Day Five Giveaway: Soothing Scandinave Spa

The holiday season is full of hustle and bustle.  From shopping for last-minute gifts, to rushing from party to party - it's easy to forget to take a moment for yourself and enjoy the season.

The Belles absolutely loved their day in Whistler at the Scandinave Spa.  The hydrotherapy worked a treat for us!  More recently, Sarah took her husband after writing a stressful exam and was amazed to watch the waters literally wash his stress away.

Sound incredible?  It is!  The Scandinave Spa is a perfect hideaway tucked in the Whistler & Blackcomb mountains.  There are hot baths, cold plunges, a eucalyptus steam room, a Finnish sauna and relaxation rooms galore!  We can't stress enough how beautiful and calming this unique spa is.  And now you can go!

Today's giveaway from Scandinave Spa is a bath pass for two people (valid Monday to Friday)!  You can head up to the mountains for a day trip with your significant other or best friend and watch your worries melt away.



It's a $116 value and here's how you can win:

'Like' Scandinave Spa on Facebook here
'Like' Wedding Belles on Facebook here
Watch the video and on BOTH business Facebook pages leave a comment answering:  What was your favorite moment of 'The Viking Bride'?

For more chances to enter you can:

 - Share the contest on your own Facebook page, tagging both names (2 extra ballots)
- Tweet the following on Twitter:  "I just entered to win a soothing sojourn at @ScandinaveWhis with the @WeddingBellesTV and you can too!  Details http://shawweddingbelles.blogspot.com/  (1 extra ballot)
- Leave a comment for the segment on our YouTube page (1 extra ballot)

The Contest Winner hereby acknowledges that they have granted permission for The Wedding Belles and “The Prize Company” to use the winners name, biographical information, and/or contest entry, in any media for any commercial or promotional purpose. Each person can have a maximum of 5 entries (Both Facebook Page Comments, Wedding Belles Share entry, Prize Company Share entry, Twitter entry and Youtube Comment). Prizes are non-transferable and have no cash value. The contest will run daily from December 12th , 2011 to December 31st 2011. Entries will be accepted from 12:00pm PST to 12:00pm PST the next day day.

Day Four Giveaway: FAB.U.LOUS at DuJour Boutique

It happens to all of us:  you get an invite for a fabulous party or wedding and RSVP 'yes' without hesitation.  Then panic strikes:  WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR?

We don't know about you, but us Belles both have a closet full of dresses that we've only worn once.  We spent the money, telling ourselves we'd wear it again - but have we?

What if there was a place that you could get a designer dress at the fraction of the cost and it would be totally fine that you only wore it once because you rented it?  Well there is!

DuJour Boutique is a Vancouver boutique that offers rental, yes rentals of FABULOUS gowns at a fraction of the price of buying a dress.  Ranging from $80 and up, you can pick out a dress, wear it to an event (you have it for three days - so you could have three events!) and return it.  Dujour's takes care of the cleaning bill so it's a truly hassle-free way to be fabulous and fashionable.

Sarah and Aubrey are wearing DuJour gowns

No more guilty glances at the closet and nightmares of credit card bills.

Today's giveaway?  A FREE dress rental!!!!  Absolutely perfect for a night on the town, a weekend wedding, or a fancy holiday dress party.


This could be yours (an $160 value) and here's how:

'Like' DuJour Boutique on Facebook here
'Like' Wedding Belles on Facebook here
Watch the video and on Both business Facebook pages leave a comment answering:  What was your favorite moment of 'Vowing Forever'? (starring two of Dujour's dresses)

For more chances to enter you can:

 - Share the contest on your own Facebook page, tagging both names (2 extra ballots)
- Tweet the following on Twitter:  "I just entered to win a FABULOUS dress rental from @Dujourboutique with the @WeddingBellesTV and you can too!  Details http://shawweddingbelles.blogspot.com/  (1 extra ballot)
- Leave a comment for the segment on our YouTube page (1 extra ballot)

The Contest Winner hereby acknowledges that they have granted permission for The Wedding Belles and “The Prize Company” to use the winners name, biographical information, and/or contest entry, in any media for any commercial or promotional purpose. Each person can have a maximum of 5 entries (Both Facebook Page Comments, Wedding Belles Share entry, Prize Company Share entry, Twitter entry and Youtube Comment). Prizes are non-transferable and have no cash value. The contest will run daily from December 12th , 2011 to December 31st 2011. Entries will be accepted from 12:00pm PST to 12:00pm PST the next day day.

