FLIPPING AMAZING | One Girl’s Fun Day Out at Triple Flip

My daughter is always on the move. I mean, like, never stops moving. And while we always manage to get from A to B, the trip rarely involves walking - it alternates between hopping, twirling, cartwheeling and leaping as we make our way around our city from day to day. When shopping for clothes, I’ve learned that everything from top to toe needs to be able to stretch, spin and move with my little. Oh, and it needs to be fun. Always fun. Triple Flip is one of my daughter’s newest obsessions so when the Oakville store asked us to come in and shop the new collection, both she and I did a little happy dance.

If you’re not familiar with Triple Flip, it’s time to get in-the-know. The brand began in Calgary in 2005 when the company recognized the need for a fun, aspirational brand for tween girls. Based on 400 actual girls’ bodies and feedback from tweens, Triple Flip created its own unique design aesthetic and sizing scale to promote healthy lifestyles and body confidence. With both form-fitting and relaxed styles in the line, girls can mix and match without focusing on labels.  As a mom who wants nothing more than to have a happy, confident daughter, I love this philosophy so much.

Triple Flip is way more fun than your average store - loads of bright colours and fun prints dominate the space, while silver poufs and ‘super fancy’ (her words) change rooms make shopping a joy for moms and kids alike. Seriously. My daughter normally has a 15-30 minute (max) shopping limit before she gets bored but we stayed at Triple Flip for 2 hours at which point I had to drag her out of the store in full pout mode so we could get home for dinner.

The new summer collection is full of so many pieces I wanted to bring home. I normally shop the brand for C’s dance and gymnastics gear online so was happy to discover all of the great summer dresses and swimwear they carry, too. The bold print Twirl Dress is made of moisture-wicking fabric to keep girls cool and comfortable on hot summer days, while the sweet swimwear and rash guards are designed to let kids dive right in. We tried on dresses, bodysuits, printed leggings (um, hello flamingo), and of course Triple Flip’s famous, coziest-ever Minky Dimples line and then it was finally time for the accessories.  

From irresistibly cute bags to colourful scarves to sweet jewellery, we finished off our shopping trip with our arms loaded with colour.

Thanks for the fun Triple Flip. Can’t wait to come back soon - if my daughter has anything to say about it, should be next weekend ;)

Be sure to check out Triple Flip online or head a Triple Flip store near you. Can’t wait to hear what you think!

Ooh, and don’t miss this...

CONTEST ALERT:

I’ve teamed up with Triple Flip for an exciting Instagram contest.  One lucky RLR reader will receive a Triple Flip discount code for $50 off of their online purchase.  

RULES:

1. Follow @tripleflipgirl and @realliferunway on Instagram.

2. Tag 3 friends who you think would like to be entered in the comments section of my Triple Flip IG post.

3. Winner to be selected randomly and announced on the @realliferunway Instagram post on Tuesday June 28th.

4. Contest open to Canadian and U.S residents only

GOOD LUCK!

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

BRIGHT IDEA | #AHairBetter with John Frieda

I’m nervous. Naturally, I’m nervous. As someone notoriously laissez-faire when it comes to hair, I can barely deal with a dryer, let alone hair dye. And yet, that’s exactly what I’ve been asked to do. Like handing a toddler a pack of matches, I’ve been asked to use some revolutionary new at-home products that allow you to lighten your hair in the shower. By yourself. This, to me, is completely terrifying.

‘Life’s too short not to take risks,’ I tell myself. ‘I can always dye it back,’ I reason. And so, I’ve signed and sealed a contract with John Frieda® to try out their Brilliant Brunette Visibly Brighter^TM collection. I love John Frieda®. A loyal, lifelong fan since I was a teenager, but still...I’m nervous. 

This is my hair now. I had it dyed dark last month and loved it at the beginning, but as you can see, it has now faded into a basic block of brown. I decide to read up on exactly what I’ve committed to. The John Frieda® Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter^TM collection is designed to instantly lighten your brunette to 1 shade lighter than your current colour. It lightens your hair within its normal spectrum, so it won’t appear bleached or orange. Okay, that’s good. You don’t need to be precise with the application. Also good. And it can be used on natural or colour-treated hair like mine. Perfect. Okay, here goes nothing. Ack. 

DAY 1

Before I begin, I make sure to have some inspirational summer things nearby as comfort. My husband’s in California for work this week and my kids are at school right now, so I have no moral support here. My new sunglasses and a sunny yellow tulip make me think happy, sun-kissed, perfect summery hair thoughts. The Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter^TM In-Shower Lightening Treatment has a dual tube applicator with a developer and activator that you blend together in your hand in the shower. The formula activates and foams up once you mix it. The instructions are suspiciously simple: 

1)    Snap off cap

2)    Blend formula in your hand

3)    Work through hair

4)    Rinse hands

5)    Leave on for 5 minutes

6)    Rinse

7)    Follow with Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter^TM Subtle Lightening Shampoo & Conditioner (if desired - yes, I desire) for daily maintenance. 

The In-Shower Lightening Treatment definitely smells like hair dye which freaks me out a little, but the product really is super easy to use - even for someone as inept with hair as I am. I’m amazed that it only takes 5 minutes to get results, but since I don’t want to overdo it, I skip the shampoo and conditioning part and decide to wash my hair tomorrow. Baby steps. I get out of the shower and inch my way towards the mirror. My hair still looks dark, but then again, it’s soaking wet. I’ll have to wait. Still nervous.

