Hot Docs: Cat Ladies & Mr. Baz's big-screen debut!

Tonight's the night! Mr. Baz is making his big screen debut in the closing credits of Cat Ladies, a documentary that's part of Hot Docs. Months ago, you might remember me blogging about Mr. Baz's experience filming for the documentary; at the time I just assumed the film would air on TV. But then it got accepted to Hot Docs and THEN, the other day OPRAH'S PEOPLE CALLED.

Oprah!

Oprah!

Apparently she's doing a show on documentaries. Could you even imagine if she talked about the Cat Ladies on her show? And what if she needed one of the cats to come? Sure, Mr. Baz isn't the star of the film (which follows women who have hundreds of cats), but he's the comic relief! And he dressed up! Surely she would want him to sit on her couch, wouldn't she?

I would even put him in a tutu, so he'd look pretty.

Compared to this...



...Mr. Baz would look so well-behaved!

Now, aren't you dying to see Cat Ladies? Well you can! Here's the sked:

Tonight, 6:30 pm at the Cumberland: Rush tickets only
Saturday, May 9, 9:45 pm at The Royal: Rush tickets only
Sunday, May 10, 9 pm at the Cumberland: Advance tickets still available.

And now... I'll leave you with this (Mr. Baz is not in this clip. You have to buy a ticket to see him!):

Four Things on a Friday

1. I got up early this morning to come to work because we're on deadline, only to forget my umbrella and get caught in the rain halfway to work. With a white shirt on. Nice! Then, I arrived to find that the elevators hadn't been working for the past two hours. And the maintenance guys weren't sure how to make them work. Interesting. Finally, when the manager of the million telemarketers in our building looking like he was going to pop a vein in his forehead, they opened the doors to the stairs so that the telemarketers in the building could get to work. They work on the 2nd floor. I work on the 19th. I decided to just go for it. Thank goodness I left the stripper heels at home and wore flip-flops to work. Of course, the elevators still aren't working and I'm sitting in the office alone. I'm worried about what will happen if they don't get the elevators working at all today. What will I eat for lunch?

2. Someone sent me a press release about how no one's wearing sunscreen anymore, and they're tanning like there's no tomorrow. I guess sun damage was just a fad. Like leg warmers. Remember acid rain? No one talks about that anymore, either. Next up: this whole "green" issue. 

3. On the Today Show, there was an expert talking about video games and how they're not just for kids anymore, but that adults are playing them too (ohhh...so that's what the PS3 is doing in my living room. I was worried I'd popped out an eight-year-old when I wasn't looking and had misplaced him). His point was that the violent games are really for "dads", but that there are even games for moms now, too. "Like the Wii Fit, so that women can lose weight." 

What? So guys can sit around eating Doritos and virtually picking up strippers on Grand Theft Auto but women have to do the Step Class because we're all fat? 

4. I'm in All David Sedaris All The Time mode right now. I only recently discovered him after one of my friends raved how funny his is, and now I'm addicted.  I'm halfway through his latest, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, which I read when I'm sitting. When I'm walking, I listen to Me Talk Pretty One Day on my iPod. He was at Indigo last night but I couldn't go because I had my golf date with my instructor (and my husband, of course. Tres legit, don't worry.) But, tonight he's at McNally Books. I cannot wait. In the meantime, here he is on Letterman. Enjoy!

I heart NY

I've just gotten home from my whirlwind trip to New York. I've always loved New York, but this, although one of my quickest trips into the city ever, was one of the best and most memorable, of course, because I was given one of the best book launch parties ever! Anna, my new BFF at the Canadian Consulate, was the uber-cute, super fun wonder woman behind the event and it couldn't have been more perfect. There are a million chicklit books out there, but Anna read mine, and thought it was something worthy of an event in NY, and so, in her contagiously energetic way, went about seeing that it happened!

Here's me and Anna...

And I just loved all the Lulu girls at Lululemon's flagship store, where the event was held. The girls at the store were so welcoming and fun, and they made these signs...




