Two months ago, I asked y’all to suggest some road trip ideas -

“Where should my family’s next travels take us? A road trip to Montreal? Perhaps Ottawa? Or maybe a weekend shopping in the States? I’m looking for your best road trip ideas from Toronto – no more than 5-6 hours away.”

Why was I asking? I had racked up a ton of Scotia Rewards on my handy little Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, and wanted to use them to offset the cost of a fun family road trip. So how did I earn enough points to fund our hotel stay?

It’s simple. Not only did I receive the introductory 20,000 bonus points with my first purchase because I signed up for the card early (new cardholders now earn 15,000 bonus points on their first purchase – worth $150 in travel!); I also earned 4x Scotia Rewards points for every $1 I spent at eligible gas stations, grocery stores, on dining and entertainment. Translation: while I was out and about spending money on my everyday purchases like groceries and gas, I was actually earning rewards that brought me that much closer to a much-needed vacation. Four times closer, in fact.

So, armed with ideas for a March Break mini vacation or staycation, I was ready to cash in my rewards for a fabulous little hotel stay in Montreal. And then, this happened -

“We are pleased to invite you to the 2013 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. This invitation-only professional conference for social media-minded moms and dads will take place May 8-12, 2013 at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida.”

EEK! Okay, for those not in the know, receiving an invitation to #DisneySMMoms is like receiving a golden ticket to a chocolate factory – but better, because Disney chocolate is shaped like Mickey’s ears.

However, as the invitation came through right around the time I was planning to book our mini getaway, I had an interesting dilemma on my hands. You see, while most costs are covered at the Disney Social Media Moms conference, I did have to come up with airfare: four plane tickets to be exact. So, I had to make the following decision – and quickly:

1. Book the mini getaway as planned, and pay full price for four plane tickets.
2. Cancel the mini getaway and use my Scotia Rewards towards the cost of one of the flights to Orlando.

Hmm… mini getaway in Montreal, or 5-day vacation at Walt Disney World? Can you guess what I decided? (more…)

Since we had SO much fun during our last Twitter Party for The Client List, we thought we’d do it all over again!

This Sunday, April 21st at 10:00pm ET, join us for #TheClientList Twitter Party. We’ll once again be live tweeting during the wildly popular second season – and if you’re a fan of the show, or would love to see what all the hype’s about – c’mon and stop by!

ALL Canadians are welcome to tweet with us – just be sure to RSVP and that all of your tweets include both @lifetimetvca and #theclientlist in order to be eligible for prizes.

Speaking of prizes, we’re giving away some AMAZING ones this time around!

- 3 x $25.00 Amazon.ca Gift Cards
- 2 x $50.00 Amazon.ca Gift Cards
- 1 x $100.00 Grand Prize Amazon.ca Gift Card

If you’re following along on Tweet Grid and wish to solely follow the party, be sure to enter “#theclientlist @lifetimetvca” as your search string.

Not sure what channel Lifetime is on? Click here to view Lifetime’s helpful channel guide.

About the Show:

“The sweet yet seductive Riley Parks is back with a new season and new secrets in The Client List, starring and executive produced by Golden Globe-nominee Jennifer Love Hewitt. Following last season’s cliffhanger finale, more drama and new threats await Riley Parks (Jennifer Love Hewitt) in the equally steamy second season of The Client List. After being deserted by her husband and left alone in financial despair, the Texas single mother of two accepts a larger role at The Rub, the seemingly traditional spa that offers clients on the list special “extras,” adding further obstacles to her already difficult double life. But it’s the sudden return of her estranged husband Kyle (Brian Hallisay) that proves to be especially challenging for Riley as her feelings for brother-in-law Evan (Colin Egglesfield) finally come to a boil. Caught with her back against the wall, trust becomes an overwhelming issue for Riley as everyone, including those closest to her, seem to be hiding something.”

Don’t forget to RSVP to be eligible for prizes… click here!

NOTE: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

It’s not often that I let pictures – or products – do the talking; I’m too much of a motormouth not to put my two cents in. However, when President’s Choice approached me to do a PC black label giveaway for Mother’s Day, I just knew the delicious, gourmet food would speak for itself.

