That’s right, we’re picking up the tab for one lucky winner and their guest!

To enter, leave a comment telling us your favourite feature in the February/March issue of G! and why it’s your fave! We’ll randomly select one winner on Monday, March 5, 2012, and announce the winner the next day on Facebook, Twitter, and right here on the blog.

If you haven’t picked up the February/March issue of G! yet, get your copy today at any one of our many G! Locations and tell us your faves! We want to hear from YOU!

Meet Brady, a shi-poo dressed up as a frog prince for Halloween. Sent to G! by Brady's owner Kristen.

For our March/April issue, we’re saluting our ever-faithful companions, our pets, and we’d love to feature your fur baby! Send us a photo of your pet telling us who they are and why they’re the best to Gtalk@transcontinental.ca. Any and all animals are welcome to be a part of this pet-loving issue!

Don’t wait! We’ll be accepting your pet photos up until Sunday, March 4. Send your photo to G! today and let’s celebrate our furry (or feathered, or scaly) friends!

Each month, we’ll be profiling successful Islanders who are working at some pretty cool jobs. Anything goes – if you’re having a blast and getting paid to do it, we want to hear about it.

Click on the ‘Got a cool job?‘ link on the right hand side of the page, fill out the questions, and hit send. If you’ve got a picture you’d like to include of yourself living it up while you work, you can send that along to Gtalk@transcontinental.ca. We’ll feature a new cool job each month in G!

Maybe you’ve got a cool job, or maybe you know someone who does. Get in touch with us and tell us about it. We’d love to show our readers all of the cool jobs that exist on our Island!

In this issue – on stands now! – we go behind the scenes to give you a ton of fun and interesting movie-related reads. From Heidi Brander’s thoughts on this year’s biggest Oscar snubs to Kimberly Rashed’s style tips on how to dress like Hollywood’s hottest leading ladies, to what some of our own award-winning filmmakers are doing right here on PEI, G! has gone to the movies and as always, it’s FREE for you to join us!

On this month’s cover, we’ve got Island filmmakers Adam Perry, Jeremy Larter, and Millefiore Clarkes stepping in front of the camera for a change. These hot young talents are helping to put PEI on the map as a hot bed of cinematic talent…and they’re just getting started. Pick up the latest issue to read all about them and what they have to say about the future of filmmaking on PEI.

Think movie prosthetic make-up is something you’d only find on a Hollywood movie set? Not so, peeps. Self-taught special effects make-up artist Fox Henderson of The Monkey Rodeo Project gave G!’s editor a demonic makeover you have to see to believe. Fox is working on a photography book, The Secret Lives of Demons, and G!’s editor Meredith Morrison was lucky enough to be a part of it. Seriously cool things are happening on our small island!

Plus, we’ve got lots of articles on trends to follow, fitness tips from personal trainer Ryan Cairns, sweet and salty DIY movie treats from Zestycook, how to ‘Prep the Green Machine’ for St. Patrick’s Day and much, much more!

What are you waiting for? Grab your copy of the February/March issue of G! and settle into the best seat in the house. (sadly, hot buttered popcorn is not included. Don’t think we didn’t try, though!)

As we nibble on chocolates from heart-shaped boxes, we thought we’d share a few interesting V-Day stats with you as featured in the January/February issue of G! (We’re still reeling over how much is spent on jewelry for V-Day. Apparently diamonds really are a girl’s best friend!)

Be sure to pick up your copy of the brand spankin’ new February/March issue when it hits stands this Thursday, and we still have two tickets to see comedian Danny Bhoy to give away so click here and enter before it’s too late (deadline is February 20).

Feel and share the love today, peeps – it’s what it’s all about!

Cheers,

G! Team

Valentine’s Day by the Numbers

Chocolate AND roses? You shouldn't have!

190 million: The number of greeting cards exchanged for the holiday. Valentine’s Day comes in second to Christmas for the most number of greeting cards sent.