And Anna sent out hundreds of invites, including one to Katie Couric, who couldn't come, but I'm sure it's because she was actually AT yoga class.

Also, there was a cocktail reception, too (because what kind of yoga girl doesn't like a little wine with her workout?) which included wine, cheese and grapes. Only my three favourite foods. Could it have been any more perfect?

I met so many fabulous New Yorkers and New Jerseyites, who came out to support the book, me and Lululemon. The best part? Many of these guys and girls are just like me -- love yoga, love the clothes, not SO good at the actual yoga part.

Also, I loved that so many women wanted to talk about their own stuck-edness, particularly in relationships. It's really hard to talk about not being happy in a relationship, or not knowing how to move on after a string of bad, ego-smushing boyfriends, but these women were so open and honest, and I just loved that! Not only could I relate on behalf of Mara, but of course, I've had my share of crapola relationships, so it was the best girl-bonding session ever!

My publisher and a few others from my Canadian publishing house also came to the event, which was just SO supportive. I don't know many Canadian first-time authors who get a New York launch party, so I'm just so, so happy. As soon as I get more pictures from Lululemon and the Consulate, I'll post them here.

Thanks also to Denise, yogi and author of it's all about yoga for mentiong my book and the event!

Nothing could really compare to the night, but I also managed to sneak in a few other things while in New York, all of which I highly recommend if you are going:

Cocktails: at the Mandarin Oriental. I'd been to the MO before, but never for cocktails, and it's the perfect setting. The lobby bar's on the 35th floor, overlooking Central Park. I had a peach cocktail, which I'm now, as I write this, recreating at home, because it's so simple, yet the perfect start-of-the-weekend drink: Vodka, peach puree and champagne, and three raspberries, just so that you can call it a meal.

Burgers: If you're looking for a good burger, there are a lot of new burger places that give you that perfect option between the foie gras burger at $40 and the McD's burger at $1.39. We opted for this tiny burger joint that inside Le Parker Meridien. There's not even a sign - you just have to go inside and then you'll see this tiny fluorescent picture of a burger with an arrow behind a curtain. You get back there and you're in this uber-cool burger joint with no frills (no plates or cutlery) but so-good burgers.

Afternoon tea: We went for afternoon tea at the Ritz, which is another of my favourite meals. Is there anything better than mini sandwiches, scones and cream, teeny tiny desserts and your own pot of tea? My favourite tea spot in NY is still the St. Regis because the scones are bigger and better (and when you're paying like $3 a raisin, you want a big ass scone, don't you?) but the Ritz came close, particularly for the full-size shrimp on the shrimp sandwich and the fact that they put your teapot on a tealight to keep it warm. Hmmm... it never really crossed my mind that this might be why it's called a tealight. Eat mini sammys, learn something new.

Finally, I have to tell you that I saw Georgia Ru on the plane. On the way down I saw the first half - Georgia - and on the way back I saw Ru. That's right - almost all of Georgia Rule, but not quite. I missed the last 10 minutes. Ten minutes! The worst part was that the pilot was like, "I have some bad news. There's a whole whack o' planes up here waiting to land in Toronto, so we're going to be in a holding pattern for about 25 minutes." And I was like "YES!" And then, not even two minutes later he came on and say, "Guess what?! All of the rest of the planes have decided to go elsewhere, so we're gonna land now!" Noooooo......

When I asked the Hubs what he watched (because we weren't next to eachother) he said "Silver Surfer." Duh. Then he said with a knowing smirk, "What'd you watch - Georgia Rule?" Like I'm THAT predictable. And then he said, "I can't believe you watched that without me - I wanted to rent that!" Riiiiiight. So now, of course, I'm betting I won't ever see the end of this movie.

If any of you HAVE seen the movie, can you please email me and tell me what happens in the last ten minutes? I need to know!

Okay, that's it. Have a great weekend!

