May, 2014 - sparkleshinylove

Roxymandy May 23, 2014

What’s in my Bag?

I’m kind of nosy sometimes, and I like to see what other products people are using. I love reading reviews that people post on beauty products to see what they thought about it to help me make my decision. I love it when magazines feature what is in a celebrities purse because I totally want to know! A celebrity I am not, but you may be nosy like me and want to know what I keep in my bag. I emptied my own purse for you to see, and after throwing away a bunch of receipts I was hiding, I’ve laid out what I carry with me always in case you were wondering.

Cupcakes make me happy, so when I saw this agenda at Chapters it was an easy choice! Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake Agenda

This hand cream was a gift, and it smells like dessert! Cake Desserted Island Velveteen Hand Creme

This Tiffany card case was a gift as well, and was a better choice for me instead of a silver plated one because it would have got scratched up in my purse. Tiffany & Co Stitch Card Case

Essie has a few different shades of white, but I just liked the name of this one. Essie Marshmallow Polish

I never leave home without Boogie Wipes! It drives me nuts when my son has a dirty face, so I keep these wipes handy at all times. The grape flavour is the best! Click here for a coupon!

I’m a lip gloss junkie, and this is my favourite! Perfect name too, right? Dior Addict Gloss in Sparkling Carnation Pink.

Lip gloss #2! And it can be used as a secondary toddler toy! eos Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm

Yes I have two hand creams! I can’t decide which one I like better, so I keep them both on me. TOKYOMILK Let Them Eat Cake No. 11

I think everyone has a Bath & Body Works PocketBac sanitizing gel, but I had to have this rhinestone case.

When I forget to buy a pack of gum, I pick up these mints in the drive-thru with my morning latte. Starbucks After Coffee Mints

I’m oily, so I do a few touch ups with this stuff throughout the day. MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation

I need lots of card space, so this wallet delivers. Kate Spade Cherry Lane Amherst Wallet

These Aviators remind me of summer. And Top Gun. Rayban Aviator Classic Sunglasses

Roxymandy May 21, 2014

Springtime Farmers’ Markets

I am not the best when it comes to eating my fruits and vegetables, so I need to find creative ways to get them into my diet. That usually means hiding all of the healthy stuff inside a smoothie favourite with chocolate so I don’t really know what I am drinking. One of the other ways I actually look forward to eating things that grow on trees and in the dirt is shopping for them at a farmers’ market. Let’s face it – I love any kind of shopping. Grocery shopping doesn’t exactly give me any sort of satisfaction (unless it’s delivered to my door, otherwise I find it a pain), but when shopping for all that healthy crap is snowballed into an outdoor event, well it suddenly seems a bit more appealing.

I really like farmers’ markets! It’s like going to a street party, but instead of alcohol there are carrots. Since daytime drinking has been pretty much eradicated from my lifestyle since becoming a fab mom, I take whatever I can get.

Here are a few you might want to give a try this spring!

Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market – 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto

This is one of my favourites! Evergreen Brick Works has a year-round farmers’ market, and their summer hours run from now until November 1st. The market is on from 8am – 1pm, and the food court is open a little longer (until 2pm).

What I like about this farmers’ market is how many things there are to do all in one place. There are vendors serving up all kinds of food in the food court, then there are all kinds of events and workshops taking place every weekend from classes on making pottery as a family, to children’s cooking classes.

For a $5 donation your child can take part in what they call Nature Play at the Brick Works. Children remain supervised by their parents, and this drop in program from 10-4pm on weekends and holidays offers play time, story telling and crafts.

Parking can be tough because there are not a lot of spaces so many people park the street, so you do end up spending a lot of time driving behind people hoping to be the first to take their parking space! You must pay for parking as well.

In the winter there is ice skating and hot chocolate outside, and in the summer it’s nice to talk a walk since the area is surrounded by walking paths.

http://www.evergreen.ca/

The Stop Farmers’ Market at Wychwood Barns – 601 Christie Street, Toronto

Courtesy of National Post

Open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 pm, this market houses most of it’s vendors inside of it’s giant space. The Barns also has an art market with over 30 vendors, and they host all kinds of events like CraveTO with music, food and drinks.

