Baby Talk: Testing The Britax Stroller Organizer On Our New Stroller!

So we finally decided on a stroller that would fit all our present and future needs. We chose the Baby Jogger City Select and the Maxi Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat to go with it. Its been sitting in our hallway for a while now and every time I pass it I smile thinking that our baby will be here soon :)

For now though we have Lambie the Lamb strapped in and keeping the seat warm! This stroller has many many great qualities but ill admit the cup holder attachment (purchases separately) isn't one of them. I knew I had to have a cup holder but was a bit disappointed with the one made specifically for this stroller so there it sat in the packaging and will probably never be used.

Solution?
The Britax Stroller Organizer!

This organizer fits most strollers with handles 13"-21" wide which is a huge range. It comes with Two insulated beverage holders keep your cold drinks cold and warm drinks warm and big centre compartment that's magnetized where I will likely keep things like keys, pacifiers and my wallet and three outside pockets where you can keep your cell phone, keys or any other small nicknack you may need while out.

(can you spot Lambie the lamb strapped in?)

Love the magnetized compartment!

It holds my Starbucks Cool Lime drink quite well :)

The only down fall I had with the organizer was that because no matter how I strapped it on (perhaps I'm doing it wrong) it never sat perfectly up right so when I tried to place my very full Timmies cup in the cup holder some of it did spill out. It could just be the wide handles on the stroller or that I had it in the wrong spot but it wasn't a big deal after taking a few sips of my drink.

Since our stroller with organizer attached is sitting in our house we get asked about it quite often from my mommy friends. It seems that every mom is looking for something like this!

Well my mommy friends, look no more! no more reaching down to the basket of your stroller, no more pushing with 1 hand while you sip your coffee, no more fussing to find your cell when its ringing. The Britax Stroller Organized has got your covered!!

A Gift Basket For Baby From President's Choice!

This baby girl is spoiled already!

She and I received a lovely gift basket from Presidents Choice with some of their new baby products which included 2 cute Joe Fresh bibs, some fun PC feeding accessories for when shes on solids, a box of PC fragrance -free & hypoallergenic sensitive baby wipes and a some of their NEW supreme stretchy fit diapers.

I'm actually so excited to test out the diapers because they claim to be super absorbent and come with a wetness indicator everyone has been telling me is a must for my diaper choice.

More great things about these New! PC Supreme Diapers is that they are available in sizes 1 to 6, have a back waistband that helps prevent leakage, include a hypoallergenic and fragrance-free liner, have a size indicator on the diaper and are made of Soft and lightweight material that won’t slow baby down!

Did you know that Loblaw launched a Baby & You program across Canada to help make things easy and convenient.  The Baby & You program includes an active online forum and new parents are invited to join the Baby & You Facebook group as a venue for parents to talk and learn about new PC®  products. Such a great resource for all parents new and old ;)

Stay tuned after baby girl is born for a battle of the diapers post! I have a few different brands that Ill be putting to the test to see which ones hold up and which just don't cut it for my baby.

Giveaway: Win 1 of 3 Entire Face Mask Collections From MaskerAide! Open Internationally

MaskerAide is a brand that provides women with stylish yet affordable facial treatments that compliment any skin care routine. They go above and beyond when it comes to effective and safe ingredients and packaging, are Vegan friendly and are non-toxic.

Their masks are also FREE of Parabens, Harsh Dyes & Pigments, Mineral Oils, Artificial Fragrances, Benzophenone or Glycerins and unlike traditional clay or liquid masks they are mess free!

There are many reasons I love these sheet masks besides that they leave my skin feeling baby soft and refreshingly hydrated after every use. Below are just some of the benefits and features of MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Masks.

Don't be alarmed at the image below, it may not look so hot on me but it doesn't matter because it relaxed my skin and made me feel great after ;)

Well folks now is your chance to win all 6 masks in MaskerAide's collection you see below!

There will be 3 lucky winners and this giveaway is open Internationally!!

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*Open Internationally.

*Contest closes on  Oct 8th 2012 at 11:59pm EST

*Only activated email subscriptions will count towards an entry

Baby Talk: Updated Pic 32 Weeks 6 Days :)

Taken at my in laws place :) The bump is taking shape finally!!

