Trend Watch

Trend Watch tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2009-04-01:/trend_watch/46 2010-03-09T00:21:26Z Jennifer's got her eye on all the latest trends; join her as she navigates the ins and outs of everything trendy. Movable Type Pro 4.261 Wonderful Wonderland tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/trend_watch//46.7111 2010-03-08T23:12:05Z 2010-03-09T00:21:26Z

Jennifer

"Off with her head!"

The hottest trends around these days are inspired by Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland....and I'm not just talking about the colourful lips all over the Oscar red carpet inspired by Helena Bonham Carter's Queen of Hearts.

"Curiouser and curiouser..."

In bookstores, toystores, clothing boutiques and even the supermarket, we're seeing Alice everywhere....here are a few options for you.

"Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it."

Tetley is the offical Disney tea and they're offering limited-edition collectible tins and canisters of tea to celebrate the film's release. The products depict Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Red Queen and the White Rabbit. The collection includes both Tetley Orange Pekoe and three new Alice-inspired blends, and they're all in stores now.

Are you looking for a special teapot to steep your Alice tea? Check out this gorgeous pot available at Indigo Books and Gifts across the country. The two-cup teapot is $34.99, and there's a six-cup version for $49.99. Teacups are also available and they all come with special keepsake packaging.

"Oh my ears and whiskers! How late it's getting!"

And with the March Break coming up, no doubt you're looking for something to keep your kids occupied while you sit and enjoy that pot of tea. Disney Interactive has just introduced some fun games out to tie in with the Alice in Wonderland movie.

I recently played the newly released Wii and Nintendo DS versions of the new Disney Alice in Wonderland games, and I can recommend them for kids of all ages. These games boast original voice talent, puzzle-based games and drop-in/drop-out capabilities. Younger kids will enjoy the story and puzzle, older children will enjoy the awesome combat games.

"We're all mad here."

Embrace your inner Alice (or Red Queen or Mad Hatter). And if you've seen the film, let me know what you think!

"Begin at the beginning. Go on until you come to the end and then stop."

]]> The Hills Are Alive with the Taste of Chocolate tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/trend_watch//46.7085 2010-03-02T02:11:26Z 2010-03-02T02:28:12Z

Before we say goodbye to the mountains of Whistler and Cypress for good, you might want to consider bringing home this special dessert for your family to celebrate the hills of these Olympic games.Sobey's Sensations by Compliments Mont Belge...

Jennifer

Before we say goodbye to the mountains of Whistler and Cypress for good, you might want to consider bringing home this special dessert for your family to celebrate the hills of these Olympic games.

Sobey's Sensations by Compliments Mont Belge Fondant dessert was recently selected as Canada's favourite new frozen dessert in the 2010 Best New Products Awards (BPNA) and I can taste why.

The cone shaped desserts feature three different rich flavours of chocolate mousse topped with Belgian chocolate. The dessert was created by Sobeys and inspired by Canda's two most famous mountain ranges; the Laurentians and the Rockies.

Enjoy them on their own, or top with berries and whipped cream to add some extra flavour and snowy peaks! They're decadent and convenient (just take them out of the freezer 30 minutes before you want to serve them) and are available in packages of four at Sobeys, IGA, Foodland and Price Chopper stores across the country.

]]> What a Dad Wants tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/trend_watch//46.7055 2010-02-22T20:18:52Z 2010-02-22T20:49:12Z

Last week was my husband's birthday. I like to pride myself on being a great gift giver, and in years past I've given concert tickets, airline tickets, surpise getaways, scuba diving lessons and other awesome presents. This year, however, I...

Jennifer

I think I knocked it out of the park in the end, by pulling our oldest kids out of school and sending the three of them off skiing for the day. My daughter and I stayed behind, bought a few little gifts, baked and decorated a cake, and made him a nice dinner. It's not the craaaazy party birthday celebration that every guy would want, but it's what this dad wanted.

Dove brand thinks they've figured out what dads want, too. They spent some time surveying 8,000 men aged 30 to 55, in seven countries, to find out what men want in a product and in a brand. Their discoveries were interesting. Men in this demographic don't feel that they're represented in advertisements, and so Dove has created a new way of marketing to the dads. Perhaps you saw Drew Brees sing in the shower on SuperBowl Sunday when he wasn't throwing touchdown passes?

They're using this new marketing campaign to launch their new line of Dove Men+Care products, including Body and Face Washes in three scents, Body and Face bars, and the Active Clean Dual Sided Shower Tool (I will let you know that this product was a hit before the packaging even came off. When you call a bath and shower product a "tool" it's a winner with the guys).

