School Cool: Stylish Must-Haves from Kindergarten to High School

Going back to the yester-years of hopscotch in the playground to Teen Mag Posters of our favourite "heart-throbs" taped up to our lockers, a lot has changed since then, but one thing that will never fade is a child's/tween's/teen's longing for individuality and personal style.
Give them something they will love with my list of Stylish Must-Haves!

1) Printed Jeggings
The Children's Place, $18
www.thechildrensplace.ca

2) J.Crew Boys' Long-Sleeve Glow-in-the-Dark Tees
J. Crew, $34.50
www.jcrew.com

3) Nevada®/MD Little Girls Reversible Vest in Raspberry Gelato
Sears, $19.97
www.sears.ca

4) Customizable Shoes 
Skribbies, $49
www.skribbies.com

5) Beatrix New York Little Kids Backpacks
Beatrix New York, $42
www.beatrixny.com
I absolutely LOVE Beatrix's line of Kids Backpacks (my daughter owns the Papar Owl one!) with their unique and adorable designs of embroidered forest creatures. Enough storage for your Little Kid and you can rest assured not every child in his/her class will have the same backpack. Don't you hate when that happens?
Durable, easy-to-clean and easy to carry. A CAC Favourite for the New Generation Kids and Parents!





6) Glitter Backpack 
J. Crew, $114
www.jcrew.com

7) Spiketus Rex Full Pack
MadMax, $60
www.madpax.com

8) SoYoung Grade School Backpacks
SoYoung, $49.99
www.soyoung.ca

9) 8" Globe – Pink *Comes in different colours
Indigo, $29.50
www.chapters.indigo.ca

10) KSNY x Darcel Journals
Kate Spade, $25/each
KateSpade.com

11) May Designs Custom Notebooks
May Designs, $20 (Current sale for only $12!)
www.maydesigns.com
I love how many stunning and unique designs you can choose from to suit your individual taste. Their designs are gorgeous and you can also choose the inside pages: Monthly Agenda, Address Book, Blank, Academic Agenda, Kids Colouring Book & more!





12) Target Notebook set (Hello Eiffel Tower!)
Target, $4/each
www.target.ca

13) GreenRoom Recycled Notebook
Target, $4/each
www.target.ca

14) Large Pencil Cases (Owl and Bare Tree seen in pic)
Indigo, $7
www.chapters.indigo.ca

15) Banderole pencils
Anthropologie, $12
www.Anthropologie.com

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Back-to-School in Sears Style

I can't believe it's that time of year.
To many other moms out there, this is exciting, much anticipated and welcomed with very open arms (hot coffee in hand).
Me? Not so much.
Why? Because I will miss having my little girl at home with me. I know, I know. Cut the apron strings and let her go.

We attempted to send her off to JK last year, but that didn't work out unfortunately because my son was born that same week and I was home alone (my husband had to be back at work right away) with a new baby, recovering from a cesarean and I also suffered from post-partum blues for 2 weeks post-pregnancy. It was rough.
Therefore we decided that I would home school her for JK year which turned out perfectly because we have a large rec room which became the perfect and complete classroom to her and she learned a lot at home with "Teacher Mommy" for that year.
She also socializes very well with close neighbor friends and cousins of the same age that she plays with often (thank goodness!).

I do love routine, which is one reason I am actually quite longing forward to it and of course the fact that my little girl is bursting with thrill makes me happy for her too.
I know she's ready (she was ready last year!) and she can't stop talking about it.
I now have an active gig working from home and have gotten extremely busy with blogging projects outside of work so it will be a relief to me as well as I know I won't have the time to home-school her as much during the day anymore.

Well, it's "Back-to-School" for our Ava and of course, I'm sending her off in Style!
Sears Style!

I recently became a new Sears Mom Back-2-School Brand Ambassador and was given the opportunity to shop with a $100 Gift Card (Thank you Sears and Mom Central!) to get our Back-to-School Shopping started.
Initially I thought: Hmmm... how much can one really purchase with $100?
I know it sounds like a lot but as a mother that shops for my children quite often, I know how pricey children's clothing can be! That's not including shoes, backpacks, etc.

