Giving Back This Holiday Season With Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm

Pottery-Barn-Kids-Bear-Woodland-Stocking

 

What are you doing this holiday season to give back?

My change purse is totally empty right now after seeing an Air Cadet standing outside of the mall this weekend. I dumped all of my change into his bucket because I felt bad for the poor kid (it was pretty chilly!). On my way out of the supermarket I bought a toy for a toy drive and put it into the donation bin. I also purchased a few gifts for a family some friends and I are sponsoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. And that was just this weekend – Mother Teresa I am not, but I am sucker for anyone who asks for help, especially at this time of year.

I’m lucky enough to be thinking about decorating my house, trimming the tree and making cookies next weekend, while others may not have the opportunity to do the same. I may only be doing small things to help, but hopefully it can make a difference!

This will be the fifth annual holiday season that Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and West Elm will be running a holiday fundraising campaign. They are collectively raising money for the SickKids Foundation, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation and Sainte-Justine UHC Foundation.

The campaign runs until December 14, and each store will provide you with a chance to donate at the check out while you are making your purchases. Wait, what? You need a seventh throw pillow for your guest suite? Sounds great – while you are at it make a donation to charity at the cash register! I’ll be doing the same.

In addition, Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids will feature select holiday gifts with a portion of proceeds benefitting the participating hospital foundations. Since you will likely be shopping at one of these places this holiday season, why not pick something up that will help others at the same time?

The items below found at Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn kids will have a portion of their proceeds benefitting the hospitals I mentioned above.

Happy holiday shopping!

 

 

Pottery Barn Jingle Peace Pillow

Pottery Barn Jingle Peace Pillow


 

 

Pottery Barn Bell Peace Sign Ornament

Pottery Barn Bell Peace Sign Ornament

 

 

Pottery Barn Cable Throw with Fur Trim

Pottery Barn Cable Throw with Fur Trim

 

 

Pottery Barn Kids Peanut Bear

Pottery Barn Kids Peanut Bear


 

 

Pottery Barn Kids Bear Woodland Stocking

Pottery Barn Kids Bear Woodland Stocking


 

 

 

Photos courtesy of Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids
 

The First Ever Union Station Holiday Market Starts December 1st!

Union-station-holiday-market

 

Holiday pop-up shops are my favourite! I get sick of heading to the same old places to do my Christmas shopping, and when I have shoppers-block (it’s like writers-block, but worse) the best thing for me is curated pop-up market with unique gifts!

The Toronto Market Co. is launching it’s first ever Union Station Holiday Market this year, and it runs from December 1st – 7th in The Great Hall at Union Station.

 

 

http://www.nadege-patisserie.com/the-shop-2/

 

 

There will be over 25 different artisans, designers, and gourmet food vendors. Some of my favourites on the list include NADÈGE Patisserie (their macarons are to die for!), and BRIKA whom I have blogged about in the past.

 

 
Union-station-holiday-market

 

 

Be sure to check out this market while it lasts!

Here are the details:

DECEMBER 1 – 7, 2014

Dec 1: 7am – 7:30pm (opening day)

Dec 2 – 5: 10am – 7:30pm

Dec 6: 10am – 6pm

Dec 7: 10am – 5pm (final day)

The Great Hall is located on the ground floor level of Union Station. It is accessible from Front Street (main doors into the station) as well as the lower levels of the station where the platforms for TTC / Subway, Go Transit and Via Rail are located.
 

 

 

1st photo courtesy of http://www.foxyoriginals.com
 

Dressed up Stylish Sweatshirts

sparkleshinylove

 

The second I get home from an event, party, or even just from a day at work I get out of my heels and outfit and get straight into track pants and a sweatshirt. My selection of comfy clothing far exceeds the number of presentable outfits I own. I am all about wearing comfy slouchy clothes whenever I can.

This is why I love the sweatshirt trend! Finally I can wear a sweatshirt out to dinner or with a skirt and it actually looks like I am put together and not a slob!

Whether the sweatshirt just has a great pattern, or has embellishment or leather details like the Wilfred Free sweatshirt I am wearing in the photo above (sorry it’s sold out!), sweatshirts are looking less like lounge wear and more like a fashion statement. Finally something we can wear that not only looks good, but is super comfortable.

H&M has a great selection right now of what I will call “fancy” sweatshirts, like this pink one I picked up last week with embroidery detail for $24.95. It is so comfortable!

Here are a few of my other favourites that are shoppable online right now!

 

 

Sparkleshinylove

 

 

eLUXE Generation Love Emma Top

eLUXE Generation Love Top

 

 
Forever-21-floral-organza-top

Forever 21 Pullover

 

 

Forever-21-quilted-knit-sweatshirt

Forever 21 Quilted Knit Sweatshirt

 

 

Mango -Neoprene-effect-sweatshirt

Mango Neoprene-effect Sweatshirt

 

 

Mango floral print sweatshirt

Mango Floral Print Sweatshirt

 

 

Dynamite-metallic-sweatshirt

Dynamite Metallic Sweatshirt

 

 

Asos-only-tartan-sweatshirt

Asos Only Tartan Sweatshirt

 

 

Asos-Sisley-sweatshirt


Asos Sisley Sweatshirt

 

 

Peep-jeans-crochet-top

Pepe Jeans Crochet Sweatshirt

Leather Sleeved Jackets for Fall and Winter

sparkleshinylove

I’ve been pretty leather-obsessed lately, buying any type of top, pant, or skirt that is either leather or has leather accents. Lucky for me it’s not hard to go shopping and find of one these items. Not so lucky for my wallet, but a girls got to build up her winter wardrobe!

My latest hunt was for a jacket with leather sleeves because I just love the look of them. I had a hard time choosing one, but my final choice ended up being from Forever 21. I’ve added what I found along the way below.

 

 

This is the one that I am wearing from Forever 21 below.

Forever21-longline-bomber-coat

 

 

This jacket other jacket from Forever 21 was in my online shopping cart for a bit!

Forever21-quilted-and-hooded-utility-jacket

 

 

This one from Reitmans is only $29.99!

image

 

 

Aritiza always has what I am looking for, and of course they have super cute versions of this style. Talulah’s version is cute!

Talulah-Balfour-jacket

 

 

This Mackage jacket from Aritzia will probably break the bank (it would break mine), but wow it’s pretty!

Mackage-Odilia-Leather-sleeve-jacket

 

 

This furry one from Express looks cozy. That’s likely because it’s furry. Well played Express.

Express-sherpa-minus-the-leather-bomber-jacket

 

 

This Banana Republic outfit as a whole needs to be mine. I love how slim the jacket fits.

Banana-Republic-leather-sleeved-jacket-sparkleshinylove

 

 

Club Monaco has a few jackets with leather selves, but this one is my favourite!

Club-Monaco-leather-sleeved-jacket-sparkleshinylove

 

 

Stay Warm and Gorgeous with Danier – Take the Quiz and You Could Win a $500 Shopping Spree!

Danier=quiz

 

 

This is the easiest thing you are going to do all day, I promise! Take this short quiz to have the chance at winning a $500 shopping spree from Danier.

Leather is everything right now – I have been buying everything I can with leather accents, and my leather skirt collection is becoming epic. Maybe I shouldn’t have told you about this contest so I would have a better chance at winning, because apparently I need this shopping spree.

There are only 5 short questions, and then voila, you just need to enter your name and email address to have the chance at winning!

Click here to enter, and good luck!