Best Friends for Never: when friendships expire

Why hello there my lovely little sinners. It's been a while, I know, and I am well aware that I haven't delivered on my vow to update this blog more frequently. Shame on me, I deserve a good spanking. But sometimes it's so hard finding the time to write posts when you live such a fabulous life. But have no fear, for this bitch is back with a vegence and ready to tell the internet how it is. Watch your back, because no one is safe!

Recently I've been thinking a lot about life; pondering about my purpose, the person I am, and the people who influence me - pretty deep and intellectual stuff. I've realized that a big part of my life is my friends and family; they are my driving force. They make me laugh so hard I pee my pants, listen to me when I need to rant about the heffer who took my seat on the bus, or give me hope when I'm feeling low. My friends and family are my life, aside from vodka martinis, Hottie Lamaties, and trashy reality TV. But have you ever stopped to think about the people that are no longer in your life. I'm not talking about deceased relatives, but rather the people who used to be your best friends but are now MIA from your life. The girl who you used to call every night and talk about the cute boys at school with, but now you don't even know her phone number. Or the guy who you used to tell all your secrets to but now he doesn't even follow you on Twitter. What happens when you break up with your best friend?

The reason I'm writing about this is because my friend, let's call her Jacklyn, recently "broke up" with her best friend Jessica. Now Jacklyn and Jessica have been friends for 13 years, they survived elementary, high school and half of university together. But over the years Jacklyn and Jessica began to drift apart. They tried to schedule times to meet up and hang out but one of them was always busy and cancel. Finally Jessica had had enough and decided to end the friendship. But instead of just letting the relationship fizzle she had to take it to another level. Jessica broke up with Jacklyn through a text. I'm not going to get into the details of the text my the gist was  that they never really had anything in common and it was time for them to go their separate ways. Needless to say Jacklyn was pissed. I guess she was completely blindsided by the text.

Now sinners, I know what you're thinking, who breaks up with someone through a text? Especially someone who used to be your best friend. I don't get it either. Why not let the relationship have a natural death? Why draw so much attention to the fact that you two are no longer friends?

I've personally had my fair share of friendship-break-ups (FBU). In high school I used to be best friends with this girl, let's call her Shannon. This girl was honestly my soulmate, my other half, the Romy to my Michelle- or the Jwwow to my Snooki for you non-90s kids. We had a million of inside jokes, gossiped about fugly losers together, and called each other sluts and bitches-which everyone knows is the pinnacle of friendship. But towards the end of high school we began to drift apart. She started hanging out with other people and I never really tried to spend time together. After high school we tried to make the relationship work, but it was time for us to admit defeat. Our friendship was over. But I never sent her a text confirming the FBU. I just let it die organically.That is not to say that we're not friendly. I still get little glimpses of her life from her Twitter and Facebook updates and  mutual friends. But we're not, and probably never will be as close as we were before.

Personally I think the whole FBU text idea is stupid. If a friendship is dying let it be. Either fight to make the relationship work or move on. Who needs to have the added drama of making the FBU official? Trust me when a FBU occurs the parties involved will know. FBUs are very different from real break-ups. When you break-up with your partner you want to be done. No one truly wants to end a friendship. That being said there are plenty of reasons to end friendships. Like if your best friend hooks-up with the guy you like, then by all means send that hoe an angry FBU text, better yet egg that skank's house. But if you know that you and your friend are drifting apart then just leave it alone. If it's meant to be then it will happen, I know that's cliched advice but it's true.

And for you people on the recieving end of a FBU text, don't worry your pretty little head. I'm sure you're much better without you ex-best friend. There are times when I still think about Shannon. I still care about her and wish her all the best. Remember, in the TV show of your life some people are just guest stars. Focus your time and energy on your main cast members, because they're the ones that really matter.

Stay Sinful,
XXX

Hevanly

Life is unfair

Now I like to keep things light and fun on this blog, but as I mature and grow I find there's more pressing issues and concerns I'd like to discuss. Today I heard some devastating news about someone I know. Basically my close cousin's friend, whom I have met before, and two other passengers, all 18, were injured in a car accident driving home from the cottage. Now I'm far from being close to this girl, I can't even recall the time I met her, but this whole situation has me thinking about the frailty of life. How is it that one girl, fresh from graduating high school not more than five days ago is now dead and two others are in critcal conditions? This barely seems fair. How can there be so much devastation and heartache in the world? And the recent loss of my grandfather has also caused me to question the world in which we live and "God's plan". Now I'm well aware of the circle of life, I've seen The Lion King, but it's so hard to keep your faith when you see so much people in pain. How is it that a world that gives us joy, love, and miracles also sheds destruction, hate, and tragedy. But I guess that's life. What are we to do but accept the bad and focus on the good.

