Holiday Gift Guide-Rodial Life & Style Bath and Body Products

Holiday Gift for Women

If anyone on your Christmas list is in need of a little pampering, Rodial, a leader in luxury skincare products that really work, has some fabulous gift ideas for you! Their indulgent Christmas gift sets are sure to please the most discriminating recipient.

rodial lounge candle gift set

Rodial offers amazing facial skincare products but for the holidays, the company’s Life & Style line offers decadent Bathing Balms, Body Soufflés and Scented Candles in a variety of aromas designed to enhance mood. I received the Lounge Bathing Balm to review and I couldn’t wait to relax with the help of the rich honeycomb and vanilla-scented concoction.

The bathing balm is a thick gel that can be used either as a shower gel or as a bubble bath. The aroma was so sweet and intoxicating; this definitely wasn’t a lightly scented product! I loved using a dab on my shower pouf because the scent of the bathing balm lingered on my skin long after my shower was done.

If relaxation isn’t the right choice for your gift recipient, the Rodial Life & Style collection also offers the Socialite scent, a blend of pink champagne and cassis, and the Rehab aroma, a combination of roasted almonds and honey milk. While all the scents sounded scrumptious, the product I had received was definitely the best choice for my holiday season; after months of hard work I will be in need of some serious pampering this Christmas!

rodial life and style bathing balm lounge

Rodial Life & Style products can be purchased at Murale stores throughout Canada and are also available online, so visit the Rodial website and give an overworked friend a luxurious bath and body set that’s sure to have them feeling stress-free, revitalized and ready to ring in the New Year!

ARV: $50-$70

Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above were provided free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Mommy Kat and Kids. Opinions expressed belong to Mommy Kat and Kids and are NOT influenced in any way. Please view full Terms of Use and Policies
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Holiday Gift Guide-Gourmet Gift Baskets Christmas Gift Basket Classic

Holiday Gift for Everyone

When you just don’t know what gift to give to someone and time is running out, GourmetGiftBaskets.com is ready to step in and save the day. With delivery right to the recipient and tons of gorgeous gift baskets to suit anyone’s taste, giving a great gift has never been easier. I received the Christmas Gift Basket Classic to review and it had such a nice assortment of fun and pleasing products to enjoy. I loved that it was a mix of sweet and salty treats so that the entire family could dig in together and find a favourite snack.

gourmetgiftbaskets.com christmas gift basket classic

I’d tried a few of the products in the basket before; the Brent & Sam’s cookies and Parmesan Artichoke & Garlic Cheese Biscuits by Salem Baking Company were a few of my very favourites. But there were also some great new products to try and I eagerly sat down with my husband to dig into the Chocolate Covered Cherries by Marich while he indulged in the Buttered Peanut Crunch by Old Dominion Peanut Company. I loved the sweet chocolate-covered dried Bing cherries and the candy coating was the perfect finishing touch. My husband was just as impressed by the sweet and buttery peanut crunch candy.

The biggest surprise in the Christmas Gift Basket Classic was, for me, the Dipping Pretzels by East Shore Specialty Foods and the Robert Rothschild Farm Raspberry Honey Mustard Pretzel Dip. I am a big fan of mustard on a sandwich, but I wouldn’t have expected to like it so much on a pretzel. The sweet yet tangy taste of this gourmet mustard dip went so well with the crunch of the pretzels and really was a uniquely delicious treat!

The basket is rounded out with Almond Pecan-dy Crunch by Morley Candy Makers, Salted Peanuts in Box by Feridie’s, a Signature Dark Chocolate Bar by Lake Champlain and Metropolitan Trail Mix by GourmetGiftBaskets.com. There really is something for everyone in this scrumptious collection!

GourmetGiftBaskets.com also has themed gift baskets for all the hard-to-buy-for people on your Christmas list and the baskets are always delivered super-quickly, so they are perfect for those last-minute presents too. Check out the assortment for yourself and find a beautifully packaged, unique and delicious gift basket for someone special today!

ARV: $59.99

Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above were provided free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Mommy Kat and Kids. Opinions expressed belong to Mommy Kat and Kids and are NOT influenced in any way. Please view full Terms of Use and Policies
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Holiday Gift Guide-Diane Kroe Endless Top to Bottom-Giveaway

Holiday Gift for Women

If you’re looking for a gift for a fashionable woman on your Christmas list but you’re not sure what piece or size to get, look no more! The fabulous new Diane Kroe Endless Top to Bottom is here, and it’s sure to impress anyone that receives it. A few months ago I was given the chance to review the stunning Reversible Resort Dress from Canadian fashion designer Diane Kroe (you can read the review here). I was blown away by the convenience of the convertible design and now, Diane has done it again with the Endless Top to Bottom, a one-size-fits-all poncho that can also be converted into six other styles!