All of the non-farmer vendors shop their ingredients from the market which is nice too.

http://www.atthebarns.org/about-the-wbca/the-stops-farmers-market/

St. Lawrence Farmers’ Market – 92 Front Street East, Toronto

Courtesy of St.LawrenceMarket.com

This market has been running for over 200 years! It’s pretty amazing. There are over 120 merchants which makes it one of the largest in the area as well. It runs year round from 5:00am until 10:00pm on Saturday’s, and they pretty much have everything you could imagine. It’s so busy that parking isn’t the easiest, but you can try the Green P lot behind the South Market Building, or there is a parking garage on the east side of Lower Jarvis (very short walk).

In the Market there are lots of cooking classes which I have been dying to try (will anyone go with me?) for adults and even classes with children, and there is always some sort of festival in the area to enjoy as well. This one is a must try!

www.stlawrencemarket.com

The Leslieville Farmers’ Market – Jonathan Ashbridge Park (Queen Street East between Greenwood & Coxwell)

This newbie on the farmer’s market scene is every Sunday from 9am to 2pm until the end of October. I haven’t visited this one yet, but it’s on my list of stops for this summer.

They say they have music, and that they will have wine starting next weekend! That might be why I’ve decided this one is one on my list. Coming up this year they will have a Bacon Fest, and a Movie Night in the Park as well.

http://leslievillemarket.com/

Roxymandy May 20, 2014

My Favourite Etsy Shops for Kids

Etsy is one of the best/worst things that has entered my life. I get addicted to looking at different stores from around the world and picking out gifts for birthdays or other events, and I spend time a crazy amount of time justifying gifts for myself. I love that so many things can be personalized, and that so many one of a kind items can be found and shipped to my door with a few clicks.

The selection of items for kids is amazing on Etsy. I have a few favourite shops where I love to pick up something for my son, or for one of his friends as a gift. Here are a few of my top Etsy store picks!

Kuku Design has, among other items, has adorable wall hooks for you child’s room in bright colours and cute shapes. You can find their store here

BoyGirlBoyGirlDesign has t-shirts, rompers and onezies, but my favourite thing is their painted shoes. They have themed children’s shoes for different holidays, or princess and pirate themed shoes. Check out their store here

ClaireonCloud9 has the most adorable pillows! Wacky clouds, trees, moons, raindrops, and even a mountain! You can find her store here

The Australian shop MeAndMacCharlie has great patterns for their leggings, bibs, burb cloths, and bodysuits. They ship worldwide too, which can be hard to find from an Australian shop! You can find them here

Boy’s leggings are impossible to find! It’s so unfair girls can wear comfortable leggings, while boys are usually stuck with jeans. I’m always looking for cute boy leggings that don’t look like girly ones. Basically I’m looking for manly toddler boy leggings. Sounds hard to find, right? It is! This shop has some great ones (I have a few on the way now!). Check out Thread and Love here

This is one of the first shirts I bought for my son. I don’t know why, but it makes me laugh every time I put it on him. Coup has a ton of these trademarked shirts for babies, kids and adults too! Check them out here

My son is turning into quite the little baker, and these rolling pins are the perfect way to keep him excited about creating something. They can be personalized, but my favourite is this dinosaur one. You can find the Valek Rolling Pins shop here

bky kid has amazing kids and adult t-shirts with patterns of roads and numbers. The are freaking adorable! Check them out here

Roxymandy May 19, 2014

Joey’s World Admission Pass Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to the Joey’s World 5 Admission Pass giveaway winner:

Laura O.!

I will be contacting you shortly to give you your Joey’s World passes.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Roxymandy May 16, 2014

Summer Sandals

I would live in sandals if I could. I am one of those gross people who could be seen running into the grocery store in my flip flops in the dead of winter. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I find ways to justify sandals in completely inappropriate whether conditions.

The good news is, according to my calendar it’s sandal season! Yes, my calendar may state this earlier than yours, but I’m thinking I’ll get less judgemental looks in my sandals at this time of year. And although it’s only May, I’ve already had to have a talk with myself (yes I talk to myself in stern tone when required) and limit myself to maybe one or two more sandal purchases for this summer. I’ve got more than enough already to make it through the summer, but it’s not my fault flip flops literally last forever, so just because it looks like I have a hundred pairs……well like I said, it’s not my fault!

Here are a few of my favourites for the summer!