Be a good girl this holiday season!

I just suffered the rudest of awakenings tonight. The ‘big day’ is two weeks away…..AHHHH. That would be why people are asking, ‘are you ready?’ Of course I’m not, I never am two weeks out. Though I usually have a better grip on the reality of the season and have at least a list prepared. Not this year.

I thought this would therefore be a very good time for all of us to brush up on our ‘holiday etiquette’. Now most of these tips I would expect any Hot Cherry Chick to know and to live by, but, sometimes even the coolest and calmest forget.

Let us start with that old shopping sprit and ‘10 Ways to keep those holiday shopping spirits bright Emily Post style:

1. Smile – You can’t do it enough. Your face (and your soul) will thank you for it.

2. Lose the ‘Bah Humbug!’ attitude. Yes, it will be crowded and there will be lines and it will take time to find a parking spot. Don’t let that dampen the season’s joie de vivre.

3. “Please, Thank You and You’re Welcome.” Make this your mantra and you will smooth the way for better service and create a kinder, gentler atmosphere wherever you go.

4. Be gracious. You have circled the lot for the fifth time when you spy a space, only to see that someone else is already waiting for it. Be gracious - let them have the space.

5. A little patience, please. Checkout counter or airline counter, the rules are the same: first come, first served, one at a time. (This is a great place to practice your smiling.) When it is your turn, be ready with documents or payment to speed things along.

6. Friendliness. Say ‘hello’ to the harried clerk behind the counter (and smile).

7. Complain to the proper person. Yelling at a salesclerk because a store is out of an advertised item only makes you look foolish and rude. If you have a problem, ask to speak to the manager. Frame your complaint clearly and simply. ( No venting, please.)

8. Cell phones: They’re useful when trying to find out your Aunt Mary’s glove size, but turn them off when you are working with a sales clerk or checking out at a register.

9. Shopping with children: Sensory overload is the word of the day: the music, the crowds, the lights, the toys, the Santas! It’s best to arrange to leave your children home. If they must accompany you, or when it is their turn to shop, make sure they are well-rested and fed – kinder to them and to those around them.

Don’t forget the lights—traffic lights that is! Please stop at the red ones and use your turn signals to alert other harried, distracted shoppers to your directional intentions.

Now that we are all set to hit the streets, buy up those gifts and take care of ourselves before the big day. We should be aware of the etiquette of tipping before we are caught, hair in foils wondering with no one to ask.

Once again, it is back to ‘Emily’, Holiday Tipping:

The holiday season is the traditional time to say “thank you” and “I appreciate the work you do” to those who have provided service to you throughout the year. Don’t forget that one of the best ways to express your appreciation is a hand-written note, which should accompany any holiday tip.

Whether and how much to tip varies widely, depending on:

• the quality and frequency of the service
• your relationship with the service provider
• where you live (amounts are usually higher in large cities)
• the frequency of the service or how long you have worked together
• your budget
• regional customs
• the type of establishment: deluxe vs. moderate

If you regularly tip at the time of service, you may forgo or give a more modest holiday tip. Try to include your child in gift decisions for teachers, day care providers, nannies, and babysitters.

Every situation is different, so let common sense, specific circumstances, and holiday spirit be your guides. The tip amounts in this chart are merely guidelines. What to give is always an individual decision.

Au pair	A gift from your family (or one-week’s pay), plus a small gift from your child
Babysitter, regular	One evening’s pay, plus a small gift from your child
Barber	Cost of one haircut, and/or gift
Beauty salon staff	The cost of one salon visit, split among the staff
Child’s teacher	Check your school’s policy first, as gift giving may be prohibited. If allowed, then give a gift that is a token of appreciation from your child, not cash. Possibilities: a homemade gift made by your child, a book or a picture frame. Or, consider participating in a joint gift from the class as a whole. Possibilities: a gift certificate to a restaurant or bookstore.
Day care providers	$25 to $70 each, and/or a small gift from your child for the providers who give direct care to your child(ren)
Dog walker	One week’s pay and/or a gift
Fitness trainer, personal	Up to the cost of one session
Garage attendants	$10 to $30 each
Home health employees	A gift, but check with the agency first, as most agencies have a no gifts or no tips policy. If this is the case, consider giving a donation to the agency.
Housekeeper/cleaner	Up to one week’s pay and/or a gift
Letter carriers	U.S. government regulations permit carriers to accept gifts worth up to $20 per occasion, not cash
Live-in help (Nanny, Housekeeper, Cook, Butler	One week’s to one month’s salary based on tenure and customs in your area, plus a personal gift
Massage therapist	Up to one session’s fee, and/or gift
Newspaper deliverer	$10 to $30
Nurse, private	A gift, not cash
Nursing home employees	A gift, not cash, but check the company policy first. Consider giving a gift that could be enjoyed by or shared among the floor staff: flowers, chocolates or food items.
Package deliverer	A small gift if you receive deliveries regularly; most delivery companies discourage or prohibit cash gifts
Personal caregiver	Up to one week’s salary, and/or a small gift
Pet Groomer	If the same person grooms your pet all year, up to one session’s fee and/or a gift
Pool cleaner	Cost of one cleaning, to be split among crew
Residential building personnel: Check with your building association first to see if there is a holiday fund that is shared among all the building personnel
Superintendent	$20 to $80
Doorman	$15 to $80; $15 or more each, for multiple doormen
Elevator operator	$15 to $40
Handyman	$15 to $40
Trash/recycling collectors	$10 to $30 each (for private service); for municipal service, check local regulations
Yard and garden worker	$20 to $50

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed? I know I am. In fact, down right frightened. I love my regular service providers (hair, nails, garbage guys, mail lady – even though she is rude and leaves the flag up or down depending how she feels), I’m just not sure I can afford to tip as well as Emily says I should.

What do you think? Is Emily just a wee bit out of touch with reality? I keep thinking about my salon and it would hurt me to split $120 between them. Especially when I see them all every four weeks and tip well.

I’m wishing you all a lovely Hot Cherry Day – share your thoughts with us, how’s your holiday shopping coming along?

Now for a few giggles

Every once in a while, I wander over to AskMen.com and take a look around. I'm on their mailing list too, so there are times when temptation is simply too great. Today was the day.

AskMen made a huge announcment today, it is time for the 2007 Most Desirable Women list to be created. I'll let you read the description.....

