She's Making a List... #SearsMom

She's making a list, I'm checking it twice...

3 more weeks till Christmas! 

My daughter turned 5 this year and every year since she was 2 years old and able to grasp a pen properly in her hand, we prepared her Christmas Wish List with her for her letter to Santa.

I cannot think of any other place to go to that is as informative and fun to flip through than the yearly Holiday Sears Wish Book.

We usually do this after our decorations have been put up as we have Ava place her finished letter to Santa anywhere on the Christmas Tree before bed and wake up to find it gone. She thinks Santa has special Elves that pick them up from the tree.

My Mother-in-Law use to tell my husband that when he was little and for some reason that stuck to him and therefore got passed down as something fun to do with our daughter.

Now that she's a big sister (and a very loving and caring one at that), it was a pleasant sight for me to see her circling a few toddler toys on her own. 

"I'm picking the ones Talan wants, Mommy!" Because obviously she knows which ones he wants.

They've got a secret sibling code that only they can understand.

What she circled for her lil' brother. He already owns a Big Hugs Elmo! :)

I also find it so interesting to see the growth in my daughter each year depending on the stuff that she circles.

What I sometimes think she may want, surprisingly she doesn't circle. And you think you know your child really well! It goes to show you how much they are growing each day and that they have their own individual interest. Very helpful!

It's usually followed by milk and cookies and a Christmas movie before bed which is why we often do this together as a family on a weekend.

Do you have any traditions for writing Wish Lists with your children? 

Sears is also hosting an amazing contest on right now called the Sears Wishes of Joy Contest on now until December 15 where entrants can SHARE their wish lists (to win!) PLUS many more opportunities to win up to $10,000 in prizes. It's lots of fun! Check it out here! 

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Disclosure: I am part of the Sears Mom Ambassador program 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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12 Days of Giveaways: Day 4 with Annabelle Cosmetics and Marcelle

Canadian Winters can be harsh! Especially on your skin.

I am a beauty lover and enjoy applying make-up but the ingredients in them have to be compatible to my skin and it's needs. 

This is what I love about Annabelle Cosmetics and Marcelle. They are a Canadian Brand that understands the Canadian Beauty Lovers essentials.

Make-up comes a dime a dozen, but it's not very often you find products that not only look good on, but also priced well for the more budget-friendly beauty lover. 

They have come out with some amazing products this year and have featured my absolute 2013 favourites in the CAC Gift Guide.

TwistUps ($9.95 - now $7.95!)
Dare to be colourful with this easy retractable lipstick + lipliner in one. No sharpener required! Formula enriched with nourishing natural ingredients such as Omega 3 + 6 and Shea Butter. Definitvely a new way to wear lipstick. Try one of these easy-to-wear stunning shades. Paraben-Free. Perfume-Free.
Available in 24 shades!

I LOVE the colours, especially the vibrant pinks and sexy reds. Very pretty on every skin tone!

Biggy Bronzer ($11.95 - now $9.95!)
Bigger size! Get sun-kissed radiant skin in seconds! This powder contains 3 perfectly coordinated shades and a soft texture in harmonies of bronze and gold to create a natural summertime glow. All the glow you want without the damaging effects of the sun. Paraben-Free. Perfume-Free. Gluten-Free. Hypo-allergenic and dermatologist tested.

If you're like me, pale as a ghost especially during the Winter months, this product is heaven-sent!

Retractable Eyeliners ($9.95/each - now $7.95!)
Retractable pencil with integrated sharpener. Rich, intense colours and creamy texture that glides easily.
Waterproff and long-lasting formula. Opthalmologist Tested. Waterproof. 12h wear!
A must-have for a decadent dose of resistant colour!

I love the way this eyeliner glides onto my eyes and the colours are very pretty! One of my favourite eyeliners!

Marcelle DD Cream ($26.95)
Beyond BB Cream, DD defense daytime Cream with SPF 25 is a cream colored all-in-one that not only corrects but also protects your skin from external aggressions.

Courtesy of Annabelle Cosmetics and Marcelle, you can win a lovely Beauty Prize Pack which consists of these CAC favourites featured!

To enter, leave a comment below telling me which of these products you are most excited to try and why below.
Additional entries in rafflecopter.

Contest open to Canadian Residents only.
Ends 12/12.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Have Your Cake and Eat it Too with EJoyCity.ca {Giveaway}

 

There's no denying my passionate love for pastries and chocolate and what gal does not love fresh flowers?

Another thing I love more than actually receiving these goodies is giving them. 

One of the issues I always seem to come across is delivery... many shops either don't deliver or the delivery cost is just plain robbery.

