For many, this weekend was the weekend of sex… Sex and the City, that is.

I actually am not one of those gals who have loyally followed SATC four years as they negotiated the waters of life and love (and yes, that ‘s’ word too). It’s not for lack of interest—I’ve fully enjoyed the few random episodes I’ve caught here and there but I could never really figure out when it was on and on what channel and it just seemed like a really big commitment I wasn’t ready for at the time.

But I get why SATC is more an obsession than a hobby for some.

For those people, having another chance to gorge themselves on the exploits, riotous conversation and drool-worthy Manolos of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte after they (the fans, that is) had been forced to say their tearful goodbyes for—what they thought would be—ever at the series finale, it must have been too exquisitely joyful for words.

At least, that’s the kind of reaction I was expecting from the hard-core SATC fans in the audience on Friday night.

As we lined up outside the theatre doors I had my misgivings.

The theatre we ended up at (Cavendish in Montreal… hey, tickets were really hard to come by and Katie and Jenna—or was it Mark?—were desperate) was pretty ghetto and didn’t exactly attract, ahem, girls for whom SATC was a style bible, ifyouknowwhatimean.

But once the lights went down and the first few notes of the SATC theme song came bouncing out of the speakers, I got the reaction I was looking for. The theatre heaved with a collective gasp and a few girls couldn’t hold back their squeals. The true appreciation of these fans was obvious.

I must admit, it was quite cute. Heart-warming, almost.

As the movie rolled along, it was punctuated with our reactions—bursts of laughter (that Charlotte scene is forever etched in my mind), groans of despair (don’t worry, I won’t ruin it for you) and—I couldn’t see but could FEEL it—tears of anguish and of joy.

It was a great movie, even for a non-SATC addict; maybe especially for a non-SATC addict. Since I didn’t have any preconceived notions as to what should happen or expectations as to its fidelity to the TV series, I could enjoy it for what it was: a fun story with endearing characters who delivered witty lines with panache, both metaphorically and physically (some of those clothes really were to die for)… and who made a lot of girls very, very happy this past weekend.

I totally envied them.

Now can someone please magically unearth a ninth book in the Anne of Green Gables series so I can experience the same delicious thrill?

]]> http://purplegables.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/satc-in-montreal-le-ooh-le-ahhh/feed/ 4 Kasia Fink http://purplegables.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/ok-ok-i-get-it-you-are-not-a-plastic-bag/ http://purplegables.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/ok-ok-i-get-it-you-are-not-a-plastic-bag/#comments Thu, 22 May 2008 23:56:30 +0000 Kasia Fink http://purplegables.wordpress.com/?p=422 ]]>

I’ll definitely look back on 2008 as the year the plastic bag died… and the year re-usable tote bags exploded on the scene.

It all started with that silly cloth bag:

And then the retail sector caught onto the hotness and started churning out their own versions. The first one I got was from Lululemon and I thought, wow, this is really cool.

Then Jacob had them and I thought, awesome, this is the perfect size to bring my lunch to work every day. But now EVERY store is handing them out like crazy–I have a Capers one and a Bay one and a TELUS one and probably more but I can’t remember. Everyone’s doing it. It’s not so neat anymore.

But I have to say, these new Commercial Drive banner bags bring the funky back to non-plastic bags.

Almost every year the Commercial Drive Business Society prints 256 32″ x 60″ nylon street banners which help create a festive, colourful atmosphere for this unique shopping neighbourhood. Eventually each edition of these unique designs must be retired, so rather than sending them to the landfill they’ve come up with a very green idea — transform them into reusable nylon shopping bags!

Now that is clever.

The banner bags are are available in 2 sizes ($9.95 & $14.95) and 10 different colours. Info on where you can get your hot little hands on one of these babies here.

This brought to mind those iconic banners that Calgary splashes all over the city each year for the Stampede–you know the ones…

Wouldn’t I love to get my hands on a bag made of one of those! (Yes I am both cheesy and nostalgic. As if you didn’t already know that.)

I know it seems like I’ve been talking a lot about shopping lately but hey, there’s a lot of shopping involved when you’re planning a wedding – dresses, shoes, makeup… and that’s only for the girls. So lately, things that pop up that I normally wouldn’t pay attention to suddenly become interesting.

Like the email from Sephora I got the other day:

Judging by this, it looks like Sephora is NOT coming to Vancouver anytime soon, contrary to popular belief.

So let me get this straight.

Ontario just opened another Sephora store and has another opening in May. This brings the total to SEVEN Sephoras in Ontario and THREE in Alberta. And oh, this is really rich: there’s going to be not one, but TWO in Montreal’s suburbs.

All this and there is not one Sephora in Canada’s third largest city, Vancouver???

I don’t get it.

I like free stuff. I mean, who doesn’t? The thing is, free stuff isn’t easy to come by – the good free stuff, that is.

I saw an Oprah episode about 10 years ago that stuck in my head, about this woman who entered every single contest she got her hands on. It showed her in her garage completely surrounded by all this stuff she’d won – cars, bikes, food, toys, clothes… you name it.