'The opposite sex may not believe us when we say it, but we men know that we truly do prize a lot more in our partners than their looks. Yes, there is a place in this world for the gorgeous, shallow, mute tart, but that place is not on our arm - at least not for any extended period of time. The AskMen.com man wants his lady to be the full package - the picture of charisma, intelligence, humor, self-sufficiency, and physical appeal.

Setting the criteria is one matter; finding the woman who fulfills them is another entirely. And therein lay the genesis of our annual Top 99 Most Desirable Women list. Every year since 2001, we've asked you to scan the worlds of music, entertainment and fashion in picking out the female public figure who best represents that ideal woman. In 2006, more than 2 million votes were cast, and Jessica Alba emerged with the crown of Most Desirable Woman. Now, it's time to determine 2007's titleholder. Browse through the nominees in each of three categories, rate each on an ascending scale of 1 to 10, then check back in at the end of January 2007 as we reveal your No. 1 pick.'

Ever wonder what guys are reading? Have you ever considered that maybe they are being coached in some of their idiot ways? You are going to love this one, it is a book recommended by the site who wants it’s readers to justify picking hot women out of lists and then dream about having them, even though they don’t want them…. Yeah, I’m lost too. This will make you giggle though.

Doc Love’s “System”:
For only $99 you can get "The System," which contains invaluable information on:

· Getting the woman to chase you

· Buying signals -- the ways she shows interest

· Asking for her home number and what her answer means

· Screening out takers and users

· How to use your phone and her machine to your advantage

· What date nights to avoid and why

· The first date -- how to set your ground rules non-verbally

· Deciphering Womanese -- her secret language

· Secrets to appearing super confident without bragging

· What she really wants versus what she says she wants

· Handling the most dangerous creature -- The Beautiful Woman

· Discovering her true motives and secret agenda

· Testing her to see if she really likes you

· What to do and look for during the first 60 days

· Finding out if she's worth keeping or dropping

· The one male trait that will make her do anything for you

· Women to avoid and why

· The 3 qualities she must possess for you to stick around

...plus tons more.

Just in case you want to give this little gem to a male friend, here’s the link. Enjoy!

Keeping with the idiocy of AskMen.com an article on Toques. Do you ever wonder where American’s get the notion that we live under a constant blanket of white? Read on…

In a country where three-quarters of the year may be spent knee-deep in snow, a toque is an inescapable part of daily existence. Although south of the border, a toque refers to a particular style of hat, Canadians use this term to refer to all winter headpieces. Though usually quite chilly, the Canadian winter can be quite variable, and it’s therefore best to have more than one toque in your closet since no single hat will be able to get you through this (very long) season stylishly. Fortunately, hats are relatively inexpensive and they are also a quick and easy way to work trends into your wardrobe to liven up your old threads.’

On that note of stupid writing, I’ll leave you to shake your head in privacy! Have a wonderful Cherry Day and don’t forget your shovel, to dig yourself out of knee deep snow!

Suck in the Tummy time of year!

It must be the time of year.... parties, outings, festive dinners and drinks with people you only see at this time of the year. What am I looking at today - how about 'tummy control'.

So, I have this one, really adorable friend. She has simply got the flattest tummy of any women I know. I am always so envious. Never having to worry that she is 'cup caking' or bulging in her jeans. She's not your paper thin, sickly, waif thin thing either - she is however, very fortunate.

I myself haven't entertained even the thought of a flat tummy for years, and years, and years..... I've done the diet thing, the crunches thing, the aerobics thing - still, a tummy haunts me. So tonight as I'm reading and eating at the same time, I see this article on 'magic knickers' - yep, tummy control panties. And here we are, 40 minutes later, me searching the internet for the most fabulous deals in 'tamers'.

Amazon Apparel has 'Spanx Power Panties'. They look silly, go way down your legs and way up your midsection. According the reviews, they are ridiculously tight and the waist band is very uncomfortable. They retail in the $25.00 range. I considered these but then decided if I could not breathe or move in them, they would not be much good to me. Besides, they are just plain ugly!

My search continued. Next I found jeans, with built in tummy control. Good Housekeeping Magazine tested a number of pairs and announced the winner to be 'Slim'R Jeans', priced at $80. Cool, I thought. Until I checked out the picture. Ugly again. Would you wear these creepy looking high waisted, outdate things, even if they swear they will take 2" off you mid section. Personally - no way baby!

Back to my search. Maiden Form offers it's version called 'Flexees Shapewear'. Okay, not so ugly, perhaps a bit more comfortable. Depending on the style, prices range from $12.50 - $30.00. I have a question though - if these products are for women with 'issues' why are all the models paper thin? Not to mention, none of them have any bulges, anywhere!

Now, for the end of end all: 'This unique posture control garment aggressively holds you in the right posture while binding the mid-section and maintaining heat that helps burn fat from its revolutionary outer rubber layer, and inner cotton liner, providing total comfort and firm control.' Yes ladies, we are talking about the amazingly silly looking, bind you 'til you can't breath, let alone move 'rubber' garment designed to help you loose your tummy all together. With the 'Rubber Cotton Posture and Tummy Contol Fat Burner' your worries are over. Take a look for yourself and you tell me... is it all worth it?

Once again, it's been a blast. Have a Hot Cherry Day!

Revenge Is best Served With JuJubes

All sin tends to be addictive, and the terminal point of addiction is what is called Damnation.

~Wystan Hugh Auden~
British Born American Writer

I am sitting here, my mind is buzzing, pupils dilated, my fingers are flying over these keys, I am surrounded by reminders of the binge I've been on for the past 10 hours. I'm alone today, no disturbances, and so I can revel in my drug of choice and nobody will know. I'm ashamed that I'm an addict, but blogging about it is cathartic for me and I have no desire to stop...I never want to stop...until the crash comes.

And there is nothing worse than the sugar crash

Not tequila, not nicotine, not cocaine...ohnoooo....there is nothing worse than the sugar addict coming off a binge. And this was a wicked bender. I visited my favourite dealer today...downtown Ottawa...Elgin St... SugarMountain . Yeahhhh....that's where you can score the good stuff, people. Sugar Mountain may be one of the coolest shops in this fair city. Remember mini Chiclets??? Lik-M-Aid??? Bottle Caps??? Curly Wurlys?? Snowballs??? Black Bart and GoldRush gum??? They have it all. Today I purchased all of those but have spent the better part of this afternoon tripping on PixieStix...nonono..not those sissy wannabe things you can buy at Beckers today...REAL PixieStix...like a foot of straw filled with the most perfect crystalized sugar from the Gods...a solid hit..guaranteed to leave anyone over 30 trembling and checking their glucose levels after.