Want to celebrate your Mom this year? Consider picking up some – or all – of the products below. Together, they make a wonderful assortment of fine foods that won’t break the bank, and they just happen to be my picks for Mother’s Day gifts. Host a high tea, treat her to a gourmet Italian meal, or celebrate with a traditional breakfast in bed. The possibilities are endless… and scrumptious… with PC black label products (found at Loblaws stores.)

Of course, the ultimate way to spoil Mom silly is to win a gourmet gift basket here! President’s Choice has put together a beautiful basket, valued at over $100, which contains a collection of exceptional fine foods from the PC black label line. The collection features a range of outstanding foods all made with a rich artisanal provenance and amazing flavours.  From confectionary items, spreads, dressings, marinades, pastas, sauces, oils and vinegars, aromatic spice blends, to baked goods, baking ingredients and more, the foods within the PC black label collection were inspired by the most exquisite tastes from Canada and around the world. With this basket, Mom will enjoy an exciting adventure in food – one that will inspire and excite taste buds!

One lucky winner will receive ALL the products showcased below, just in time for Mother’s Day. Good luck!

PC BLACK LABEL MIXED BERRY TEA

With Thai lemon grass, Egyptian hibiscus, Brazilian açai and North American blueberry, along with a hint of licorice root and zesty orange peel, our round-the-world tea blend is a refreshing burst of herbal berry flavours and aromas. The pyramid-shaped tea bags come individually wrapped.

PC BLACK LABEL BLACK CURRANT JAM

Packed with ripe luscious black currants, our dark, dense jam is ideal for both sweet and savoury applications. Try with pork, poultry, cheeses and pâtés, or spread on sweet breads, muffins and biscuits. Imported from Belgium.

PC BLACK LABEL EARL GREY ALL BUTTER SHORTBREAD THINS

A treat for tea and biscuit lovers alike, our tender, all-butter shortbread thins are baked with a traditional Earl Grey tea infusion. The distinct flavours and aromas of bergamot orange make this the biscuit of choice when paired with tea or coffee. Imported from Scotland. (more…)

I believe there’s a saying somewhere that states it’s virtually impossible to go to Walmart for just one thing. Even with the best of intentions, one always ends up spending more than he/she had originally intended.

Of course, this ragebuilder sums it up perfectly:

So I suppose you can say it was wishful thinking when I believed I could stop in for some milk last Friday night. I know, I know – “Friday night, what?” << Yes, I have a cardinal rule for never shopping at Walmart unless it’s at 7:00am, as witnessed here. You see, I just don’t do crowds. But on this particular evening, I was passing the store, had milk on my shopping list, and figured I could be in and out in less than 20 minutes.

I figured wrong.

So what happened? How did I go astray? Come shopping with me, and you’ll find out. (more…)

I’m a huge fan of hairstyles that look chic and effortless. Unfortunately, these are often the styles I spend the most amount of time putting effort into. They include:

a) beachy waves
b) volumninous bed hair
c) tousled waves
d) unstructured topknots

I firmly believe that anyone who believes women can “roll out of bed and look gorgeous”… is a man.

Case in point: tousled waves. For me to achieve tousled waves, I normally have to blowdry my baby-fine wavy hair straight with copious amounts of volumnizing spray. Next, I ruin all that straightening work by putting a curling iron to my hair; reconstructing the curls section by section. Next, I’ll pin the curls up and secure them with bobby pins, spritzing a setting spray and allowing them to dry. Finally, I’ll comb out the curls, strategically placing the pieces to frame my face. (Once in a while I’ll hit it with dry shampoo as well to give a tousled and bed hair feel.) Et voila! “Effortless” tousled waves.

And so when the recent topknot craze swept Hollywood by storm, I questioned the “effortless” factor.

Thankfully, Dove Celebrity Stylist Mark Townsend, who created Rachel McAdams ‘do for the premiere of To the Wonder, breaks down the hairstyle for us:

“For the To the Wonder screening I created a fun topknot for Rachel McAdams. I love a topknot and I am so happy this trend is sticking around; they are young, cool and super modern. To keep a topknot looking more chic and polished (instead of like you just left the gym) follow these easy steps:

1. I started by spraying the Dove Refresh +Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo on Rachel’s dry hair, focusing at the root. This dry shampoo is amazing at giving you a clean scalp and also amazing texture.