My husband and sons have been trying this line out for the past few weeks and the response is good. They like the packaging and the scent, and the washes are not drying out their skin. All three enjoyed the SuperBowl commercial, too, with my ten year old son declaring it "cool".

So, if you're like me and the rest of the world, trying to figure out just what a dad wants, you might want to check out the new Dove Men+Care line in grocery stores and drugstores across the country.

]]> Pancake Tuesday tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/trend_watch//46.7023 2010-02-17T00:26:49Z 2010-02-17T00:54:18Z

Jennifer

Today is Pancake Tuesday (aka Shrove Tuesday), the day when all the Catholics in the world prepare for forty days of doing without with one last gasp at everything sinful all the world celebrates the deliciousness that is pancakes. Take the ingredients to make cake, mix the batter up and then fry it in butter, add fruit and whipped cream and then pour maple syrup all over them. Who doesn't love pancakes? Every single member of my family loves pancakes and if he could, my middle son would eat them every day for breakfast.

And that's why for me, pancakes represent a whole pan-ful of mother guilt. I swear every morning when I ask what he wants for breakfast and he answers full of hope and optimism "PANCAKES!", it's like a syrup-coated butter knife stabs through my heart. I'm convinced that if I was a stay-at-home mom I'd find the extra fifteen minutes needed to prepare the pancakes, and the extra fifteen minutes I'd need to clean up the pancake breakfast mess. However, as a mother who can barely get all three kids out of the house by 8 am so that I can start my own daily commute, each morning I am forced to start my son's day with disappointment. "How about cereal? or toast? or instant oatmeal?" Being the killer of your child's hope and optimism before 8 am is a lousy way to start a day.

That's why I was so excited to try Dr. Oetker's Shaker Pancakes. It's a simple, hassle-free way to make pancakes in the morning. All you do is add milk or water to the bottle, shake for a minute or two and bake a batch of buttermilk or chocolate chip pancakes. One shaker served our family of five without any leftovers. The batter was a little thinner than what I'm used to with my homemade pancakes, but the kids didn't complain about the taste!

These products are available in grocery stores across the country and retail for under $3, so they're also a bargain at the breakfast, lunch or dinner table. (Pancakes for dinner are even more delicious than breakfast pancakes for some magical reason).

I'm not serving pancakes for breakfast every morning (I still have to find a few extra minutes to clean the fry pan when I make a batch), but I love this product for letting me be a hero to my son every now and then, and allow him to keep his hope and optimism for a few extra minutes!

]]> Go! Canada! Go! tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/trend_watch//46.7010 2010-02-12T13:41:24Z 2010-02-12T14:27:31Z

I thought of calling this Trend Watch column the Urban Closet, but Ali's got that well under control over here. Instead, let me introduce the Olympic Closet...(aka what the Olympians in my family will be wearing in the coming days).My...

Jennifer here. Instead, let me introduce the Olympic Closet...(aka what the Olympians in my family will be wearing in the coming days).

My sister, who is the biggest Olympic fan I know. She'll be cheering Canada on in every event from skiing to skating to luging and skeletoning (are those verbs?)

My kids, who have been enjoying their Olympic mittens during these cold winter days (my eldest got his in a loot bag back in November...what an awesome idea!). My sons are most excited about watching the hockey teams, but I bet they'll be glued to Sportsnet every morning for the highlights of every event.

My daughter who is so proud that she's learned all the words to our national anthem this year in kindergarten. I look forward to singing along with her many, many times as our national athletes reach the podium.

And my husband, who would probably rather be playing hockey or skiing than watching it on television, but will be couchbound with the rest of us as we cheer Go Canada Go!

All items can be purchased at the Hudson Bay Company of stores, including The Bay and Zellers. They made excellent Christmas gifts around our house, but given their colour, I'd also suggest them as last-minute Valentines Day gift ideas!

]]> Touchdown! tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/trend_watch//46.6952 2010-02-05T14:07:48Z 2010-02-05T14:40:15Z

Jennifer

In light of the fact that not all households are as football crazy as my own, and that not all readers are as savvy about the pigskin, I offer you all a little primer for this Sunday's big event. Tucked in between the Grammys, the Oscars and various other celebrity tearfests and fashion shows is one of the biggest shows on the man-calendar, the Super Bowl!

