I've always adored my mom. She was as loving, warm and supportive a mom as any daughter could ever hope to have. But I never really appreciated her until I became a mom myself. I just didn't get the sacrifice. I didn't understand all the times she made me clean my room. I didn't get why she wouldn't pack things like Twinkies and fruit roll-ups in my lunch like most of the other moms. Apples and carrots? A-GAIN?! And all of those piano lessons and pleases and thank-you's. Blech.
Now I have two kids of my own. In fact, I just sent them off to school with sandwiches, carrots and quinoa raisin bars in their backpacks. They like them, I swear. And now, I totally get it. I get almost every little thing my mom did for us growing up, and how she felt when we didn't act the way she'd taught us to act. As a formerly laid-back person, I now take what my kids do to heart, but it's only because they take up so much of it. I might work in fashion but by far, my most important job in life is to do what I can to help my kids grow into happy, thoughtful, responsible people. And I consider myself a happy, thoughtful, (mostly) responsible adult now in large part because of my parents and all that they did for me.
I've rounded up some lovely Mother's Day gifts - from pretty little tokens to sentimental sparklers, we've got loads of great ideas for you below.
Now for the exciting part...
#CONTEST ALERT!
We're giving away this gorgeous Rose Silver Pendant with a Sterling Silver Chain from PANDORA (valued at $110) just in time for Mother's Day!
When Reitmans approached me to collaborate on their spring denim campaign, I was excited to check out the collection and get reacquainted with the brand. Okay, hold on, put away your fashion snob hat for a minute. Don't be a hater with that whole 'ugh, no-name denim?' thing that I know some of you are doing. Let me tell you that Reitmans has actually come a long way. With Smart Set closing, Reitmans has shifted its focus to be younger and more trend-focused to appeal to SS's old customers, including women like me. I've always been a big believer in peppering your denim collection with well-made, inexpensive options, and if you can find them at a Canadian retailer, it's always a big bonus.
So, I headed to my closest Reitmans and got right to work. My fashion mission? Find a pastel pair, a bleached pair, and a boyfriend, then style them three different ways. I tried on loads of pairs, tossing aside anything I deemed too 'mom' (even though I am a mom), finally settling on a pair of cute marbled skinnies, a pair of pretty pale pink ankle jeans and a comfy pair of dark drawstring boyfriends. Also managed to pick up a super pretty lace tee, a classic black watch and a perfect long silver pendant (see below).
If you haven't checked out Reitmans lately, it's totally worth the visit to try on some non-budget-busting spring denim. In the meantime, scroll below to see how I styled my picks and don't miss the Reitmans Facebook contest at the bottom of this post where you could win a trip for 2 to the seriously dreamy 5-star Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. Sigh...can I win, please? Oh, and be sure to tell me which look is your fav - would love to hear what you think!
WHY I LOVE THEM | Bleached denim is a tricky affair, usually best left to the designer denim pros. However, I fell for these bleached marble skinnies because they're just so eighties (in a good way), and made my legs look skinny. I'd say to wear them with a white blouse and keep it simple. But then again, if you're going to wear marbled jeans, why not go all out? Marble. Cheetah. Hot pink lips. Yes. Yes. Yes!
WHY I LOVE THEM | Pale pink jeans are so girly that I had to have them. Going head-to-toe tonal always makes a strong fashion statement, especially if you can add in an unexpected pop somewhere. I threw on a pair of neon earrings and they instantly finished off the outfit. I normally find pale denim super unflattering since they show the world every little bump but the Reitmans pastel jeans are the right thickness so they give you nothing but sleek, clean lines and legs for days.
WHY I LOVE THEM | For me, these jeans are ALL about the drawstring. They're crazy comfy like joggers, only with the option to wear them out. Since this spring is so heavily influenced by the '70s, I am loving the clean denim look right now and plan on wearing these with both heels and sneakers this spring. Yay spring!
It might be spring(ish) but anyone else craving a getaway right now? Then you do not want to miss this amazing Reitmans Facebook contest: Enter here for a chance to win an all-inclusive trip for two to the 5-star Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit resort in Mexico, courtesy of Transat Holidays. Good luck! xx
Whether they've been 'in' or not, moccasins have always been a mainstay in my house. Instead of shuffling around in wholly unsexy slippers, we like to spend our downtime in cute mocs. Furry mocs keep our toes toasty in the winter, while fringed leather mocs keep us covered in the summer. And I have to say, I'm always relieved to have them on foot whenever unexpected guests drop by.
Spring '15 is all about the seventies so this year is sure to see a resurgence of the classic moc. Soft Moc sent me a few new pairs of mocs (available exclusively at Soft Moc) to test drive and I just had to share. First up, the new Washmoc suede moccasins - that's right, a washable suede moc, lined with a memory foam insole for extra comfort. They're cute, super cozy and come in both neutrals and brights to add a pop of colour to your downtime. Instead of a bottle of wine, these would make the perfect weekend hostess gift too, don't you think?