*Please keep all three girls and their families and friends in your prayers and thoughts as I know they're just beginning their struggles and need strength.

XOXO
hEVANly

Life as we know it

Dear Sinners,
I must apologize for my rather unclassy behavior. I have neglected you like an alcoholic neglects reason. But my life has been pretty busy over the past few months. As a way to save myself from a rather boring and uneventful summer I got an internship at a PR firm, which has it's ups and downs, as well as doing slave work at the coffee shop I call work. These two jobs have taken up the majority of my time but I'm back so you can all breath a sigh of relief. As my first post resurrected from my former life I'm going to get personal. So here it is:

Have you ever thought about destiny or fate? I'm not talking about meeting someone and falling in love. I'm talking about your personal destiny. Who you are and what you are destined to become. Recent events in my life have caused me to ponder my choices and reflect on the person I am. Over the years I've tried to change and become a somewhat better person, while still staying the fabulous bitch that I am. But it seems that no matter what I do I always end up being selfish and obnoxious. I thought to myself, Is it really possible to change or are we destined to stay the person we are forever? Looking back over the past year I can see my life has changed both emotionally and physically, but somehow it's still the same. I know I've had a personal growth. I'm not as immature and petty as before but I keep getting put in these situations where my self-centered bitchy attitude comes out. I'm tired of everyone seeing me as the uptight selfish bitch. Don't get me wrong I am all those things, and sometimes proud of it, but I'm also so much more. I can be kind and loving and selfless, but it seems no one sees that. I know I shouldn't care what people think of me but it's just irritating to get a reputation for something you're not anymore. Also if I keep getting put in these situations, is my selfish behaviour a byproduct of destiny and should I just accept that this is the person I will always be? I wish it was that easy to blame destiny or fate. But the truth is I don't know. Maybe I should strive harder to show the new me in said situations? Can people really change? I'm not sure, I'll let you know when I find out.

XXX
hEVANly

Let's get physical: How to stay healthy as a student

University is a time where memories are formed. Four years of late-night cramming, walking into class wearing pyjama bottoms, debating the use of imagery in Frankenstein, and testing the limits of your liver with vodka shots, that you’ll one day look back on and describe to your grandchildren as the best days of your life. But between the last-minute essay writing and three hour classes, there is hardly time to go for a run or take a yoga class. And the tempting smell of the burgers in the cafeteria is so alluring. For students it’s hard to live a healthy lifestyle. Everywhere you turn there are artery-clogging deep fried snacks or delectable sugary desserts.  And there’s hardly any time to make a trip to the gym. However, being healthy and active as a student may seem difficult and unrealistic, but it is very possible. University is a time to increase your friends, your knowledge, and your alcohol tolerance, not your waistline.  Here a few suggestions and tips to help you stay on track with your healthy goals.

 

Time Management

Like everything else in university, a successful healthy lifestyle comes down to time management. This may be the hardest thing for a student to master. It’s so easy to put off assignments till the last minute, but budgeting your time will save you a lot of stress and all-nighters. Always remember P and S, no not peach schnapps and Smirnoff; Planning and Scheduling. Elina Man is a third-year English and Mathematics student at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. Aside from attending classes four days a week, working part-time at a tutoring centre, and studying at least two hours a night, she also devotes two to three days a week to working out. “I want to live to a good age,” she said describing her motivation for being healthy as she lowered and raised the weights at the UTSC gym. Her arms turned a bright red hue with each raise of the metal bar. “And I want to look good,” she gave a chuckle, taking a break from her long set of biceps curls. Man agrees that being healthy is “all about scheduling.” Between her exercises she told an anecdote from her first year at university where she would try to go to the gym on a whim but never really followed through. She feels that it is better to plan set days when you want to work out.  Right now she plans on going to the gym every Monday and Wednesday. Knowing she has specific days and times to work out makes it easier to budget her schedule around her workouts and motivates her to actually go to the gym. Scheduling certain days to exercise help make it become routine. Having routine workouts make going to the gym and being active essential to your weekly schedule.

