Kiehl's

I arrive in Vancouver after 24 hours of bussing up the Pacific Northwest. I get in around dinnertime, and SDTC Vancouver writer Vanessa meets me at the bus station. We head back to her place in Mount Pleasant for showers and to collect her roommate Marta, then head to Main St. We go to The Foundation, where the grinning waiters trip around the funky space clutching giant trays of nachos in their tattooed arms and taking your order from behind thick black frames. Revolutionary sayings line the walls, and we sit down on mismatched chairs, served water in jamjar glasses. Over a pitcher of delicious sangria and a platter of the nacho special-with bell peppers and basil added to the usual fixins, and generous piles of sour cream, sweet salsa, and guac, the girls tell me about hitchhiking up to Squamish, weilding Marta's Rachael Ray paring knife to defend themselves (and cut up their pack-lunch sandwiches.) Riding in a toilet truck, she rummaged in her bag to show off her weapon. "Seriously, honey, I would have killed you by now," their driver grinned.  read more...

A: Afternoon tea.
Treat mom to an afternoon steeped in all things tea at the Bata Shoe Museum. Learn about the history and worldwide importance of tea, how to brew the perfect pot, and taste a variety of exotic and familiar teas. $30 per person (must be purchased in advance), with a portion of the profits donated to breast cancer research. 327 Bloor St. W., (416) 979-7799 ex. 445

B: Brunch.
Our favourite late-morning/early-afternoon activity is fit for all occasions and Mother’s Day is no exception. One place to try is Saving Grace (907 Dundas St. W.) or Studio Cafe at the Four Season's Hotel. The bright, airy space serves brunch until 5, and includes a fantastic prix fixe. Some other ideas? Mildred's Temple Kitchen's famous Mildred Pierce Brunch, Le Select Bistro on Wellington , Cornerhouse Restaurant on Davenport, or Union on Ossington. read more...

Lonely gas stations, wilderness campgrounds, festival bathrooms-summer will take you to some unlikely, and unhygienic, places. The best adventuress never leaves home unprepared-so we've created a summer tool kit full of everything you need to keep you feeling fresh, no matter where you wake up in the morning. read more...

I expected a lot of different results when I started boot camp. More energy, better mood, the ability to round-house kick my way out of tricky situations. And while attending boot camp has a whole lot of bonuses (not only do my roommates and I feel great, but we're all so busy, it's nice to take time to run around the elementary school track near our apartment, or amble slowly home after our twice-weekly hour of fitness), one unexpected benefit that I never saw coming is this: my skin has never looked better. Usually March is the month of extreme dryness, unfortunate breakouts, and general clammy paleness. But this spring, my skin is clearer than ever, and dryness has been kept at bay. I haven't changed my Make Up Forever HD Foundation + Kiehl's Tinted Moisturizer daily combo, and I'm certainly not eating or sleeping any better, or cutting out booze and coffee, so it must the working out! HA! Talk about putting your best fitness face forward. read more...

Kiehl's Marvelous Mineral Mascara
by Haley Cullingham

I'll admit it, I'm a mascara junkie. Cursed with teenie-tiny eyelashes, I've tried all the wands, brushes, formulas, and fakeries to create the illusion of lashes for days. The result? More often than not, clumpy lashes, black-stained towels, and a box full of half-empty tubes labeled 'disappointment.' So imagine my excitement when I heard through the grapevine that Kiehl's was creating their own mascara-part of their minimalist makeup line, which provides exactly what you need for the freshest face imaginable, no more, no less. The idea? Combine everything good about Kiehl's nourishing skin care, and create makeup that looks and feels good on. But what got me hooked? Kiehl's mascara is designed to create long, luscious, TOUCHABLE lashes. Butterfly kisses for EVERYONE! read more...

Kiehl's Marvelous Mineral Mascara
by Haley Cullingham

I'll admit it, I'm a mascara junkie. Cursed with teenie-tiny eyelashes, I've tried all the wands, brushes, formulas, and fakeries to create the illusion of lashes for days. The result? More often than not, clumpy lashes, black-stained towels, and a box full of half-empty tubes labeled 'disappointment.' So imagine my excitement when I heard through the grapevine that Kiehl's was creating their own mascara-part of their minimalist makeup line, which provides exactly what you need for the freshest face imaginable, no more, no less. The idea? Combine everything good about Kiehl's nourishing skin care, and create makeup that looks and feels good on. But what got me hooked? Kiehl's mascara is designed to create long, luscious, TOUCHABLE lashes. Butterfly kisses for EVERYONE! read more...