2. Next, I raked a dime size amount of Dove Colour Care Leave On Conditioner through Rachel’s newly dyed hair to condition and add lots of shine before gathering her hair just in front of the crown of the head and pulling it into a ponytail.

3. I sprayed Sally Hershberger Genius Spray Wax into the ponytail to give the hair rich texture and then twisted the hair around the base of the ponytail, tucking the ends under the knot to hide them away and then secured with 12 bobby pins. I always make an X with two bobby pins when securing, and I always spray dry shampoo on them for extra security (the starch in the dry shampoo sticks to the pins and gives them a matte finish and creates a little extra friction with the hair for tighter hold).

4. When the knot was secured, I pulled out some flyaway hairs to soften the hair around the knot. To add to the look, I used a strip of black satin as a headband.”

Okay ladies, are you taking notes? For the topknot trend, be sure you’re armed with dry shampoo, leave-in conditioner, spray wax and perhaps a little hairspray to keep everything in place.

I love the addition of the thin satin headband to add a little interest to the hairstyle. The best part? You really can’t go wrong, because the unstructured topknot is just that – unstructured. For more information on the latest from Dove Hair, visit their Facebook page.

Years ago, the easiest answer to finding an affordable designer piece was the ever-popular change purse. Fashion conscious – yet budget savvy – 20-somethings visited the likes of Louis Vuitton, Coach and Marc Jacobs in droves, opting for the least expensive (yet most logo-heavy) item in the store.

Later that night, at a bar, resto-lounge or club, those 20-somethings would pull out their Louis Vuitton change purse and feel very en vogue. Can’t afford an LV Lockit GM? Never mind. You have a change purse. Covered in the LV monogram. Translation: You can afford the finer things in life. Sort of.

Today, frugal fashionistas have given up on the change purse and have opted to show their love for designer goods via their phone; sales of designer iPhone cases have skyrocketed since 2010. But unlike the diminutive change purse, I love haute couture phone cases because a) they’re generally very affordable, b) allow you to express yourselves through patterns and colour, and c) can be shown off way more consistently – think about how many times you reach for your phone every day, plus, you would never place your change purse on a table at Starbucks!

And so I’ve decided to round up my favourite designer iPhone cases, all under $55.00. They’re a combination of logo chic, pretty florals, bold lines and party girl spectacular. Why not show your love for couture – on your ear?

Top Row L-R: Tory Burch Kelsey Perforated iPhone Case, $50.00; Marc Jacobs Graffiti iPhone Case, $38.00; Diane von Furstenberg In Lips Silhouette iPhone Case, $40.00; Coach Poppy Stamped C iPhone Case, $38.00

Middle Row L-R: Kate Spade Picnic Floral iPhone Case, $35.00; Michael Kors Vanilla iPhone Case, $38.00; Betsey Johnson Cherry iPhone Case, $34.00; Juicy Couture Gelli Palm Tree iPhone Case, $28.00

Bottom Row L-R: Ted Baker Apple Lona iPhone Case, $55.00; Jonathan Adler Circle Ornaments iPhone Case, $26.00; Paul Frank Julius iPhone Case, $15.00; Henry Bendel It’s My Party iPhone Case, $38.00

Do you have a favourite? What does your cell phone case look like? 

With grilling season just around the corner, I’ve been dying to resurrect this recipe for Rosemary Grilled Chicken. The kabob recipe comes from a Williams Sonoma Grilling book, so yeah, you know it’s kind of awesome. Chunks of marinated, grilled chicken are so tender and juicy, they literally melt in your mouth. I love the chicken served over rice or stuffed in a pita with grilled veggies (just double the marinade and grill up some zucchini, peppers, sweet onions and button mushrooms).

I must have made this super-easy recipe over 10 times last summer, but I’ve been hesitant to try it on my grill pan, reasoning that the savoury, charred goodness should be limited to an outdoor grill. T-minus 2 months to BBQ season!

If you don’t have fresh rosemary, 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary will work in a pinch – but hey, live a little! Make the trip to the supermarket if you have to – nothing beats fresh rosemary. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup ranch dressing
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
1 tablespoon white sugar
4-5 skinless, boneless Maple Leaf Prime chicken breast halves – cut into 1 inch cubes

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place chicken in the bowl, and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Thread chicken onto skewers and discard marinade. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill skewers for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear. Serves 6.