I try to hit SugarMountain before Christmas every year. My sister is a Flake lover ( he, he ...I just realized how TRUE that really is...) Cadbury Flake I mean. I always stick a few in her Christmas bag every year. This is one of the only spots I know where you can get British goodies like Flakes or Curly Wurlys...anyone remember WigWag bars?? THATS what a Curly Wurly is. The staff is great here..but..you really won't notice them much..the selection will have your memory racing.

Today I met my longtime friend Sandy there. She works downtown and we don't get together as often as we'd like but give her 10 minutes advance notice and she's at the front door with bells on. I think going here with a friend from childhood may be part of the experience. Trip down memory lane etc....

( Snippet of conversation with Sandy at SugarMountain Today )

Sandy: Hey! isn't this the gum that you smooshed in Dave LaFramboise's hair after he dumped you in 8th grade?

Me: shutup

Sandy: Oh Look!!! remember these JellyBellies? I think you were a brunette when these first came out eh?

Me: shutup

Sandy: POPROCKS!!! Remember in University when you thought these would be really cool to use as an ' oral sex aid' and that guy you were with told everyone what a freak you were cause the popping kinda hurt him and his dick was coloured purple for 3 days and...

Me: SHUTUPSHUTUP!!!

maybe it would have been better to go alone.

maybe it's not a good idea to attempt to drown some painful memories with candy and chocolate.

maybe Richard should have shut his big freaking mouth in university...I thought it would be a turn on....wasn't like he was the QuantumScrew of the century or anything...he had the whole ' Flock Of Seagulls' hairstyle going on and he LIKED Wham!!!

bet he was gay

sigh

anyway....SugarMountain isn't only about retro candy..they have some really cool retro lunch pails and gear. They can accommodate corporate orders, make cool gift baskets, and even SEARCH for a candy that you remember from YOUR childhood..hopefully a candy that you didn't try to incorporate into a sexual act only to fail miserably and be laughed at by the entire ' Poets of the 15th Century' class at Ottawa U.....

where are my freaking Garbage Pail Kids??? Neco candy hearts??? DAMNITALL!...

Like I said...the sugar crash is the worst.

There you go Richard!!! This is for you.....

Revenge is Best Served with jujubes.

http://sugarmountain.ca/fun/testimonials.php these are funny! or maybe its my insulin levels raging out of control....naaaaah....these ARE funny.

Oh, just hush up and get the job done!

'Monday, Monday.... so good to me'.... NOT!

Have you ever believed that your day was quickly swirling out of control and you had no way of stopping it? Ah, yes, that kind of day.

I've been dropped into the midst of 'office politics', by the book 'team leading effectiveness' and 'politically correctness' - and I want out. Not out of the position, but off this ineffective, time wasting, energy busting merry-go-round I'm on.

I have the answer to the issues though - companies need to stop trying to please everyone, start making their people accountable and give them project ownership. No more hiding in cubicles, doing as little as possible to avoid causing any waves and having the freedom to voice every little 'concern'.

My apologies if I offend anyone... this time I'm going to do it in advance. A friend and peer of mine has a saying that he vocalizes within his massive 1000+ companies - 'don't ask for permission, beg for forgiveness'. I like his way of looking at things! He says to everyone who works with him... you have ownership of your decisions and I (we) expect you to be empowered to make them. He goes on to say, if you screw up, we are not going to lynch you - at least not the first time.

I believe most companies today are reluctant to empower their employees in this fashion. They are so bent on control that they take all the decision making out of the hands where it should be at. Instead ill informed, out of the picture managers make calls that they simply should not. As a result employees have learned that 'project ownership' and 'accountability' are not requirements for advancement and in fact, the less responsibly one takes on, the more likely they are to be promoted. (Remember the focus is on the trouble making decision makers who stand up and say 'yeah, I did that'. These same people are the ones that take the shit when it hits the fan.... everyone else sits back and looks perfect.) Basically, it sucks and it is a poor way to grow a company.

In the meantime, what can you (and I for that matter) do about it? Well, I think 'we' just keep doing. Face it, there are always going to be good workers and bad workers, shit disturbers and story tellers, there will be those who look to find fault so that they can mask their own shortcomings. There are those who only speak up when the boss comes around. Perhaps by taking ownership and leading by example, 'we' can effect change.

Thankfully for me, this is a contract assignment. A terrific and fascinating opportunity which in a few months will be reduced to something people either applaud or heckle. I'll go back to doing what I thoroughly enjoy, the group I'm with will continue to do as they always have.

If I can have one accomplishment throughout this task, it would be to allow this team to see that there are great rewards in taking ownershiprather than allowing it to pass them by. In the meantime, I'll continue to threaten to poke my eyes out with a fork and keep doing what I've always done.... charge through.

I know you all have work place comments you are dying to share.... come on.... join our discuss on this topic. Honestly, you won't be needing to applogize to me!

Have a wonderful Hot Cherry Day.... smile, smile, smile

Stress! What Flippin' Stress?

Okay, so it is not even December yet and I am feeling frazzled - any one with me. Not sure at this rate what the whole hectic Christmas season will bring. Makes one want to give Santa's beard a great big yank and talley ho on out of here.

So, that's not going to happen. We all know that. Like it or not, we will all suck it up and get over feeling sorry for ourselves and like good like 'bot' soldiers, tackle Christmas grumbling and complaining as we go.

There is relief however for the overstressed under thanked and we are here to tell you about how to make the most of a fast paced and exhausting season.

American Fitness suggests for starters, ‘Reward yourself’. In preparation for that party or just when you need pampering, take an extra half hour for an easy at-home facial. Following is a simple recipe for an all-natural, moisturizing yogurt facial:

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup plain yogurt

Basic mask: Mix honey and yogurt and apply to face. Leave on for 15 minutes. Then, remove with a warm, Moist washcloth.

For dry skin: Prepare basic mask, adding a tablespoon of oatmeal and olive oil.

