Woman in Real Life

Photo credit: Kennedy Pollard / Ryan Emberley Photography

The Toronto International Film Festival draws big-name stars to the city each fall. In 2019, TIFF welcomed celebrities Jennifer Lopez, Lili Reinhart, Robert Pattinson, Michael B. Jordan and Renee Zellweger, among many others.

We all know that celebrity lounges and swag bags are part of the film fest fun. This year, for the eleventh year, GLO Communications hosted a Bask-It-Style media day, inviting guests to preview and experience their celebrity gift bags at the Thompson Hotel. During the run of TIFF, ​Bask-It-Style hand delivers VIP gift bags to busy celebs. In the past, Bask-It-Style has gifted celebrities (through hotel partners) including Matt Damon, Jennifer Garner, Julianne Moore, Naomi Watts, Colin Farrell, John Legend and Sir Elton John.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

I always love to get a book as a gift. There are so many wonderful things about books as gifts. You can find a book to please pretty much everyone on your list. The right choice of book can speak to how you feel about someone. It can bring your gift recipient pleasure, new knowledge and possibly some laughs. And books are affordable - you can get a great book for under 20 bucks.

Our holiday to-do lists are long - shopping, party planning, baking, cooking and preparing the house for guests. While some things must be done last-minute out of necessity, we can avoid a holiday meltdown by taking shopping off the list as early as possible.

With the holidays coming up quicker than you can say "gridlock in the mall parking lot" I am busy preparing a fun holiday gift guide. I want to share with you some ideas for creative, stylish gifts for the whole family - mom, dad, boy, girl and even your canine friends (because we couldn't possibly forget Jolene the beagle mix).

I am looking forward to featuring products I've never shared here before as well as new products from old friends. And there will be great giveaways too! Stay tuned.

If you are interested in submitting a product, please email Joann for more details at womaninreallife@hotmail.com.

Happy shopping friends!

I promised I would share a homemade hostess gift idea with you. My daughter and I made these vegan chocolate macaroons recently to bring to a Christmas party. Actually, I measured out the ingredients, but she was able to do most of the work. So, if you are looking for a way to bring your kids into the kitchen without too much fuss, this is it!

While Santa Claus and Frosty decorations have their place, especially in a child-friendly home, I am going for a more subtle, natural look overall this Christmas. My decorations started with this rustic DIY Advent calendar, which I finally got up on the wall just yesterday.

I was inspired by a similar piece that I saw in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. I don't have a lot of experience with crafts, but I thought this project looked pretty darn simple, even for a relative beginner like me.



And this rustic Advent calendar diy would have been simple...if I could find the little muslin drawstring bags. I confidently headed to my local crafts superstore. I found the number stamps no problem, although they were a bit smaller than I would have liked, and a lot more expensive. Luckily, I had a 50% off one item coupon. I got a couple of green and red stamp pads too. But no muslin bags. I checked the dollar store too. No bags. With December 1st quickly approaching I decided I would have to stop my store searches and head online.

I eventually ordered the bags from a soap making supply company. Because the shipping cost more than the bags, I decided to throw in a lip balm kit too for $19.99. Same shipping costs. How's that for logic?


The bags arrived within a few days. In the meantime, I found some cut tree branches that a neighbour had sent to the curb. My husband fished some twine out of the basement. I bought some inexpensive Christmas toys to fill the bags with, including pencil sharpeners, rings and stamps. I used leftover Halloween candy for the rest. The kids would be disappointed if some candy didn't come from those bags. By the way, each bag has two identical items...to avoid fights!


I used one of my vintage Christmas stamps to stamp "Merry Christmas" on the December 25th bag.


Here is my Advent calendar project up on the wall. We had only one spot of blank wall space big enough to fit it. Also, we had to hang it a little high, because Jolene the sniffer dog can smell food a mile away. She could use that couch arm to pull down a few bags. Don't think she wouldn't. I caught her chewing on one of the empty bags. (The bags arrived in a box stuffed with packing peanuts that smelled like they were made from cereal.)

First a homemade doll dress, and now this? What's happening to me? It seems you can teach an old dog new tricks.

I am actually having a great time, and I will have a homemade hostess gift idea for you soon too!

What do you think? How is your decorating going? Do you have an Advent calendar?


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