 

The Most Important Meal of the Day

Your grandma wasn’t lying when she lectured you about the importance of breakfast. Breakfast is a way to fuel your body and mind for the day. But when you’ve woken up five minutes before class, running out the door laptop in hand, it’s easy to skip the “most important meal of the day.” “[Breakfast] is extremely important,” said Ramona Seupersad the fitness program assistant for athletics and recreation at UTSC. “People actually gain weight from not eating breakfast,” she went on. When you sleep you haven’t eaten for a long period of time and your metabolism is lowered. Just as drinking coffee can wake your mind up, eating breakfast wakes up your metabolism. If you don’t eat than your metabolism is in low mode. Man admits to skipping breakfast, but said she couldn’t survive the day. Breakfast doesn’t have to be a grand event. Scrambled eggs and toast or a bowl of cereal make great meals. Or if you’re running late gulp down a yogurt or nutrition bar. Try to avoid high-in-sugar treats because you will just crash later. Breakfast is one way both your mind and body are being activated. But nothing replenishes the body like a good night sleep.

Sleeping Beauty

In university sleep becomes a foreign concept, like French politics or the plot to a James Bond film. Who can spend precious hours dreaming when there are assignments to be done, chapters to be read, and knee-slapping hilarious videos of cute animals on the internet? But it seems Sleeping Beauty was on to something when she took her deep slumber. “Sleeping helps to repair and rejuvenate the body,” Seupersad said. Although our minds are floating away creating wonderful dreams, or in some cases frightful nightmares, our bodies are at work repairing itself. The body uses the resting period of sleep to build muscle tissue damaged in a workout. Sleep deprivation not only affects you physically but mentally as well. Proper sleep patterns help students function better mentally. “If you’re going to class you’re not going to be focused if you’re not getting enough sleep,” Seupersad said.

Food for thought

For many the struggle to live a healthy lifestyle lies with food. Being active means nothing if you don’t fuel your body with nutritional food. In university it’s easy to give in to temptation and buy the greasy slice of pizza or the dripping-in-oil fries. Seupersad explains that it is better when you make your own food “that way you know exactly what you’re putting in your mouth.” However, the temptation to eat fatty food is multiplied for those who live on residence and don’t have the opportunity to make their own meals. Stephanie Coratti is a freshman living on residence at the University of Guelph and admits it can be tempting to eat unhealthy. “With a meal plan it’s really easy to eat a lot of fried foods,” she said. She relies on sheer willpower to avoid the scrumptious gourmet cakes. Her school does however, have a wide range of foods including salads and wraps. But the fruits and vegetables are usually more expensive, and there’s nothing students hate more than spending money. Although students don’t have the luxury of making their meal, living on campus does have its advantages, primarily living so close to a gym.

Busy, Busy, Busy

For commuters nothing is more painful than standing in a crowded subway trying to read your textbook, sandwiched between people while your feet burn and the overwhelming smell of body odour fills your nostrils. After a long day of waiting for buses, lugging around heavy bags, and listening to monotone professors, there is little energy, motivation, and time to work out. “I’m not very happy about using so much of my time to travel,” said Victoria Valdez a first-year student at the University of Toronto about her two hour commute to school. “Of course they [students] have time [to work out]” Seupersad chuckled. Studies show that adults should get 150 minutes of physical activity per week. What many people don’t understand is that the 150 minutes could be spaced out throughout the week. So you don’t necessarily have to be active every day, as long as you get the full 150 minutes for that week. Also many universities include membership to the school gym in tuition fees. Since you’re already paying for it, you might as well get your money’s worth. Many school gyms also have extended hours for students with overbearing schedules. Recently the UTSC gym changed its hours to Monday-Sunday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. “It’s more convenient,” said Man taking a sip of water. But for those who still have no time to make a trip to the gym there are ways to be healthy from your own home. Instead of watching funny babies or cute sloths, use YouTube to be productive. There are many exercise videos like yoga or aerobics posted online that are easy to follow and user friendly. Seupersad also describes various calisthenics workouts, like push-ups and sit-ups that can easily be done at home. There are other little ways one can incorporate physical activity into their life. Taking the stairs or getting off the bus a few stops before and walking the rest of the way are a few little things that can help make a difference. No matter how busy you are there are always ways to stay active.

Partying, Partying, Yeah!