For oily skin: Prepare basic mask, adding a tablespoon of oatmeal.

For an exfoliating mask: Add a teaspoon of baking soda and water to any of the above mixtures.

They also suggest getting some extra exercise and encourage readers to ‘get outside for 15 minutes of body numbing walking’ – apparently, they do not know Canada right around Christmas and they have no sense of humor ‘mall walking does not count’ – yeah right.

Chris Chenoweth has this to say about stress: ‘Research shows that women with children have higher levels of stress-related hormones in their blood than women without children. This means for women with children, it is very important to schedule time for you.’

Okay together now – NO KIDDING! I’d like to know as you likely would…. Where does the extra time come from so that I can schedule it for myself?

When in doubt, go to iVilliage for the answers (that and AskMen), here’s what their members claim works for them in beating stress year round:

1. I de-stress by lighting candles, putting on some relaxing tapes with sounds of nature like rainstorms, rainforests and waterfalls, and performing yoga breathing exercises I learned from a yoga class. --enchantedskies

2. I listen to my favorite music. My ideal self-pampering routine involves a bubble bath. Afterward I give myself an all-over massage with moisturizing cream. --ibasher

3. When I'm stressed out, I exercise. I like to go snowboarding but since that's not always convenient, I either play racquetball, work out or do some yoga. It clears my head, and I usually feel much better. --snowboard_girl

4. In good weather, I grab my racket and hit tennis balls or jog at night. In bad weather, I write in my diary, play racquetball at the gym or talk to my friends. I also meditate. --benib

5. I used to turn up the radio really loud and just jump around, dance and scream. I let out pent-up emotions without any fear of anyone's judgment. Now, I live in a small apartment in the city, so that's not an option anymore. But if you can manage it, it truly works! --kalikalei

6. I keep my hands busy making jewelry with glass beads when I'm watching television. Sometimes, I sit on my bed and I take care of myself: I wax, clip split ends in my hair, do my nails, pluck my eyebrows or give myself a pedicure. --leslie2353

7. Maybe it sounds silly, but remember how much fun coloring was when we were kids? Coloring clears my mind and refreshes me. Sometimes I read, walk the dog or vent on the iVillage boards. I think my favorite way to de-stress in cold weather is to drink a big mug of chai tea behind a closed door. --bearmom50

8. When I am stressed, I usually relax in front of the television, drink tea or take a hot bath. The most effective de-stressing technique for me is running. As much as I don't feel like exercising, a good run can be meditative, rev up my energy and be a great avenue to release anger. I am guaranteed to feel better when I am finished. --ivkatiebro

9. I rent a comedy, talk to my husband or friends or take a long walk in the park. One of these techniques always works. --macbernie

10. I like to doodle. My classmates think it's funny to look over at me in class and see my paper full of doodles and mazes. I like to color to relax and let my mind wander. --redrich2002

That’s it for us today. Frankly I don’t have the answers. Everything I read sounds great. Hey, I exercise, drink tea, listen to really loud music when I’m driving and I can even manage to veg right out. I have various other ways to cope with the long days, frustrating crowds, nasty shoppers and grumpy store clerks and just all that is wrong with the Holiday Season – sex, chocolate and whisky are my go to favorites –

Care to share your Holiday stress busters with the rest of us? Come on , you never know, it could do you some good.

In the meantime, have a wonderful Hot Cherry Day!

Sassy stars who've got it all wrong!

It's Tuesday. I've been writing copy all day - yes ALLLLLLL DAYYYYY - I'm about as nuts as I am ever going to be. I haven't pulled my hair out yet, I'm done writing for the day, it's not that bad.

I had a huge desire for something sickly sweet. Instead of that giant chocolate bar that has done its best to tempt me all day I headed online to see what interested me. Hoping of course to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Well, instead of sweets I have ended up with a new distraction - news about the stars. You know, those that we idolize, fashion ourselves after, aspire to be like. Trashy is as trashy does (sound familiar?) and I thought you'd be as entertained as I was.

New to Hot Cherry Review - news about trashy, mixed up, utterly confused celebraties:

Lets start off with a real groaner. Renee Zellweger / Bridget Jones one of the same. I think she’s funny and annoying all in one. I was very disappointed when she hitched up with Kenny and shook my head when she went splitz in no time flat. Well, she’s back out trolling the town, this time with Bruce Willis. Apparently the two are already on the lips of the gossip hounds.

It doesn’t take much some times, Bruce can get him self into his own form of trouble. He certainly managed to tick off the bar staff when he demanded they ‘go on a late night hunt for root beer so he could enjoy his favorite drink at a New York nightclub. The 'Die Hard' star - rumored to be dating Renee Zellweger - ordered root beer and bourbon from hip nightspot Cielo and was furious when he was told they didn't serve it.

A source told BANG Showbiz: "We have hardly ever had anyone order root beer here but Bruce Willis had us running round the block to a deli in the middle of the night to buy some so he could have a root beer and bourbon cocktail."’

Bruce, Bruce, Bruce – bourbon and root beer – what kind of kid’s drink is that?

Continuing on the couples theme; Pamela Anderson has filed for divorce from Kid Rock after just four months of marriage. Pamela, 39, and Rock, 35, both cited irreconcilable differences when they filed divorce papers yesterday (27.11.06).

Apparently, Bob Ritchie (his real name) didn’t think much of Anderson’s latest flick and pulled a flip out at the screening. Calling her all kinds of trashy, possibly true names…. Ahhh well ‘Bob’- there are plenty of fish in the sea, I’m sure you can take a pass on this Baywatch boob and still come out with a full catch.

Little Tommy Cruise isn’t so little any more! ‘Tom Cruise had to wear a girdle on his wedding day to fit into his tuxedo, it has been claimed. The 'Top Gun' star is said to have put on so much weight in the run-up to his wedding to Katie Holmes he needed help fitting into his Armani suit.

According to US gossip columnist Janet Charlton, a source at Armani said: "Tom packed on around twenty pounds in the past few months before the big event. He says he's a 'nervous eater'.’

Here’s one that just leaves you groaning…. Grow up you spoiled, little, pissy, overdone, unrealistic, soon to be forgotten little baby! ‘ Lindsay Lohan has accused rival Paris Hilton of hitting her. The 'Mean Girls' actress, who has been feuding with the socialite for months, claims Paris struck her for no reason at a Los Angeles house party.