This year's event is taking place in south Florida and is the 44th edition of this American classic (or Super Bowl XLIV for you Latin fans!). The competing teams are the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. I won't bore you with all the history on the road to this game, except to say that two weeks ago Brett Favre broke a million hearts and changed his own sleeping habits for the rest of his life (can you say nightmare flashbacks??) when his team exited in the semi-finals.

The game starts with a coin toss at 6pm (though pre-game festivities will start hours earlier), and the half-time show features The Who (and I'm hoping for no wardrobe malfunctions a la Janet Jackson). Half-time shows have come a long way since the days of performances by Carol Channing in 1970 and Up with People (twice in that decade!), but I don't expect anything to top the fantastic energy of last year's Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band party.

So mark your calendars, put on a big pot of chili and grab a cold one.

Just in time for the Super Bowl, Tostitos Salsa has introduced a new, delicious recipe. The new salsa is full of vegetable chunks (in spite of which my kids still enjoyed it!), is low in calories and contains zero trans fat.I tested the salsa with the Tostitos scoops and they'll definitely be on my menu this Sunday evening.

If your own menu runs a little more sophisticated, you might be interested in the following recipes provided by the folks at Tostitos.

Tostito's Mozzarella Boulettes

2 lbs lean ground beef

1 pkg mozzarella cheese, cubed

1 cup of Tostitos salsa

1 bag Tostitos Scoops tortilla chips

Form small beef boulettes (round balls, but in french...a perfect tribute to the Creole flavour of the New Orleans Saints) with cheese cube in the centre. Bake in 450 degree oven for 10-15 minutes until cooked thoroughly. Place boulettes in scoops and top with salsa.

or, as a tribute to the South Florida hosts, how about

Cold Melon Salsa

1/2 honeydew melon

1 cantaloupe

1/3 Japapeno pepper

1/4 cup cilantro

2 Tbsp lime juice

1 jar Tostitos salsa

1 bag Tostitos Scoops tortilla chips

Finely chop all fresh ingredients. In large serving bowl, mix salsa, lime juice and chopped ingredients. Drain and refrigerate before serving.

Go Saints!

]]> Get Organized Contest Winner tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/trend_watch//46.6909 2010-01-29T13:57:17Z 2010-01-29T14:12:35Z

First of all, thank you to all for your helpful comments on how to stay better organized in 2010. I've tracked down Happeez products which stick to my stainless steel fridge. Not only do they make my fridge look a...

Jennifer Happeez products which stick to my stainless steel fridge. Not only do they make my fridge look a little friendlier, but I've been transferring all of our week's activities to a weekly organizer each Sunday evening. Now every morning the kids can check the calendar to see what's on, and ensure that they've got the right equipment/homework assignments/forms in their knapsack. I am very pleased to report that mornings are a little calmer and I'm making it to my bus on time semi-regularly!

Congratulations to the winner of the brand new Palm Pre, urbanmoms member Kristine from Toronto. Enjoy your new toy, Kristine! I hope you can pull yourself away from all the shiny fun games and use it to get your life a little more organized!

]]> Something Cheeky tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/trend_watch//46.6878 2010-01-21T23:19:21Z 2010-01-21T23:55:05Z

My kids tend to get chapped red cheeks and lips around this time of year. I blame the same Irish genes that make me crave potatoes and love beer. Over the past ten years I've been to dermatologists, tried expensive...

Jennifer

This season my kids are trying a new product that seems to be keeping the dry red skin at bay. Green Beaver's Apres-Ski Cheek Balm is from the Canadian company's line for extra dry skin. I believe it takes a Canadian company to understand the complexities of Canadian winter (sub-zero temperatures, nasty windchill and dry indoor heating).

Green Beaver products are wonderful because they're 100% natural, biodegradable, vegan and gluten-free. You can feel confident using this cheek balm on every member of your family; including babies!

This cheek balm has worked well over the last couple of weeks applied wherever I see dryness (especially around cheeks and mouths). Thanks to its natural ingredients, I don't evenworry if the kids lick their lips (however, I would caution users to keep an eye on their kids' craft supplies if you buy this product. The packaging looks amazingly like a glue stick and kids might start rubbing glue on their faces....I can't imagine that would be help a dry skin situation).

Green Beaver products are available across the country. Check out their website to find a store near you.

]]> Get Organized! and a Great Giveaway! tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/trend_watch//46.6834 2010-01-11T23:16:45Z 2010-01-21T21:48:56Z

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSEDI made a couple of fairly simple new year's resolutions this year; the first is to try harder to make it to my bus on time in the morning. The second is not to sweat it if...

