Harajuku Lovers Fragrance

My last purchase of the year was the fragrance Harajuku Lovers G by Gwen Stefani. It was on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart for $17.99 (regular price $29) for the 10ml bottle. I am not a fan of Gwen Stefani, but I loved the tropical smell. I do not purchase any products endorsed or "created" by celebrities. I have been using the same perfume for many years. It is Eau des Vanilliers by L'Occitane, but it has been discontinued. I have one bottle left and it has to last for a very long time. I have not been able to find anything that I like as much.

Lucky Finds

Today I found two items that I was not expecting to buy when I went to the mall. I went to Winners on my break to find some mittens. No such luck. What did catch my eye was the display at the front of the store. It was the Yoga Mate by Savasa. It is like a natural towel that can absorb sweat when it is placed over the yoga mat. This will come in handy when I go to hot yoga classes. It will be a lot easier than carrying a bulky beach towel. I have only gone to one class this year, but I intend you go more often in 2009.

I was unable to find the yoga mate on the Savasa website: www.savasayoga.com. However, I was able to find it on Amazon.

After work I decided to go to the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto to purchase exfoliator at H2O+. What a mistake. The mall was packed. I decided to go to The Body Shop before heading to the subway. I found the Mini Cosmetic Pouch that was on sale for $6.00. It is a good size and can hold several lip glosses. It is quite cute.

Picks for 2008

These are a few of my favourite non-handbag purchases in 2008:

Ballmania Premium Lip Balm
website: http://www.ballmania.com
website: http://www.dglproducts.com/



J.R. Watkins Head to Toe Kit - great for travelling
website: http://www.jrwatkins.com


Slatkin & Co. Scented Candle Pineapple Mango 14.5oz at Bath & Body Works
website: http://www.bathandbodyworks.com


Eiffel Tower Matchbox (50 sticks)
website: http://www.abbottcollection.com


Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light (Oil-Free)
website: Smashbox or Sephora


Korres Olive Stone Scrub for Oily and Combination Skin
website: http://www.korres.com/
Also available at Sephora


Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade - it smells good enough to eat
website: http://www.oyinhandmade.com/
Also available at Honey Fig


Hello Kitty Paris Piggy Bank
Purchased September 2008 at Urban Outfitters

I Won, I Won, I Won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Earlier this month I entered the December giveaway on the blog "That's a Fabulous Handbag". They were giving away the Coach Sabrina Handbag from the resort collection. All you had to do was post a comment on the blog why you liked the bag. At the end of December a lucky winner would be chosen. This morning I received an email that I was the winner. I screamed at the top of my lungs. I never win anything. I can't wait for it to arrive.

Boxing Day Sales

Reitmans


Shoppers Drug Mart


The Body Shop


Trove


M0851


Secrets From Your Sister - The I Can't Believe How Good It Is Sale

If you love bras as much as we do, you will cry and think you’ve gone to heaven when you see how crazy these sale prices are!
Bras $5-$40 and then some for 50% off!
Knickers $5-$10
Bathing suits, PJ’s and Garter Belts
All sizes are available!
Sale goes into January and starts now!

Girl Friday


Bombshell Bargains

This Boxing Day, December 26th, 2008, Bombshell Bargains is offering 20% off everything on our site! Sale lasts only one day, so don't miss out on the savings! Just use coupon code BOXINGDAY08 at checkout to receive your discount. Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!

Happy Holidays

All the best to everyone during the holiday season.

I will be posting information about Boxing Day sales. These are just a few:

Sephora

Holt Renfrew

Birks
SAVE FROM 20 to 70% OFF ON NOW until January 4!

BeautyMark Exclusive Boxing Day Event
Date: December 26, 2008
Time: 12:00am to 11:59pm

Receive 20% off and a deluxe sample of Falling in Love or Inner Grace Shower Gel from Philosophy when entering Promo code VIP20 at checkout! Valid Boxing day and only at www.beautymark.ca.

The Abyss

I am not referring to the 1989 deep-sea adventure movie by James Cameron, but the inside of my handbag(s).

Merriam-Webster definition:
1. The bottomless gulf, pit, or chaos of the old cosmogonies
2. an immeasurably deep gulf or great space

For the last couple of months I have not been carrying a cosmetic bag in my handbag. I get bored easily with my cosmetic bags, so I am always changing them. Now when I put a lip gloss in my purse, it is never to be seen again. The larger the bag the harder it is to find anything.