Day Three Giveaway: Bella Bella Bella Gelateria!

If you know the Belles, you know they love bella Italia!  From Sarah's Tuscan wedding, to eating bowls of bolognese, to the sweetest Italian treat of them all:  GELATO!

Enter Bella Gelateria - Vancouver's answer to the best gelato this side of the Atlantic.  Situated at Burrard & Cordova, it happens to be right next door to the Shaw Tower where Sarah and Aubrey work.  It's very hard to resist a daily visit to the gelateria where all the flavors are made  daily using fresh ingredients from the Lower Mainland and a couple imports from the Amalfi Coast!




As you can see in this segment, it's easy to have a gelato-gasm!  And now, it's your chance to indulge in a sweet treat born out of Italy but bred in Vancouver.

Today's giveaway:  A custom gelato cake (think ice-cream cake but BETTER) perfect for your holiday parties, a bridal shower, or a night in with the girls!  On top of that, Bella Gelateria will give you a $25 gift certificate so you can eat 5 ice cream cones or take home gelato for your whole family or a great date night!

Grazie Bella Gelateria!

All this could be yours (an $85 value) and here's how:

'Like' Bella Gelateria on Facebook here
'Like' Wedding Belles on Facebook here
Watch the video and on BOTH business Facebook pages leave a comment answering:  What was your favorite moment of 'Eating Italian'?

For more chances to enter you can:

 - Share the contest on your own Facebook page, tagging both names (2 extra ballots)
- Tweet the following on Twitter:  "I just entered to win a molto delizioso gelato cake from @Bellagelateria with the @WeddingBellesTV and you can too!  Details http://shawweddingbelles.blogspot.com/  (1 extra ballot)
- Leave a comment for the segment on our YouTube page (1 extra ballot)

The Contest Winner hereby acknowledges that they have granted permission for The Wedding Belles and “The Prize Company” to use the winners name, biographical information, and/or contest entry, in any media for any commercial or promotional purpose. Each person can have a maximum of 5 entries (Both Facebook Page Comments, Wedding Belles Share entry, Prize Company Share entry, Twitter entry and Youtube Comment). Prizes are non-transferable and have no cash value. The contest will run daily from December 12th , 2011 to December 31st 2011. Entries will be accepted from 12:00pm PST to 12:00pm PST the next day day.

Day Two Giveaway: Eye-MAZING!

The New Year is always a good time to for new resolutions:  drink less coffee, exercise more, step away from the poutine . . .

But what about taking extra care of the windows to your soul?



Today's giveaway is ALL about making your eyes AMAZING! And it has two parts :)

Part One:  Mink Makeup Art is helping your peepers get extra flirty with 2 pairs of false eyelashes complete with glue, 2 MAC eyeshadows in 'Vex' & 'Mulch', and a tube of L'Oreal's Voluminous mascara (these make-up gal's favorite go-to for perfect lashes). 
We love these girls and their mobile beauty spa that comes right to your home making you perfect for your wedding day or a night out on the town!

Part Two:  Bombay Brow Bar is offering up some Bombshell Brows!  Sometimes we forget the brows, poor things, that are the frame to your windows.  With these amazing women, their two locations, complimentary chai tea and an eyebrow massage to boot - you will be rocking incredible brows in no time!

All this could be yours (an $85.76 value) and here's how:

'Like' Mink Makeup Art on Facebook here
'Like' Bombay Brow Bar on Facebook here
'Like' Wedding Belles on Facebook here
Watch the video and on ALL business Facebook pages leave a comment answering:  What was your favorite moment of 'Kim Kadashian Eyes'?

For more chances to enter you can:

 - Share the contest on your own Facebook page, tagging both names (1 extra ballots)
- Tweet the following on Twitter:  "I just entered to win a glamorous eye package from @Bombaybrowbar and Mink Makeup Art with the @WeddingBellesTV and you can too!  Details http://shawweddingbelles.blogspot.com/  (1 extra ballot)
- Leave a comment for the segment on our YouTube page (2 extra ballots)

The Contest Winner hereby acknowledges that they have granted permission for The Wedding Belles and “The Prize Company” to use the winners name, biographical information, and/or contest entry, in any media for any commercial or promotional purpose. Each person can have a maximum of 5 entries (Both Facebook Page Comments, Wedding Belles Share entry, Prize Company Share entry, Twitter entry and Youtube Comment). Prizes are non-transferable and have no cash value. The contest will run daily from December 12th , 2011 to December 31st 2011. Entries will be accepted from 12:00pm PST to 12:00pm PST the next day day.