I let my hair air dry like I usually do. It looks like it’s maybe a shade lighter than before, but if it’s lightened, it’s really subtle. This relieves me to no end. My hair feels a bit dry, but considering I didn’t use any conditioner, I’m surprised to find that it still feels quite healthy. Less nervous now. 

DAY 2

I’ve just washed my hair with the Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter^TM Subtle Lightening Shampoo & Conditioner. It’s formulated with honey and marigold flower extract, and cleanses while gradually infusing golden tones to illuminate the spectrum of your existing brunette. I’m thrilled to see that it’s ammonia and peroxide free. The conditioner is dreeeaammmy. I can tell that my hair is going to feel super soft when I’m done. And it does. Once my hair dries, I can see that it’s a little bit brighter.

DAY 3

Day 3 is when I start to become a real believer. I wash my hair again and this time, I can really see the brightening effect. My hair is multi-tonal and looks like it has loads of movement. Without adding anything to my hair at all (like literally no product other than the shampoo & conditioner) my hair ends up looking like this after using a curling wand.

DAY 4

Time to wash my hair again. I’m the kind of person who washes my hair only when I really need to wash my hair. I normally wash it every 3 days (or 2 if I go to hot yoga) and so am expecting my hair to dry out quickly. Incredibly, instead of drying out, it seems to just be getting softer. Again, no other styling products. 

DAY 5

After washing my hair today, I decide to do the car test. According to makeup artists I’ve worked with on TV, natural, driver-side visor mirror light is the most honest light you’ll ever find. This pic has no filters, no indoor lighting, no hiding from the truth. And I’m so thrilled to see that my hair is brighter and dimensional and seriously, exactly how I’d want a stylist to give me highlights if I paid a stylist to give me highlights. 

DAY 6

I’m now fully, completely, obsessed with the Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter^TM collection. I look like I’ve had balayage. In fact, a friend at school drop-off just asked who does my balayage in Kitchener. ‘I DID MY OWN BALAYAGE!’ is what I want to scream, but instead I take out my phone to show her a pic of the John Frieda® products, ‘You seriously have to try this stuff.’ 

DAY 7

Now that the week-long trial is over, I going to stop washing my hair every day. But as a total super-fan, I’ll continue to use the Brilliant Brunette® Subtle Lightening Shampoo & Conditioner any time I want to subtly brighten up my locks. I’m thrilled to know that I can get a basic dye with my stylist to cover any greys, and then use the Brilliant Brunette® collection to give my hair healthy, natural-looking highlights. Thank you John Frieda® for my brilliant, brighter new brunette locks. Like I told my friend, you seriously have to try this stuff.

Ooh, and don't miss this: our friends from John Frieda are holding #AHairBetterContest where you could win a hair makeover and a stylish weekend getaway for two! Get your luscious locks over to their contest page for more info. Good luck!

As a FLARE Style Scout, I received compensation for participating in this program; however, all views are my own. 

WHAT'S GOOD | My Top Summer Beauty Picks from Sephora

Okay, so I have good news and I have bad news. Let's start with the good news: a shiny new Sephora is now officially open at Vaughan Mills. Now for the bad news: a shiny new Sephora is now officially open at Vaughan Mills. The minute I heard my fave beauty boîte was coming to VM, my heart swelled and my credit card dug itself deeper into my wallet. 
Let's just say that I have a bit of a problem when it comes to Sephora. Like any addict, I require a level of self-control that isn't always easy to maintain. If it's a tough day, or a rainy day, or any day that ends in 'day', I find myself coveting that new cream, that new shade of lipstick, that new highlighter, that serum that everyone's obsessing over.

Still, a blogger's gotta do what a blogger's gotta do and I had to go to check out the new Sephora and report back. See pics I took at the VIB grand opening party and my top summer beauty picks from Sephora over on the Vaughan Mills blog now. Some damage was done (but I have to say my skin is looking great)...

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ONE & DONE | 35 Dresses We Can't (& Won't) Wait to Wear

A floral + striped frock star from RW&CO.

Originally posted in The LOOK

There's something that happens once you have kids. Okay, there are a lot of things that happen once you have kids. But specifically, there's this thing regarding invitations. In my early 20's, I'd get invites to weddings and be like, 'Awww, seriously? Another wedding??' I'd look at my summer calendar and all of my weekends would be completely booked up with wedding after wedding which a) got very expensive, hence taking away all the money I'd been saving for fun things like shoes (but what should have been a down-payment on a house) and b) took away all the precious time I could have been spending at a friend's cottage or at the beach or going to clubs. When you're young and single, you get invites to fun parties all the time and you can't possibly appreciate it. Or at least I didn't...

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BRUSH YOUR SHOULDER OFF

via Collage Vintage

Originally posted in The CLOSET

I can't blame you if you haven't been bare-shouldered in awhile. Spring in Canada is a roller-coaster ride of temps and emotions - warm one day, freezing the next, grateful one day, totally grumpy the next. The main source of my frustrations with spring this year has rested in the fact that I have two new off-the-shoulder pieces I've been dying to bust out. Problem is,  the weather has forced me to cover up  exactly what I want to show off. My shoulders are dying for the sun, the warm breeze and the cute Instagram pic potential. 

Go get yourself a stellar strapless bra (if you need it) and then check out these 3 gorgeous off-the-shoulder looks to help you make the most of the (hopefully super warm & sunny) long weekend ahead... 

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