I'm so glad I came across EJoyCity.ca.

They are an online service that offer a variety of shops within your area (all across the GTA) that deliver for a much lower fee. And we all know how much it cost for flower delivery. 

They also offer great deals every month and you can redeem prizes for every order you place on EJoyCity.ca. Isn't that awesome?

It's easy-peasy ordering online.

Create an account (this is a quick process) and just simply choose your city or enter your postal code for a list of shops closeby.

The only issue for me at this point, which is normal considering they are fairly new and still growing, are the lack of shops in the GTA.  Many of them are in the Toronto area. I can't wait till they have shops that deliver closer to home!

Prizes that can be redeemed with Points System

I love that they accept PayPal (I love PayPal when ordering online) along with credit cards should you wish to do delivery or you can choose the option of pick-up if you prefer.

And their selection of bakeries is so diverse with some really delicious goods!

I headed over to one of the shops that work with EJoyCity.ca called Cake Rolls in Etobicoke, ON.

The first thing I saw in the windows was the EJoyCity.ca sign... and then the macaron tier cake. Yummy!

Such a quaint little take-out bakery. It's a family business with such humble and sweet owners.
You can see their pride in their business in their delicious confections.
They have such a great variety of pastries including macarons (my favourite!), sweet bread, cupcakes, creme brulee, even cute tiramisu in mason jars. How adorable is that?
They also do custom cakes and cupcakes.
An example of the type of shops EJoyCity.ca works with; it shows me a lot when it comes to trust in value and quality of service.

I tried their macarons, red velvet cupcakes and the purple yam cake roll (I love purple yam dessert - if you haven't tried it before you must!).

Purple Yam Cake Roll

 

Absolutely delicious! Perfectly sweetened and packaged with care. The owner even threw in a free little dessert because it was my first time there. Loved that! I was pleasantly surprised.

I had a chance to chat with the owners about their business and she was very pleased to be working alongside EJoyCity.ca.

You can learn more about Cake Rolls on their Facebook Page. They are currently working on their new website.

It's such a great alternative to driving all the way to a bakery or flower shop or calling to deliver with the risk of miscommunication or sometimes language barriers.

All you have to do is order online and either have it delivered for a much lower price than you would pay anywhere else or pick-up.

Currently they have a few featured shops that are offering up to 50% off your order including Cake Rolls which I visited (and now a new favourite bakery of mine!).

Visit them today at www.EJoyCity.ca and give them a whirl!

Thanks to EJoyCity.ca, one of my readers will have a chance to try them out for themselves with a free $25 EJoyCity.ca credit redeemable for some yummy treats or pretty flowers! 

Simply enter via rafflecopter below.

Contest ends May 26, 2013.

*Open to residents of the Greater Toronto Area only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Mother's Day Gift Ideas Under $25 at Target Canada

I can't tell you how ecstatic I was when the doors of Target opened all across Canada.  

Target has made shopping so much more easier for me as a busy mother that still looks for good quality items, and for some miraculous reason, this is the one large retail shop that my 4 year old seems to never have a tantrum of some sort in *knocks on wood*. Must be the Red! Or the fact that the target logo can be quite hypnotizing. Well done, Target.

Have you been to your local Target yet?

Mother's Day is fast approaching and there truly is no better place to get so many wonderful gift ideas at fantastic pricing than at Target.

Here are some of my favourite gift ideas under $25 spotted during my most recent trip to Target.

Kate Young is one of my favourite Target Designer Brands featuring chic and on-trend items for every savvy and stylish woman. These gorgeous clutches and accessories would make lovely gifts! Some fab finds under $25!

And if that wasn't enough pretty for you, their selection of jewelry pieces are to die for!
They've got a variety of jewelry to suit all taste. These ones are perfect for Spring/Summer and will add the perfect touch to Mom's wardrobe. They start at $5.99 with most under $25!

If she loves bags, they have quite a few under $25. These Merona Clutches (seen here in sand colour) are only $24.99. They have deals all the time so watch out for more discounts!

Hello Spring/Summer! 
These are super lovely outfits! Many of their blouses, pants, tops, dresses from their amazing line-up of designers including Kate Young, Massimo, Merona and more are priced under $25!
You will definitely find something that Mom will love!
If you are looking for something for an Expecting Mom, they've got a gorgeous collection of Maternity wear too.

What woman doesn't love cardi's? They can change up a wardrobe in an instant.
I personally love cardigan's and these Merona ones in an assortment of appealing prints will make any woman happy.
Target sizes range from XS to XXL.
These cardigans are priced so well at only $24.99!

