What's Inside A TIFF Celebrity Swag Bag?

Photo by Kennedy Pollard / Ryan Emberley Photography

Being a celebrity definitely has its perks, and getting loads of free stuff is a big one. In town for the Toronto International Film Festival, celebrities can pop around to different lounges and get treated to anything from food and cosmetics to soaps and footwear. Bask-It-Style, by GLO Communications, offers up a bit of a twist on that scenario, bringing their curated bags of goodies directly to the hotels where the busy stars stay during TIFF. This was the tenth year for Bask-It-Style's annual gifting bonanza and I got a peek at the VIP treats during a media day preview at the luxe Thompson Toronto Hotel.

Fall Home Tour 2018

Fall weather arrived unexpectedly last week. Our central air conditioner had given up the ghost a couple of weeks earlier and we suffered through a few extremely hot days, windows cracked to no avail - only heat and humidity flowing through screens. Then, suddenly, open windows meant goose bumps and shivering. That's life in Canada. I am sure there are a few warm days ahead.

All of this is to say I'm not feeling quite ready for pine cones and fuzzy blankets. So I decorated for fall with a light and minimal touch. I shopped only from the abundance of decorative items I already own. And I plucked flowers from the pots on my deck and leaves from my Japanese maple tree. Super simple. For this fall home tour, I'm joining up with amazingly talented Canadian bloggers, including our hosts, Shannon and Christina. Visit the other homes via the links at the bottom of this post for plenty of fall decor inspiration. (Come back each day this week as more tours are added.)

She's Crafty DIY Chipboard Sign and How To Use The Cricut Maker Knife Blade

*This post contains sponsored product and affiliate links. All opinions are authentic and my own. If you make a purchase after following an affiliate link, Woman in Real Life may earn a small commission. Your price is not affected.

I've been coveting the Cricut Maker™ cutting machine since it was launched a year ago. Yes I have the Cricut Explore Air™ and I love it (and will continue to love it). But Cricut Maker offers up more cutting options. It has a fast mode for up to 2x faster cutting and writing and an Adaptive Tool System™ for professional-level cutting performance.

The tools that work with Cricut Maker include a knife blade, which makes it possible to cut thicker materials (up to 2.4 mm) including chipboard. So, for my first project with my new Cricut Maker, I decided to go with a fun chipboard sign for my craft wall (which doesn't actually exist yet - this will act as a motivator).

Tips To Get Organized For Back To School (With A Stick 2 Me Labels Giveaway!)

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.


There are so many emotions swirling around when it's time for the kids to go back to school - nervousness, excitement, sadness that summer's come to an end. Along with all of those mixed feelings comes a pressing need to get lots of tasks accomplished. Shopping is a biggie - school uniforms or first-day outfits, pencils, paper, binders, indoor and outdoor shoes. And then there's the feeling that our days would flow better and our mornings would run more smoothly if we could just get the house organized. I think we need to put aside perfection or we're just going to drive ourselves crazy. That being said, I have a few tips (learned over years of struggle) to help you get organized for back to school. 

Delicious, Healthy Chocolate Date Smoothie Bowl (vegan, gluten-free)

 

It's a smoothie. In a bowl. But you already knew that. The smoothie bowl is your morning-time friend - a quick blend of healthy, filling, nourishing whole foods that will help energize you and take you through to lunchtime. Plus, if you do it right, the smoothie bowl is super tasty too. Let's do it that way!

Off The Shelf: Our Animal Hearts by Dania Tomlinson (Book Review)

Summer ain't over yet - there's still time to grab a great book and head for the beach! If you're a fan of sunny, romantic beach reads, Our Animal Hearts, by Canadian Dania Tomlinson, isn't the book for you. But if you want to be caught up in a fanciful, dark, captivating tale that has you reading through to sundown, this is a perfect choice. It's weird, for sure, but weird is good. Weird is different. Weird is something you haven't read before.

Easy As Pie Caramelized Pear and Chocolate Pie (vegan & gluten-free)

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.

California Pears are in season right now and I took advantage of their abundance to make this "Easy As Pie" Caramelized Pear and Chocolate Pie. I have always been confused by the expression "easy as pie" because pie (particularly the crust) isn't all that easy to make. According to Wikipedia though, easy as pie refers to the act of eating pie. And I think we all agree that's easy to do. (Maybe a little too easy?) I decided to name my new (vegan and gluten-free) pie creation Easy As Pie Caramelized Pear and Chocolate Pie because this sweet, pretty little pie is just about as easy to make as it is to eat. Here's how it's done...