INDIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL
Vancouverites, Indian Summer Festival has begun with a “wow” opening gala last night on July 7th. Vancouver City Councillor Ellen Woodsworth, Surrey City Councillor Barinder Rasode, Medical Director of Laboratory Services, Fraser Health Authority Dr. Arun Garg, Hollywood Actress Agam Darshi, world-famous choreographer Shiamak Davar and many other great personalities were seen at the Opening Gala of the festival. It is going to be a 10-day festival at the SFU Woodwards Building in Gastown, from July 7th-17th.

by Shreya Khanna Ever since Prince William engaged to his long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton, the Royal Wedding last Friday became one of the most anticipated events of the decade. Great Britain was at a standstill with the upcoming wedding of Princess Diana’s first born. People all over the world were in awe with the fairy-tale fortune of Kate Middleton and were filled with excitement. Questions and predictions of the wedding began turning up everywhere. What colour would the Queen wear? Who would be on the royal guest list? And of course, what would Kate Middleton’s dress look like? With over 2 billion viewers worldwide, the royal couple said their “I-do’s” Friday morning. From the moment the Princes walked into Westminster Abbey, and Elizabeth the II arrived in an optimistic yellow piece, eyes awaited the arrival of the royal bride. The world was in awe at Kate Middleton’s beautiful wedding dress. Kate’s dress was easily one of the most awaited details of the wedding for the public, being kept a great secret for so long. With the long lace sleeves and shorter train than Princess Diana, Kate mixed tradition and modernization into the piece that looked absolutely stunning. Not only did British designer Sarah Burton design a beautiful gown, but she was also able to keep the secret ever since the engagement.

With the arrival of spring comes another special day when we are given the chance to show our thanks and gratitude to those we love. Mother’s Day is celebrated on second Sunday of May, which falls on May 8th this year, to recognize our mothers and mother figures, and all they do for us. When it comes to getting gifts for the fabulous women in our lives, many quickly resort to chocolates, flowers and fragrances. Here are some different gift ideas all under a hundred dollars, to express the love we have for our mothers! • Sleepwear When choosing an appropriate Mother’s Day present, it is important to pick a gift that will be of use. Sleepwear of any sort is always a safe bet. Examples of sleepwear gifts include robes, slippers, pyjamas or even throws. Any mother would be happy with a gift keeping her comfortable at night. • Gardening Tools Mother’s Day not only marks the holiday itself, but also the arrival of spring, and with that comes gardening. Gardening tools and accessories for the outdoors can be great Mother’s day gifts. Choose items such as shovels, gardening gloves or accessories like outdoor lanterns. • Summer Accessories It may still be spring; but summer is just around the corner. Summer accessories such as sunglasses, hats, and totes are great gifts for all mother figures.

The Oscars are a night of glam, glitz and of course, the gowns! The star-studded red carpet of the event proves to be just exciting as the little gold man himself. As the stars flaunt their gowns for the big evening, the anticipation of who will be categorized as best and worst dressed steals everyone’s attention. This year, many stars sported gowns that were absolute hits, whereas some others, well weren’t. Here’s a look at the best and worst dressed of the Academy Awards 2011. Best Dressed Camila Alves Matthew McConaughey’s wife, Camila Alves looked absolutely stunning in her anything but plain black dress. The deep V-neck and back cuts on the Kaufman Franco gown were carried well by the Brazilian model, and helped her stand out on the carpet, despite the common colour. Thrown in with her low bun and diamond earrings, Alves was able to pull off sexy and classy at the same time. Mila Kunis The Black Swan actress could easily be spotted one of the best dressed of the entire night. Flaunting a lilac gown from Elie Saab Haute Couture, the drapery and the net on the gown looked gorgeous throughout the evening. Her curly bun and smoky eyes added a sexy spin to a girly gown. Hilary Swank Ms. Million-Dollar Baby looked like a million bucks that evening in her jaw-dropping Gucci premier gown.

