Living vicariously

The Daily is a big glossy mag that covers all the juicy gossip of New York's Fashion Week; the US Weekly of the fashion world that lets you feel like you've caught a glimpse of something more exciting than your everyday routine. Cute and just as juicy, Fashion Mini gives you the same fix throughout the year - or at least it did. It was available on newsstands in Canada briefly but I haven't seen it in months and thought to investigate today. It's now $37CAD for 6 issues - and I'm still considering it. With the downfall of Blueprint, Domino and most recently, Canadian Home & Country, for the first time in years I have no subscriptions; nothing happy and shiny waiting for me in my mailbox. Times are tough for magazine lovers.

The January Newsstand

With January comes the broom and the urge to sweep, the compulsion to purge, to eject and jettison the unneeded and the unwanted. It's time to pare down, to whittle away, to siphon and sterilize. It's time to sort and organize, to label and...oh, you get the picture. But there are a few things I always welcome into my home each January, something I will not toss in the recycle bin: the first issues of the year of my favourite shelter magazines. These include Martha Stewart Living (duh), House & Home and Style at Home, the latter two being Canadian publications. I thought I'd peel open the crisp, clean covers of these slim volumes and show you what the editors have on offer:

January issues are typically thinner than the year's other monthly volumes - a suggestion, perhaps, of the waistlines we'd all like to aspire to in this resolution-drenched month. MARTHA STEWART LIVING: This article on closet organization is a welcome feature. This issue is filled with organizational and cleaning tips, typical of January's white cleansing motif.MARTHA STEWART LIVING: Flowers, flowers everywhere! A feature on flower arranging is the perfect antidote to those cold, gray days of winter. MARTHA STEWART LIVING: Fluffy, airy meringues are given artful guises in this feature about light but delicious desserts. MARTHA STEWART LIVING: Citrus is at its peak now. An article complete with recipes involving grapefruit, oranges, lemons, limes and other citrus gems, will make your lips purse. MARTHA STEWART LIVING: Take a look inside the offices of some of the editors (including Ms. Martha herself) and catch a glimpse of the surprisingly bohemian Martha Stewart Living work environment.
HOUSE & HOME: In this Toronto house bright colours, solid textures and shimmering surfaces fight January's inherent bitterness.HOUSE & HOME: Nothing can do away with the warmth of traditional browns and earthy ocres this time of year. The freshness comes from blasts of red and pink.HOUSE & HOME: The clean and minimalist environment of a converted warehouse in Toronto manages to find welcoming warmth after two architects have their way with it.
HOUSE & HOME: Want to know what the trends are for house and home in 2009? I usually don't. But these trends are ones I can live with - and possibly even achieve on my miniscule budget!
STYLE AT HOME: Designer Sarah Richardson does up a gorgeous Toronto house in feminine hues.STYLE AT HOME: A fantastic kitchen gets remodeled and remade with all the conveniences and beauty of a modern space.

Design Your Life

A blueprint on how to design your life. Sounds so typically 'Martha', doesn't it? Well, that's because it is. In 2006 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia launched its fourth magazine: Blueprint. The slim glossy is filled to brimming with crafts, recipes and weekend projects for the younger set: think of a 25 year-old Martha Stewart and you've got your blueprint drawn. The photography is lovely and clean, the projects are surprisingly fun and easy and the recipes inolve everything from the perfect martini to the best grilled cheese sandwiches. There are articles on music, fashion, books and the latest design trends. One of my favourite sections is the "100 Things" column, which is a list of 100 sayings, fashion accessories, films or web links you will find yourself returning to as a fun source of information. Another nice feature is a detachable shopping guide based around a theme, like how to stock the perfect home bar or how to buy a couch that suits your needs. Roll out the blueprint and start sketching your plans!

Lula Love

You know when you happen upon something that is so fabulous, you can't believe you'd never heard of it before? Lula magazine, launched in the UK by fellow Canadian Leith Clark, is packed full of gorgeous, whimsical fashion photography. Unlike a typical fashion mag, which has three shoots at most, Lula is cover-to-cover eye candy - even the articles and interviews are accompanied by fantastic-looking imagery. The $14 price tag might seem a little hefty but this is no quick flip-through - it's a collector's item. Yet another magazine to add to my ever-growing collection. The fourth issue is currently on newsstands and I'm kicking myself for missing the first three; lulamag.com.