10) Pretty Woman

Let’s be honest, Richard Gere and Julia Roberts were a match made in early 90s romantic comedy heaven. (Remember Runaway Bride?) And besides who doesn’t enjoy a good rags to riches and romance story?

9) Coming to America

Eddie Murphy stars as an African prince who comes to the United States in hopes of finding a woman he can marry in this hilarious comedy.  Murphy and Arsenio Hall (at the height of his career) both play multiple characters without resorting to a fat suit for laughs.

8 ) Elizabethtown

Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst star in this unexpected romance directed by Cameron Crowe. Need we say more?

7) Anchorman

Will Ferrell is hilarious as news anchor Ron Burgundy! We could watch it every day and  would laugh every time!

6) Once Upon A Time in America

Got to represent the men in the office! Though some might be put off by its length (229 min of graphic violence), Once Upon a Time in America is also a cinematic masterpiece. The acting, the re-creation of the time period, the cinematography, and the music are all outstanding!

5) Roman Holiday

A classic! One of Audrey Hepburn’s first starring roles as a sheltered princess falling in love in Rome!

4) Gladiator

The perfect movie for a history and movie buff!  We love its stirring action and a tough but honourable Russell Crowe!

3) The Departed

Martini Scorsese’s first Oscar win for Best Director! (He’s nominated again this year for Hugo) We love the twists and turns that always keep us guessing. Not to mention Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg all in one film!

2) Clueless

Funny, smart, witty and Paul Rudd at his peak! Besides, what girl wasn’t envious of Cher’s electronic closet?!

1)   Love Actually

The only film to truly master the intertwining story format! Love Actually is everything you want from a film, heartwarming, heartbreaking with an incredibly satisfying conclusion! A must-watch during the holidays!

 What’s your favourite film of all-time? Tweet us @NatashaNKPR! 

If your honey needs a hint when it comes to gift giving, send over our list of Valentine’s Day-approved items.

DAVIDsTEA The Sweetheart Collection 

DAVIDsTEA’s collection of five heartfelt teas gives you five different ways to say I love you: Love Tea #7 romances them, Doctor Chocolate says they’re just what the doctor ordered, Honeybee will make them sweet on you, Peppermint Amour shows you’re really serious and Hot Lips…well, that spicy little number explains itself. It’s the perfect gift: sweet, romantic and thoughtful. In store and online at www.davidstea.com 

Desserts from Baker Street

A decadent creation from Baker Street will be love at first bite. Share a heart-shaped Truffle Cake with you girlfriends, or indulge in a few cupcakes after your Valentine’s date. www.bakerstreet.ca 

Put a Ring on It

Want to take your relationship to the next level without the added pressure? Classic Creations’ stackable antique cut diamond scroll 18kt rings are sure to send a message she won’t soon forget! www.classiccreations.ca

This week’s IT List is all about Valentine’s Day! Whether single or attached, this love-dedicated holiday can be incredibly polarizing! One thing we can’t debate? All the amazing products that come out during the month of love!

What do you get when you combine a mouth-watering Heart Truffle Cake from Baker Street, a decadent Frangelico and SKYY Vodka cocktail, and the romantic Sweetheart Collection from DAVIDsTEA? A triple threat of delicious treats for the day of love… or any day really! [Toronto Sun]

Looking for a sexy surprise for your partner this Valentine’s Day? The We-Vibe 3 is the hottest couples sex toy on the market with 6 vibration modes and a completely waterproof design! [Women’s Post]

Italian aperitifs like Campari and Aperol were one of the top cocktail trends of 2011! With a glowing-red colour, these two spirits are a non-cliché way to indulge in pink drinks this Valentine’s Day! [Globe & Mail]

No Valentine’s Day outfit is complete without the proper accessories! A stunning Lia Sophia bracelet and statement ring are sure to please your loved one! [24 Hours]

Give your face a rosy glow this Valentine’s Day with Stila’s new stunning collection of spring essentials! We love this gorgeous heart-patterned blush palette! [iVillage]

February is here and NKPR is jumping on the Love Train. Stay tuned all month as we help you get in the mood with the perfect gifts, date ideas and yummy treats to share with the one you love. 

The 14^th might be a mandatory date night for those who are attached, but it shouldn’t be the only time of the year to woo your significant other. The NKPR team has put together some activities for you to enjoy with anyone near and dear.

