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!

The All New Jean Machine

I love the idea of jean shopping but in practice? Let's just say it can be overwhelming. A few weeks ago, Jean Machine asked me to be one of the first to come in and shop their newly remerchandised store at Toronto Eaton Centre and since I hadn't set foot in the store in a few years, could not wait to check it out. After all, I bought my first pair of Silvers at Jean Machine with my first real paycheque and picked up many more pairs throughout the years, so we have a long history of hits and misses. Oh, if those changerooms could talk...

The invite to check out the new Jean Machine store came with a few exciting promises: a new and improved product mix (curated with the help of famed fashion/creative director, Susie Sheffman), a little personal shopping help from Jean Machine's expert in-store stylists, plus a $200 credit to pick out a full look. Um, yay?!

I showed up at Toronto Eaton Centre and right away, noticed the super cute campaign styling and a slightly more airy feel to the space than before. I was greeted by the team of Jean Machine beauties, eager to help me find my perfect pair. I let them have their way with me. 'Size me up, show me what's new. Only one thing: no blue. I want black.'

I passed loads of jeans, all beautifully organized by fit to make the jean-shopping process more manageable and was thrilled to see some of my favourite denim brands in stock throughout the store plus other labels I love like Soia & Kyo, ONLY, and Vero Moda. Beyond jeans, I saw loads of gorgeous coats, some super pretty dresses and fashion-girl musts like felt fedoras and oversized plaid scarves.

The girls picked out a dozen super pretty pieces (mostly black) and I had a super fun try-on sesh. While one Jean Machiner was rooting for an emerald blouse and body-hugging leggings, it just wasn't me. So we agreed that I should go for all black with loads of texture to keep it interesting. Being a mom can make you feel too good, if that makes sense. I needed some pieces with edge.

I ended up with a Guess faux-fur vest which I LOVE, a pair of perfect faux leather joggers from YDE Studio and a fun textured black tee. They look great together but I especially love that I'll be able to easily mix each piece into my wardrobe this winter.

If you haven't had the chance, be sure to check out the new Jean Machine. You'll love what they've done with the place.

FROCK STARS: Get Ready for Frocktail 6

Photographed by May Truong and styled by Diego Armand/Perfectomag.com

Since its launch in 2009, The Frocktail Party has grown to become the city's most anticipated fashion fête. If you love dresses and supporting good causes (and who doesn't...), then you do not want to miss Frocktail 6. The big event is happening this Thurs night at the stunning Arcadian Loft in downtown Toronto, with 100% of auction proceeds benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). 

This year's designer auction is going to be epic, giving partygoers the chance to score designer pieces from Balmain, Gucci, Givenchy, Dior and Alexander McQueen. Some highlights include a personalized trench coat experience from Burberry and a golden ticket shopping experience from Kleinfeld’s and more! While the runway frocks are guaranteed to be gorge, it's always fun to shop the closets of local celebs, too. Rachel McAdams, Suzanne Rogers, Lainey Lui and Tanya Kim (among others) will have pieces on the auction block.

Epic auction aside, the party itself is always super fun. The Revlon Professional Style bar will ensure your hair is picture perfect all night long and CND will be offering up complimentary manis at their nail bar.  Not to be missed is the infamous Frocktail swag suite where guests will have the opportunity to fill their own gift bags full of products from Revlon Professional, CND and more! Oh, and there will be dancing. Oh yes, there will be dancing.

Check out The Frocktail Party site to sneak a peek at the pre-auction photo shoot and purchase your tix today. Hope to see you there! 

xx

My Clairol Shift-A-Shade Hair Campaign Reveal

Pre-hair/pre-makeup. Let's just call this the BEFORE.

Hair can say a lot. Like clothes, your hair can tell people about your taste (or complete lack thereof), your personal hygiene, and even your ability to make rational decisions. As I mentioned a few weeks back, my hair is usually laissez-faire, and while it’s not extreme in a bad way (since I’ve kept my natural brown and obviously wash it regularly), it also doesn’t really say anything at all. It’s just kind of there. Which, in a way, is just as bad as an actress wearing a little black dress to every single movie premiere. I needed a serious shade shake-up. Luckily, Clairol swooped in to save the day when they asked me to be a part of their Shift-a-Shade Campaign, along with a few other lucky Canadian blogettes. Our mission: show up at Hair on the Avenue in Toronto for a full-day video shoot complete with a colour consultation, makeup makeover and styling session. Um, love my job.