Day One Giveaway: Elsa Corsi Sparkles up Eight Crazy Nights

One of our favorite gals about town, Elsa Corsi is always dazzling us with her pretty sparkles.  Elsa believes that life always deserves a bit of sparkle and we couldn't agree more.

Sarah's custom wedding necklace and earrings

We are huge fans of all of her work and love to wear her jewels whenever possible.   And you can too!
Elsa is giving away two pairs of Christmas themed teardrop earrings (one in red, one in green), a $130 value, to ONE lucky winner.



Here's how you can win:

'Like' Elsa Corsi on Facebook here
'Like' Wedding Belles on Facebook here
Watch the video and on BOTH business Facebook pages leave a comment answering:  What was your favorite moment of 'A Royal Wedding Party'?

For more chances to enter you can:

 - Share the contest on your own Facebook page, tagging both names (2 extra ballots)
- Tweet the following on Twitter:  "I just entered to win a sparkly pair of @Elsa_Corsi earrings with the @WeddingBellesTV and you can too!  Details http://shawweddingbelles.blogspot.com/  (1 extra ballot)
- Leave a comment for the segment on our YouTube page (1 extra ballot)

The Contest Winner hereby acknowledges that they have granted permission for The Wedding Belles and “The Prize Company” to use the winners name, biographical information, and/or contest entry, in any media for any commercial or promotional purpose. Each person can have a maximum of 5 entries (Both Facebook Page Comments, Wedding Belles Share entry, Prize Company Share entry, Twitter entry and Youtube Comment). Prizes are non-transferable and have no cash value. The contest will run daily from December 12th , 2011 to December 31st 2011. Entries will be accepted from 12:00pm PST to 12:00pm PST the next day day.

Urban Rush Recap on the Royal Wedding

Hmmm, perhaps this is a bit belated.  It seems like forever ago that we were at the Royal Wedding!  Such happy memories - everytime I think about it I smile!

And I continue to be a freak about all things Royal Wedding. I picked up the collector magazines at Chapters and I may have bought a Bobbie Brown shimmer brick because Kate uses it.




Our adorable fascinators are courtesy of the FABULOUS Miss Ruby Sue, 
the gorgeous bridesmaid (YES - bridesmaid!) dresses are thanks to Simple Silhouettes
and the tea cup bracelets are from Stay Gold Mary Rose

Royal Wedding Wrap Up

We just got home from an AMAZING time in London!  If you missed our updates, you can check them here: Real Weddings

I don't think I can stress enough how wonderful this experience was.

Firstly, London happens to be one of my favorite cities so I had a great time (IN THE SUN!!) catching up with friends, strolling through my favorite neighborhoods (and new ones!  Like Clapham Common), and sipping on Pimm's.

 

Then it was so fun to share this city with Aubrey who hasn't been since she was five.  I loved walking down the sunny sidewalk in Primrose Hill as Aubrey kept saying 'I landed in a fairytale!  This is a fairytale!"

And thirdly, the Royal Wedding.  Our overnight camping may not have been my brightest idea, but it definitely meant we were a mere 100 metres from the gates of Buck House.

I tell you though, nothing makes one feel less like a commoner that peeing in overflowing porta-potties while the Queen was sleeping in her cushy bead.

 Still, just seeing the newly married couple come around the Victoria Memorial and then kiss on the balcony really made me feel as if I was watching a fairytale coming to life.  Singing 'God Save the Queen' with thousands (millions?) of British folks waving their flags gave me goosebumps. I loved listening to the ceremony on loudspeaker and couldn't even hear the 'I Do's' because everyone around us was cheering.

I will remember where I was and how this made me feel - just like how my mum remembers Charles and Di.

But mostly, I loved how their wedding has tied in with my own.  I think I was extra emotional because I was reflecting on my own upcoming vows (also the exhaustion and hot sun was making me loopy).  I thought of Kate the night before and how she is like every other bride (well, the 70 million pound wedding makes her a tad different).  Just like all brides, she spent the night before excited about marrying the man she loves, giggling with her sister, and making sure all the last minute details were taken care of.

And although I may not have 2 billion people tuning in to my wedding or have a Royal carriage ride afterwards, I am like Kate in that I am marrying the man I love in my very own fairytale.

But the best part about our (Kate and mine's) fairytale, is that wedding is not the end - merely the beginning of a long and wonderful story.