I’m one of the first to admit that when it’s been a rough day or funds are tight ‘splurging’ on a new nail polish colour feels like a fun indulgence. Apparently my non-scientific approach to beauty is something of an economic indicator. Dubbed the ‘lipstick index’ back in 2001 by Leonard Lauder, Chairman of Estee Lauder, he quantified that when the economy is going through a rough patch the consumer demand for lipstick increases. Fast forward 10 years and research firm, NPD Group latest market research shows the sale of nail polish and products up 59 percent for the first ten months of 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010. Hmmm, a nail polish index?

Now I know some of you are reading this thinking – who has time to sit long enough to event let a coat of nail polish dry? Or better yet that after carving out time in your day to put polish on, it chips off by the time you are loading the car the next morning to head out to work. We recently featured a Stimuli Scoop on the Revlon`s new ColourStay™ Nail Enamel which boasts a 14 day wear. This stuff might not go the distance of 11 days, but it certainly doesn`t chip off and wears well over at least seven days. Now if you are still thinking about drying time, dings and chips, cue CND Shellac. Love. It.

You may have heard water cooler talk about shellac – here’s the lowdown. CND Shellac goes on like a regular nail polish but wears like a gel product. Unlike an artificial nail, shellac polish can’t make your nails longer than they are, but it can provide you with gorgeous nails for 14 days (or more in my case).  There is no filing down your nail bed, zero drying time (hello, no chips or dings!), it is hypo-allergenic and free of yucky stuff like formaldehyde and toluene.

So now you’re asking, but can I buy it at the drugstore? Nope. No you can’t. This product is hardened with the use of a UV lamp between coats so unless you have some funky tricks up your sleeve, I suggest turning to your favourite nail salon. I have a number of events coming up over the next few weeks and worrying about the state of my nails is not at the top of my current to do list. I had the pleasure of connecting with Stephanie of Tantalizing Talons in Surrey, BC, who has recently introduced the CND Shellac to her service menu.

There are a few things to consider when looking for a salon:

• What is the basic cost?
• Is there an additional charge to have a French polish application?
• Does the salon charge to remove the product?

My two favourites – Tantalizing Talons, a basic $35 cost for regular CND Shellac colour, including French and with a follow up appointment, there is no charge to have the product removed. My other favourite is Sour Apple Nail Bar, who, unlike other locations, also don’t charge to have the product removed.

by Kristine Carrick
Stimuli Magazine Contributor

I LOVE my Christmas tree! Ok, let’s back up for a moment and provide some context. For one reason or another, it’s been a few years since I have put up a Christmas tree at home. I should also say that I typically embrace Christmas with a ‘go big, or go home’ kinda attitude. So the choice for this year’s festive season was simple, embrace the season and go big or pack it all in and be ‘ba humbug’ forever.

In my quest to ‘go big’ the house (both front and back) is sufficiently decked with too many strands of lights to count, but not enough to be classed as a drive-by attraction, check. Next up – The Tree. Don’t ask me why, but while on the phone planning the annual family trip to select the perfect tree from Giesbrecht Tree Farm in Langley, BC, I announced to my mom that I wanted a ‘flocked’ tree this year. Cue the bad news, the lovely family tree farm that we have been going to for years, doesn’t flock trees. So, now some of you are probably asking,  “What the flock?!?”

The family tree adventure resulted in a Friday afternoon field trip for me, the dog and my mom in a quest to find someone that could provide a locally grown Christmas tree and the artful spray of faux snow.

As we pulled up to Port Kells Nursery in Surrey, BC, the first question we asked was “do you flock Christmas trees?”  The answer, “Go see Cheryl in the back.”  As we made our way past the rows of locally grown Christmas trees and the potted Evergreens decorated for a  Whoville-style Christmas, we found a forest of flockey goodness. Heavy flock, light flock, blue flock, pink flock, Cheryl is the resident flocker and has been perfecting the art for over 20 years.

Like me, you are probably wondering how many toxic chemicals are involved with synthetically applying snow to your carefully selected tree. Cheryl answered my many questions; the synthetic-like snow is made up from non-toxic, biodegradable materials, glue, paper and water. A properly flocked tree will not drop its needles all over your living room and once you’ve wrapped up the festive season, you can haul your flocked Christmas tree down to the local fundraiser for chipping. I am also going to assume you are thinking that there will be white ‘snow’ all over your house – not so. At Port Kells Nursery, they hang each of the trees from the top, and apply the flocking to your specifications. They also will string the lights for you, prior to flocking, so they blend into the tree.

I will warn you, if you head out the door after reading this column and think you can pick a tree, get it flocked and drive it home in the same day, you will be mistaken. My adventure on Friday afternoon was also an exercise in patience. Unless I was happy to go home with a pre-flocked tree off the floor, I had to allow two days for the process to properly unfold. As Cheryl explained, each tree needs to properly dry after being sprayed. If you take home your tree too soon, you will have gloopy, sticky faux snow.

As we left the nursery on Friday night, I purchased a beautiful, not quite A1, Nobel Fir from our favourite tree farm for a discounted price and turned around the following morning to deliver my tree to Port Kells Nursery for Cheryl to work her magic.

