EVERY DAY I'M SHUTTLING | My Day on the New Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle

A mini cardboard replica of the Vaughan Mills Shuttle Bus that's actually - wait for it - a Kleenex box! 

Mondays are usually a little rough. I mean, after a weekend of fun and frolic, it can be torture to dive right back into the work routine. Yesterday, though - yesterday was a different kind of Monday. As Official Stylist of Vaughan Mills (eek!), I was asked to come to Toronto to celebrate the 2015 launch of the Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle. If you read this blog, you'll know that my arm never needs to be twisted when it comes to shopping so obviously, I was in. 

I arrive at Union Station with two fellow Toronto blogettes - Samantha Kaszab of Worth the Jetlag & Amanda Cosco of Girl About Toronto and after receiving our wristbands, are escorted by a girl from the City Tours Attraction Desk to the shuttle bus parked just a few blocks away. As soon as we spot it, we are all totally blown away - the Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle is a floral tour de force, covered from head to taillights in a bold wash of pink, purple and blue flowers. Stun. Ning. 

We hop on board with a bus full of other giddy shoppers, ready for a day of fashion fun at Vaughan Mills. As the lucky Day 1 riders, we all find swag bags on our seats filled with shopping essentials - headphones, smartphone chargers, water, a pen & notepad (for shoe shopping lists, of course), and the cutest Kleenex box I've ever seen. I've been known to cry tears of joy while shopping so this is a very smart move on the part of the Vaughan Mills marketing team. Plus, we all score a Vaughan Mills gift card to help with our shopping. Yes!

The morning shuttle leaves at 10 am and only takes 20ish minutes to get to Vaughan Mills. We scour the shops and designer outlets (J.Crew, Aritzia, Banana Republic, Town Shoes, Lululemon and BCBG topped our must-visit lists), then settle in for a leisurely lunch (Aroma, anyone?) to refuel before an afternoon at the rest of the stores on our list (I pick up a few things at Ivivva for my daughter, H&M for my son, shorts for my husband at Joe Fresh, and even pick up a birthday present at LEGOLAND because Lego is awesome). Next, it's time to do some damage at HR2. I hone in on the sale racks and spot a classic white Pink Tartan shirtdress, normally $500 marked down to $119. Magic. 

At 3 pm, it's time to jump back on the shuttle. I pass out leis to everyone on the bus to celebrate a successful shopping day and then we all compare our scores. I'm tempted to go back in and pick up a pair of pumps a stylish 20-something found at Capezio but remind myself that the shuttle runs twice daily. I can always do this again tomorrow, right?

Whether you don't own a car, don't feel like dealing with traffic, or are just looking for a fun, FREE way to spend the day at Vaughan Mills, be sure to test-ride the Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle, running twice daily all summer long until Sept 30th - no reservations or pre-booking necessary (first-come, first-served so get there early to make sure you get a wristband). I live in Kitchener so plan on taking the VIA into Union Station with my kids, then riding the shuttle bus to Vaughan Mills for a day at LEGOLAND this summer. Oh and get this - for the first time ever, the shopping shuttle will be running during Christmas shopping season from Nov 23rd-Dec 23rd. Genius!

Can't wait to hear what you think of the new Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle. See you on board soon!

 

Flower power. 

Samantha and I in our synchronized shuttle poses. 

Shuttle stowaways. This shuttle's so posh, even the cargo hold is squeaky clean. 

This is my happy shopping face. 

No blogger trip is complete without a back-of-the-bus selfie. 

Amanda gets her shoe shopping on. 

Pink Tartan on clearance. This is my jam. 

Can't even with these mini shuttles. 

Shopping joy. 

Aloha. 

This shuttle makes all the other buses jealous. 

Swag bag spoils. Thanks Vaughan Mills!

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY | Our Ultimate Dad's Day Gift Guide

You're welcome ;)

Originally posted in The CLOSET

You've got to hand it to dads. I mean, enduring ballet recitals, waiting out endless bathroom takeovers and braving the long teenage years is enough to make even the most sane guy want to midlife crisis his way into a red Camaro. Dads are expected to keep things fun when moms like me get naggy. Do this. Do that. I mean do this, that way. Do that, but you're doing that all wrong. My husband can only take so much direction, at which point bedtime hits and he starts spontaneously hurling packs of candy at my daughter and doing bad-ass ninja taekwondo with my son. Must be some evolutionary response to eons of nagging wives. 

