Set your PVR's

Are you a mommy to boys? A teacher?  Then tonight you must tune into The Agenda with Steve Paiken(once saw him eating a Filet-O-Fish at my local McDonald's the day after mediating an election debate). On tonight's show the Director of Education for the Toronto District School Board, Chris Spence will be on discussing boys-only schools and no doubt talking about how boys and girls learn differently!  TVO at 8 p.m. Watch it, PVR it, then we'll discuss it! 

Preloved

During a major clothing purge a couple of weeks ago, I managed to do a little shopping in my own closet.  In the deepest depths of Z's closet (where I hide things), behind the winter parkas and twelve year old Roots leather jackets (now at Extoggery) hung the cutest little black velvet blazer.  Now, because I'm proud to say I don't reside under a rock, I've seen the velvet blazers in latest J. Crew catalog, and know that they are so not out of style. My heart started to beat just a little faster, until I looked at the size and the cut. It was pretty boxy and too big (yay)!  All that non-driving has really paid off. But instead of chucking it into the Extoggery pile, I took it to my fave tailor and had them alter it for me. I'm so happy with the results, and thrilled that it only cost me $20, instead of the $148 US, the J. Crew version would have cost me. With that said, the J. Crew Velvet Eden blazer is now on sale fo $118 US. A girl can never have too many velvet blazers, can she?

Speaking of old being new again, I had the honour of being invited to a fab, pre-holiday shopping party, at the home of Preloved founder Julia Grieve. Z is friends with Julia's little guy, so I totally shimmied my way in via Z. Love when a six year old can do that for you!  Anyway, if you're not familiar with Preloved, then let me tell you a bit about them.

Preloved is a Canadian (Toronto based) company. They are fabulous in that they create "one of a kind clothing from reclaimed vintage fabrics". So, see those sheets on your grannies bed? Watch out, because Julia will turn them into a fab wrap dress right before your eyes!  They have three retail locations, one here in Toronto, one in Montreal and their newest store Handcut by Preloved in Sydney Australia. So...all of my Australian readers (and I know you're out there) pop in the next time you're in Sydney! Preloved is also carried in many fabulous women's clothing stores, including my beloved Anthropologie.

Preloved also has a great home line which includes pillows and table coverings, and an adorable children's line called Me*Me. So cute for little girls. They've also attracted the attention of celebrities (besides myself) such as Hillary Duff, Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson. Now they can all say "ooh, look...Mommy X wears Preloved too"!!!

Here are a few of the pieces I love, but for a really good  time, head down to their Queen St. store. The sales associates are fun and fabulous girls. But don't tell them Mommy X sent you, because they'll probaby look at you with a "wtf" expression!

Wednesday

Kiddies are at school for lunch today, groceries are done, so after I run Swiffer around the house, I'll be back with an "everything old, is new again" post!

Update on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 9:21AM by Mommy X

What's with all the Canadian girls running around with "American Girl" dolls? Hmmm...there's a full blog post in that sentence...it's coming!

Y PiX

Today's post is courtesy of my darling almost nine year old son. I'm trying very hard to get him to write more...stories, journal entries, letters to the President of Lego (not kidding) and now his first blog post for Mommy X. He was very excited and insisted on doing his own photography.  He's chosen to review his favourite new toy, which he bought on Saturday, with money he earned from raking leaves and losing teeth. So it's my pleasure to introduce you to my new guest blogger...Y!!!

HOT WHEELS BATTLE FORCE 5

Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 - Sabre is an action packed toy. It comes with Vert Wheeler figure and Sabre vehicle. There is attack mode and normal mode. There is also a missal. It is a lot of fun!

Mommy X adds: Hot Wheels Battle Force Five toys are available at Toys R Us!

X PiX

Ok, enough sports, let's move on to handbags. After all, every stylin' female hockey player still needs a pretty bag to walk into the arena with...doesn't she? Ok, maybe not. But I love a stylin' bag and I'm all about a clutch right now. Clutch bags are generally used as evening bags, but why not bring one out for daytime? Here I've picked two fabulously cute bags that are super for daytime use. I've picked brown because I'm in the market for casual brown purse and may consider one of these. There us a feel good element with these clutches as well.  They both happen to be vegan and entirely environmentally friendly. So not only are you looking good, but your saving a cows hide, that could be put to good use on those gorgeous Frye Rory Scrunchy boots. 

You can feel good about the fact that eight  plastic bottles were recycled in the making of this very sweet, Sade clutch by Matt and Nat.  The Sade features top fold-over zipper closure with strap and snap, 2 external open pockets on front and 1 external zip pocket on back. Interior includes, zip pocket, cell phone and PDA pockets. I've always loved the bags and wallets from Matt and Nat. They are both stylish and responsible. The Sade also comes in black and a very hot cherry red. At $135, it's a definite Splurge, but I think you'll get a ton of use form this little bag.

If you're thinking of other's this Christmas, and not just of your stylin' self, then you can Resist The Urge (a little bit, anyway) with this little brown clutch by Urban Expressions. Also vegan, I love the gold detail the turn lock. I have to admit,  I'm partial to the darker brown colour and at $74, this is a fashionable and affordable clutch. Also available in purple, black and grey(so hot right now). You can pick it up at  Over The Rainbow in Yorkville.