Saint John on the web

Interesting links based on local happenings I've come across in the last week! This list rounds up a few giveaways, a newly opened store uptown, and a way to get home safely from holiday parties this season:

1. The local giveaway marathon continues on Barbbarbbarb's blog: #30in30.
2. I have so many lovely friends that are now expecting a bundle of joy in 2012! Check out uptown's new maternity store on Prince William: Belly Beautiful Maternity.
3. Judith Mackin's  top 10 art tips- why bad art will never do. 
4. Kiera Fraser strongly recommends shopping local for your Christmas gifts.
5. You can now subscribe to the Telegraph Journal's new and (finally) improved website instead of getting the paper.
6. Operation Red Nose, a great local (and free) service to get people home safely during the holidays, is looking for more volunteers.
7. Tickets for the upcoming Saint John Wine Festival in February are now on sale.
8. Cannon Security Inc is hosting a a Wonderland Facebook Giveaway.
9. The Yoga Outlet is hosting a (free) candle-lit Winter Solstice session on the shortest day of the year- this Wednesday.
10. Loving local blogger Candice's outfits on Brillant Sugar- many of the items from her closet have local origins. 

With less than a week to go, the countdown to Christmas is officially on! Wishing you a fantastic holiday season.

merry martinis....

Looking for a mid-week pick me up? Fusion Saint John is hosting Merry Martinis at the Trade & Convention Centre tomorrow evening, (Wednesday) December 14.

In support of Romero House, this party will kick off  with a red carpet entrance at 6pm. In your cocktail attire, tickets will provide you with 3 drink vouchers and hors d'oeurves at your fingertips. Tickets for this event are $50 and can be purchased at the Uptown Saint John office at 40 King Street. 

For more details, check out this video with event coordinators, Sean & Fran, chatting about this soiree:

To see the article written on Merry Martinis in support of the Romero House in the Telegraph Journal today, click here.

Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the event myself, but would love to hear all about it! Hope those of you attending will let me know how it goes and have some pictures to post- have fun!


This post has been written by the author in support of Romero House, an extremely worthy cause, which is open 365 days a year and aims to serve one hot meal to Saint Johners in need. The soup kitchen is open 7 days a week, providing roughly 300 meals daily.

Saint John on the web

I"ll be honest- I don't know what I'd do without the internet. It's my source for catching up on the latest trends, tuning into world news, making plans with friends, or find out what's going on in Saint John this weekend. Here are some of my favourite links I've encountered this week that have local content:

1. Professional photos by Kelly Lawson and Mike Capson from the Urban Glam Party posted.
2. Perfumes Plus shares a sneak peak at the new Chanel Spring 2011 cosmetic line. 
3. The Urban Shoe Myth is offering 25% off their holiday shoes for the remainder of the week.
4. An article I stumbled upon that lists many reasons why it's important to shop local.
5. Manchester Shoe Salon and Pseudio are both offering tax free from now until Christmas.
6. Market Square is giving away a $500 shopping spree each Friday until December 23.
7. Profile written on shop owner Kiera of Je Suis Prest Boutique.
8. Brunswick Square is also doing a giveaway promotion titled $1000 reasons to shop locally
9. Beat the Winter Blues Facebook Competition involving multiple uptown Saint John businesses.
10. Fusion is hosting Merry Martinis, a cocktail party in support of Romero House, next week.

What was the best or most interesting thing you saw on the web this week? (Let me know in the comments below!)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I'm kicking it off with a Christmas party tonight at the Delta- can't wait to wear a new dress! (It has sequins.)

telegraph journal

This past weekend my little blog received a little love in Saint John's Telegraph Journal. I mentioned a few weeks ago in this outfit post, that I had had the pleasure of meeting up with Kâté Braydon, photographer for the newspaper, at one of my favourite uptown stores, The Urban Shoe Myth.