73: The percentage of men who give bouquet gifts.

119: The number of single men in their 20s per 100 single women of the same age.

144: The number of years the chocolate box has been around. The first Valentine’s Day box of chocolates was created and introduced by Richard Cadbury in 1868.

6,000: The number of weddings that take place every day in the United States.

1415: The year in which the first Valentine’s Day card was sent.

76: The percentage of Americans who celebrate Valentine’s Day.

72: The percentage of Canadians who plan to give something on Valentine’s Day.

1,000: The approximate number of letters mailed to Verona, Italy and addressed to Juliet every February 14.

3: The percentage of pet owners who will buy a gift for their pet.

1: The ranking given to teachers in terms of most Valentine’s Day cards received. Numbers 2 and 3 belong to children and mothers.

37: The percentage of workers who have dated someone at work.

15: The percentage of women who send themselves flowers on this day.

2.5 billion: The dollar amount spent on jewelry for Valentine’s Day.

5: The number of years of shelf life for dark chocolate. Discard milk or white chocolate after a year.

Source: Valentine’s Day Microsite, Metro Creative Connection

Photography by Alanna Jankov
Text by Meredith Morrison

Competitive sports not your thing? You’re not the only one.

Considering most of us hit our athletic peak somewhere around sixth grade, the thought of joining a sports team where people actually know what they’re doing can seem pretty intimidating. What if all you really want to do is get out of the house once in awhile and just have fun?

Luckily, people like Darcy and Ashley Murnaghan get that not everyone is into competitive sports, which is why they started the Charlottetown Sport & Social Club as a way for adults to be active, have fun, and network with one another.

Ashley & Darcy Murnaghan (pictured here) are gearing up for a winter season full of sport and social activity.

Think of it as recess for adults. The CSSC organizes co-ed recreational sports leagues where anyone 19 and older can resister for a full eight week season playing basketball, floor hockey, dodgeball, or indoor soccer once a week. After the games, instead of juice boxes and cookies, club members get together for a post-game social hour at a local bar. Even if you’ve never been a part of a rec league before or this is the first time in a long time you’ve played on a team, the CSSC is a great way to stay active and social during the winter months.

The idea of a Sport & Social club isn’t new, but it is new to PEI. “We had never heard of it until a friend in Halifax told us about the Halifax Sport & Social Club,” says the couple. “She was playing in a co-ed dodgeball league, which we thought was pretty cool. She told us about all the new people she was meeting and how easy it was to get involved. We thought it would be great if there was a club in Charlottetown.”

They contacted the HSSC who got them in touch with Nicki Bridgland, who founded the Ottawa Sport & Social Club in 2003 and has since expanded to cities such as Halifax, Moncton, Kingston, London, Victoria, and Boulder, CO. Bridgland encouraged the couple’s effort to start their own Sport & Social Club in Charlottetown and within six months, they had a home for the CSSC at the Murphy Community Centre and were ready to get the word out.

Through pamphlets, social media and good old fashioned word of mouth, the couple started generating buzz around the city about the sporty social concept. They approached local businesses and groups to gauge their interest in putting together corporate teams, stressing the importance of happy, active employees and the impact that has on productivity. “Playing sports is a great way to meet new people in a positive environment,” says Darcy. “Employers are now trying to encourage their employees to maintain a balanced lifestyle outside of the office. Playing sports builds teamwork skills and camaraderie among staff.”

Whether it’s a team, a few friends, or individuals, everyone is encouraged to get involved in the CSSC. “We realize that not everyone wants to play in a competitive league,” says Ashley. “We hope the CSSC will fill this gap and provide a fun league where males and females can play together and have fun. All skill levels are welcome. The main thing is that everyone has fun.”

As CSSC membership grows, Darcy and Ashley hope to develop the social aspect of the club to include special events on off-game nights, such as cross-country skiing. But for now, getting together with the players for post-game drinks is a great way to kick things off and make connections within the community.