Valentine’s TLC

Who wouldn’t want to spend the day in a bathrobe getting pampered? Treat your plus one to a rejuvenating spa retreat catered to couples that includes massage therapy, a hot steam and lunch at this amazing spa in Bloor-Yorkville! www.sitamaa.com

Dîner Pour Deux

Maybe you can’t take your love to Paris for a romantic getaway, but you can always take them to La Société for a French-inspired meal. We suggest ordering the Grand Tower – a three-tiered seafood feast that is sure to make a memorable Valentine’s date. www.lasociete.ca

Pass the Popcorn

Get together with your fellow cinephiles and head over to the TIFF Bell Lightbox for a silver screen escape. From February 10-16 the Academy Awards nominated films for Best Live Action and Best Animated Short will be playing back-to-back so you can choose wisely in your office Oscar pool. www.Tiff.net

Alone Time

The We-Vibe 3 is a great place to start for anyone looking to plan an intimate night in. It’s made for couples and features six vibration patterns, a remote control and a waterproof design. Cue up a Marvin Gaye CD and you’ve got yourself a sexy Valentine’s Day party for two. www. We-Vibe.com

-Daniela DiStefano

Tweet us @natashankpr and tell us how you’ll be celebrating Valentine’s Day!

NKPR knows there are so many great opportunities available for fans to connect with their favourite brands online, and we’ve been busy working with many of them to creatively participate in online conversations with Canadians. This month we are thrilled to announce that Goody Canada has officially gone live with their first-ever social media channels! This is another great way for Canadian media and consumers to connect with the Goody brand.

If you’re on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, and you want to keep up with hot new hair trends, celebrity inspired styling tips and the latest tools and accessories from Goody Canada, follow us!

We invite you to join in on the hair conversation, and look forward to sharing exciting offers and product launches in the next few months. Keep an eye out for exclusive online contests, including our launch celebration giveaways of $150 Goody prize packs #goodygiveaway

What brands do you think are doing an excellent job with social media? Tell us @natashankpr 

Looking for some warm comfort on a cold, snowy day? The new Noble Glass Travel Thermos from DAVIDsTEA features a bamboo lid, tea leaf strainer and double paned glass to keep your favourite tea toasty hot!  [Toronto Star]

The hottest makeup trend this spring is a colourful smokey eye! Stila’s Global Director of Artistry, Sarah Lucero shares her expert tips to create this sexy look with a Stila Smudge Crayon in Midnight Blue! [Elle Quebec]

Have you been using the wrong hairbrush for your hair type? Goody offers an amazing selection of brushes so you can achieve the look you want with the proper tool! Don’t forget to follow these tips from Toronto hair stylist Paul Pereira of Solo Bace! [The Kit]

NKPR’s token male takes on office favourite, Kim & Kourtney Take New York, tackling issues such as Kim’s short-lived marriage, Kourtney’s ridiculous antics (oil-based enemas anyone?) and why the Humph isn’t such a bad guy after all. 

________

This year I got caught up in the whole Keeping up with the Kardashians craze. It always seems to be a hot topic of conversation in the office, after a weekend spent unwinding, going out and evidently, keeping up with the Kardashians.

Like most guys who dare to admit that they’ve tuned in to the past season of Kourtney and Kim take New York, I initially got caught up in the excitement of Kim Kardashian’s serendipitous phony romance with New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries. True, K² had only known each other for a few months, but come on- his name starts with a K, the same as ALL the Kardashian sisters! With that kind of foundation, surely this love would be 4-eva! I’m sure that’s what Kim’s brand managers were thinking when they approached her with a  72-day wedding-for-profit scheme dating opportunity. Okay I’ll admit it, I’m just speculating.

But I digress, because a polarizing family like the Kardashians will and has drawn in much more intense criticism than I am willing to get into here. So instead, here are my highlights of Kourtney and Kim take New York season 2:

Episode 1:

- Kim and Kris, and Kourtney, Scott, and their son Mason move in together.

- Kourtney gets an oil enema and then proceeds to leak on Kim’s bed.

- Kris shaves Scott’s armpits. (yea, so what?)

- Scott gets drunk. (Apparently a no-no in the Kardashian household)

- Scott moves out.

- Kourtney hires an in-house naked male yoga instructor for the girls. (Not weird at all!)

- Kris moves to Minnesota.

