Sometimes we all work so hard that even having fun or getting pampered seems like more work.  Fun meets beauty at Pamper Your Soul Home Spa parties. 

Pamper Your Soul is a group of homebody beauticians who take care of all your usual spa service needs but while you are relaxing with your friends in your own home.  Planning the best way to spend a Friday night with the girls just got easier…But don’t stop there, add some umbrella drinks and some half naked fireman and you have a stagette! 

Whether you are socking your feet enjoying a pedicure or re-energizing your skin with a clay mask Pamper Your Soul will make you feel like a million bucks without even leaving your neighborhood.

~ Nicole, guest "it" writer.

O Magazine’s has featured  Lug Travel, quality and innovative travel accessories, on the O List.  Oprah loves the Puddle Jumper bag, which now comes in two sizes.

Their products are specifically designed to keep you organized, in control, and looking good. Spa green, chocolate brown or jewel colors.

Lug is a small Toronto-based company that’s been growing fast. Tons of new products - the latest being it’s Nap Sac travel blanket.

I love the collection of transparent cases that you can mix and match. In green, I bought a combo of the Freight Box Storage Container  with the Clear View Train Case - stylish toiletry kit with transparent sides so you can see all the goodies you have packed inside. 

Hey Alberta and British Columbia…it’s that time….the legendary Army & Navy shoe sale starts April 16 @ 8am, and runs for ten days.

100,000 pairs of designer shoes Hilary Radley, Bebe, Richard Tyler, Steve Madden all for under $39.99. Prices start at $9.99. Seriously sweet shoe deals.

This is the last family owned department store in Canada. Jackie Cohen is a well known philanthropist (Tom Jones often makes surprise appearances at her fundraisers) who is credited with resurrecting the chain a few years ago. Their annual shoe sale is one of reasons!

Last time I was in Alberta I scored with a pair of knee height sage green sued Puma boots. I can only hope for more finds. Oh, and there’s men shoes too.

I love it. I love it. I love it.   Joe Fresh continues to impress me with style so fresh that its hard to believe you can purchase it with your produce. 

If you think the Joe Fresh dresses are cute wait until you see the skirts.  If you like the skirts then you should see the shirts!  I really have fallen in love with the Joe Fresh brand not only for the price but because it feels and looks more expensive than it actually turns out to be!  

Check out the new collection online at www.joe.ca  or see how fresh this line really is at selected Canada Superstores. 

~ Nicole, guest "it" writer.

lily + jae, a line of women’s contemporary street wear designed for the prototypical girl next door: energetic, innocent, and playful.

The line is independently designed and manufactured in Vancouver, and quickly being recognized for its flirty dresses, soft hoodies, and high-waist trousers.

Lily Allen, Ashlee Simpson, Sarah Polley, and Amy Smart are already fans. Adored by women all across Canada, lily + jae celebrates our third season of production by expanding into the USA. Response has been overwhelmingly positive to date.

I was just in Zebra Club and picked up the Valleygirl Vest in ash. The picture doesn’t do it justice - it sits sweet on the bum (meaning perfect pair for a pair of leggings). Wear this cozy vest three different ways–with the shoulders spread out, gently bunched at the neck (sexy), or as a hood!

Not to be lost is the humour behind the line - with cheeky phrases to remind you how to care for lily and jae: Don’t Dry, You Might Cry.

 

Open Sundaes has served up a new another cool product.  I’ve been experimenting with their Solid Perfume Teaser. It’s like a balm that you dip into, and mix and match: my  favs are to combine the Vanilla and Grapefruit (and my trio also included Lilac Shortcake).

Layer the scents or change them daily, the choice is yours but the three pack is a perfect way to sample their super moisturizing, uniquely formulated solid perfume.

Here’s a neat trick for you - - if there’s ever a perfume that you like, but it’s jussst a bit too something for you. Add a layer of vanilla to it and it’ll subtly tone down the scent. Open Sundaes sells their Vanilla Sundae perfume single, or as part of the trio teaser.

Comment:  So moisturizing a reader shared they like to use it on their cuticles. 

From Bobbi Brown to Dior glitter makeup was on the spring runways. But none ruled it like Anna Sui. Now its time to take all that glitters into the spring look you’re living.

Anna Sui’s Glitter Eyecolor Stick is finally available and it’s in 5 shades including a blue and a purple.

But I’m sharing with you the ultimate in sparkles…for a few years now whenever I’ve needed that bit of glitter, but didn’t want to look like a raver girl I reached for my friend Jodie U’s secret ingredients in Lit Cosmetics.

Lit Cosmetics glitter is amazing because unlike other glitter bases this one is completely organic, and when it’s on you don’t even feel the glitter is there. No sticky, itchy, fly everywhere mess. Best of all the patented water-based glitter base will last you for years. It’s a bang for your buck “must have.”

Fun names like Cowgirl Metallic to Oprah, - the creativity behind this glitter rivals O.P.I. and Urban Decay. Army Brat is one of my staple favs. And my other preference is the super fine S2 (Lit comes in a few sizes of sparkle).

Remember:  No Glitter, No Glory!! 

Image [Source]

On my recent trip to Edmonton I was bummed to miss Nokomis’ housewarming party.  And no one even saved me a cupcake! Nokomis is Edmonton, AB’s answer to hip Canadian clothing.