Every February 14th, we celebrate the day of love, Valentine’s Day, by exchanging gifts or greetings. These valentines often contain a message of love or affection for the receiver. Valentine’s Day is a time for remembering one’s vows of love to one another, and it is a day for those who are desperate to win the affection of another, often enticing them with fattening gifts like chocolate. With Valentine’s Day come visions of Cupid, a mischievous, winged child whose arrows pierce the hearts of his victims causing them to fall deeply in love. In ancient Greece, he was known as Eros, the son of the goddess of love, Aphrodite. To the Romans, he was Cupid, the son of their goddess of love, Venus. How do we celebrate love on Valentine’s Day in diverse multicultural societies? Canada and the United States are the most culturally diverse countries on Earth. As thousands of people from virtually every nation and ethnic group arrive on our shores, our cities have truly become a multicultural mosaic. Do you know that over 100 languages are spoken in the North American cities? Such diversity can enrich the lives of those who welcome it but not everyone is quick to embrace cultures different from their own.

New Year’s resolutions can often be compared to marriage; they start off strong but can lose their fire with time. Many of us vow to keep our New Year’s resolutions going strong throughout the New Year, but find ourselves forgetting these goals or failing right after January. Here are some tips to help you keep your resolutions strong throughout 2011! Mini Resolutions One of the main reasons people do not successfully complete their new year’s resolutions is because they set unrealistic goals. It is better to set small goals that can be completed rather than setting a large goal that will seem overwhelming as the year progresses. The best way to do this is by breaking up your New Year’s resolution, into “monthly resolutions”. Set mini goals every month, which will add up to help you achieve your New Year’s resolution throughout the year. For example instead of aiming to lose 100 pounds in 2011, try setting a goal to lose 5 pounds in January, then maybe 8 pounds in February, 10 pounds in March, and so on. By constantly changing your goal, mini resolutions help keep that “fire” and motivation that wouldn’t have otherwise lasted past January. Be Flexible and Plan for Setbacks Let’s face it, we will all fail at our resolutions at least once in the 365 days we have ahead of us.

Green Tea instead of Hot Chocolate With the cold conditions during the holidays, many feel the need to grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. What we often fail to realize is that what we are really looking for is the warmth we get, and not necessarily the high calorie drinks. Try substituting these drinks for a healthier choice such as green tea. Green tea is known to have lots of health benefits and is a great antioxidant. Take walks in the snow With the cold weather we are getting this season, take advantage of the snow when you exercise. Walking in the snow takes up more energy, and hence helps burn more calories. Just remember to bundle up and wear good footwear. Bake fewer cookies We all know how tempting it can be to resist great holiday cookies when they are lying in trays on the counter. Try curbing your temptation to eat these by not baking them all. Instead of filling trays with these delicacies, only make 2-4 cookies. After eating this small amount, odds are you will be too lazy to make another batch. Turning down cookies is much easier when there aren’t any cookies in the first place. Deal with those chocolate boxes Chocolate boxes prove to be great presents during the holiday season. When receiving these gifts, try re-gifting them instead of eating them yourself. Just be careful not to give the chocolates to the same person who gave them to you!

The holiday season is known for its parties. Business parties begin in mid- November and run throughout December. So the biggest question on most women’s minds is “What do I wear?” Thus begins the mission to find the perfect outfit- appropriate, sexy, and distinct. Here are the key items that make the perfect party outfit, and are a must in every woman’s wardrobe this season. 1. High-waisted pencil skirt 2. Silk draped blouse 3. Satin blazer 3. Embellished clutch 4. Platform heel A high-waisted pencil skirt is a timeless piece and an essential in every wardrobe. Pair this with a tucked-in, brightly coloured, draped silk blouse; slip a black sateen blazer over top; add a sexy platform heel; grab an embellished clutch; and you have yourself the perfect party outfit. Want a little more glitz? Add a few accessories such as a long rhinestone necklace, and a belt with an embellished buckle. Trend tip: Mixing fabrications is hot this season! Think velvets, satins, silks. -by Neha Mohan