Movember

I think by now we all know what Movember is about. Every year hundreds of thousands of men across the globe attempt to grow the manliest moustache for a good cause. For the month of November, these guys must shave their face while leaving their moustache in tact until the end of the month. This month long event helps raise awareness and funds for a variety of men's health issues, including prostate cancer and depression. Every year the event brings in more and more participants. So, will you grow out your moustache this year? Let us know in the comments below!

hot spots to travel

Everyone needs a little bit of travel in their lives, why not now while its hot? Check out some of the hot spots of 2011 and why they made the list!

Rome, Italy - a great city to visit at any time of year as it has a warm climate but for travel in 2011, Rome comes highly recommended. When visiting Rome you quickly find that it is the kind of city that keeps surprising you at every corner as there are so many iconic buildings and images throughout the city. It’s a great city to walk around and the public transport is also easy to use.

Melbourne, Australia - This Australian city had long been associated with arts, culture and great entertainment. Those reasons alone make it a great choice for you holidays for 2011. Melbourne also prides itself on its great restaurants and it is often hailed as a ‘foodie’s paradise’. There is also lots of great sightseeing in Melbourne making it the perfect choice for your travel 2011.

Madrid, Spain - Many visitors choosing Spain for a weekend break tend to overlook Madrid and opt for Barcelona instead. However Madrid is well worth a visit and is a great choice for travel in 2011. Madrid is a beautiful city to walk around and it also has some great shops, parks and squares to sit out in. Madrid is probably the best place to experience tapas too. When you go to eat out, this is the way to do it – lots of small dishes and great if there is a group of you. So keep an eye out for some travel offers to Madrid for your holidays for 2011


Galway, Ireland - The west of Ireland has so much to offer and is a great choice for couples or families for travel in 2011. If you base yourself in Galway with a few days to spare you really can make the most of the city. Galway city is beautiful to walk around and also has some great shopping. If you get a nice day then you really can enjoy Eyre Square and the Spanish Arch, or even make the short trip out to Salthill and enjoy the beach and this coastal town.


The Philippines and Thailand - the Philippines is being tipped as a travel hotspot for 2011. This would be a great stop off if you are one of the lucky ones planning a round the world trip or even if you want to try something different and have a couple of weeks to do so.

Thailand has always been a popular choice for those looking to experience another culture while relaxing and enjoying some of the world’s best beaches but this year really could see The Philippines give Thailand a run for its money.

The Philippines is very cheap, just like Thailand, and once you are there, you can get by easily on about 20 euro a day. And there are some beautiful beaches along the Zambales Coast and there are also a lot of islands along the coast so you can do some island hopping as there are plenty of ferry companies offering this service, and again it’s very cheap to do so.

Tallinn, Estonia - Tallinn was up to recently known for its party image and destination as a stag party haven. However, travel in 2011 sees this changing as the city has been selected as a 2011 European Capital of Culture. The bar is being raised on tourism in Tallinn for 2011 to embrace this role, making it an ideal holiday for 2011. Tallinn has a lot to see including some great museums, a waterfront promenade and a great arts venue.

Please comment below on any hot spots you have travelled this year or recommend!

katy&jack

blackberry downfall

In 2002 Blackberry was introduced by Canadian Manufacture: Research in Motion (known as RIM). When the Blackberry was first introduced it was quite successful and was very profitable. It attracted more of the business consumer who was intrigued by its capabilities to connect to the Internet and be able to send emails from anywhere in the world. BBM (blackberry messenger), which is an instant messaging system free between Blackberry users, was its number one favourable feature for consumers. Problems first began in the Eastern part of the world with security issues which lead to countries losing trust in RIM and Blackberries privacy and encrypted traffic. This was only the beginning of the problems that Blackberry was soon to face. Growth started to decline when other smart phone companies and manufacturers started to penetrate the consumer world. Competitors like the Google (Android) operating system and the Apple (iPhone) are crushing RIM’s profits.

RIM has made attempts to win back its consumes by introducing the latest Blackberry Touch but many industry insiders don’t think it will blow away the competition.

The statistics in the decline and a recent poll showing that 29% of Blackberry users have considered switching to the iPhone is not good news for RIM in future. Nor is the latest crash on October 11, 2011 that left many Blackberry consumers frustrated, annoyed, and dissatisfied.