If you know a mom that loves taking pictures and proudly displaying them as much as I do, these charming selection of frames would make a great gift. Prices start at $5.99 with the artistic hanging frames at only $24.99.

Mmm, something smells delightful.
Scented Candles are never a bad gift idea. Well, for most that is. I am addicted to scented candles and personally find them to always make for a lovely gift idea.
This collection I came across including Diffusers, Scented Candles, Vases, even notepads are simply adorable. Prices start at $9.99.

And how about pairing a candle with a comfy throw?
I know the weather is getting warmer, but every woman loves curling up at night underneath a cozy throw blanket. They've got some throws in different colours and prints available under $25.
Perhaps even pick up a book in their book section and a box of tea too? Perfect combo!

I'm weak for pretty prints so when I saw these stone dishware items starting at only $3.99 (microwavable and dishwasher safe) in an array of dainty designs I knew I just had to have it!
And yes, I did leave this trip with a few of them. 

For the mother that enjoys a slow-cooked, delicious meal and not much time on her hands, these slow cookers are a fantastic gift idea under $25! Check out that white and light blue damask printed one. Super cute!

Perfumes tend to be a tricky gift purchase as not every person enjoys fragrances and of course, everyone has their own scent preference. But if you know that mom well and know what she will love, I'm sure you'll find a great perfume to suit her taste with the collection they have.
There are quite a few under $25! If perfume is not her cup of tea, they also have bath and body product gift sets and/or make-up gifts for under $25.

Whatever her taste or style, the wonderful thing about shopping for a Mother's Day gift at Target is that you will leave with the right gift because they have everything you need.

While you're shopping for a gift, why not pick something up for yourself too?
Look what I left with.
 This pretty pastel green blouse is light, airy and a great piece to add to my Spring/Summer wardrobe to be mixed and matched.
Well, this and the dishware and some make-up and also some stuff for the kids... it's so hard to leave Target with just one thing. *sigh*

Happy Shopping!

Disclosure: “I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® #cbias #SocialFabric. 
All opinions expressed in this post are my very own."
 

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Carol Au Courant's 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways

As a thank you to my amazing readers combined with my tremendous love for this magical season, I'm bringing some Christmas Cheer!

Starting this Saturday, December 1st until Monday, December 12th, I will be featuring a great product & brand that I love and giving away a special gift.

Quick entries and a winner is announced each day!

Stay tuned!

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T-Fal Baby Home Warms Our Hearts

Ever since I was a wee little girl I was charmed silly by that chubby little bear and his host of friends in the 100-acre woods.
How fitting that T-Fal Canada's new line of Baby Home Appliances features that sweet little bear that epitomizes childhood and warms the hearts of many.

Featuring Disney’s Pooh Bear and friends, the BPA-free line comprises four products
including a 2 in 1 steamer and blender; a steam sterilizer; a bottle and jar warmer and a 2 in 1
bottle warmer and sterilizer.

Expecting our 2nd baby in September, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to review one of their products from their new Baby Home line.

I received the 2 in 1 Warmer and Sterilizer and immediately smitten by the design and style.
But how was the functionality?

Honestly, there are other products out there in the market very similar to the functionality of this 2 in 1 Bottle Warmer & Sterilizer and I've owned about 2 of them in the past (with less than fabulous results).

My biggest issue was they didn't sterilize well enough, the bottle/jar of food got way too hot, or not warm enough.  Also too many things involved in what should be a simple thing & easy thing to do.
We don't have that much time on our hands being busy moms!

So I was pleasantly surprised to see how quick and easy set-up and functionality of this 2 in 1 product.
My 3 year old daughter no longer drinks from a bottle, but she was treated to a bottle of milk while testing the warmer (and of course she loved it!)

On top of the reassuring fact that all their products are BPA-Free, the time it took to warm the bottle was quick and very simple!

They have a built-in drawer on the bottom to store accessories which is super convenient instead of having multiple pieces of a product taking up space (and potentially losing some).

Following instructions according to how many ounces the bottle was, you just use the provided measuring spoon, pour into the warmer section, plug in, and turn the knob according to ounce -- that's it!

Easy, huh? Well, what I wasn't too impressed with was the fact that the 8 oz. bottle of milk did not warm enough to my liking.  I actually had to re-warm it for a 2nd time.  There can be factors to this, including the fact that the milk was very cold and perhaps formula or breast milk would be at a temperature easier to warm for the first time on this product.

Overall, simple, easy and no-fuss. Perfect!

Next, we tested the Sterilizer portion.

This part of the product I loved!

