Covet & Acquire

What it is: A limited-edition body gel from CHANEL that features bright glittering flecks of gold particles — and a scent of the iconic fragrance No5.

Beauty bonus: This gel is fast-absorbing. Like, super fast. It pretty much vanishes on contact with skin, leaving behind only notes of the fine fragrance, some sparkle and soft skin.

Beauty bummer: The scent is strong, so I wouldn't recommend layering it with other elixirs.

Overall: This is a fun, festive sparkling gel.

As mentioned above, it packs some serious scent, sparkle and softness, but doesn't leave skin feeling sticky or slick. If you're not a big fan of the No5 scent, you may not love this one, but if you're looking for some luxe sparkle to add to your 2020 countdown, look no further than this CHANEL release.

We're also big fans of the glass bottle, which we're excited to try to repurpose once the gold elixir inside is all used up.

Also pictured in this pic, the incredible CHANEL Rouge Allure Ink Fusion lipstick. Check out my review of this long-wearing lip formula here.

Would recommend? Yes! It's fun and fragranced — perfect for a night out (ahem, or New Year's Eve!) 
Price: $99
Where to buy: CHANEL beauty counters; chanel.com

I'm a big fan of feeling cosy when I'm home, which typically means I'm sporting leggings, an oversize knit and a pair of warm slippers.

Fun fact about me: my hands and feet are always cold.

That's why I was overjoyed to slip on these stylish faux-fur slippers from Coach. They're fun and fashionable ... and did I mention they're fuzzy?

So, without further ado, here are five fabulously fuzzy slippers to step up your at-home cosy vibes this winter.

When it comes to being cosy on the holidays, it doesn't get much better than the Roots Cabin Collection.

The Canadian brand's iconic knits, which are available in a variety of styles and accessory pieces, are practically made for cold winter days.

I'll be living in mine for the next two days, with stretchy leggings of course, as I do little more than lay around the house, eat and hang out with my family.

Happy holidays!

What it is: A limited-edition holiday release from the Canadian beauty brand Lise Watier that's sure to help keep you sparkling for the season.

Beauty bonus: The packaging is fun and festive with glittery movement.

Beauty bummer: None.

Overall: Beauty at the holidays is our favourite time of year —  brands try a little something different with packaging, colours, combos and sets, which hook us every time.

The vibe of this collection is whimsical and fun. Our favourite of the collection? The pretty pink blush, which gave us a winter's wind-swept glow, as well as the mood changing lipstick. Fun!

Would recommend? Yes!
Price: From $26
Where to buy: Lisewatier.com, Hudson’s Bay

 




Who doesn't love a good dose of sparkle during the holiday season? I know I do!

While I wouldn't normally gravitate toward a sequin-covered piece, I find a little sparkle and shine is oh-so acceptable during the festive season.

This sequin top from Le Chateau was the perfect piece for me to add a touch of glamour to my day, without looking like a holiday tree ornament (not a bad thing this time of year, but also not really my personal style).

Paired with a simple black turtleneck and lived-in Levi's jeans, the ensemble felt festive and fun, but also casual enough to be worn for a post-shopping drink on a weekend afternoon.

I'm all about a good winter-white outfit. Not to mention throwing outdated ideas of what's acceptable and unacceptable to wear at a certain time of year out the window.

I wore this look during a recent day of running errands.

Despite the grey skies, the off-white (OK, and true white) ensemble had me thinking of sunnier days. Plus, I loved adding a few key elements to the look such as this cute Furla purse and my favourite oversized Lack of Color Rancher hat.

Do you wear winter white in, well, the winter? 

Pearls have made such a comeback in the past year or so. Especially when it comes to earrings.

While a petite pearl stud has always been in style, the latest eye-catching designs taking over social feeds feature oversized baroque styles, or several pearly orbs strung uniquely together.

And, I'm loving it.

While I picked up these pretty pearls from Mejuri — the Canadian online jewelry platform that has pretty much revolutionized the way I shop for jewelry (ehem, and think of pearls) —  virtually every jewelry brand out there has a unique pearl offering of its own.

Here are a few favourites I spotted while doing a quick scrolls online. Happy shopping!

If you follow me on Instagram, then you're likely well aware that I was recently in Italy.

The trip, while fantastic — filled with food, photos a few shopping finds – also provided a sobering reminder of how wacky the world's weather is getting.

A few days prior to my arrival, the city experienced near-record levels of flood waters. While they had largely receded, the canal levels continued to lap over the edges of the stone walkways during my visit. And the visible signs of the damage the high waters had left on the historic city lurked around every corner.

It was a sad way to see this stunning city, to be sure. But, I was nevertheless grateful to call it "home" for a few brief days last month.

Have you visited Venice?  

What it is: A carbon-black mascara from makeup mainstay MAC Cosmetics that promises dense, full lashes in a flexible and soft formula. 

I know it may seem early ... but the festive holiday season seems to be in full swing. Yes, already. 

My agenda has several upcoming after-work holiday parties, not to mention a few that are already checked off in my daybook (yes, I still use a paper agenda. But, in my defence, it is Louis Vuitton :P).

With a host of holiday parties, the need to have pieces in my wardrobe that can go from work to evening fetes has prompted me to search for pieces that can easily transition from day to evening. And that's precisely why I picked up this subtly sparkly blazer from Le Chateau.

The made-in-Canada design is the perfect piece to wear with a blazer and jeans, or over a slinky evening slip-dress for a weekend round of drinks. I sized up for a slightly oversized appeal.

I'll surely be wearing it on repeat. What will you be wearing this holiday party season?

(P.S.> I shot this look while on vacation recently in Florence, Italy. Don't mind the slightly unfortunate angle of Neptune's Fountain in the background.) 

I've always been a fan of pink.

In fact, while discussing this point with my mom a while back, she mentioned how much, as a child I had love the hue.

Well, it only takes one quick glance at this outfit to see that the love for all things pink has stayed with me.

As soon as I spotted this Upcycled Puffer from Gap, I knew I had to have this bright fuchsia shade. It's pretty much the exact jacket I always wanted as a little girl. Plus, most elements of this fuchsia beauty are recycled — so, current me love that too.

And, naturally, as soon as I got it, I knew I wanted to play up the pink factor of this piece by pairing it with several other pink pieces. When it came down to it, I was a bit surprised by just how many pink items I had in my closet at home. I guess some things really don't change. Ha!