Janine
Member Since: May 7, 2008Reviews
Bluey 4-Pack Wooden Puzzles Collection
We received this product for free in exchange for my honest review. The puzzles came with a nice wooden storage box with dividers for each puzzle. The puzzle pieces are also numbered on the back which I was very happy to see because in our house... +
We received this product for free in exchange for my honest review. The puzzles came with a nice wooden storage box with dividers for each puzzle. The puzzle pieces are also numbered on the back which I was very happy to see because in our house nothing stays together. The puzzle pieces fit together very well which my 4 year old was very impressed with. Also they seem very durable and thick, I think they will withstand being stuck in my one year olds mouth! Haha. Overall, I was very impressed with this product. I would definitely recommend it to friends and would buy again as gifts. Especially families who like myself have multiple children and want products that are built to be enjoyed by all of them! -
Aromachology Customized Fragrance
Indulge your inner J-Lo, Sarah Jessica Parker or Gwen Stefani -- craft your own fine fragrance with a little help from Aromachology, a new Canadian company set on making customized perfume accessible at the beauty counter. Choosing, mixing and... +
Indulge your inner J-Lo, Sarah Jessica Parker or Gwen Stefani -- craft your own fine fragrance with a little help from Aromachology, a new Canadian company set on making customized perfume accessible at the beauty counter. Choosing, mixing and bottling will take place right there, right in front of your nose.
A list of 10 questions helps hone in on your "scent personality," which slots in to one of the following base-scent classifications: "sophisticated and sensual" floral, "totally edible" gourmand, "exotic and spicy" oriental, "clean and fresh," and "bold and brisk" woodsy. (Your type is revealed in the first few answers, but we girls, we like extra details.)
Adding three top-note blends selected from an available 15 gives the base its true-to-you twist. Those include Sexy (amber, jasmine, rose and vanilla), Spontaneous (tuberose and citrus), and Creative (juniper berry and carnation). You can also customize for a particular mood or effect, with choice such as "Confident," "Open Minded," "Seductive," and even "Emotionally Stable!"
Guys can also get in on the creative action for their lovely ladies, and Aromachology cleverly makes the process even easier for them -- just two steps. (Co-founder Kirsten Menkes says it's because although guys want to seem all thoughtful, they just don't put in as much effort as we girls, so a speedy, to-the-point process is a must to encourage them!)
Cost is $160 for 100 mL in a bottle like the first image above, or $70 for a 5 mL travel size plus two refills. (Check out the company blog at http://myaromachology.blogspot.com/ to see what happened when they managed to get a travel-size sample into filmmaker Jason Reitman's hand, literally.)
Not yet in stores, Aromachology JUST launched at TIFF (hence the Jason Reitman chase-down -- and Kirsten's still swooning over her handshake with George Clooney). The service will be available online at www.myaromachology.com (policies will be in place to ensure customers are happy with a fragrance they order sans sniff-test, says Kirsten); info on retail locations to come.
I love the idea. Scent is such a personal thing -- how great that the celeb you smell like is uniquely you.
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Benefit Cosmetics Celebutante Personal Stylist Makeup Kit
Nobody does a "get-the-look" makeup kit better than Benefit. And nobody teaches a novice or Benefit newcomer about modern tricks, tips and textures (cheek stain, liquid highlighter) better than they do, either. Yes teach. If you've never picked... +
Nobody does a "get-the-look" makeup kit better than Benefit. And nobody teaches a novice or Benefit newcomer about modern tricks, tips and textures (cheek stain, liquid highlighter) better than they do, either.
Yes teach. If you've never picked up a Benefit get-the-look (it's what I call 'em) kit, then you don't know that along with quality cosmetics and the cutest mini-makeups ever, each contains a handy and helpful pamphlet of step-by-step instructions on how and where to apply everything.
Celebutante offers (l to r) mini Full-Finish lippies in Lady's Choice and No Competition, mini gloss in I'm With the Band, High Beam liquid complexion highlighter, Benetint lip-and-cheek stain, Leggy and Dandy Brandy powder eye shadow, Dallas bronzer-esque blush, itsy applicators, and of course easy-follow illustrations to guide you. Sooo pretty.
Available in stores in October 2009 -- mark your calendar -- Celebutante is a must-have, even if you already have all the full-size versions. The kit's also perfect for travel.
Other fab Benefit kits to check out include Smokin' Eyes (beyond-simple sexy), Realness of Concealness (ya gotta know how to cover up in order to reveal your best features), and Big Beautiful Eyes (which brilliantly includes... concealer!).
All lessons should be this much fun -- and as adorably packaged.
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Murale Store
This image is of the Montreal Murale store; I chose it to show the prestige brands Murale can offer. Sure, you can go play with these lines in a department store, but the great thing about an environment like Murale's is that you're... +
This image is of the Montreal Murale store; I chose it to show the prestige brands Murale can offer. Sure, you can go play with these lines in a department store, but the great thing about an environment like Murale's is that you're enthusiastically encouraged to play, to ask questions, to have someone show you how something looks on you, and you don't feel like you're stealing counter time.
In addition to Chanel, YSL, Bobbi Brown, Shiseido, Nars and Benefit, you can have a skin analysis, get your brows shaped, and have a makeup lesson. Check out cute cosmetics lines like Pandora's Box (Canadian) and Mommy Makeup (exclusive). Get to know skincare from Natura Bissé (all about sirtuins, which repair damaged cells and prolongs overall cell lifespan) and June Jacobs (natural, and exclusive). Check out bath-and-body treats from Princepessa, Potter & Moore and gorgeous Molton Brown. And look for fun accessories to round out your beauty supplies.
Best of all, there's TONS of room to move -- no beauty claustrophobia here. Beauty geeks, addicts, junkies... if you love beauty, you'll love Murale. And frankly, it's a genius shopping spot for any guy who needs help shopping for a girl.
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