Lindsay, 20, made the allegation to a film camera crew waiting for her outside a Los Angeles hotel. She even showed them a bruise on her left arm which she claims was caused by Paris.

Lindsay told the X17 agency: "I'm saying this on tape. She hit me for no apparent reason at my friend's house. I didn't know she would be there and she hit me with a drink and poured it all over me. It hurts and it's not OK.’

To finish off today’s findings, I’m going to leave you with a pretentious holier than thou actress who is mortified that her real self my be exposed.

‘Jessica Simpson has been left reeling by rumors that a sex tape starring her is to be leaked on the internet. The alleged X-rated home movie is said to show the 'Dukes of Hazzard' actress and her ex-husband Nick Lachey engaged in passionate lovemaking.

A source is quoted by Britain's Daily Sport newspaper as saying: "Jessica is horrified her name and sex tape are being mentioned in the same sentence. She's always been a girl of high morals and principles." According to reports the tape is said to have fallen into the hands of the individuals responsible for leaking the Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee sex video.

It has been claimed that they are now threatening to leak the tape if Jessica does not pay an undisclosed sum of money to stop it. The 25-year-old star has always prided herself on making men wait for sex. She once said: "I play hard to get. If you turn sex down for a couple of days it makes it better."

Hey, I don’t write it, I just find it for you. Join me now is a group groan!

Have a wonderful Hot Cherry Day!

Oh this just off the presses…. Everyone who reads Hot Cherry Review knows my fascination with eBay. As well, I recently spoke about my dear Hubby’s addiction to vintage cufflinks.

Well, he has been at it again… no big deal. His latest purchase was for $5. Here’s the story that goes along with it though. I get an invoice to pay for the auction from Paypal. I’ve been charged $7 for shipping. Not unreasonable if it was a huge package, we are talking regular post letter here! So I email the vendor with this ‘ I don’t understand the increase in shipping. The price quoted on the auction was for $2.85, how did it get to $7?’

The vendor’s first reply ‘ it was $8 and I reduced it’. I go back to the auction listing, take screen shots of the whole listing including all the quoted shipping costs, and email her. Her next reply is ‘I know the shipping was $2.85, but I added extra shipping and handling’. Can you believe it? I’ve never had this happen in eBay. Always, if there is going to be an extra charge, it is stated in the auction. She goes on further to say ‘ you got a good deal, if you are not happy with this then I’m sorry’.

What did I do? I paid her. I emailed her back, told her that what she did was wrong and she was being underhanded, adding fees to make up what she wanted to make on the item and didn’t. When it comes to submitting feedback once the cufflinks arrive though……. Oh there is always a get even time on eBay – that’s what makes it so wonderful!

'Poinsettia-red lips' and hot, hip chicks

Now according to Lulu Phongmany, ‘Nothing says holiday glamour more than a set of poinsettia-red lips.’ Yeah, how about that. ‘For your next holiday outing, take a cue from your favorite Hollywood hottie and paint your lips a festive crimson hue.’

Not sure what you might think, but here’s my two cents worth. Some women can pull the look off – Faith Hill and some fail miserably. They come out looking like they smucked their lips while they were downing a bottle of ‘cheer’. You be the judge.

Keeping with the holiday tone, how about a bit of ingenious gift giving suggestions to get you going? We’ve been out pre shopping for you again and this is what we came up with this week.

‘Rocket balm is specially formulated for his pleasure. Let the tingling sensations and stimulating peppermint aroma take you on a journey of pleasure you will want to revisit again and again! Made in Canada.’ We thought that every man every once in a while deserves a little treat all of his own. If the giving mood hits you, perhaps this little score from LoveCraft might be just the ‘stocking stuffer’ you were looking for.

Feel like curling up and reading? How about taking a walk on the wild side yourself. We found this little read for you at Amazon.ca

Ripe Fruit

celebrates older women who love and enjoy sex more than ever. These women are not shy about expressing their needs and desires. Unforgettable characters in honest, complex relationships makes for exciting "grown up" reading.’

Continuing on the self indulgence theme. How about a tasty treat of chocolate? Imported too? ChocolatePlanet.com is an exclusive service that provides delivery of premium boxed chocolates across Canada. In June 2003, they launched the same day local delivery service in Metro Toronto, delivering Belgium chocolates flown in weekly by internationally renowned chocolatier, Leonidas. (Leonidas, the quintessential Belgian chocolate since 1913 who has been producing premium chocolates for millions of discerning chocolate lovers the world over.)

We are not sure why Winter brings with it a need to gain greater insight and perspective about oneself all the while indulging in self defeating, compromising activities (chocolates) However, it happens. So keeping on the pamper ourselves theme further, how about this book to satisfy your indulgences. We are talking about the justification of shopping my fellow Hot Cherry Chick!

Nothing leaves a hip chick guiltier than going out to do Christmas shopping and at the end of it all, comes home with more gifts to self than anyone else. Need to justify and perhaps save a bit of chi-ching? Try out Vintage and Consignment shopping. Want to make sure you are indeed getting a good deal?

Here’s the book for you:
Aligators Old mink & new money

by Alison Houtte - Whether you're a flea market veteran who savors the thrill of the hunt, a couture shopper with a Vogue budget, or are simply drawn to the de rigueur world of vintage, Alligators, Old Mink & New Money offers a shopping adventure—through auctions, estate sales, flea markets, and clothing racks all over the world—to be savored, and inspired by! '

We leave you with the gift of all gifts for the hip chicks on your list (just don’t tell them where you found it), the ‘Foot in the Door’, door stopper.

We all need a Foot in the Door. Just place the ever-so-dainty toe of this playful pump under the crack of your very own door and it will be held open in style.

A shoe-in for this year's favorite gift! Black or Red, with a grippy rubber coating, packed in a clear, draw-string bag.

Need further inspiration? Check out Perpetual Kid online.

Have a wonderful Cherry day all and remember, poking your eye out with a fork over Christmas shopping doesn’t help anyone!

Put on some red lipstick and take on the day..