diane kroe the endless top to bottom in gold

I received the Endless in a unique modern print of beige and shades of brown accented with a rich pumpkin orange. It wasn’t a print that I would have chosen, but I found that it was actually incredibly versatile since the colours were quite subtle, yet the print was rather bold. The fabric was a luxurious jersey blend just like the material of the Reversible Resort Dress. I adore this fabric; it has such a rich and supple feel! I decided to try on the Endless in the poncho style right away.

diane kroe the endless top to bottom style sheet

The poncho is by far the easiest of the seven styles to create; I simply put my head through the opening and positioned the seam in the fabric so that it was in front of me. The Endless had a nice length that ran just below my hips, so that it covered my stomach without making me feel shapeless or boxy. I tried the scarf style next, and I really loved the fact that I could accessorize an outfit with this adorable scarf and then if I got chilly, convert it to a stylish cover-up without a second thought!

My husband, on the other hand, preferred the halter top to any other style. It took me a bit of practice to figure out how to tie the Endless into the halter top style, but it wasn’t difficult and after a few tries I was able to get the top looking just the way I wanted right away. The skirt and dress styles required no special work at all; I just put my arms through the top of the Endless and pulled it down to the appropriate height.

diane kroe the endless top to bottom various styles

The Endless is a great gift for any woman that loves changing her look regularly and since it is a one-size-fits-all piece it is perfect for gift giving. The Endless and Diane Kroe’s other pieces can be purchased online at www.dianekroe.com and right now, Diane is offering a special introductory price of only $45 on the first twenty Endless Top to Bottoms sold on her Etsy shop. That’s $30 off the regular price! There’s never been a better time to enjoy the beauty and versatility that is a trademark of Diane Kroe’s stunning designs!

ARV: $75

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Holiday Gift Guide-Hard Candy Limited Edition Holiday Cosmetic Sets

Holiday Gift for Teen Girls and Women

Looking for a fun gift that’s sure to be a hit with the ladies in your life? Whether you need one or two more stocking stuffers for your teenage daughter or a special gift for your best friend, Hard Candy has what you want at an unbeatable price!

Hard Candy is a hugely popular brand among cosmetics lovers and the company’s high-quality makeup at fabulously low prices lets any woman easily release her inner diva. Hard Candy has some great gift sets available for the holidays and there really is something for everyone!

hard candy hall of fame train case

For that special friend, go all out with the stunning Hard Candy Hall of Fame Train Case. Containing bronzer, blush, gloss, liner, primer, eyeshadows, a mirror and a makeup brush in a classy train case, it’s a steal of a deal at only $20 and a great way to let a special woman feel extra pampered.

Or if stocking stuffers are what you have been searching for, check out the cute Hard Candy holiday sets of nail polish, lip gloss and eyeliner, all available for between four and five dollars! My personal favourite is the lovely 4 Piece Take Me Out Eyeliner Set. With four bright and beautiful eyeliner pencils in festive colours and a handy sharpener, it’s a fun way to add sparkle to a holiday look for a great price! For the perfect finishing touch, grab a sweet Flavoured Lip Gloss Ring or Nail Polish with Heart Ring for only a dollar!

hard candy take me out four piece holiday eyeliner set

The colours in all of these limited edition holiday sets are bold, sparkling and sure to create a hot holiday look. Hard Candy Limited Edition Holiday Sets are available exclusively at Walmart, so check them out for yourself and give the gift of festive beauty without spending a fortune!

ARV: $1-$20

Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above were provided free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Mommy Kat and Kids. Opinions expressed belong to Mommy Kat and Kids and are NOT influenced in any way. Please view full Terms of Use and Policies

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Holiday Gift Guide-SKOY Cloths-Giveaway-CLOSED

Holiday Stocking Stuffer for Mom

When you’re looking for an eco-friendly way to clean up a mess or wash the dishes, look no further than SKOY Cloths! These handy kitchen cloths are the colourful, reusable, washable, biodegradable way to clean! So what are SKOY Cloths? They’re a blend of cotton and wood-based cellulose pulp that provide superior absorbency and are fully biodegradable. I received a package of four SKOY Cloths to test out for myself and I couldn’t wait to see what they were like!

skoy cloths assortment

My package of four cloths came in four different colours and I loved the cheerful flower pattern on the front. When dry, the SKOY Cloth feels somewhat like a sheet of handmade paper; it is very stiff and slightly spongy to the touch. But once I soaked it thoroughly under the tap and wrung out the excess water, I was left with a soft, durable and absorbent cloth that was great for scrubbing messes and so much more. It really was a dishcloth, sponge and paper towel all in one!