Homebody Kabul

My friend, Gregory Myers (which is his stage name, which feels very celebrity since only his real friends know his "real" name) is in a play, Homebody Kabul (by Tony Kushner, who wrote Angels in America). Greg's also been in Honey (you know, with Jessica Alba) and The Gospel of John (which is a three-hour epic), but he didn't have any lines in either so I was really excited to see him in live theatre, where he had not one, but two parts. For his role as an Afghani soldier he had to grow a beard. He's also a supply teacher for grade school kids, and apparently there's a new song going around the playground:

"Mr. Myers is so weeeeeeiiiirrd, Mr. Myers has a beeeeeaaaaard."

I think the beard is awesome, but I do recall, when I was younger, that teachers who did anything differently than say MY parents WERE weird. Because I saw my parents everyday. They were the authority on being an adult, so I felt that they were the right way, and anything else was just, well, weird.

For example, my seventh grade art teacher had very, VERY large breasts. She was a large woman, however, so they sort of went with her body, but they were so large that she would rest her arms ON TOP of her breasts when she was speaking. This, to me, was weird, if only because my own mother was an A cup, which was more like a small hiccup in the wall (I can say this as an inheritee of the A cup), rather than a full-blown ledge and so I didn't understand it. It was like an entirely different body part I wasn't familiar with. By comparison, my seventh grade georgraphy teacher wore Birkenstocks and socks, even in winter. There's a very good chance, looking back, that he needed orthotics and this was the most comfortable footwear for him, but of course, I didn't know that and since my own father wore closed-toe shoes to work everyday year-round, the Birks were weird. (Birks and socks would later become the status symbol of being a rower in high school, something I joined to be around the hot guys who rowed only to discover that with daily 5 am practises in freezing temperatures, there was no hope of looking cute for the hot rower guys -- who somehow managed to look just as hot at 5 am as they did once they were washed and combed and in their school ties later in the day. I, on the other hand, looked a little like Rainbow Brite, wearing as many clothes as I possibly could, with matted hair and no makeup. Needless to say I was boyfriendless for most of high school).

So back to the play. I tend to see a lot of theatre because I like it and also so that I can write about it for Sweetspot. A lot of the time, I would've never seen the play, simply because I'd never heard about it. There are just so many small-budget, short-run plays that don't have budgets to advertise and rely on word of mouth publicity. The unfortunate part is that by the time someone sees the play and tells their friends there's maybe a few nights left of the performance, and sometimes, I don't tell anyone about the play I've seen simply because there's nothing to say. Often, they're not very thought-provoking or interesting. And by the time I'm in a cab I'm thinking about what I'm going to do when I get home. After Homebody Kabul, the Hubs and I were walking up to a busier street to hail a cab, but we started talking about the play, and didn't stop, and walked all the way home. And we weren't just talking about Greg's beard.

There are only a week's worth of performances left of Homebody Kabul, but if you like theatre, I really recommend seeing the play. Not just because it's at the Berkeley Street Theatre, which is just one of the most adorable theatres in the city. And not just because Fiona Reid, who has an Order of Canada, has a one-hour monologue at the start of the play that is so captivating you'll fall in love with her. Or because Greg has a super cool beard.

Small town talk

This morning, I went for a run around the neighbourhood, which, turned out to be the entire town. I went down by the river, past the church, the school, the playground, the pier, the gas station (which is also the video store and bait shop), and the plaza, which has the post offices (and where you pick up your mail), the Northern store (a general store) and the hairdressers. I'm in Pinawa, Manitoba right now, visiting my in-laws, before heading to Winnipeg this afternoon for my in-store reading and signing at McNally Robinson Grant Park at 7:30 pm (last plug, I promise!) where there will be cupcakes and beauty products, so if you live in the Peg, come by! So anyway, I was gone for about half an hour (including a sit down at the pier to rest), and in that time I saw one car drive by. Total. And it was 9:30 am. But the people inside waved, and I know now to wave back. The first time I visited here, it was for a bridal shower my MIL and her girlfriends were throwing for me and so when people waved from their cars at me as I was running along the street I had to wonder what they were thinking: "Don't know that girl, must be new, better wave to be friendly, since I'll probably bump into her at the post office later in the week" or "Don't know that girl, she must be the Simmons' daughter in law to be who's visiting this week." Because in a town of 1,500, everyone may not know everyone, but they probably know about everyone. I know about a lot of people that I've never met. All good, don't worry. My MIL & FIL are the sweetest couple. EVER. And I'm not lying when I say I've never heard them say a not-nice thing about a single person, in Pinawa or elsewhere.

