Tax Free at Pseudio

Pseudio announces that this is the last weekend to score on their extended store-wide tax free offer. The sale technically ends Sunday, but remember that Brunswick Square isn't open on Sundays (now that holiday shopping hours are over).

Pseudio also has a newer store in the East Point Shopping Centre that opened a few months ago. Unfortunately, I find their selection extremely disappointing: it doesn't seem organized, but rather just left overs from the other Pseudio stores.

So, if you're out and about today or tomorrow, pop by the Brunswick Square location before closing time on Saturday.


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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.)

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.

Brunswick Square Fashion Show...

Last Wednesday kicked off a couple weeks' worth of fashion focused events with Brunswick Square's annual fall fashion show. Make-up was done by Perfumes Plus, using Chanel cosmetics. The models' faces were marked with the iconic double C logo of Chanel, as done in on recent Chanel runways. A few stylists at Hairacy's created looks styles for hair that, in their own right, were attention-grabbing.

At the door we received a program for the show as well as a bulleton for the Fashion Forward event (that I blogged about last week), which includes a list of what special things the participating stores will be offering and a coupon for a specifically prepared fashionista cocktail at the Canterbury's after party.

Below is a selection of my favourite outfits from Brunswick Square's fashion show:

The scene was decorated by Spurs.

The initial preview walk \.

Front row seats.

Loved this retro hair style by Adam Donnelly.

Chic look from Colwell's (Ladies).

Loved the leopard print blouse as well as both pairs of boots

Colwell's is carrying more ladies footwear this fall

Great admiration for these Michael Kors bags from Colwell's (Ladies).

This bedazzled bracelet was an eye catcher (Colwell's).

Beautiful plum dress with mesh top from Ladies' Colwell's.

Elegant winter coats from Ladies' Colwell's.

Beautiful dress and blazer, accessorized with a

wine Co-Lab bag from Je Suis Prest Boutique.

Loved the cheetah pumps (The Urban Shoe Myth) and this animal print dress-

these 2 looks from Je Suis Prest Boutique were my favourite. 

Feminine pink dress from Je Suis Prest Boutique.

This faux fur vest on the right from Olsen Europe was another favourite item of mine.

From these Je Suis Prest Boutique looks, I adored

the mustard sweater and the pretty brown skirt.

Faux leather jackets from Pseudio are a chic addition

and I'm a fan of these booties from The Urban Shoe Myth. 

Handsome suits from Mens' Colwell's.

The real show-stoppers were the little ones modelling for Paddington Station.

These cuties melted hearts.

Brunswick Square, along with their participating stores, did an amazing job and somehow even managed to outdo themselves from last year's impressive fashion show. It was a great opportunity for Saint Johners to see the latest styles and must-have items from their favourite stores as while supporting a great cause in Big Brothers/Big Sisters. 

It made an incredible difference having an SLR camera this year, that's for sure! Check out my blog post from last year's show here.

Florals in the Snow!

Friday afternoon we were hit with a raging blizzard...again. After being cooped up in the house for most of the day, I decided to brave the storm and head uptown for two very good reasons: an awesome sale and a Starbucks coffee date. I quickly browsed the racks at The Black Dog Boutique and then caught up with Kate from Silver Daisy Designs for talk over coffee. We then headed back across Germain together to try on a few lovely items from Jill's store. The Black Dog Boutique was offering 30% off all merchandise this past Friday and Saturday! Did you happen to score at this sale?

The Outfit

• Crop sweater- Kersh- Pseudio (SJ, Dec '09)
• Floral top/dress- Lush- Envy (SJ, Dec '10)
• Jeggings- Guess- Envy (SJ, Dec '10)
• Boots- Town Shoes (Halifax, Oct '07)
• Necklace- gifted from Shannon  & Jess (Halifax, July '09)
• Earrings- Banana Republic (Freeport, Nov '10)

I love versatile pieces like this top...or is it a dress? I've worn it as both. I suppose you could say it compares to a chameleon. On New Year's Eve I wore it as a dress paired with glitter tights and a black blazer. Here I sport it with a pair of jeggings for a casual and bitter cold day.

Don't forget today is the last day to take advantage of the discount code from LuLu*s, specially for Maritime Shopaholic readers! I've already got my picks choosen and ordered! Have you? 

Hope your week is off to a great start!

sweet sale!

With a big sale coming our way, I thought it'd be fitting to post an outfit that originated in the cutest little clothing boutique on Germain Street, uptown: The Black Dog Boutique!