Episode 2:

- KHLOE IN DA HOUSE.

- Kourtney, Khloe, and Mason go to the Hamptons.

- Kim calls Khloe a “dumb evil little effing troll” via text.

- Kim visits Kris in Minnesota. (In K&KGTNY, Minnesota is a place where dreams go to die)

- Kim convinces Kris to come back to New York.

- Kourtney throws out Scott’s mom’s “ugly” stuff.

Episode 3:

- Kardashian matriarch “the other Kris” arrives.

- Scott watches porn

- Kim and Kris eat lunch on an outdoor patio.

- Kris says he could throw Kim over the edge.

- Kim asks Kris if he’s ready to have a baby, Kris smirks… (Actually, he always smirks)

- Kim and Kris fight.

I’m going to stop right there because the rest of the season pretty much revolves around making Kris Humphries look like a complete asshole. A very sleazy shrewd move made by the Kardashian Empire. To me, “The Humph” really isn’t such a bad guy. He’s just the only dude in the history of Keeping up with the Kardashians who has managed to maintain some level of dignity in the face of such blatant female bullying and male groveling (ahem… Scott Disick… Bruce Jenner). So pretty much, he just got himself mixed up in an extremely sticky (and gold-plated) spider web that has made him the center of attention on the court in the tabloids.

With that said, after watching an entire season of “Kourtney and Kim take New York”, Kim will undoubtedly become a permanent figure on my “least favourite people” list. Because I, like, find it amazing that, like, a woman as, like, successful as her is not, like, capable of putting together, like, a proper sentence.  But hey, apparently that doesn’t matter these days.

In all fairness, this is just a TV show, and Ryan Seacrest can portray his “characters” in any way he chooses. The only accomplishment here is that millions of teeny-bopping girls who aspire to be just as, like, glamorous as Kim Kardashian will go on bashing Kris Humphries.  And that’s okay with me as long as he helps win me my fantasy basketball championship. He should just be thankful he got out before the Kreepy Kardashian Kristmas Kard photo was taken.

- Justin

______

 We must admit, he does bring up a few good points… But the real question is, can we convince him to tune in for the next season of Khloe & Lamar? 

Are you a fan of the Kardashians? Tell us in the comments or tweet us @natashankpr! 

January is always an incredibly busy time in the NKPR office! In order to look our best, we rely on quick beauty fixes that help us look alert, awake and put-together! Here are some of our favourites:

Need to brighten up tired eyes? Stila Jewel Eye Shadows are the perfect blend of shimmer and sparkle to keep your lids shining all day long! [Chatelaine]

Winter weather doing a drying number on your skin? Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is a lightweight, readily absorbed elixir that helps hydrate and repair your skin from daily aggressors like the cold! The best part – this amazing product works overnight so you can wake up with beautiful, refreshed skin! [Paperplanes.ca]

Our new favourite quick beauty fix: Goody Double Wear elastics! They look like bracelets but are fully functional as hair elastics! The handy elastic band on your wrist just became a lot more stylish! [Chantel Simmons]

From food trucks to local eateries and world-class institutions, check out my staff’s New York City restaurant recommendations!

Aimee’s Pick – Handmade Cavatelli & Braised Short Ribs at David Burke Townhouse
“You can’t beat fall-off-the-bone meat and truffle mousse!”

Sarah’s Pick – Steak Tartare at Balthazar
“The perfect lunch on a day of shopping in Soho.”

Erica’s Pick – Lamb & Chicken Combo at 53rd and 6th Halal Cart
“Out of all the celebrity restaurants and fine New York food I’ve tasted, nothing compares to this little tin of heaven. I can’t explain why it’s so delicious but I will tell you I’ve waited in line for 2 hours in the middle of winter just to eat here. That’s commitment!” 

Bunmi’s Pick – Griddle Special at Bubby’s (Tribeca)
“I LOVED the GRIDDLE SPECIAL: Two sour cream or sourdough pancakes, two eggs any style, housemade sausage, house-cured heritage bacon or scrapple. I had this with a side of grits and cheese! Just sensational!! What breakfast should be!”

Justin’s Pick – Mexican-style Corn on the Cob at Cafe Habana 
“Inspired by a storied Mexico City lunch joint where legend has it, Che and Fidel plotted the Cuban revolution, this place has the best “mexican-style” corn you will ever eat in your entire life. Not to mention the rest of the menu, which might be the best Cuban you can get in NYC!!”

