Reflections of Christmas

As the year draws to a close and we near the fun and festivities of the Holiday Season, you start to really reminisce about Holiday visions and what each past Christmas has brought to your memory bank.

Dating back to the days when paying mortgage bills and stressing about work deadlines were virtually non-existent and the only thing that mattered during the Holiday season was if I was finally going to see Santa and especially if the doll I really wanted was going to be wrapped underneath the tree... some of the best memories in my life have been on Christmas Day.

Left: Toothless Grin, happy 7 year old Carol on Christmas Day | Right: 20 year old Carol receiving gift from Grandma         

Age does not exist on Christmas mornings -- I still get that thrill myself (and perhaps even still BELIEVE that Santa does exist... he does, doesn't he?)

Christmas matters a great deal to me and my family.
It's not only another Holiday for us, but a special time to show our love for one another and celebrate the special joy of the season with lots of fun, laughter, and good food!
Our saying: "Always leave with full hearts and full tummies!"

Come with me along the years as I reflect on past Christmas'...

My daughter's first Christmas! [Christmas 2008]

Christmas 2009 - Ava with Grandpa E 

This picture is particularly special to us and Ava. This past year we lost our Father (and her Grandpa) and oh did he adore Ava. This was her first Christmas spent with him at his place when she was a year and a half. Here he is chuckling as he patiently adds the ornaments back to the tree that Ava would constantly remove in her toddler curiousity and playfulness and then run towards her stack of presents!
Such a sweet memory.

Christmas 2010 

Christmas 2011

 Presents!

Santa is here! Ava's excitement cannot be contained. The joy in Children's faces is priceless.

Baby Talan's First Christmas! [Christmas 2012]

What a lovely walk down the candy cane-lined memory lane.

As I prepare for the upcoming 2013 Christmas, one other must-do is to have my children write Santa a letter telling him what was on their Wish list.

Sears makes it so much more easier with their brilliant and jam-packed Sears Wish Book.
We look forward to it every year!

Check out the markings on Ava's Sears Wish Book a couple years back. I told her to mark in purple crayon what she wanted. Can you tell someone loved Hello Kitty? I love that Sears categorizes their Wish Book to fit all ages and preferences for kids of all ages!

Did I mention I was recently selected as a new #SearsMom Ambassador?

This of course is not only exciting for me and my family but fitting as we are loyal and happy customers of Sears! You can follow along on social media via hashtag #SearsMom!

I LOVE their Sears' Top Toys Selection which you can find on their website in their Toy Shop.

Visit the Toy Shop here!

My son has the Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Crawl Around Car and it's definitely a MUST-HAVE for growing and exploratory toddlers.

Big Hugs Elmo is also another great gift idea this year for young kids. He hugs you back! 

My daughter has her sights set on the LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra Tablet (this makes me happy as a mother as she's not only playing but learning!) 

My future doctor also has a LOVE for Doc McStuffins and playing doc so this Top Toy, Disney Doc McStuffins Get Better Check-Up Centre is definitely on her Wish List!

EXCITING CONTEST!

Starting Friday November 15th, and each Friday following (until December 13th), Sears will be hosting a Friday Daily Facebook contest GIVEAWAY! They’ll be giving away one of their top and hottest holiday toys – and all you have to do is leave a comment. How easy is that?

Visit them on Facebook here.

Here's to many more special Holiday memories!

----

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.

Read More

It's Time to Mauve It, Mauve It!

It's almost here, my savvy shopaholic friends.

It's the day our American neighbours call "Black Friday", you know, that day after American Thanksgiving when everything goes on a seriously amazing sale.

It has grown significantly popular here in Canada as retailers offer savings in-store and online to entice Canadian shoppers. 

And you're totally ready to jump into the chaos of it all, right?

Well, of course. You are getting that Michael Kors bag for half the price! Hello?!

Or a new laptop for nearly more than half of what you will pay the day before... or after.

Oh silly me, I forgot the children. That pricey toy she wants for Christmas? Well, it will definitely help your holiday budget on a Black Friday.

Okay, so I'm not very patient when it comes to line-ups- heck, I get antsy when I'm sitting in my car in a Tim Hortons drive-thru for longer than 5 minutes. 