It did exactly what it was suppose to do effectively and efficiently the first time around and I like that you can sterilize a bottle & all it's accessories in only 6 1/2 minutes and that I didn't have to stand and wait to shut off because it automatically does that for you when it's complete.

Simply add the water, add the bottle and accessories and press the blue sterilizer button. Done!

It's also conveniently sized to bring along when traveling. 

Retail value for this product is $99.99, which is find fair given the features, quality and design.

I would definitely purchase this as a sweet gift for a family or friend that is expecting their new bundle of joy!

You can't go wrong with Pooh Bear or T-Fal!

The T-fal’s Baby Home line of appliances became available at Sears stores across Canada in April 2012. For details visit: www.t-falbaby.ca.

For updates, news and other fun surprises, you can also follow T-Fal Canada on Twitter or on Facebook.

**Disclaimer: I received a T-Fal Baby Home Appliance to conduct this review; however the opinions expressed are my very own.

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Home-made Neighbor Christmas Gift

Spread a little holiday cheer to your neighbors (whether they deserve it or not...). :) 
After all, this is what the Holiday Season is really about, right? Good Tidings?


TGFP (Thank God for Pinterest), I came across (what is probably one of my new fave Blogs of all time) Petit Elefant's Blog and this wonderful home-made gift idea.

If you’re looking for a last minute homemade neighbor gift, I’ve got you covered.  

Before you go calling the Martha police on me, I swear this gift is easier than it looks.  Way easier. These are just skewers with marshmallows coated in peppermint.

Give them to your friends alongside packets of hot chocolate mix and you’ll be the toast of the neighborhood in no time.

Here’s what you need to make peppermint marshmallows

• candy canes or peppermint candies
• marshmallows
• bamboo skewers
• powdered sugar
• hot chocolate packets {for packaging as a gift}
• waxed paper {I always forget at least one thing, forgive me}

Step 1:

Put the peppermint candy canes in a zip-lock bag and hand over to your kids.  You’ll have smashed peppermint candy in no time.  {I wish I were kidding, but I’m totally not}  Failing that, use a mallet or something else heavy and smash up the candy until it’s a chunky consistency.

Step 2:

Pour the broken up peppermint candy into a bowl and put aside.

Step 3:

Measure 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar and put into a bowl.  This will be the glue for the peppermint.  Now add one tablespoon at a time of water to the mixture until you get a thin-ish consistency.

Step 4:

Lay out two sheets of waxed paper and put the liquid powdered sugar and the peppermint bowls next to each other on top of it.  This stuff’s a mess.  You’ll be dipping the marshmallow into the glaze, then coating it with peppermint.

Step 5:

Completely coat the marshmallow in the powdered sugar glaze, then transfer over to the peppermint bowl really fast.  Roll the marshmallow around in the peppermint until it’s covered and transfer to the waxed paper to dry.

Step 6:

Do as many marshmallows as you have peppermint for, laying them out one at a time on the waxed paper to dry.  Look how crafty you are!

Craftypants.

Step 7:

Skewer the marshmallows on bamboo skewers, two at a time.  Leave these to dry a few hours or until the peppermint and marshmallows feel hard and completely dry.

Step 8:

Now package up the peppermint marshmallow alongside a few packets of hot chocolate mix in a cellophane bag tied with a pretty ribbon.  Your friends and neighbors will die, swoon, melt.

This is a super cheap, easy, and gorgeous holiday neighbor gift.

Merry Christmas!

Credits: petitelefant.com

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2011 Holiday Gifts under $50 for the Chic Woman

'Tis the season for chic gift-giving!
I don't know why (most) men think shopping for a woman is so complicated. Really, it's not. I personally think shopping for a man is a lot more difficult! Do you want to know what's even more difficult? Finding the perfect gift for that diva on your list for under $50!

Every Christmas Eve, my family gathers at one of our family members homes (changes every year), and we pull names a month or two in advance for all the adults to take part in a Secret Santa gift exchange. Our cap is usually $50.

Do you have a seriously chic lady on your Christmas Gift list?
If you're a on a budget and need to find something under $50, here are some amazing gift ideas that even the pickiest will love!

If you're still thinking about what to get, remember, you can never go wrong with a nice $50 gift card to Bath & Body Works, Body Shop, Sephora or Chapters. All us Chic women love a good gift card to an awesome shop. We can get a whole lot with $50! Gone are the days when giving gift cards are inappropriate (well, unless it's someone very close to you. Then you you must take the time to find something  perfect).

Happy Shopping!

Credits: ellecanada.com, anthropologie.com, asos.com, chapters.indigo.ca

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