Either way, being waved at is a nice way to start your day, since in a big city like Toronto if someone actually waves at you, you either definitely know them, or they're actually not waving at you, but someone behind you and then laughing at you if you mistakenly wave back, trying to be friendly.

Still, waving can have its hazards, apparently, as I learned when I was telling my MIL about how nice it is that people in Friendly Manitoba really ARE friendly, just like the license plates state. She told me that just the other day, my FIL was out on the roof fixing something and she left to go out and locked the patio door -- the only access to the roof -- by mistake. My FIL tried to get back in, found the door locked, so climbed to the street-side of the roof to try to wave down someone walking or driving by. Only, just like on my run, not many people actually walk or drive by so it was a good hour before someone drove by and there my FIL was, waving at them, trying to get them to drive over or roll down their window so that he could explain he was locked out and they could let him in. But when you're waving, people just wave back. Finally someone stopped, and my FIL asked them to come inside through the front door (because even though my MIL had locked the 2nd storey patio door, she'd left the front door open -- because it's a small town and that's what you do), up the stairs and let my FIL inside.

Phew.

Why you should go to Vancouver & Winnipeg...

First of all, congratulations to the winners of the door prizes from my book launch party last week!:

Teresa Pacelli – Coach handbag
Marlange Heriveaux - Yoli Poli yoga mat bag
Jocelyn Pemberton – 3 Wishes bracelet

If you didn't win something, don't worry because I have lots of other prizes that you could win if you come to my Vancouver or Winnipeg book signings...

First stop is Vancouver, which I haven't been to since Expo 86. I'm assuming things will look different from 5'5" rather than 4'2". I'm also guessing that I'm not likely going to run into Expo Ernie...



I am going to go to Whistler, though, which will be exciting since I haven't been there in 10 years in the wintertime. I'm also going to be doing a book signing at the Indigo - Park Royal store in West Vancouver this Friday, May 18 at 3 p.m. LUSH has donated this ...



...Think Pink hat box, which is just so cute, and is filled with more than $100 worth of beauty products!

Plus there's going to be cupcakes from Cupcakes in Vancouver and bookmarks for everyone!

Then I'm off to Winnipeg, where I'll be reading and signing on Thursday, May 24 at 7:30 pm at at McNally-Robinson at Grant Park. There will also be cupcakes from Dessert Sinsations, bookmarks and a chance to win a beauty basket filled with more than $200 worth of hair and beauty products!

I've never been to Winnipeg in May. I've been in August and October and tried both times to go to Grand Beach, but I've yet to have a rain-free, warm day to sit on the beach. Don't get me wrong, it was still a pretty beach, but it might be more fun if I'm not huddled under an umbrella with a blanket wrapped around me. Also, I would really like to meet the Falcon Beachers. Do they go to Grand Beach? Someone told me that there isn't actually a Falcon Beach, and that they sometimes film at Grand Beach. Also, in the US, they pretend that they're in Maine or Rhode Island or somewhere un-Canadian. Because apparently the producers think that Americans can't understand a show set on a beach in Canada. Is this true? Are you American and can't understand what a beach in Canada would look like?

If you've never been to Winnipeg, doesn't all this talk about the beach make you want to come? Also, they have the best ice cream shop ever in Winnipeg. It's called the BDI, and it's a drive-in, but for ICE CREAM! Does it get any better than that? It doesn't.