“If we can get a few more people to be active and connect socially, we will consider it a success,” says Darcy. “We tried out Ultimate Frisbee for the first time this summer and had a blast. You don’t realize how much fun it is until you give it a try.”

The first season of the CSSC kicks off January 30 and runs until April 7. If you missed out registering for the winter season, the next season picks up again in the spring with sports such as soccer, slow pitch softball, flag football, and Ultimate Frisbee.

Want to learn more about the Charlottetown Sport & Social Club and how to register so you’re not missing out on the fun? Check them out on Facebook at Charlottetown REC, or email charlottetownsport@gmail.com.

This mash up of winter weather has been a huge influence on the January/February issue of G!, hitting G! Locations across the Island this Thursday, January 19. Whether you love it or loathe it, there are lots of things you can do to get you through the season of Not Summer. Whether it’s a new style, a new hobby, a new sport (indoors or outdoors), or planning a getaway to escape the winter blahs, our contributors are going to tell you about it. Plus, we’ve got all your favourites that you look forward to each month, including fitness myth buster Ryan Cairns, the ever-so-irreverent Heidi Brander, and G! Eats with…wait, didn’t Ellen Egan take off for jolly old England? She did, which is why we’re introducing our newest G! foodie, Christina Flemming! Read her delicious take on what to fill your belly with in this month’s installment of G! Eats. Lots of great stuff this issue to get you through NS (Not Summer)!

Connect with G!

Want a good laugh? We’re giving you the chance to win two tickets to see funnyman Danny Bhoy on March 2 at the Confederation Centre of the Arts! Honestly, this is one comedy show you do not want to miss – Danny Bhoy will definitely have you rolling in your seat with laughter! We’ll have all the details on how to enter to win this hot pair of tickets (and the seats are good!) starting this Thursday, so subscribe to the G! blog and check your inbox – all will be revealed!

#Wouldya Rather?

Last month, we asked you to tell us which wouldya rather do – involuntarily laugh at the most inappropriate occasions (like a funeral) or make a disgusted face when someone told you good news? Oh boy. Neither would be good, but that’s the point, right? What did G! readers decide was the lesser of two evils? Pick up the latest issue of G! to find out! We’ve got a new #wouldyarather this month, so be sure to give us your pick and why  – on Facebook, Twitter, or here on the blog!

Submit to G!

If you love to write and think you’ve got a story that needs to be in G!, then we want to hear from you! Katherine Ballem, Kelly Stewart, and Christina Flemming connected with G! and now, they’re in the pages of the January/February issue. It’s easy – just click HERE for guidelines and details.

PICK UP THE JANUARY/FEBRUARY ISSUE OF G! ON STANDS THURSDAY, JANUARY 19! IT’S FREE, AND ALWAYS WILL BE!

Now that we’re starting to see more of the white stuff on the ground (and more is most certainly on its way), we want you to tell us – are you an avoider or an enjoyer of the snow? Are you pumped to break out your skis and play outdoors or are you happy to fire up Kinnect and play inside? Give us your tips or plans on how you plan on making it through the next few wintery months and you could earn yourself a G! Shirt to wear indoors or out (though you might need something to go underneath it. It’s cold out there!)

So what team are you?

Enjoy

Avoid

We’re also looking for photos to add to our Winter Mash Up feature, so if you’ve got a great winter shot you think would look great in the pages of G!, send it along to Gtalk@transcontinental.ca for consideration!

Congratulations to JANET MACPHEE, who won two tickets to see Vintage 2.0 20 Year Reunion at Hunter’s Ale House PLUS a $40 Gift Card for eats & drinks at Hunter’s!

Our latest winner, LORRAINE STEVENSON, just scored herself a rockin’ NYE VIP-style at the Delta Prince Edward, courtesy of Nifty Events!

Way to go, Janet and Lorraine!

Thanks to all who entered – stay tuned for more great G! contests & giveaways!