The best part of any student’s week is going out partying. What better way to let go of a week’s worth of stress and pressure than with a nail-biting game of beer pong? But all the partying, tequila shots, and dinner outings add up. Going out and being healthy is something Man, Coratti, and Valdez all struggle with. “It’s difficult to remember about trying to be healthy at social gatherings because I’m so focused on having a good time,” Valdez remarked. Alcohol, though tasty and entertaining, is loaded in calories, especially mixed drinks. One bottle of beer has around 150 calories, a glass of rum and coke has about 182 calories, and a margarita has 453 calories. Now telling a student not to drink alcohol is like telling Lady GaGa not to set a piano on fire; it’s not going to happen. And there’s nothing wrong with having a few drinks. Seupersad says moderation is key. “You’re allowed to have the occasional alcoholic drink, but 80-90 per cent of the time you should be trying to stay healthy.” When it comes to alcohol try limiting the amount of drinks, or switching to a low calorie beer instead. Another aspect of the student social life is the many restaurants and pub outings. Seupersad maintains that many restaurants now have healthy options, which makes it easier to stay healthy. In this new technology age there are applications on your smartphones that act like electronic food diaries. Applications like Calorie Counter track the amount of calories and nutritional information for food items from many popular restaurants. This allows users to know exactly how much calories they are ingesting and plan their dinner outings accordingly. Another trick when out to dinner is to trade in the sugary carbonated beverages and opt for a cool glass of water. Also an easy way to burn of a few mixed drinks is dancing. An hour of dancing roughly burns around 350 calories. So counter the high-calorie meal with a few hours on the dance floor. Being healthy doesn’t have to limit your social life.

University is difficult enough with the gross amounts of readings, the numerous hours of lectures, and the wild parties, without the added stress of increasing your pant size. Being active and healthy as a student is extremely possible. And not only does living a healthier lifestyle affect you physically but it also makes you more mentally aware and focused. You’ll have more attention on what you’re doing in class and be able to take in more of what you’re learning. Being active also helps relieve unwanted stress. “It’s a great way to reduce the stress from all your exams and assignments,” Seupersad said. With new technological advances and a little self-control it is perfectly possible to have a healthy social, academic, and overall life.

Oscar Vs. Grammy

Award season is primarily comprised of two main shows: the Oscars and the Grammys.

Now that both shows have passed it is now acceptable to compare the two.

Fortunately viewership for both shows increased since last year’s production.

2012 Oscar viewership vs. Grammy

The Oscar had a slight raise in ratings this year with 39.3 million people compared to last years 37.9 million people. The Grammys  had a more drastic increase in viewers. It went from 26.6 million viewers to 39.9 million.

This is the first year since the Neilson ratings began its current rating system in 1992 that the Grammys surpassed the Oscars in viewership.

The Grammys also destroyed the Oscars with the 18-49 adult demographic. They had a 14.1 rating to the Oscars 11.7.

Many people speculate Whitney Houston’s sudden death made people tune in.

The Grammys feature more performances that cater to a younger audience, which could explain the difference between the two show’s ratings.

In my opinion I think the Grammys were better. They had a different vibe and allowed for more topics to talk about the next day. The Oscars were long and dragged on and on. I did appreciate Billy Crystal and his attempts to add humor to the show, but I was barely paying attention.

Oscar Recapped

hey guys so the Oscars were held a little over a week ago and since the dust has settled I think it’s time for me to give me thoughts in this very informal quick post.

      Overall I thought the show was pretty decent. It wasn’t the greatest award show ever but it did have it’s moments. Billy Crystal was hilarious as host, as we all knew he would be. He sang, danced, and even had a smooch with George Clooney. He kept the mood light and fun.

    
     I found the show to drag on a bit. It’s hard sitting there for two-plus hours watching the same thing. They should find a way to cut down the awards. I doubt anyone cares about best cinamatography or sound mixing. Everyone only cares for the big 5, best actor/actress, best supporting actor/actress and best picture.
That being said I did think they tried hard to make the show entertaining. Billy Crystal did his best to crack jokes and they even had the Bridesmaids cast doing a bit. I applaud their effort, it really was funny, but they couldn’t keep my attention for the whole show.


     When it comes to the Big 5 there wasn’t any surprises. I think everyone was well deserving. I adored Octavia Spencer in The Help and after 17 nominations Meryl Streep deserved her third Oscar. I never saw The Artist but any movie that is silent in this day and age deserves an award.
When it comes to the fashion my favorite had to be Viola Davis, Penelope Cruz, Emma Stone, and Kristin Wiig.

  

Penelope Cruz stuns in Armani Prive like a modern day Cinderella.