Are you a loyal Blackberry customer or have you, like many others, switch to a different smart phone manufacturer? Please comment below...

thanks,

katy&jack

tis the season for pumpkins

Fall brings many festivities to many different cultures around the world. The PUMPKIN is a national fruit that is appreciated more during the fall than any other season. it is cultivated in North America, continental Europe, India and some other countries. A pumpkin which is normally one of the latest of the fruits to grow, arrives just in time for some of our greatest desires. Its large, round, orange coloured body creates a perfect canvas for carving art into. the tradition use of carving comes at Halloween time when people carve graphics relating to the holiday into the body of the pumpkin. Carvings range from faces, to witches, to zombies, and celebrities. Once the carvings are completed you place a candle inside to light it up at night! Fun for the kids and adults of any age! What are you carving this year? With or without carvings, pumpkins serve as a decorative accent to all of our homes during the fall season.



Well I could ramble off a list like Bubba does on Forest Gump about shrimp but here are a few tasty pumpkin meals we eat during the fall season:

Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Cake
Pumpkin Spice teas and coffees
Pumpkin Cookies
Pumpkin Donuts and Muffins
Pumpkin Squash
Pumpkin Seeds



What are some of your favourite uses for a pumpkin? Please comment below!


katy&jack

Wing Suit Skydiving

Have you seen any of those recently trending youtube videos of base jumpers and skydivers in strange suits? As it turns out, these are called wing suits, and are the latest sport to hit the skies! These suits allow sky divers to control their movement through the air, and increase free fall time. Base jumpers even use these suits to glide along cliffs and mountain sides. The videos speak for themselves!

But what about the difficulty? Turns out these suits are much more difficult to use than they appear. Because of their restrictive design, only seasoned base jumpers and sky divers should attempt this sport. There is much more skill involved in controlling these suits, and can pose quite a risk to the unseasoned adrenaline junky. Regardless, you can't help but to be captivated by the footage these enthusiasts have recorded, the scenery is breath-taking and the sport itself looks very intense!

So, what do you think? would you be interested in soaring through the sky at record speeds? have you sky dove before? let us know in the comments below!

jack&katy

Bacon

Today its all about the bacon, literally!

It seems the latest trend is bacon-ifying a number of every day items to make them more spectacular. This is a hot new trend that has emerged on the internet. There are a variety of different bacon objects, such as bacon socks, bacon bandaids, and even bacon cologne!

This trend could have roots in the epic meal time youtube videos, where bacon is usually one of their main ingredients in their cooking shows.

Here are a few of the examples we've found:

Bacon Cologne

Bacon Bandaids

Even bacon wallets!

so will you be buying any bacon-ized items anytime soon??

let us know in the comments below!

katy&jack

Costumes of 2011

Well, its that time of year again, time to dress yourself up in another identity and party the night away in your alternate persona. But we'll leave it up to you whether you'd like to be known as the zombie who passed out in the bathroom or not...

So, the only problem is making sure you don't dress up a stereotypical costume thats been overdone so many times. *ahem, your Jonny Depp pirate costume was so 2003*

Trends for this Halloween season are slowly evolving and we've devised a list of possibilities to ensure you have a successful Halloween!

Steve Jobs Zombie - a black turtle neck, jeans, and a thirst for apple products

Lady Gaga Zombie - You know, from that one music video

Planet Of the Apes - Gives you the opportunity to rent that gorilla suit from your local party department store

Brides Maids - a great group costume, just be sure your group acts (or already is) highly dysfunctional.

Voldemort - Its your last year to dress up as the iconic villain in this series

Black Swan - Natalie Portman fans can pull this one off in a ballerina suit, riddled with black feathers

Cut the Rope Monster - Who could deny that omnom would make an great costume, especially if you're thinking of a costume for a younger one.

New Winter Sport?

Well, with winter just around the corner, people are starting to think about what winter activities they should pursue in order to stay active during the season. Many of us have attempted snowboarding or skiing, especially here in the north. So how about trying a new sport which allows you to enjoy the great outdoors.

Speed Riding is a newer winter sport which allows the rider to experience a whole new twist to snow boarding and skiing. Definitely not for the faint of heart, Speed Riding is an extreme sport which combines parachuting, paragliding and skiing.

Lessons are a definite must for this adrenaline rich sport. There are a variety of different resorts which offer lessons, and if you're an average skier with no free flight experience, it shouldn’t take you too long to catch on. You’ll learn to use the different equipment during the training course, and your instructor will tell you when to move on from the school slopes to the freeride areas. You need to be really committed though if you’re going to take up speed riding seriously.

Oh, did we mention that this trend has begun in the French Alps? If you're planning on taking a trip close to this area in the near future, this activity should be a definite consideration. A link to a Speed Riding school can be found here.