So as much as I love a good sale, the stress of Black Friday shopping is something that I no longer like to deal with. Until now.

Toning down the shade of Black a few notches and add a pinch of tranquil lavender (suddenly dreaming of an uninterrupted bubble bath...), and you've got Mauve. 

One of my favourite online destinations to help you save more money, Save.ca, is rebranding this day to Mauve Friday. How you ask? Follow these simple tips for a more mellow and tranquil experience:

• Set a budget. It can be easy to get caught up in sales, so before you head out set a budget that you’re comfortable spending to avoid buyer’s remorse. 
• Research the deals before you go. Search digital flyers on trusted sites like Save.ca from the comfort of your home so you know what’s out there and where you can find the products and deals you want. 
• Make a list. Develop a list before shopping to avoid an impulse purchase. 
• Be savvy. To ensure you have the right item for the right price, compare the digital flyers while shopping with Save.ca’s new mobile app. 
• Dress comfortably. If you’re going to be out all day, make sure to wear comfortable shoes. If you can handle a brisk, chilly walk through the parking lot without your coat, you’ll really enjoy not having to carry it with you. 
• Online is in. To avoid the crowds completely, you can always try online shopping. On November 29, Save.ca will have compiled great deals and discounts for Canadians in one spot. 

I LOVE these tips!

These will also prove helpful during Holiday shopping and even Boxing Day.

I'm a big fan of shopping online; everything has been created to be so much more convenient for the shopper these days.

And it beats having to fend your way through aggressive (or "hangry" (hungry + angry)) shoppers that are just trying to finish their shopping or waiting in long line-ups.

Thank you, Save.ca, for helping us take the stress out of Black Friday Shopping.

Click here to learn more about Mauve Friday at Save.ca and also some really fantastic tips to help you "mauve" into a more stress-free Mave Friday Shopping experience.

****
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post; however as always, all opinions expressed are my very own.

Read More

Save Your Time Saving with Save.ca

Does that make any sense?
Well, I've got something that makes total sense and if you're someone like me that enjoys a great deal and even better... loves to shop BUT save money at the same time, then you will love the new and revised Save.ca.

Ever since that show Extreme Couponing aired on TLC, I've become somewhat of a coupon-fanatic.
Even more so after becoming a mother!
Spending some time clipping coupons that I come across newspapers and magazines and saving in my own little Coupon Folder.
But then I realized how time-consuming this was and thankfully discovered online sites that provided daily coupons that you can simply print out from your printer or alternatively some would have you choose the coupons you want, "check-out" and they would mail out the coupons to you.
I much prefer the convenience of being able to print out my coupons directly from the site instead of waiting for the mail.

I am in love with Save.ca!
You have every thing you could possibly be looking for in one place.
Flyers, coupons deals and money-saving tips and all from popular retailers you most likely shop at like Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, Metro, Walmart, Sears and more!

On top of the savings, they also make your life a little easier with a Recipe Planner and even a Shopping List Builder!

Add your favourite flyer items to your shopping list and print! Just add as many products as you like to your shopping list and they will be separated by retailer.
That is so convenient.
Whoever is the mastermind behind this simple yet effective fresh new site was definitely either
1) a mother that needed more organization in her life, b) a total Type A (like me!) or c) both!

My daughter is starting Kindergarten in a few weeks and on top of that, I've got my son's 1st birthday just a few days after that so you can imagine the financial stress that's on me.
This is why saving money is so crucial especially during times like this.
Back-to-school shopping alone can cost you hundreds upon hundreds of dollars. And I'm only shopping for ONE 5 year old. If you are sending more than one child back to school... Save.ca! 

Check out the awesome benefits of Save.ca:

• Provides access to the most comprehensive offering of online savings of popular brands and digital flyers from trusted retailers across the country
• Offers a convenient printable shopping list option so you can organize your savings from all retailers and brands featured on the site
• Links brands to retailer locations to streamline the shopping process
• Offers the option of printing deals on the spot or mailing a hard copy to your mailbox
• Eliminates the hassle of having to flip through multiple newspapers and flyers to locate deals
• Allows shoppers to search for savings from their computer, smartphone, iPad or any other mobile device whenever it’s convenient for them, rather than having to set aside time to sort through deals and feel trapped at their kitchen table

Are you ready to start saving?

