Back in October, I did a round-up of my favourite scary movies and Halloween-themed TV episodes to get you in the spirit and our readers loved it. After receiving a special request to do the same thing for Christmas, I sat down to compile a list and I realized that there are SO MANY MORE Christmas-themed movies and episodes than I remembered. In an effort to keep the list manageable, I decided to simply focus on TV today. Below you will find a list of my favourites that I’ll be watching while I wrap gifts, bake and sip eggnog.

1. Seinfeld – The Strike

I cannot start this list anywhere else because this episode makes me laugh out loud just thinking about it. Just go watch it immediately.

“It’s a Festivus for the rest of us”

Watch: Season 9, episode 10.

2. The O.C. – The Best Chrismukkuh Ever

Probably one of the most memorable things to come out of the O.C. besides Phantom Planet’s theme song is the concept of Chrismukkuh, as thought up by the loveable Seth Cohen. Merging the best of his parents’ religions, Chrismukkuh brings 8 days of presents followed by one day of many presents. I’m a traditionalist, preferring the first Chrismukkuh episode to the later ones, but I mean, if you have the time, there are four installments, including a Chrimukkuh Barmitzvukkuh and one that introduces the yamaclaus (you’re welcome). But just keep in mind that that the first one ends with Ryan really becoming part of the Cohen clan with his stocking on the mantle… brb going to cry.

Watch: Season 1, episode 13. Season 2, episode 6. Season 3, episode 10. Season 4, episode 7.

3. Friends – The One With The Holiday Armadillo

I have legitimately seen every Friends episode at least 50 times (it’s a problem…or is it?) and this holiday episode is definitely one for the books. Ross is trying to get his son, Ben, excited about Hanukkah, so he doesn’t plan for Santa to come visit like every other year. Cue a sad kid. Of course, there are no Santa costumes available that close to Christmas…enter, the Holiday Armadillo.

Watch: Season 7, episode 10.

4. The Simpsons – Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire

I often forget that the first episode of this 25-year running show was actually Christmas-themed. Due to some classic Simpsons hi-jinks, Bart and Homer end up at the racetrack on Christmas Eve trying to win money to buy Christmas presents for the family. After betting on the dog, “Santa’s Little Helper” and hoping for a Christmas miracle, they end up with the best present of all: a new family member.

Watch: Season 1, episode 1.

5. The Office – Christmas Party

The Office blessed us with seven Christmas-themed episodes, but again, the first installment is my favourite. I think it’s mostly thanks to classic Michael Scott moments like him being disappointed in his secret-Santa gift and demanding that they take part in a sophisticated gift-swapping game.

Some of my other favs: Benihana Christmas, Moroccan Christmas and Classy Christmas (purely to see Jim get attacked with snowballs).

Watch: Season 2, episode 10. Season 3, episodes 10/11, Season 5, episode 11. Season 7, episodes 11/12.

6. Full House – Our Very First Christmas Show

Naturally I had to include Full House on this list because if you ever need a feel-good lesson about the true meaning of Christmas, you don’t have to look to anyone but the Tanner family. Trapped in an airport in a blizzard, Christmas isn’t unfolding the way it was supposed to and you can bet the crew is upset. But leave it to Uncle Jesse to remind us all that Christmas is in our hearts… cue a collective, “awwwwww”.

Watch: Season 2, episode 9.

7. Community – Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas

Community’s holiday episodes are always on point. In this Christmas themed episode, we see Abed longing for his friends to re-discover the true meaning of Christmas and imagining them all in stop-motion animation (think claymation Rudolph-style if you haven’t seen it). And while this sounds like it’s pure jokes, given that the characters are suddenly animated and in a fantastical Christmas world, it’s actually chalk-full of emotion too. It really drives home the fact that the Christmas season, while wonderful in so many ways, are very emotional and aren’t the same across the board.

Watch: Season 2, episode 11.

8. Mr. Bean – Merry Christmas Mr. Bean

Yes, this list just took a turn, but you can’t tell me that watching Mr. Bean dealing with that turkey isn’t a Christmas classic and comedy gold. Even if you just watch that part of the show, you’ll be doing yourself a favour.