        
    Other highlights from the night include Sasha Baren Cohen as the Dictator dropping Kim Jong ‘s “ashes” on Ryan Secreast, a performance by Cirque du Soliel, and Angelina Jolie’s right leg having it’s own Twitter account
                                          

 Like I said before the show was good, not amazing but better than last year’s. It’s clear that the producers are trying to make the show more entertaining and I appreciate their effor.

for a full list of winners click here
what are your thoughts on the show?

Harry Potter fails to enchant Oscar voters

Over the past decade Harry Potter has captured the hearts of a generation. Spanning numerous books, movies, and merchandise it has become one of the most successful franchises in the world. Aside from enchanting children and making millions of dollars, the last instalment in the series was unsuccessful at mesmerizing the Oscar voters.
                                                                  

Many people believe Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was snubbed at the February 26, broadcast of the 2012 Oscars.  The movie was nominated for best art direction, makeup, and visual effects but lost all three.  
            Diehard Harry Potter fan Christine O’Neal, 21, expressed her reaction to the film not being nominated for a more significant Oscar.
“My immediate thoughts about Harry Potter not being nominated was that it’s so sad that a series of movies that have made this much of an impact on the world could be simply disregarded when it came to some of the major award categories,”
            The eight films in the series were nominated 12 times but have not won a single Oscar.

                                               

            Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch took to her Twitter to express her frustration tweeting “Agggghhhh this is infuriating… bloody muggles #oscarfail.”
            Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is the third highest-grossing film of all time behind Titanic and Avatar. However sometimes box office revenue doesn’t translate to Oscar success.  
            “I think Harry Potter deserves an Oscar because of the sheer amount of talent that is in the cast,” O’Neal said.
            O’Neal feels that a main reason the series was snubbed was because of the content and demographic of the films.
            “I think that if they had been in any other franchise for this long, portraying such strong characters that they would have been nominated a while ago, but because it’s Harry Potter and it’s a ‘kids movie’ and has so much of a cult following that people don’t take it so seriously,” she said.
            Harry Potter himself Daniel Radcliffe agrees with O’Neal saying in an interview that there is some “snobbery” in the Academy.  
            “I do think that the talent deserves Oscar recognition, but I do think that the impact on our culture merits some recognition as well,” O’Neal said.
            Although the series did not receive an Oscar or an achievement award it did get recognition from host Billy Crystal, who acknowledged the financial impact of the films.

Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Daniel Radcliffe at the premiere of the eighth and last Harry Potter film.

The British Invasion

   The United Kingdom has always influenced Canada and North America. From royal weddings and movies to boy bands and fashion trends, there’s no denying Canadians have a fascination with the U.K. This fascination has even transcended over to award shows.
   The United Kingdom’s most well known award show is the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), which were held of February 12, 2012.  The BAFTAs honour the best in film from any nationality as long as it played in British theatres.
   This year awards went to The Artist for best film, Jean Dujardin for leading actor, and Meryl Streep for leading actress.


    
    Since the award show is so widely known it begs the question should the BAFTAs air in Canada?
   “I don’t know. I think it depends on whether or not they have an audience here. And considering we are a part of the Commonwealth they might have an audience here,” Flora Devarajah said.

The cast and crew of the Artist show off their awards

   Another factor to consider is which network would air them.
   “If the CBC would to air it, it would get a lot of ratings because it’s kind of a big deal,” Devarajah continued.
   Many consider the BAFTAs to be the British equivalent to the Oscars, which may add to Canadian networks’ reluctance to air them here.
  “Well I guess there isn’t any point because it’s pretty much the same thing except the BAFTAS acknowledge British film particular,” Devarajah said.   
  Not only do the BAFTAs praise British films but they also have a separate award show for British television.



   “There would be more of a reason [to air the BAFTAs] if more British television was aired in Canada.”
    Many people are fans of British television, but resort to watching it online since Canadian networks don’t usually air them.
    Another thought to consider is that the BRIT awards, which can be described as the British version of the MTV Video Music Awards, was aired in Canada on Much Music. The award show celebrates both British recording artists as well as international ones.

Singer Adele performed her hit "Rolling in the Deep" as well as took home two awards

   Since the BRITs were aired in Canada it is obvious that Canada does have an interest in British award shows.
   In a society that is highly fascinated with British culture is it only a matter of time before British award shows make its way across the pond?

Katy Perry's love life is definitely not like the movies

                                                                                                       

Katy Perry stunned viewers at the Grammys sporting a short blue hairdo. This was Perry's first major public appearance since her divorce with comedian Russell Brand was finalized.

The Teenage Dream singer also performed a medley of her song E.T. and her new single Part of Me.

