WORK IT | Spring's Most Stylish Workout Gear

Karlie Kloss via Nike

Originally posted in The LOOK

I don't know about you but it's really easy for me to get to the gym. It's the staying at the gym that's a problem. Every year around this time - you know the time where you see ads everywhere for beautiful girls in bikinis - I realize how badly I need to get my butt in gear. But this year, it feels different somehow. 

From Instagram to Snapchat, fitness fanatics are everywhere right now. And while getting fit is an especially huge trend at the moment, it feels less like a passing fad and more like a movement. Women I follow on social media not only look amazing in their bright workout gear but they look strong, powerful and crazy confident as they run marathons, hit the boxing ring and do mind-blowing yoga balances. Instead of models simply posing in pretty workout gear, you get the sense that they're actually doing the workouts in their daily downtime, too. Since having kids, I've never been so inspired to get fit.

While I think personal trainers are great, nothing motivates me to get my body moving more than cute workout gear. Luckily this season, the stores are loaded with the prettiest printed sports bras, bright tanks and sleek bottoms that will make you envy of any fitness class. As they say, looking good is half the battle ;)

Scroll through the slideshow for my top spring workout gear picks. You can do it!

 

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DAD'S DAY | 15 Gifts to Get Him Up-to-Date

Oh, hey David Beckham. via Pinterest

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

While we make fun of guys for having it easy, dads have a lot to handle - from work to endless weekend to-do's. And while they manage to stay profesh at work and handy at home, they're still expected to be super romantic and a super fun dad, too. Is it any wonder that staying stylish isn't at the top of the list for most over-scheduled dads? Whether he lives in his Crocs or has tragically fallen victim to Dad jeans, we can help. From a forever cool tee to the must-have shades of summer, these 15 gifts will bring Dad right up-to-date this Father's Day. Easy! 

Check out our fashionable Father's Day Gift Guide below, then be sure to check out the hilarious video below (the dad with the baritone kills me). I know my husband can totally relate to this one. Happy (almost) Father's Day!

READ MORE...

SMOOTH OPERATOR | My Top DIY Tricks for Summer Smooth Skin

 

After months hiding out under parkas and pants, my skin always comes out pale, dry, and sullen-looking in the spring. And so, like a good spring cleaning, I always need to coax my skin back into shape once the warm weather hits. Since I’ve been lucky to work with editors, beauty bloggers and models in my career, I’ve picked up loads of useful tips along the way. Some of my fave go-to tips hardly cost anything but are super effective all the same.

While I’m loaded with ideas for smooth skin, my hair removal M.O. is as basic as it gets. Men’s razor. Done. Nair asked me to test out their new Nair Cire Divine formula and share my verdict. I’ll be honest - I was skeptical. I mean, that scene of Steve Carrell in The 40 Year-Old Virgin is enough to make anyone sprint screaming from wax. I was assured that this new formula is next-gen, designed to adhere to the hair and less to the skin, making it less painful and more effective than the old formulations. Plus, argan oil and orange blossom makes skin soft and smell pretty, too. I tried it. I liked it. Yes, even my sensitive bikini line is smooth, soft and ready for the beach.

Ready to get your body beach-ready, too? Give Nair Cire Divine a go, then try these summer smooth skin tricks:

 

1)    WALK | From my face to my body, my skin just feels way better when I sweat a little. If you can’t get motivated to hit the gym, take advantage of the spring weather and head outside. I get my 10,000 steps a day by walking my kids to school and back each day and jumping around my house at night to make up the rest. My skin has improved and my body has toned up in a surprisingly short amount of time. The surprising side effect? Movement makes you thirsty which makes you actually crave…

2)    WATER | I normally have the hardest time drinking enough water. I mean, I’m lucky if I get 3 glasses of water a day, even though it’s the #1 beauty tip on every list out there. But since I started walking more, I’m easily getting my 8 glasses.

3)    DIY GOMMAGE | After experiencing a Hammam Gommage Treatment, I realized that while I always thought my skin was soft, I had NO idea of my skin’s true potential. I now make my own gommage at home. After waxing, mix honey & sea salt into a paste, spread it on, then use it to exfoliate your skin in the shower. The result? Impossible baby softness, even on rough places like feet, knees and elbows. 

4)    BABY OIL | When I used to model scout, I’d often hit up models for beauty advice. One trick I still swear by? Use a little baby oil all over at the end of your shower, then give your body a quick rinse. I used to use regular baby oil but now opt for more natural version from Burt’s Bees. Game-changing.

5)    SLEEP WITH YOUR SOCKS ON | Stubborn dry feet messing with your perfect pedicure? Slather coconut oil on feet then sleep with little sport socks on. Bonus points if they’re white because white socks are SO hot.  

New Nair Cire Divine Moroccan Argan Oil Wax’s unique ‘Bye-Bye Ouch’ formulation adheres perfectly to the hair, and less to the skin reducing the uncomfortable sensation (discomfort) associated with waxing. Learn more at: http://naircare.ca 

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Church & Dwight via Mode Media Canada. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Church & Dwight.

EVERY DAY I'M SHUTTLING | My Day on the New Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle

A mini cardboard replica of the Vaughan Mills Shuttle Bus that's actually - wait for it - a Kleenex box! 

