Few More Neighbourhood Gift Ideas

Bija-Bijoux: This cute little jewelry shop is located on Wellington. Whatever your budget, this store is great to buy a gift for that special woman in your life. They carry a wide selection of crafted jewellery from Canada and around the world. Anything I have purchased from this store, I have loved.

Destination, Hair Committee, Red Salon & Bobbi Pin: Any of the wonderful hair salons in the neighbourhood offer great hair product gift packs (i.e. Moroccan Oil) or gift certificates. Why not purchase a gift certificate for a blow dry and style - any woman would love this when she has a special evening planned.

I do want to note that most of these hair salons don't have web pages - can someone tell them to join the modern age:)

Flock: This new store on Wellington street beside St Vincents, carries a wide selection of unique handmade goods, clothing, accessories, housewares, gifts and jewellery from up and coming Canadian designers. I have received a few jewelry items from this store for my birthday and they were real cool pieces. Lots of people have been raving about this store, so I'm sure you would be able to find a great gift here.

LCBO: Go for some sparkling wine or champagne as a present. Or even better purchase the ingredients to make a holiday cocktail or martini and package it all together as a gift. For example for a Holiday Cosmo.  Package together two martini glasses, a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka, simple syrup (buy or make), bottle of lemon juice and a bottle cranberry-pomegranate juice. Check out the LCBO's website for more cocktail ideas.

Three Bakers and a Bike SOLD!

I just went into Three Bakers and a Bike on Wellington to buy some cupcakes and was greeted by a friendly man behind the counter. My kids were a bit surprised and asked me who this man was. If you know this cafe, it was always run by women and it was strange to see a man there. Anyways, I had to ask who he was and he told me he was the new owner!

The cafe/bakery looked the same other than a few personal items that have been removed. My son noticed that the Cookie Monster figurine was missing - he was somewhat distressed with that but was soon comforted when I ordered cupcakes.

The good news is that the previous owner, Lyle will still be involved with the business. I'm not sure how long though, probably a month or two, to help with the transition.

I look forward to positive changes to Three Bakers and a Bike and wish the new owner all the best. Just keep making those small cupcakes - don't change them.

Neighbourhood Christmas Gift Ideas

I thought I would put together a list of some gift ideas that you can pick up in our neighbourhood for that special woman in your life - your wife, sister, Aunt, Grandmother or good friend. Okay this might be my Christmas wish list, but hey I think it's a good list for any woman.

Renu Spa

Manicure and Pedicure  The Renu Manicure ($37+) starts with a moisturizing hand soak, then they will shape the nails and condition the cuticles, then they will apply OPI nail polish. Also includes a relaxing hand and arm massage.
The Renu Pedicure ($60+) allows you to relax and enjoy the comfort of their chairs that offer you personalized massage at your fingertips. The pedicure treatments include a herbal foot soak in their whirlpool footbaths, followed by nail and cuticle care, smoothing of rough skin, exfoliation treatment and moisturizing mask. Also includes a therapeutic foot & leg massage and your favourite OPI polish application. Perfect for someone who likes to socialize, to be pampered or just wants to have nice looking nails.

Oresta's

One of their Signature Facial Treatments ($105-$145). All of their facial treatments include an eyebrow clean-up as well as arm, shoulder, decollete and foot massage. Perfect for someone who likes to be pampered and who wants glowing skin.

Lululemon

Classic Lululemon Scuba Hoodie ($98-$128). Any woman in the neighbourhood would love to have one of these hoodies. If she already has one, there is nothing wrong with buying her another one. These hoodies are cozy and warm and they also look great. Perfect for someone who loves Lululemon, or likes to be cozy and warm.

Mountain Equipment Co-op

Fox River Pippi Ski Socks ($9.50). These are nice and warm wool ski socks - they are really cute because they are pink with stripes. Perfect for someone who is active, downhill skier or who have cold feet.

David's Tea

Tea Kit - Seductive Selection ($35). The small tea kits includes 6 different teas (30 sachets)  in a magnetic lid tea chest. Perfect for someone who loves tea or to entertain.

Truffle Treasures

Truffles ($2 each). You can choose from a wide  assortment of authentic Truffle  Treasures original truffles. They are handmade, fresh, and delicious. Perfect for any woman because all woman love chocolate.

Roots

Coin Pouch ($24). This is a cute little leather coin pouch, perfect for any woman who has trouble finding change in her purse.

Starbucks

Coffee Mug ($10-$15). They have a wide assortment of lovely coffee mugs. Perfect for someone who loves coffee and likes to have a nice big cup of it.

