RATE IT! Another Stamp of Approval

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - that's Prince William & Kate Middleton - will be landing in Canada today! The royal couple will be celebrating my country's 144th birthday on Friday, and visiting several provinces during their nine day trip to the Great White North.


To celebrate this special occasion, Canada Post has just released its 3rd stamp featuring Wills & Kate. This new version features a post-wedding snap of the newlyweds. Earlier stamps were released to mark the royal wedding back in April, and displayed their official engagement photos. 


Want in the royal festivities? Click on the Canada Post link above, and shop to your heart's content. 

RATE IT! JK Rowling Climbs Her Family Tree

As a genealogy fanatic, I'm thrilled to hear that BBC are showcasing yet another series of their excellent Who Do You Think You Are this summer. 


Unfamiliar with the TV program? WDYTYA takes celebrities on a journey of a lifetime - an exploration into their family history. The series has been so successful that it has spawned American, Australian, and Canadian versions in addition to the eight seasons in Britain. The latest sampling due to air in the UK this August boasts Harry Potter creator, JK Rowling, Gavin & Stacey's Larry Lamb, comedian Alan Carr, UK Olympic medalist Sebastian Coe, and Bee Gee Robin Gibb. 

JK Rowling's involvement is particularly timely with the Harry Potter movie saga about to conclude in a few weeks time. Well done, BBC for this spell of programming magic. 

HATE IT! Rub & Smell Magazines

Hands up. Who despises the overpowering perfume strips that lurk in magazines? 


I do! As soon as I receive a fresh issue, I tear out the smelly culprit & toss it in the bin. Unfortunately the remnants of the stinker do remain for a short spell. At least the full-on stench has been sent to its rightful place. 


So you can imagine how pleased I am to see that the July 2011 issue of In Style has incorporated several seasonal scents within its pages. Have a sniff for yourself - there's popcorn, suntan lotion, watermelon... all there to give the reader a new of 'enjoying' the magazine.


I love In Style, but I'm passing on this issue. Sneezing my way through page by page is not my idea of a good time. Gives a whole new meaning to seasonal allergies! 

RATE IT! Shawshank Redemption - Totally '80s

Movie fans will LOVE this re-edit of the Shawshank Redemption... given the '80s montage treatment. Somewhere Kenny Loggins is smiling. From the brainiacs at Funny or Die.

Awesome 80's Montage: Shawshank - watch more funny videos

RATE IT! Pop Culture Dads - A Celebratory List

Father's Day is this coming Sunday. 


To celebrate the occasion, I took an inventory of ten of the most memorable Fathers in entertainment history. Did your favourite pop culture Dad make the cut? And which one reminds you of YOUR Pop?

See where your faves stack up in my latest article for Slice.ca. Click here & enjoy!

RATE IT! Pop Culture Pups

Dog gone it! Pop culture has gone to the dogs! 

Who doesn't like a four-legged scene stealer on the big (or little) screen? Hollywood has always been partial to talented canines, and who am I to disagree!

Here's my latest article for Reader's Digest.ca... 10 Pop Culture Pups. Enjoy!

And as for my Zoey, she'll always be a star in my eyes!

RATE IT! Go the F**k to Sleep

You don't have to be a parent to laugh at this off-kilter book. 


'Go the F**k to Sleep' by Adam Mansbach is a kids' book intended for adults. Don't let its appearance fool you. This seemingly kid-friendly story is not for the pre-school set - and that's part of its charm. 


Having had one too many nights where his beloved little angels wouldn't fall asleep, Mansbach came up with this funny story idea. Already claiming the #1 ranking atop Amazon's book charts in both the humour, and parenting categories, 'Go the F**k Asleep' has obviously struck a cord with many sleep deprived parents.


The title alone is worth the price of this book! Too funny! Available now from Amazon.com, or your local bookshop. 

HATE IT! Scary Ketchup & Mustard

It's a very rare occurrence where something gets the hands-down 'hate it' treatment around here... well, kiddies today is *that* day.


Blinking ketchup & mustard bottles ... need I say anymore? 


Scare the crap out of the neighbourhood kids at your next barbecue, or picnic with these creepy condiment containers. 

Never mind the under 12s, I'M going to have nightmares tonight!

RATE IT! Ice Cream Sandwich Pillow

You can keep your House and Garden ultra-trendy home decor. Instead, I'll gladly take this nifty ice cream sandwich pillow into my abode. It's cute, looks comfy and never takes itself too seriously. 

I think I've finally found the perfect match for the cupcake pillow. 

RATE IT! Reasons to Watch...Brides of Beverly Hills

Who can resist watching the trials and tribulations of a rich bride? 


Not me!

Slice is premiering a BRAND NEW wedding series on June 16 at 9:30pm ET -- Brides of Beverly Hills! If you - like me - enjoy all those pre-wedding jitters that go into tracking down the ideal wedding gown, then this show is for you. And if you need more convincing, check out my Top 10 Reasons to Watch Brides of Beverly Hills... my latest article for Slice.ca.

RATE IT! Brownie Batter Joy!

IT'S BAAAACKKKKK!


Yes, Dairy Queen's Brownie Batter Blizzard is making new friends across the country! Those of us already familiar with the creamy double-fudge brownie batter concoction are almost speechless about its return. 


We're too busy enjoying the brownie chunks intermingled with the vanilla soft serve to even contemplate much of...well, anything. 


Live in the moment. With a Brownie Batter Blizzard, that's really not a problem! The only question that remains: when can I have another one?

RATE IT! Celebrity Cookbooks

Who doesn't like to eat? 


Well, by looking at some Hollywood stars it appears that they don't have the most healthy of appetites. Surprisingly, some do! Celebrity cookbooks are all the rage and with new collections from Sheryl Crow and Gwyneth Paltrow, there's much to digest.


Take a look at my Top 10 Celebrity Cookbooks article for Slice.ca, and I dare to come away without hunger pains!

RATE IT! Save Money, Update Your Wardrobe

With all the new clothes in the shops screaming 'it's summer!' it's easy to exercise your credit cards a little *too* much. Fear not, you can expand your summer wardrobe without verging on bankruptcy. 


Check out my latest article for Slice: How to Update Your Summer Wardrobe Without Breaking the Bank.

Hey, if you save some cash with my tips, how about treating me to a DQ Blizzard? Can't blame a girl for asking! 

RATE IT! Milk & Cookies

I don't think that I really have to explain why this book would be considered a 'rate it.' The subject matter pretty much speaks for itself. Cookies are a dietary staple for me. Some people struggle with their caffeine fix, while others partake in a sneaky cigarette between 9-5 meetings. For me, I'd rather enjoy a decadent, gooey chocolate chip cookie any day. Actually, scratch that..."a" cookie should be revised to "many" cookies. That's just how I roll - literally!


This drool-enticing cookbook, 'Milk & Cookies: 89 Heirloom Recipes from New York's Milk & Cookies Bakery' contains enough recipe delights to keep me busy for some time. And the next time I'm in NYC, I'm definitely visiting the bakery that spawned this book!