Jennifer

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED

I made a couple of fairly simple new year's resolutions this year; the first is to try harder to make it to my bus on time in the morning. The second is not to sweat it if I don't. I've been pretty successful at the second resolution, but much less successful at the first. Getting myself and my three kids out the door by 8:00 am (a full hour after my husband has left) can feel like the ultimate Survivor challenge. When I've finally taken care of figuring out whether they need and have their lunches, homework, swimming stuff, gym clothes, sports equipment, signed forms, etc., I'm often still running around the house like a mad woman trying to locate and stuff my iPod, my cell phone, my datebook, my camera and various to-do lists into my purse.

For two blissful weeks last month I was a little more organized. The folks at Palm loaned me a Palm Pre to try out. The Palm Pre launched last summer and was touted as the smartphone with touch screen that would give the iPhone a run for its money.

For a couple of weeks I shaved valuable time off my morning routine every morning because the Palm Pre replaced about half a dozen of my necessary gadgets with one little beauty that fit into my hands (and had its own slide out keyboard...take that iPhone!).

Palm Pre's amazing in that it pulls all your different calendars (work? home? on the go?) into one place. You don't need to worry about syncing it with your computer, because it will search your gmail account, your facebook account...the Palm Pre will find your friends and contacts and keep their information in one place for you! The Palm Pre also has all the features that we've come to rely on from a smartphone including a great camera, handy to-do list (I loved sticking reminders on my virtual cork board!), GPS and web access.

Another cool feature is an accessory called the Touchstone, which is a magnet base you can rest your Palm Pre on and it charges wirelessly (this is good because like all smartphones the only downside I can see is that the battery drains daily, so you'll be charging it regularly).

Palm Pre helped keep me a little more organized for a while, but alas all good things must come to an end, and I had to ship that Palm Pre back before Christmas (with my Christmas to-do list and party plans on it!!!)

I will forgive our Palm friends though because they've offered a great giveaway for one lucky urbanmoms member. The prize includes a Palm Pre, a leather carrying case and a Touchstone desktop charger. The whole package is valued at $730 and can be yours if you you're an urbanmoms member (and if you're not, what are you waiting for? Go join now.) All you need to do is offer me some advice on your best organizational tip; help me get out of my house and make my bus on time one morning before 2011 rolls around! Leave your comment below and I'll do a random draw and announce the winner of the Palm Pre on Tuesday January 26th!

]]> A Burst of Energy tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2010:/trend_watch//46.6819 2010-01-06T23:45:12Z 2010-01-07T00:07:01Z

So does your new year's resolution involve hitting the gym, the treadmill or the streets? Are you looking for a quick snack that will give you a hit of energy to tide you over until your next meal? It might...

Jennifer

My husband and I have been fans of these snack bars made out of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices for a while. They're a staple purchase on any trip to Costco, and we tend to battle to get to our favourite flavours first (more on that later). I like to eat one late morning if I'm doing a run on my lunch hour. My husband uses them as a snack after work if he's running between hockey arenas before getting home to dinner.

What's incredible is that these bars are 100% whole food, and each flavour contains no more than eight ingredients. Larabars are gluten free, dairy free, soy free, vegan and kosher. The only people I can imagine who would have issues with these bars are my kids. I've tried to get them to munch on one before an activity, but perhaps they're an acquired taste because neither one of my sons could get an entire bar down. It's not so much the flavours that they don't like, but the consistency; the bars are a little dry and go down better with some water.

Now for those flavours; if you manage to track some Larabars down (and you can find them at health food stores, some grocery stores and Costco) dig into the Cashew Cookie. It's my personal favourite. My husband's partial to Key Lime Pie. I'm searching for the newest flavours launched last year, which include Tropical Fruit Tart and German Chocolate Cake.

As for the name, the recipe for Larabars was developed about nine years ago by the company's founder, Lara. She tried to come up with a cool marketable name, but people kept asking for Lara's Bars, and so the name stuck.

]]> Lights! Camera! Action! tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2009:/trend_watch//46.6789 2009-12-30T13:24:42Z 2009-12-31T19:03:52Z

My son Liam loves to make movies with his friends. On a playdate they will ask to borrow my camera and start shooting some (usually ridiculous) storyline (that often ends in a massive wrestling scene).That's Liam on the left...

Jennifer

That's Liam on the left shooting his brother skating at the ACC last month. Putting him in charge of the video shoot served two purposes; it enabled me to take still photos, and enabled Liam to forget how much he would have liked to have been the one skating at the ACC!! The bonus was that Liam got some great video of his brother racing around the ice, and had fun downloading his creations at the end of the day.