With this in mind, I sometimes enter the odd contest. My personal rule is that I’ll enter only if it’s something I’d actually be elated to win (and if it’s a reputable source). Granted, I’m starting to get a bit of email clutter as a result of this despite the fact that I always check the little box to opt-out of “future mailings from us or our trusted affiliates that may be of interest to you”. I can only imagine how much junk mail that other lady gets.

But I still haven’t won anything.

Maybe that’s partly why I am so pumped over my newly discovered tactic of getting free stuff – store openings and product launches!

See, I subscribe to a few email newsletters that interest me and a couple weeks ago one of them was advertising a Mavi store opening event here in Vancouver’s Gastown.

Normally I’d never attend something like this but I was enchanted by the magic words: “goodie bags”. Especially as those words followed “one night only discounts” and “chocolate tasting”.

So I convinced a friend to meet up with me for pre-goodie bag martinis followed by the main event. And you know what? It was totally worth it! Not only did I snag a pair of new jeans for 25% off (regular $88), but I got a whack of free stuff: bag, chocolates, Estee Lauder mascara, Lou Lou magazine, Parissa wax strips, spa discount coupons, underwear and, my personal fave, Mariah Carey lipgloss and purse-sized perfume!

Ok, ok, I know what you’re thinking… Mariah Carey lip gloss?? But wait–the lip gloss wand has a light in it which shines on your lips when you’re putting it on!! And even though I’m aware of the irony of that (if you need a light to put on your lip gloss, doesn’t that mean it’s so dark that no one would see it anyway???), I still dig it. And I didn’t pay money for it, which makes it cool even if it’s not cool.

Let’s see if we can go two for two – I’ve conscripted a couple more friends to hit the Bombshell Bargains Event this Friday, May 9th in Yaletown. One of them really needs a pick-me-up (her twin just moved away and I can’t imagine how tough that must be!) and nothing says happy like swag. The website claims: “These highly anticipated sales will feature best-selling products, special discounts, giveaways and lots of fun.” And of course, it includes those sparkly two words which are music to my ears: Free Gift. Ahhhh….!

If want to get in on these scoops, subscribe to I Love Sample Sales (for cool stuff in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, NY, LA), The Style Spy (for hip chicks in Canada) and Vitamin V (for Vancouver vixens; Montreal mavens, check out Vitamin M and Toronto gals- Vitamin T).

Still no news on when (if?) Sephora will open in Vancouver but there IS one thing that I CAN confirm:

H&M finally opens at the Pacific Centre on May 22nd at noon sharp!

I drove by the other day and saw the sign with my very own eyes. If this is going to be anything like opening of H&M at Centre Rockland in Montreal, I think I’ll let the crowds die down a bit before venturing over there. It’s either that, or start growing my nails–all the better to fight my way in! Girls get nasty when there are hot clothes at amazing deals to be had. Not to mention the jewelry and shoes… oh, the delicious, delightful shoes…

I finally made it to the Army & Navy shoe sale today. Remembering last year’s insanity, I opted to forgo Day 1 of the sale but maybe that wasn’t such a good idea.

Supposedly they’re replenishing the stock all day long every day of the sale, but all the stuff I saw those poor A&N employees pulling out of boxes was more of the same, which is to say, more boringness.

I went in high hopes of finding some shoes of the purple persuasion but came up with nilch… except for this pair of cute flats for $24.99. Good for schlepping to and from the office (I keep my heels under my desk to eliminate stinky-feet-smell away from my precious bag) but not exactly the most exciting pair of shoes you’ve ever seen.

And, come to think of it, the madness wasn’t quite as ‘mad’ as I remember it being last year.

All in all, it was pretty meh. Kind of like expecting chocolate chip kalua flavored ice cream with crazy sprinkles and whipped cream and cherries… and getting vanilla. And not even cool Madagascar Vanilla Bean vanilla, just plain ole’ 4 litre tub vanilla.

Oh well. Now I know.

The annual insane shoe sale at Army & Navy begins tomorrow here in Vancouver and also in Calgary.

After my adventures last year – make that misadventures (why did I suddenly think my feet magically shrank a size to accommodate those darling size 6 shoes??) – I can’t decide if my anxiety is more excitement or nervousness.

I mean, I just got rid of at least ten pair of shoes at the yard sale that Lisa, Tim and I did last Saturday on their front lawn (first one of the season! It was so exciting!) so I finally feel uncluttered in the shoe department, and almost… zen-like. It feels so good, I don’t want to ruin it.

But I still need a pair of shoes for my wedding and I’m realizing that lilac-colored shoes are surprisingly hard to come by. T’cha, I know! I mean, who DOESN’T want lilac-colored shoes?! Not to mention three bridesmaids that need shoes.

Sigh. I might have to just pop my head in. Just for a minute. Just to look around…

If you don’t make it to Army & Navy tomorrow, not to worry – the sale runs until April 27th.

