#MYMIX WITH EBAY CANADA + GIVEAWAY

Posted by kait / July 3, 2013

I love personalized shopping. Especially when you are shopping online. The less you have to search, the better in my books. MyMix just went live on eBay Canada on Tuesday July 2nd and I have been loving it ever since! A similar look to Pinterest – the Feed makes it easy to search for stuff you love in a super visual way. The lovely folks at eBay Canada sent over a $100 PayPal gift certificate for me (and one for a very lucky reader – see below) to try out the new Feed application on the site and pick out some great new goods just in time for summer vacations.

ebay_mymix

MyMix is a super sweet collection of summertime must-haves to keep me looking cute and having fun. I’ve been missing the days of Polaroids so I picked up a baby blue Fuji Instax Mini and a pack of Instax film to capture all of my summer adventures – from music festivals to road trips to a fun night out with my girlfriends – I can’t wait to use it. I also love shooting with my DLSR camera so I picked up an adorable new strap for it. I’ll be more inspired to pick it up and bring it out with me when it looks so cute with the polka dot strap.

I’ve been absolutely loving the new She & Him album, Volume 3. I only have the digital album but wanted to get a copy for the record player too – everything just sounds better on vinyl, right? Zooey Deschanel’s voice is just gorgeous – can’t wait to put it on for spontaneous dance parties in the living room!

Lastly, I had to pick up this J.Crew-inspired statement necklace. My favourite colour of flowers – I see myself wearing this well into fall with pretty dresses & tees. Completely adorable.

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To help celebrate MyMix and inspire you to find those must-have summer items, whether you’re looking for the perfect summery white dress or cat eye sunglasses, eBay Canada would like to offer one of my readers a $100 PayPal Gift Certificate to use on eBay!

All you have to do is leave a comment here telling me why you love shopping on eBay. Make sure you leave your name and email address in the provided fields! For more chances to win you can tweet me at using the #MyMix hashtag and Contest ends on Monday, July 8. Open to Canadian readers only. Good luck!

UPDATE: Congrats to the winner Tammy D! I am so excited to hear what treasures you find on eBay Canada! Thanks to everyone who entered!

Underground Film Festival & Giveaway!

Posted by kait / April 16, 2013

The Calgary Underground Film Festival is officially underway. Every year I wait and wait for the program to come out so I can plan out my week of film. This year looks incredible and I can’t wait to head to the Globe Theatre for popcorn and Canadian debuts. On my list this year, are the two flicks, Frances Ha and Picture Day – both reaching into the lives of young women on the verge of something. Amongst their troubles and failures, there is something great about them. I know you will love these two films.

Lucky for you, I have two pairs of tickets to each film to give away from the Calgary Underground Film Festival.

Here are the details:

To be entered three times to win two tickets for either Frances Ha or Picture Day, here is what to do! This giveaway is only open to residents of Calgary and who can attend the opening weekend of the film at the Globe Cinema at the following times:

Frances Ha on April 18th at 7:30 PM

Picture Day on April 20th at 7:15 PM

Update: Contest is now closed. Congrats to Morgan & Janice who both won a pair of tickets.

Frances Ha

Director Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale, Greenberg) returns with a humorous urban fairytale about growing up even after you’re grown up.
Frances is 27 and lives with her best friend Sophie in New York. She is busy reinventing her career as a dancer, and although it’s been a while since she graduated, a fully functioning professional life still seems like a distant dream. Even though her job search ends in one disappointment after another, she’s fairly content being inseparable from her best friend Sophie — even though they’re a bit like an old married couple. When Sophie moves into her dream flat in Tribeca with another girlfriend, Frances suddenly finds herself out on the street. Now she not only has to find a new place to live but also a new place in the world. A tentative romance fails as a result of conflicting ideas about what a relationship should be. Frances’s life is far removed from that of her dreams but her love of life remains indefatigable, as she drifts from one odd abode to the next.

Picture Day

Forced to repeat her senior year of high school, Claire’s (Tatiana Maslany – Orphan Black, Heartland) reputation is sliding from bad-ass to bad joke. Armed with an acid tongue and shielded by ever-present headphones, Claire locks onto the only student clueless to her sordid rep: Henry (Spencer Van Wyck), a nerdy freshman she used to babysit. At night, Claire escapes to raucous concerts where she catches the eye of 33-year–old Jim (Steven McCarthy, frontman of The ElastoCitizens), a would–be rock star who feeds on young fans’ adoration. Jim leads her into an intoxicating world of hard-partying musicians, while at school, Claire takes Henry under her wing. She reinvents her dorky friend as the mysterious rebel, throwing Henry’s life into hilarious turmoil. As Claire dances across the surface of these relationships, she eventually learns hard lessons about the difference between sex, intimacy, and
friendship.