What I loved most about the SKOY Cloth was how quickly it dried. I really dislike using sponges and dishcloths because I find that they start to smell very quickly. They so often get tossed into the sink and forgotten, and by the time I pick them up to use them they are slimy and gross. Not a problem with the SKOY Cloth! It dried so fast that even if it got knocked off the side of the sink where I placed it, it still didn’t start to smell. And if it did get too dirty, I just tossed it into the laundry and after a quick wash and dry it came back as good as new! They are also incredibly durable; I’ve been using the same two cloths since I received them eight weeks ago and they are nowhere near worn out yet!

skoy cloth in use

A package of SKOY Cloths would make a great stocking stuffer for anyone that spends a lot of time in the kitchen and are a handy product to have if you have children in the house as well. These cloths clean up a child’s spills in a flash! SKOY Cloths can be purchased at London Drugs stores across Canada and at a variety of retailers and online stores in the United States. Check them out for yourself and give a gift that’s useful, economical and eco-friendly!

ARV: $7.99 for four

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Holiday Gift Guide-NCircle Entertainment Holiday DVDs-Giveaway

Holiday Gift for Young Children

Ring in the holidays with five great new DVDs from NCircle Entertainment! Whether you’re looking for a DVD of one of your child’s long-time favourite shows or something fun and new, NCircle has something for you!

the fairies christmas wishes in fairyland box art
The Fairies: Christmas Wishes in Fairyland


From the phenomenally popular Australian preschool series, The Fairies, comes the premiere of their first-ever holiday DVD for U.S. audiences. It’s 60 minutes of magical fun, with classic carols and new songs that will have little ones singing and dancing to the music all winter long!

the wiggles it's always christmas with you box artThe Wiggles: It’s Always Christmas with You!

The newest DVD from The Wiggles is a real treat for the entire family filled with 14 original new tunes and seasonal favourites. It’s the first holiday DVD in seven years from the gang from Down Under, featuring special celebrity guests (including ‘N Sync’s Joey Fatone) in performances filmed around the globe. In It’s Always Christmas with You! The Wiggles travel across three continents where they discover the diverse ways the holidays are celebrated by different cultures.

the cat in the hat knows a lot about that told from the cold box artThe Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That: Told from the Cold

This brand new DVD contains four episodes from the popular PBS Kids series that premiered in fall 2010, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That starring the voice of actor-comedian Martin Short. The four episodes on this learning-and-fun-filled DVD are Snowman’s Land, Flight of the Penguin, A Long Winter’s Nap and Reindeer Games.

WordWorld Happy Holidays WordFriends box artWordWorld: Happy Holidays WordFriends

A brand new DVD from the multiple Emmy Award-winning PBS Kids series, WordWorld, featuring three holiday-themed episodes – The Christmas Star, A Christmas Present for Dog and Duck’s Family Reunion – plus a bonus music video, Dancing Dog.

chloe's closet chloe's winter wonderland box artChloe’s Closet: Chloe’s Winter Wonderland

NCircle’s debut DVD from this charming animated series will unlock preschoolers’ imaginations as they try on all the fantastic winter treasures in Chloe’s Closet. The DVD features four episodes from the PBS Kids Sprout series: On Frozen Pond, Best in Snow, Icing Escapades and Getting to Snow You.

This collection really does have something for everyone. My boys were so excited to see The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! in the collection and Benjamin had a great time singing and dancing along with The Wiggles.

WordWorld was another old favourite in our household, but we had never seen The Fairies or Chloe’s Closet before. I loved the concept of Chloe’s Closet and my boys really enjoyed the episodes as well. I saved The Fairies DVD for one of the days when Zackary’s friend Jossy was over and she immediately fell in love with it! Almost any girl will adore the magical world of Harmony and Rhapsody, the purple and pink fairies that live in Fairyland.

To help spread a little holiday cheer this year, NCircle Entertainment is offering one lucky Mommy Kat and Kids reader a prize pack containing every one of the five holiday movies featured in this review! NCircle’s holiday DVDs are a fun mix of classic shows and new favourites and would make a great stocking stuffer for preschool children. Check them out for yourself and enjoy a Christmas filled with unique holiday entertainment!

ARV: $9.99

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Holiday Gift Guide-Sage Spoonfuls Let’s Get Started Package-Giveaway-CLOSED

Holiday Gift Guide for Babies and New Parents

There is more and more concern about the ingredients in certain baby foods these days. With so much food being imported from other countries, it can be hard to know if the choices we make for our little ones are really best for their growing bodies. Fortunately, actress and former Miss Golden Globe Liza Huber has a great solution. Make your own baby food!