The Maple Moose Fringe Bootie Moccasins are simply beautiful. While they're lightweight, the cushioned footbed makes them endlessly wearable, unlike some other mocs I've tried in the past. But my favourite part? These beauties are made in Canada - always a big bonus in my books.
If you haven't checked out Soft Moc lately, you really must. The site is loaded with mocs and mukluks in every imaginable style, colour and pricepoint (more on that later). And btw, Soft Moc is my go-to for any otherwise sold-out style. White Converse? Sorels? Hunters? You can pretty much always count on the store and site to have them in stock. There are currently 108 SoftMoc locations in Canada, or you can of course visit them online at www.softmoc.com
Okay, now for the best part: My friends at Soft Moc are giving away these gorgeous mocs to 2 lucky RLR Readers! Here's how you can win your own pair:
1) Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a new pair of mocs.
OR
2) Follow @SoftMocShoes and @realliferunway and tweet the following '@realliferunway is giving away 2 pairs of @SoftMocShoes moccasins. Follow & RT to #win! http://bit.ly/1DjhED7 '
3) Contest ends next Thurs, Feb 12th at 5 pm. I'll announce the winner on Friday.
4) Open to residents of Canada only (excluding Quebec - désolée!)
I've resolved to get back to reading for pleasure this year and so far, I've stuck with my commitment. Not only have I joined a book club with friends who prefer pinot over pressure, but I've taken the pressure off myself, too. I used to feel like I had to read the 'right' books - the heavy ones, the classics, the award-winners. But when life gets hectic and a vacay feels like ages away, a page-turning beach read always makes for a great escape.
Indigo sent me a copy of the most talked-about book of the year The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and I just finished reading it. Have you had the chance to pick it up yet? Everyone (like everyone) is buzzing about this book right now and it's already being touted as the Gone Girl of 2015. It's a thriller full of messed up, complicated characters, neighbours whose lives you think you know but really don't, and a page-turning plot that keeps you guessing right until the end. I won't review the book because I don't want to give anything away (and because it's Friday so I don't feel like writing a book review) but I can tell you this book is totally worth picking up, book club or not.
Now here's the best part - my friends at Indigo are giving away 3 COPIES of The Girl on the Train to 3 lucky RLR readers! Here's how you can win your own copy:
1) Leave a comment below telling me your top book recommendation right now (your fav book, book you just read and loved etc. )
OR
2) Follow @chaptersindigo and @realliferunway and tweet the following '@chaptersindigo & @realliferunway are giving away 3 copies of The Girl on the Train. Follow & RT to #win! http://bit.ly/1yStb9f'
While the ubiquitous Canada Goose Parka is a fail-proof bet against the impending 'T-Rex of Winters', it's always nice to be reminded of some of the lesser-known coat brands out there. The Shops at Don Mills got in touch to share some of the amazing coats they carry so I thought I'd share them with you. One of my new favs? Oak + Fort. Have you seen? Have you been? Watch for more from Oak + Fort on Real Life Runway from now on.
Speaking of the Shops at Don Mills, the legendary Heart of Fashion event is coming up this Saturday Oct 25th and aims to raise $680K. Crazy, right? Funds will go to support the acquisition of radioactive seed localization, which offers a non-invasive and extremely precise way of pinpointing and removing small tumours in the breast. North York General Hospital will be the only hospital in the GTA to have this technology.
Over 500 stylish guests (including me!) will gather this Saturday to experience the fusion of food and fashion in support of North York General Hospital’s BMO Financial Group Breast Diagnostic Centre(BDC). Guests will be treated to a night full of amazing food, cocktails, entertainment, a live auction (including coveted tix to this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in London) and a fashion show featuring exclusive retailers from the Shops at Don Mills and prestigious Canadian designers Christopher Bates, Fotini Copeland and David Dixon.
Now for the best part: the Shops at Don Mills have given me 2 tickets to give away to you! The prize pack is valued at $500 and includes 2 tickets to the Heart of Fashion event, including the fashion show, cocktail party and fabulous food stations. It's going to be an amazing night out and I can't wait to see you there.
HERE'S HOW TO WIN THE COVETED TICKETS:
1. Leave a comment below telling me your fav winter coat brand.
OR
2. RT the following: '@realliferunway is giving away 2 tickets to the Heart of Fashion and I want to go! RT to win. #HeartofFashionNYGH http://bit.ly/1zhYhtS'
3. Contest closes 5 pm this Thursday. I'll announce the winner Friday morning!
4. Contest open to residents of Ontario only.
5. Good luck! xx
Oh, and if you're currently on the hunt for a cozy new winter coat, check out some the outerwear brands I'm loving right now:
Friday, April 24, 2015 at 11:55AM 