Mondays are usually a little rough. I mean, after a weekend of fun and frolic, it can be torture to dive right back into the work routine. Yesterday, though - yesterday was a different kind of Monday. As Official Stylist of Vaughan Mills (eek!), I was asked to come to Toronto to celebrate the 2015 launch of the Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle. If you read this blog, you'll know that my arm never needs to be twisted when it comes to shopping so obviously, I was in. 

I arrive at Union Station with two fellow Toronto blogettes - Samantha Kaszab of Worth the Jetlag & Amanda Cosco of Girl About Toronto and after receiving our wristbands, are escorted by a girl from the City Tours Attraction Desk to the shuttle bus parked just a few blocks away. As soon as we spot it, we are all totally blown away - the Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle is a floral tour de force, covered from head to taillights in a bold wash of pink, purple and blue flowers. Stun. Ning. 

We hop on board with a bus full of other giddy shoppers, ready for a day of fashion fun at Vaughan Mills. As the lucky Day 1 riders, we all find swag bags on our seats filled with shopping essentials - headphones, smartphone chargers, water, a pen & notepad (for shoe shopping lists, of course), and the cutest Kleenex box I've ever seen. I've been known to cry tears of joy while shopping so this is a very smart move on the part of the Vaughan Mills marketing team. Plus, we all score a Vaughan Mills gift card to help with our shopping. Yes!

The morning shuttle leaves at 10 am and only takes 20ish minutes to get to Vaughan Mills. We scour the shops and designer outlets (J.Crew, Aritzia, Banana Republic, Town Shoes, Lululemon and BCBG topped our must-visit lists), then settle in for a leisurely lunch (Aroma, anyone?) to refuel before an afternoon at the rest of the stores on our list (I pick up a few things at Ivivva for my daughter, H&M for my son, shorts for my husband at Joe Fresh, and even pick up a birthday present at LEGOLAND because Lego is awesome). Next, it's time to do some damage at HR2. I hone in on the sale racks and spot a classic white Pink Tartan shirtdress, normally $500 marked down to $119. Magic. 

At 3 pm, it's time to jump back on the shuttle. I pass out leis to everyone on the bus to celebrate a successful shopping day and then we all compare our scores. I'm tempted to go back in and pick up a pair of pumps a stylish 20-something found at Capezio but remind myself that the shuttle runs twice daily. I can always do this again tomorrow, right?

Whether you don't own a car, don't feel like dealing with traffic, or are just looking for a fun, FREE way to spend the day at Vaughan Mills, be sure to test-ride the Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle, running twice daily all summer long until Sept 30th - no reservations or pre-booking necessary (first-come, first-served so get there early to make sure you get a wristband). I live in Kitchener so plan on taking the VIA into Union Station with my kids, then riding the shuttle bus to Vaughan Mills for a day at LEGOLAND this summer. Oh and get this - for the first time ever, the shopping shuttle will be running during Christmas shopping season from Nov 23rd-Dec 23rd. Genius!

Can't wait to hear what you think of the new Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle. See you on board soon!

 

Flower power. 

Samantha and I in our synchronized shuttle poses. 

Shuttle stowaways. This shuttle's so posh, even the cargo hold is squeaky clean. 

This is my happy shopping face. 

No blogger trip is complete without a back-of-the-bus selfie. 

Amanda gets her shoe shopping on. 

Pink Tartan on clearance. This is my jam. 

Can't even with these mini shuttles. 

Shopping joy. 

Aloha. 

This shuttle makes all the other buses jealous. 

Swag bag spoils. Thanks Vaughan Mills!

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY | Our Ultimate Dad's Day Gift Guide

You're welcome ;)

Originally posted in The CLOSET

You've got to hand it to dads. I mean, enduring ballet recitals, waiting out endless bathroom takeovers and braving the long teenage years is enough to make even the most sane guy want to midlife crisis his way into a red Camaro. Dads are expected to keep things fun when moms like me get naggy. Do this. Do that. I mean do this, that way. Do that, but you're doing that all wrong. My husband can only take so much direction, at which point bedtime hits and he starts spontaneously hurling packs of candy at my daughter and doing bad-ass ninja taekwondo with my son. Must be some evolutionary response to eons of nagging wives. 

I was lucky to grow up with the best dad who, though he's sadly passed away, will always be with me. When I find myself taking life too seriously, I think of the look my dad would have given me and it always makes me laugh. When I find myself rushing through my day, I remember how my dad and I would spend hours staring at the clouds, magically willing them to evaporate away. When I get too stuck in a routine, I'll whisk my kids off to do something exciting because nobody taught me the value of adventure more than my spontaneous dad. He was also the first one to arrive in any crisis and the first person I'd call if I needed a cry. I now watch my husband with my kids and feel so lucky that they're growing up with a wonderful dad, too. He makes crepes on Sundays, he takes them on bike rides through the city, and makes bedtime stories way more exciting than any author could ever have imagined. Dads might not parent exactly like moms, but it turns out that's a very good thing.

Whether he's an athlete, a techie, a wannabe hipster or just a laid-back kinda bro, we've rounded up the top gifts to show him how much you appreciate every little thing. We love you, dads! 

SEE OUR DAD'S DAY GIFT GUIDE HERE...