Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Estee Lauder Gift With Purchase



A gift of true splendor, yours with any Estée Lauder purchase of $55.00 or more. This luxurious collection, available exclusively at Holt Renfrew, includes precious Re-Nutriv uplifting skincare, a complete new makeup look and more. Available now through August 10, 2008.

DISCOVER Estée Lauder's exclusive Gift with Purchase

With any ESTÉE LAUDER purchase of $55.00* or more you will receive a luxurious gift**, available only at Holt Renfrew. Offer available now through Sunday, August 10, 2008.

YOUR GIFT includes:

Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Creme
7-DAY SUPPLY

Re-Nutriv Intensive Hydrating Creme Cleanser

Exclusive Golden Fluted Compact

New! Sumptuous Bold VolumeTM Lifting Mascara
10-DAY SUPPLY

Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick
FULL-SIZE

A stylish Deluxe Tote

Companion Cosmetic Bag

* Minimum purchase of $55 before taxes.
** One per customer please, while quantities last.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Mama Mio




Mama Mio is skin care for supermamas. Mama Mio was founded by three friends in London who have worked in the beauty industry. They created the products with the help of chemists, aromatherapists and skin care experts. The skin care range is about improving and maintaining the tone, texture, and elasticity of the skin during and after pregnancy. The products can also be used by non-mamas. Mama Mio has pampering skin care gifts, beauty gifts, pregnancy gifts, mom & baby gifts and mother's day and baby shower gifts.

Visit the Mama Mio counter in the Beauty department at the Bay and receive your complimentary skin care sample.

Go to the Mama Mio website to search for stores in your area.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Social Networks



I recently joined Facebook after swearing that I would never sign up. I don't like to do what everyone else is doing. I like being different. I still don't see all of the fuss. I have signed up on other socializing websites, but it takes up a lot of time. The two sites that I frequent the most are Chick Advisor and Team Sugar. The two sites relate more to my interests. The following are a description of the sites:
TeamSugar is the place for you to meet friends, discuss the latest gossip, share online shopping finds, dish on fashion, learn beauty secrets, swap delicious recipes, blog about your day and much, much more.

ChickAdvisor is about helping you make better purchasing decisions on everything from electronics to electrolysis. Our members determine the hottest trends, the best local services, and the coolest products, and we deliver the location and purchase information to make getting what you want and need easier, faster, and more affordable.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Twilight



The cover of the last issue of Entertainment Weekly that I received featured the two main characters of the movie Twilight. I had heard about the series before, but thought that it was just for teenagers. I avoided reading the Harry Potter books for a while because of the hype and that it was a children's book. I just finished the book and I loved it. I picked it up at the local grocery store at 25% off as it was not available in the library. It was a page turner. I could not put the book down. I have not felt this way about a book since I read the last Harry Potter book. I will have to get the next book in the series New Moon. I have this weird fascination with vampires.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Skin Care Routine

On Friday I was in Holt Renfrew at the YSL cosmetics counter. Within a span of 5 minutes I was told that I had great skin - twice by the salespeople and once by a customer. I thought that they were crazy. I always find something wrong with my skin. I look in the mirror and see large pores, dark circles under my eyes and pimples. My skin care routine has changed over the years, but I always go back to H2O plus. When I was a teenager I used Noxema to clean my face. I later tried Clinique, but was unhappy with the products. I found that the toner's dried out my skin and the moisturizer was too heavy. I have also tried Aveda, Kiehl's, Neutrogena, Lancome, Biotherm and Shiseido. I have had a hard time finding products for combination skin. The following is my skin care routine twice a day:

Cleanser - Face Oasis Cleansing Water

Toner - Marine Toner

Moisturizer - Face Oasis Hydrating Gel

Exfoliator - Sea Mineral Scrub (twice a week)

Mask - Sea Mineral Mud Mask (once a week)

I have also tried the Olive Stones Natural Scrub from Korres which I use once a week.



Wednesday, July 16, 2008

What Not to Wear

I am half way through my 30 day challenge and I have tried to keep my mind off of bags. I stay away from the bag section at Winners and I do not go to the cha cha website everyday like I used to. Lately, I have been doing a lot of people watching. The following is what I have observed:

(1) I have found candidates for "What not to Wear". Too many people wearing clothes that do not fit

(2) I lived through the 80's so I do not want to live through it again

(3) When will the big bag craze end. I used to be the only person carrying a big bag before this craze began. Every other person is carrying the TNA bag from Aritzia. What do they have in there? They will end up like me and have to go to a chiropractor for years with no results.