Rebecca’s Pick – Fried Chicken and Waffles at David Burke Kitchen
“I went with a group who shared a variety of jars and starters. For my main, I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken and waffles which is my #1 guiltiest pleasure and had the peanut butter chocolate cake for dessert.”

Kaley’s Pick – The Grand Opulence Sundae at Serendipity 
“The 23K edible gold leaf really sells it for me…rent well spent ” We think she’s joking…. right?

What’s your favourite meal in New York City? Tell us in the comments, or tweet us @natashankpr!

It’s easy to get lost in the craziness of the holiday season, indulge in a bit of post-holiday shopping and bask in the glorious foods on offer during this time of year.

While having fun, spending time with family and friends and indulging a little after a hard year’s work is important, please take time to remember those in Haiti, who will be marking two years since the devastating earthquake hit the nation this month.

January 12, 2010 – a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti at a depth of 8.1 miles, killing over 200,000 Haitians and continues to this day to affect the lives of those in the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Despite efforts to rebuild Haiti since the destruction in 2010, most Haitian communities are still living in immense poverty, most living in tent camps, suffering life-threatening illnesses such as Cholera, and having no access to nutritious meals, medical treatments or quality education

Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ), an organization created by Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis is an organization near and dear to my heart.  We encourage peace and social justice and address issues of poverty in the poorest communities in Haiti through programs focused on education, health and dignity.

APJ was on the ground when the earthquake hit and saw first-hand how the earthquake shattered the lives of Haitians and continues to have rippling effects throughout the communities.

Through the efforts of APJ supporters and board members such as Olivia Wilde, Gerard Butler, John Hamm, Madeleine Stowe and Susan Sarandon, APJ has been working to rebuild the communities in Haiti over the last two years, including creating the first free secondary school in Haiti and providing free life-saving medical care for Haitians.  Although so many accomplishments have been made in Haiti, so much more still needs to be done.

APJ Founder, Paul Haggis visits the nation many times a year, and lends his thoughts to the situation pre and post-earthquake.

“Before the earthquake, Haiti was already in desperate need of help.  Today those needs are even greater.  Many promises of massive foreign aid were never kept. As a result, reconstruction is almost non-existent. Children today live in the slums, in tiny crowded rooms with mud floors, tin roofs, no electricity, no plumbing or water.  Right up until last year these children had no access to education past grade six. Now they do, due to the generosity of APJ donors, and the proven effectiveness of our Haitian partners,” Paul Haggis.

APJ’s efforts to-date and the situation in Haiti include:

• The first free high school in the nation; the Academy for Peace and Justice. Upon reaching capacity in 2014 the Academy will provide life changing free education to 3,000 students;
• All students at the Academy receive a full scholarship, including tuition, uniforms and a nutritious meal – often the only meal many of the children will receive in a day. Meals are provided by APJ partner The World Food Program;
• In 2012, APJ will partner with the We Are the World for Haiti Foundation to build the state-of-the-art Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie School of Music.  The school will be a new division to the nation’s only free college for art and technology, the Artists Institute of Haiti;
• APJ also supports the St Luke Family Hospital, which provides free medical care to the poorest and most vulnerable people in Port-au-Prince, including the Academy’s students and families;
• APJ has enabled over 2,000 life-saving emergency surgeries at the St. Luke Hospital;
• APJ also helped fund The St Philomene Cholera Center, which was able to open 36 hours after the epidemic hit and has treated 20,000 patients, 50% of whom would have died without medical treatment;
• APJ has worked closely with Rick Frechette, a physician and community organizer who has been working in Haiti for over 25 years. Frechette and his St Luke Foundation of 1200 Haitian employees have extensive relationships with grassroots networks in Haiti.

APJ is working with Haitian partners to make long-term changes, to build quality institutions to serve the poor.  In doing so APJ efforts are helping give birth to a new generation of Haitian leaders.  It is Haitian people who will solve their problems – they just need a fair chance to do it.

How Can You Help?

Susan Sarandon and fellow Board Members are calling out to everyone to dig deep and support APJ’s efforts in Haiti.

“Please join us and help us rebuild this devastated community – give generously in honor of those whose lives were forever changed,” Susan Sarandon.

Donate online via apjnow.org and support a nation in desperate need.

Follow @artistsforpeace