Happy shopping. I will add some more gift ideas in the next couple of days.

Capital Beauty Supply: Hair Dryer

Great Gift Idea

For my birthday I got a new hair dryer and WOW what a difference a good hair dryer makes when styling your hair.  My husband picked up the Dannyco Avanti Ultra AV-3D hair dryer at our local beauty supply store called Capital Beauty Supply Ltd (613-722-7655) on 318 Richmond Road right by the Newport Restaurant in Westboro.

The Dannyco Avanti Ultra AV-3D hair dryer is compact, lightweight and efficient. My hair now takes less time to dry - which as you know, every minute counts in the morning. When I finish drying my hair, I find it looks more smooth and less frizzy - they say it's due to the hair dryers Ion Generator.

I thinks it is totally worth spending the money on a good hair dryer. We use our hair dryer practically everyday. We spend lots of money on our hair - getting it cut, coloured and styled so why not continue good care of our hair with a superior hair dryer.

A funny Santa Video: 24

Here is a funny Christmas video of Santa Claus on the show 24 starring Kiefer Sutherland as federal agent Jack Bauer and Santa Clause as himself.

 

http://www.rebelchristmascard2009.com/

Poor Santa!

Nice One Nails: Solar Gel Nails

Okay I've been totally pampering myself lately. Since I was going on vacation I had to go to my favourite "in and out spa" called Nice One Nails http://www.niceonenails.ca/. This is the best place near our neighbourhood that you can get a quick pedicure and manicure. It is also cheap - $38 and they do a good job - not super but better than what I could do. 

For the first time ever, I decided to get Solar Gel Nails. I find that manicures only last a few days and I wanted my nails to look great the whole week of my vacation. Solar Gel Nails are artificial nails similar to acrylic but are more natural looking French manicure.

Not my nails but they look similar :)

There are a few steps involved in getting Solar Gel Nails.

1. First your nails have to be prepared for the application by cleaning and buffing them.
2. Second step, the nail technician will glue on the white plastic tip of the nails. These will be long-like-claws, but the technician will cut them down to whatever length you like. I opted for short nails. 
3. Then you need to put your nails under the UV light to set the glue.
4. The last application is the “pink part”, which is a gel like substance that is brushed on and smoothed over your whole nail and the white plastic tip.
5. Then this is solidified and set under the UV light.

Positives:

• The great thing about these nails is that you don't need any nail polish once you have them, because they look fantastic and so shiny.
• There is no way of ruining them in the salon when you go pay for the procedure because they are dry and ready to use once they are set. 
• They feel somewhat like your own nail and I think it looks quite natural.

Negatives:

• Honestly I spend way too much time looking at my nails. I find myself preoccupied with them - it looks so odd to have nice nails. :)
• I was told they need to be refilled about every 3 weeks as your nails grow - not sure how that process will go.
• If you need to pick up a coin off the floor, good luck! For some strange reason, these nails are rounded off on the tips and make it impossible to pick up a coin with them.
• If you have an itch, again, these nails can't scratch an itch like your real nails.
• You kids keep complaining that you poke them with your nails when you need to groom or wash them.
• Typing - I am not used to longer nails and I keep hitting the wrong keys on the keyboard with the nail tips. It takes me twice as long to type anything out.
• I also heard when downhill ski season comes around, you can flick the nails off with just buckling up your ski boots - which is also painful and you need to get it fixed right away.

I'm not sure what will happen when I decide I don't want them anymore or what my nails will look like when they come off. However I try not to worry about that right now, I'll just enjoy my fantastic looking nails.

Enhance Those Eyebrows

My sister introduced me to a fantastic product by Benefit - its a brow shaping kit for your eyebrows called Brow Zings.

I find you get your eyebrows waxed and shaped but they still need some refinement, well this is where the brow shaping kit comes in handy. Now I've tried eyebrow pencils before to darken my eyebrows, but when I looked in the mirror it looked like I just applied an eyebrow pencil on them; it did not blend in at all. This Brow Zing product allows you to smooth and refine your brows so they look incredible.

The brow shaping kit contains a pigment wax for shaping, tinted powder for setting, tiny tweezers for those stray hairs, a mirror, hard angle and blending brush.

Here are the directions from the kit: "Dip the angled brush in your soft, pigmented wax. With smooth, angled strokes shape & define brows. Use the blending brush to apply your setting powder. This powder fills in sparse areas and locks brows in place."

You know this is a great product because it was selected as the "Best brow product"  for Allure 2008 Best of Beauty Awards.

Before your next Christmas party, go out and get this product at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart or online at Benefit Cosmetics.