                                                                                 

There were mixed reviews for the performance."That new Katy Perry song? Ugh. She should have left the music industry on a high note instead of this low groan," Tyler Oakley tweeted Sunday night.

"Katy Perry, very disappointing. This performance was a Lady Gaga wannabe," Alice Liao said.

Many people speculate that the performance was aimed towards Brand. Lyrics to the song include: "throw your sticks and stones Throw your bombs and your blows But you're not gonna break my soul This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no."

Perry's performance is completely different from her performance at last year's show where she sang her hit song Teenage Dream and Not Like the Movies. Perry dedicated the performance to all the Valentine lovers, and even featured personal home videos from her wedding.

Although Perry did not steal the show on Sunday, she still made her mark. Her new single debuted in the top ten on iTunes

Chris Brown Drama at the Grammys

People are still in a frenzy over the Grammys this past Sunday, more specifically the fact that R&B singer Chris Brown won the award for best R&B album.

People are mostly mad at the fact that Chris Brown was invited to not only attend the award show but also perform twice, only three years after he pleaded guilty to beating then girlfriend pop singer Rihanna. Rihanna also performed at the show and reports say that she has been spending a lot of time with Brown, even inviting him to her dressing room during the rehearsals for the show.

As usual people took to twitter to express their rage and support for the singer. Country singer Miranda Lambert tweeted "He beat on a girl...not cool that we act like that didn’t happen," Monday.

Brown took to his twitter to release a statement defending himself. "HATE ALL U WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY Now! That’s the ultimate FUCK OFF!”

During the show the hashtage #wifebeater was trending worldwide.

Fans also began defending Chris Brown tweeting reasons they would let Brown hit them. “Chris Brown could serenade me and then punch me in the eye,” Casey Robinson tweeted.

The police report from the incident in question is also making its way around the internet.

The Host with the Most

People are often drawn to the lure of award shows because of the lavish fashions, the beautiful celebrities, and the performances. But a main aspect of award shows that appeals to the viewers is the host.

The host is the audience’s way into the show and therefore must be witty, playful, and a tad bit outrageous; something that Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais encompassed Sunday night.

This was Gervais’ third time hosting the show and although he was his usual self of wit, many feel he lacked in his hosting duties.

    Ricky Gervais hosting the 2012 Golden Globes

“It wasn’t over the top,” said CBC television developer Nicole Mendes, “he was hardly up there [and] he was hardly speaking.”

After Gervais’ controversial hosting last year, where he offended Charlie Sheen, Mel Gibson, and Johnny Depp, many people were hoping Gervais would continue with his antics.

“I personally wish he went further with steering the audience,” Mendes said.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_OnK0SrtC8]

“I honestly think that last year was one of the better years because he went as far as he did. People need to have a sense of humour with that sort of thing,” she continued.

Aside from people’s criticism Gervais was not short of controversy poking fun at Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, and even having a back and forth with Madonna.

Mendes agreed that Gervais was a good host, but there was an expectation for him to outdo last year.

Toronto based singer Treasa Levasseur discussed her experience hosting the Maple Blues Awards on January 16, at Koerner Hall in Toronto.

Levasseur did not watch the Golden Globes so she could not comment on Gervais’ hosting techniques but from her own experience said the most nerve-racking part was “getting the scripts the night before.”

Treasa Levasseur and Shakura S'aida hosting the 15th annual Maple Blues Awards

In order to prepare for the night Levasseur had to choose her own outfits, read over the script, and make cue cards.

Levasseur, who had a co-host that made the night “definitely,” easier, admits that even as a performer she got nervous when she “thought it wasn't going well, and once when [she] missed a cue.”
Despite her moment of nervousness, Levasseur maintains that she “had fun, and got a great response.”

There is an undeniable pressure for hosts to deliver a great show. Gervais’ hosting was not what people expected but he still did a decent job.

The only question that remains is how will Billy Crystal do at hosting the Oscars in February? Both Mendes and Levasseur agree he will do just fine.

[polldaddy poll="5874030"]

The Nominations are in

Hello Sinners it's been a while. And what better way to return to your life than with news of the Oscars. The Oscar nominations were announced this morning giving everyone a lot to chat about. "Hugo" leads with 11 nominations including best picture, while "The Artist" trails closely behind with 10. Other best picture nominations include "The Help" "Moneyball" and Golden Globe winner "The Descendants". To see a full list of the nominations click here

Jennifer Lawrence and Tom Sheral announce this year's nominations

Many people are furious with the Oscar snubs

Washington Post

The Huffinton Post

Entertainment Weekly

The Carpet Bagger

The L.A. Times

People are already making their predictions

Indie Wire

MTV

Time Out

The Contenders

Nomination Criticism

The Carpet Bagger

A look back at Oscar history

Choose your Oscar predictions

Brad Pitt's reaction

Changes to the show

A look to the past

So there you have it. Everything you need surrounding the nominations. As always leave your feedback. What do you think of the nominees? Who was snubbed? will you watch the show?

