Friday Favourites : Cutetitos

With all the goings on this time of year, I haven't found any time (yet!) to put together my annual Christmas Gift Guides.

But that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about Christmas! Oh no, no, no.

In fact, we've been choosing favourite gifts all year long - and these little bundles of sweetness are no exception.

A stuffy wrapped in a burrito-like blanket?

Sign us up.

Cutetitos (even the name is cute n'est pas?) are adorably soft and include 12 new characters for your littles to collect.

Ava was so excited about these - she agreed to do her first video review.

Bear with us as we learn through the process but I couldn't help but share this cuteness!

Cutetitos and their younger counterparts, Babitos, are available in major retailers across the country including Toys R Us, Walmart and Chapters.

Priced between $6.97 - $14.97 they make THE perfect stocking stuffer!

Happy Shopping.

xo

Fall Ready with Cleo + A Giveaway!

Loved selecting this second look featuring new fall favourites by Canadian retailer Cleo.

{In case you missed it - you can see my first look here}.

I'm ALL about these sleeves. And yes, you CAN wear stripes - especially flattering vertical ones.

The pants? Pull-on and super comfortable. Think like a legging, only better.
And if you're like me, one can never have enough black trousers.
#amiright

sunglasses - Prada | sweater - c/o Cleo | pants - c/o Cleo | handbag - Zara | shoes - Vince Camuto

 The fabulous team at Cleo has graciously offered up a chance at a $100 gift card to shop on-line or in one of their many stores across this fair land of ours.

G I V E A W A Y

To Enter: 

Leave me a comment telling me what you might choose if you won.

Lots of additional chances for entry below -

OPEN TO CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can't wait?

Cleo is celebrating their 40th (!) Birthday with 40% off almost everything in the store!

Shop here now.

Best of Luck.

xox

Friday Favourites : Crayola Take Note! + A Giveaway

For just about as long as I can remember, Crayola has been a mainstay in our home in preparation for Back to School and really all the time.

All of my kiddos loved and still love to colour - to create, to take boring to bold.

Ava just finished a week-long art camp where she learned all about colour.

And Isabella? Entering fourth year at Ryerson and STILL colouring.

I often find her sitting in front of the tv - Crayola Take Note! markers out. Adult colouring book in hand.

She finds it relaxing and swears it helps her focus.

I might have started my 86 year old mother colouring recently as well.

When the team at Crayola Canada reached out and asked if the girls might like to create a pencil case and turn a boring old box into something boldly colourful; they jumped at the chance.
And this mama? I was just happy to see them doing something that doesn't involve screens creative together.
The TakeNote! Products are great for school age and university age alike. Isabella quickly snapped up all her favourites including washable gel pens, erasable highlighters and white board markers that take her from business classes to her after-school tutoring gigs with ease.

And all this fabulous colour helps keep her organized with colour coded notes that are helpful AND way more fun to look at.

Pretty fabulous n'est pas?

Equally as fabulous, the folks at Crayola Canada have graciously offered our readers a chance to win an entire set of Crayola's new Take Note! collection that features specially formulated and functional markers, washable (!) gel pens, ERASABLE highlighters (we're obsessed!) and lots more.
Take Note! is ideal for students who like to colour code notes, daily tasks and goals for maximum productivity - and just as awesome to transform practically any "boring" surface from paper, cloth, metal, plastic or glass.

What school age or university student couldn’t use a  little more colour in their lives?

ARV $85

Enter below and don't forget to leave us a comment telling us why you would love to have Crayola Take Note! products for Back to School.
Open to residents of Canada only.
#goforthebold


a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was sponsored by Crayola. All opinions are strictly my own.
Good Luck! 

xo

Friday Favourites : Ritzy Rollerz

One unicorned Ms. Ava Grace almost lost her mind when she got her hands on Tomy's new Ritzy Rollerz® collectible girls toys.