I have it on pretty good authority (i.e. the clerk at the Sephora in Florida told Kym and so it MUST be true… dear Lord, let it be true…!!!!) that Sephora is coming to Vancouver.

This summer. Pacific Centre. I hope.

Heavens, I haven’t been this excited since I heard the New Kids on the Block are getting back together. Oh right, that wasn’t too long ago. Well, still.

Oh Sephora, dear Sephora. You draw me in like a magnet and I flit from shelf to shelf to stoke the fire of my desire with fabulous glittery Fresh eyeshadows, buttery Bombshell lip glosses and glowing Nars blushes. I’m like a diabetic in a sugar-free chocolate store; like a butterfly with ADD in Buchart Gardens; like Rob in EB Games when they’re having a 2 for 1 Xbox game blow-out.

And dear, sweet Sephora, how you love me back. Like that time I ordered that Diorshow mascara from you online and you sent me an email thanking me for my order and called me “gorgeous”. Or how you remembered my birthday and not only sent me an email but gave me a gift – a free luxurious 1.7 oz tube of Naked Body Butter which my sister-in-law in Calgary had to pick up since, alas, you have not yet graced us with your presence here in Vancouver.

But that is (hopefully!) about to change.

And halleluja to that.

UPDATE: Apparently I was a little optimistic and Sephora is NOT coming to Vancouver any time soon.

It’s no secret I love purses. And shoes. But we’re talking about purses here so don’t let me get off topic.

I don’t exactly know when it happened, but sometime, somewhere, I adopted this idea that a woman’s purse is a visual representation of who she is – or wants to be. I say wants to be because, well, did you know that, for a not-so-small-fee, you can actually “borrow” top-of-the-line, current-season purses??

Oh yes, my dears. Welcome to Bag Borrow or Steal (which, coincidentally, wins my award for most clever business name).

I won’t even get into the moral implications of renting a $1500 bag in order to make other people think… well, all sorts of things, depending on where they come from. Who am I to judge? I admit, I too have been known to drool over totally ridiculously priced arm-candy occasionally.

Not that I would ever rent a bag. I prefer knock-offs procured from shady-looking characters with suitcases of illegal goods on Canal Street in New York. You don’t have to worry about spilling your coffee all over a $30 knock off, which is important for part-time klutzes such as yours truly.

What can I say? It could be worse. I could have a fetish for um… Porsches. Or yachts. Turns out I just like well-structured bags.

Good thing I have a boyfriend (oh, okay… fiance… but I feel like such a retard saying that dumb word) who keeps my ridiculousness in check.

Mostly.

It’s fun to be ridiculous sometimes.

It took her awhile to get here but when she finally did, boy did we ever rip it up.

My bestest g-friend Patti made it to Vancouver last week for a very much anticipated visit. Not only did we cram a year’s worth of gossip, martinis and hearty belly-laughs into four days, but also some pole-dancing, a photo-op with Santa and… duh… shopping.

Let’s not kid ourselves, I know you’re intrigued about the pole dancing so let’s start there.

Last Thursday we were cool enough to be invited (ok fine, it was a Rob-organized event) to a very exclusive Secret (as in the deodorant) Hot Experiences party. The invite-only event was designed (or so I imagine) to influence brand perception among the hippest gals in the city and spawn word-of-mouth marketing by the influencers. Well, looks like it worked… I’m talking about it, aren’t I? From the moment we were greeted by the doorman we knew we were in for a treat – I mean, he had the guest list memorized. Talk about feeling like an A-lister.

We were ushered into an ultra-cool looking room decorated with flowers and blue lights and oh my, a delicious looking bar; when I was told it was a fitness centre (it was at Studeo 55), it seemed even more impressive. The martinis were plentiful as was the food, though I wasn’t very inspired to indulge in the latter given the scary-looking workout pants they gave us all to change in. Wasn’t the point of the event to have ‘Hot Experiences’?

Who feels hot in almost-white spandex-type cotton pants? Ugh! We tried our best.

That was, thankfully, the only downer of the evening.

We were slit into groups and got to spend time participating in 3 ‘hot’ activities: pole-dancing… just as fun as my first experience with a pole; what they called hip-hop dancing… which was really just sexy dancing, as in, step-step-shampoo-commercial (i.e. touch your hair a lot and pout) with the neighbouring condos for an audience; and dishing with celebrity gossip factory Lainey from laineygossip.com.

All were fun but my favorite part had to be the gossiping. I mean, Tom Cruise and Xenu juice… half an hour just isn’t enough time to dissect all the craziness. Oh right, plus, I’m not so sporty; my armpits still hurt from that freaking pole. Check it out: Patti and I even made it on Lainey’s website.

See? Don’t we look like we’re having fun?

Puh-lease. Put Patti and me in a sewer with rats and two sticks to rub together for entertainment and we’ll have a good time. Add some vodka and pole-dancing, and it’ll show up on the internet somewhere.