First up was my consultation with owner of Hair on the Avenue, the formidable Luis Pacheco. As he eyed me over, I pleaded to go anything but red (I’ve gone there before and let’s just say I was far from a ravishing redhead). I could see him considering the selection of Clairol Nice ‘n Easy boxes and then he honed right in on a rich brown: 5N/118A – Natural Medium Neutral Brown. My natural hair colour is a light brown and I’ve always wanted to go darker, especially for fall. Luis totally read my mind. Phew.

Next up was my consultation with makeup genius Patrick Rahme. My husband’s currently working on a start-up, we’re living in the midst of a never-ending house reno, and my two kids have just started JK and Grade 1 in a new school in a new city, so the stress and lack of sleep are starting to manifest themselves as subpar skin and under-eye bags. With the magic of a few smart makeup tricks from Patrick, I became a well-rested, bright-eyed beauty. Like I said, genius.

After my new hair colour had been applied, I met with super stylist Alexandra Melancon. I wanted help justifying some more expensive pieces and also hoped to test-drive a jumpsuit, so Alexandra put me in an expensive black one-piece and a cool little bomber, a perfect high-low mix for my new look.

And the darker, deeper AFTER. KaZOW! 

It’s amazing what a difference shifting a shade can make. With my new darker ‘do, I feel more stylish, more sultry, and emboldened to try more Clairol colours at home. My hair is shiny, rich and healthy-looking and I’ve already gotten so many compliments on my colour. Why didn’t I do this before?!

Check out the fun video from my day at Hair on the Avenue below and then try shifting a shade yourself. Oh, and be sure to use this $2 off coupon for Clairol Nice ‘n Easy when you do.

Thanks for the fun, Clairol!

Go bolder. Go warmer. Go deeper. Go golder. With our broadest spectrum of natural looking shades, you can change it up and still look like your most amazing you. Get inspired and #shiftashade. Nice n' Easy with Colour-blend Technology is available in 44 shades. For more information visit Clairol.ca 

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Procter & Gamble via Mode Media Canada. The bloggers were compensated for the Clairol Shift A Shade campaign and were asked to review our products. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Procter & Gamble.

A Hair Save From Clairol

Anyone who knows me understands that my hair is not big on my list of priorities. It goes: family, friends, work, dessert, shoes, accessories, clothes, and then way, way, down, barely even making the bottom of the list is my hair. I shampoo and condition it. Sometimes I brush it. And, let's be honest, sometimes I don't even do that. I only bust out the dryer/straightener/curling wand in emergency situations where I’m called upon to look extra polished – say for a parent-teacher interview, an editor preview, or Fashion Week. So my day-to-day hair routine consists of (what I like to think of as) 'beachy' waves (read: let’s fall asleep on wet hair and see what happens) and loads of chignons, ponytails and cute hats. The first step, as they say, is admitting you have a problem: my life is a series of hair fails. 

So, when I was asked to partner with Clairol for their “Shift a Shade” campaign, complete with a colour update from Clairol Consulting Colourist, Luis Pacheco, a session with pro makeup artist, Patrick Rahme, and a fashion consult with super stylist Alexandra Melancon, to be documented at an all-day video shoot at Hair on the Avenue no less, I was stoked. It has been one of my perennial resolutions to make my hair a priority and given that I've started to sprout a few greys, colour seems like the best place to start. (if you can relate, print out this $2-off coupon for Clairol Nice n' Easy)

I've always wondered what it would be like to play celeb for a day and let a team of pros have their way with me. Or my hair at least. You know what I mean. Will they turn me into a bombshell Jessica Rabbit redhead? Or a bubbly blonde? Or perhaps I'll be transformed into a deep, dark, sultry brunette. I'll be sure to report back with my pics and the big video reveal from our Clairol shoot. Eeek! How exciting is this?! Stay tuned...  

Go bolder. Go warmer. Go deeper. Go golder. With our broadest spectrum of natural looking shades, you can change it up and still look like your most amazing you. Get inspired and #shiftashade. Nice ‘n Easy with Colour-blend Technology is available in 44 shades. For more information visit Clairol.ca.  

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Procter & Gamble via Glam Media Canada. The bloggers were compensated for the Clairol Shift A Shade campaign and were asked to review our products. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Procter & Gamble.