Check out this video and learn more about the brand new Save.ca.
They're social too! Find them at Facebook at: www.facebook.com/savedotca.

Read More

Hello Kitty, Bows & Pretty Things: The Red Bow

There's a new gem in the online world of Style and it's muse comes in the form of a famed feline... with a red bow.
Any Hello Kitty fans out there?
Before I get a colossal reply of 6 year old girls waving around their glitter-stained hands and eye rolls from women thinking this is just some infantile line trying to cater to the older "Hello Kitty-Loving" demographic, let me reassure you this isn't your child's idea of style (unless she's one extremely chic little darling).

The Red Bow is an online shoppe inspired by Hello Kitty and the Iconic 'Red Bow' for fashionable, grown-up Hello Kitty fans with luxe taste.

When I first discovered The Red Bow, my initial thrill came from, of course none other than my long-time love for Hello Kitty, but also my appreciation for lavish and lovely items that you can't often find and purchase at your local retail store.
I love the Japanese fashion style - innovative, bold yet charming - and this is captured in the many different products offered at The Red Bow.

The Toronto based owner of The Red Bow, Karen Viray, continues to search for those unique Hello Kitty items to add to her growing collection.
Each and every product in The Red Bow online shoppe is selected by Karen.
A collection of everyday luxuries to rare pieces, The Red Bow follows the Sanrio philosopy of "Small Gift, Big Smile®" and hopes to inspire more Red Bow Luxists to add a little piece of Hello Kitty luxury to their lives.
You can view Karen's Favourite Things here.

I was so ecstatic to learn of their big re-launch including some gorgeous new items. What got me more eager was when I received an adorable little package from The Red Bow.

On top of pretty packaging (which I'm a total sucker for) and the sweet hand-written note on dainty stationary (another weakness of mine), there was yummy red candy and a sample selection of some of their fabulous items.

The items included:

• GRAPE SORBET RIBBON POUCH ($15.95 CAD)
• SWEETIE GLOSSY BOW HAIR ACCESSORY ($4.95 CAD)
• DEMETER SANRIO 'HELLO KITTY' MINI COLOGNE SPLASH ($6.00

Can I tell you how much I am coveting the Karen Red Bow Tote? Stunning!

Here are more fantastic items on my Covet List.

1) Belle Chiffon Bow Print Scarves (Red/Emerald/Blue/Black/Nude)
$19.95

2) Jane Mini Bubble Statement Necklace - Watermelon Pink
$29.95

3) Graphite Linea Luxe iPhone 5 Case
$17.95

4) Nude Mila Mini Bow Earrings
$7.95

What I absolutely love is that you can get these luxe products without paying the luxe price.
Because there's nothing more fashionable than a great deal on a quality item. Can I get an Amen?!

More Information
If you want to learn more about The Red Bow, you can visit them online at: www.theredbow.ca, on Facebook or on Twitter @redbowshoppe.

From now until May 31st you can enjoy 10% off to celebrate their re-launch using code: REDBOWLAUNCH.

Happy shopping and don't forget to "Add a Little Red Bow Luxury."

Read More

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

Read More

How To Stop Your Family From Falling Into Debt

Great article from another Modern Mom that I came across. Such a touchy subject for most families but something that needs to be visited and discussed between husband an wife to secure a positive and healthy household.

I have to admit, I have slippery fingers. I am a shopaholic and the sight of seeing sales (from garage sales to department store sales), I'm on it like a hawk! It's like when you were a young child hearing the ice cream truck music playing from the next block all giddy and excited.

I am glad that my hubby is much better in budgeting and sticking to it! He knows what we really need vs. what we just want.

I don't want to be responsible for my family falling into debt so it's definitely something I'm working on. But hold on, don't think now that I am one of those crazy shopaholic's with dollar signs in my pupil's. Far from it. I still know my limit's. Just hard to not walk away from a shop I adore without even a little item like $20 worth of picture frames, a $5 iced latte or a cute top for my Ava. Yes, I know all those little expenses add up.
Blame it on those darn little voices in my head. :p

Check out this article!

How To Stop Your Family From Falling Into Debt

Read More