The Best Holiday Gift Sets

Makeup, skin care, hair care, oh my! Here are the best beauty gift sets to buy this Holiday season.

I love gifting beauty sets for the Holidays. First of all, you can't go wrong with gifting a set as they are a more affordable way to try out a variety of best-loved products. Brands usually pack up their fan favourites and combine them for you at a fraction of the price, and a melody of top shelf goods is something I can never pass up. I have a few different categories lined up below to ensure you know the top picks for each. We're talking general beauty kits, lip sets, the best in natural skin care, hair care and even some luxury picks. Let me know what is on your wish list!

MULTI KITS

1. Benefit Cosmetics
Benefit always combines a selection of full-size products which I love and they have a set for every budget. A ornament inspired Hoola bronzer to top your Christmas tree, decadent cake tins packed with goodies and more. I love the Gimme Some Sugar since it has all my favourites-- (full size) mascara, bronzer, highlighter, and a (mini) primer. All for $59 ($147 value) at Shoppers Drug Mart! Plus, the adorable packaging cannot be beat! No wrapping required! The Goodie Good Gorgeous is also a great value. It costs $39 and has a value of $86 value. It includes a full-size bronzer, mascara, and mini primer. Probably my favourite one and done sets for the Holidays!

2. Pixi Beauty
I'm a sucker for their skincare sets. They always do the best combinations. The Glow Skintreat Bestie is my favourite as it contains the Glow Tonic and Glow Mud Cleanser. They also do a rose version of the Skintreat Bestie. As for makeup, the Ultimate Beauty Kit 5th Edition has every shade you will ever need. Look no further.

3. Mary Kay
This palette is kind of a game changer. The Chromafusion literally allows you to make your own face kit. If you're looking to gift the most customizable set this Holiday, this one if the way to go! Get the Pro Palette and the pick your eyeshadow, blush, highlight, and contour shades. Best idea ever!

LIP KITS

4. Bare Minerals
I love their celestial vibes this Holiday season. Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lips are some of my favourite lippies, so the fact that they packaged them up into a trio this year is divine! The Lunar Lip trio is a score at $28 US (a $57 value)!

5. Buxom Cosmetics
The theme is "after dark", perfect kits to take you straight into celebrating the near year! I'm a huge fan of the Big O (plumping balm) so the Party Girl Pout is the perfect set for someone who wants lip moisture. But if you're looking to go bold or go home, the Doll in Disguise is perfect.

NATURAL SKINCARE

6. Indie Lee
Skincare grounded in nature... Ah, have you ever heard a more beautiful sentence? The Discovery Kit is the perfect gift for anyone. Seriously. First of all, it's a clean beauty brand I am obsessed with, and these products are perfect for ANY skin type. It comes with a cleanser, toner and (a holy grail of facial oils), the Squalane Facial Oil. Coming in at $36, it's the perfect kris kringle gift for someone who needs to step up their skincare regime.

7. Cocokind
Cocokind just proves you do not need to spend a fortune for quality skincare. If you asked me one product I never leave the home without, it would be my Cocokind Matcha Stick. It's your do-it-all moisture stick, perfect for under the eyes, lips, cuticles, or anywhere else! The ingredients found in Cocokind are the purest I have ever seen. Nothing added. Absolutely nothing. This holiday skincare set would be my ideal gift, 100%. This perfect travel set contains their whole skincare lineup, which is just an amazing way to try out the brand.

7. Pai
The In Your Element gift sets by Pai literally will have you starry-eyed. They are based on the four elements (earth, wind, water, fire) so you can choose your favourite. The best part is that they all include my most favourite, the Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil.

8. Drunk Elephant
If there is one skincare brand I am dying to try, it's Drunk Elephant. I've heard amazing things about their serums. The Rise + Glow Duo includes the B-Hydra and C-Firma for your dose of vit B and C. Hydration and brigtening at it's finest. However, if you're feeling extra (like I always am), I would spring for The Littles Kit. It's 8 of their best products wrapped into 1!

LUXURY SKINCARE

9. Eve Lom

Just saying the name literally just transports me into a blush coloured rose garden. This skincare brand is one of my essentials for their botanically based ingredients, radiance inducing effect. The Award Winners Set contains two of my most used products-- the cleanser, and the rescue mask. It is an amazing value. Read more on the amazing cleanser here. 

10. Sunday Riley

The ever so popular Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment. I have been waiting for the perfect time to splurge on this product and I think with the release of the Good Genes Holiday Kit I may have too. You are literally getting a free product. It is an insane value! 