It was a bit like waiting for Santa to arrive on Christmas Eve, as my folks agreed to help me out on Monday to pick up my custom flocked tree. As it came out of the truck, Cheryl and the team at the nursery had thought through each of the installation details. Each tree has the Christmas light plug tagged with a blue ribbon – so you can find it BEFORE putting the tree in the stand and comes wrapped in a HUGE plastic bag tied at the top and with a hole in the bottom for the stump to go into the stand. As advised, we left the tree in the bag and attempted to navigate the 9 foot beauty into the tree stand.  In true family fashion, there were many opinions on how to get the tree straight in the stand – all that came to mind was an old friend who would often say “We’re makin’ memories here!”  Memories they are and with much ‘directing’, the tree is safely secure in the stand, lights and decorations on. The house is filled with amazing scent of Fir and I couldn’t be more pleased. In fact, my tree has me thinking I should break out invitations of good cheer, as this beauty deserves to be ogled by many.

Check out our flocked tree photo gallery on our facebook page.

Flocked or not, from my house to yours, may you have a very Merry Christmas!

by Kristine Carrick

 

As I stood waiting in the lineup for my daily dose of Starbucks earlier this week, I overheard some folks behind me discussing their long weekend plans. Sadly, there was not a mention of the reason for the statutory holiday we are about to enjoy. Maybe I was running low on caffeine and calories or maybe I’m just getting old and grouchy – but part of me wanted to remind them that those before us had given life and limb to ensure we had the privilege of living in a free Canada and that we honour that sacrifice on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

For me, I grew up in a family where military service was highly regarded. A grandfather who served over 20  years in the Royal Canadian Air Force, a grandmother who enlisted in the Women’s Royal Navy Service during the second World War, a father who served through the Royal Air Force and my cousins who enlisted in the British Army while I was busily worrying about what to wear out on a Friday night. One of those cousins – is back in training for yet another tour in Afghanistan.

Whatever your connection might be, when you wake up a bit later on Friday, November 11th remember to put your Poppy on and take just two minutes at 11am and remember those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today and those who are still standing on guard to maintain that gift. I will be spending my November 11th with friends as we thank and remember our veterans at the local cenotaph.

For ways to honour our veterans, visit Veterans Affairs, 50 Ways to Remember. Or visit the new cenotaph within the City of Langley at Douglas Park.

by Kristine Carrick
Contributor

Image Credit: Creative Commons: http://www.defenceimages.mod.uk

Usually I write about things a little closer to home….but this week my travels have taken me to the UK to visit with family. A few days ago, I made the lofty suggestion we take the dogs and head for the Yorkshire moors. After realizing I didn’t pack hiking boots we settled into the idea of a drive to Pickering to catch the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and travel on the historic steam train along the tracks to the seaside town of Whitby. While the train journey is only 24 miles (that’s just over 38 kilometres for us Canadians) the trips between each of the historic stations take up to 25 minutes and wind travellers through the national North York Moors national park, famed for the park’s heather moorland, which is rare elsewhere and covers one-third of the park. Most interestingly, the moors are mostly privately owned and managed for shooting grouse or grazing sheep.  

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one of the most historic lines in Northern England, originating back to the 1830’s. The original line operated for over a century providing goods and passenger service until the 1960’s. The line takes you from Pickering through Levisham, Goathland and Grosmont with each station restored to reflect a historical period in the railway’s history. For those of you who remember All Creatures Great and Small or are fans of the 1960’s themed Heartbeat television series, a stop at Goathland is a must as both series take place in the area. You may also recognize the train station at Goathland as Hogsmeade from the first Harry Potter film.  

At Grosmont the line continues through to the sea-side town of Whitby where we stopped to visit the Whitby Abby, famed for where Bram Stoker found inspiration through the Abby’s gothic splendour when writing Dracula. My photos and bit of video do nothing to demonstrate the absolute beauty of these ancient ruins of the Anglo-Saxon monastery which was built in AD 657. Unfortunately we were short on time and there were gale-force winds, but the ruins gave me goose bumps and I would happily revisit for a more in-depth visit.

While the quality of this video isn't great and the wind is very loud, it gives you a quick 180 degree view of the Moors.

Whether you are a history buff, nature lover or just looking for some beautiful scenery to look at during a trip to the Yorkshire, this trip is certainly worth a day of your time.

Who doesn’t dream of living in a neighbourhood, where streets are paved with….hold on, that’s not what this Million Dollar Neighbourhood is about! In case you haven’t heard, the community of Aldergrove, located in Langley, BC, was selected to participate in a new reality show, Million Dollar Neighbourhood. The show is produced by Vancouver-based Force Four Entertainment and the Canadian arm of Oprah Winfrey’s television network. One hundred Aldergrove families have been selected and are now in week four of a 10 week challenge to raise their community’s net worth by one million dollars.

As part of program, each week the Million Dollar Neighbourhood families are given an assignment – last week, get eight people jobs. This week, host a five star wine and dine event with just a week to plan it!

The details are coming together and the public have the opportunity to participate. Guests to the five star wine and dine event aptly named Once in a Million Autumn Wine & Dine features award winning Chef Anthony Sedlak who will prepare and serve a fall-inspired menu at the beautiful Mt. Lehman Winery during this truly Fraser Valley inspired event. The event takes place this Sunday, October 2nd and starts at Noon. Tickets are limited and available for $250; the cost of the ticket goes towards the goal of raising the community’s net worth by one million dollars.

This is one wine and dine event that is sure to deliver an entertainment punch as the families from the Million Dollar Neighbourhood project are your hosts, organizers and master minds behind the event that was born, raised and executed in under a week.

To purchase your tickets and for further event details call (604) 857-5061 or (604) 856-7475. Ticket holders will enjoy Mt. Lehman wines, a silent auction and an amazing fall inspired menu as prepared by Chef Anthony Sedlak.

by Kristine Carrick
Contributor