Watch: Season 1, episode 7.

Images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,

This gift guide is always my favourite to put together because it comes from my recommendations AND my wishlist. Read on for some gift ideas for the babes in your life who, like me, are obsessed with all things beauty.

1. Drybar: Let it Blow Travel Kit. $169. I am literally obsessed with all things drybar. I use their dry shampoo religiously (it’s actually changed my life) and have heard nothing but amazing things about their styling tools. If you’ve got a beauty lover who also travels a lot on your list, this travel kit will have her tresses looking their best even when she’s on the road.

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills: Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette. $55. Anastasia is such a solid brand and it’s because the formulations of their products are top notch. This eye shadow palette is on trend with shades of burgundy, but can also create neutral and smoky looks.

3. Sol de Janeiro: Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. $25-57. Besides making everyone laugh when your giftee opens something called “bum-bum cream” on Christmas morning, this is also a much-loved product amongst the beauty community for it’s magical “firming” properties. Plus it smells AMAZING.

4. Glamglow: SUPERMUD Set. $79. Glamglow masks are certain to make any beauty lover happy. This set has a few options, including their famous supermud mask known for it’s insane ability to clear the skin as well as a hydrating and firming mask which are also raved about.

5. Beautyblender: Two.BB.Clean. $52. I swear by beauty blenders for a flawless makeup application. While you can use other cleansers to clean then, I find the beautyblender brand cleanser is the best and easiest to work with. This set comes with two of the original sponges and the cleanser. It’s a great value!

6. Invisibobble: The Traceless Hair Ring. $10. This is a new(ish) product that gives firm hold to a ponytail without leaving the dreaded crease! It also minimizes breakage and damage to your hair.

7. Pampermint Foot Care Duo and Socks. $60. This set has been saving my feet over the past few weeks with the cold, dry weather and working lots of hours on my feet. With peppermint, the scrub and moisturizer soothes sore and tired feet and helps restore them to their soft, natural state!

8. Kat Von D: Alchemist Holographic Palette. $43. This year has been all about the highlight. This palette is for eyes, lip and face, and contains four holographic shades to use as a highlighter or to layer over eyeshadow or lipstick to transform your look.

9. Kylie Jenner Lip Kit. $29 (USD). I couldn’t leave out my favourite product of the year. I swear by these matte lip kits and any beauty lover should have at least one of these cult-favourite lip kits in their possession. The most popular shades are Koko K and Kristen (which when mixed together is also a new favourite of mine). Just be warned that shipping can take some time so they may not be here in time for Christmas…but their totally worth the wait.

Banner photo via 1. 

The holidays are here and my favourite part is celebrating them with friends. That’s why I jumped at the chance to partner with Harrods to put on a special Christmas party for my girlfriends. Harrods is a brand that I’ve loved since I was little; I can remember listening to my grandparents talk about their travels across the pond and how much they loved visiting Harrods. When I went to Europe, you can bet that I went myself.

Every year, Harrods releases a range of luxury hampers that feature an array of first-class treats. First dispatched over a century ago, a Harrods Christmas hamper was a simple affair offering a choice of turkey, goose or ham, plus tea, a bottle of port and a pound each of butter and tobacco. Today, culinary experts put together seasonal hampers, tracking down the finest ingredients to design hampers filled with quality foods that impress the discerning tastes of their global customers (us included!)

When my hamper arrived, I was so excited to open it up and look at the impressive contents. From spiced Christmas coffee, tea and biscuits to marmalade and jam, I had everything I needed to host a special Christmas tea party. In addition to the basket, I made some cucumber tea sandwiches (crusts removed, of course), some smoked salmon pinwheels, a cheese plate, and a seasonal champagne cocktail with Veuve Cliquot, cranberry juice, lime and frozen cranberries.

We enjoyed all of our treats over lots of laughs and good conversations. The only thing we didn’t dive into was the Classic Christmas Pudding because it’s been aged perfectly to be enjoyed on Christmas Day. I’m very much looking forward to that special treat…in 9 days!

 ‘Twas the fortnight before Christmas and all through the city,  folks were last-minute shopping … and it wasn’t pretty!  