On Sunday I saw Jill, owner of The Black Dog Boutique, had tweeted the following message:

I was so excited! I love her store.

So ladies, if you haven't been to 24 Germain Street yet, Friday or Saturday (or both for that matter!) are the days to drop by and meet Jill (and if you're lucky, Oli too!). Below I found a video on YouTube of the lovely Jill herself:

And without further a due, here are a few pieces I found in Jill's store one of the last times I stopped by to visit:

The Outfit

Purple vest- Toggery- The Black Dog Boutique (SJ, Dec '10)

Blueish-grey long sleeve top- Toggery- The Black Dog Boutique (SJ, Dec '10)

Black tank- Aerie (Toronto, Dec '09)

Black leggings- Pseudio (SJ, Dec '09)

Black boots- Town Shoes (Halifax, Nov '07)

Short Necklace- Dogeared- Je Suis Prest Boutique (gift from co-workers, May '10)

Long Necklace- H&M (Toronto, Dec '08)

I know I won't hesitate to be there tomorrow! Be sure to follow The Black Dog Boutique on Facebook and Twitter to hear about great sales like this one in the future!

soon to be in a sea of needles...

Does anyone still have their Christmas tree up? No? I'm the only one?

Ok, so my laziness has gotten the better of me. Well, and it's been a busy start to the new year, but I can't say I'm looking forward to that rain shower of fir needles when we go to move the tree. I swear, I look at this tree and it sheds needles in response. Anyways, that's the mission for...tonight. (We've been saying that since, well, Sunday.)

In today's outfit post I'm sporting a few things that Santa left under the tree for me!...a warm North Face jacket with a faux fur trimmed hood, a brown/bronze crossbody Fossil purse, and a brown cowl neck C'est Moi sweater. The first few outdoor shots were taken outside Urban Deli on the first day of shopping after Christmas. B was brave enough to hit the stores with me in search of some sweet Boxing Day sales and then we popped into the Urban Deli for lunch.

And here's the rest of the outfit, sans jacket...

The Outfit

• Coat- North Face (Christmas gift from parents, Dec '10)
• Crossbody purse- Fossil- Manchester Shoe Salon (Christmas gift from B, Dec '10)
• Sweater- C'est Moi- Je Suis Prest Boutique (Christmas gift from my sister, Dec '10)
• Vest- American Eagle (SJ, Fall '09)
• Jeans- Dish Jeans- Pseudio (SJ, Fall '09)
• Boots- Aldo (Christmas gift from parents, Dec '09)

Oh! And I have to make one modification to my New Years Resolutions. I still plan to colour/highlight my hair, but I can't do anything too wild or edgy for a cut just yet...I forgot that I need to keep a more classic cut until my wedding day in June!

How are you all making out with your resolutions? Please, do share!

  

Mother Nature's mood swings...

The rain is seriously putting a damper on the Holiday cheer. Everytime it snows, it seems that Mother Nature follows up with a rainfall to wash the seasonal decor away. If it's not within a few hours, it'll happen within 24. I can maintain all the other decorations I have put up: the outdoor lights, the garland, the holly-adorned centerpiece; just not the finishing touch: the snow. Come on, it's the only time of the year I tolerate the otherwise evil S-word (haha). One day there's snow in the background of my pictures...the next day I need to seek shelter with my camera because it's raining cats and dogs...

The Outfit

Plaid shirt- Joe Fresh Style (SJ, Oct '10)

Brown-tee- American Eagle (SJ, Oct '10)

Cords- American Eagle (ordered online, Fall '09)

Shoes- Aldo (Halifax, Sept '10)

Belt- from another shirt

Necklace- Swarovski (gifted from B)

Hat- Urban Outfitters (Montreal, June '10)

The Outfit

Blazer- RW & Co. (SJ, May '10)

Top- 03 Everly- Pseudio (SJ, Oct '10)

Skirt- American Apparel (Halifax, April '10)

Pantyhose- Ardene's (SJ, Oct '10)

Necklace- Swarovski (gifted from B)

Booties- Aldo (Toronto, Sept '10)

I have to say, the 30 for 30 Challenge has indeed been a challenge for me! I tend to be running out the door last minute, and sometimes it's not as easy to throw an outfit together under pressure when you have a limited number to choose from- I've been doing my best but I'll be glad to include the rest of my wardrobe again soon!

So, fellow remixers, have you found it easier or harder assembling outfits with only 30 to choose from?