – always endless.  Even today.

‘Please Look After Mom’ reminded me of everything my mom has done for me, given me, cooked for me, fought for me and cherished for me.  There were moments I actually wept because of the pure beauty in the words, language, tone and sentiment of this book.  In a way it kinda changed my life.  I know – it’s cheesy to say.  But it’s true. 

There was a moment in the last few month’s where I actually thanked my mom for something she did for me as a teen.  This is something let’s say we don’t really do in my culture.  Now I said it over the phone (small steps) – but I’m glad I told her. 

Thank you to Lindsey at Random House – I have a free copy of ‘Please Look After Mom’ up for grabs.  Sign up to my blog and you could win yourself this lovely work.  If you are already subscribed consider yourself already entered.  Contest Closes on May 12, 2012.

If you don’t win it, pick up a copy for your Mum’s for Mother’s Day and remember her to thank her in your own special way.

Best of Luck! 

Mel xo

Independent Book Blogger Awards: Please Vote for ‘Thirty Four Flavours’ so this girl can go to NYC! ;)

Goodreads and the Association of American Publishers Trade Division members are sponsoring the Independent Book Blogger Awards to recognize those who write passionately about books.  C’est moi! 

Four bloggers will win a trip to Book Expo America, including airfare and hotel accommodations.  Holla! 

Blogs can be entered in one of four categories: Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, Young Adult and Children’s, or Publishing Industry.   I entered the Adult Nonfiction category for pieces I have done recently for Thirty Four Flavours.

Each of the four category winners will receive a pass to Book Expo America (June 5-7, 2012) with airfare and hotel accommodation in New York City.

Please vote for my blog Thirty Four Flavours below!    Merci!

Vote for this blog for the Independent Book Blogger Awards!

Vote

The Toronto Star: J.K. Rowling’s Pottermore site for all things Harry

Muddled Muggles online rejoice!

J.K. Rowling’s long awaited online venture, Pottermore, an everything Harry Potter-related website is set to launch in April.

The site was supposed to launch in October of last year, but the expected demand caused those behind it to push back the launch.

A statement posted on the site this week says testing was extended after feedback from early users made it “clear that our original platform wouldn’t be suitable when millions more users came on to the site.”

The site currently features a welcome video from Rowling, and notes that Pottermore is in Beta. The video states the site is a place for Potter fans to come together, but there will also be ways for them to engage and help build the site, although it’s not exactly clear how they will be able to contribute and participate.

The site is also supposed to offer audio and e-book editions of the seven Potter novels, but Rowling spokesman Mark Hutchinson said Thursday that the sale date for e-books had not been confirmed.

Rowling had for years resisted making her work available in digital form