Woman in Real Life

The summer has flown right on by! We will squeeze in a couple more fun activities between now and Tuesday, the first day of school. For the last couple of weeks, though, our minds have been partly occupied with preparing for back-to-school. I'm sure many of you are in the same boat - squeezing out the last few drops of summer fun while thinking ahead to school supplies, clothing, backpacks and school lunch planning (always a stress, right?). My family had some help preparing for fall from two of our favourite stores - Canadian Tire and Sport Chek. Read on to see all the fab finds that are helping us to get organized and on track for back-to-school.

I don't often wear dresses. Chalk it up to laziness (you have to shave your legs) and a lack of dressy yet comfortable shoes in my closet. But - as we're out and about more in summer and early fall - I like to have a dress or two at the ready - pieces that are comfy, versatile and easy to wear.

I have several dresses from eShakti.com and I really like them all. eShakti sells unique, vintage style clothing for women in a range of sizes (0-36W) or in a custom fit. My latest eShakti dress is this black and white contrast banded stripe cotton knit belted dress. Let me tell you why I love this dress.

Are you one of those people who thinks Valentine's Day is just a devious corporate conspiracy to get us to spend more money? Do you eschew gifts in favour of a back rub or a special dinner at home? Maybe you ignore Valentine's Day completely? Well then I have just one piece of advice for you - you better make sure your partner is on the same page. I love a coupon for a "free hug" as much as the next gal, but I'm also expecting a gift. It doesn't have to be expensive - I'm good with vegan chocolate and a soy candle. Oh, and a handbag. You can never have too many of those.

In that spirit I want to show you the latest two handbags in my collection. Not only do they make a great Galentine's or Valentine's gift for a friend, family member or partner, but they are seriously great little treats to give yourself. And it doesn't have to be Valentine's Day for that.

A handbag is always a great option if you have a mom, sister, bff or really any woman at all on your Christmas list. This is not dependent on how many handbags she already owns either - because really if she has lots that means she wants even more. It's an addiction. But a safe one.

I recently received two bags from Beside-U. These lightweight, nylon bags are practical and pretty. They are durable for everyday use and ideal for travel. Beside-U bags are made to accommodate all the stuff we travel with daily - including technology. There are plenty of zippers and pockets - the larger bags even have slots for tablets! Here's something else that I think you're going to find really cool - many Beside-U bags have a full zippered pocket inside that is RFID blocking. Don't have a clue what this means? I didn't either, but it turns out it could be important to know!

It's my birthday month and my zodiac sign is Leo (the lion). In addition, many in the world are mourning Cecil the lion, the second protected lion killed by a U.S. hunter this year in Zimbabwe. I can't fathom the kind of mind that sees a beautiful creature like that and thinks, "I'm going to mount his head over my fireplace." So here are some alternative ways, found on Etsy, of displaying the majestic lion in our homes and on our persons.

There are so many great things about spring and summer, not the least of which is a renewed desire to get out and about exploring. We can finally head out to enjoy our favourite destinations, whether city or country, without worrying about freezing our butts off. I'm looking forward to exploring art galleries, museums, parks, restaurants, outdoor concerts, city streets and festivals. Of course, when heading out to any of these fun spots for several hours, you want to be prepared. A good handbag is a necessity.

When I spotted Pixie Mood's new Arianna Backpack, I knew it would be the perfect thing for all my spring/summer outings. While I'm beyond the diaper bag phase, I still tend to carry lots of stuff. Snacks, hand wipes, cosmetics, money, keys, brochures - I'm not happy unless I'm well prepared. But I also don't want to weigh down my shoulders, neck and back with a giant backpack. The Arianna Backpack is a lightweight and stylish option for carrying my day-trip essentials. It has adjustable straps for comfort and a zipper closure to keep valuables safely in place.

Summer is going strong and my wardrobe pretty much consists of shorts and t-shirts, with some jeans thrown in on cooler days. Thankfully, my July Wantable box was all about summer accessories, allowing me to beautify my wardrobe basics a bit.

This month my box contained a lovely mix of boho and Old Hollywood glam. A girl doesn't need to stick with just one style, right? One of my favourite pieces is the breezy Kaleigh Scarf, perfect for cool summer nights. It features a feathery print on an earthy, taupe background. Wantable style experts suggest pairing the scarf with a shimmering taupe eyeshadow and a soft plum lipstick.

My monthly accessories subscription from Wantable gives me a steady supply of new accessories to jazz up my wardrobe. Which is good, because I really don't buy a lot of clothes. With new jewelry, scarves and sunglasses, I can at least make my old reliable wardrobe more stylin'.

Or my daughter's wardrobe, as the case may be. My June Wantable box included this pretty, patterned twistable headband. It's not something I think I can carry off at my age, but it looks pretty cute on her. This would be the ideal piece to keep your hair in control while visiting festivals, parties and beaches in the summer heat and humidity.

I spotted an enticing booth at the Toronto Vegetarian Food Festival last year. It housed the tempting wares of Pixie Mood, "The Cruelty-Free Handbags & Accessories Company." This Canadian company sells designer vegan handbags (purses), clutches, wallets and toiletry cases, all made with animal-friendly materials such as cork, cotton, canvas, faux suede and vegan leather. And Pixie Mood bags are all pretty darn cute too.

I have a confession to make - I don't like shopping. There was a time when I did (I think it was back when my mom paid for everything), but now I have to be careful with my money (boring), look for those special shopping deals and buy for three other people and a dog. Long to-do lists and whining children take the fun out of shopping, don't they?