Happy Friday!

Posted by kait / November 30, 2012

Happy Friday, friends! I am sooo looking forward to getting in some rest & relaxation this weekend. It has been a crazy busy two weeks with endless meetings, events and deadlines. It doesn’t exactly stop here but I definitely am planning a bit of a computer detox over the weekend. Let’s see how I do with that, haha!

This snapshot is of my new white tree which we will be decorating over the weekend and getting our house all Christmas-afied! A big Christmas party this weekend with Byron’s company and our annual family tree trimming celebration at my parents. Can’t wait to decorate, eat loads of great things and do some more karaoke (we just bought my parents a karaoke machine for their 35th anniversary!)!

Happy weekend. xo

holiday cheer! deck the halls gift ideas!

Posted by kait / November 26, 2012

Holiday Gift Guide #5: Deck the Halls – Home Gift Guide

It seems as though we need the American Thanksgiving pass for us to officially feel that the holiday season has begun. I know many people who have already put up their tree and started decorating their homes – but do not despair – you still have plenty of time to get your home looking like a shimmering example of Christmas goodness. This is my last guest post for the series and while I walked around the CORE looking for these gorgeous gifts, I definitely felt that child-like excitement building up inside of me – I just can’t wait to officially be on holidays!

I pulled together some really great pieces to decorate your home with the holidays – they all have a design-inspired spin to them – graphic, bold and charming. I found this regal pinecone candlestick holder (01.) at Indigo and immediately pictured several of them down the center of a table setting. Perfect for Christmas dinner!

I am addicted to buying pretty patterned skinny candles right now – stripes, colour-blocked and argyle! These beautiful Channakuh candles (02.) at Papyrus are the most gorgeous shades of icy blue.

Pantone is everywhere now – including your Christmas Tree. Holt Renfrew is carrying these shiny and colourful Pantone ball ornaments (03.) this year and are the perfect gift for anyone who works in art and design. Plus, you can choose your favourite colours!

Roots has been carrying more and more unique items and their holiday collection is an excellent example of fabulous gift ideas. This 2013 Wood Stump Calendar (04.) is absolutely inspired. Simple and natural paired with beautifully illustrated calendar cards – this gift keeps on giving each month.

Nothing better than a mug, is there? This big cream and gold mug (05.) from Starbucks will keep your beverages hot while you watch It’s A Wonderful Life for the 20th time! Delicate design details make this a great gift for anyone who enjoys hot chocolate or a great coffee.

Stock up on these great items to deck the halls at Twas The Night! Buy your tickets for the biggest private shopping night ever, Twas the Night at The Core on November 28th!

You can find all these great gifts in downtown Calgary at The CORE:

01. Pinecone Taper – Large, IndigoSpirit, $24.50

02. Embossed Candles, , $12.95

03. Pantone Ornament, Holt Renfrew, $18

04. Wood Stump Calendar, Roots, $19.95

05. Rosanna Boxed Mug, Starbucks, $12.95

holiday cheer shopping! glitz & glam stocking stuffers!

Posted by kait / November 21, 2012

Holiday Gift Guide #4: Glitz & Glam Stocking Stuffers

We have finally arrived at the most glamourous of all of the gift guides – the must-haves in glitz and glam stocking stuffers. These are specifically for the glitterati in your life who definitely have a taste for the finer things in life along with the mere fact that they totally deserve an amazing Christmas gift! And just because these items might shine and shimmer that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank – these particular gifts range in price from $14 to $1400!

Quite often really great things arrive in sealed envelopes and when you put it in a Kate Spade envelope (01.) it’s gotta be really good! These luxe Jingle All The Way cards are the perfect messenger to deliver those big cheques (or gift cards) in, Santa Baby!

One isn’t completely a fabulous socialite without a perfectly stocked bar cart and stunning glassware. These confetti-esque Champagne Flutes (02.) are perfect for those who love to sip on a little bubbly no matter the happy occasion. Cheers!

