..well it is where I am (as I write this), so stay home (if possible), turn on your fireplace (if existent), don’t get out of your underwear (if you’re wearing any), and crank the heat (if you can afford it).

Everytime it gets dreary and cold and white outside, I turn on some mellow acoustic jams to set the mood for a real breather of a relaxing day, and this is what’s helping me mellow out right now.

1. Current Swell – ‘Long Time Ago’

These guys are total locals, hailing from Victoria on Vancouver Island here in BC and they’re pretty damn talented. Although the band already has four studio albums, this fourth and latest one with same title as their single, could really help give them the international push. Although released here locally, it will be available to everyone else in January. Until then, this single really is the mellow westcoast folk I need while cooking myself breakfast on a snow day.

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Just short and sweet, I find it a fine line between artistic integrity, videos that were on repeat at friends’ (Donovan‘s) house, and things that just made me happy despite popular concensus when considering what makes my list. But covering and considering all those bases, here we go. Agree or disagree, here were some great visuals to great songs this year that made it 2012 for me, and maybe you, but mostly me.

10. Psy – ‘Gangnam Style’

Love it or hate it, over a billion hits on YouTube can’t be wrong. We may never want to hear it again, but it will definitely, always remind me of 2012. Two words: Invisible. Horse.

Check out the rest of the list after the jump…

Photo Credit: Tourism Whistler / Mike Crane

Earlier this month, Homorazzi got the fantastic opportunity to attend the extravagance that is Cornucopia. Hosted every year in Whistler, Cornucopia congregates local chefs, distilleries, wineries and restaurants to showcase their best in show to anyone needing a bite and a sip.

This is my fourth year attending the festival, and I’m never disappointed. Being in the wine industry, the whole spectacle of it all is completely up my alley, and although friends and I in the industry have dubbed it “Li’l Vegas“, what you do remember the next morning is having a rip-roarin’ good time every single night.

The festival itself carries on over five days in November every year, and offers everything from chef table dinners, to competitions, to a plethora of seminars, all leading up to the gigantic Crush Gala’s on the last two nights of the festival. This year you could do everything from attending a local chocolate and wine seminar, a red carpet high-end casino event at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, or chat the night away at an endless oyster bar in one of Whistler’s most prestigious restaurants. The events are endless, and choosing what to do and when is really the only hard part.

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Well yes. The weather here in lurvely Vancouver blows right now, but unlike most, when the weather hits an all time low like this, I kick the beats up a notch, and leave the sappy acoustic stuff for the beach. So put on your neon spandex, cause I’m gonna show you what I’m dancing to right now.

JJAMZ – “Heartbeat”

Let’s start with the best of LA indie-pop group JJAMZ’s beats. Earlier this year JJAMZ (an acronym of all the band members names), came out with their debut album Suicide Pact, which I love. Heartbeat is a great feel good single, and saying they nailed ‘catchy’ on the head is an understatement. The amount of times I’ve caught myself singing this song this month is disgusting. In a good way. And I’m going to keep doing it.

Listen to this and two other songs after the jump…

Whatya’ get when you put together the tallest mountain in Africa, a handful of drag queens, and some seemingly insane paragliders? Well, you may or may not be in Vancouver this Sunday but there’s a way to help out some great charities, or just read about a pretty breathtaking worldwide adventure.

Heels for Kilimanjaro is going to be a fun drag show with tons of local talent, including local bartender Guy Herrington (or that night, Lady Guy-Guy). This will all be raising proceeds towards the event Wings of Kilimanjaro, happening February 5th, 2013, a record breaking expedition in Africa. A group of over 1000 people, including guides and crew, will take 200 paragliders to the top of the mountain, in a once in a lifetime opportunity to paraglide off. And said local Guy Herrington will be one of them!

On January 27th 2013, adventurers from all over the globe will assemble at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The team, the largest ever group to attempt the world’s tallest free standing mountain, aim to ascend the 19,340 foot high and fly from the summit. The climb and paraglide mission, something that is usually banned by the Tanzanian Government, will raise over US$1 million for 3 charities making a difference on the ground in Eastern Africa; Plant With Purpose, WorldServe International and One Difference.

That’s right, the Tanzanian government is lifting the ban for just one day for these heroic people. And with so much to be raised for great organizations, and a lot of adventure to be had, I suggest you help make these people’s dreams come true.

watch a clip about Wings For Kilmanjaro after the jump

On my way up to Whistler for Cornucopia last weekend, a handful of others in my industry and I were talking and we quickly arrived at the point in the conversation where everyone was asking where everyone was staying so we could plan for the weekend. With so many great hotels in beautiful Whistler Village, I was very surprised that every single one of them came to the same conclusion amongst each other when I mentioned where I was staying: Westin Whistler was by far their favorite hotel in Whistler. I can now understand why.

I’ve always had fantastic experiences with Westin, and no exception was made for this property. I’ve often driven by, and the first thing that’s always struck me is how well it fits into the surroundings, designed like a beautiful, oversized Chalet-style cabin. Lobby, spa, pool area, the rooms themselves, all of it together lends itself to the feeling that you’re staying in some wealthy mansion, and really not a hotel at all.

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Our latest Homorazzi episode just aired yesterday on OUTtv with Tommy, Nic, Patrick and Adam (shown above, from left to right). In case you missed it (or if you’re not in Canada), we’ve got the full episode for you to check out below. This was our eighth episode and we definitely had a lot of fun with it.

After sharing our Halloween costumes with you, we move into Gossip and discuss the rumor that Jessica Simpson’s dad is gay. One of the four panelists admits that he finds Joe Simpsons attractive and perhaps has a little crush on him.

In Music, we talk about No Doubt‘s controversial music video and Christina Aguilera’s new Lotus album, which quickly turns into why Tommy thinks Aguilera is “TOO MUCH!” As we delve into Movies, we zone in on the biggest movies of the moment, Skyfall and Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2.

Moving onto TV (which Adam & Tommy watch A LOT of), the first show to be discussed is The New Normal. “Nene Leakes is turning me out,” says Tommy. Nic tries to say something is “turning him out” later in the episode, but it doesn’t go so well. LOL. Other shows discussed include American Horror Story, The Walking Dead, DTLA, and RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars.

Watch the episode after the jump…

No it’s true. It may be the name of the song, but clearly the director and stylists took some inspiration from the title of the song (“Looking Hot“), because Gwen is SMOKIN’ in their new music vid!

This is the group’s follow up single to “Settle Down” off of their sixth studio album Push and Shove, released earlier this year. The first single had mediocre success, and for good reason. The single was on the weak side, and 100% on the safe side, and did nothing to showcase the album. But I have higher hopes for this new single, ’cause I dig what’s going on in almost every corner.

The song itself has a more classic No Doubt feel: a good beat, a great hook, a little reggae breakdown, and a whole lot of Gwen and the boys doing their thing. The video taps into old Western Americana, showing Gwen as the (bleach blonde) Native American Princess in distress in a classic kids game. But is this just an innocent game of cowboys and indians?

Watch the video after the jump…