There are certain things that parents just do for their kids.

Take them to 6:00am hockey practice.
Cut their grapes in half until they start to complain about it.
Wipe bums. Enough said.

Also? Going about your daily life with Toopy and Binoo blaring in the background. I can’t quite understand the fascination, but both my boys ADORE the little team of rat and cat. Seriously! It’s their favourite TV show ever. However, if you’re in the vast minority of parents who have never heard of Toopy and Binoo, here’s a Coles Notes version of the television show:

“The series centers on an anthropomorphic rat named Toopy and his best friend, a silent plush cat named Binoo. Each episode follows their playful, nonsensical adventures created out of their imaginations. In each episode there are “Fabulous You” segments, featuring Toopy and Binoo as superheroes who help their friends when they have nothing to play with. The segments encourage viewing children (referred to in the show as “Fabulous You”) to participate in the adventures and use their imaginations. - Source

Ahem, well – watching Toopy and Binoo along with your little ones – and pretending to enjoy it – is the height of “doing things” for your kids. Of course, I’m going one step further… and taking one for the team, so to speak… as we have been extended the exciting opportunity to take the boys to see Toopy and Binoo and the Marshmallow Moon at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, a live theatrical production by Koba Entertainment.

Yes, the boys are going to FREAK OUT!

As much as I’m pretending to be the martyr here, the truth is, I know that the boys will simply light up with joy the second their favourite team takes the stage. And, I’ll enjoy every second of it.

Are your kids super fans of Toopy of Binoo too? Great news – due to popular demand, the Toopy and Binoo Tour has just added more shows across Ontario and Eastern Canada! Click here for a full schedule of dates and times.

Thinking of taking the kiddos? Here’s a snippet of what you’ll see at the show:

We can’t wait to tell the boys that they’ll have a chance to see their most beloved characters in real life. It’s going to be a blast! So tell me, will you be “taking one for the team” and taking your kids to see Toopy and Binoo?

When I think of summer, I think of only ONE thing: Drinks on a Patio.

Of course, before having children, that patio was usually located on College Street, the Danforth, or anywhere that wasn’t my own backyard. The good old days.

However, there’s a certain pleasure in having drinks in your own backyard: there’s no travel involved, you generally enjoy the company, and you don’t have to tip your server.

But here’s the kicker: I don’t actually have a patio! Since moving into our new home six years ago, we’ve had a lot of priorities for the inside of our house (a finished basement, a painted home, an upscale living room) but we were never ready to invest in our backyard. Truth is, for a long time we’ve wondered if we should stay or move, and that factored in our decision to delay the landscaping. And so we set up an old patio set on our lawn and let the kids run around in the summer. For the most part, it worked out well.

However, now that we’ve decided to stay put for a little while, it’s time to do things right. First on our agenda: a backyard makeover.

You knew it was coming… 2013 is the year of #ProjectPatio!

I’ll be sure to share lots of pictures over the upcoming months of how we transform our little backyard into a backyard oasis. In addition to a stamped concrete patio, we’ll be making an investment in a new barbecue, patio furniture and maybe even a paper lantern or two :)

I also admit to lusting over these outdoor fireplaces from Anywhere Fireplaces, available at SHOP.CA.

All the fireplaces are ventless, requiring no construction, chimney, or gas lines.  The sophisticated, contemporary style fireplaces are also eco-friendly, at a price within reach for almost anyone. More features and benefits:

- Burns liquid or gel bio-ethanol fuel
- Renewable resource
- Smokeless, odorless
- No soot or ash, no messy clean-up
- Non-polluting
- Only gives off water vapor and CO2

I love the idea of staying warm in style, because sometimes, even summer nights can feel chilly. Here’s a roundup of the more popular models -

Forget about candles and other table top accents to add ambiance. The Lexington Anywhere Fireplace brings you all the tabletop elegance you are looking for with its distinctive shape, high gloss white finish and its real flames. Enjoy the ambiance of a real fire but without the hassle of smoke, melting wax, soot, ash, smell etc. Use it on the dinner table, a low patio table, or a coffee table. This unit is slightly too small for a patio set, but I love the versatility from outdoor to indoor. SHOP.CA Price: $149.99 (more…)

If there is one meal I am very familiar with, it’s the good ol’ Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

You see, when pregnant with my first, it was the only craving I had for nine. solid. months. I can look back on it now and laugh, but the truth is, I was quite obsessed back then. It went something like this:

I first started craving grilled cheese sandwiches shortly after my morning sickness ended, at about 13 weeks. At first, I’d go the traditional route: adding one slice of processed cheese to two slices of white bread (Dempster’s Stays Fresh White Bread, of course). I’ll grill the sandwich in a buttered pan until the bread was crispy and the cheese was ooey-gooey.