What better way for he and a couple of his ten year old buddies to spend the day this winter break, than making a movie and watching a movie?

A new Canadian company called The Director's Cut has an exclusive deal with Cineplex theatres across the country. Workshop participants aged 7-12 arrive at their neighbourhood theatre in the morning, work in film crews inside the Cineplex Party Room to create a claymation, stop motion or film all morning and for part of the afternoon. They eat lunch and then head off to the theatre with popcorn and a drink in hand to watch a current release (my son got to see Fantastic Mr.Fox). At the end of the day, the junior filmmakers leave the workshop with a dvd of their creation in hand.

The total cost is under $50 for the day, which I consider quite a bargain since the last time I took my kids to the movie I felt like I need to take out a second mortgage to cover the admission and concession stand costs.

My son and his friends describe the experience as "cool" and have a better understanding of what's involved behind the scenes of the blockbusters they enjoy.

I just hope Liam remembers me in his Oscar acceptance speech!

]]> Clean and Clear tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2009:/trend_watch//46.6736 2009-12-11T14:51:50Z 2009-12-11T15:07:57Z

Jennifer Well, we're well into December and into the official Holiday Party Season! Katie has given us all some great style suggestions, but have you considered what goes under your best party frocks to keep you feeling your best?

I'm not talking lingerie, I'm talking deodorant. A girl only feels as good as she smells, and while the little black dress is a girl's best friend, visible deodorant marks are not. I bought myself a gorgeous black silk shell at the beginning of the season, but the first time I wore it I got the tell-tale white powder marks under the arms. I had it drycleaned and it's been hanging in my closet ever since taunting me with its black purity.

This year, I've been testing Degree Ultra Clear, which is billed as "little black dress approved". It doesn't cost any more than your regular product, its comes through with 24-hour odour and wetness protection, and it comes in four clean scents (I'm partial to Pure Rain).

So whether you're reaching up to put the angel on the top of the tree, or reaching for another serving at the buffet, you can feel confident that the the only powdery white stuff will be the snow outside!

]]> Semi-Homemade tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2009:/trend_watch//46.6697 2009-11-29T23:57:29Z 2009-12-01T00:34:07Z

Jennifer People that I identified "semi-homemade" as a trend. However, if it's good enough for Saint Angelina, than it's good enough for the rest of us urbanmoms! If you're too lazy to click through, it turns out that for the twins' first birthday party, Angelina Jolie used a semi-homemade recipe by buying a baker sheet cake and decorating it herself. Semi-homemade allows us to feel like domestic divas without spending hours in the kitchen, and it's just the trend I'm looking for as we head into holiday entertaining.

For many of us, the arrival on our doorstep of the President's Choice Insider's Report is like a food porn magazine. Flipping through the latest edition of these products available across the country at Loblaws, Superstore and other grocery chains, I'm inspired to invite friends over just so I have an excuse to buy Chipotle BAked Dip, Crunchy Rippled Potato Chips in flavours like BBQ Baby Back Rips and Spicy Piri, and Mini Chocolate Coated Candy Cane Cheesecakes.

The Mission Fig & Pecan Gourmet Topper inspired my mother-in-law to update one of her classic appetizer recipes, and I bring you...

Semi-Homemade Cheese Spread

1 package of Imperial Cheese

1 8 ounce package of cream cheese

1 tsp curry powder

1 tsp worcestershire sauce

Blend all ingredients in a Cuisinart. Top with Mission Fig & Pecan Gourmet Topper. Serve and accept all the compliments.

This year I'm equally impressed by the Sensations by Compliments products available at Sobeys stores across the country. I asked their representative to give me a couple of semi-homemade recipe ideas with some of their new products, and she really came through. You could serve their Hickory Smoked Honey Ham with your own vegetable sides and feel like a completely virtuous hostess. Top it off by amazing your guests with the decadent taste of the Sensations by Compliments Chocolate Truffle Cake. Add a dusting of cocoa and garnish with seasonal berries and pass this off as your own!

Semi-Homemade Caramelized Onion, Pear and Brie Flatbread

1 onion, peeled and thinly sliced

2 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped

1 Sensations by Compliments Regular Flatbread

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 pear each, green and red, cored and thinly sliced

1/2 wheel double cream brie cheese, cut into thin slices

salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil in a saute pan over medium high heat and caramelize the onion, season with fresh thyme, salt and pepper. Set the flatbread out on a clean work surface and brush it with the remaining olive oil and spread caramelized onion evenly over the flatbread.