PS On another note, I just saw Little Children and it was so good that I started reading the book the next day, which I have to say is even better than the movie (but isn't it always)? But typically, when I've seen the movie I find it very difficult to read the book because I already know what's going to happen, but not with Little Children. That Tom Perotta, he's a keeper. I thought about downloading the book for my iPod, too, for when I'm walking and can't read (because last time I did that I walked into a hydro pole), but I think that might be a bit excessive and then I'll constantly be trying to reconcile what page I'm on in the book with which chapter on the iPod. Craziness. So I'll stick to the book. I have a five-hour flight coming up, so I should finish it. That is, if we don't get one of the good Air Canada planes with the personal TVs and movies. Even when there are only bad movies to choose from I still can't resist.

Whirlwind...

So, I had my first ever book launch! It was at Kultura Restaurant in Toronto and it was so much fun. I feel a little weird saying that, it's like telling people you threw a great party. It's sort of rude. But the truth is, I didn't really have anything to do with the party - it was so fun thanks to my amazing publisher, Key Porter, my publicist Candice Best, and all the amazingly talented experts who contributed and donated product to the event. If you were there, THANK YOU so much for coming! I was overwhelmed with the turnout and everyone said such nice things to me and so many people bought the book and asked me to sign it, which was so flattering. We had 150 gift bags, but we ran out! I'm so sorry to anyone who didn't get a gift bag, but I hope at least you had a cupcake....



of COURSE there were cupcakes, thanks to Susy at Flour Girls. They were so pretty, that they were GONE within half an hour! But there were also The Body Shop Born Lippy lip balms in coordinating colours, that smelled just as amazing as the cupcakes!




And Susy wasn't the only "expert" who contributed to the party. The theme of the party was to Get Unstuck so there all these amazing "stations" that you could stop at with your gift bag to get expert tips and load up on fabulous items! The first stop was Polish Beauty Bar, where Danielle was giving hand massages using Cake Beauty products (including the amazing Milk Made Velveteen Hand Creme, which I am OBSESSED with!). At this station, you got to pick up a Cake Beauty nail file, a John Frieda Colour Glaze, and an OPI nail polish...




Next stop was for fitness tips, courtesy of celebrity personal trainer from L.A., Jennifer Cohen. She's a spokesmodel for La Senza Spirit, which is this amazing new store that just opened that carries yoga wear. Everyone got a La Senza water bottle and coupon book to spend at La Senza Spirit, as well as Dermaglow eye cream, lip plumper and face creams, Freeze 24/7 face cream, Kinerase eye cream and face cream (a favourite of Courteney Cox) and Goody flowers!

At the next station, Hélène Clarkson from Neat Storage Essentials in Yorkville gave super organizing tips for your closet and gave everyone a free Shoebby!



This is a Shoebby. It's a clear plastic storage box to put your shoes inside so that they're organized, yet you can see them all! So cute!

There were also his n' hers Hugo Boss fragrance samples, courtesy of PK Communcations.

Then, it was off for correspondence etiquette tips, thanks to Nina Jones of Jonesy , this amazing online stationery store that has the most adorable cards, perfect for sending to your girlfriends!

We also had a raffle for a beautiful Swarovski crystal bracelet from 3 Wishes Jewellery, a metallic pink yoga bag from Yoli Poli...



and a one-of-a-kind Coach handbag.

I can't thank everyone enough for putting on this party, and for coming! Thank you!!

PS: My publicist is drawing the names (so that I won't be biased!) and I'll post the winner here, soon, so stay tuned!

The best day...ever.

Yesterday was the best day ever. First, this came in the mail ...

A big box filled with my books!

But that's not all, because then you'd be thinking, "What's in it for me?"

I'll tell you... this! An invitation to my launch party!

If you live in Toronto, or anywhere near Toronto, you should come. Or if you've never been to Toronto, then it's a perfect excuse to come. Free cocktails, appetizers and cupcakes, plus a gift bag that is filled with so many fabulous items you really will think, "Toronto is so great. So much free, fun stuff! Why have I never come here before?", that you'll want to come back again and again.*

*Just so you know, though, you can't just go to any restaurant or boutique on any day and ask for free cocktails and cupcakes and a gift bag of presents and expect them to give it to you. They'll probably just give you a look like you're crazy. Don't take it personally. Instead, just make sure you come to....

