BeautyBabe: OPI

OPI: Shrek Forever After Collection

With Shrek The Final Chapter in theatres May 21st, OPI created a summer collection of bright colours dedicated to the film. The collection consists of 6 colours, all of which are related to the characters in the film. I loved the other Shrek films and cannot wait for this one to come out!

The collection includes:

- Funky Donkey: What could be funnier than a dark purple?

- What's with the Cattitude: A bit arrogant blue

- Rumple's Wiggin': Lavender this is a keeper

- Shrek the Who Are You: A brilliant green colour that stands for something

- Ogre-the-top Blue: The biggest, best ever bright blue

- Fiercely Fiona: Green you should not make jokes about

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The colours are all very vibrant, but I think they will be great for summertime, especially on toes. I'm most excited for Rumple's Wiggin'!

Etc...: Mother's Day

With mother's day coming up (May 9th), trying to come up with a gift idea other than flowers may be difficult. However, whether your mom likes to bake, smell pretty or sparkle, here are some ideas to make your mom smile.

Food Glorious Food: Frozen Yogurt

Blushberry

My prayers have been answered... thanks to Blushberry. For all you Torontonians, I have WONDERFUL news for you! Blushberry, similar to Pinkberry, has now opened in Toronto! After having Pinkberry almost everyday last summer in NYC, I seriously could not breath when I saw this store today.

They offer 4 types of frozen yogurt (original, green tea, blush and chocolate) and a variety of fruit and dry toppings. Also, they have yogurt parfaits and signature smoothies, such as zen (green tea frozen yogurt, strawberry, banana, hoodia, organic soy milk), skinny bitch (chocolate frozen yogurt, strawberry, banana, hoodia, organic soy milk) and many more.

The fro yo is super healthy, around 30 calories per ounce and is high in essential vitamins and nutrients.

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They are located at 155 Queen Street (Queen and John) and are opening 2 new locations soon in Yorkville and on Eglinton (which is right near my house!)

Get excited froyoers, Toronto finally has it's own Blushberry!

Accessorize: Bib Necklaces

Accessorize: Roberta Freymann by Olivia Palmero

Olivia Palmero is known for her amazing style and jewelry. She always wears glamorous necklaces to accompany her outfits. It is no wonder that she teamed up with Roberta Freymann to create a line of bib necklaces. Ranging from $175-$300, the collection is inspired by the ladies' favourite cities: from New York to Paris.

All of the necklaces are made with semi precious stones on a silk base with a grosgain ribbon tie. Wear them either with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt or a blazer and pants, these necklaces will glamourize your outfit!

To learn more about Olivia and the collection, check out this video on StyleCaster: http://www.stylecaster.com/tv/167/stylecasting-olivia-palermo

BeautyBabe: Essie Resort Collection

Essie: Resort Collection

Whether you go on vacation or have a staycation this summer, Essie's new Resort Collection should be on your fingers and toes. The colours are soft yet vibrant and perfect for your newly bronzed skin. Since there are only 4 colours, I plan on trying each one yet this summer.

The collection includes:

- Lapis of luxury: a dreamy ocean blue

- Splash of grenadine: a playful magenta pink

- Playa del platinum: an elegant and sheer sandy gray

- Turquoise & Caicos: a flirty and pretty tropical aqua

I can't wait to get my hands on Lapis of luxury... what about you?

Worth the Money?

Worth the Money: Hermes Belt

The Hermes leather belt is a great addition to jeans and a simple top. It comes in a bunch of different colours (chocolate, black, red) and is reversible. It is a classic piece and will last you a long time since it is simple and good quality (I hope). Wear it with jeans or jean shorts, and it will add an elegant touch to your outfit. With the recognizable "H" silver and platinum plated buckle, this belt is far from being affordable.

Also, celebs seem to love the belt...

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But is it worth the money?

BeautyBabe: Hair Cut

Bye Bye Hair, Hello Bob

So about 2 months ago I was thinking of ways to change my hair. I had long, dark brown hair and was not interested in dying it. I made a decision to cut it all off: into a bob. I always loved the wavy hair bob look, and was inspired by Heidi Klum's bob.

Here is the before shot of me :

(Left: Sydni, Right: Me)

Here is the after shot:

With more compliments than I would have imagined, my hair transformation was a success. I have even inspired a couple of my friends (and strangers) to cut their hair!

It seems to be a trend, since Ashley Olsen recently cut her hair.

It's a great change for the summer, so if you're in need of a change, I suggest getting a bob!

Hot Off The Press: Herve Leger & INTERMIX

Herve Leger Exclusive

I wish I was in NYC right now... But for all of my readers who are, you should definitely visit INTERMIX on 1003 Madison Ave. Thanks to @INTERMIX on Twitter, I found this event.

Buy something fabulous, it's worth it!

Stop'n'Style: Wilfred

Wilfred: Little Moon

While shopping at Yorkdale with my mom, we visited Aritiza since we always manage to do some damage there. We are both fond of Talula and Wilfred, two lines available at Aritzia. While browsing, I found a rack at the back of the store with Wilfred's new line: Little Moon. With only a couple of pieces, I was in love with the colours, styles, and textures. Little Moon is versatile and feminine.

Here are some of my favourite pieces:

(This is one of the shirts I bought)

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Accessorize: Hats

You Can Leave Your Hat On....

