Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop-Up at Yorkdale

Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop Up at Yorkdale
 

 

We all have them. You know, that one uncle you can never find the right gift for? Or the friend who buys you a fabulous gift every year while you feel the gift you are giving them is bland?

Christmas is stressful for a number of reasons, but the pressure of finding the right gift can be overwhelming.

The good news is that I can fill you in on the perfect spot to find the memorable gift you need. The Brika Pop-Up shop at Yorkdale has everything you have been looking for that you didn’t know you or someone else can’t live without.
 

 
Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop Up at Yorkdale
 

 
Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop Up at Yorkdale
 

 

I was unable attend one of their workshops at the pop up earlier in the month so I thought I’d swing by to see what the shop was all about. Turns out I didn’t want to leave.

They have some of the most unique gifts out there! I have shopped the Brika website before so I knew about the fabulous things it has to offer, but I had never seen it all in one place before.

I wanted two of everything – one as a gift for someone, and one for myself!

 

 
Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop-Up at Yorkdale
 

 
Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop-Up at Yorkdale

 

 
Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop-Up at Yorkdale
 

 

The Pop-Up includes a DIY corner with a colouring wall from Screech Owl Design. There is also a gift wrapping station where you can wrap the gifts you just bought. I loved this idea, and the wrapping materials were so pretty.

I loved that they carry Lovefresh products as well which smell amazing.
 

 
Why you should visit the Brika Pop-Up shop at Yorkdale
 

 
Makeful has sponsored an event space where weekly workshops are taking place, and it’s a very cool area to hang out! I’m so sad I missed the wreath making workshop I was invited to because I’m sure it was amazing.
 

 
Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop Up at Yorkdale
 

 

There’s even a cafe! It services drinks, snacks, and baked good by Moo Milk Bar.
 

 
Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop Up at Yorkdale

 

 

Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop-Up at Yorkdale
 

 

Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop-Up at Yorkdale

 

 

Artisans featured include Bizu Jewelry, Meera Lee Patel and Designed by Artists. One of the artists mi cielo was featured in my Holiday Gift Guide for Kids last week on the blog – I have to get my toddler one of their shirts with Mr. T on them!

The Brika Pop-Up will be open at Yorkdale Shopping Centre until the end of January 2016, and you can also visit Brika online here.

 

 
Mandy Furnis

 

Giving the Gift of Greeting Cards and Stationary with CardBox by Sendtiment

Giving the Gift of Greeting Cards and Stationary with CardBox by Sendtiment

 

 

I wrote a blog post last year about the importance of a thank you card because I strongly feel that text messaging and emails are taking away the novelty of sending a personalized note to someone.

It seems like everything can be done online now – even wedding invitations can be emailed out! It’s a convenient way to correspond with someone by doing it electronically, but the personalized touch isn’t there.

Birthday cards, thank you notes, or any other kind of written card are important to me and hopefully as well to the people I send them to. Since I was little I have always loved receiving mail. Still to this day (as long as it’s not my credit card bill) I’m excited to check my mailbox to see what’s inside.

I was so excited when my CardBox from Sendtiment arrived.
 

 
Giving the Gift of Greeting Cards and Stationary with CardBox by Sendtiment
 

 
Giving the Gift of Greeting Cards and Stationary with CardBox by Sendtiment
 

 

It’s a subscription service which each month includes at least 5 greeting cards and a few extra gifts.

All cards are made in Canada, and different artists are featured each month.

All of the products are a secret until you receive them which is really fun!
 

 
Giving the Gift of Greeting Cards and Stationary with CardBox by Sendtiment
 

 
Giving the Gift of Greeting Cards and Stationary with CardBox by Sendtiment
 

 
I really loved that all of the cards were individually wrapped so they are were in perfect condition when they arrived. The cards in my box were made by Rhubarb Paper Co. and they were cute and quirky. I don’t even really want to send them to people – I want to keep them for myself! The notepad is perfect for my desk as well.

I loved this box, and I think it would be such a sweet gift for someone! I would love it if someone sent me a subscription box like this. They even allow you to order one box at a time which would be great if you wanted give yourself a special treat as well.
 

 
Giving the Gift of Greeting Cards and Stationary with CardBox by Sendtiment
 

 
Giving the Gift of Greeting Cards and Stationary with CardBox by Sendtiment
 

 
For more information on Sendtiment, visit their website here.

 

 
Mandy Furnis

 

Review of the Little Live Pets Lil’ Mouse House and Play Trail + Enter to Win a Lil’ Mouse House

2015 holiday gift guide for kids

 

 

We have been toy testing again at our house, and this time we tested out the Little Live Pets Lil’ Mouse House and Play Trail.
 

 

Review of the Little Live Pets Lil' Mouse House and Play Trail + Enter to Win a Lil' Mouse House

 
Last week we tested out the Lil’ Turtle Tank and my son is still playing with this toy everyday! It’s his own little pet that luckily I don’t actually need to feed or bathe (bonus!).

The Little Live Pets Lil’ Mouse House is pretty darn cute. The little mouse includes batteries (huge bonus!), and it’s ready to run! This little guy is so fast it’s hard to keep up with him, but every once in a while he makes little squeaking noises, pauses, and runs in a different direction.
 

 
Review of the Little Live Pets Lil' Mouse House and Play Trail + Enter to Win a Lil' Mouse House
 

 
Review of the Little Live Pets Lil' Mouse House and Play Trail + Enter to Win a Lil' Mouse House

 

 

My son kept wanting to let him run loose in the house, but this little guy was fast so I insisted on keeping him in his house. The mouse also runs around on the floor as well, it was just a self-preservation tactic to keep him locked down in his house on my part.