Khloe Who?

In krazy Kardashian news, reports are being released that Khloe Kardashian isn't really a Kardashian. Rumours are spreading that Robert Kardashian isn't her biological father. The late Robert Kardashian's ex wife Jan Ashley is stating that Kardashian told her personally that Khloe was not his daughter. 

     "Khloe is not his kid-he told me that after we got married," Ashley, 63, said to Star magazine.

Photo Courtesy of People.com

      Robert's other former wife Ellen Kardashian, 63, is also backing up the story after remaining quiet for the past eight years. 

     "She looked nothing like the rest. She was tall, had a different shape, light hair, curly hair. Didn't look anything like the other three children," she said to Star.

      What further adds merit to these claims is Jenner's confession in her memoir that she had cheated on then husband Robert. 

      Like all celebrities these days Khloe took to twitter to address the rumours saying "The audacity you have to mention my father’s name like this! Should be ashamed of urself! I let a lot of things slide but this one is really low… YOU ARE DISGUSTING! (yes you know who YOU are)."

      Kardashian mogul Kim is standing by here sister denying the allegations. Sources close to the family say that they are very upset by all this. 

      Jenner hasn't released an official statement yet. 

      Poor Khloe, it's really sad to have these rumours surfacing harming your father's memory and reputation. Whether you're a biological Kardashian or not, it's clear Robert Kardashian loved you 

What's In a Name?

Photo Courtesy of crushable.com

Dear Sinners,

Unless you've been living under a rock these past few days then you've probably heard about the birth of Destiny's child. Music's number one couple have given birth to a beautiful baby girl named Blue Ivy Carter on Saturday. And there are numerous rumours surrounding the couple. From fake pregnancies to buying out the floor to  the hospital, it seems drama is engulfing Queen B and Jay-Z at a time that's supposed to be joyous and beautiful. So instead of focusing on the negative rumours I'm going to discuss something more interesting. 

    So everyone knows that Hollywood is famous for its "unique" baby names. Over the past few years, Apple, Moses, and Honor are just a few names that Hollywood's elite decided to bless their spawn with. Now I'm a fan of unique names (who wants to be ordinary?), but there is a fine line between unique and plain out weird. So when it came to Beyonce and Jay-Z's bundle of joy it figures they'd choose something out of the ordinary. Granted Blue Ivy is the perfect combination of "unique-but-still-normal". It's different enough to stand out but not totally weird that makes will ensure torture and humiliation on the playground. But it seems there was more thought put into the choice of the name. 

    Reports are saying that Blue Ivy's name stems from a deeper meaning. Supposedly "Blue" comes from Jay-Z's last three albums Blueprint, Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse, and Blueprint 3. Ivy is supposed to represent the roman numeral of four (IV) which is significant to the couple. Beyonce and Jay-Z were both born on the fourth of September and December respectively, they were married on April fourth and the couple has matching IV tattoos on their wedding finger. Also Beyonce named her latest album 4. 

    So this can all be rumours and say what you want about the name but it's pretty interesting how much thought they put into the it. I choose to believe this is true. Its so sweet to think that the name represents something more important and special for the couple. I wish my parents put that much thought into my name. So I want to hear your thoughts. Do you like the name? Does your name have special meaning?


In other Blue Ivy news, it seems the little baby is already making waves in the music industry. She is the youngest person to debut on the Billboard charts. The newborn is featured on Jay-Z's track Glory which he wrote specifically for her. Oh snap, only six days old and already making history. Can't wait to see what the future holds for this star in the making. 

5 Reasons Why you Should Read "Th1rteen R3asons Why"



Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia.com



Dear Sinners,



Not only have I taken this winter break to evaluate my life and my future, but also to catch up on my reading. So I am reinstating the hEVANly book club. This week I read "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher. Without giving away too many spoilers Asher's debut novel follows Clay Jensen who has recieved an anonymous package containing 7 cassette tapes. After listening to the tapes Clay hears the errie voice of fellow classmate Hannah Baker, what's the catch? Hannah committed suicide two weeks prior. There on the tapes are the last words Hannah ever said as she dictates to Clay the 13 reasons why she ended her life. So if the plot itself doesn't sell you on the book here are my five reasons why you should give this a read.