I soon realized that a grilled cheese sandwich was my breakfast of choice, but curiously, on days I opted for fruit or eggs, I felt an irrational need to have a grilled cheese at snack time or before bedtime. I suppose the irrational need could be called a “craving”.

As my pregnancy progressed, I started experimenting; I began trying different cheeses (cheddar, provolone, Monterrey jack and Swiss were among my faves), and introduced complementary ingredients such as sliced apples, crisp bacon and avocado. I was still grilling up the sandwiches, but now I had switched to a fabulous panini grill, reasoning that if I was going to indulge, I might as well do it right.

(Above images courtesy of Dempsters; Smoky Bacon and Apple Grilled Cheese and Pizza Grilled Cheese.)

By the eighth month, I could no longer wait for the panini grill to heat up. I had resorted to nuking cheap, store-brand cheese between 2 slices of white bread for 30 seconds in the microwave. Yes, it got ugly.

Miraculously, after I gave birth to Ryder, my insatiable desire for grilled cheese sandwiches instantly disappeared. To tell the truth, I can count on one hand how many times I’ve had one since – I guess you can say that 276 days straight of eating grilled cheese sandwiches has likely cured me of the habit for good.

However, I always remember to celebrate my most remarkable craving ever, and this year is no different: With National Grilled Cheese Day coming up on April 12th, Dempsters is celebrating with a #GrilledCheesePlease Twitter Party!

As always, there will be fabulous prizes up for grabs, including 8 x 6 month supplies of Dempster’s Bread (26 Dempster’s coupons), and 2 Prize Packs of ‘Grilled Cheese for a year’ (1 x Breville Panini Duo + 52 Dempster’s coupons + $50 grocery gift card). WOWZERS!!! (more…)

Years ago, when I first heard the term “Staycation”, I was confused. Why in the world would anyone want to vacation in their own hometown?, I wondered. Vacations were for jetting off to sunny destinations, packing your suitcases and leaving your cares behind. Obviously.

Of course, that was before I had children. And all of a sudden, the opportunities for jetting off to sunny destinations became few and far between, and I found myself caught up in an endless cycle of grocery shopping, mortgage payments and laundry. Oh, the neverending laundry.

But it was a wise person who once said change is as good as a holiday – and he was right, because any change or break in one’s usual routine is enough to revive the spirit. Hence, I quickly became a huge fan of the ol’ staycation, which allowed me to take a break from the mundane – all without leaving the city limits.

This past Easter weekend, our staycation adventures took us to the Park Hyatt Toronto. Nestled in the heart of the fashionable Yorkville area of Toronto, the hotel represents “an elite level of luxury marked by subtle contemporary influence.” And while one wouldn’t necessarily think to put the hotel at the top of the list for family staycations, please hear me out – because I’m about to show you why the Park Hyatt will always be at the top of our list.

Arriving at the hotel, we were greeted by a sight you can only see in Yorkville; a Cadillac Escalade, a Maserati and a Rolls Royce, all within a few feet of each other. Let’s just say I was thankful we had just been through a car wash with our decidedly mid-level SUV. (more…)

Growing up, our strict Catholic family celebrated Easter as all good Christians should – with church and chocolate.

(In that order, of course.)

However, when it came to the celebratory meal, there was no “Easter Feast” per se; we just ate what we normally ate, but on a slightly grander scale. Hence, sometimes my mom would make one of our favourite dishes, or she’d put out a larger spread of the regular foods we ate. But as traditions go, it was as simple as 1) go to church, and 2) eat lots of chocolate.

So when I married into an Austrian family, I was quite intrigued by their traditional Easter meal – a tradition that my husband has assured me has been carried on for as long as he can remember. It goes something like this:

Hard-boiled Easter eggs are carefully dyed and presented to the guests. This is the first food that makes it to your plate; traditionally, you’re supposed to crack the egg on your head for luck!

