By Suzanne Gardner on June 1, 2009
As of today, June 1st, all retailers in Toronto are now required to charge a minimum of 5 cents per plastic bag requested by the customer at the checkout. The goal, of course, is to reduce the volume of plastic bag waste in the city, and we totally heart this eco-mission. Plastic bags are a very unnecessary form of waste and definitely something that we can all work to eliminate from our daily lives. And, from an eco-chic point of view, this new by-law gives us an excuse to splurge on super cute reusable bags!
Of course, the standard $1 versions you can buy at your local grocery store are completely practical, but if you’re looking for an environmentally-friendly splurge, check out the adorable offerings from B.C.’s Bring Your Own Bag online boutique. They are admittedly a bit pricey, ranging from $14.99 to $36.99, but they all offer sturdy bottoms for extra support, reinforced wide straps for extra-comfort on your shoulders, and a built-in pocket for carrying your keys, wallet, or cell phone. Plus, they’re currently offering a special buy-one-get-one-free deal if you enter the checkout code “byobsale” when you place your order. Go ahead an make an eco-friendly splurge for you and a friend — or just get two for yourself!
Posted in Deals, Style | Tagged eco-chic, reusable bags |
By Chantel Simmons on May 18, 2009
Lately, we’ve been obsessed with organization. Unfortunately, our busy schedules mean that we’ve haven’t been actually implementing the obsession.
Case in point: we remembered that we needed to buy our BFF a birthday gift on her birthday. And since she lives in a different time zone, after-work drinks weren’t going to cut it.
Then we discovered My Tagalongs. The line up of super-functional and oh-so-cute products are ideal for the girl on the go. But what we love best is that they’ll ship anywhere in Canada, which means, in about five minutes we’d found, purchased and ensured the perfect gift was in the mail.
We chose the Emergency Valet (a gift we also bought for ourselves), which includes:
- chic rollup tote for last-minute groceries
- 911 tin for any emergency (includes Band-Aids, sewing kit, double-sided clothing tapes, nail file, tweezers, floss and a hair elastic)
- sticky notes
- tampon tube
The only thing it was missing was the belated birthday card.
Shopping info: My Tagalongs Emergency Valet, $30, www.mytagalongs.com
Posted in Beauty, Style, Uncategorized |
By Chantel Simmons on May 11, 2009
A little while ago we met super-fit celebrity personal trainer Jennifer Cohen, and she told us a little secret: that getting fit didn’t mean we had to work out five hours a day. Or even go to a gym. (It was then that we decided we loved her). Instead, she explained that it’s the little things that can help make a difference (like not eating chocolate chip cookies every day).
To get us started, she designed this handy little chart, which we’re sticking it on the fridge (beside our inspirational bikini-clad body), so we can look at it every time we reach for the ice cream. Feel free to do the same!
Posted in Style |
By Chantel Simmons on May 8, 2009
We’ve done the pedicure party, the Fantasia party, the jewellery party. But a tea party?
Now that’s a party we can raise a teacup to. Especially when someone else does all the planning, serving and cleanup.
Like a Tupperware party, a Steeped party involves a representative, who brings all the fabulous loot to your home, so all you have to do is invite your favourite tea party guests. Each party includes:
- Tea Consultation prior to event (½ hour).
- Tea pots.
- Half price items with every $250 in sales.
- 3 teas for sampling at your party, chosen by the hostess at the consultation.
- 20% Hostess credit towards tea and accessories.
Then, you drink tea, gossip and shop for your favourite tea party essentials. We love the Brew in a Mug (a ceramic mug, infusor and lid in one), the Heart Throb Infusor (heart-shaped, of course) and the colour-coded Tea Timer (green sand for green, white sand for white, and black sand for black tea).
Don’t have any tea-drinking friends? Time to make new ones, then (kidding! kind of.) Steeped Tea also features sweet treats (scone mix, jams and cookies), candles, soaps and reed diffuser sets.
Now all you have to do is set a date and invite your guests! (We’re free most Sunday afternoons, hint, hint).
PS Want to win free tea? Enter
here before May 15!
Shopping info: Steeped Tea, steepedtea.com
Posted in Deals, Events, Food, Style |
By Chantel Simmons on May 6, 2009
I love taking pictures — but only when I’ve got a camera that’s small enough to keep in my coat pocket and cute enough not to make a big deal of taking pictures. So when I got sent the KODAK Zi6 Pocket Video Camera to test-shoot for a month, I was excited, and not just because it was pink. It was as small as my BlackBerry and combined a camera and video camera all in one.
While my friend queried why I’d bother carrying it around when I already had my BlackBerry, I saw the difference instantly when using the video camera. Not only was the picture bright and featured a variety of colours (rather than that blue-grey haze of most video features on phones), but the sound quality was amazing. And I love the ability to switch back and forth between video and still pictures.
The technical stuff is this: 720p HD video capture, a large 2.4-inch LCD screen, and easy-to-use software. Videos can be uploaded to YouTube quickly and easily using the built-in USB and software. With the included video software CD, you can edit videos and add pictures and music to share your creations anywhere. I didn’t get around to figuring out what all this meant, but sending and sharing photos by email was a snap.
Mostly, I like video taping everything my friends are saying, anytime I want.
Shopping info: KODAK Zi6 Pocket Video Camera, $200, at Staples and Best Buy.
Posted in Style | Tagged Kodak, video camera |
By Suzanne Gardner on April 6, 2009
The Spring 2009 Contemporary collection has arrived at Holt Renfrew and you can win their five contemporary must-haves for the season!
By stopping in at your local Holts you can enter to win a Bailey 44 Mini, a Rich and Skinny Ankle-Baring Pant, a Trove Jumpsuit, a Kain Big Top, and a Smythe Vest. The collection, worth just under $1000, will surely give your spring wardrobe a stylish new boost. I’d love to have that super cute mini in my closet!
And if your closest Holts happens to be the Bloor Street location, be sure to check out the fashion-forward redesign of the location’s Contemporary Floor. John Gerhardt, Holt Renfrew’s Creative Director, explains his design inspirations on Holts website, stating that “There is a strong nod to the ’80s in our redesign, with ‘New Wave’ and Japanese influences as well as references to Artists such as Dan Flavin, Shepard Fairey and Barbara Kruger, infused with a current nod to fashion’s new-found fascination with Pantone primaries.”
The website also mentions the store’s new “Contemporary Saturdays”, touted as “a must-see mix of new fashions and activities, from DJs to Graffiti Artists.” This event will be held on the women’s contemporary floor of the Bloor Street, Montreal, and Vancouver locations from now until the end of May.
Hurry in to your local Holts soon as the “must-haves” contest ends on April 28! Visit the contest page for more information.
Posted in Deals, Style | Tagged Holt Renfrew |
