Women

Holiday Gift Guide-Dell Inspiron R Series Laptops-Giveaway-CLOSED

December 20, 2011 By Kathryn 515 Comments

Holiday Gift for Families

Every once in a while, a person wants to give a gift that leaves that special someone speechless. And if you have a computer user in the household, you’ll find getting the reaction you want has never been easier thanks to Dell Canada and the company’s ingenious and customizable Dell Inspiron R Series laptops.

The Dell Inspiron R Series is sleek, functional and unbelievably beautiful. The highlight of this whole series is, for me, its customizability. With a choice of 22 SWITCH by Design Studio lid patterns and 3 SWITCH by Design Studio lid colours, your laptop can be as stylish and original as you are! My personal favourite is the Horizontal Pink lid; I adore the feminine colours and sleek stripes! But if you prefer trendy geometric art, bold black and white patterns or even just a solid red, blue or black lid, there’s a SWITCH lid for you too!

The stylish exterior is only the beginning of the features that the Inspiron R Series offers, however. For the ultimate entertainment experience, the Inspiron R laptops offer Wireless Display, which lets you wirelessly project HD video and surround sound to your home theatre. And Dell’s incredibly popular Dell Stage software lets you enjoy convenient, one-click access to your photos, movies, music and more!

Now of course, functionality is just as important as style and entertainment for a dedicated computer user, and the Dell Inspiron R Series offers lots of that too thanks to a 2nd gen Intel Core i3 CPU and hard drives of up to 750 GB! And because Dell knows that every customer is unique, there are tons of hardware customization options for the Inspiron R Series computers so that everyone can have the laptop that’s perfect for them!

Optional upgrades include fun features like an internal Blu-ray drive and power-boosting options such as the Intel Core i7 Quad Core processor for the ultimate performance! I’ll have a detailed review of the Dell Inspiron 15R in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, why not check out the Dell Canada Facebook page for all the latest product info and promotions from Dell Canada? Or send a Tweet to @dellhomesalesca to learn what computer might be best for you and your family!

Dell Canada knows that you are going to love the new redesigned Inspiron R Series laptops, so they are giving one incredibly lucky Mommy Kat and Kids reader the chance to win their very own Dell Inspiron 15R laptop computer and two extra switch lids! This is a giveaway you will NOT want to miss, so check out all the details and enter below!

The Dell Inspiron R laptops can be purchased at www.dell.ca and with prices starting at just $499, the Inspiron R Series is a great economical computer choice as well. The Dell Inspiron R Series is designed to be the perfect multi-functional family computer and is definitely a gift that will wow the lucky recipient. Check out these stylish and powerful laptops for yourself today!

ARV: $499-$649

Holiday Gift Guide-Crock-Pot Designer Series Slow Cooker-Giveaway-CLOSED

December 19, 2011 By Kathryn 191 Comments

Holiday Gift for Cooks

From busy working moms to experienced cooks, who doesn’t love the versatility and convenience of a slow cooker? Crock-Pot slow cookers have been an essential kitchen appliances for households for the last 40 years and this Christmas, the company’s gorgeous Crock-Pot Designer Series slow cooker would make the perfect gift for the house chef!

crock-pot designer series slow cooker

The Crock-Pot Designer Series slow cooker really is something special. While slow cookers have become quite common today, there is nothing common about this one! From the sleek low-profile handles that fold down out of site when not in use to the removable dishwasher-safe stoneware and lid to the one-touch digital control, this gorgeous stainless steel slow cooker is in a class of its own.

My personal favourite feature was the digital control panel. By pressing the button, I was able to choose between Low Heat for either eight or ten hours or High Heat for four or six hours. Best of all, when the time was up, the Crock-Pot automatically switched to the Keep Warm setting! I have never used the warming feature on a slow cooker before; it’s just not something I think to do. But having it come on automatically when my food was cooked was so convenient and kept the food at just the right temperature until we were ready to eat.

I also received the Crock-Pot Best-Loved Slow Cooker Recipes cookbook. I have slow cooker recipes in various other cookbooks and I also invent recipes of my own fairly often. But I have always wanted a good cookbook just for slow cooking and this was a great one! It had recipes for everything from quick dinners to beverages.

I am in love with my Crock-Pot Designer Series slow cooker and I can’t wait to really start experimenting with it by testing out some of the recipes in the cookbook. The fill-and-forget cooking style of the slow cooker is perfect for my busy day, but I also love experimenting with fun new meals and desserts. I have a feeling trying recipes like Chocolate Delight and Chinese Cashew Chicken is going to keep me busy and happy for months to come!

The Crock-Pot Designer Series slow cooker is available at Sears stores across Canada and would make a wonderful gift for the person that does most of the cooking in your household. It’s a gift that’s sure to help make dinnertime less rushed while still being very delicious! For more savings, find current a Sears coupons here.

ARV: $89.99

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

December 13, 2011 By Kathryn Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, Reviews, Women Tagged With: rodial, rodial bathing balm, rodial bathing balm lounge, rodial life and style, rodial lounge, rodial rehab, rodial socialite

Holiday Gift Guide-Gourmet Gift Baskets Christmas Gift Basket Classic

December 13, 2011 By Kathryn 2 Comments

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

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, Men, Reviews, Women Tagged With: christmas gift basket, gift baskets, gourmet gift baskets, gourmetgiftbaskets, gourmetgiftbaskets.com

Holiday Gift Guide-Diane Kroe Endless Top to Bottom-Giveaway-CLOSED

December 12, 2011 By Kathryn 137 Comments

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

Holiday Gift Guide-Hard Candy Limited Edition Holiday Cosmetic Sets

December 12, 2011 By Kathryn 8 Comments

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

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, Reviews, Tweens and Teens, Women Tagged With: cosmetic set, cosmetics, hard candy, hard candy cosmetics, hard candy holiday set, hard candy makeup, holiday makeup set, makeup

Holiday Gift Guide-SKOY Cloths-Giveaway-CLOSED

December 11, 2011 By Kathryn 86 Comments

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

Holiday Gift Guide-Old Navy Winter Coats

December 9, 2011 By Kathryn Leave a Comment

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