(more…)

It’s no secret that my family has been bitten by the travel bug. We’ve had the awesome opportunity to participate in many family adventures – so much so that we’ve started planning for our first bona fide vacation for the end of 2013.

(My, how far I’ve come since the first time I discussed family travel – where I was literally freaking out at the prospect! I guess it goes to show you that time spent together with your family always overshadows all the little worries.)

It’s also no secret that family travel is expensive.

Often, just the thought of the time, expenses and amount of planning involved can prevent families from taking a much-needed vacation. It’s tragic! Especially when you consider that there are resources available to help every family save for and select the perfect vacation.

Well, if you’re planning on getting away, great news! The TD Affordable Family Travel Guide provides simple tips and budgeting tactics that allow you to plan a great family vacation, without breaking the bank.

The first step to budgeting for family travel? Join us for the #TDFamilyTravel Twitter Party on Thursday April 25th from 9 to 10 pm EST. We’ll chat about your best advice for planning budget-friendly family travel and get tips from TD Canada Trust on how to budget, save and stretch your travel dollar further. (more…)

It seems like every day that passes by, someone puts out a new “Best of” or “Favourites” list for baby items. “Top 5″ this and “Top 10″ that. The trouble is, whom do you trust? What makes one product better than another – and good enough to outrank hundreds – sometimes thousands – of other products?

So here’s what you do. Step 1: Take a trusted brand such as Fisher-Price.

Step 2: Find their recommendations for babies. For instance, Fisher-Price Favourites include:

Ocean Wonders Aquarium
My Little Snugabunny Cradle N Swing
Infant to Toddler Rocker
SpaceSaver High Chair
Discover’n Grow Jumperoo

Step 3: Find out WHY they’re favourites. Too many times companies arbitrarily list products that are best sellers, or products they’d like to promote. Not the case here. These particular items are Fisher-Price favourites because:

- The toys have been tried & tested through the years, and year over year have been favourites of moms, not just in Canada, but globally.

- They have lasted through generations of kids, and continually pass, not only the “Dr. Alfano test”, but also the “kid test”!

- They encourage child development and support children in achieving important milestones.

I am proud to stand behind Fisher-Price’s Favourites and can vouch that many of the products were passed between both my boys, especially the beloved Jumperoo.

(We had the “Rainforest” version – and I must admit that Ryder was a little territorial when we first handed it down to baby brother Reid, pictured right.

It was one of the first baby items he had a sense “belonged” to him, and he became a little green with envy every time Reid bounced away happily. Sigh, the good old days!)

View the full list of Fisher-Price Favourites here. Do you have a Fisher-Price Favourite?

I am part of the Fisher-Price Play Ambassador program and I receive perks as part of my affiliation. 
The opinions on this blog are my own.

“Have you ever heard of imprinting?”

“Imprinting?” I repeated the unfamiliar word. “No. What’s that mean?”

“It’s one of those bizarre things we have to deal with. It doesn’t happen to everyone. In fact, it’s the rare exception, not the rule. Sam had heard all the stories by then, the stories we all used to think were legends…

… it’s not like love at first sight, really. It’s more like… gravity moves…. suddenly. It’s not the earth holding you here anymore, she does…. You become whatever she needs you to be, whether that’s a protector, or a lover, or a friend.”

―Jacob Black explaining the concept of imprinting to Bella Swan

If you’re a Twihard, or even if you’ve read The Twilight Saga just once, you’ll know about imprinting. It’s one of those supernatural things that is easily explained within the series; however, is completely fictional and could pretty much never happen in real life. Or so I thought.

Yes, I’m a happily married woman. But when I saw Devon yesterday, I swear I felt the earth move.

At first I tried to deny the attraction, walking briskly in the other direction. I fiddled with my hair; attempted small talk with my husband – anything to overthrow the connection I felt. The yearning. The burning. The desire.

Yet, I turned around. Truth be told, it was fruitless to resist – I knew in my heart that I had found him, as he had found me. The pull was just too strong to deny any longer… and within seconds, I was running away from my husband, my outstretched arms open with expectation until we were face to face. He was mine. He was coming home with me.

So, I gave in to the feeling completely, and bought him. Meet my new true love.

Have you ever imprinted on an object? That moment when you just had to buy something? Do tell!