I shop at Sears a lot and I really love their separate Babies and Kids areas - The Baby Room and The Kids Room.
Everything is so well laid out and it's easy to find what you're looking for.

I needed to grab some essential wardrobe pieces for Ava and also a standard-sized backpack.
For their Back We Go Event, you can get 25% off selected items and I was also happy to see that their backpacks were on sale (with already low prices) plus with an additional 30% off!

As tempted as I was to grab the Hello Kitty, I knew that I needed something different and that steered away from any characters. I wanted her to be able to use this for the next year if possible.
Loved their selection. Whether you want a cute character like Hello Kitty, Disney Princess or Cars or a classic and reliable brand such as Roots, they have it!

I was dying of cuteness overload in the clothing section. And was blown away at the pricing!

Yes the chaos of back-to-school shopping has begun. Moms went crazy for this awesome deal!

The mix and match clothing deals were an obvious steal and the prints on those shirts and pants were way too adorable and pretty.
And they carry amazing brands such as Foxy Jeans™, HELLO KITTY™ , Levi's®, Nevada®/MD, Converse® and more!
With their Price Match Guarantee, you can rest assured you're getting the best deal.

And if that wasn't awesome enough, did you know about KidVantage?

KidVantage is Sears' The Lifetime Wear Out Warranty that covers children's apparel and footwear as long as a child in the family continues to wear the size. If the item wears out, Sears will, at its option, either repair it or replace it with the identical item in the same size, or if it's unavailable, a similar item of equal value in the same size. It covers children's apparel sizes from infants up to 18, and footwear up to senior kids' size 6 .
I love this!
Amazing prices AND quality you can trust. This is what us Moms are looking for.
And of course, I'm not sacrificing style here either.
Smart and Stylish Buying. Now that's something that's always on trend!

I was really happy with the items I was able to purchase for my daughter for less than $100 and cross off our Back-to-School Shopping List!

Pair of flats not shown here. {Click Photo for Larger Image}

Have you completed your Back-to-School shopping yet?
I highly recommend heading to your closest Sears for everything you need in one place and to save you money!

If you're on Facebook, make sure to 'Like' Sears Canada and Enter for a Chance to Win Sears' “Back We Go” Facebook contest.
Enter the contest HERE.
Good luck!

****
Disclosure: I am part of the Sears Back to School Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

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I'm FALLing in Love with Fall 2013's Fashion Trends

Mustard Yellows and Dark Olives, Knee-high boots and trench coats, over-sized sweaters and leather, tribal and plaid... there's so much to LOVE about Fall Fashion.
Some classic loves and some new, Fall trends never cease to fail me -- my FAVOURITE fashion season.
Check out a few of these lovely inspirational finds from Polyvore. Seriously, what's not to love?

According to Pantone, here is the fashion colour report for Fall 2013 for Women.

I love them all! Hard to choose a favourite in this batch.

Although I will be sad to bid adieu to the warmer weather, longer days of sunshine and sandals, looking at these fab fashion trends is making me super excited to welcome Fall weather (with a warm latté).

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CAC's Favourite Spring/Summer 2013 Trends

Pretty Floral Prints, vintage 20's-inspired bouffants and Poppy Reds; this year is looking bright (literally!)

I am always keeping my eyes open for what's on trend although I admit that I am not really a fashion risk-taker and will stick to what's comfortable and suits me.
I think that's the way it should be though.
Fashion is meant to bring your best out and be an expression of who you are not what you see others wearing.
What may look great on another person may not look so amazing on you.

What I always like to do when experimenting with new colours is put it close to my face at a mirror in a well-lit room, usually when I notice a glow oozing from my face, there's a match!
Let me clarify: colours that complement your natural tone should brighten the appearance of your skin and look good with your hair and eyes.
Colours which aren't so great will make you appear pale and washed-out and accentuate any dark shadows or blemishes.
You'll know when once you look in that mirror.

Deciding on the colours that are best for you is very simple. It just depends on your own colouring, which includes your eye and hair colour and skin tone.

In order to tell your skin tone you need to look at it under natural light, checking to see whether there is a hint of golden or rosiness. A hint of apricot or golden undertones means you're "warm" toned, being slightly pink or rosy makes you "cool" toned.