Their stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that the ‘shell would have ideas to share!

We’re back this year with some ideas to help you stuff those carefully hung stockings!

Finding fun little gifts – either useful, thoughtful or just plain funny – makes shopping for stockings my favourite part of holiday shopping. For some people though, it’s finding the small stuff that makes them sweat! That’s why we’ve created a Stocking Stuffer Gift Guide! This week we feature some fun ideas for her, followed by ideas for him next week, so stay tuned.

A couple of stocking stuffer guidelines before we get started:

1) Mix it up: Stockings are best when filled with a variety of items. Unless you’re six years old, you probably don’t want a stocking filled with candies. A nice variety of useful, edible and fun gifts will help you build up a great stocking no matter who is on the receiving end.

2) Try to set a budget: Because so many little things are included in stockings, they can often add up. Set a stocking budget – this will help you keep track of what you’ve actually spent on stockings alone! With that said, I usually like to add one gift that is a bit of “splurge” to the stocking but other than that, try to keep items under $20 each!

3) A little local love goes a long way: Remember that every time you buy from a local vendor, you’re supporting a person and a community, helping it to grow and thrive. We’ve added in a few local items to ensure your stocking has some Ottawa flavour.

1. Purple Urchin AmberWood Candle

We absolutely love purple urchin! Not only do all of their products smell delish – they are a LOCAL (Rule #3!). This cute candle tin is compact and very affordable!

2. Succulents

Possilbly the most popular plant of 2016, succulents are EXTREMELY affordable and come in all shapes and sizes. Visit Ottawa’ Farmer’s Market at Lansdowne for $4 succulents that will fit perfectly into a stocking!

3. Spa day – sort of

So this made it on to our list as a splurge – but here’s the catch, this unique type of spa day at ISÖ Spa floatation centre is really a gift for two: two floats for two people (hint: you might be the lucky person that gets to float). Plus, we think this is such a nice gift to give during a busy holiday season – what better way to wind down from the holidays than a long, relaxing float?!

4. Kate Spade phone case

Every one loves a new phones case – and few do it better than Ms. Kate Spade. PSA: these are available at winners for under $20!

5. Burt’s Bees lip balm

During the cold winter months, there is no lip remedy that I like more than Burt’s. Pick up a cute tinted share for your lady and be sure to have a mistletoe nearby.

6. Essie Nail Polish

We love this stocking stuffer idea – just remember that darker shades are best for this time of year.  Try Smokin’ Hot Stylish Gray or Red Shearling Darling for wintery shades that she’ll love.

7. CBC socks

What could be more Canadian, eh? A pair of fun socks always bring a smile to her face and when they rep the CBC, well all the merrier. Grab a pair like these at the Drake General Store, in The Bay.

8. Shots Shots Shots

What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than a couple of copper shot glasses! Also available at The Bay.

9. Bitters

And, keeping on theme, we love Dillon’s, an Ontario small batch distillery – and  their bitters make for the perfect cocktail.

Cheers to Christmas shopping and we’ll be back next week with a guide for him!

Yesterday we talked about what to wear to this year’s holiday party. Today, we’re talking about what you should BRING to the party.

I think that it’s always a nice gesture to show up with a little something for the person hosting an event. They’ve likely spent a great deal of time preparing food, cocktails, music…not to mention cleaning their space before and afterwards. In my experience, a little thank you gift is always greatly appreciated. So what should you turn to that won’t break the bank?

Wine

The classic. As much as it may be “overplayed” wine is always a good choice. Whether they open it immediately to serve that evening or crash into the couch with it after they’ve finished cleaning up, wine is always a great choice. You can get a number of inexpensive and delicious bottles of wine at the LCBO and look around your local stores for cute, themed wine bags. Personally, I tend to turn to bubbles as a gift of choice. There’s nothing that’s more celebratory than a glass of sparkling wine and it makes for the perfect opportunity to toast the season!

A Spot of Tea 

After the stress of planning and hosting a party, I know that I would certainly enjoy some stillness accompanied by a nice cup of tea. Chapters currently has an amazing selection of cute mugs and David’s Tea has some lovely holiday multi-packs so you can give your host some variety. They can also brew up a pot on Christmas morning and enjoy it with their loved ones!