33 weeks tomorrow... 7 more to go! Come on November :)

Baby Talk: 32 Weeks & In Full Nesting Mode!

Weeks Pregnant: 32 weeks

Weeks to go: 8 weeks

How I'm Feeling: A lot more preggo!
Not only am I showing way more (finally!) but baby is now head down and therefore kicking my ribs often. I'm still having sleep issues but I'm guessing it will be like this now until the end. Ive started to feel nauseous at time again which isn't fun but its no where near as bad as first trimester. 

What I'm Feeling: Excited, anxious and nervous all at the same time! I still feel like we have so much to do before baby arrives and with only 8 weeks left (if she is full term) every weekend is spent running around getting things done.

Craving: Nothing in particular at this point.

Projects on the go: Still working on the nursery! I think I'll be doing this right until the end. Her bedding came in after a minor set back of getting the wrong set but we don't have a mattress yet so we are still waiting for that to set up the crib. Most of her 100's of clothing items are washed and put away but I do want to organize the closet a bit better.

We are still waiting on the glider to come in, and because we want to make sure spacing is right in the room we are waiting to hang any mirrors or art until we settle on where everything will go.

Ive been nesting this week! I organized most of the cupboards in our kitchen that were over flowing and cleared 2 shelves for baby's items such as bottles, formula and a bottle sanitizer. 

We were in Orillia to spend a relaxing weekend by the lake with my parents and headed out to the local Zellers on its last day of business. We spotted an Philips Avent Bottle Sanitizer (second shelf on the right) reg. $45 for $8.99!!! Too good of a deal to pass up and after searching the Internet for reviews most were positive so I'm pretty happy with my bargain shopping ;)

Tomorrow is one of my baby showers woohoo! Cant wait to see all my friends before baby girls arrives!

Counting down the last few weeks... here we go!

Giveaway: Win The Body Shop's Top 10 Items Valued at over $150!

Yesterday I told you all about The Body Shop's new concept Pulse Boutique, where I got to experience the new look, feel and top 10 goodies....

Now its your turn!!

TWO of my lucky readers will have a chance to WIN an amazing prize pack full of TBS's full sized top 10 products valued at OVER $150!!

What's Included:

Satsuma Body Butter - $19.00

Shea Body Butter - $19.00

Shea Body Scrub - $19.00

Satsuma Shower Gel - $8.00

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash - $11.00

Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover - $15.00

Hemp Hand Protector - $20.00

Vitamin C Skin Boost - $26.00

Vitamin E Moisture Cream - $16.00

Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream - $20.00

*products may vary

These prize packs are going to make two people very very happy!!

Enter now for your chance to win!

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Event Recap: The Body Shop Pulse Boutique Grand Opening at the Toronto Eaton Centre

This past Friday I was invited to check out The Body Shop's new Pulse Boutique transformation at the Toronto Eaton Centre. I arrived with my BFF to a media wall and a red carpet entrance where we got our photos taken and were greeted by some of the warmest PR ladies ever!

Here's our mug!

As we entered we were given the "tour" by Stacie, showing off the new Pulse Boutiques.  I immediately noticed the large and in charge makeup up section which looked bolder than before.

We saw the new packaging for their Body Butters as well as their new body oils which I quickly had slathered on my arm. Not greasy at all and they left my skin feeling baby soft... I must get my hands on these!

Then we moved over to a section that really touched me. All the journalists at media Launch were given a tag and asked to share their favourite Body Shop item on it. In the days following the event, each of the items written on those tags were going to be donated to the women and children at Nellie's Shelter!

I added some of my favourites to the wall, the Rose Roll On Gloss & White Musk Body Wash Gel :)

We ended the tour appropriately at the yummy edibles which were almost too pretty to munch on... almost :)

I have always been a huge fan of The Body Shop, their products and their amazing work all over the world so I'm always happy when I see the brand coming up with innovative ways to reinvent themselves. 

The new style Pulse Boutique's are a worldwide redesign of their boutiques in more than 60 countries and are open concept, clean lined and more inviting for the customers to be able to sample & ask questions!