HAIRCARE 

11. Ouai
Oh my. The new Dyson paired with Ouai. This is most definitely a splurge, but I mean the Blow-a-Ouai kit is a hair lovers dream. The Rose Hair and Body Oil is included, which is one of my favourites!

12. DesignMe
I am loving the PowerDry.Me! It blow dries in half the time and gives you frizz control. This set also comes with the Fab.Me which is great for breakage and heat protection. The Ultimate Hair Care Kit is the way to go! And if you're wondering I did the test... using the Dry.Me my hair dried in under three minutes!

13. A mix bag
If you're looking for a hair care sample kit to add some volume and texture this holiday season, try out Sephora's Party Hair Kit for a one-stop shop. This may just have every brand you are looking to try!

Win an Advent Calendar from The Body Shop

Who's ready to win an advent calendar from The Body Shop?

Goodbye, pumpkin spice.

Hello, holidays!

Who's with me?! It is by no means too early to embrace the season of giving. The year The Body Shop has released three magical advent calendars that are basically the perfect gift for anyone on your list who cares about their body. The theme of the calendars is Enchanted Forest and enchanted you will feel after you try out the selection of top Body Shop products!

P.S. you'll want to keep reading since I'm giving one away!



You guys know caring for the skin is so, so important to me, and so much important than makeup, but it can be an investment! And no one wants a wasted investment. That's why I love this advent calendar. First of all, who does not love to open a special treat every day, and one that you can use and take with you on the go! Yes, I'm looking at you Mr. Almond Hand Cream! You get to sample a selection of 24 goodies to see what you love, and then if it works for you, why not get the full size.

Winter can be rough on the skin. I'm talking dryness, flakiness, and redness. This calendar features The Body Shop favourites such as the Coconut Body Milk, the Almond Milk & Honey Body Butter, two Born Lippy Lip Balms, and soooo much more! They really curated the perfect pack of skincare essentials to soothe and hydrate your skin for the winter. Not to mention make you feel luxe. A bath bomb, some seasonal faves like the Peppermint Candy Cane shower gel, and even a sample Rose Plumping Mask to make your face glow.

The value of the set is pretty legit. This calendar retails for $69.00 and you get over $150.00 worth of goods. But really I wanted to share this with you guys because I need you to love and care for your skin. If I can help you do that then I'm winning. So how about you win? I'm giving away one of these bad boys to make your spirits bright and kick off the Holidays nice and early.

Check out The Body Shop's page to open advent with me on December 1st as they'll be featuring different bloggers every day on their page, and don't forget to enter right here!

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Pink Christmas

I'm pinking it's going to be a good Holiday! Wednesday was my last day at the office for 2017 and I am SO excited to relax at home, have some quality family time and enjoy some slow living moments. Since we are semi preparing for a snowstorm I've gone into full-blown homebody mode. I've made a HUGE batch of Oh She Glows granola (that I can't stop snacking on!), just did a full body dry brush and am ready to cozy up by the TV to continue wrapping presents.  If you're wondering what I mean by dry brush, you need to check out the latest edition of the P&P newsletter. Just click here to subscribe. It's all my tips, tricks and weekly news, and this week I'm sharing how to get the softest skin ever. Not to mention a bomb recipe for the easiest peanut butter oat bites ever.

White And Golden

Tis the season for glam! It's perfect that we have a few more holiday parties scheduled because I've been looking for every excuse in the book to pull out this skirt again. Pleated midi skirts are probably my favourite kind of skirt...ever! They are so comfortable and look so done-up, and this season, the colour options are endless. Not to mention the high waist is perfect for every body type! I scored this one last year at Zara after the holidays and it has the perfect touch of glam for the season with it's the combination of gold, silver, and tinsel blue. But, there are so many others ways to hone in on the glam. Here are a few ways I love to do it:

The Experience Gift Guide

Is it just me or do you always want to give the best gift?! Something that totally wows and makes your recipient smile from ear to ear? I always try and think of gifts that will last. I love focusing on less material type gifts and more experience based. The possibilities are endless! Because it really is so exciting to have something to look forward to after the holidays! I'm rounding up some fabulous experience type gifts that you should consider this holiday season. It's also great because most of them can be ordered online and printed out. Then you can get creative and wrap them up all fancy. Just don't put a gift card in a huge box... so over that one!

Easy & Effortless Holiday Entertaining + GIVEAWAY

Holiday hosting... it really is one of my favourite things to do. This year I found myself straying away from the endless planning and all the little details. I love it but it gets so exhausting sometimes. Especially when the days just seem to sneak up on you. You end up running yourself ragged before the event has even started. I didn't want to let that happen this year for my annual girls Christmas party. I wanted to focus on the minimal, and let the conversation, feelings and true meaning of the night speak for itself.

