Trend Watch

Baby, You Can Drive My Car

These days, we're all a little concerned when it's time to fill up the gas tank. Our concerns may be about having to refinance our home to pay for a tank of gas, or may be more altruistic concerns regarding the effect of our gas-guzzler on the environment. Whatever the concerns, many of us have become interested in hybrid vehicles.

What exactly is a hybrid car? Any vehicle that uses two or more sources of power to make it go is a hybrid. Most hybrid cars on the road right now are gasoline-electric hybrids. The hybrid vehicle has two main benefits which are tightly interwoven; they reduce tailpipe emissions and improve mileage. What's not to love about saving money at the pump and helping the environment?

While we think of hybrids as a new trend, the truth is that they've been around as long as cars. The trend is that consumers are becoming more interested. Toyota's Prius has been around for close to a decade, and we've become accustomed to seeing more and more on the road. Honda introduced its Civic Hybrid in 2002, and Ford followed in 2004 with the release of the Escape Hybrid, the first American hybrid and the first SUV hybrid.

I recently test-drove a Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. In the interest of full disclosure, I will acknowledge that this test drive occurred on a fantastic and beautiful stretch of highway between Las Vegas, Nevada and Death Valley, California. I was driving, alone, with nothing but my satellite radio to keep me company. I was kind of predisposed to love any vehicle I was in!

I had the opportunity to drive a regular fuel-engine Chevy Malibu and the Malibu Hybrid. Since I never had to fill-er-up, I was warned that the only time I'd notice anything different about the Hybrid was when I stopped. The engine would start charging and things would get very quiet. If I hadn't been warned, I'd have thought I stalled. This quiet was at first disconcerting, but became quite reassuring.

Other than that, the Malibu Hybrid was a very sweet ride. There are some technical reasons that Malibu makes a great family car; it has a longer wheel base, giving it a more spacious feeling interior. Malibu’s interior and exterior styling looks great for any price. It felt like a very sophisticated car and exceeded my expectations of styling and comfort. Malibu is quiet and offers XM satellite radio (with AUX input for your iPod or other media player) and OnStar Gen 7 with remote diagnostics (reassuring when I was so...well, remote).

Hybrids are still a slightly more expensive option at the dealership than single-powered cars (the Malibu Hybrid, for instance, starts at around $26,000, while the regular Chevrolet Malibu LS, has a pricetag of just $22, 995), but the better mileage and benefits to the environment are making them more and more popular.

Think Pink

Some trends are good (think boomerang lunches at our kids' schools). Some trends are pure evil (think leggings on anyone older than six). My favourite type of trend is one that benefits the consumer and also benefits a good cause.

This is a great month for such trends. It's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and marketers are pulling out all stops to not only tug at our proverbial heartstrings, but also open our wallets. The Pink Ribbon has become an international symbol of hope and awareness in the fight against breast cancer.

Certain manufacturers, organizations and corporations have joined in the fight to raise awareness and support on-going breast cancer research, by partnering with breast cancer organizations, and developing or marketing items that are specially designed to denote the color pink. Products vary from small appliances, kitchen gadgets, mugs, pins, caps and other various items.

From the sale of these items, a portion is donated to a breast cancer information and resource or research organization, or to a national or private cancer foundation. The main goal of the campaign is to continue the research with the hope of finding a cure for breast cancer.

My mother will buy almost anything with a pink ribbon on it. She's shopped for pink cashmere sweaters at Holt Renfew, bought my sisters and I matching Clinique Buttershine limited edition pink lipsticks and purchased t-shirts for herself.

One of my favourite pink ribbon items this season is Cashmere bathroom tissue's couture collection of gorgeous gowns designed by some of Canada's top designers and created out of toilet paper. This year's collection features Pink Cashmere, the first coloured toilet paper introduced in Canada in over a decade.

During the month of October, post a message about your favourite pink ribbon item, or e-mail me directly at jennifer.hicks@rogers.com to have me feature the product in a future column. Watch for more ways to make a cool purchase and help find a cure for cancer.

Staycation...all I ever wanted!

For most of us, a summer getaway is an essential part of our annual calendar. All year long we look forward to our one or two-week vacation as an opportunity to recharge our batteries, re-establish family bonds and have a little fun. This year, with the high price of gas, crazy airline ticket fares and a struggling economy, more and more people are turning to the "staycation" as a frugal alternative and the newest vacation trend.

A staycation is just like any other summer vacation... except instead of visiting some far-off destination, you stay at home. Everyone's talking about them....a google seach pulls up not only find wikipedia's definition of staycation, but also a whole bunch of blog entries, and just last week, a New York Times article about the rising popularity of this trend.

Mid-way through summer, it's not too late to start planning your own staycation; it may supplement or replace your vacation plans. Here are a few tips for making the most of a staycation.

Have a chore-atorium Don't use a week at home as an opportunity to get to everything on your to-do list. While you might end the week feeling you've accomplished something, you will not feel rested.

Try something new I'm going to finally read my camera manual try some new photography techniques.

Go shopping You're saving money by staying home...indulge a little. A staycation wouldn't be a staycation for me if it didn't start out with a leisurely stroll through the bookstore and a trip home with a full bag.

Get a tan No matter which routine you're getting back to, it helps to feel like you've been on vacation if you get a little colour. Might I suggest my best-kept secret...Clinique for men non-streak bronzer? Less sparkles than the women's product, and much less expensive.

Take pictures Just because you're staying close to home, it's no reason not to snap pics...for all you know this could be the most memorable holiday for the family.

Put the kids in charge Ask the kids what they'd like to do during their staycation. Whether it's a trip to the museum, pitching a tent in the backyard or checking out the local playground, they'll love being consulted about the travel plans.

Whatever you choose for your own staycation, common themes are relaxing and bonding with family. What's your favourite staycation activity?