Last month, I was contacted by report John Pollack about my outlook on shopping and retail growth in Saint John after he had come across my blog. He had already spoken to many business individuals on their perspective and I suppose my viewpoint would come from the (experienced) consumer. Although I'm credited as a "confessed shopaholic" in the article, I can't deny the the title given the name of my blog, I'd describe it as more of a whimsical reference to my consumerism and interest of what is available here in our port city. While I will admit I do love shopping, my "cash diet" method keeps me in check- and it is really my love of fashion and interest in pushing the envelope of style that keeps me writing this blog!

If you had an opportunity to read it, the article, titled The evolution of a retail destination (page 34 in the Saint John on the Move magazine insert), shares the opinions of myself, Imelda Gilman (president of the Saint John Board of Trade), and statements from a number of developers that Saint John's retail is growing. We've turned away the age old notion that people feel the need to leave our city to shop. As our city continues to evolve we're seeing more enjoyment and commitment in regards to supporting local.

Thanks to John and the TJ for the shout out on my blog! Although I made a special effort to buy the newspaper after hearing the article was out, I'm looking forward to the make-over of the Telegraph's website, which I hear is about to be released very soon.    

gift guide for her

By now most people are full into their holiday shopping (I've even heard a select few say they are actually finished!) I actually haven't even started. Well compared to the last few years, this might have me concerned, I remember as a student I used to leave my Christmas shopping until after exams, not even making my list prior to the 20th.

I am always committed to getting my friends and family gifts that I know they will love and use. The most important thing to me is getting something I know they will appreciate. I've been out browsing the shops in Saint John over the last few weeks, and here's my suggestions on where to shop for the women in your life!

Uptown Saint John 

Shoes

Depending on your budget and who you're buying for, no girl is going to turn down a beautiful pair of shoes. Support local, purchase quality, and consider a classic pair of pumps or flats from The Urban Shoe Myth (King Street) or Manchester Shoe Salon (Market Square). If you're not sure of her footwear tastes or what she has in her closet, a gift certificate to use towards a new pair of shoes or a quality wallet is never a poor choice. It's common to hear gift cards are impersonal, but I don't agree. A generic gift that she may or may not like is impersonal, but if you provide her with a little credit towards something she really likes, that will be greatly appreciated. And for a cute pair of comfortable Toms, I believe Je Suis Prest Boutique may still have some in stock!

Clothing

If you know her size or clothing preferences, there are many uptown boutiques to consider shopping. If you know her favourite store, a gift card is an option in this department too. Je Suis Prest Boutique (Brunswick Square) and Envy (Market Square) cater to a crowd of early 20s to 40s, depending on her personal style. If you know she shops at Je Suis Prest Boutique, be sure to ask the Prest girls if she has a shopping list there- they actually keep a list of their customers favourites to make holiday shopping easier! Kiera and Joy make a point to get to know their customers' tastes and give honest feedback so asking their option is always a great lead. For a girl in her teens to mid-20s I'd recommend checking out Pseudio (Brunswick Square). For the mature woman, try Collectables and Colwell's- it may be a little more expensive, but you can't go wrong with good quality. I'd say Silver Daisy (King Street) falls somewhere in between, serving unique and stylish clothing for girls in their 20s and 30s.

Accessories

Accessories are always a great affordable choice for a gift. Baubles (Brunswick Square) and Silver Daisy Designs (King Street) are my favourite go-to locations for pretty earrings, necklaces, or bracelets.

Cosmetics 

Make-up choices like a lip gloss or nail polish are always fun gift ideas as well. Visit the girls at Perfumes Plus (Brunswick Square) and get them to help you pick out a fragrance, Chanel product, or OPI nail polish for the giftee. Did you know that aside from Halifax, this is the only location you can purchase Chanel products? Though you may not be able to afford a Chanel suit or vintage purse, the cosmetics lines is much more accessible price-wise. Their nail polish is my absolute favourite for quality and wear.