Holiday hosting doesn't have to be intimidating. This year I wanted to show how I cut the frills and fancy and focused on the simple and easy, while not comprising on style and taste! Just a few steps and you can do the same. In turn, you'll have tons more time for your loved ones and enjoy the moments leading up the get-together.

Here's how I made the night hosting easy and effortless in 4 steps:

A Dress for Every Occassion

One thing I love about the holidays is all the fun and festive affairs. But with all the holiday parties come all the holiday party outfits, and that can either be super exciting or super stressful. I like to make it fun and wear things I wouldn't normally wear. I'm talking faux fur stoles, sequins, and lots of lace! Actually... I do wear all these things on the regular, but together makes it all the more festive! I can't wait to wear this dress I bought for Paris this season. I love the lace overlay and the embroidered flowers. If it gets cold I plan to throw on a tight black turtleneck underneath or throw on a pair of tights. One and done! In case you need some holiday party dress inspiration I've rounded up a few favourites, something for every occasion! A knit turtleneck dress for the office luncheon, a cocktail number for a night out celebrating, and some fun jumpsuits. Who doesn't love jumpsuits! What are you planning on wearing to your events? Any ideas yet?

The Best Stocking Stuffers

Okay. It's getting real now. We are less than a month away from Christmas and I need to get my butt in gear. Although I was super quick to decorate the house and get into the holiday spirit I have yet to start my Christmas shopping. This weekend I did not really take advantage of any Black Friday deals! I was kind of holding out until Cyber Monday. Now that it's here and I've started my list of gifts to buy I am ready to check back on these items and see what I can snag! Most of these items below are on major sale or include free shipping! Since I have tons of girly kris kringle gifts to buy I've rounded up my faves so you can shop too! Any faves? I wouldn't mind any of these wrapped up in my oversized pink faux fur stocking. 

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5 Tips To Be The Best Guest

We’ve all read the how-to entertain guides... how to be the hostess with the mostess, what to serve at your holiday party and how to decorate. But where are all the guides on how to be the best guest? Sure there are some main etiquette rules we all should follow, i.e.: don’t show up late (the host puts so much effort into the evening and is expecting you at a certain time), offer to help as much as possible but stay out of the hosts way when they are on a mission, and bring something as a gesture of your gratitude. But this part can be tricky. What to bring that will show just how much you appreciate their efforts and what will set you apart from all the other guests! Today I’m breaking it down for you. Five simple ways to be the best guest and ensure you bring something appropriate, yet fun! Want to know my secret? I don’t even have to leave one store to make it all happen. I rely on HomeSense time and time again for the most interesting, different and just plain exciting hostess gifts, and at every price point.

Holiday Beauty Sets for Every Girl

Beauty brands have been amplifying their approach to the holidays this year and I could not be more excited. I love Holiday sets because most brands really think about what us, the customers, want; they group together fan favourites, their most loved products, tie them up in a pretty bow and offer them at a great value which usually means you are saving loads. Since we are fastly approaching the gift giving season I wanted to break down the hottest sets and the ones that are going to give you the best value. Whether your style is elegant, natural, glam, or glowing there is seriously a set for every girl.

How to Throw a Thanksgiving Picnic

When you think of Thanksgiving get-togethers usually you think "evening time, indoors". There might be a fire burning and a turkey in the oven. However, Brandon and I will be away for Thanksgiving this year, and rarely do we do things the conventional way. This year with the help of Kelly's Bake Shoppe we decided to have a romantic Thanksgiving themed picnic for two. Who am I kidding... I decided we were having it and he so graciously went along with my idea!

Easy Easter Entertaining

Entertaining and Easter... two of my favourite E's! I love getting together with a few friends over good eats, treats and just celebrating the little things. A little springtime Easter inspired gathering?! Right up my alley! This past weekend I did just that and had a pre-Easter brunch with some of my closest. 

I've said it before, you don't need to go crazy hosting! A few little details are all it takes to put together something special. If you're short on time or want to throw something together last minute I have you covered. Some of my favourite local eateries were so eager to be a part of the brunch and supplied some seriously amazing eats to make the day go off without a hitch! One thing I've come to realize after hosting quite a few affairs is that it's okay to take off some of the pressure and not do everything yourself! I used to let myself get so stressed trying to curate the perfect menu. But, really it's so important to remember why you are having the get together in the first place-- to spend time with those who matter. After the eats were taken care off, I threw in a few little DIY details and the event was complete. It really is that simple! Let's break it down, shall we?!