In the top image above I have taken a picture of a few of my cosmetic bags:

• Coach 
• Stila - purchased years ago from Sephora
• Marc Jacobs Daisy
• LeSportsac
• Pout (burgundy with pink bow) - no longer in business
• Green with butterflies - purchased at Accessorize
• Dior - I received it when I had a makeover

Yesterday I received my Avon order which I had forgotten about. I purchased the mark red expandable cosmetic case to hold my brushes. The search continues...

Beauty Picks

New Products from Cover Girl

New Exact Eyelights Mascara
Bring out your blues, browns, hazels and greens for 4X brighter eyes

The ad with Rihanna got me. She always looks good and I am a sucker for mascara. I did not know how the mascara would brighten my eyes. I tried the mascara once. I did not see a difference. I prefer the effect I get from using blue or purple mascara with my brown eyes.



New Outlast Lipstain
A water-based lipstain that gives the lips a flush of colour


I made the mistake of using the lipstain on a very cold Canadian day. My lips were chapped. Next time I will use a lip balm after applying the lip stain.

My recommendations at ThisNext

AppShopper

I am a shopaholic who not only loves shopping for handbags and beauty products, but I am also a tech geek. I found this amazing website that tracks the newest iPhone and iPod touch application updates and price changes in iTunes. I have added the RSS feed to my email application which I check constantly.

Website: http://appshopper.com/

One of A Kind Christmas Show 2008

My sister and I went to the One of a Kind Show on December 7, 2008 in Toronto. It was the last day of the show and I was hoping that it would not be too busy. We saw some great jewellery and recycled products. However, I was on the hunt for soap that I purchased at the Spring 2007 show from Skinlicious. The soap is handmade soap at a great price for 8oz bars - $6.00 a bar or 4 for $20.00. I also bought a pair of earrings from Manifest Design.

The following vendors also hand some great items. I made sure to pick up their business cards so I could check out their websites:

Mehoi - buttons, magnets, swing pads
Bathwerks - bath products
demo - handmade glycerin soap
Heather Buckmire - artisan jewellery and accessories
Klutch - handbags by hand
Rat Girl - hand drawn jewellery
LUprints - hand printed designs on textiles & clothing
Baggage - recycled leather handbags

The next show in Toronto will be from April 1-5  2009 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place

A Shopaholic's Must-Have Handbags

http://trends.glam.com/articles/features/shopaholic_musthave_handbags/

The bags are gorgeous, but not interested in the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic. I read the book and did not like the main character. I could not read any more books in the series.

Well.ca

I discovered a new website this morning called Well.ca. It is Canada's largest online health, beauty and skincare store.

Some of the brands they carry are: 

Almay

CoverGirl

Gillette

Healing Garden

Kiss My Face

L'Oreal

La Roche Posay

Olay

Pantene

Rimmel London

Sally Hansen

*They also offer shipping to all locations in the United States

Wish Magazine - Final Issue

Today I received the Winter 2008/2009 issue of Wish magazine with a letter attached - Final Issue. "As you may have heard, Wish magazine will cease publishing at the end of 2008." I was shocked. I did not hear anything about the magazine ending. I enjoyed getting the magazine monthly mainly because it was a Canadian publication about fashion, beauty, home decor and food. My subscription was supposed to end Winter 2010.

However, the website wish.ca will continue to be active and the 20-minute supper club e-newsletter will continue to be published.

Future Shop Raincheck

Back on November 17th, I went to Future Shop to purchase Shure SE110 Noise Isolating Earphones for my iPod that were on sale. I did not see the earphones on the shelf so I asked a salesperson if they were sold out. The salesperson checked the computer to see if there were any in the store. I was told that the item was sold out and that an order was placed for more. I was told that I could get a raincheck. The salesperson took my name and phone number and would contact me when they arrived.

Today I decided to go to the store after work to see if the item was in stock as the raincheck was only valid for 30 days. I was told that they had some in the store, but they were sold the day before. I asked what would happen if my raincheck expired. I was told that there was nothing that they could do. The salesperson suggested that I check with other stores to see if the earphones were in stock. He checked the computer to see which stores had the item in stock.

When I got home I looked closely at the raincheck. It read:

We're sorry, but we are temporarily out of stock of the above item(s). We'll notify you as soon as the product is in stock, so that you may make your purchase at the above price.

Valid for 30 days from date of issue. Redeemable only at issuing store.

According to the raincheck I can only purchase the item at the store that issued the raincheck. They are out of stock and don't know when they will get anymore. I noticed in this weeks flyer that Best Buy has the earphones on sale for the same price as my raincheck. I may go there instead and get reward points.