Fashionistas come in all ages and this Alexander McQueen Paper Dolls Book (03.) will stun and please anyone with a love for fashion and McQueen. Gift to a budding fashion designer or pass along to someone who needs to rediscover their inner child.

Luxury doesn’t always come in a ring box or on a silver platter. Sometimes the luxe life just means having the time to relax and rejuvenate – with fine products of course. This Coconut Milk Mango Candle (04.) is excellent to have burning during a relaxing bubble bath or while digging into a new book.

This is more of a last minute present as you’ll want to be fresh as ever when you place it into your loved ones’ stockings! Cupcakes (05.) are the ultimate Christmas morning treat and could there be anything better than a custom-made one from Buttercream Bake Shoppe? I think not!

And lastly, we have the most luxe gifts of all – beautiful winter-inspired baubles (06 & 07) from Birks Snowflake collection. Both the ring and the stud earrings are glitzy to the max – whomever you gift them to will be sure to shine on through 2013! Talk about bling!

You can get all the glitz and glam that your loved ones could ever need at Twas The Night! Buy your tickets for the biggest private shopping night ever, Twas the Night at The Core on November 28th!

You can find all these great gifts in downtown Calgary at The CORE:

01. Kate Spade Jingle All the Way Cards, Holt Renfrew, $35.00

02. Bubbly Champagne Flutes, Indigo, $36.50

03. Alexander McQueen Paper Dolls, Holt Renfrew, $14.00

04. Essentials Coconut Milk Mango Candle, , $14.95

05. Cupcakes, Buttercream Bake Shoppe, varied prices

06.Birks Snowflake Cluster Ring, Birks, $1395.00

07. Birks Snowflake Cluster Stud Earrings, Birks, $995.00

a very minted holiday

Posted by kait / November 16, 2012

Have you met Minted? Based out of San Francisco, they are one of the best resources on the web to purchase custom greeting cards along with beautiful artist prints (addicted to these) and their newly launched party decor line! With Christmas nearly just one month away, it is about time that we all dig out our favourite pen and get writing our Christmas cards.

Today I want to share my favourites out of their new holiday collection of cards. As if like a magnet, I gravitate towards the hand-drawn type cards almost immediately. I love the simplicity and the child-like nature to them. I would definitely want to receive one of these in my mailbox!

I love the colour palette of these last two cards. Cream, green and red – just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I am just wondering though – we don’t have any cute kids or pets like these beautifully photogenic families – hope people will like a card with our goofy mugs on it! Tough luck….

This post was sponsored by minted.com but includes my own opinions and reviews of the product.

holiday cheer! gift guide for all the dudes in your life!

Posted by kait / November 14, 2012

Ah yes. Shopping for the men in your life. Quite possibly the hardest people to pinpoint on your shopping list.

There is Dad – he always makes it like he doesn’t need or want anything – he’s just happy relaxing with his family over the holidays. But come on, that just means you need to find him something real cool just to show how much he means to you. These Whiskey Rocks (01) are the perfect addition to the bottle of whiskey that you snuck into his stocking.

What about your Father-in-law? You aren’t exactly close but you do know he loves card games and has been wanting to improve his poker game. The Little Black Book of Poker (02) is a great gift that shows you care about his hobbies and interests (even if you don’t)!

You know your Best Friend has been wanting to hit up Bowtie Thursdays for sometime now but doesn’t have the swag to represent. H&M has a fabulous selection of affordable patterned and plain bowties (03) making it easy for you to pick him up one for every day of the week!

Your Husband or Long-term Boyfriend is the absolute hardest person to shop for. Since you live together, every gift you see worth purchasing just so happens to be something you will enjoy as well. Get him something he’ll have around forever – a staple like a side bag for work or a backpack for his adventures. The Fred Perry Scotch Grain Side Bag (08) is ideal for toting his iPad and work files around while the Herschel Napsack (04) is meant for weekends away.

Your Brother has the best style out of everyone in your family – he dresses super casual but just seems to always look put together. One part Canadiana and one part skater, this Bird Hat (07) from Vans is the perfect quirky gift for the one guy you know who can pull it off. On the other hand, do you and your sibling fight a lot? Call truce with this manly friendship bracelet (05) from Club Monaco.