We left with an amazing gift bag full of their top 10 items which I was so excited about because there were items in there that I had been dying to try.... Look at these best sellers!

No need to be envious because Ive got a special treat for my readers coming up tomorrow ;)

HINT: Like what you see above? Well it could ALL be yours so stay tuned........

Giveaway: Win An Entire "Uptown Girl" Fall 2012 Colour Collection from Caryl Baker Visage!

Caryl Baker Visage and Faces By Farah have teamed up to give TWO lucky readers a chance to WIN an amazing Limited Edition prize pack!!

(Collections shown above Top to Bottom: Midtown Morning,After Hours,Powder Lunch)

Each collection retails for $69.50 but this giveaway includes the Limited Edition martini shaker!

This collection would make a great gift and with holiday season coming soon now is your chance to win it!

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*Open to Canadian residents only.

*Contest closes on midnight Sept  20th 2012 at 11:59pm EST

*Only activated email subscriptions will count towards an entry

Baby Talk: Keeping Baby Girl Organized In Style!

I had been on the search for an over the door, clear pocket accessory or shoe holder like this and I've finally found the perfect one!

Its not for over the door but I suppose if I place a hook on the back of the door it can be.

It has pockets on both sides and fits socks, infant shoes and hair accessories perfectly. I love that it goes with the Grey/white these of the nursery too even though its tucked away in her closet :)

Now even daddy cant mess up where her tiny socks will go!

Win A Pair of Ray Ban Aviator Sunglasses! Open Internationally

Summer may be coming to a close but this doesn't mean we put the sunglasses away right?!

These are the latest addition to my sunglass family! I love them ;) Say hello to my little friend from the Ralph by Ralph Lauren line....

Ive had nothing but great communication with the reps behind this site and once the order was placed my new sunglasses arrived really quickly, considering they offered free shipping I was really impressed. They came with a Ralph hard leather case, cleaning cloth and safety booklet.

LOVE how they fit!

Looking to add a new pair to your collection?

Well you're in luck because its GIVEAWAY time!!

I've teamed up with the awesome folks at SmartBuyGlasses.ca to give away the pair of Unisex Ray Ban aviator Sunnys you see below valued at over $130!!.

Want to win? 

Enter below for your chance!

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*Open Internationally.

*Contest closes on  Sept 23rd 2012 at 11:59pm EST

*Only activated email subscriptions will count towards an entry

Fall 2012 Fragrance Launches You Need To Know About!

I don't know about you but I like switching up my scent regularly. There are some scents I prefer to wear during the spring/summer and others I like for fall/winter. Keeps things interesting ;)

This Fall you can look forward to new scents from Calvin Klein as they introduce Eternity Aqua - A scent that is inspired by the essence of femininity in all its ease. Sexy and refreshing, the fragrance is like a clean, crisp ocean breeze.

Available for a limited time only folks (beginning Aug 2012) so head on over the The Bay or Sears to pick up either the 50ml ($72) or the 100ml ($92).

Also new to the CK collection is their ckOne Shock Absorber Travel Spray for her. This has got to be one of my favourites because its simply a pocket sized version of their already popular fragrance. Its got the cutest pink rubberized case around the outside of the bottle which ads a bit of fun texture and colour to its packaging.

This little palm sized fragrance is available for a limited time (beginning July 2012) at select Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix locations for a great price of $18!

Also new for Fall is Vera Wang's Lovestruck Floral Rush which includes top notes such as  sparkling champagne accord, pink pepper, apricot blossom! The fragrance is just as beautiful as the bottle it comes in, similar to Wang's first release of Lovestruck which I wrote about back in February.

Fragrance available beginning Aug 2012.

The 30ml ($52) is a Sephora exclusive however the 50ml ($79) and the 100ml ($105) are  available at The Bay, Sears, Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix, Murale, London Drugs, Jean Coutu, Sephora.

I will be choosing between these and other amazing scents this Fall, what will you be wearing?

Givenchy Beauty: Noir Couture 4 in 1 Mascara

Givenchy's new Noir Couture 4 in 1 mascara just hit stores this month and is already a huge hit and I know exactly why!

