Entries Tagged 'Vancouver' ↓

I’m so glad I had the forethought to start and nearly finish my Xmas shopping way back when everyone considered me crazy for even breathing the C word. Because it’s brokesville here, but thankfully, I have half a closet to show for it.

But I know all about you, you wait-ers. Bet you thought you could just like, wait until early-to-mid December and then score everything everyone wants because eighty thousand other bloggers and someone like me would put together a list of places to go, people to see and codes to use to get discounts and free shit, right?

Well, you were right this time, bucko. Hint: check out the footnotes – it means there’s a deal from the store.

FTC mumbojumbo (yes, I know it doesn’t apply to me because I’m lucky enough to live in a socialist country and all, but lets just pretend that Canada and the US have the same rules): I received absolutely nothing for putting together this gift guide, despite that some of the stores listed are, or have been in the past, sponsors on Mommy is Moody.)

The shortlings

Good for the Kids¹: The store’s put together a super easy to navigate gift guide for shoppers searching for toys, educational materials and supplies for babies and younger children. If I had the bank account that Tiger Woods’ wife does now, I’d buy Zoë the Melissa and Doug Lacing Shoe, Word Letter Puzzle and the Shape Sorting Clock. I’m actually kind of sad that Good for the Kids is no longer carrying the Easel and Chore Chart they did previously – those are on my to-track-down list, for sure. Psst, they’ll will be donating 50% of the net proceeds from the sale of any toy sold on December 10th (my birthday!!!) to the Hope for Anissa fund.

Raspberry Kids: Vancouver-based, green, and carrying everything for toddlers and babies, Raspberry Kids is an online boutique with reasonable pricing and ethical business practices. We’ve received samples of their merchandise in the past that I’ve reviewed and I continue to covet their stock to this day because of it. If I had five 20s to drop, I’d buy Zoë this Kuki Kids Apron to wear while she helps me bake, a ladybug lunch box, the every day kit and this long sleeved top.

Style Kid²: A hub of kid-centred funkiness, this store is also Vancouver-based and features ethical business practices – including sponsoring fundraising efforts. Toys, gifts, decor and furniture, clothes… it’s hard to narrow down what a month of advertising might buy Zoë here. But if I was nailed to make a choice? My girl would get this damn cute dress, a Nightmare Before Xmas lunchbox, and this print, which sums it up perfectly. And I’d buy Mr Lady this.

Chirp and Tweet: This shop features an uber cute (do I detect a sign of cheekiness, too) tee. Zoë should wear it, but then, she’d get all mafiosa on my ass and I can’t afford to pay her every week so that she won’t break my kneecaps. On December 10th (my birthday!), a quarter of the shop’s profits will be donated to the Hope for Anissa Fund. Shop on my bday, y’all.

Toilet Tattoos: Maybe a little cheesy, maybe the thing you need to stop banging your head against a wall while your toddler fights potty training. These are like reward-charts (which is apparently a great way to go for potty training – I went straight to the junk food bribes), but they stick temporarily right on your toilet seat.

For the grown ups

Skin Care Rx³: I have no idea how many brands these guys carry, but I know that some of skin’s faves are there. Which makes them kind of a big deal, because have you ever tried to track down Ahava in Vancouver? I used make Stargirl bring it back for me, when she would go visit family in Israel. But, nope, this site makes me want the purifying mud mask and the cleansing milk. They also have some of my other loves, like Deep Steep, Erbaviva, La Roche-Posay and Pangea Organics.

Lush⁴: I’ve gone into the store a few times, I’ve bought online for some loved ones on Mother’s Day and I usually can’t stand the damn place. But I know you all love it and a few people I was shopping for were all OOOOOH, GIMME. After I taught them a lesson on manners, I went to the shop and I’m not telling you what I bought, but suffice it to say that I know four ladies who are getting some smelly shit in less than three weeks. And I’m one of them. I’ve been assimilated into the collective.

Panty by Post: I’ve reviewed these wares before, and damn, do they know their panties. Now, they’ve also introduced a line for men (as if the thongs weren’t really for men, anyway?) called Briefs in a Box. Check it out – it’s a worthy excuse to make sure that the mister’s ginch is hole-free, and sexay. It’s worth right-click-save-ing. I wouldn’t RTS this mail – ps, I prefer a low-rise, size small. Just saying.

Mayfair Lane: You can buy me anything from here and the Real Simple reading, obsessive compulsive, design-lover in me would have an organize-asm. What’s really cool is that these clips and magnets stick to stainless steel, mirrors and stuff that usual magnets won’t, without residue or anything, and they look damn good doing it. The *d babysitter note pad is uber cute and a handy place to leave fake phone numbers info for the rare nights you get out, and the retro pink skull notebook, while not magnetic, still implies badass.

Kinga’s Kreations: This etsy shop owner makes damn purdy jewelry, often featuring Swarovski crystals. And? Super affordable. I like this guy the mostest. Also great is that she’s also donating proceeds on December 10th (guess whose birthday that is!) to the Hope for Anissa Fund.