By Cassandra Cotton

Christmas in South Korea

Love it or hate it, Christmas is coming.  In fact, it seems as soon as Halloween displays are dismantled, they’re being replaced with snow men and Christmas tree ornaments.  Before we know it, “Silent Night” will be blasting through every loud speaker around and all the pressures of the holiday season will be on our shoulders once again.  Inevitably, we will begin asking ourselves such questions as, will we find that perfect gift?  Will we have time to finish the baking?  How will we deal with having to be in three places at once on Christmas Day?  There’s really no escaping it – Christmas is coming.

But don’t be too quick to cast aside jolly ole’ Saint Nick in order to jump into Ebenezer Scrooge’s shoes just yet.  There’s something incredibly comforting about tradition.  There’s no place like home for the holidays… especially when you’ve spent it on the other side of the world.

I lived in South Korea for two years and I can honestly say I only felt homesick once, and that was for Christmas.  Christmas 2006 was my 23rd time celebrating the holiday, and the first time I had to spend it without my family.  Since I was working abroad and couldn’t afford to come home, my Christmas was spent with new friends and new customs thousands of miles away.

Under usual circumstances, my Christmas routine typically goes something like this: pick out and decorate the tree (which MUST be real); huddle around the TV to watch the Christmas specials; participate in a last minute gift buying spree; read ‘Twas the Night before Christmas’; hang up the stockings; open just one gift; go to sleep with sugar plums dancing in my head; wake up Christmas morning to some quality family time; and enjoy a day of relaxing while eating myself into a turkey coma.

Cassandra shows her students a little Christmas spirit

My Christmas in South Korea went something like this: put up the mini, plastic Christmas tree; stress about getting last minute gifts mailed out to loved ones; huddle around the computer to Skype with family at home; wake up Christmas morning to see what gifts were received in the mail; meet up with other foreigners in a familiar part of Seoul and hope the sight of a Burger King might bring fond memories of home; eat turkey dinner with a side of kimchi.

South Korea is actually the only East Asian country to recognize Christmas as a national holiday.  However, Korean Christmas’ are less elaborate and more subdued than most holiday celebrations in Canada.  Usually, the holiday is celebrated with a family dinner, and the menu almost always includes popular Korean dishes such as sweet potato, rice cake soup, barbecued beef (bulgogi), and spicy pickled cabbage (kimchi).

Like anything however, Christmas away from home is what you make it.  While Christmas 2006 wasn’t quite like those of my past, it was by keeping some of my family traditions alive that I was able to make the best of my holidays overseas.

While Christmas is ideally a time for family and longstanding tradition, it is inevitable that at least once in your life, you will find yourself celebrating Christmas away from home.  Even though it might be difficult to find your inner holiday cheer during this time, here are few simple things to keep in mind that might help you make the best of your situation:

Get Traditional. Decide what traditions you enjoy celebrating most from year to year and make an effort to incorporate them into your holiday plans.  While your holidays might not be quite as you remember them from years gone by, making the effort to incorporate some of your favourite traditions will leave you feeling a little closer to your loved ones back home.

Be with friends. If you know you’re not going to be with family this holiday season, make plans to meet up with others in a similar situation.  Have an open mind, and enjoy some of their favourite traditions.

Stay connected. If you will be away from home at Christmas, stay connected to the activities taking place with your family.  Send Christmas Carol video messages, or schedule times to use a web cam to watch everyone open gifts.

No matter where you’re celebrating this holiday season, know that you’re not alone.  Whether you’re enjoying a typical family Christmas at home or experiencing your first Christmas abroad, there’s something to be said for both.  To everyone on the Island celebrating Christmas without family this year, “Sun-tan-chuk-ha” (Merry Christmas in Korean).

Originally from Georgetown, PEI, Cassandra Cotton currently calls Ottawa, ON home. She recently launched Rock.Paper.Petals – a home décor and event design company  featured in the October/November issue of G!.