F O O D

What could be more fitting than pastel coloured eats?! We served up The Burger Pawty's "Dream Burger"-- a delicious chickpea/corn patty sandwiched between perfectly pastel lavender coloured waffles. Add in the cilantro-lime sauce, sprouts and pickled pineapple and you have one seriously tasty slider! The Burger Pawty was founded by Louise Mangalino for her love of burgers, and girl power! She was reviewing burger joints on her blog and was inspired to create something new, fun, and girly around her love of burgers. I can't get over the aesthetic. One look at her Instagram and you'll see why. With names such as The Barbie Burger and The Dream Burger which feature pink and purple waffles as the buns, this is definitely not your run-of-the-mill caterer! Louise even made sure the waffles were gluten-free for me! So accommodating. They cater to all kinds of events. Definitely look her up if you're looking for something totally different and fun (and delicious)!

N I B B L E S

Light bites are a brunch essential and since fruit is the perfect nibbling snack I knew I wanted to serve up all the colours of the fruit rainbow. The Fix + Co is my just my jam. They are my go-to spot for any sort of healthy eats, juices and smoothies. Now that they do platters and catering, life is complete! The ladies put together such an amazing holiday inspired spread for my Christmas gathering, so I knew they would knock it out of the park with this one for spring. We went with a refreshing fruit platter that was also stacked with nuts, dried coconut and fruit, and their amazing cashew nut cheese which was served alongside crackers. Check out this interview I did with Adrianna and Tamara, or their 3 wellness tips to learn just what they are about!

S I P S

This time around I wanted to try something totally unconventional and fun. Enter in the homemade blueberry-blue latte. Pink lattes have become all the rage, so I took the lavender spin on this one to match the waffle bun sliders. I started my muddling some blueberries in a pot on the stove with a touch of maple syrup and water. Using a fresh cold pressed juice from The Fix + Co (I used On The Mend -- a blend of beets, celery, apple, swiss chard, and carrots) I mixed it with fresh blueberry syrup and 1/2 cup of almond milk on the stovetop. I then frothed up some almond milk with the beet juice and topped it off with some edible flowers. A subtly sweet drink and pretty to look at!

T R E A T S

No brunch is ever complete without dessert! Kelly's Bake Shoppe is my go-to spot for all things dessert... always! They do everything to gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, nut-free perfection (as you've seen here, and here). They come out with seasonal menus and I knew their Easter features would be too good to pass up! They were so kind to give me a sneak peak of their menu before it's release this Easter weekend, and sure enough, everything was divine! We went with the Bugs Bunny cupcake (carrot cake topped with cream cheese buttercream and a toasted coconut birds nest), and the Lemon cupcake (lemon cupcake, filled with lemon sauce and topped with an adorable lemon buttercream chick). Sprinkle donuts and sugar cookies fit in perfectly with the pastel brunch spread. Kelly's cookies are seriously my weakness, I think I ate all of these sprinkled cuties! Owners Kelly and Erinn and two seriously inspiring ladies and their cookbook, 'Made With Love' divulges some of the famous recipes of their bakery and restaurant in Burlington, ON. In light of the book's one year anniversary I'm going to have some exciting news next week, so stay tuned!

D I Y / D E C O R 

I kept the party decorations to a minimum this time around to keep things fresh. A table backdrop doesn't need to be intimidating to make or time consuming! Some fresh flowers, a DIY backdrop, and some floral-crowned eggs adored the tablescape to create a simplistic but playful Easter vibe.

The DIY backdrop was inspired by Tiffany Pratt's latest book 'This Can Be Beautiful' where she has instructions for creating coffee filter rosettes. All you need is some white coffee filters, a little dab of paint and some string to hang! Voila! I scrunched about 3 filters together and twisted the backs of them to keep them bunched. I chose colours like lavender, pink, orange and gold and just went to town painting until I felt they looked pretty. No method at all! I used some raffia and washi tape and got to hanging the rosettes above the tablescape. So easy, but adds such a nice touch! You can also use the filters to wrap the treats/sliders in, use as coasters, or just place around the table! Confession-- the backdrop is still hanging... I just can't take it down yet! Too pretty!

The little white eggs I got from Dollerama, along with the mini rosettes. It took no time at all to glue the roses to the top of the eggs and place them on the table. A few minutes and you have yourself some homemade touches!

Delicious eats, simple sips and a little creativity are all it takes to elevate your get-togethers with friends. Keeping it simple is sometimes best! I hope you found this inspiring enough to throw a little Easter or spring time brunch together for your nearest and dearest! I can't thank The Burger Pawty, The Fix + Co, and Kelly's Bake Shoppe for helping me bring my Easter vision to life! They are seriously some of my favourite local shops to work with for their kindess, generousity and all around amazing eats!