Did everyone have a merry Christmas? Did you get everything you asked Santa for on your list? If a few items were missed or you are looking to exchange a few items, there are a few movies and TV shows that are hitting shelves this week for those post-Xmas shopaholics out there. If you’re up in Canada, you can check out these titles while you are doing your Boxing Day shopping.

This week’s featured release is Final Destination 5. The gory, thriller flick brings back all the antics from the previous films in the series. Here is a quick synopsis:

Death is just as omnipresent as ever, and in Final Destination 5 it strikes again. During the bus ride to a corporate retreat, Sam (Nicholas D’Agosto) has a premonition in which he and most of his friends — as well as numerous others — die in a horrific bridge collapse. When his vision ends, events begin to mirror what he had seen, and he frantically ushers as many of his colleagues — including his friend, Peter (Miles Fisher), and girlfriend, Molly (Emma Bell) — away from the disaster before Death can claim them. But these unsuspecting souls were never supposed to survive, and in a terrifying race against time, the ill-fated group tries to discover a way to escape Death’s sinister agenda.

Check out a few other titles hitting stores this week below.

Check out more new releases after the jump.

Christmas is a time to eat and drink and sleep and then wake up and eat and drink more and finish it off with a little drinking and midnight eating. At least I hope so, because today I was on the Gold Coast and saw a woman going into the Fitness First gym here on Christmas Eve while I was coming out of the beer store and it just sickened me. SICKENED ME! GIVE IT UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS!@#

Moving on, with all this eating and drinking every year, sometimes we can get into the routine of making the same Christmas dinner over and over. And sometimes that’s absolutely FINE because Christmas dinner is delicious no matter what. But if in fact you need to surprise yourself and your family a little and put in that WOW factor for a little jazz, try one or two or all three of these little tips to give your dinner a little tip over the edge – something they’ll be craving until next year.

1. The Ultimate Ham Rub!

If you’re making a ham this year, don’t go ANOTHER MINUTE without putting this delicious sticky rub on the outside of it. Cook your ham as directed and then 20 minutes before it’s finished, pull it out, score it with half inch deep scores all over and mix together this:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons brandy (or water)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

You really might even have the ingredients already hanging around from making gingerbread. Just make it into a paste, rub it all over that ham bake it for another 20 minutes. You’ll have a ham that me and my friends and family crave and praise every year. Delicieux!

more recipes after the jump

Thanksgiving is coming up this weekend and before we know it, Christmas and New Years after that. This is a wonderful time of year for spending extra special time with family and friends. But, it can also be a stressful time of year, especially if you are hosting.

Here’s a list of tips to get you extra prepared for common “emergencies” that are encountered when hosting a holiday dinner or gathering, courtesy of BobVila.com.

1. Hydrogen Peroxide

Spills will happen. They’ll happen on your carpet, they’ll happen on your pants, they’ll happen on your dress. Be ready. First, blot the spill with a paper towel. Then, combine one teaspoon of carpet shampoo (or dish soap) with 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Soak a clean sponge in the mixture, squeeze it halfway dry, then gently blot the stain. Continue until the stain lifts. After that, sponge the stained area with warm water, then blot dry with a clean cloth or mor paper towels. Mission accomplished.

Read the rest of this entry »

Okay last minute Christmas shoppers. May this be a lesson to you. Don’t leave it until the last minute. Trust me. It’ll cause less stress on your body. However, if you still need a few last minute ideas or stocking stuffers, look no further than this list of new releases hitting shelves today. There is a movie or concert DVD here for at least a few people on your list, especially if you have any young ones to buy for.

This week’s featured release is sure to please any Glee fan out there. It’s the release of the Glee: The Concert. The limited theatrical engagement literally bombed in theaters but is sure to do well on the DVD front. This DVD or blu-ray literally gives you a front seat into the show as well as a backstage pass into behind-the-scenes footage, unseen performances and more.

And, for those of you who are way in the tech game this year, you can pick up the 3D version of the blu-ray to enjoy on your 3D TVs. That way, you can experience the film the way it was intended in theaters. A must have for all the Gleeks in your life. Check out more new releases below.

More new releases after the jump.

Feeling a little deprived of color this Winter? Check out H&M’s Spring Summer 2012 Lookbook for some bright fashion inspirations to get you through this season.

We’re seeing a lot of purples, yellows and oranges for the coming season and they’re paired with beige and whites for a polished but youthful look. Check out the video on the next part of the post.

Read the rest of this entry »

A comparative review of two excellent small batch, limited quantity, bourbons.

This fall I’ve been enjoying two new additions to my liquor cabinet. Both are of a same family of spirit and step outside my normal stomping ground. Just in time for your Christmas list, I will be reviewing and comparing two bourbons, Knob Creek and Basil Hayden’s here.

To start off -Try Bourbon! I have absolutely enjoyed the experience. Bourbon is not something you will likely go out to a dance club and order, it’s special. Perfect as a nightcap, afterwork treat, or with a delicious dinner. This holiday season I can imagine sitting with family and friends enjoying hot bourbon after a day on the slopes.

More after the jump…

Feeling a little down with the dark, cold and rainy weather? Check out H&M’s Spring Summer 2012 Lookbook video for a little fashion pick me up. Something to look forward to next season! I really love the pop of neon in the outfit above paired with the gray knit sweater.

I’m usually not one for colour but I do love the pops of in this collection, they show just enough colour without going over the top. Trés Très chic!

Check out the video on the next part of the post.

Check out H&M’s spring/summer lookbook after the jump.

It’s the time of year where many of you are searching for something unique for the special man (or men) in your life. Well, as you know I am the co-founder of a men’s skin care & grooming store called Masc and myself and Jamie were guests on Global BC Morning News to talk about gift ideas for men this past Friday morning. This was our second year as guests of this morning show (having also been guests last year), so we selected some new & noteworthy products that we hadn’t yet discussed on the air before.

Sophie Lui was off for the day, so it was just us with Steve Darling discussing the latest and greatest in men’s skin care. We touched upon some stocking stuffer ideas, a toiletry bag made of recycled tire inner tubes, fragrances, Knot Theory ties, and more! Watch our 5 minute segment below!

Watch the clip after the jump…