Decorative Potted Plant

I have regularly mentioned how much I enjoy having fresh flowers around the house. Why not extend the same simply pleasure to your host? You can pick up a decorative pot and some fresh flowers or greens from your local florist. This is something they can enjoy for the rest of the season and they can re-use the pot year round. This gold pot from Anthropologie is a great option.

Dessert

While your host may have already set out a spread, a pretty and delicious dessert is always a great idea. My suggestion? A box of macaroons from a local bakery! There are a few places around town where you can pick these babies up and they are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

It’s December 1st and we’re officially entering the holiday season. With that comes 1 million parties (I legitimately have like 14 on my calendar). So, what to wear to these various occasions? Here are a few ideas to help outfit you over the coming weeks.

The LBD

Ahh, the classic. But maybe look for one with a twist… Look for an a-symmetrical hemline, a different fabric than you’re used to like velvet or velour, or an unsuspecting combo like leather and lace.

1. Dynamite: Velvet V-Back Bodycon Dress. $60.
2. Zara: Frilly Skirt. $46
3. Leith: Ruched Long Sleeve Dress. $83.

Wrapped Up in Red

It’s the colour of the season, after all. Whether it’s bright red or a shade of burgundy, you can incorporate some of the same ideas as you might have with an LBD. Look for different textures and fabrics than you might normally reach to.

1. Maurice’s: Floral Lace Dress With Scallopped Hems. $35.
2. Reitmans: Willow and Thread Short Sleeve Dress. $95.
3. Old Navy: Velvet Swing Dress. $36.
4. Top Shop: Pleated Velvet Wrap Dress. $80.

Sparkle and Shine

While sequins and sparkle don’t make a regular appearance year round, now’s the time to get your fill. There’s nothing like a little splash of sparkle to elevate any look.

1. Le Chateau: Sequin and Lace Two-Piece Cocktail Dress. $170.
2. Zara: Tulle Skirt. $50.
3. Amuse Society: Late Night Fit and Flare Dress. $82.

Banner image via 1. 

Happy Monday nuts!

I hope that everyone had a fun and relaxing weekend. While I was working for some of it, I still managed to fit in quite a bit over the past 2.5 days. I hosted a Christmas kick-off tea-party with my besties (more on that in a coming post), had brunch with my papa and conducted our annual holiday card photoshoot, which proved to be a hilarious struggle as always. A few outtakes for your enjoyment (please note how unhappy Jasper is to be involved)…

We also got to take in the HUGE Redblacks Grey Cup win! A massive congratulations to the team on their first ever Grey Cup! We have loved taking in games at Lansdowne over their first three seasons and we can’t wait to watch this winning team again next season. Here’s hoping for a repeat as the 2017 Grey Cup will be hosted in Ottawa for Canada’s 150th. R-NATION!

My man has always lived by the rule that Christmas starts as soon as the Grey Cup is played… so bring it on. Check back for lots of holiday-themed posts over the next few weeks! But for now, a few fun things from around the web.

18 “Secret Menu” Starbucks Holiday Drinks You Have To Try. I’ve never actually ordered from the Starbucks secret menu, but I am definitely thinking about trying that modified flat white. #redcupfever

Psst! Here Are The Best Bang-For-Your-Buck Beauty Products. Bring on the dupes! While I often believe that good quality makeup is worth investing in, but there are often good-quality products from more affordable brands. Here’s some suggestions for alternatives to some cult-favourite, brand-name products.

Got 15 Spare Minutes? Here’s How To Make It Count. You know when you have a meeting scheduled at 10, and you finish something at 9:45 so you’re like, oh I guess I’ll just wait? Here’s an article about how to make the most of those often wasted minutes.

Burgundy Makeup Palettes To Amp Up Your Holiday Party Looks. This article shows love to my girl Kylie and her kick-ass Kyshadow palettes. I’m obsessed with my bronze palette and currently coveting the burgundy palette.

Banner photo via 1.

Guess who’s back? Back again. Meghan’s beauty buys are back. Tell a friend. 