Cool-toned people look best in blue-based colours; warm-toned people will look best in yellow-based colours.

POINTERS:

Warm tones
Warm tones suit natural earth colours such as browns, bronzes and sage greens.
For pretty feminine summer shades try peach and apricot.
If you prefer reds, then try brick red, dark tomato or a burnt orange hue.
Earth greens like olive or jade enhance warm skin tones.
Clean ivory or oyster whites also enhance the warm skin tone type.
For your professional wardrobe, look for clothes in taupe or bright navy. Try brown and gold accessories for maximum impact.

Cool tones
Pure white is a great match for cool skin tones.
Bold raspberries, deep greens, royal blue, plum and pure black are also winners.
Cool-toned people can wear bright ruby red to great effect.
Cool skin tones can also be enhanced by soft pastel blues and pinks.

Pay attention to what you are wearing when friends compliment you on your outfit — it's likely that this colour is a good match for you.

Okay so back to my favourite trends for Spring and Summer 2013!
 
I've had long hair for most of my life (short hair just does not suit my round face!)
I love that the long & sleek hair is back on the trend watch this season. Also, we're seeing the mid-part and deep side-part taking over! Love it!

Great Gatsby! How beautiful are these 20's inspired looks?

My trend-radar is sounding off loudly and I'm not complaining -- love this look!

Coincidence that the much-anticipated (well for me that is!) The Great Gatsby movie is debuting this year? Perhaps.

On top of the hair, look out for Great Gatsby inspired hair pieces too!
 

Oh, and it's not just on trend for the ladies.  Men, we're looking at you! Check out Leonardo DiCaprio's coif -- I'm so not complaining about this one either. *wink, wink*

Now onto the makeup.
Loving these looks for the face this year.

Graphic Liner.
Graphic eyeliner, especially in the vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired hues of turquoise, jade and aqua, goes from ramp to real with ease.

Cherry Red Lips with Neutral Eyes.
I've always been rocking this look -- love it! 

Fresh-faced with Glowing Skin.
Whatever other makeup you choose, the focus this year is on supple, hydrated and healthy skin that radiates with a beautiful mother-of-pearl glow. Extra-vigilant skincare is key. May I introduce you to Mèreadesso?  But till the results kick in, try a light-reflecting primer, liquid foundation applied with a brush and a highlighter.

Now going back to the clothing, check out what I think is "haute" this coming season!
I absolutely adore the abstract and rich florals, chevron patterns, stripes and poppy red! YES!
Pretty, feminine and light.

Mango

And for the home...

 

I'm smitten by all this gorgeousness and excited for the year ahead! 

Have you got  favourite trend for this year?

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12 Days of Holiday Giveaways: Day 10 with Kate Spade

Shopping can be a little bit of a dangerous sport for me.  Let me explain before I get judged for being yet another absent-mided, materialistic spend-a-holic.

I'm actually pretty frugal but when I step into a shop that screams "Carol Au Courant" which includes decently priced, beautiful and high quality items, I can be in there for hours and will almost never walk out empty-handed.

One of the biggest issues with some of my most coveted brands are that they are situated in the US and purchasing online to ship to Canada can get more expensive than necessary.

I was over-the-moon thrilled when I found out that one of my top favourite designer, Kate Spade New York, was opening in Yorkdale Mall in Toronto among many other favourites of mine!

Photo Credits: TorontoLife.com

When you see Kate Spade, you see Vibrant, Dainty & Blissful Elegance! These are all the things I adore about this brand.  Walking into one of their shops says it all! Always a warm reception and you will surely fall in love.

Some of my favourite current items from Kate Spade include their iPhone Cases, Wallets & Coin Purses and Accessories!

Always oozing playful sophistication and affirmations that will bring a smile to your soul, why not dress up one of the items you carry around most, your iPhone!

I love, love, love my brand new LE PAVILION IPHONE CASE.  

Signature polka dots with pink trim and Have Courage engraved inside, it was the perfect case for my iPhone!  This case retails for $40 but the iPhone cases range from $35-$40.

Another product I love are their Wallets and especially these super adorable coin purses!

Loving these cheeky leather coin purses!