I was lucky to grow up with the best dad who, though he's sadly passed away, will always be with me. When I find myself taking life too seriously, I think of the look my dad would have given me and it always makes me laugh. When I find myself rushing through my day, I remember how my dad and I would spend hours staring at the clouds, magically willing them to evaporate away. When I get too stuck in a routine, I'll whisk my kids off to do something exciting because nobody taught me the value of adventure more than my spontaneous dad. He was also the first one to arrive in any crisis and the first person I'd call if I needed a cry. I now watch my husband with my kids and feel so lucky that they're growing up with a wonderful dad, too. He makes crepes on Sundays, he takes them on bike rides through the city, and makes bedtime stories way more exciting than any author could ever have imagined. Dads might not parent exactly like moms, but it turns out that's a very good thing.

Whether he's an athlete, a techie, a wannabe hipster or just a laid-back kinda bro, we've rounded up the top gifts to show him how much you appreciate every little thing. We love you, dads! 

SEE OUR DAD'S DAY GIFT GUIDE HERE...

SHUT UP & DANCE | 35 Fun Accessories for your Next Formal Fête

via Pinterest

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

Let's get something straight: it's not about the dress. Okay, I mean, it's not ALL about the dress. When it comes to the formal fêtes of summer, so many of us put all of our efforts into finding that perfect dress. The dress of our dreams, the frock of our fancies, you know - the ONE. And whether you've found that dress or have yet to track it down, it's a win-win either way. 

Okay, so in scenario 1, you've got Dream Dress hanging in your closet. It might fit you perfectly, hugging your curves in all the right places and when you put it on, you feel like a total bae. Some women stop there. But we've all seen how bad shoes and careless accessorizing can ruin a perfectly pretty dress. It's like wearing a killer suit to a job interview and then carrying your things in a plastic bag. A pair of sleek sandals and Dream Dress-worthy accessories will ensure that your whole look doesn't fall flat on the big day.

How about those of you who have yet to find a perfect dress? Whether it's the fit, the selection or your budget that's messing with your dress shopping success, fear not. You can take a pretty basic little black dress and turn it into something memorable with the right accessories. Try a pair of fun floral pumps and statement earrings and suddenly, that LBD doesn't look so basic anymore.

I've rounded up 35 pretty accessories that will help you bring your A-game, whether you're heading to prom, a wedding or any other fancy fête this season. But first, don't miss this video for the dance moves you'll need to know when you get there. SO good. 

READ MORE...

R.S.V.PERFECT | Be the Best-Dressed Wedding Guest

A floral stunner from the ELLE by RW&CO. Collection via RW&CO.

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Wedding season is upon us (does it ever actually end?) and while you might have RSVP'd and ticked off her registry list, you might not know what on earth you're going to wear. It's stressful. I mean, you want to look amazing because, we all do. You'll likely see some people you haven't seen in awhile and of course, you want to look your best for the bride and groom's big day. But do you play it safe? Or go bright? Plus there's that nasty budget to contend with. And then there are the shoes, and the clutch, and the jewelry, too. Oh, and hair and makeup. Phew. 

If you're not in the wedding party, remember this: the pressure's officially off. No speeches or showers or wedding to-do's, you just have to show up looking cute. That's all. I've rounded up some pretty ideas for you to try out if you're currently looking for some wedding day inspo. I've gone beyond the LBD with some fun little finds for you. Enjoy and happy wedding season to you!

READ MORE...

SHORT STORY | Get Inspired for Summer with these 4 Short & Sweet Looks

via H&M

Originally posted in The CLOSET

I've been walking 10,000 steps every day for the past 3 days. Sure, it's not that impressive. I mean, it's early days here. But I'm on a mission and I'm wishin' someone would cure my shortless condition. It's way too cold to wear shorts right now but I know that just around the corner, the sun will heat up our days and stay that way. And so I'm walking to get my legs in shape for all of the sweet shorts hitting stores now. From printed and pop bright, to classic nautical stripes to super cool culottes, there are so many shorts I'm hoping to pick up for the hot days ahead.

While finding great shorts is a battle in and of itself, requiring several changeroom visits to find a pair that fits you right, it's what you pair them with that really matters. Oh nuh-uh-uh, put away that plain old tee, if you please. Sure you can go for the basic and I'm sure you'll look cute. But the shorts of this season aren't just meant for weekend walks to the park. While shorts look right at home for super casual outings like aforementioned parks, music festivals and chilling on the patio with friends, shorts work for fancier affairs, too. Heading to a baby or wedding shower? A pair of shorts with a printed blouse and blazer look just perf. Tired of your 9-to-5 wardrobe grind? A pair of cute new culottes will instantly refresh your work look. 

Now back to my walking. After all, I've only hit 4,500 steps today and short season waits for no one. Get your short & sweet outfit inspiration below...

SEE THE OUTFITS HERE...