It’s been some time since my last beauty buys post… you’ve gotta give a girl some time to save up! In all honesty, I feel like I’m in a really good spot, makeup wise. I’ve got my go-tos and I’m so happy with them that I’ve just been hitting “re-order” when necessary. However, never one to miss a good sale, I hit up the Sephora VIB Rouge 20% off event and here’s what I’m loving…

1. BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector – Becca X Jaclyn Hill in Champagne Pop

Remember when contouring took over? Well this year, highlighting did the same thing. People have been strobing instead of contouring. Honestly, I was a little bit apprehensive. I was thinking back to my high school days when shimmery bronzer was all-the-rage… it wasn’t pretty. All that to say, I became sold on picking up a good highlighter after watching countless make up artists that I love use them in amazing looks. I picked up this cult-favourite by BECCA and started using it while I was away last week. Needless to say, the compliments I’ve received on my “glow” have definitely sold me on using highlighter on the regular.

2. FRESH Seaberry Moisturizing Oil

I am majorly into the online shopping scene; three clicks and things show up at my door? Yes please. The majority of my Sephora shopping happens online, however, there is something special about going in-store. A while back, I visited the skin care department and one of their staff sent me home with some mini samples, one of which was the FRESH Seaberry Moisturizing Oil. I loved it then, but the price tag swayed me from picking up the full-size version. I was lucky enough to get a small bottle as a gift-with-purchase recently and honestly, I’m sold. With a long, dry winter ahead, I trust that this oil will help keep my skin feeling baby smooth. If you can try it, I highly recommend it!

3. Sephora Collection Vessel Canister Brush Set

I was gifted these brushes and I absolutely LOVE them. There’s something about pretty brushes that make the application process so much more fun. I love the fluffy texture of the bristles and they have been super easy to clean, which I appreciate. I have actually asked for another set of these brushes for Christmas (hi, Mom!) to round out my collection.

Check out my previous beauty buys here:

vol. 1
vol. 2
vol. 3

Banner image via 1. 

Ola amigos!

The past week has been a bit of whirlwind! I was lucky enough to travel to Mexico for a few days and upon my return it has been a flury of work and catching up on life. Why did I travel to Mexico you may ask? Well it was for a lovely wedding! Down south weddings are always a blast and this was extra-special for us because it was with a group of my friends from high school that I, sadly, don’t get to see as much as I would like. The trip was amazing, the wedding was gorgeous and I was so sad to leave.

Here’s a few pictures from my getaway; congratulations to the happy couple!

I’ve talked about being a life-long glasses wearer a few times before on the blog; specifically, I’ve talked about how I’ve embraced my glasses as the ultimate accessory. I have a variety of frames that I rotate, and in complete honesty, I will plan my outfits around them. After a sad loss of one of my most basic pairs, I was on the hunt for a new classic: a simple, black frame. It was great timing, because Clearly recently launched a new tool on their site called MyFit, which helps you find the absolute best frames for your face. We’ve partnered with Clearly in the past and I turn to them regularly for my glasses and contact lense needs.

With MyFit, you enter your specific measurements into the tool, and the website will curate only the best fits for you. No more guessing games, no more wondering if your glasses will stay on your face. 

I entered the numbers from my best-fitting pair of glasses. The measurements are now saved to my profile, so I don’t need to worry about it again. I then started browsing the selections, knowing that everything I was seeing would be a good fit for me. And even if you leave the page with the frames that have been curated for you, MyFit will let you know if you’re going down the wrong path.

I settled on the Joseph Marc 4071 frames, in matte black. I mean, my lipstick is always matte, so my glasses might as well match, right?

The nice thing about Clearly is that the frames are good quality, but still affordable. I placed my order and received them 4 days later, far exceeding my expectations. Accompanied by a new glasses case, cleaning cloth, adjustment tool and mascara (win!), my glasses arrived. They’re bold, but sleek and I absolutely love them. Unlike some other glasses I’ve worn before, where I’m constantly pushing them up the bridge of my nose, these stay put. MyFit definitely worked for me and I love that I have a new accessory to work into my wardrobe.

Special thanks to Clearly for sponsoring this post. We only partner with brands and products that we use and love!

Banner image via 1.