A four-in-one mascara that creates intense volume, strong curl, infinite length, and complete lash care.

The texture of this mascara is amazing. Smooth and very buildable while the unique tri-spherical brush makes sure you can get to each and every lash!

I've been reaching for this mascara daily for the last few weeks and have to say its quickly becoming one of my favourites. I love that I can coat even the tiniest lashes in the corners of my eyes with this brush without getting mascara on my lids. I normally always wear 2 coats of mascara no matter the brand but I don't really need 2 with this formula as my lashes are dark and bold with just 1 coat.

This is an example of how 1 coat looks on my lashes.

Amazing right?! I cant tell you how much I adore this mascara so if you're in the market for a new mascara that's not only innovative but actually works try Givenchy's Noir Couture 4 in 1 Mascara. Available exclusively at Sephora ($35), in Black Satin & Brown Satin shades.

I'm also wearing one of Givenchy's new summer products the Mister Light Instant Light Corrective Pen in #4 Mister Macaroon ($37) under my eyes. I was so curious to see if this product would actually work well with my normal concealer and I'm happy to report it does! It helped erase the shadows and lack of sleep signs under my eyes quite well and brightened up the entire area.

My only minor complaints were that it took about 50-70 "clicks" or turns to finally get the product to come out to the brush and that the wand can get kinda messy as with all pens of this type (see below). Other than that this product blends well, covers well and is buildable.

Givenchy's beauty items have yet to let me down!

Baby Talk: 29 Weeks Down, 11 to Go!

(Pic taken at 28w 5d)

Ok so I guess its really 28 weeks down because Im 29w today!

Weeks Pregnant: 29 weeks

Weeks to go: 11 weeks

How I'm Feeling: Like I cant breathe!
Baby is still in the breech position so her head is jammed right up under my chest making breathing difficult especially when laying down. I am starting to feel a bit more pain or discomfort in my lower belly now which gets worse on some days and not so bad on others. 

Gotta love 3rd trimester!
What I'm Feeling: Feeling more pokes, jabs, kicks, turns, more so now on my right side and in the ribs area.

Craving: Fruit and lots of it!

Projects on the go: Still working on the nursery! Hubby has now finished all the painting and Ive set up the nursery with a few main pieces (crib, change table/dresser and a corner shelving unit.) Ive organized most of baby's clothes that Ive gotten so far and started to pack her hospital bag.

Trying to decide: Nursery accessories, crib mattress, a name for baby girl...

Decided on: Crib, Glider, Dresser/Change table, Monitor, Nursery area rug, Stroller, Diaper bag, clothes storage

I cant believe there are only 11 weeks until her due date and that's IF she makes it to her due date! Starting this week Ill be going back to the Dr's every 2 weeks and the midwifes every 3 weeks for check ups, ultrasounds and non-stress tests whatever that means. 

September & October is so packed with clients, events, showers and a conference that I have no plans to slow down until after the 3rd week in Oct which I'm sure is a good thing. Less time to sit around means more worrying right?!

Baby Talk: Recent Baby Fashion Buys!

I really don't need much in the way of clothing as Ive been so very blessed to have a few close friends and family give me all their hand me downs from their baby girls. Look at this baby's closet already and this isn't even all of it!

BUT.... there was a sale....

Oh Baby GAP you lured me in with your email that screamed 40% off 1 items and 30% off all other items..

I went in for 1 specific item and walked about with a "I couldn't help myself" item..

First up the item I had my eye on and specifically wanted.

This Grey Favorite quilted one-piece which was Reg. $44.95 but at 40% off a steal at $26.97!

Then came the splurge because well... just look at it! So adorable :)

An Ivory Striped cable knit dress reg. $39.95 at 30% off Sale price of $27.96!

Why do kids clothes have to be SO damn adorable?!

Introducing LUSH’s FIRST Color Collection, Emotional Brilliance - Swatches

LUSH has always been a big favourite of mine for its natural bath & body products but they really took a special place in my heart with the launch of their first ever color collection Emotional Brilliance!

