HOLIDAY '14 | Your Under-$200 Guide

Photo courtesy American Eagle

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

Walking through the mall this month is like a really great binge-watch of Netflix. There's drama (MO-OM, you are SO embarassing!), there's intrigue (will she like it? will she loathe it?), and of course, that edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting terror (only 20 days left?!).

It goes without saying that the clock starts ticking more insistently than usual this time of year, leaving even the most organized among us in a panic. But is this all necessary? Can we just take a collective step back and put this in perspective? Can we try for a minute to remember what this is all about in the first place? Um, no. No we can't. Because unless you're a Saint or happen to reside in Whoville, presents are part of the big Christmas/Holiday/Chrismukkah package. Plus, it's fun to buy things for other people. As long as we're prepared. 

I've found 50 stellar gifts to please the picky, to wow the un-wowable, each for under-$200 so you can keep on budget while you're at it. Scroll through the slideshow below for my top gift picks and dial your panic button down a notch. Remember, it's your presents...er..I mean presence that counts...

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#WIN IT | A Holiday Beauty Boost from pürminerals and TSC

I'll be honest - my pre-kid self wasn't all that discerning. Like wine, I'd pick makeup based mostly on the packaging (doesn't everyone?), without giving much thought to what ingredients it contained. Since I'm super careful about the products I give my kids, I now try to be more thoughtful about my own skincare regimen, too. 

I started using Pür Minerals products a few months ago and have become a complete convert. It goes on light, never looks cakey, and helps me look glowy and well-rested after those nights (make that most nights) when I'm short on sleep. 

The Shopping Channel just sent me the brand new  Pür Minerals 5PC Holiday Pürfection Collection to test out, just in time for party season. The set includes:

o   Pur Minerals 4-IN-1 Pressed Mineral Powder with SPF 15 -$32.00

o   Pur Minerals Fall Matte Pallette- NEW- $35.00

o   Pur Minerals Chisel Brush- $26.00

o   Pur Minerals Lip gloss in Tickled -20.00

o   Pur Minerals Eye Pencil in Hello Bright Eyes W/ Smudger -$19.50

o   Total Value: $132.50

While the set normally retails for $79.99, the Pür Minerals 5PC Holiday Pürfection Collection launches this week as the daily Today’s Showstopper at The Shopping Channel for only $47.95. Um, crazy good deal for this set. Sale starts this Friday, Dec. 12 at 10 p.m. ET and ends Sat., Dec. 13 at 10 p.m. ET  - or until quantities last.

Now for the fun part:

The Shopping Channel has given me an extra Pür Minerals 5PC Holiday Pürfection Collection set to give away to one of you! 

Here's how to win it.

1) Follow @theShoppingChan and @realliferunway on Twitter. 

2) Tweet the following '@theShoppingChan & @realliferunway are giving away Pür Minerals Holiday Pürfection Collection & I want it! RT to #win http://bit.ly/12JHP6L'

3) For a bonus entry, 'like' this post on Instagram. 

4) Open to residents of Canada only.

5) Contest ends Friday Dec 12th at 5 pm.

GOOD LUCK! xx

GIVE JOY | Our Top Gift Picks of 2014

Yes, a Crockpot can be cool, but only when done up in rainbow chevron.

Originally posted in The LOOK

It's the most wonderful time of the year. No, really, it is. But sometimes, all of that wonder and joy can get lost in the rush. One look at my December calendar and chances are you'll find me either crumpled in a quivering heap on the floor, seeking advice from my Elf on the Shelf and/or downing another box of Turtles. Between the parties, family get-togethers, work deadlines, school plays and Christmas concerts, I'm left wondering if I'll have time to shower. And don't even get me started on the lists: lists of cards to send, lists of things to do, lists of gifts to buy. And gifts. And more gifts. 

Speaking of gifts, I've put together a great gift guide for Intercity Shopping Centre that should help you as you look around for that perfect present. Check it out and sorry for the poor effort at posting this week. I've been busy (read: crumpled up in a corner, seeking advice from my Elf on the Shelf, eating Turtles)

xx

SEE THE GIFT GUIDE HERE...

Smart Buy Glasses | Why Not YSL?

In my YSL 6374's

SmartBuyGlasses.ca got in touch last week and asked me to pick out a pair of designer glasses from their site in exchange for an honest review. As someone who breaks everything, I often opt for inexpensive shades to avoid the crush of disappointment which will inevitably come when I scratch/drop/step on/sit upon them. Many $20 shades have come and gone but in my 30's, I've realized that I deserve designer shades. I can take care of two children - I should be able to handle a pair of sunglasses, right?

I waffled between Ray-Bans and Persols, trying to decide between Wayfarers and aviators. I could not have gone wrong with either. But when Yves Saint Laurent gets thrown into the mix, my philosophy is that you always choose YSL. 

I opted for the YSL 6374, a vintage-looking cat-eye that I knew would give me a glam little lift leading into the hols but also fell for the YSL BOLD 2. Each pair retails for around $230 which, for something I'll wear all year, I feel is totally justifiable. 

My glasses just arrived in the mail and as expected, I love YSL shades. They're solidly built, beautifully designed thanks to the interesting frame detail, and instantly flattering. I opted for tortoiseshell but if I didn't already own so many pairs of black sunglasses, would have loved them even more in black. 

Looking for the perfect gift for you or one of your favourites? Be sure to check out the Smart Buy Glasses Christmas Gift Guide. Aaand, since sunglasses are so deeply personal, a Gift Card always fits.

Love this site! Even if I am a little biased...

Yves Saint Laurent 6374 Sunglasses, $224, SmartBuyGlasses.ca

Yves Saint Laurent BOLD 2 Sunglasses, $234, SmartBuyGlasses.ca

Still undecided? Check out these YouTube vids below before you buy:

HOLIDAY '14 | Stylish Gifts for Her

Carey Mulligan in the Dec '14 issue of Harper's Bazaar UK. 

Originally posted in The CLOSET

She's wonderful. You adore her. And she's a nightmare to shop for. I mean, total nightmare. And since you want to give her something she's going to love, it's a perennial struggle to figure out what to buy for the woman who's already got it all. 

This season, my shopping M.O. is all about giving her exactly what she wants. And while you're never going to get it perfect every time, I've got three tricks that I rely on to please any picky giftee, without having to resort to gift cards: keep it luxe, keep it festive, and always include a gift receipt.

Luxe gifts work because the stylish woman is naturally snobby; she can't help herself. Whether it's an HBC stripe, Prada sunglasses, or a bottle of Tom Ford on her bathroom counter, luxe labels serve as daily inspiration to her fashion-fuelled aesthetic. And luxe doesn't always have to mean expensive - a tiny gift from a respected label means more to the stylish woman than loads of little random gifts. If you want to splurge on a larger purchase but can't make it work for your budget, call on friends and family and go in as a group for a bigger buy.

Another fail-proof way to shop for the style maven is to keep it festive. The holidays are all about a little impracticality which means yes to shine, yes to sparkles and definitely yes to that perfect Christmas red. Whether she wears it all year or not, she'll love being able to bust out that gold lame snood every year when the snow starts to fall. What's a snood? Exactly.

And, of course, be sure to ALWAYS include a gift receipt. This small gesture means you've taken the time to go out and pick something for her (which is always appreciated), while still giving her an exit strategy in case the gift doesn't fit/she already owns it/she had her eye on something else.

Still not sure what to get her? Scroll through the thumbnails below for 50 stylish gift ideas...

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