Men become much more attractive when they start looking older. But it doesn't do much for women, though we do have an advantage: makeup. -- Bette Davis

I so needed a spirit lift..a boost to my morale... meditating or a Starbucks chai latte wasn't going to help at all this time. I had a wicked head cold last week ( I'm a whiner ..I know ) had a bout with a shawarma induced food poisoning episode this week...and my mother ( who is almost always a trip ) was mauled by her $1000.00 ragdoll cat, Star, who I call Montecore for obvious reasons. I mean MAULED...the cat launched an attack on my mother that resulted in her requiring stitches and antibiotics..hence a trip to the hospital..and since my mother does nothing without an entourage...my sister and I were summoned from opposite ends of Ottawa to escort her. Do animals ever suffer from psychosis?? I have often wondered about this since my mother purchased this fluffy, beautiful, but so obviously, heinous spawn from Hell .. I digress....anyway...

Today I went shopping...with full intentions of picking up Christmas stuff..but, in all honesty, I wasn't ' feeling it '. I WAS however feeling blah..icky..and sullen. I went to Bayshore..not my favourite mall in the world..but it's convenient. I was cutting through the cosmetics/skin care section and decided to stop to pick up a new bar of Clinique soap, since my youngest son had recently flushed mine down the toilet...a mistake he said...uhhuh....I waited at the counter....and waited.....shifting from foot to foot..clearing my throat...clicking my car keys on the glass countertop....the two attendants working the Clinique counter never saw me...I caught my reflection in one of the many mirrors and was saddened to discover that I didn't suddenly possess the Power of Invisibilty..they were simply ignoring me. I said...." excuse me girls...all I need is a bar of soap here." that seemed to make them happy, the fact that I wasn't about to be taking up too much of their time.. I paid and left. I was irritated but in all honesty...I have come to expect this level of service almost everywhere. I started past the M.A.C counter and stopped..something I rarely do because the M.A.C girls intimidate the crap out me....they're kinda like the really cool but somewhat bizarre drama class girls from highschool. All dressed in black..various streaks of colours in their hair...artfully applied lipsticks on perfect matte faces. I felt it was safe to stop momentarily because the M.A.C girls were huddled in a corner chatting and given the fact that customer service no longer exists...I figured I had time to peruse.

I was wrong....dead wrong.

The M.A.C girls are like mascara weilding ninjas. I didn't even see her come over...she just materialized in front of me. I heard her offer her assistance, and for a moment, I felt panic. Clearly I didn't belong here!! I look way more ' soccer mom ' than ' rockerchick'..and I've always associated M.A.C with trendy and young and so not me. I always purchase L'ancome or Elizabeth Arden or Clinique...all my makeup is ' neutral' or ' classic ' ...I think that translates to boring. I was fumbling for an exit line...and she said...( and this is where it gets weird )

" You have gorgeous eyes. If you have some time, I'd like to try some colours on you that I think would really look incredible? "

weird, eh?

a customer service representative actually OFFERING customer service??? AND a flattering remark to boot...and with that, the other two M.A.C girls approached, offering palette suggestions, application tips, seating me in a chair and working their magic like fairy godmothers...well ummm..not quite...more like fairy goth inspired ravers.

And I gotta tell you....M.A.C has some outstanding products. They chose colours I would simply never have tried...golds, fuschias, deep royal purples....I have greenish blue eyes and after an application of a seriously hot pink eye shadow called ' passionate ' my eyes looked ' awake' and the colour truly popped. You have to try the
StudiomistFoundation. ......very cool...amazing finish.

I was with the M.A.C chicks for nearly an hour...I bought a few items that I had to have..( I'll add the rest to my Christmas wishlist ) . Thanked them for the excellent service and left seriously happy.

It may have just been makeup, but it lifted my spirits. I felt great. It was that little something that took me out of my ' neutral ' rut...and now, I'm sold. M.A.C will certainly receive my business from now on and I'm sure after my mother tries some of their concealer on her cat inflicted scars..she'll be an avid fan as well...

http://www.maccosmetics.com/home.tmpl M.A.C's website

http://www.maccosmeticsmakeup.com/ A M.A.C fansite with a forum and some cool tips

http://www.maccosmetics.com/mac_aid/news.tmpl M.A.C has raised over 80 million dollars for the M.A.C aidsfund.. Every cent from the sale of VivaGlamLipstick goes towards fighting AIDS and HIV... way to go.

Oh NO! Not again

I'm wondering.... does anyone else question where the year went? Wasn't it just Thanksgiving? What the heck happened to summer. The Christmas season is looming - talk about turkey, parties and the 'what to get for them' gift questions.

Good gift ideas are hard to come by, so once again, here is our weekly installment of suggestions. Today, we visit one of our favorite stores and then throw a couple more in for good measure.

The LCBO - Liquor Control Board of Ontario, the place where those who live in this fine Province must go to purchase liquor - is working to make gift giving easier. This year they offer an online catalog and online purchasing - hummm, that got your attention didn't it.

We've through a picked out a couple of the cooler ideas.

#1) The Mazzetti Ferrari F2003 Grappa, for $99.95: This year’s bottle contains a model of the 2003 GA world-champion race car, immersed in exquisite Grappa di Grignolino.
#2) The Denoix Cognac Colt Gift Bottle for $129.95: Filled with Denoix Napoleon Grand Champagne Cognac.
#3) The Grolsch Lager package with art glass, for 12.99: A Dutch tradition since 1615, refreshing Grolsch Premium Lager comes in a specially designed six-pack, along with a fun, colourful art glass.

Now, gifts for the ladies. We've also done some research, girls, feel free to leave little hints to those who wish to pamper you silly with gifts.

#1) Bare Necessities offers bras, panties, men's underwear, hosiery and sleepwear from 100+ name brands. They offer a selection of over 2000 styles spans luxury designer fashions to everyday traditional styles and includes top brands like La Perla, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Puma, Dolce & Gabbana, Wacoal and Bali. Yes, they ship to Canada. (remember, no duty on goods manufactured in the US, however, they may be subject to Provincial sale tax and GST)

Gifts for Every Body: Find the perfect gift for everyone this holiday season at BareNecessities.com.

#2) La Vie enRose now offers online shopping as well. A recognized brand in Canada. The site offers weekly specials, contests and promotions.

#3) How could we leave 'Come as You are' off our gift giving list. Shop online or in person at one of their stores. For those of you who missed our postings in the past. The philosophy at Come As You Are is one in where they believe that sexuality is an intrinsic part of the human experience and is inseparable from other aspects of a person's life. Their online store is both informative and fun.

