Is it all, or nothing at all?

Don’t deny it, I know these lyrics are coming back to you, oh-so clearly. If you’re pretending not to remember, then yes.. I’m talking about O-Town.

I happened to stumble upon an episode of Making the Band on YouTube. So what did I decide to do? I revisited my childhood crushes and watched all three seasons. I was reminded about times when Ashley Angel’s blond highlights and cute looks were the only things that mattered in life.

Well guess what? O-Town is working on a come-back but guess who thinks they’re too good and way passed their boy-band days? Ashley Angel! Or Ashley Parker Angel, which is what he wants to be called these days.

Why would he want nothing to do with the band now? Well… he’s a really serious actor now trying to win Oscars for movies like Wild Things: Foursome, a straight to DVD film that almost is as dirty as it sounds.  

That’s alright, O-Town doesn’t need him anyway! We all know that Erik-Michael Estrada is the better option to drool upon. 

So let’s just assume that you actually don’t know who O-Town is. They were an American boy-band who were popular during the years 2000 – 2003, up until the boy-band phase started to fade away. They were formed through a reality TV series called Making the Band and managed through Lou Pearlman. This was the man responsible for many other boy-bands including Backstreet Boys, NYSNC and LFO.

Apparently, O-Town is in the works of producing new music and have been trying to convince Ashley for the past year. Ashley Parker Angel told TMZ:

"O-Town was one of the greatest chapters of my life, so when the idea of a reunion was brought to me, of course I was intrigued. However, I have made the decision not to be a part of an O-Town reunion. It was a difficult decision, but ultimately necessary to move on with the next chapter of my career."

If he wants to continue moving on with the next chapter of his career, so be it. The remaining members of O-Town have been teasing me with Tweets and Instagram pictures and have completely tickled my inner-childhood boy-band craving.

A little flashback to the past: Liquid Dreams, remember this song?

Have you ever listened closely to the lyrics?

I dream about a girl who's a mix of Destiny's Child

Just a little touch of Madonna's wild style

With Janet Jackson's smile, rolled in a body like Jennifer

You got the star of my liquid dreams

Yeah, how did they ever get away with singing these songs to 8 year-old girls? 

Original King of comedy

Who wears the crown?

Comedy is magic. It has the power to change moods, to heal and even save lives. But who is the best at it? Someone once said, "comedy is all in the delivery," and it's true! Surprising your audience creates a greater effect when it comes to humor. The popular sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" does an excellent job at it.

They've produced more stars than any other comedy show. With talents like Adam Sandler, Jimmy Fallon, Mike Myers, and Chris Rock, it's no wonder why the show is so popular. But out of all actors, past or current, the most successful comedian has to be Eddie Murphy.

Playing notable characters on SNL like "Mr. Robinson", "Buckwheat" and "Gumby", he can be accredited for bring the show back to popularity in the early 80's. While on his rise to fame, at age 22 he released his first stand up film "Delirious" to great success. It became an instant classic and continues to set the bar for comedians to this day. It was followed up by the film "Raw" which also received good reviews.

Buckwheat

Mr. Robinson & Mr. T

Apart from stand-up, Eddie Murphy has made himself a household name by staring in over 40 films dating back to the 80's. And as if movies weren't enough, the well established actor tried his hand at music. Working with big names like Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, and Donna Summers he released two hit singles "Party All the Time" and  "Put Your Mouth on Me".

Eddie will always be remembered for his humor. Whether it be for his stand-up, or his acting in a film. No one will forget such beloved characters like "Donkey", Prince Akeem, Dr. Dolittle, or any of the characters he played in "The Nutty Professor". However, what I will always remember him for, is his ability to successfully transcend comedy to a mainstream audience and pave the way for future comedians. And THAT is why he is the greatest comedian.

Here is my favourite Eddie Murphy moment<<<<<<<<. Let me know what you think. (Warning Parental Advisory)

Holiday Shopping Survival Guide

Holiday shopping can be a very stressful and hectic activity!

Having witnessed last year's holiday shopping mayhem first hand, as a sales associate at Forever 21, the second busiest store in the busiest mall in Toronto (the Eaton Centre), I  can safely say that I will be better prepared for this holiday shopping season.

With the recent passing of black friday, the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season, and infamous for hectic shopping conditions, (see below video) I thought I would recommend five things to remember in order to help you survive this year's holiday shopping madness!

1) Start your shopping as early as possible!

The closer to Christmas, the busier the stores get. Even the morning of Christmas Eve when one would assume most people would be at home getting ready to host relatives for dinner, I witnessed countless last minute shoppers scrambling for seasonal fashion finds.

2) Pay attention to holiday return policies!

I couldn't count the amount of times I stated our store's special holiday return policy while working cash, only to have the customer absentmindedly nod. It is these customers that have to deal with the ordeal of missing refund deadlines and not qualifying for refunds or exchanges. Make sure you're not one of those people, by listening, or asking about a store's holiday policies.

3) If you see something, grab it. It won't be there tomorrow!

Things often sell out within a day during holiday shopping time. Many times I had customers ask me where they can find a shirt that they saw the day before, only for me to tell them we sold out. If you are contemplating making a purchase, the safe bet is to buy it. You can always return or exchange it later.

4) Have an idea of what you are looking for before you go!

A lot of time can be wasted by wandering through stores and battling mobs of holiday shoppers, all while hoping a deal catches your attention. It can be much more efficient to set a game plan (maybe write a list) before you set out to complete your shopping.

5) Dont ask store employees if they think something will make a good gift!

"No I don't know if your niece would like that skirt ma'am, because I have no idea who your niece is and therefore no idea what she likes" is what I would have liked to have said many times during last year's holiday shopping fiesta. Only you know who you are buying for, so go with your instinct. I would not recommend asking the advice of a 19 year old trying to make commission.

I hope these tips help ease your shopping stress. Do you have any additional tips that could help others survive the holiday shopping rush?