Purses

Get her a new purse from Je Suis Prest Boutique (Brunswick Square), Silver Daisy Designs (King Street), or Walsh Luggage (Market Square). For a modern shoulder or crossbody bag visit JSP or for a fun party clutch, try Silver Daisy. For something classic and long-term, try popping into Walsh Luggage.

Home Decor

If you think she'd appreciate something for the home, I'd recommend Decor 8 (Brunswick Square), English Butler (Brunswick Square) and Handworks (King Street). Especially if you don't know the inside of her closet as well. chances are you've gotten a better look at her living room or kitchen. A beautiful piece of pottery (Handworks), a unique kitchen tool (Decor 8), fun cocktail glasses (Decor 8), or a Yankee candle (English Butler) are always great choices.  

Hair and Spa 

If you think she'd enjoy being pampered and doesn't spend enough time on herself, try purchasing a treatment or spa service from Element5 (Market Square) or Perfumes Plus (Brunswick Square). You could also browse Element5's selection of Aveda products for a great quality shampoo and conditioner. Speaking of hair care products, you could also try Hairacy's (Brunswick Square) selection of Redken products.

What I like about shopping uptown in general is that these locally owned shops give much better service. They are interested and invested in their customers' wants and needs, so asking their opinions might help point you in the right direction. Familiarizing yourself with the uptown is a great personal shopping experience and you're supporting local! Remember, when in doubt, choosing to purchase a gift certificate from a store you know she likes to shop at is never a fail.

Also, if you haven't seen it yet, check out the blog post I wrote last week for the Brunswick Square blog featuring the top 5 reasons for shopping at  the Uptown shopping centre.

luxury cars & brand name shoes

Last month I was invited to an event at the Mercedes-Benz dealership that mixed luxury cars with luxury goods (fashionable clothing that is). Am I in the market for a fancy car? Unfortunately not and while I'm perfectly happy driving my economical little Corolla, I certainly wouldn't shy away from a Mercedes if my bank account was grow by a good margin! For now, the most expensive new transportation I can afford is quality footwear!

The event, did perk my interest since it had a fashion aspect and had some of my favourite retailers involved. My initial thought was to wonder how do luxury cars and fashion mix, but then I remember the company and fashion industry are quite often making a partnership. After all, you do know that New York Fashion Week's main sponsor is Mercedes-Benz, right? Mercedes-Benz Canada has its own links to LG Fashion Week in Toronto: launching the Mercedes-Benz StartUp competition, which is in an initiative that is intended to provide a platform to discover and support up-and-coming Canadian fashion designers.  

Although I was unable to attend, I was sent a few photos to see how the local Mercedes-Benz dealership was mingling with fashion and supporting local at their annual customer event. Photos are the work of the lovely Kelly Lawson (Lawson Photography).

Ashley with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe

Dress: Je Suis Prest Boutique (Lipsy London) | Shoes: The Urban Shoe Myth (Michael Kors)

Jewellery: Goldsmith Studio | Watch: Goldsmith Studio (Gucci)

Natalie with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML Truck

Dress: Je Suis Prest Boutique (Mason) | Shoes: The Urban Shoe Myth (Nine West)

Jewellery: Goldsmith Studio | Watch: Goldsmith Studio (Gucci)

Mandy with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet

Dress: Je Suis Prest Boutique (DEPT) | Shoes: The Urban Shoe Myth (Stuart Weiztman)

Jewellery: Goldsmith Studio | Watch: Goldsmith Studio (Gucci)

My personal favourite was the outfit on Mandy. I love the faux leather dress- the fabric has a certain sex appeal and with tasteful necklace the mini skirt is definitely a go! I'm also a fan of patent leather and the rich red hue of the Stuart Weitzman pumps. 

All the models' hair was styled by ASAP Hair Studio and make-up was done with Chanel products at Perfumes Plus. 

This blog post is not sponsored content and is only my reflection on how this local car dealership mixed an element of fashion into their event. To support Maritime Shopaholic and have your fashion-related event officially covered on this blog, please see the Sponsor/Collaborate page for more details!