2. Fan the slices of pear around the bread in concentric circles all the way to the outer edges, season pear with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with slices of brie cheese. Bake in the centre of the oven for 10-12 minutes. The bottom of the flatbread should be crisp, brie melted and pears tender.

3. Let cool slightly, slice into 16 wedges and serve.

So this season, put your feet up, invite the Jolie-Pitts over, and and let your neighbourhood grocery store help you with your entertaining.

]]> Give the Gift Twice! tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2009:/trend_watch//46.6663 2009-11-18T23:35:49Z 2009-11-19T00:07:57Z

Jennifer

I see trends as being very wave-like. By the time that wave has crested, often the trend is so far mainstream that it's pretty well "jumped the shark". As your resident trend watcher, I see my job to write about the trends that are further out on the horizon preparing to crash into our daily lives in the near future. Sometimes I take liberties and bring you products or trends that I'd like to see become popular; perhaps in some small way my blog can push that wave towards shore.

I'm hoping this column will inspire you to think about giving a gift that gives twice this holiday season. Upcoming columns will bring you gift ideas for your husband, children and friends, but this is any idea for everyone on your list, from the teachers in the classrooms to the hostesses you'll visit this season.

It's called SickKids Get Better Gifts, and it's an initiative to help you with your holiday shopping at the same time as it helps the SickKids Hospital Foundation. Shopping is as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Visit the site, www.sickkidsgetbettergifts.com

2. Choose a gift that's meaningful to you and those on your holiday shopping list.

3. Purchase the gift online and you'll be able to send a card to someone special that outlines the gift that has been made in their honour. A tax receipt will be sent to you at the time of selection.

The gifts on the site range from helping to provide a holiday meal for a family to helping ensure a child receives a gift from their wish list. Shoppers can also purchase gifts that support the families of children in Sick Kids Hospital such as an overnight bag (with all the essentials that are forgotten when you're racing out the door to the emergency room with a sick child). If you're feeling really generous,$5000 will purchase a child-sized wheelchair for a Sick Kids patient.

There's a gift for every occasion and every price range from $25 on up. I can't imagine $40 better spent than on a sleeper chair that will allow a parent to spend the night beside a sick child.

So before the holiday craziness sets in, do yourself a favour and get a little gift giving out of the way. You'll be doing a favour for some very special kids and their families, and you'll be helping me to make this worthy initiative become a trend.

]]> Some Beauty Products Never Go Out of Style tag:www.urbanmoms.ca,2009:/trend_watch//46.6630 2009-11-11T01:49:38Z 2009-11-11T02:16:02Z

Botox. Restylane. Collagen. It's hard to keep track of all the new beauty products being launched first in cosmetic surgeons offices, and often making their way to our drugstore aisles. If you tried to keep pace with the new innovations,...

Jennifer

But some beauty products demonstrate their worth by standing the test of time. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly is celebrating its 140th anniversary next Spring. It was created by Robert Augustus Cheesebrough, a 22-year-old chemist from Brookly, New York. Quickly it became a household name, and within ten years of its inception, Americans were buying it at a rate of a jar a minute!

Watch for a makeover of the brand and its packaging next Spring, in recognition of its birthday, but in the meantime, consider these beauty tips that incorporate this classic.

For your lips

Rub a little baking soda onto your lips to exfoliate them. Apply Vaseline immediately after to lock in the moisture and get your lips feeling soft and smooth (and oh so smoochable!)

If you're still searching for the perfect shade of lip gloss, or you're all out and need some colour in a pinch - why not make your own? Dip one end of a Q-tip into Vaseline and place on the back of your hand. Dip the other end of the Q-tip into your favourite eyeshadow or powder blush colour (plums work very well) and mix into the Vaseline. Apply with a Q-ip and you've got your own unique lip gloss shade!

For your skin

Considering a sleeveless top for the holiday season, but worried about your dry elbows? Rub a little Vaseline on them at night and cover with a bandage. You'll wake up to smooth skin ready for anything!

Keep a tub of Vaseline petroleum jelly at your desk or close to the kitchen sink and apply a little on your cuticles several times a day to keep them healthy looking.

For your kids

I keep a tub in the bathroom and it's become part of my kids' bedtime routine to slather some Vaseline on their lips after they brush their teeth. So far it's keeping those painful chapped lips at bay.

Ringing in just under $5 for at 375g tub, Vaseline is one of the most economical beauty weapons that we can keep in our arsenal.

]]>