This line consists of 13 liquid lip colors ($22.95), 11 liquid eyeliners ($22.95), 6 cream eyeshadows   ($22.95) and 3 Skin products that include 2 primers & 1 powder ($18.95)and is less about wearing makeup that’s in-season or on-trend and more about wearing colors that shape your mood.

I recently got a sneak peek sample of an eyeliner (Motivation), shadow (Focus) and lip colour (Perspective).

Focus (eye shadow), described as a iridescent blue grey comes across to me more grey than blue with a hint of shimmer to it that makes it look really pretty in the light which I really like. It blends well when blended quickly but dries fast so you need to work quick.

Motivation (eyeliner) is described as a two-toned peacock shade. Its such a pretty shade and applies very smooth and consistent. The brush is very soft so there is no pulling of the lid and so fine that it allows you to draw even the thinnest line.

Perspective (lipstick) a natural dusky rose shade is such a gorgeous color. It comes with a doe foot applicator and goes on quite nicely however I did find it a bit dry. Nothing a little gloss cant fix right?! I can totally see myself wearing this lipstick into fall when I'm going for natural, soft & pretty.

Keeping with their reputation LUSH's Color Collection is absolutely worth checking out and is in stores now so will you be checking it out?

Coral Just Never Gets Old! I'm Officially Obsessed!

My name is Farah and I have a Coral obsession!

Yes, I know Fall is around the corner (don't shoot the messenger!) but I cant help myself.

Ive loved anything peachy or coral for as long as I can remember and I cant tell you how happy I am to see it appear in almost every line recently. From gloss to blush to shadows this shade is hotter than ever and I for one am riding the coral wave!

Some coral goodness to check out:

L'Oreal's La Couleur Infalliable Eye Shadow in Pepsy Coral. ($9.99) A bold coral with flecks of gold that applies like a dream and is buildable.

L'Oreal's Colour Riche Lip Colour in Peach Fuzz ($9.99). This light coral shade has a bit of frost to it to make it the perfect shade on the tanned skin the summer has left you with.

Givenchy  Gloss Interdit in Coral Frenzy N° 03 ($30). Sheer enough to add over any lipstick but pretty enough to wear alone. It has a lightweight texture, a whole lot of shine and a plumping effect equals one perfect gloss!

Vasanti Cosmetics  Sun Peached Glow - Brightening Mineral Powder ($25). A talc-free blush that's the perfect shade of peach and leaves your skin with the perfect combination of of colour and glow.

Would you wear coral year round? 

Quick DIY Chalkboard For My Maternity Shoot

Tomorrow Ill be doing one of my maternity shoots, ill be 28 weeks and cannot wait to work with the amazing photographers & friends behind G&H Photography.

I wanted to bring along some props and was having a hard time finding cute chalkboards last minute SO I stopped at my local dollar store and picked up a multi-coloured one. With an hour and a half to spare (most of that drying time) and a few supplies we now have our blinged out prop :)

Its nicer in person I promise lol.

What do you think?

Yves Rocher's Summer Collection Including The Cutest Tiny Polishes!

Have you ever smelled something and instantly thought of a tropical vacation or the beach? Well the instant I got a whiff of Yves Rocher's new summer collection scent MONOÏ I was taken back to my honeymoon and any other time Ive visited a tropical island.

Perfect for summer and even fall when all you want is the warm weather back!

The MONOÏ Eau De Toilette (100ml on sale for $19.20) is made up of a Tiare and Ylang Ylang flowers are combined with a Vanilla base to give you that sweet coconut scent. It lingers on the body for a while and isn't overpowering which is really nice. 

The collection also includes the MONOÏ Hair & Body Wash ($2.95) as well as a very hydrating Traditional Gardenia Oil (on sale for $10) which applied after a shower will leave your skin super soft and smelling tropical.

I also tested out the collections polishes... baby, itty-bitty, fit in the palm of my hand polishes! Come on how adorable are these?

The Ultra Trendy Lacquers I tried were in Tribal Green and Purple. Very travel friendly, these polishes were rich in colour once I applied 2 coats. At $2.95 a piece how could anyone refuse?!

If you have never checked out Yves Rocher's website I highly suggest you do. They have amazing products at amazing prices and carry items ranging from makeup to hair to skin!