Whiskers On Kittens

I'm on Mat leave which means I am at home...a lot. It takes me a long time to relax in the evenings as that is when I am go-go-go, trying to make up for the time when I am single-handedly putting out a 3-year-old and 3-month-old's fires. So once my husband comes home, I take times to get things done and I also take time for myself. This may mean painting my nails, having a bath, returning my emails...but, more often than not, it means going on Facebook and checking out the newest updates to my favorite sites. Here are a few of my faves: 1) The Selby: http://www.theselby.com/ (Awesome photography of famous/cool peoeples places. Gives me something to aspire to). 2)The Sartorialist: http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/ (Fabulous photos of street style from the most stylish cities around the world). 3) Style.com: http://www.style.com/ (My favorite thing about this site is the pics of style icons and celebs at ridiculous NY/LA parties and the Look of the Day that enables you to make your style vote count). 4) Lainey Gossip: http://www.laineygodssip.com/ (Celeb gossip with a Canadian twist). 5) Funny or Die: http://www.funnyordie.com/ (Hilarious sketches by our favorite comedians and some surprising celebrities). 6) And of course Goop: http://goop.com/ of which my little blog is inspired from. (Gwenyth Paltrow tells us how to live. If I had money, I'd like to think I'd be half as stylish & cool as she is). Enjoy my pretties and have a wonderful new year.

Roxanne

Here's my submission for the latest issue of Island Child. Enjoy Yummy Mummys!

Bringing Sexy Back A couple months ago, when I was still a working mom, it seemed everywhere I turned I was hearing people talk about a “work-life balance.” Now that I’m a stay-at-home mom on my mat leave, I am more concerned with a mom-hot lady balance. I love being at home with the kids, I really do. I mean, I’m only 3 months into this year long mat stint but the bloom is still fully on the rose. The kids and I have a blast at play groups, on walks to the park, or cranking some tunes at home and staying in our jammies all day. But, there are some days, when I lurk out of bed, stare at my closet and think, “What’s the point?” What point is there to carefully selecting my most adorable outfit if it’s only going to get puked on? What point is there to plastering on my make-up if there is no one around to appreciate it? The point: self-preservation. When I was on my first Mat leave, over 3 years ago, I felt alone and isolated. I baked cookies and ate them all miserably in front of the TV. I rarely felt like I had time to shower and I never dressed nicely. As a result, I put on weight, had a bad attitude and barely left the house. Looking back, I probably had some symptoms of post-partum, but I really feel doing some things a bit differently could have made the world of difference. So this time around, I had a game plan. This time I am taking time for myself, making sure to shower and dress everyday (even if that means showering at night and laying my clothes out for the next day). I almost always put on my face now, and although I may not always have time for the best hair-do I have invested in some excellent hair bobbles and cute hats so I can at least fake it. (And if there’s some extra cash at the end of the month, mama’s getting her hair done!) I’ve donated or stored any clothes that “used to fit” and have picked up some flattering, comfy, cute clothes that make me feel good about getting up in the morning. Seems like such silly, easy things but they have given me the confidence to want to go out and do things outside the house. And heck, I look great doing it and isn’t that the point?

All the Pretty Things

I absolutely love online shopping. It fills me with unbridled excitement to scan through pages and pages of gorgeous clothing, shoes and accessories. I love the thrill I get out of clicking "Add to my Shopping Bag" and when the box comes in the mail? Well sometimes that's just better than...well, you know. But I am not on Net-a-Porter or Gilt Groupe. Nope, I need a deal. I want a deal. I love a deal. I LIVE for a deal. So my three new favorite sites are as follows: Charlotte Russe (http://www.charlotterusse.com/) This site is the cheapest of the cheap. LOVE! We also don't have the store here in Canada so that adds an extra wow factor. I got 4 pairs of RAD boots, a studed clutch, a belt, a vest and some other general bric-a-brac all for $180 including S&H. OMG! The boots abobe are one of the pairs of boots I got. Major! Not real leather but that's ok because I won't feel bad about tossing them at the end of the season. Which I totally will. Forever 21 (http://www.canada.forever21.com/) Another store that is nowhere near where I live. I got some adorable stuff on sale from summer for my impending trip to Hawaii in January. A maxi dress, a couple of shirts & tanks, a great tunic and a belted brown dress shirt that has become part of my fashionable/functional mom uniform. All the stuff was good quality and totally worth the small amount I paid for it. I love that the site lets you see things in zoom and in the various different colours that it's available in and I also adore the fact that S&H is free. FREE! They have various "lines" through them as well from the teeny-bopper look to the more mature Contemporary 21 line. Covering all facets of my life and personality. Other sites I have found in my online voyages but have not YET ordered from: 1) Chadwicks (http://www.chadwicks.com/). Looks a little mommsy but there are some deals to be found. 2) JC Penny (http://www.jcpenny.com/) which has a link at hte top to some awesome deals through Sephora 3) Landsend (http://www.landsend.com/). I have numerous friends who swear by their bathing suits (AND of course monogrammed beach bags!) 4) Kensie and KensieGirl (http://www.kensie.com/). Really cute stuff but a tad pricey. 5) And of course the old stand-bys: Gap/Banana Republic/Old Navy/Piperlime which I can all be accessed from same site and I actually have ordered from. (http://www.gap.com/)