We'll continue working on a Christmas ideas list for you. In the meantime, feel free to share your suggestions with us. We can't be everywhere, all the time.

On other fronts.... Now pay attention - you know who you are..... my dear friend with the absolute expertise in putting together an outfit. It's been bothering me all week..... if you can't wear black stockings with red shoes, what can you wear? I personally look hideous in 'nude' or 'beige', does that mean that I can't wear my red shoes? Help! Seriously.... I need to know.

Have a Happy Cherry Day!

I love you!

Well, maybe 'love' is going a bit far..... I so appreciate you! Better? This story has to do with tires, believe it or not.

Mamma got a new set of boots for her truck today. I think the auto manufactures and the tire makers got together and decided that they would just play with all of us who drive trucks. Almost every year a new size of truck tire hits the market. Consequently, what happens is this; the tires that I need to fit my truck are always hard to get and each year they get more expensive. Thankfully getting new tires is only something I need to do once every two years.

As you might have guessed, this was the year. When spending a heap of money on rubbers, one owes it to themselves to shop around. Prices can vary as much as $50 per tire, multiply that by 4 you it means you could get stung. So, shop around is what I did. I made phone call after phone call. As it turned out, the tires I needed were very hard to find and to top it off, there were very few alternatives. Finally I found a 'friend' in JP.

JP owns JP Tire Service in Stittsville Ontario, a 'Tirecraft' franchise. I met JP through a phone call, he looked up the tires for me, checked an order status, gave me a price much less than the competition and told me they would be in by the end of the week. Of course, I couldn't say 'yeah, go ahead' on the spot.... I'm not that easy.

Instead I place a call to hubby. When I couldn't get in touch with him I call my very dear and stylin' friend Paul. 'Hey' I say, 'Need some advice got a moment?' Being the helpful one he always is, he listened to my story. 'You see, I called everywhere looking for tires for my truck, it's going to snow soon eh - so I find them at Tirecraft in Stittsville - cheaper than anywhere else, what do you think?' Right about now he is thinking... duhhhh and replies 'yeah, so what's the question?' 'Well, I was thinking, do I really need to change all four or can I go with two?' Paul asks (you can just see him rolling his eyes), 'how much tread is left, do you need to change them?' 'Well it's like this' I say 'there's about 1/4 inch left', Paul 'to the wear bars?' Me 'what bars?' 'Never mind' says Paul. 'Oh hold on' I say 'I drive a 4X4 to be safe, in snow and on bad roads - why am I going to skimp on safety and only put on two new tires when I need four?' Paul, 'I don't know, why?' Me, 'Okay, I got the point, see ya soon and thanks.'

So, I call JP back, put the tires on order. He says 'could be two days, could be three weeks' I have visions of banks of slippery snow and my beauty truck in the ditch. Two days later, JP calls to tell me my tires are in.

This morning was the day, in for my new boots. What a pleasant experience. JP turns out to be just as friendly and easy going in person as he is on the phone. His 'guys' say good morning and take my keys to put the truck in the shop. They are all polite, friendly and chatty. Wow, I was impressed, still am. I was in and out, bill paid in 40 minutes. Tell me where else you can go and change, balance and install 4 big truck tires in that amount of time.

So kudos today out to JP Tire Sales / Tirecraft in Stittsville. If you need tires, go see these folks. I am not sure if all the Tirecraft stores are the same, but if they are a fraction of what I experienced today, you can't go wrong.

As for lessons learned - it doesn't take much to make a customer happy and get them talking about you. It cost this company nothing more for this type of advertising. Why then, can retail stores not do the same?

If you know of somewhere that excels in customer service, share it with us. On the same note, if some place is revolting, we want to hear about that too.

Oh, and just in case you are thinking that this year, we won't have any snow to worry about - here's a reminder of last year - you might want to consider your options before this happens!

Have yourself a wonderful Cherry Day!

Skype to it!

Okay, yeah - the title could have been better - sorry for that.
Skype - have you heard? Repeat with me, no charge calling to any landline or cell phone until the end of the year, throughout North America. No Charge! Not a penny. No, you don't need to call another computer, call anyone, anywhere.

Now the normal excuses why you are not using it - believe me, I tried them all. #1 I do not have high-speed. Got me there, sorry you need high-speed. #2 The quality of the call sucks. No, in fact the quality is far superior to our crappy copper landlines and always on and always with service, which my cell phone is not. #3 There is always an echo or delay. No, not at all. The clarity of the call though is alarming, which I believe throws folks off. #4 I will have to pay something. Nope, not until the end of the year. #5 My calls will be listened to. No again. Security is actually higher over fiber then over the airwaves of wireless. So unless you are using wireless internet, chances are very good, you are very secure.

No need to listen to me on this one. Check them out for yourself. I can tell you that I am now making my long distant calls using this service and loving it.

Once the price packaging comes into effect in January I may be looking for an alternative. Currently I'm checking out Vonage. Yet another VoIP (voice over internet protocol - aka voice phone service using the internet) product available to consumers. I can't say I've used Vonage, but I do know folks who do and they really like it.

Vonage is working to make it easy to use their service anywhere, any time. They have just released the 'Vonage V-phone'. This is basically a phone that fits on a key chain. A pre-loaded memory stick which turns any computer into your own personal Vonage phone. The 'stick' even comes with head phones... yep, all in this tiny little gizmo. The unlimited Vonage package will run you $39.95 CND per month, with no extra charges - calls to Europe, US and across Canada. The V-phone has a one time charge of $29.95. With all internet phone services, the call quality is superior to most phone lines and the cost is well below that of standard phone companies.

Why am I on to alternatives to our current phone services. Simple. What we use today is a poor excuse on all fronts. Service is horrendous - if I have to listen to 'Emily' give me the run around and stall one more time when I call Bell Canada for a simply query, I'm gonna reach out and touch her. Cost, cost, cost. I run two phone lines, one is a seldom used fax line. We don't 'get high-speed internet out in these parts - so I can't take advantage of their 'cost saving bundles' either. Cell service... what cell service. If you stand in the exact perfect position in my office, your phone will ring, otherwise, no such luck. If you drive by and see my wandering around the yard or in the horse pasture looking like I'm going to be calling the aliens, don't worry, that's just me trying to find signal. Did I mention cost..... in the vicinity of $80 per month, with under $5 in long distance.

