Santa has a new fashion look.

Santa Claus has a brand new look. 

His diet has been void of cookies since last Christmas Eve, and he's obviously been working hard on his physique. No longer are you able to call him 'old Saint Nick' - he's buff and a fashion trend setter. Gone is the large fur trimmed red coat, pants and hat; Fashion Santa is stepping out in style.

Paul Mason - Fashion Santa

Meet model Paul Mason - a'ka Fashion Santa. The Mississauga native started modeling 30 years ago, and this Christmas marks the second holiday season that he is working with the fashion team at Yorkdale Mall. He sports seasonal fashions from top men's retailers at Yorkdale and poses for selfies with Fashion Santa fans. For each uploaded selfie of Fashion Santa using the hashtag #YorkdaleFashionSanta, the mall is donating $1 to SickKids Hospital.

There are no crying children sitting on his knee or sticky candy canes. Fashion Santa gladly snuggles up with Fido for a puppy selfie shot, while mature women are somewhat giddy as they tuck next to him for a picture. 

Fashion Santa was looking very Vogue when I saw him at the mall on Saturday. I however - was having a bad hair day, so I skipped the opportunity for a selfie. But I love the concept, the excitement around the entire campaign and the charitable donations to SickKids.

Read Fashion Santa's blog here :    

http://www.yorkdale.com/qa-fashion-santa/

And if you are in the Greater Toronto area, stop by and share your naughty/nice list with him.

.......... Fashion Santa's coming to town.

After Christmas Shopping

I've never been a big fan of Boxing Day shopping. Once the Christmas gifts are bought, wrapped... then unwrapped, and all the cooking is done, I'm not feeling the need to fight the crowds to buy something more.

Retailers open their doors for longer hours than they ever did before and I'm not really certain that it results in more sales, but rather sales spread out over those hours.

I'd rather spend time getting together.

 

Do you enjoy the after Christmas sales rush? 

How do you spend the days after the turkey digests?

Christmas is in the air

via Terra

Yes, tis the season {already}. 

The stores are decorated with tinsel and little sparkle lights.

I visited the local Terra Greenhouse a few days ago and although pumpkins were still on everyone's mind, the elves had been busy decorating the store for Christmas. 

The truth is that I was already looking for holiday items to help set a commercial space for Christmas. Faux snow flakes and ornaments hooks were on my list.

Pop Christmas

I'm loving the mix of silver and gold with white.

This year's holiday decor theme's offer something for everyone. 

I had intended to be at Terra for 10 minutes - ha, actually it was more like HA!

I really do love Christmas and hunt each year for a few new special things to add to the collection. The theme's this year are extensive and filled with surprises.

I appreciate it when buyers for a company bring in items that work well for the holidays, but are easy to extend all year long.... like these pillows.

In honour of the puppy in your life.

Don't you look at the crowns and think 'but of course'?

Woodland animals are big for holiday theme's this year.

Think squirrels, polar bears, and snowy owls.

Adorable

Every year the marketplace finds ways to bring a new look to tradition.

Wise men

Along with the bags of faux flakes and hooks, I managed to find a few special ornaments that I couldn't resist. My Granddaughter was the recipient {but of course} of pretty white painted tin hearts, silver glass star ornaments, and a special note to Santa printed on tin.

The clients decorations need to be up now, 

but our own holiday decor will be another month before I decorate.

What about you....... do you decorate ? and when ?

** I was not paid/or asked by Terra to write this post - just love their store and garden center.

Born is the King

Born unto us this day a Savior

Gifted from heaven to a manger

The hope of the world, a light for all mankind

All of the earth rejoice, it's Christmas time.

Wishing you and those you love a 
Joyous Christmas 

filled with hope and love. 

Katherine

Old Traditions with a new twist

Christmas windows at Hudson Bay Toronto

When my children were small we had a holiday tradition that started with visiting the Christmas windows at the Hudson Bay store in downtown Toronto. Our evening out included a walk over to Toronto City Hall to see the giant Christmas tree and I think a couple of times we even stopped to skate at the outdoor rink there.

After enjoying the Christmas lights and windows we would walk a few blocks down to the Spaghetti Factory as part of our evening out. The warehouse style family restaurant is full of vintage decor and is the perfect noisy kid friendly place, and my kids loved it.
It's been a many years since we have indulged in the Christmas windows tradition and we decided it was time to introduce Kya to the tradition. So my two children, my Granddaughter and I bundled up and headed out in search of Christmas lights.