     1. The Subject Matter: The novel tackles some intense issues. Suicide, rumours, sex, and more. And these issues aren't new to the Young Adult genre, but the way Asher discusses them makes the novel feel revolutionary. He doesn't focus entirly on the issues but uses them as driving forces for the characterization. This is a truly intense yet beautiful novel. 

     2. The Impact: This novel has impacted the lives of many confused and depressed people. The deep subject matter relates to so many people and has caused them to reevaluate their life. 13RWProject.com is a website devoted to fans writing their reviews and ways the novel has affected them.

     3. The Unique Angle: Asher takes a unique spin by including the aspect of cassette tapes and dual narrators. In a world full of everchanging technology, it's refreshing to see an homage to the past. Also it's kind of comical to those who actually remember cassette tapes.

     4. The Way it Forces you to Analyze Yourself: As you read through Hannah's reasons, you realize that they're all related in some way. The novel expresses that notion of how every interaction, no matter how big or small, can affect a person. After reading it you'll have a new outlook on life, one that forces you to question the way you act and treat others.

     5. They're Making a Movie: Everyone knows how I love being ahead on the trends, and even though this novel came out in 2007, the movie reportedly comes out sometime in 2012. The motion picture will star Selena Gomez and Logan Lerman, reportedly, as the leads. Now Selena Gomez is a bold choice given her past career choices and the issues in the novel, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. She is a good actress and this movie will help her step into more adult roles. And even though Logan Lerman isn't officially attached to the project I think he will be perfect as Clay.

     6. Because I said So: and here's a little bonus reason read the novel simply because I said so. Is there any better reason?

And there you have. Honestly this novel is an incredible read. I couldn't put it down and finished it in two days (I haven't felt like this about a novel in a while). So as you search for your next book to read, give "Thirteen Reasons Why" a look. Trust me you won't regret it.

XXX

hEVANly 

Happy New Year

Dear Sinners,

Let me first start off by apologizing for my apparent absence. I spent the last week away from laptop relaxing and roasting on the sandy Dominican beaches. Ah yes, as you sinners were stuck curling your toes in this artic Canadian weather, I was living it up with frosty pina coladas and cute Latino boys. But alas my vacation is over, so now I must snap back to reality, it is after all a new year which means a new chance at starting over. There always seems like there is so much pressure around New Year's Eve. How you spend that night will dictate the outcome of that year. If you spend the night alone eating Chinese food watching the ball drop you can pretty much bet your 2012 will suck, no offense. And if you spend the night popping champaigne, dancing with friends, and kissing that special someone at the stroke of midnight, congratulations on a extraordinary 2012. Now this all may seem naive and supersticious and normally I would agree with you.  For the past 19 years I never really cared about New Years Eve, but this year changed. This year I spent the night dancing barefoot on the beach surrounded by my family enjoying life, granted I didn't get a new year's eve kiss but I still had an amazing night. So there, on the beach, my toes engulfed in soft brown sand, sweat forming on my tanned forehead, and the base blaring from the speakers I decided that I will do everything in my power to have the best year ever. This is the year everything changes, the year I begin my life, the year I get everything I ever wanted. 2012 is supposed to be the end of the world, might as well go out with a bang.

So how do I plan on having my spectacular year you ask? Don't worry Sinners I have a full-proof plan to ensure optimal happiness. 

First I plan on devoting my time to my future career. This whole time I have been loafting through life, but now I'm 20 and slowly my life is slipping away. It's time to start focusing on my future. So school, this blog, and finding an internship are my first priorities. I'm done wasting my time scrolling through tumblr, and watching reruns of Gossip Girl.  

Second, is working on my fitness. A healthier lifestyle is the most common new year's resolution. I've joined a gym and am devoting two days a week to turning my flab to ab. No more fatty foods, and atrery clogging deliciousness. It's about time I started making healthier choices. Plus, hopefully a hot body will help with my man crisis.

My last New Year's Resolution is to speak up. I'm tired of being the shy, quiet, ignored boy. This year I plan on speaking up for myself and for what I want. It's about time I let the world know I'm here.

So there you have it. My list of resolutions. Hopefully by publishing this list will give me the motivation make them true. So wish me all the best this year, as I do you. Hope you have truely HEVANly year.

XXX

hEVANly