We also tried out the Little Live Pets Lil’ Mouse Play Trail which was a lot of fun because the mouse had so many more places to run! I really like that the mouse stops and turns in another directions so it’s not just running around in circles.

 

 

Review of the Little Live Pets Lil' Mouse House and Play Trail + Enter to Win a Lil' Mouse House
 

 
Review of the Little Live Pets Lil' Mouse House and Play Trail + Enter to Win a Lil' Mouse House
 

 
Review of the Little Live Pets Lil' Mouse House and Play Trail + Enter to Win a Lil' Mouse House

 

 

Both items were a big hit, and now we have a turtle and a mouse as pets in our home, and they are the best kind because I don’t need to keep them alive!

How would you like to have your own Little Live Pets Lil’ Mouse House for your child? It would make a great Christmas present! Enter below to win one of your own.

Tag a friend in the comments on my Facebook post here enter to win a Lil’ Mouse House. You can enter multiple times as long as each person you tag is different, and this contest is open to residents of Canada until Friday, December 18th at 9:00am. Good luck to everyone who enters!

 

 

Mandy Furnis

 

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Kids

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for kids

 

 

It’s that time of the year when we parents run out to buy gifts for our kids that they will play with for a couple of days and then quickly lose interest in. It’s a depressing reality in most cases so I decided to create a gift guide with some very cool items for the holidays that are fun, and hopefully will be a hit with both the parents and the child.

If you haven’t completed your holiday shopping yet, take a look at my guide to see if there’s something you haven’t thought of yet!

 

 

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Kids

Tuck Shop Trading Co. Hat
 

 

I bought my first Tuck Shop Co. hat this year, and I’m so excited they come in kids size as well! Not only can you find American cities now, but also Canadian provinces, cities and neighbourhoods.

 

 
 

 

Holiday gift guide for kids

AKID Shoes
 

 

Everywhere my son wears his AKID shoes, people stop to tell me how cool they are. Even Kardinal Offishall gave them a nod of approval and a smile at a party a couple weeks ago! I love that most shoes lace up but also have a zipper so my son can take them off and put them on himself.

 

 

 

 

2015 Holiday gift guide for kids

Gnome Crayons

 

 

Who wouldn’t love crayons in the shape of gnomes? Even I want to colour with them!

 

 

 

 

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BRIKA Mi Cielo Mr. T Toddler Shirt

 

 

Last week I was at the Brika Pop-Up at Yorkdale mall (review coming next week!), and I fell in love with this Mr. T shirt. It also comes in a onesie, and it’s such a conversation piece! Who doesn’t love Mr. T?

 

 

 

 

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Kids
 

 

MimiTens Mittens

 

 

MimiTENS solve some cold weather problems all parents seem to encounter. Mittens never stay on, and it’s such a struggle when it’s freezing and you are trying to get mittens back onto your child’s freezing fingers. mimiTENS are thumbless mittens for babies (or they include a thumb spot for older children) and they include and extra long cuffs so they comfortably stay on. The line has become so successful more items are being offered such as booties, neck warmers and hats. All items are made in Canada, and there are some super stylish options to choose from.

 

 

 

 

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Kids

Smile Led Lantern

 

 

The Smile Led Lantern is the perfect nightlight because it lets off a soft light, and it’s safe for a child to take it to bed without the parents worrying. I love that it looks like a lantern you would use camping.

 

 

 

 

2015 Holiday Gift guide for kids

 

 

2015 holiday gift guide for kids

Little Live Pets
 

 

Last week I reviewed and gave away a Little Live Pets Lil’ Turtle Tank, and later this week I will be reviewing and giving away a Little Live Pets Lil’ Mouse house! Both toys have been tested by my toddler and have been big hits!

 

 

 

 

2015 holiday gift guide for kids
 

 

2015 holiday gift guide for kids

Sago Mini Plush Gift Pack
 

 

I have written a few times about my son’s love of Sago Mini apps because they are pretty much the only thing he is interested in when he is on our iPad. He loves his plush Jinja the Cat so much he brought him on our vacation!
 

 

Sago mini
 

 

Included in the Sago Mini Plush Gift Pack are characters Jack, Jinja, Harvey and Robin. The packaging even turn into a house for the characters! Anyone who has children that have played these amazing apps before know that this gift would be a big hit with them.

 

 

 

 

2915 Holiday Gift Guides for Kids

Chalktrail

 

 

Chalktrail attaches onto a child’s bike or scooter to make a trail of chalk wherever they ride. What child wouldn’t love seeing the trail they would make on the road?

 

 
 

 

Good luck with all of your holiday shopping this year!

 

 

Mandy Furnis

 

Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup

Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove
 

 

Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove
 

 
Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove
 

 
Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove
 

 
Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove
 

 
Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove

 

 
Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove
 

 
Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove
 

 
Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove

 

 

I pretty much wear a plaid shirt every day. I’m wearing one right now as I write this! My closet has flashes of what I would call “lumberjack chic” all over it. The next obvious step was to add a plaid winter jacket to the mix.

I was just minding my own business and doing my grocery shopping when I saw this adorable jacket I’m wearing in the post. It was actually in the kids section of Joe Fresh, but it fit so I scooped it up. Not only was the price right, but it was exactly what I was looking for. Sorry it’s not online, just in stores right now!

I’m looking to add one more plaid jacket to my winter wardrobe because of the whole plaid addiction thing I’m dealing with, and here are a few more of my favourites below.

 

 
Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove

Old Navy Plaid Jacket

 

 
Plaid Winter Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove

Zara Wool Coat
 

 
Plaid Jacket Lineup sparkleshinylove

Forever 21 Longline Plaid Coat

 

 
Plaid Jacket Roundup sparkleshinylove

Nasty Gal Bloody Hell Plaid Drape Jacket

 

 

Mandy Furnis