Santa's reindeer at the Eaton Centre Toronto

After literally running around the giant tree at Nathan Phillips Square we wandered along the sidewalk at The Bay to enjoy the animation in the store windows. I love that the displays were a traditional theme. There is something special about the history of Hudson Bay that speaks tradition.

The huge display of lights on the south entrance of the Eaton Centre caught our eye and we decided to investigate the details. What a wonderful surprise.

The mall is outfitted with massive reindeer's that are made up with steel criss-cross cages that encase lights. You can walk under the belly of the reindeer and take pictures beside their legs.

Toronto Eaton Centre - Christmas 2012

The reindeer are positioned throughout the mall and they gaze over the railings to take a look at the shoppers on various levels. The center tree is a magical rainbow of lights that continually change colour.

I have to applaud the choice to decorate with an edge. Watching people stand under the reindeer, children running around the legs and everyone taking pictures..... it was magical. The size and scope of the reindeer is breath taking.

looking up into the Christmas tree

This is a new look for the Eaton Centre for Christmas, and there are people who prefer the Swarovski tree that usually displayed at Christmas. I think it was time for a change and I like the excitement and sparkle that they injected into the centre.

And for a healthy dose of tradition.................. we took one last peek at the Hudson Bay windows on the way to dinner.

Tis the season .... to shop.

Santa came to town on the weekend and it was a kind reminder that I need to get started on preparing for Christmas. I stopped by Chapters Indigo store last week looking for a book and I quickly got lost in the Christmas gift sections.

Seriously Cute! 

I love this time of the year; the displays, the colours, the lights, and oh the sparkles.
This year the owl is making his wise mark in the retail design landscape. This little cutie above can be found in the baby gift section. The hat is actually a newborn hat, but I couldn't see myself buying this wise young bird without the knit chapeau.

Owl, hat, mittens at Chapters

I'm not sure if it was the mood I was in or the early and very full displays of great gift idea's, but I left Chapters inspired about Christmas shopping. My apologies to the Chapters team - the images are taken with my iPhone and random re-arranging of items was my doing.

Hope that this inspires some idea's to make your shopping easier, here are a few of my finds .....

Knit pillows make snuggling up on a cold night so much better. Silver penguin cocktail shaker adds fun at your home bar. Candles ..... so many great colours and fragrances. Silver flask engraved 'Candy is Dandy. Liquor is quicker'.

Lined canvas bread bowl.

Cable knit tea cozy.

Reusable glass decanter comes with Belgian Hot Chocolate. Add a little owl mug.

Pillar candles a'la faux birch wood look and an amber glass owl candle holder.

In the Baby boutique these colourful and cuddly pals are waiting to go home with you. Great to sit in the branches of your Christmas tree or peek out of the top of a stocking.

With a book title like that it's hard to pass up.

I love over-scale coffee table books. Chapters has great variety for everyone on your list.

Tall confetti sprinkled champagne glasses. 

 

Cookies, chocolates and holiday candy come in great packaging that only requires a tag.

I've gifted these leather journals many times - for guys or girls, they are classic. 

image via Chapters web site.

Perfect for the wine lover and for those who haven't yet discovered wine. Gift it with the teak cheese boards and knives.

THE book on my list. I borrowed the book from our library to read to my Granddaughter, but it really is something that every little girl {or big girl} should have on her shelf. This one is for my littlest Angel.

And just in case the holiday season all becomes too much ............. the message is clear on this journal.

I'm the kind of shopper who likes to see and touch the product before I buy it, but this season I plan to do a bit more shopping online. I like that Chapters has great books {always a great gift} and gift items for everyone.

** note: Chapters did not endorse this blog ......... I just love their store !

Happy Shopping!

Four Sleeps until Christmas

With only a couple of days left until Christmas the thing that I am wishing for is a bit more time to finish everything I need to do. The truth is that even if I had another week to prepare I would use every minute adding on to the original plans, fussing and tweaking things.

Lucy and Ricky

This year I am less prepared than usual...... two weeks on a beach in December will do that. I haven't even started wrapping gifts, but I know that everything will come together. Only a few more 'sleeps' and the joy and magic of Christmas will be here. Our children will gather with us and it will fill our hearts to see them having fun together.

Send me a note and share what is on your Santa wish list..... I'm asking for more time to blog.

Grace Kelly

House Building Season

Gingerbread house building season is upon us. What is not to love in the tasty little spice cookies that are topped with sweet icing. 

Oh ginger, you sweet thing.

via pocket pastry chef

rock recipes.blogspot

wilton

Mouthwatering...................

Amelies

The perfect combination...... Hot chocolate and Gingerbread.

craftzine