Hey, don’t forget to buy something for your New Boyfriend! You haven’t been dating too long so get him something in the mid-price range, like this cozy Roots Toque (06). He’ll think of you when he wears it and what could be cuter than that? Of course, if your love connection is beyond the “I bought you a toque” stage consider booking a staycation in downtown Calgary for the two of you.

Need to get all your shopping done? Buy your tickets for the biggest private shopping night ever, Twas the Night at The Core on November 28th!

You can find all these great gifts in downtown Calgary at The CORE:

01. Whiskey Rocks, Indigo Spirit, 24.99

02. The Little Black Book of Poker, Land & Sea, $9.95

03. Patterned Bow Tie, H&M, $6.95

04. Herschel Napsack, Little Burgundy Pop Up Shop, $85.00

05. Beaded Bracelet, Club Monaco, $15.00

06. Roots Toque, Roots, $30.00

07. Vans Bird Hat, Little Burgundy Pop Up Shop, $28.00

08. Fred Perry Scotch Grain Side Bag, Urban, $85.00

holiday cheer! gift ideas for kiddos!

Posted by kait / November 7, 2012

While Christmas practically revolves around pleasing children, shopping for kids is actually tough! Throw one of those massive 500 page Christmas Catalog’s (ala the average child’s equivalent to the Vogue September Issue) into the mix and it is nearly impossible to figure out what to get for them. Shopping for kids downtown may at first look hopeless due to the lack of toy stores and specialty shops but once you look around, there is treasure for the kiddos in your life all throughout The CORE!

Parents and non-parents have this shopping dilemma every year so I have pulled together some of my go-to favourite gifts for kids. I’ve gathered unique and affordable gifts here for a range of ages from baby to teen and including all kinds of interests.

01. The Soft and Cuddly Baby Type: Land & Sea has a really great selection of adorable baby stuff. It may look like a toy store for you on the outside but they actually do carry lifestyle products for the whole family. I fell in love with these Baby Magoo Blankets (you can actually order customizable ones too!) and they are perfect for gifting to a new baby who of course needs to be snuggled constantly.

02. The Chatterbox Teen: Jack & Elliot has so many cool and trendy products that you could pick out just about anything for your teen here and they will love it. I thought this Rabito iPhone case would be essential for the teen getting their first cell phone. Quirky yet functional – it’s a great stocking stuffer.

03. The Adventurous Sort: You know the kid that is always climbing trees, can name every continent and went to archaeology camp this summer? Yes, the Adventurous Sort! This water resistant watch from the Gap is a terrific present for the kid on the run.

04 + 05. The Kids with Big Imaginations: It’s time to stock up on new costumes for your tickle trunk and H&M just so happens to have a fun line of children’s costumes that also function as great winter outerwear! I wish I had a flamingo or rabbit cap to create new magical worlds in with my friends!

06. The Kid Who Loves Darn Good Design: Some kids just seem to have a deeper appreciation for well-designed toys. They’ll likely grow up to be industrial designers, architects or create well-designed toys for a living. You can’t go wrong with the traditional stacking dolls this time with a Sock Monkey spin on them! Calendar Club is carrying a massive selection of quirky yet classical children’s toys for the season.

07. The Nostalgic Child: Ah yes, the Nostalgic Child. This is the category I would have fallen into as a kid. The kid who longs for olden times and yesteryear. Now if you are part of the vinyl revival movement, it is likely you already have a turntable and what kid doesn’t want to be more like their parents? This fabulous repro Fisher Price Turntable is an absolute gem and a must-have for any budding music aficionado.

Buy your tickets for the biggest private shopping night ever, Twas the Night at The Core on November 28th!

All gifts found at The CORE

01. Baby Magoo Blankets, Land & Sea, $65-$105 /

02. Ribito iPhone Case, Jack & Elliot, $38 /

03. Red Digital Water Resistant Sports Watch, The Gap, $12.95 /

04. Flamingo Ca, H&M, $19.95 /

05. Grey Jersery Rabbit Cap & Mitts, H&M, $29.95

06. Sock Monkey Nesting Monkeys, Calendar Club, $14.99

07. Fisher Price Record Player, Calendar Club, $34.99

holiday cheer! christmas shopping must-haves!

Posted by kait / October 31, 2012

It is not even quite November yet and I am already SO excited to embrace 2012′s holiday season. I’m not sure if you are anything like me, but year after year I have every good intention of getting my Christmas shopping done well in advance, yet somehow that plan always gets abandoned and I find myself frantically searching for those perfect gifts. This year will be different and I hope to help you (and myself!) find some extra special gifts for the amazing people in our lives.