Thinking of trying this sport out? Tell us in the comments below!

katy&jack

top worldwide franchises

For more than 40 years, these quick-service franchises have proved that fast food is here to stay. Whether its pizza, hamburgers, tacos or donuts, these tasty franchises continue to draw crowds around the world. Here is the most consistent top picks that I could find:

#1 Subway - Submarine sandwiches & salads
Since opening in 1965, Subway has grown from a tiny submarine sandwich shop into the world's largest submarine sandwich chain. With more than 28,000 restaurants in 86 countries, Subway continues to grow through its image as a fresh, healthy alternative among fast-food restaurants. Subway has claimed the No. 1 spot 15 times on Entrepreneur's Top 10 since it debuted in 1988.

#2 Dunkin' Donuts - Coffee, doughnuts, baked goods

Dunkin' Donuts is the world's largest coffee and baked goods chain. In addition to selling 52 varieties of donuts and more than a dozen coffee beverages, the chain also carries an array of bagels, breakfast sandwiches and other baked goods. With more than 5,000 U.S. franchises, Dunkin' Donuts has maintained a consistent Top 10 ranking since 2004.

#3 Pizza Hut - Pizza

In 1958, brothers Frank and Dan Carney borrowed $600 from their mother to open a small pizza parlor in their hometown of Wichita, Kansas. Fifty years later, America's first pizza chain hasn't stopped growing. Pizza Hut's specialty pizzas can be found in franchises throughout the world, and the restaurant continues to be a popular destination for pizza lovers.

#4 McDonald's - Hamburgers, chicken, salads

This famous hamburger restaurant has made the Top 10 ranking 27 times in the 29 years we've been compiling the Franchise 500. Ray Kroc opened his first restaurant in 1955 and earned a modest first day's revenue of $366.12. More than 50 years later, McDonald's earns more than $23 billion a year.

#5 Sonic Drive-In Restaurants - Drive-in restaurant

Since opening in 1953, this drive-in, car-hop restaurant hasn't strayed far from its roots. Originally started as a hamburger and root beer stand, Sonic now offers wraps, smoothies and other signature items in addition to its traditional American classics. With 3,350 drive-ins coast to coast, average unit sales are more than $1 million a year.

#6 KFC Corp. - Chicken

Harland Sanders opened the first KFC restaurant in a Kentucky gas station during the Great Depression. Nearly 80 years later, his original recipe is still used in more than 11,000 restaurants worldwide.

#7 Domino's Pizza LLC - Pizza, breadsticks, buffalo wings

Started in 1960 with $500, this pizza giant had $5.1 billion in global retail sales in 2006 and delivered more than 400 million pizzas. This is the ninth time Domino's Pizza has appeared in the Top 10.

#8 Arby's - Sandwiches, chicken, salads

When Arby's opened in 1964, customers enjoyed roast beef sandwiches, potato chips and Texas-sized iced teas. Today, Arby's continues to stray from the traditional fast food fare by offering the same slow-roasted and freshly sliced roast beef sandwiches, in addition to other deli-style sandwiches, wraps and salads.

#9 Baskin-Robbins USA Co. - Ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen beverages

Since 1945, Baskin-Robbins has introduced more than 1,000 ice cream flavors. With more than 5,800 retail shops in 34 countries, Baskin-Robbins is the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, each serving the company's famous 31 flavors of ice cream as well as frozen yogurt, sherbet, cakes and drinks.

#10 Taco Bell Corp. -Quick-service Mexican restaurant

This popular Mexican fast food chain sells more than 2 billion tacos and 1 billion burritos each year. Taco Bell has more than 5,800 franchises and reached $4.4 billion in franchise sales.

Are any of these franchise's your favourite? Please comment below!

katy&jack

Youtube Video of the Week!

Hey everyone!

Today we bring you a trending video on Youtube!
This is a video of a women who gains her hearing for the first time. Its truly inspirational, and you can't help but to smile when watching it.


The woman in the video's name is Sarah Churman, and she was recently on Ellen for an interview about her experience on gaining her hearing. In fact, only 8 days after the video came online, Sarah was invited onto Ellen's show!
While on the show Ellen ended up giving Sarah her second hearing implant for free, along with $30,000 to pay off the first one.
This is one awesome story, tell us what you think in the comments below!

top movies of 2011

Top 10 Movies to blew box offices away are:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - reaching $380 M

2. Transformers: Dark of the Moon - reaching $352 M


3. The Hangover Part II - $254 M

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - $210 M

5. Fast Five - $210 M

6. Cars 2 - $191 M

7. Thor - $181 M

8. Captian America: The First Avenger - $176 M

9. Rise of the Plant of the Apes - $175 M

10. Bridesmaids -$169 M

Are these your top 10 choices? Have you see any of the above top box office movies? Please comment below!


katy&jack