Oh and on the topic of quality of service. Hahahahaha! We were told a year ago, 'that's it'. Apparently we used up the last pair of lines on our road. This after my neighbor was being charged for my calls and me his, oh and the return to the party line. On a wet day the crackle and pop is so bad you cannot carry on a conversation. (thank goodness for Skype which I now use instead of the landline on bad days) Did I mention the internet. High speed... heck, there were days we were luck to hit 14,4 very sad. So we switched over to wireless high-speed with Storm internet. It costs a bit more per month, but hey, I get VoIP now too.

Yes, I am sick and tired of getting the run around and paying huge dollars for poor service. As consumers in Canada we have always been 'stuck' having to go with our one regional phone company. There has never been competition. Now, with high-speed and wireless internet the phone company is not even close to being a good deal.

You would have thought that this would have prompted them to upgrade services and standards. No, wrong again.

You owe it to yourself to check out the alternatives. Including VoIP phones and wireless high-speed.

I have one or two other observations/questions maybe you all can help me understand (nothing to do with this entry) - Why do the trashiest brides wear white and celebrate it not giving it a second though, while far more decent and reserved brides fret that they 'are not good enough' to wear it?

Is Jim Cuddy better on his own, or with Blue Rodeo, or do we care?

Have a wonderful Cherry week! Not sure what we will be on about tomorrow - tune in to find out.

Global Warming and warming up to Sir Richard

Ahhhh, the rain, more rain... raining again.... raining some more..... and our country's leadership along with our healthy consumer cousin south of us says that Global Warming is either exaggerated or non existent.... okay, perhaps some from the Federal level can explain to me why my driveway has sunk and my fields look more like mini lakes.

On to happy thoughts for this dreary day. A lovely friend sent over a link to a cute quiz. Give it a try; the Lipstick Personality Test. Yes I did it - I am personally all over the personality map (I had to go and check my lipsticks) though most put me between a #4, 6 and 7. Given that 'daughter' borrows... it is really hard to know for sure. That's all I'm saying, go do the test for yourself.

George Clooney... hummm, I've read Hot Cherry Review several times, just so George can smile back - that's sick right. So, today I'm going to add another personal fave to the list; Richard Branson.... yeah, a bit older but hey, he's got lots going for him.

Here's the low down on him. At age 56, he's still got it, both in looks (personal opinion but how many 56 year old guys do you know that look like him?) and net worth, which is in excess of $5.5 Billion US - that is a 'b'!

He is the brand champion of 'Virgin' which when I last heard, owned, ran or had direct influence on over 200 different companies. In business he is known as the guy who sees the diamond in the rough and improves on the existing rather than invents the new. There are exceptions of course, one of which being his interest in pioneering space travel for the masses - that's you and I.

He is a Brit, not a bad thing. Owns his own island - Neckar in the beautiful British Virgin Islands (no they didn't name them after him) and makes regular appearances in Canada. Sir Richard dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and has never looked back. To his credit there is; Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Trains, Virgin Mobile and Virgin Galactic and in the making, Virgin Fuel. He is a philanthropist as much as a business man - on October 12th of this year, he pledged $3 Billion over 10 years to fight global warming. Did I mention he was a pretty hunky 56 year old? Oh, he's married as well, since 1989 to Joan Templeton.

I think this world would be a much happier place with more Sir Richard's kicking around. Here is another funny fact, Mr. Branson has openly admits to smoking bud and would consider selling it in his Virgin record stores, if it ever became legal.... see, happier place.

To learn more about Sir Richard Branson, click here or do as most of us do, Google him.

While we are on the 'star' topic. Last week we set up a post about a Canadian Country Music contest/show - 'Plucked'. Well, I watched the final night of the show - it was pretty disjointed and a bit disappointing. Except of course for the fact that local favorite party band Ambush won. The well deserving act took home a $35,000 credit to produce a new video and will have their current video 'put into heavy rotation'. Good for the boys, its nice to see them get this kind of break.

That's about it for a wrap for this week. We are twisting a few arms in hopes of getting our other contributors back contributing - a quick email from you might just push them along a bit.

Have a wonderful Hot Cherry weekend, stay dry, warm and dream happy thoughts of hunky older men!

Who would have thought

Did you know, George Clooney has been chosen the 'sexiest man alive' for the second year running? What do you think, is he worthy of the title? Ahhh well, I guess really not many would kick him out of bed for eating crackers.

What about the 'sexiest woman alive'? I went to find out, just so we would all know. According to 'Esquire magazine' the winner is Scarlet Johannson. Who? Exactly what I said. It is Esquire btw.... need I say more?

On other fronts.... did you know that many businesses are playing Christmas music already? Yep, I was stuck on hold yesterday listening to "let it snow" - that is just sick.

Sooner or later thoughts will move towards what to get the hard to buy for male on your list. I took some time and here are some of the 'cool tech gifts for him':

We thought this was cool and blue: The Faucet Light turns an ordinary faucet into a streaming crystal blue light source. Simply turn on your water and the internal pressure switch activates the light source. Turn off the water and the light goes off. Fun and functional for a kid's bathroom, but even better to add excitement to your wet bar or kitchen sink when you throw a cocktail party!

You know how your guy (kids, girlfriend, mother, co worker) can never remember where they put things down - well, here is the perfect gift:

"Now You Can Find It!"® locater puts a pager on all elusive things! Upgraded version includes eight RF receiver discs that beep and flash to help you quickly and easily locate a missing object.

Now for something completly different and a bit 'out there': Radio-controlled airplane that takes up to 26 fantastic aerial digital photos per flight with a simple push of a button on transmitter. Giant-size jet with twin engines can reach 1000?, climb, dive and by changing respective engine speed; easy-to-control 5-function, 2-stick transmitter. Flight battery charger, 2 flight batteries and EZ Launch takeoff system included.

The one that we really liked, the one to have: Multiple Unit Recharging Station. This station keeps up to three portable electronics recharged in a central location. Including; cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs and games.

We are going to be giving you heaps of gift ideas over the course of the next month. We'd like to hear and see yours. Don't be shy! Submit a comment, email us, add your links.

Now I need to get back to some pre-Christmas, Christmas shopping. Have a wonderful, Cherry filled day!