Winter is tough on skin. Even my kids with their pliable skin are complaining about dryness, scratchiness and static. It kind of wreaks havoc on my old less young epidermis. It used to be that I'd pass on the pitches to sample products aimed at "aging" skin. "Ha!" I'd scoff, "maybe when I'm forty." That day has come and gone, and I find myself a great candidate for those aging skin products.Let me share with you a few of my favourites that are getting me through this winter.Body Shop Wild Rose Hand ButterI've always been a fan of the The... More »

What if I told you that I could help you with your new year's resolution to lose weight? What if I told you that I could help you lose ten pounds and it didn't involve eating less or exercising more? Ready to buy me a drink? Pull up a chair and I'll help you dress ten pounds lighter.Recently I spoke with Erin Nadler, stylist and founder of Better Styled . Originally we were talking about organizing our closets (remember my new year's plans?), but when she asked whether I'd like to know how to dress ten pounds lighter, you better believe... More »

As a trend watcher, the new year seems like it would be a great time for blog post fodder, but my email in-box is very quiet, and my creative juices barely flowing. Seems the new year is a much better time for introspection than for sharing NEW products, NEW ideas, NEW trends!I've been doing a little introspection myself as I recover from a month of extroversion of the social and consumer variety, and while I don't tend to make new year's resolutions, my next few posts will be guided by some principles I'm attempting to follow in 2012.First up, let... More »

With the holidays well underway and New Years Eve right around the corner, one of my favourite things to do is get together to celebrate with friends and family.  Big New Years Eve parties, small impromptu get-togethers, neighbourhood gatherings, family reunions...all events that provide the chance to gather, eat, drink and be merry. But also events that can present a potential awkward moment when you realize there's a guest who has had too much to drink and shouldn't be grabbing the keys to drive home while impaired. Here in Ontario, the LCBO's  "Deflate the Elephant" information campaign helps address such awkward situations by providing practical tools and tips on... More »

I am my family's photographer. It's a role that I take quite seriously because I, more than anyone else, enjoy reviewing the photos that capture our lives together. I'm the one who downloads them onto the computer, spends time editing, selecting favourites for screensavers, prints, photobooks, and gifts. I take pride in my role and in my skills. I've taken photography courses, done extensive research before buying any camera, carry cameras with me wherever we go, and am quick to pull them out and chronicle our days photographically. But I'm always looking to improve my skills, my tools and my... More »

There are very few gifts that Santa can bring that will satisfy all three of my kids. Quite often poor Santa is left scrambling to find something for the tween boy who is sports crazy, something else for my 10 year old son who likes the coolest gear and games, and another something for my 6 year old daughter, who likes dolls, stuffed animals and books. Last year, Santa scored a home run when he brought all three of them an Xbox 360 console with Kinect. We'd had a very old gaming system for about five years, so just coming into... More »

"Please drop in for a little holiday cheer.""Why don't you join us to decorate the tree?""Pop by and keep me company while I do some holiday baking."One of my favourite things about the holidays is the opportunity for impromptu get-togethers. I run into friends dropping their kids off at the shinny rink, and the next thing I know I've invited them over for a glass of something to keep us warm while the kids freeze on the ice.The problem with impromptu hosting is that sometimes, like Mother Hubbard, my cupboards are bare, and I'm left offering guests pepperettes and cheese... More »

I was prepared to dislike the new Beef Lasagna Casserole at Tim Horton's. First of all, have you seen that commercial? The guy moaning about his mom while eating his lunch...yuck.Second, Beef Lasagna was one of my favourite meals growing up, so there's a significant nostalgia factor which makes me predisposed to dislike most versions I encounter. I've eaten too many canned attempts at tomato pasta that have turned me off the fast food variety.So I was hesitant when offered a free lunch at Tim Horton's to try this out, but I am not one to turn down a free lunch.The... More »

There are many ways to recognize the change in seasons... new holiday products from the PC Insider's Report in my grocery aisles...         Cranberry Bliss bars tempting me at my local Starbucks every morning...       Decorations (big and small) making their way into my life...         But one sign of the change in season that I could certainly live without? The dreaded "I don't feel well. I don't think I can go to school" greeting from any one of my three kids. Like most families, ours runs best when it's running as a finely-tuned... More »

High end designers lending their creativity to mass retailers is nothing new. I've bought great pieces by Isaac Mizrahi and Missoni at Target, and by Lanvin at H&M. Now Canadian retailer Reitmans is getting in on the action. Launching this week, Canadian fashion designer Marie Saint Pierre has partnered with Canada's major women's specialty retailer, resulting in an intriguing, and well-priced, designer collection.Arriving in stores on November 10, these ten distinctive dresses are perfect for the holidays. I love the concept that designer fashion will become accessible to a new audience, and I LOVE these dresses. Click on the thumbnails to see... More »