Swishlist.ca

I had this notion that a year after I had kids my life would settle back into a nice orderly rhythm. This has not yet happened. I am not complaining. In fact, I am enjoying (almost) every minute. However, add a few extra curve balls that I wasn’t expecting to have to deal with at this point in time and balls get dropped. Unfortunately the dropped ball was my daily blogging on Swishlist. Well, I am back in half force and am hoping to get a few juicy blogs written per week as well as finally launching the Swishlist E-newsletter. (If you haven’t signed up already, you can submit your email at the top right of the page.) Included here are a few of my inspirational images and ideas for Spring 2009 - I will touch on them over the coming weeks.

Photos: Casamidy.com, Grant McEachern, Living Etc, Revolveclothing.com, Shopbop.com, Goneshopping.ca, Ssense.com, upurea.com, Fruits & Passion, Tobi.com

I apologize for the sudden departure this summer. The hot sunny days, long line of visitors and breezy afternoons at the cottage swept me up entirely and I didn’t even get a chance to leave a departure note. Well, here I am with lots of new ideas for the season and a lust for new boots. (When you are a size ten you have to get them early.)

So what’s new? I will finally be launching my weekly e-update in 2 weeks so if you haven’t already done so, please submit your email address in the sidebar of the homepage to stay up-to-date on the latest online deals and hot new shopping sites. Last night was also the season premiere of Gossip Girl so watch for the return of my fashion blog from the show starting tomorrow. I’m looking forward to Fall and bringing you my view on its trends in Fashion, Home and Beauty and of course, how to get them online.

Photo: Grant MacEachern

Just wanted to let you know that I will be taking a break over the next 2 weeks due to the birth of my twin boys. I do have some great guest bloggers lined up so please keep visiting daily starting next Monday to see what is in store. Cheers!

I know you. You spend countless hours researching the latest handbags and footwear online, you add countless trendy tops to your basket only to abandon your cart at the end of the night. You are a mag-a-holic and pore over fashion and home magazines, marking the pages with websites to check out when you get in front of your computer at home. I know you because I was you. I crossed the threshold afer living  and now will never go back. Really, I will be the happiest shopper alive if I never have to set foot in a mall over the next 6 weeks. (My trip to New York this weekend doesn’t count since I will only be partaking in boutique shopping of course.)

My point is, there has never been a better time to become an online shopper, to click that big checkout button and wait patiently for your goods to arrive at your door. (Or your office if possible.) No pretty pictures today, no online reviews, just the top 10 reasons for Canadians to start shopping online today:

1. The Canadian dollar is stronger than it has ever been since you have owned your own credit card, but prices have not adjusted therefore, you now have access to all of those US and UK brands that you coveted but couldn’t afford.

2. You can sip coffee and read the paper for the next 6 weekends while your bricks-and-mortar shopping counterparts cram into stuffy malls and buy useless gifts in a panic.

3. Many sites offer gift-wrapping so spend those last few minutes before your gift-swap with those you love instead of hastily throwing on paper and bows.

4. For items like electronics, you can save some serious dough if you do your research and order online.

5. More selection. More sizes. More styles.

6. It could be considered more eco-friendly since instead of expending gas driving from store to store looking for the size large blue argyle sweater, you load your package on a truck with many other packages destined for your local area.

7. You can fit it in any time you have, not just when stores are open - shop before work, shop at 2am on Saturday night, it’s all the same.

8. After the whole Winner’s/Marshall’s/Target/Club Monaco credit card data debaucle last year where entire databases of store customer credit card numbers were hacked, security never looked better online. Just make sure that the address starts with https:// before you enter any personal or credit card info to make sure it is secure. Take advantage of secure features like ‘Verified by Visa’ when available.

9. The more Canadians shop online, the more attractive it will be for large retailers to start shipping to Canadians who currently do not.

10. It’s just plain fun getting packages in the mail even though they might not technically be for you.

Just wanted to let you know that I am on vacation this week. You will still get daily blog updates however, thanks to the ability to timestamp posts in the future :) They will be a bit on the thinner side since writing 5 blogs in one day saps a little of that blog banter one might normally possess….I am heading to the Eastern Townships in Quebec. I hope to see lots of gorgeous leaves (if they are still on the trees), quirky antique shops, cozy cafes with huge flagstone fireplaces and of course, the sterile white of the ceiling as I partake in some relaxing spa treatments. See you soon.

PS. I will report on this Wednesday’s Gossip Girl episode when I get back next Monday

I am off to London tonight and will be back July 29th. See you then…with lots of new things to share.