Can't say I blame her.
What little girl isn't all about adorable, customizable and collectible anything?
Each ritzy roller is unique - some with real flowing hair, others with shiny chrome or fur. And each one comes with surprise charms that allow you to customize their wheels and make them truly your own.
When you're not swapping charms, they can be stored in a trunk-like compartment on the back of each one for safekeeping.
Read: no one is stepping on or vacuuming them up. #amen

There are two play sets available, including the Heelz on Wheelz version pictured below. It not only comes with it's own Ritzy Roller® but also with an additional 16 charms; each cuter than the next.
There is a full closet on board with ample storage.
Ramps and decorating opportunities galore.
And of course, a mirror so that your creation can check itself out when you're done.
Obviously.

Heelz on Wheelz Shoe Shop Playset | Ritzy Rollerz® 2-pack

Ritzy Rollerz® are available on Amazon and at Toys R Us Canada nationwide.

Pricing ranges from $11.99 - $29.99

Seeing your kiddo this happy?

That's free. 

Disclosure: This toy was provided to us at no charge in exchange for our honest review. All thoughts are our own.

xo 

Friday Favourites : Surviving Winter in Toronto

This has been one of the coldest winters on record here in Toronto - or definitely for as long as I can remember. And, maybe it's just me, but the older I get? The LESS I can handle the cold. or excessive heat for that matter. My skin has suffered a lot this year - and I won't even get started on my nasal passages and how ridiculously dry they've been. (please know that I had a central humidifier installed last year - ahem. I digress) 

Alas, I've had to come up with a save your skin solution and I must admit, it's improved as the seemingly never-ending winter continues. And now, with Spring on the horizon, I think I've finally mastered my approach - leave it to me to figure that out just as the warmer weather approaches.

Here is my current regime. Some of these products have been on my must-have list for some time (and I'll tell you, I'm not very product loyal so if it's here? It is GOOD)

On the daily, both morning + night, I use this mix of high and low priced products. I combine The Ordinary Moisturizer {$7.70 for 100ml} with SkinMedica Lytera Pigment Brightening Serum {$154}. My skin stays supple AND the latter has worked wonders on pigmentation spots on my forehead and below my cheeks.

For my lips, my tried + true Skinceuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair {$38.00}. I actually won this on a blog giveaway and it has lasted FOREVER. Anyone who tries it, loves it. To be blunt, nothing else works consistently. Except for this. Full stop.

For my body, which is in DESPERATE need of some colour, I have been super faithful to Body Blur by Vita Liberata {$50.00}. It isn't cheap. and I likely go through about 4 of these a year. That said, it provides the most amazing glow - and is super natural looking. I love this product and recommend it to anyone who will listen.

If you came to my office today, you would find this bottle of Avene Thermal Spring Water {$10.00} on it. Always. I spray throughout the day and it not only refreshes and softens my skin but it gets bonus points for keeping me awake when the day drags! #truth

And last, but certainly not least, my base line-up du jour. I'm using the highly-recommended (by every single who's who in make up) Jouer Essential High Coverage Liquid Concealer {$22.00} which I am absolutely loving. I apply this first with a large flat brush followed by an application of The Ordinary Serum Foundation {$8.00!!} using my beauty blender. DO NOT get discouraged by the low price point - this has lovely sheer coverage but somehow hides imperfections as well. Definitely a new favourite that I will be re-purchasing. (that almost never happens!)

So - tell me, any other skin saving secrets I might be missing?

Is it cold where you live?

#brrrr

xo 

Friday Favourites : Klorane Mango Ritual

If you follow along with us on instagram you would have seen by now that my Isabella is newly BLONDE. Very, very blonde.

And if you know a thing or two about being this blonde, you will know that it is extremely important to care for the colour properly.

And by properly, I'm talking lots AND LOTS of conditioning. Treatments. And care.

We were recently introduced to the new Klorane Mango Butter hair care products and we are smitten.

Made in France with concentrated and cold-pressed ingredients that extract a highly nourishing butter - the product not only smells incredible but it leaves the hair feeling soft and nourished but not weighed down.

An eco-responsible brand, I feel good about introducing it to my girls.

The highly, highly addictive smell is an added bonus.

With the ridiculously cold winter we've been experiencing in Toronto - these products are just what the doctor ordered to keep our hair in check.

I've been partial to rubbing the leave-in cream onto my ends on the daily. #addicted

Available locally at Shoppers Drug Mart and throughout the US at your favourite beauty retailers.

How do you manage your hair in the colder months?

xo