Made of thick, soft & smooth cowhide with matching trim and 14-karat light gold plated hardware, these coin purses are playfully adorned with a few fun hashtags that every woman can relate to! 

It comes with a KSNY embossed gold spade charm and pre-boxed which makes it the perfect little gift or stocking stuffer!

Aren't they awesome?

Retail value for each is $78.00.

A great hostess gift or stuffing stuffer would be these adorable Kate Spade Paper Gem Coasters.

Crafted of thick paper in a pretty gem motif, add some sparkle and style all while saving your coffee table with these oh-so-chic Paper Gem Coasters!

They retail for $20.00.

On Day 10 of Carol Au Courant's 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways, a colourful reader of mine will win a few of my Kate Spade favourites which include: Le Pavilion iPhone Case (iPhone 4/S or 5), one coin purse and Paper Gem Coasters {ARV $138}!

Enter via rafflecopter below to win!

*Open to US & Canada.

Ends 12/12.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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From the Runway to the Crib: MasterCard Fashion Week

Flashing lights, dazzling chandeliers, piercing & pulsating music, flowing fabrics, graceful models and the buzzing excitement from Toronto's Fashion elite -- this week the beautiful David Pecaut Square in the heart of downtown Toronto transforms under massive white tents to bring the city the World MasterCard Fashion Week.

(photo courtesy of styledemocracy.com)

I was absolutely delighted to have been chosen by Samsung Canada to attend the Mercedes Benz Start-Up National Finals and Melissa Nepton's Show.  

Mercedes-Benz Start Up is a ongoing initiative that is intended to provide a national platform to discover and support emerging Canadian fashion designers. By connecting these gifted individuals with an experienced panel of industry insiders, the program mentors Canadian talent to help them hone a broad range of skills and elevate their profile through unparalleled opportunities. Unprecedented access to fashion business experts, combined with real-world practical experience, Mercedes-Benz Start Up offers finalists the knowledge required to develop a thriving career and the tools necessary to create a successful business beyond the initial launch of a collection. Through its association with World MasterCard ® Fashion Week in Toronto, these young designers will gain the invaluable opportunity to showcase their collection on an international platform. The Mercedes-Benz Start Up Program has been developed by Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. and IMG Fashion Division of IMG Worldwide, Inc., the organization responsible for managing and producing fashion week programs globally, produced in association with the Fashion Design Council of Canada (FDCC).

Along with access to these shows, I was also provided an awesome new (and PINK!) Samsung MV900F Smart Camera to snap pics during the event to share.

It's an amazing camera/video camera that allows me to connect to wifi and send my pictures directly online -- how cool is that?

Even cooler? The fact that I was able to shop for some new gorgeous pieces to wear for the shows and get a night out on the town with my wonderful husband.  A new (very tired) mother's dream! I totally deserved this, but I was also very much a runway-newbie! This was my very first fashion show and I am completely hooked! Loved seeing the amazing Canadian fashion talent and meeting new people and brands in the industry.  You will definitely see me at many more fashion shows in the near future!

Getting to the show itself was a challenge though -- traffic was bumper-to-bumper and the weather was horrid (grey and rainy) which caused me to miss my early show backstage access.  Relieved I was able to at least make it on time for the show (almost missed the beginning)! 

The amazing designers featured in the Mercedes Benz Start-up Final included: Caitlin Power, Christopher Bates, DUY, Dreamboat Lucy, Lauren Bagliore, Malore Urbanovitch, Nicole Campre and Pure Magnolia.

So many fabulous Spring '13 sneak peeks and trends such as reds, pastel and creamy hues, leopard and safari prints, soft flowing fabrics, asian-inspired looks, tailored leathers and styles from resort pieces to suits.

DUY was announced the winner at the end of the show, basking in much deserved glory, clapping and cheer from the crowd as he took a walk up and down the runway with two of his models, his arm filled with a bouquet of flowers.

Already had a strong feeling DUY would take this when he stole the show when his first model came out on the runway in a bold red ensemble, the pieces following were very versatile (most versatility from all the other designers), colourful and elegant.

Following after a brief intermission was Mélissa Nepton's Spring 2013 collection.

