Maybe it’s just me, but ever since the warm weather hit last week I’m dreaming of barbeques on the patio. There have been a few nights this week that I even managed to sneak out onto the deck for dinner with the Shop Kids – of course that got me thinking of how I could spruce things up out there. Lucky for me GTC has a well-stocked Sears and Sears has lots of goodies that are perfect for patio season.

Step one – the perfect seating area. This 5 piece Manhattan patio set is perfect for a small seating area,and looks very stylish too!

Then we move onto accessories. I think patios and outdoor spaces often get overlooked when it comes to décor but there are some great options for sprucing up the outside of your home.

Next up is my favourite part of outdoor décor; the table setting. There are so many fun prints and designs in outdoor dishes now that you won’t be able to narrow it down to just one set.

If you plan to enjoy summer barbeques late into the night don’t forget to pick up some lanterns and candles too!

At Guildford Town Centre we are very proud of our many green initiatives and as part of this,we are supporting our customers who have made a personal commitment to reducing their carbon footprint by purchasing electric and hybrid vehicles.  We have recently installed two level 2 charging stations in the parking lot off of 152nd street by CIBC. These are 240V stations where vehicle owners can plug the station’s connector into their electric or hybrid vehicle. In addition, when the expansion is complete we will also have 38 level 1 stations which are a standard 120V outlet, and vehicle owners will be able to plug their own charging cord into the stations.

Black and white is a huge trend for Spring/Summer 2013 and a look that never fails. This season there are many great graphic prints available for you to have some fun with the trend. You can’t go wrong with black and white, my only tip is – avoid the waiter look. If you are wearing black plants and a white shirt, try to jazz it up with a coloured belt or statement necklace, other than that, happy shopping!

Here are some inspiration photos to get your started:

{Image via What I Wore}

{Image via Pinterest}

{Image via Vogue}

{Image via Pinterest}

Many of you have been watching our redevelopment for a very long time. This project, which began on June 7, 2010 has had some very significant milestones recently.

On January 9, 2013 the General Contractor, Ledcor, hit one million man hours on this project. On March 3, 2013 we hit 1000 days since the project began. As of today, there are only 132 days until the grand opening of the expansion wing on August 28, 2013.

Work will continue in various areas of the shopping centre until the fall of 2014 when the project will be completed.

It’s that bouncy time of year and the Easter Bunny will be here before we know it! A lot of us will be celebrating with family get-togethers, egg hunts and big meals, so I thought it would be the perfect time to share some great table top décor ideas. I love that so many of these ideas steer away from traditional pastels and are infused with a splash of personality.

{Candy Topiary Trees}

{Glittered Eggs}

{A Colourful Place Setting}{Coloured Rice}

All Images via Pinterest – click for source

Tips for Buying the Perfect Grad Dress

With Grad season in full swing and Spring just around the corner, many of you are still on the hunt for the perfect dress for Grad. Today I’m sharing my top tips for finding the perfect piece for your special night.

Don’t leave it to the last minute

I know that sometimes it’s tempting to hold out as long as possible because Grad dresses might go on sale – but this is not a decision you want to make in haste. Decide on a budget, and then take your time looking for the perfect dress. You are going to be looking at these pictures on your parent’s mantel for a very long time, so choose wisely.

Try on lots of styles

You may have a particular shape in mind and feel like you don’t want to try anything else, but it’s always a good idea to try on different silhouettes. You can’t tell if something works for your body until you put it on.

{Some grad dress options from Laura}

Invest in good foundation garments

Most of us don’t wear formal or cocktail gowns every day, so our foundation garments are probably not appropriate for a special occasion dress. Make a stop at La Vie en Rose or La Senza with your dress and ask for advice on what to wear under your dress.

Take a picture in your dress before making the final decision

It’s amazing what you can see in a picture that a mirror can’t show you. Does the flash make your dress transparent? Maybe it captures panty lines? Whatever the case, make sure you take a picture from all angles and evaluate before you buy.