This is the first installment of a little holiday shopping series I am working on with The CORE leading up to their incredible second annual Christmas shopping night event, T’was The Night. I was in attendance last year and let me tell you that there was every bit of glitz, glamour and music that you would expect from a sparkly holiday shopping party. There was so much charm to the evening, with the massive Christmas tree lighting to delicious treats and giftwrapping services – it almost felt like you were in one of those 1950s Christmas movies in the department stores of the past. I loved it.

Since it isn’t officially the holiday season until we say bye-bye to our carved pumpkins, today I am sharing my favourite things to gift yourself before you begin your Christmas shopping expedition. We all need those perfect items to keep us looking good, hydrated and within budget and I’ve got the perfect finds right here to get your started!

01. The perfect gift is only truly perfect if it is wrapped up beautifully as well. While you can always go with the classic brown paper packages tied up with string route, I am opting for something a bit more opulent. Papyrus, located on the main level of The CORE, has an absolutely incredible selection of wrapping papers for just about every occasion. Their holiday collection is stunning and comes in classic prints like a red tartan and Santa’s sleigh imagery. My fave of the bunch? The gorgeous and quirky Owls in Trees papers!

02. A unique Christmas card is honestly hard to come by which is why this hilarious card stopped me dead in my holiday shopping tracks. More than just books, Indigo has a great selection of holiday cards and gifts. This card will do any mantel proud this holiday season.

03. Avoid the last minute hustle and bustle (and dipping into your savings) by using this handy-dandy money and receipt tracker. Keep your shopping lists for all the special people in your life along with your spending budget, it really is the perfect solution to temptation of impulse buys and straying off budget.

04. I fell in love with this gorgeous red leather tote from the GAP on first look alone. Boxy and roomy, this tote will have the mileage and room to take you from one end of The Core and back. And hey, you might as well look real good while you find the perfect gifts for your loved ones.

05. Beyond your money & receipt holder, you’ll also need a secure and bigger than normal wallet to hold on to gift cards, gift receipts and coupons. This snakeskin zip wallet has enough glamour to it that you can take it out shopping and then out for a drink after.

06. Quite possibly the most important item on the list, you are gonna need something cute to tote around your caffeine while you peruse the shops. This to-go tumbler from Starbucks caught my eye with its lovely copper glint – who says you can’t have practicality and beauty rolled into one?

Check out The CORE Shopping Blog for more posts!

All gifts found at The CORE.

01. Wrapping Papers, , $8.95-$9.95 / 02. Ugly Sweaters Christmas Card, Indigo, $13.00 / 03. Money Receiptables Folder, Indigo, $15.99 / 04. Red Leather Tote, GAP, $125 / 05. Piper Wallet, Club Monaco, $98.50 / 06. Starbucks Anniversary Tumbler, $14.95

listen here, andy shauf

Posted by kait / October 17, 2012

I have friends with incredible taste in music. I used to be able to say I had my hand on the pulse of the music scene here in Calgary back when I was running New Canadian Modern but to completely honest, the music I’ve been purchasing lately has been spur of the moment, can’t go wrong with your favourite bands kind of music. Which is no crime, I love to support my favourite Canadian artists time and time again by picking up their vinyl or iTunes. However, sometimes I do feel like I am missing out on some very talented artists. Thankfully, the aforementioned friends with incredible music tastes keep me up to speed on what is happening and who is coming to town.

I was so lucky to receive an advance copy of Andy Shauf’s new album, The Bearer of Bad News. The instrumentation and musicianship, alone, on this album speak volumes to Shauf’s vision and creativity as a songwriter. The smooth vocals meld with clarinet and piano, perfectly building up to the soundtrack of your autumn roadtrips. I already know this album will be on repeat for the next couple of weeks, for sure.

I can’t wait for his November 7th show at The Lantern (1401 10th Ave SE) in Calgary along with other hometown hero’s Reuben & The Dark. It is going to be a magical show and a wonderful excuse to get out on a Wednesday evening. This new album will be available as well.

And to leave you with a bit of beauty + sound, here is the tour video teaser filmed and produced by local filmmaker, featuring a snippet of the melodic dreams that Andy Shauf has to offer.

from on .