Dec
25
2010

All I Want(ed) for Christmas…

Christmas is one of those holidays that sparks a lot of memories for each person when it comes to this time of year. Whether it’s helping out those in need, travel woes trying to make it home in time to spend with loved ones, those special moments with friends and family, shopping hassles trying to find that perfect present.

Speaking of presents, I’m sure a lot of you at one time or another have been double-checking around the Christmas tree after all your gifts were unwrapped, wondering, “That’s it?”, or have tried to keep a straight face when you open yet another ugly, knitted sweater or boxed panettone cake (“Gee… it’s what I’ve always wanted!” )

That’s made me think of some of the gifts of yesteryear that I’ve always wanted to receive for Christmas, but never got. Here’s my list (in no particular order):

  • Pogo
    Not only did this thing look like the planet Saturn, but it made you feel like you were bouncing on the moon (yes, I tried the one my friend got back in the 6th grade).
  • Pogo Ball

  • Easy Bake Oven
    I swear, if I had this growing up, I cooking and baking would’ve definitely become my profession instead of my hobby.
  • Easy Bake Oven

  • Dream Phone
    Is it too much to ask to call guys and get clues to find out which guy really likes you? “Hello, hunks!” Seriously though: is it just me, or are the guys in the commercial, like, 30-years-old?
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  • Tamagotchi
    I borrowed my friend’s once. I vaguely remember killing the pixel-based creature.
  • Tamagotchi

  • Girl Talk
    I’m not quite sure if I’d take the dare over the zit sticker.
  • Girl Talk board game

  • Mall Madness
    If I got this game as a gift, I would probably be more of a shop-a-holic than I am now.
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  • Skip-It
    This was definitely a workout. I forgot how many “skips” I clocked, but I was in the high double-digits for sure.
  • Skip-It

  • Teddy Ruxpin
    Who wouldn’t want a talking, animatronic teddy bear? Just as long as it didn’t end up like Chucky. LOL@the zombie-like response from all of the kids in the commercial after Teddy asks if they could be friends.
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Now of course Christmas is not all about the latest fads and gifts, so I’d like to thank Mom and Dad for the gifts they did manage to get me over the Christmases (like the Lite-Brite, She-Ra doll, Popples, Nintendo and the Star Trek paraphernalia). The holiday season is about being thankful for what you already have, spending quality time with your loved ones, and helping those less fortunate than yourself during this great season. As commercial as this holiday season has come, stemming from its humble beginnings with the miraculous birth that one silent night, I hope that everyone acknowledges the true meaning to the season and enjoys their holidays to the fullest.

Sep
07
2010

I survived the deep-fried everything at the EX…

So another Labour Day has passed and so has another successful season of the Canadian National Exibition. I usually go every year, this time it was particulary to test my palette with this year’s artery-clogging, edible fad: deep-fried butter.

Yes, you read correctly. If you didn’t already hear all the hype surrounding these battered concoctions, you’ll probably have to wait until next year to try it again at the EX (unless you want to attempt whipping up a batch yourself).

When I first heard of the deep-fried butter concept, I tried to invision how it would look, and also how it would taste (the thought of eating straight butter is a bit of a turn-off). But basically the batches are made with a butter-mix (from the taste I’m assuming it’s a butter-creamed cheese ratio) scooped up with a melon baller and frozen. After the bite-sized balls are taken out of the freezer it’s dipped into a batter (think along the same lines as funnel cake), then deep-fried for several moments. Afterwards, they’re topped off with swirls of chocolate, rasberry, vanilla and caramel. Sounds delicous doesn’t it?

Was it worth the hour I waited in line to purchase one? Probably not, because I could’ve just spread some butter on my funnel cake from the kiosk next door and kill some time. As I bit in it was definitely rather tasty-delicious, but then that squirt of butter hits you and you’re kind of taken aback. It definitely wasn’t bad though. But I don’t think I’ll fork over $5 for 4 tiny butter-balls any time soon. My friend ate hers whole, and found it very appetizing.

Did I feel sick after eating it? Not really… but then again, I also had a bit of my sister’s funnel cake, a dozen Tiny Tom Donuts, and of course I had to pick up a deep fried Mars bar because I haven’t had one of those before either (don’t worry… I shared all those treats with my sister and friend who were there with me… I’m not that greedy!). Hmmm… I forgot to mention I also had some Mexican-ized poutine earlier on that day from the Food Building.

I thought our deep-fried binge was a good ending to a long day shopping at the EX. That’s right, we didn’t really see any of the attractions, go to the casino, see the super-pets, or play the midway games–we shopped. And that’s only because there were such great deals in the warehouse (Direct Energy Centre). French Connection UK, Stitches, Costa Blanca, Bluenotes, Sirens… I don’t think I’ll need to pick up any more clothes for the rest of the year. I only spent about $80 in total and picked up four sweaters, a nice pair of dress pants from French Connection, three dressy tops,  a couple of nice shirts, two cute skirts, three tanks.