That's why I love the idea of the monthly accessories box from Wantable. It's not a huge budgetary commitment (in fact, I would opt to ask for it as a birthday gift!), it's a treat just for me and there is no mall shopping required. You simply indicate your preferences one time on Wantable's online shopping website and they send you a customized box of discounted fashion jewelry and other accessories in the mail. No need to head out to the jewelry stores! There are subscription boxes for intimate apparel (think sleepwear, loungewear, bras) and makeup too.

My May accessories box was very clearly based on a silver colour scheme. Makes sense, because I had indicated that I don't like gold tones. I also noted that I "love" Boho style, while I "like" glam and rock 'n roll. You are likely to get the stuff you "love" and "like," but will never receive the items you "dislike."

I have had this eShakti dress for several months now. I was just waitin' on a place to wear it! A place free from snow preferably. Now that I'm out of hibernation, the opportunity to wear this lovely dress presented itself this past weekend when we went to visit my husband's cousin and her family.

I took Jolene for a walk this morning and it is the most glorious day. It's a shame the kids are in school because, after the winter we had, we should all be out enjoying a perfect day like this one.

I have been slow to pull out my warm weather clothing, because the winter was so long I feared it would never end. But my summer accessories are at the ready thanks to my Wantable subscription.

My April box featured items to help me with my spring/summer styling. I particularly love the light and breezy Arianna scarf. It's a lightweight infinity style in a beautiful pistachio green floral lace. Of course, you can't face the sun without shades. The bigger the better as far as I'm concerned. These Amira sunglasses are oversized with geometric metallic accents. Wantable suggests pairing them with boho beach waves and hoop earrings. I love my Addie necklace too - it's a distressed silver toned pendant with small turquoise stones and dangly bits. The Hillary earrings, featuring faceted onyx black studs set in a silver tone base, are great everyday earrings for somebody who often wears black (like me).

Spring seems like a fantasy around here - the snow is not yet melted and the temperature rarely floats above zero. Nevertheless, one can accessorize like it's spring, right? A cheery watch, a dangling pair of earrings or a colourful scarf is sure to pick up one's mood when the weather is unfriendly. Enter the March box I received recently from Wantable - with its fun selection of accessories, it brought me a much-needed sensation of springtime.

I was a lucky girl in February. Not only did I receive a lovely box of accessories from Wantable, I also received a Wantable intimates box. In case you haven't heard of it yet, Wantable is a fun, stylish subscription service that provides accessories, intimates and cosmetic boxes tailored to your personal desires.

My February intimates box was very exciting - the contents were equal parts fun and useful. Based on the personal preferences that I had noted on Wantable's website, the expert curators sent me a black lace panty from Q-T intimates, a lightweight, silky half slip from Cass Luxury Shapewear and Muk Luks Mary Jane style Aloe Socks, which are treated with aloe vera to moisturize and promote healthy skin. The half slip can also be worn as a strapless bustier top or a slimming skirt. I don't think I'm brave enough for either of those options though.

Lately I have been making an effort to accessorize more with earrings, scarves and bracelets, and I have to say it's been a lot of fun. I've been getting an exciting delivery from Wantable every month to help me up my style quotient. In case you aren't yet familiar with the company, Wantable is a fun, personalized subscription box service offering three types of boxes: makeup, accessories or intimates.

I received my second accessories box this month and boy was it a treat! Each accessories box comes with three to four boutique accessories. Based on the personal preferences that I have inputted on Wantable's website, the expert curators sent these little treats above.

The Osbourne Scarf is a chic combination of animal print and skulls in gray and black. Wantable's style tip suggests pairing it with neon earrings for a perfectly on-trend look. The Daisy Blue Earrings (above, left) are drop earrings featuring sunshine yellow and sky blue stones. The Stella Earrings are geometric black drops accented with rhinestones. Wantable suggests pairing them with geometric winged eyeliner for a trendy look.

Seeing that we handle much of our correspondence online now, our mailboxes are generally full of bills, aren't they? Wouldn't it be nice to get an exciting package in the mail every month? Wantable is a fun, personalized subscription box service offering three types of boxes: makeup, accessories or intimates. Back in November, I reviewed an intimates box.

I loved getting the box so much I jumped at the chance to try out the accessories box. Each accessories box comes with three to four boutique accessories. Based on my preferences I received the lovely items you see above - the Matilda necklace, Mollie earrings and Roxanna scarf. The earrings are my favourite item - they feature clusters of rose coloured stones with tiny rhinestones for sparkle. The scarf isn't something I'd likely pick out on my own, but I think that's a good thing. I tend to be conservative with my accessories and I like the combo of the animal print with studs. The information sheet accompanying the pieces suggests pairing the scarf with a smoky eye and nude lips to look "fierce."

Recently I had the opportunity to review a fun, personalized subscription box service. Wantable.com
navigates the world of fashion and beauty to bring you the latest trends, personalized just for you. They offer three types of boxes: makeup, accessories or intimates.

Summer has flown by and with it my resolution to wear dresses more often. I bought two eShakti custom dresses back in the spring in preparation for summer. But September arrived and I had yet to wear either of them.

We went to the Toronto Vegetarian Food Festival this past Sunday and I seized upon my last chance to wear this eShakti orange gingham summer frock. After lots of rain on Saturday, Sunday turned out to be a lovely day for the festival, which takes place at the picturesque harbourfront.

I have had very few custom-sized dresses in my lifetime so far. I think the most recent was the bridesmaid's dress I wore over a decade ago for my sister-in-law's wedding. So, when eShakti contacted me offering me a free custom dress in exchange for a review, I was pretty excited. To be honest, at first I thought the dresses might be unappealing. But I couldn't have been more wrong.