Thus concludes the longest post I’ve ever written about shopping in my whole blogging career. For the record, I would like to see some progress in science as far as developing some sort of psychic-linking-chip or medication. You know, just like, the temporary ability to automatically put links where they need to go, without actually doing anything would be appreciated.

Oh, and Canada?

Once again, it’s time to disillusion my daughter, whilst also psyching her up faster than a bipolar patient on Effexor. Except this year we have preschool to contend with. A preschool that stated in their monthly newsletter that it “goes very easy on the Christmas discussions”, but who asked that we let them know of any particular issues we might have with holiday beliefs.

I get to be that mom, for the fourth time since it’s started. First, it was about her food allergies – she can’t play with the Play-Doh unless supervised, with her hands washed immediately afterwards (because there’s wheat in it and it drives her as mental as a slice of Wonderbread) and she has to have her own, special cookies for when there’s a birthday. Then came the note about her father not being allowed to pick her up from school – not that he even knows where it is, has tried pick her up, or has even attempted to ask me anything about it. Next, our lack of vaccinations, especially while the entire class got deswined.

Now, I get to walk in there in eleven hours and attempt to explain discreetly that we don’t believe in Santa. Without ruining the other 11 kids’ childhoods, too.

Zoë and I had the talk about two weeks ago, about how Santa was a story. Like Dora. And how he doesn’t bring her presents. Like Dora. And how Dora and Santa don’t really hang out, giving presents to good little boys and girls, while singing Feliz Navidad, strumming guitars, in the company of a purple monkey who is excellent at the panflute. She was concerned for about 13 seconds, until the magical question occurred to her: But, who will give me presents? When I gave her a list of present-giver-to-hers, she was cool.

Of course, we also discussed the holidays being about a feeling and giving and spending time with the people you love, who support you and show that they care all year round and other wonderful bullshit. And then she refocussed on the presents. She’s three. I don’t expect full-on philanthropy, even if she did give me a list of everything that we should buy her friends and three boyfriends.

But still, to kick off the gift guides that are coming to a feed reader near you, I give you a little something local to Vancouver that came across my inbox¹ (and didn’t even bring a towel to mop up the mess. {too far?}):

The real Santa, accompanied by Mrs. Claus and 38 of his top elves, will spend six weeks at Richmond Centre starting November 13, announced North Pole spokesperson and Senior Elf, VP Communications Reginald Rufus.

According to Rufus, Santa will arrived at the mall on Friday, November 13 at 7 p.m. in a GM zero-emission, Fuel Cell Chevrolet Equinox and will then lead Mrs. Claus, his merry band of elves and anyone who wants to believe in the magic of Christmas on a parade through Richmond Centre. He will commutes back and forth to the North Pole, as necessary, as he prepares for one of the most exciting nights of the year for the jolly old man (Christmas, in case you forgot!).

“Santa chose Richmond Centre as his home base to visit with children this year because of the multicultural demographics in the city and how the people of Richmond would help him spread the spirit of Christmas around the world,” said Rufus via satellite from the North Pole. He added: “Santa is looking forward to seeing the children of Richmond this year and he knows that there are many people in Richmond that might be grown up, but are still children at heart.”

“We are thrilled that Santa chose Richmond again this year,” said Leslie Matheson, Director of Marketing, Richmond Centre. “Christmas is a magical time of year and having Father Christmas at Richmond Centre has everyone here very excited. The world is a very big place and that Santa has chosen to spend the six weeks just before Christmas here, is quite an honour for us.”

Throughout Santa’s visit, there will be many activities at Richmond Centre. They include:

• Visits and Photos with Santa
• Daily Elf Inspections
• School of Christmas – classroom and theatre sessions
• Santa Live! (Streaming live video of the child’s visit with Santa.)

Santa, Mrs. Claus and all 38 elves have their own trading card that they will hand out to courteous little boys and girls (and grown-ups), when asked politely. Santa’s card is a magical trading card that creates a 3D image of old Saint Nick, when it is held up to a web cam. Santa 3.0, is what he’s calling it.

Said Matheson: “Santa at Richmond Centre is an interactive experience. There is something to do for everyone – young and old alike. The spirit of the season, goodwill towards others, and kindness and joy will come to life here at Richmond Centre when Santa arrives. We’re hoping that not only will everyone who comes to see Santa embrace that, but that they will carry a little piece of it with them all year ‘round.”

For more information on Santa at Richmond Centre, please visit www.santaatrichmondcentre.com. (The website will be live on Friday, November 13, 2009.)

Richmond Centre is one of the Lower Mainland’s largest shopping complexes with 240 stores and services. Located in the centre of Richmond, on the corner of Westminster Hwy and Minoru Boulevard, Richmond Centre is owned and managed by two of the largest developers in Canada, Cadillac Fairview Corporation Ltd. and Ivanhoe Cambridge II Inc.