Now to pay that Visa bill…

Jul
14
2010

Dear Old Spice Guy…

I first saw these hilarious and now infamous Old Spice commercials featuring the handsomely handsome Old Spice Guy earlier this year. Creatively witty, these commercials played on the “insinuation” that men who use Old Spice will smell like the Old Spice Guy, thus being able to miraculously embody the masculine awesomeness he does.

Here’s a couple of the originals featuring actor Isaiah Mustafa:

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Come on now: who can resist tall, dark and handsome? Much less towel-clad, with a sexy baritone voice, 99% muscle, and uses a wildebeest as a loofah to wash his chiseled abs? Isaiah Mustafa plays him well… very well (probably smells damn good too).

The recent, personalized video replies that are currently posted on Old Spice’s YouTube channel are a hit.

It all started just the other day with an Old Spice tweet that stated:
Today could be just like the other 364 days you log into twitter, or maybe the Old Spice man shows up.

I mean, who wouldn’t like the Old Spice Guy replying to one of their posts/tweets/comments, and in real time? I just wonder how many people are going out there and purchasing Old Spice products because of the clever viral marketing and great use of social media?

I must admit that I was (easily) sucked in to watching at least a couple dozen of them before my browser crashed (probably due to The Old Spice Guy’s super manliness). Kudos to the creative marketing and writing team behind this idea. Who would’ve thought that a company that sold after-shave that you would only buy for your 78-year old grandfather for Christmas could turn things around and cater to a younger, tech-savvy generation? The Old Spice brand has delivered a connection with potential consumers on a personal level that was not only effective, but clever, funny, and even used celebrities (e.g. check out the videos for Ellen DeGeneres, Alyssa Milano) as media outlets to get the job done.

Three slow claps for you, Old Spice!

If you haven’t already seen any of the videos in this brilliant advertising campaign, head on over to Old Spice’s YouTube channel. I guarantee you can’t stop at just one. Here are some sample vids:

What would happen if a zeppelin crashed into a bacon factory?

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I wish I had Happy Birthday “sung” to me by this guy.

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That cake sure looked delicious.

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If I were a guy, I would sooo change my voice mail message right now.

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I would so say “yes” if I was proposed to this way.

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So Old Spice Guy: Is it a possibility that Old Spice will release a line of wonderfully-smelling body products for women in hopes that using it will attract a valiant, tenacious, He-Man-like, manly man like yourself?

Apr
22
2010

Earth Day: Think Green

Image from Google EarthToday marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, which was designed to inspire awareness and appreciate for the environment.

There are a lot of events going on in the city and across the nation. But it’s important to remember that being mindful of Earth’s environment should be done 365 days a year.

I’m happy to see so much positive change when it comes to environmental promotion, less consuming, recycling, and reusing. But there’s so many things that could still be done. I’m going to try to to my part to help conserve and keep Earth as green as possible, whether it means opting for public transit over driving, turning off unnecessary lights, or by carefully recycling all that I can.

Be sure to do your part. Get involved. Keep in mind that this planet is the only one we have, and we need to sustain it.

Find out more about Earth Day events in your city (including taking the Brita® FilterForGood pledge at Yonge-Dundas Square to reduce bottled water waste) by visiting earthday.ca. If you’re free this weekend and would like to attend a fun and educational eco-consumer show, visit the Green Living Show at Exhibition Place in Toronto. Check out the details at greenlivingonline.ca

Apr
12
2010

KFC’s Doubling Down… and doubling the heart attacks

The Double Down Sandwich - KFC.com

The KFC website’s homepage ad on the new Double Down sandwich says, “Don’t just feed your hunger. Crush it!” With fast moving images of the Double Down sandwich in the background. Crush your arteries, more like it, with a heart-stopping amalgamation of cheese, mayonnaise, bacon sandwiched between two breaded chicken fillets.

Who needs bread when you have two pieces of deep-fried, battered chicken? Kentucky’s Double Down was launched Monday in the U.S. Thank goodness that there’s no sign of it coming to Canada, because I wouldn’t like to subject myself to that much sandwiched fat (as tempting as it may be).

I was surprised to hear that this was “only” 540 calories, just about par with McDonald’s Big Mac. But the kicker is a whopping 1,380 milligrams of sodium and 32 grams of fat. They have a grilled chicken option, but I doubt many patrons would go that route with all the awe surrounding the original concoction. What happened to fast food chains starting to gear to the healthy trend?

Mmmm… I could feel my arteries clogging up already.