Sunglasses are a great summer accessory, but hats are also a great way to protect your eyes and of course stay fashionable. Hats look great with a printed dress, jeans and a flowy tank top, or a blouse and shorts. With your hair down or in a messy bun, they are perfect for a day at the mall or lunch with your friends.

Here are some great finds from Urban Outfitters:

1. Grace Fedora, $48

2. Stripes Cloche, $34

3. Pins and Needles Fedora, $28

4. Pins and Needles Cloche, $28

5. Deena and Ozzy Floppy, $34

6. Grace Bowler, $48

The StacieBlair Review: Toronto Shopping Guide

Toronto Shopping Guide

Being the largest city in Canada, and my hometown, Toronto is emerging as a hotspot to visit or live in. With restaurants of almost every international cuisine, a growing art and theatre scene, and five major sport teams, Toronto is living up to its standards as one of the top financial centers in the world. Additionally, it is also known as one of the top shopping destinations in North America.

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Whether you prefer shopping at high-end boutiques, department stores, or shopping malls, Toronto is a great city to explore new trends. Here are my top 5 favourite places to shop in TO:

1. Downtown: Yorkville/Bloor

Located a block away from each other, Yorkville Avenue and Bloor Street are popular hangout for celebrities and a great area to browse the streets, shop, and dine. On Yorkville Ave., most shops are designer or expensive boutiques, such as Betsey Johnson and Over the Rainbow. However, on Bloor there is a mix of upscale and inexpensive shops. Even though some stores may be pricey, it is always fun to spot celebrities and window shop.

2. Yorkdale Mall

With over 200 stores and services, Yorkdale is one of the top shopping destinations in Toronto. With Yorkdale’s recent expansion, many upscale shops have opened, enhancing the environment. However, the mall offers stores for every spender. If you looking for high-end trendy clothing, check out Holt Renfrew, Mendocino, and Aritzia.

3. Queen Street

Queen Streetis known as an area to find “hip, trendy, cool” shopping. It is compared to SoHo in New York City, which is a trendy shopping area. It is located on between Yonge Street and Bathurst Street. Some of the funky stores located on Queen are Psyche, Price Roman, Magic Pony, and Thrill of the Find.

4. Yonge Street (Between Lawrence Avenue and Eglinton Avenue)

Located in Midtown Toronto, the Yonge Street/Eglinton Avenue area is a trendy strip. This area features clothing boutiques carrying designer labels, sidewalk cafes, specialty food shops, a mall/theatre complex, and some of Toronto’s top restaurants. Some shops located here include Sporting Life, Lululemon, Gap, Club Monaco, and Carbon.

5. Kensington Market

Kensington Market is a distinctive multicultural neighbourhood in Toronto. It is a great place to find vintage clothing, which are sold in shops on the street. The market also sells a variety of meats, produce, and vegetables. It is located west of downtown Toronto, bordered by Spadina Avenue, Dundas Street, Bathurst Street and College Street.

Diva Designer: Nicole Richie

Winter Kate & House of Harlow 1960

I'm starting to like the new Nicole Richie. Departing from her crazy Simple Life days with Paris Hilton, Nicole is now a mother and talented designer.

Both Winter Kate and House of Harlow 1960 represent Nicole's impeccable style. House of Harlow 1960 is a jewelry and shoe collection. The collection is chic yet bohemian, and a perfect addition to top-off any outfit. After Nicole's success with House of Harlow 1960, she launched Winter Kate this year. Winter Kate is Harlow's (her daughter) middle name, and the collection includes bohemian style dresses, blouses and tops. Winter Kate is feminine with a vintage look.

Here are 4 outfits combining Winter Kate and House of Harlow 1960:

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I love both of her collections. I'm excited to see where Winter Kate goes in the Fall/Winter.

Stop'n'Style: Denim

!iT JEANS

While searching for the perfect pair of boyfriend jeans, I had some requirements: they need to be baggy, soft denim, and a distressed, medium-light shade.

I went to Over the Rainbow in Yorkville, and tried on a pair of Citizens of Humanity. They were perfect, and exactly what I was looking for. There was one problem, they were over $300. NEXT.

After Rainbow, I went to Carbon, at Yonge and Eglinton. They opened recently, and carry a bunch of great brands like Central Park West, James Perse, Mackage and Madison Marcus. The owner told me she a great new brand in, !iT JEANS, and suggested I try on their boyfriend jeans (Ellie). They fit just as perfect as the Citizens, and were only $99!

Here are some jeans from !iT's collection:

There are the boyfriend's I got (different shades - mine are on the right)

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Great jeans that fit well and are reasonably priced are hard to come by. What are some of your favourite brands?

Stop'n'Style: Leather

Lust for Leather

With spring around the corner (or already here), it's time to bring out the leather jacket. It is a perfect addition to any outfit and allows you to stay warm and stylish at the same time. Although black jackets are practical, I prefer a color. My leather jacket of choice for the spring/summer/fall is a Duarte teal one, seen below with Jessica Simpson wearing it. It is a unique shade and the leather is super soft, which I love.

Here are some of my faves:

Prps, $788

Dallin Chase, $760

William Rast, $482

S.W.O.R.D, $803

S.W.O.R.D, $902

IRO, $578

Although they are not cheap, they are a great investment. Black is simple and a necessity, but if you want to spice up your wardrobe, buy a funky shade!