Kultura, 169 King St. E.
Tuesday, May 8 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
RSVP: info@keyporter.com

I'll tell you all about my Benjamin Mackenzie sighting (which will take um, five seconds, but it will be a really good re-enactment of us passing on the street. Promise). Or, we can discuss boys, ballet flats (pros and cons), beauty products or The Real Wedding Crashers (are you watching this?!) while sipping pretty cocktails. Seriously, what else do you have to do on a Tuesday night?

Hope to see you there!

The Sewing Studio Open House - in 2 days!

When I was a young girl, I could not sew. Oh, I could sew by hand, but put me in front of a machine and all I'd do is get the thread all jumbled up and jammed, and then I'd become incredibly frustrated and resort to completing my
Banana Split Pillow by hand.




Until a few years ago when Sew-Cute Sewy Seamstress taught me how to sew. And now, she's having an open house tomorrow night to show off her brand new fabulous sewing studio where she'll be offering all classes all the time! (It's like Rogers On Demand only you sew instead of watching movies you sew and go home feeling accomplished and crafty, and who doesn't want to feel crafty?). Still not convinced? I've crafted a Top 10 List of reasons why you should come to The Sewing Studio's open house this Wednesday (you know, if you live in Toronto):

1. You can sew a super cute TOP SECRET project only to be announced when you get to the studio!
2. Don't know how to use a sewing machine? You don't need one to make the free, fabulous TOP SECRET project!
3. Chocolate, cupcakes, candy. If I know Sew-Cute Sewy Seamstress, she'll have the goods.
4. Don't know how to sew? Sign up for one of the new classes so you can learn how to sew!
5. See cool projects by former students (and think, hey, if they can do that, maybe I can do that, too!)
6. Meet cool girls who like to sew (or pretend they like to sew even if they're not very good at it).
7. Gift bags!!! With lots of presents inside! Free!
8. A chance to win fabulous trips and prizes. Okay, maybe just prizes. It's not the Price Is Right after all.
9. A chance to win a yoga mat bag (made by me!) and a copy of Stuck in Downward Dog.
10. Don't live in Toronto? Then re-read incentives #1-9 for all the reasons you should COME to Toronto tomorrow night!


Here are the details! Hope you can come!

Yoga Bag giveaway and the super duper Sewing Studio Spectacular!

So my friend, Sew-Cute Sewy Seamstress had a dream. She loved to sew and one day she decided to teach her friends how to sew (since they were very very bad seamstresses and didn't know a selvage from a serger but thought that Stitching in the Ditch sounded way cool). So she started to teach classes in her apartment. She set up tables and sewing machines...





and a big bowl of candy....



Mmmm...... candy.

Everyone loved the classes and learned how to make skirts and shirts and even curtains and pillows! (Unfortunately the candy bowl proved too distracting for one girl, who will remain nameless, and she didn't master the art of measuring, or um, patience, so most of her items were rather lopsided. But she always left the class happy, because she'd had fun -- and candy!). As more and more students learned to sew, they spread the word until one day Sew-Cute Sewy Seamstress had so many students she had to hire another instructor. And another. And another, until there were so many students and instructors in her little apartment but there were still girls lined up with their sewing machines, waiting to get in. Because they wanted to learn how to Stitch in the Ditch, too!

So Sew-Cute Sewing Seamstress decided it was time to move. Fast forward to this Wednesday, April 11. The new Sewing Studio is having a party to celebrate its grand opening, with more space, more sewing machines, more instructors, and most of all... more candy! (But take it from me, you should try to avoid the candy if you really want to learn how to sew).

There's going to be cupcakes, cocktails and lots of free stuff including...



this brand new yoga bag that I made especially for the event, which is going to packaged up all pretty with an advance reader copy of Stuck in Downward Dog. And you could win it!

I promise, this one has no loose threads on the inside, and is fully functioning. So if you win it, you can actually put your yoga bag in it and head off to a class, you dedicated yogi, you. Or, you can just fill it with candy at the event, and then sneak home and eat candy on the couch all evening. I won't tell. Really.