Impulse Shopping

Everyday on my way into work, I pass a perfume store that also sells handbags. Today I noticed a bag that I had to stop in to look at quickly. I had just purchased my lunch and wanted to get back to the office to eat it while it was still hot. It was a brown patent leather bag from Chinese Laundry. It was chained down so I could not get a good look at the bag. I told the salesperson that I would come back after work. I returned to the store, but she must have been on break as the doors were closed. I thought that it was a sign not to buy the bag. I am guilty of impulse shopping.

This evening when I was reading my emails I almost jumped out of my chair when I read the email from chachasamples.com that they were having a sale until December 3rd. Just one more day to decide if I should get a new bag. Early birthday gift for myself.

P.S. By the time I posted this blog the item that I wanted at chachasamples.com was sold. It has not been my day.

Pistachio - an eco-friendly shop

Indigo Books and Music Inc. has launched a new brand called Pistachio which is about creating, using, and resusing things intelligently, about wasting less, and about putting good things into and onto our bodies.

Products: Stationery and Invitations, Apothecary and Gifts

Check out the website for store locations.

One Month Until Christmas

My family has decided this year not to exchange gifts. At this stage in our lives, whenever we want something we buy it. I would always buy things for myself when I did my Christmas shopping, so this year I will be able to buy more for myself.

My birthday is in December, so more reason to go shopping!!!!!!

Some of the stores that I shop at offer discounts or rewards during the month of your birthday if you are a member such as H2O+, Aveda, The Body Shop and Bitter Sweet.

Pretty Nylon Cosmetic Bag

More Marc by Marc Jacobs...

Love Your Body Sale

I went to The Body Shop yesterday to purchase some soap. I did not know that they were having a sale.

Love Your Body Sale - Buy 2 bath and body products and get 1 free

Also, if you spent $24.50 or more, you could purchase a gift bag for $5.00. The gift bag included:

• Divide & Multiply Mascara
  
• Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream
• Total Energy Exhilarating Body Wash
• Hi-Shine Lip Treatment

An extra bonus was a coupon for $10 off your next purchase of $40 or more.

I love the idea that the bag can be used again as a clutch.

Free Shipping at Cha Cha

If you would like a hand crafted one of a kind leather bag or accessories, then check out Cha Cha.

Free shipping for the holiday season. Use code FREE SHIP at the checkout.

Model.Live

I discovered an online show called Model.Live on iTunes. The show follows three models (Cato, Madeline and Austria) who are trying to make it big in the fashion world. I downloaded the podcasts onto my iPod. It is a welcome alternative to America's Next Top Model, which has become difficult to watch in the last couple of years.

The show is available online:

http://www.bebo.com/modellive

http://www.vogue.tv

The weekly episodes are available as a podcast on the iTunes Store as a free download.

Sample Sale

I just returned from vacation this evening and I am trying to get through all of my emails. I missed a lot of sales. I did not do much shopping on my trip.  I purchased three rings that probably cost less than $20 U.S. in total. 

Backpacks

I have been told many times by my chiropractor that I need to carry a backpack. My bags are quite heavy and contribute to my back pain. I am also lopsided at times. If I had a backpack that was made from such beautiful leather, then I would consider the idea. My excuse has always been that I have not found the right bag.

The Urban backpack from M0851

Double head zipper closure for central pocket

3 compartments, 3 slot patch pocket (ipod/office pocket), and cell phone/keys detachable clip.

Front and back zipper closure pockets

Double head zipper closure for trunk pocket

Includes a padded roll-up mat with leather border ideal for sitting on in a park or stadium, or changing a baby.

Price $395.00 Canadian

Impulse Buy

If you buy something on the spur of the moment, how soon afterwards do you regret the purchase? 

My first response to that question would be if I spent more than I could afford for the bag.

However, one month ago I purchased a bag at Forever 21. It was the first time I went to the store and I saw a bag that was cute and cheap.  Unfortunately, cute and cheap did not cut it. The bag has already fallen apart. I only used the bag a couple of times. When I pulled the bag from a pile I noticed that the buckle was broken. Later in the day I found a piece under my desk at work. Now I do not want to even look at the bag. I would rather spend more money on a bag that will last years, than buy something trendy and cheap.

Girl Friday

I purchased this cute purse last Thursday at Girl Friday during the Chick Advisor Shop Crawl. It was inevitable that one of my purchases would be a bag. I saw the bag and I thought that it would be perfect for my vacation. I will use it at night. The bag can either be held by the handle or folded and carried as a clutch.

The bag also came in black, gold, bronze and aqua.