It exclusively features Canadian clothing, over 50 brands, including Preloved, Dace ( a fav of ours) and Alison Wonderland. Local brands includes Nokomis’ own house line, Sabrina Butterfly and Maked.

Sabrina Butterfly consists of pretty frocks for girls who read books, because Nokomis girls are inspired by libraries, bicycle rides, kittens, and dance parties.

Nokomis is an ojibwa word meaning ‘grandmother’ - so it only makes sense that Nokomis pays respect to grandmothers by lining the walls with framed photos of customers’ grandmothers. A discount of 10% is offered for each photo brought in.

P.S. Just 4 1/2 blocks down the street is Plaid Giraffe which has great prices on jewelery (I stucked up on chunky lockets) and accessories (including Matt & Nat purses). 

I just returned from an Edmonton visit…dinners with friends, a little bit of clubbing, a Croatian bday fest, and a reunion with my adored Sephora and Forever 21 (ala West Edmonton Mall).

I spent over 2 hours just in Forever 21 stockpiling on spring accessories (oh mi!), tops and dresses. 

The one thing I was disappointed in was to see how much crochet was in stock despite all the trend experts saying it’s time to store crochet for another season - instead it’s all about lace, rouching and other details.

Here’s a great Satin Lace Tunic for a crochet alternative, and I’ve already done a proper test drive on a nite out. Gathered knit tunic with gorgeous satin lace trimmed bodice detailing; and the bat wings drape and aren’t overwhelming.

Not lace, but good purchases:
Satin Trapeze Top - sassy with jeans, and brilliant in orange.
Basket Weave Tunic - I bought cream & it looks beyond it’s price tag.
Embroidered Knit Top - for a dash of bohemian

Teaser: I’ll post soon my other trendy pick from the aisles of Forever 21.

I have officially indulged the no-plastic bag wave - except for one major hurdle. I kept forgetting them at home.

Solution! I finally started tucking away the little compact nylon versions in my car and bigger purses - and best of all I found some durable cotton ones with images & messages that kick. So much so that they inspire me to remember to bring them everywhere.

With BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) versions, I can express myself as both cheeky and environmental. I’m toting this “F*@k Plastic” in natural, but as a bonus the black is organic cotton.

Another one of their best sellers is this satchel. It features a kitsch burst of recycled vintage fabric (aka also a sustainable point) and is reversible. Big buttons are starting to pop up as a spring trend - makes sense this bag would pop one for of detail as part of it’s convenient side pocket.

Stock up gals, BYOB bags are sustainable, stylish, and carry a message. These bags will stay beyond a trend.

Winter means Christmas social circuit, and also lots of cocooning at home to ponder your decor. We live in a loft with these huge walls beaconing for the art my budget hasn’t (yet) let me buy.

I’ve thought of wallpaper, but that hurt my head more than my budget. So the compromise is Surface Collective’s removable wall tattoos (‘stencils’ for the less hip).

Swirls of design, pussy willows, or origami storks - all work on walls, windows, or mirrors. I love the idea of tone on tone decals for the more subtle,  but that gold metallic would look sold in the den. Hmmmm.

Order at Yaletown Sofa Company or check out the online catalogue.
 
 

I kept on noticing these gorgeous flashes of bright Chinese silk, framed in silver and dangling from the necks of fellow gals on the same Christmas social circuit. Not one to shy from gushing my praise and asking where something is from I received the same answer: Shi Studio.

Teal rectangles, royal blue dragons, red ovals. Oh my.

Shi (pronouced "she") , means poetic expression in Chinese and is a collaborative evolution of ideas and aesthetic. Shi Studio is the creation of glass artist, Cory Judge and accessories designer, Honor Cienska.

Shi Studio jewelry is of the many highlights of Fashion Forward Canada, an online fashion boutique dedicated to emerging indie fashion. A collective of indie designers passionate about and committed to creating global awareness of Canadian style and originality.  Also check out: Sans Soucie, Amber Jewellery, and Nicole Bridger.

Before one of the best things about a Vancouver-based fashion chain, was it’s name: SPANK.

Spank’s always been great for Canadian designers (like one of my favs - Chulo Pony). And now it’s added a fourth location all about shoes: Spank Shoes. If you’re looking for a value option to local Gravity Pope, but still want something funky then you’ve just scored!

Spank Shoes is the newest offering of interestingly unique footwear for shop-a-holics. Or shoe-a-holics, for that matter. They offer designer brands such as Jeffery Campbell, Seychelles, Poetic License, and London Underground. 

I recently scooped up two-tone brown & black pair of Marcs. No their not Marc, by Marc Jacobs - rather a German line. Soft leather, Euro-style.

And don’t forget to check out vegan, Matt &Nat bags while you’re there.

Spank Shoes
2003 West. 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC                                             Pic: Seychelle’s One Night Only

One of the biggest shames of online shopping from Canada was that Forever 21 didn’t ship there. Since it hasn’t made it yet to the Canadian West coast the only option of getting a trendy, frugal fashion fix was a road trip. Not anymore!

To celebrate their Forever 21 Canada online grand opening you can save 20% (min $50 spend).

Do your math wisely if you’re just above the minimum, say $63 (and ground shipping will be around $12) = $75. Well, if you spend $75 pre-shipping, you get free shipping. Hm, an interesting dilemma. So if instead of $63 if you spend $12 more, it’s like getting 10 bucks of goodies free, rather than spending it on shipping.

Ha! I love fashion math.