 Do you love wearing high heels but can’t deal with the pain? Or maybe you would like to wear high heels but can’t deal with the achy feet and blisters? As a full-time high heel wearer I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks along the way to share with you

 Purchase Heels that Fit Properly

I like try to purchase my heels at the end of the day when my feet have expanded to their true size. The part of the foot you need to fit perfectly is the toe area; making sure that your toes aren’t squished or rubbing against the inner lining. Sometimes to fit the toe area, you need to leave room in the back of the shoe – don’t worry, we’ll address that issue with insoles. Also, don’t stress about what the sizing number says, every manufacturer and shape is going to be slightly different, just focus on getting the best fit possible.   

Bessodia Heels Available at Aldo Shoes

 Use Insoles

There are varying opinions on insoles but I can’t go without them. My favourite type is from the Dr Scholl’s Gel Line (available at London Drugs and Walmart Supercentre). If you are prone to toe pain try a full insole insert to balance the pressure going to the foot. If its heel pain or back of the heel blisters that bother you, go with the For Her Heel Liners.

Arch Pain and Discomfort

If you wear heels for extended periods of time you are likely to get arch pain. An easy way to prevent this is with a special arch insole or by exercising your feet at home. A simple trick is the rolling stretch. Place a tennis ball or small can underneath your arch; slowly roll your foot back and forth so that the tennis ball or can rolls around underneath your arch.

Compromise with an Open Toe

If you tend to get a lot of foot pain from wearing high heels, consider an open toe pump with a square heel. The shape and thickness of heel gives your toes some more wiggle room and balances the weight on your foot better.

Always Carry Flats!

Nothing is worse than wobbling around all night in uncomfortable shoes or walking around barefoot at an event. A smart girl always carries a pair of flats and a bag big enough for her heels. My go-to ballet flats are from Aldo a few seasons ago and fold up quite easily. You can also try another Dr Scholl’s classic, Fast Flats if you are in a pinch.

Dr Scholls Fast Flats. Available at London Drugs and Wal Mart

I hope these tips make wearing heels just a little easier for you. If you are having serious foot pain or have any other medical conditions, be sure to consult your doctor or a medical practitioner for advice.

Looking for an easy way to add some sparkle to your nails for Valentine’s Day? Why not try our at home glittered manicure. I created this look with some nail polish and glitter and it only took about half an hour.

1. Paint your nails. I went with a nude shade that matches my nail bed; you could also chose something like pink for some extra pop.

2. Sprinkle with glitter while nails are still wet. You have to move quickly here so that the
glitter gets on your nails before they dry. Remember to place a napkin or something
under your hand to collect the excess glitter. If you have a lot of time on your hands, do
one nail at a time.

3. Shake off the extra glitter and blow them dry. I found that the blow dryer also helped the
extra bits of glitter fall off.

4. Top with clear polish or topcoat and dry really well. I actually used a blow dryer to
make sure that the glitter was set after applying a top coat, and then sat patiently for 15
minutes.

And that’s it – you have the perfect set of blinged out nails in honour of the season of love!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and you might be stuck on what to buy for your Valentine, not to worry The Bay has you covered. I just discovered their amazing Gift Guide. It’s got you covered for gifts under $50, and ideas for friends, someone special, and your better half. It’s really worth taking a look!

{Click here for The Bay Valentine’s Day Gift Guide}

I spent some time snooping around the Gift Guide and found some really fun goodies. Check out my picks below. Now I just need to leave a few hints for Mr. Shop Girl!

Are you joining us for our first ever Twitter party in honour of Family Day? BC’s first Family Day holiday is fast approaching and GTC has decided to add a little fun to the mix. We are hosting our first Twitter party on February 7th from 6-7pm in honour of families!

It’s an opportunity for us to get to know the families that shop at GTC better and a chance for you to win some great prizes.

The first 50 twitter users that RSVP, and attend the party, will receive 2 free tickets to a showing of Disney’s Brave at Empire Theatres 12 on Thursday, March 20, 2013. Simple right? (Update: We now have only 15 spots left in the movie ticket give away.)

Sign up to attend below, then mark your calendar for February 7th at 6pm and you can enjoy an evening out on us.

During the Twitter party we will also be giving out some bonus mystery prizes that you don’t want to miss. (Let’s just say that someone might be doing some shopping!) The hashtag for the party is #shopgtc, be sure to follow along so you don’t miss out!

Click here to RSVP and don’t forget to join us!