I was able to get better seats this time around, unfortunately I was still recovering from being sick and feeling very under the weather, so I wasn't able to stick around for the entire show.  I did; however, see enough to know that I am smitten by Mélissa Nepton's creations -- definitely a new favourite designer!

Sleek and comfortable yet sophisticated pieces, lots of stripes (which I love!), palazzo pants, full-skirt dresses as well as her signature tunics. You can find out more about her and her work at: www.melissanepton.com.

During intermission, we had the opportunity to walk around and connect with the amazing sponsors and brands present at the event including StoneLeigh Vineyards (and sampling of their delicious wine!), Caesarstone (yummy macarons were being handed out!), Samsung Canada (my hubby was enjoying testing out the new Galaxy Note 11 as he's a big Samsung Lover), Essie, Maybelline Canada and more!

Here is a collection of photographs taken with my new Samsung MV900F and my smartphone.  Enjoy!

Overall, both my husband and I had a wonderful time at the show/s and although it would have been nice to stay a little longer and party it down at the after-party's, this mom (and dad) had to hurry back home to the two little people that have stolen the spotlight in our hearts.
From the runway... to the crib.

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I've FALLen in Love...

... with Oxblood!
Yes, it sounds disgusting but speaking in the fashion-sense, far from it.
It's my new colour crush of Fall 2012 and I'm looking forward to rocking some Oxblood style this season.
Check it out!

Courtesy of poshandpoised.com

Another Fall trend that I love are the dark, richer lipsticks.  I'm hands down a lipstick girl and Fall is a great time to start experimenting with lip colour.

Usually in the summer, I opt for the lip gloss as opposed to lipstick so when Fall/Winter hits, my lips are ready for a splash of colour! 

Rich, dark shades can look fabulous on gals of any skin tone, whether you're fair or tan. 

To get into the fall vibe, try a velvety magenta or maroon that'll look great with all the navy, orange and purple shades on the runway this season.

I also happen to really love the plum lip! 

It has a serious vampy-look to it, especially if you're pale-skinned (like me), so apply accordingly!

And remember, with dark lips keep your eye makeup simple!

Bright red is always in style, and never more so than in the fall. Match the changing foliage with a red that's as pretty and feminine as it is bold and unmistakable. To keep it from looking too summery, opt for a matte formula instead of a shimmery one. The soft style of matte makeup gives off a luxurious vibe that'll go perfectly with any cashmere sweater or knit scarf.

If you're new to bold lipstick, ease into the trend with a color that's a little more muted. Reds and pinks with brownish-orange undertones will blend with your natural lip hue but still add that pop of seasonal color that will make it seem like you've been snacking on pumpkin pie and cinnamon.

Prep your lips for color application with a lip scrub. A gentle rub before bedtime, and your pout will be pretty as soon as you wake up.

What Fall trend have you fallen for?

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Trendy Fall/Winter 2012 Kids Fashion from Top Designers

It's the most wonderful time of the year! 

I'm talking about Fall/Winter Fashion, folks! And Back-to-School for many other parents too!
Not only is Fall my favourite season, it also happens to be my favourite Fashion season as well.

I thought I'd share the most absolutely chic and adorable Children's Fashion Trends for this cool and crisp upcoming season.  I love them! 

Gucci Fall Winter 2012-13 kidswear campaign inspired by “Wonderland”.

I noticed that for both adults and children, RED is going to be a hit this season! 

 *Photo courtesy of Gucci

Zara Fall Winter 2012 Kidswear collection campaign.

 *Photo courtesy Zara

H&M “Back To School” Fall 2012 Collection Lookbook

As temperatures cool down and we ease into fall. You’ll probably need to revamp your kids’ closets to prepare for the new school year. 

 

*Photo courtesy H&M

Luxury brand Roberto Cavalli Fall Winter 2012-13 Collection.

Oh my goodness, these are too cute for words!


Dolce & Gabbana Bambino Campaign. 

Bianca Balti and Enrique Palacios, along with stunning children, front the Dolce & Gabbana Bambino campaign.
What a beautiful family & the clothes aren't so bad either. ;)

I can't get over how delightful and dazzling these outfits are! And even more excited to don my Fall & Winter Wardrobe!

Which designer styles is your fave?

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