(4) Your shoe does not have to be the same colour as your bag. Today I saw someone with neon green shoes and bag.

(5) I do not follow trends so I am very tired of seeing guys and girls wearing the Houndstooth Desert Scarf otherwise known as the Kaffiyeh. It is a traditional symbol of Palestinian nationalism. Unless you are aware of the cause do not wear the item. That is like people wearing t-shirts with the image of Che Guevara.



Saturday, July 12, 2008

New Store Opening



Bath & Body Works will finally open stores in Canada. For years Canadians have had to cross the border to get make their purchases as the online store did not deliver to Canada. The stores will open this fall at the following locations:

Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Toronto)

Fairview Mall (Toronto)

Erin Mills Town Centre (Mississauga)

West Edmonton Mall (Edmonton)

Stone Road Mall (Guelph)

White Oaks Mall (London)

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Liplicious



My second obsession to bags is lip gloss. For some reason I am always on the prowl for a new shade, but I always end up getting the same colour in a different brand. In the morning I put Kiehl's lip balm on my lips because they are dry. The following are the lip gloss that I carry in my bag:

-Stila Lip Glaze in Brown Sugar
-Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect #817
-Benefit The Gloss Kiss Me
-Benefit Her Glossiness Where's My Stylist?
-YSL Touche Brilliance Sparkling Touch for Lips #10

That does not include the Rosebud Salve that is always at the bottom of my bag. I can't leave home without it. As well I also carry an extra lip balm if my outfit has a pocket.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Joe Fresh Style

The Joe Fresh style carries affordable items for men, women and children at your local grocery store. This line is available at select stores across Canada. The Fortinos in my area only carries children's clothing and accessories, but now more items are available.  I was in Fortinos yesterday and saw women's shoes, as well as bags, hats, belts and flip flops.  The prices are incredible. Check out the website for a store near you.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

MAC Cosmetics

There was a time when the only cosmetics I purchased were from MAC. This included foundation, blush, lipstick, lip gloss, concealer and eye shadow. MAC carried products for women of all colours. Then I discovered products from other cosmetics lines such as Cargo and Benefit. Recently, I have not been happy with the products that I have. Last year I purchased a lip gloss that gave me a rash on my lips. I have found myself dumping products and switching to other product lines. With the entrance of Sephora onto the market, there are so many products in one location to compare. My Fafi makeup case has been replaced by my Daisy Marc Jacobs makeup case. Sorry MAC, but I am no longer a true believer. 

I do have three products that I still love:

  • Hushabye Sheertone Blush
  • Ambering Rose Sheertone Shimmer Blush
  • Refined Deeper Bronzing Powder

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Lululemon return policy


Circuit Gym Bag  Grey ($86.00)

When I decided that I was going to try hot yoga I wanted to look for a new yoga bag that could hold my yoga mat, towel, workout clothes and water bottle. I happened to be in the Eaton Centre, so I went into Lululemon. I bought the bag shown above. It seemed small, but I thought that it would expand when filled. The yoga mat would go on the outside of the bag through the two straps. I filled the bag and placed the mat through the straps. The bag was too heavy. I have a bag back (that is aggravated by carrying heavy bags) so I decided not to use the bag. I could not decide if I should return the bag or not. The return policy is return or exchange for merchandise within 2 weeks of purchase with the tags attached and/or in original packaging. Original receipt is required for full refund. I hate returning items. I decided this morning to call before going to the store. I explained that when I purchased the bag that I was asked whether I wanted a bag to carry the bag. It did not make sense to get a bag so the salesperson cut off the tag. I assumed it was in the bag. When I got home it was not in the bag. I did not think it was an issue until I decided to return the bag. At the store the salesperson said that this one time she would give me a refund. It was not my fault that the salesperson cutoff the tag and did not give it to me. This is a warning to anyone who buys a bag at Lululemon or any other store. Do not have the tag(s) removed from an item unless you are sure that you are going to keep it. I do that with clothing.

Suede

I received an email today from Suede. I had no idea what it was about. It is the second day of my 30 day challenge and I am in withdrawal. I chose to briefly look at the website. I don't want to be tempted. I must have seen a bag in a magazine and signed up at their website. I have the habit of going through magazines and when I see a bag that I like, I will check to see if the company has a website.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008