I like to stay on top of trends, but the world of nail art and nail polish has gone insane. I mean really, “suede” nails? That’s right, nail polish infused with suede texturizer to make your nails look and feel fuzzy, like suede or velvet. I want to know just who is behind this so-called craze. Is the need for The Next Big Thing so strong that we’re going to pretend hideous is actually halfway appealing? If something is so extremely UNappealing, does it eventually start to look good in the same way hate isn’t so far from love?

On our series Anna & Kristina’s Grocery Bag, we often end up with a lot of extra food after doing the taste test with our guest chef. The burning question: what do we do with it all?

Kristina here. You may not know me but I have been following your career for many years: first as an actress, then blogger, trendsetter, and most recently, chef and cookbook author. But I gotta tell ya Gwynnie, (do you mind if I call you that? I see your face all over the place – it’s on my coffee table right now – and I feel like I kind of know you!) I have a small bone to pick with you.

We’re often asked about our clothes on our TV series Anna & Kristina’s Grocery Bag. Here are some of the things we wore during the episode 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know.

If we could invite any celebrity over and cook a perfect meal, it would be…

I just shook my bootie in the name of fitness. To be totally accurate, I stood on a machine and it did the shaking for me!

Going through some boxes this week I came across some old photos of a trip I took many years ago to Israel. It made me recall some great times traveling the globe, before the task of traveling itself became onerous. (Like when airlines served meals on china to people at the back. Can you remember those days?) It also reminds me of some of the absolute dives where I have stayed. Whether it be a seedy hostel or roadside motel while driving across the country, I have laid my head at some dodgy establishments. That’s part of traveling in your twenties and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

For coffee lovers, there’s nothing more satisfying than a perfect cup you brewed yourself, whether enjoying as your daily ritual or sharing with guests. This traditional-style stove top coffee maker is one of Kristina’s favourite things. She loves it so much she has it in two sizes!

Mother’s day is just under two weeks away and it’s got me thinking about the seminal role my mother has played in my life and the important lessons she taught me.

Last night I attended a fundraising gala and for some reason I thought it was a black tie event. Even in Vancouver, The Most Casual City in the World, anything calling itself a gala should mean a cocktail dress for women and a very nice suit for gentlemen. I also love a tailored women’s tux. You get my point.