While making baby food is something that can be intimidating for a new mother, it really doesn’t have to be. And Liza knows that; she’s been making food for her own children for many years and has seen the benefits firsthand. To make the process as easy as possible, she has created a fabulous new system called Sage Spoonfuls that lets moms easily prepare and store baby food in a flash!

sage spoonfuls let's get started package

I received the Sage Spoonfuls Let’s Get Started package to review and I couldn’t wait to check it out. The kit contains a copy of Liza Huber’s fabulous book Sage Spoonfuls: Simple Recipes, Healthy Meals, Happy Babies, an immersion blender and food processor, twelve 4oz. storage jars, 60 labels, 2 stackable storage trays and a pocket guide.

I sat down and read through the book first and I was both surprised and impressed by how useful it was. My first thought had been that there really couldn’t be much information in a baby food cookbook, since most of the meals would consist of only one food. But the book was actually incredibly helpful, detailed and thorough!

For one thing, it wasn’t just a cookbook. It featured facts about the benefits of homemade baby food, reasons to choose organic produce and lists of the most and least contaminated fruits and vegetables for those that might need to pick and choose which organic foods to purchase. There was also information about allergies and food intolerances, herbs and spices, and foods to avoid.

The recipes themselves were just as useful. I loved that every recipe was full of fun facts such as how much puree the fruit or vegetable would make and what nutrients it contained. There were even tasty variations that combined the featured food with other complimentary fruits or vegetables so that parents could create an infinite variety of meals for their little ones!

sage spoonfuls book cover

The Sage Spoonfuls immersion blender and food processor that came in the kit was designed to work with the system and it was so clever! The immersion blender was a basic hand blender designed to puree soft and liquid foods. But it featured a great food processor attachment that locked onto the immersion blender so that it could be powered by the blender’s motor! The blender uses a pulsing motion to puree foods and it was so easy to use; it just required regular pulsing of about five seconds until food had reached the desired consistency.

The storage containers were quite possibly my favourite item in the entire kit. For one thing, they were free of BPA, lead, Phthalates and PVC. The containers also featured great screw-on lids and were freezer safe! I was delighted to learn that food stored in the jars lasted about three months in the freezer. How much more convenient could homemade baby food be? And with the handy labels, knowing what food is in which jar is no problem at all.

The Sage Spoonfuls Let’s Get Started package would be a perfect gift for any new parent and would be a wonderful gift for a baby shower as well. It’s a great way to make sure that babies get the best, tastiest and healthiest start in life with food that you can make in mere minutes! The kits can be purchased online at www.sagespoonfuls.com, so check out the system for yourself and see how convenient and fun it can be to make your own homemade baby food!

ARV: $89.99

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Holiday Gift Guide-Old Navy Winter Coats

Holiday Gift Guide for Fashion Lovers

If you’re still looking for that perfect winter jacket for the holiday season, look no further than Old Navy Canada! Whether you want a trendy faux-sherling moto jacket, a classic frost-free long coat or a sophisticated wool car coat, Old Navy has the look you love for an unbeatable price!

old navy women's wool blend coat black plaid

I received a black and grey wool-blend coat to review and it is by far the best jacket I have ever owned. With its subtle plaid pattern, cinched waist and below the hip cut, it gives me a polished and powerful look that works well with any outfit I might be wearing. It’s a great way to class up my jeans when I’m dressing casual and it’s a perfect fit for a little black dress too!

The wool material of the coat is slightly fuzzy, but not at all scratchy. It’s surprisingly warm; while I wouldn’t want to wear it out for a day of sledding, it is perfect for running errands downtown or shopping in the city for a few hours. And I feel so sophisticated when I wear it; the cut of the jacket is just so fashionably flattering!

The tie waist is my personal favourite feature; it really lets me accentuate my curves even when I’m wearing bulky winter clothing. But I also love the double-breasted collar of the jacket, which helps to give it its dressy look, and the slit pockets, which add a nice slimming effect to the hips.

old navy lightweight frost free jacket

Old Navy has tons of other great outerwear choices as well, and while I love my new coat, I must admit that I have my eye on a few other jackets as well. And now is a great time to buy, since all women’s outerwear is currently on sale at www.oldnavy.ca! And with free shipping on orders over $50, free returns and guaranteed delivery before Christmas if you order by December 20, finishing off your Christmas shopping has never been easier!

So whether you want something sophisticated for the office Christmas party or something fun and functional for winter frolics with family, Old Navy has you covered with fashions that are gorgeous and affordable this holiday season. Check out the collection for yourself today!

ARV: $17-$90

Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above were provided free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Mommy Kat and Kids. Opinions expressed belong to Mommy Kat and Kids and are NOT influenced in any way. Please view full Terms of Use and Policies

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