Vitamin Daily

Planning a family holiday with lots of day trips? Here are three packable items that allow you to be prepared, without the bulk.

Hershel’s new Packables range allows you to travel with a variety of bag options. Featuring a duffle, daypack, or tote that all fit into a small pouch, you can whip them out before a day of sightseeing, or at the airport when you’ve stocked up on wine from the duty free. From $9.99 at Herschel.

If you prefer packing your own meals on holiday, Lunchskins are the perfect companion. The reusable snack bags mean you can travel light, but with the equivalent of 20 tupperwares. They can hold fruit, sandwiches, or treats, and are easy to rinse out in a hotel room. From $8.49 at Rasberry Kids.

The nostalgic Claude Klassic K-Way is a reminder of when we were kids and proudly wore our parka tucked into a little bag around our waist. Featuring a variety of prints and a size range from 12 months to teens, this is an absolute must-have when you are out and about anywhere that might greet you with a downpour (Vancouver, ahem!) $54 at K-Way. http://k-way.ca

—Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

The spectacle of summer, (with a killer Jay-Z produced soundtrack to match), The Great Gatsby is Baz Luhrman’s technicolor take on the classic American novel. Herewith, our favourite Roaring Twenties-inspired pieces.

Summer weddings will be awash in head pieces, we predict. Make sure to pair with loose pin curled hair and a convertible roadster. $281 on Etsy.

The Twenties also marked the rise of the painted face: smokey eyes, rosy cheeks and bold brows and upper lips were all the rage. MAC's Veluxe Brow Liner ($23), the sophisticated Dame blush ($25) and palette of bright shadows like Contrast (purplish blue) and Humid (dark green with shimmer) will have you looking very Daisy Buchanan.

For a touch of jazz, the sparkly Ireland clutch ($35) and T-strap Elva heels ($90) from Aldo fit for a night out on the town.

Drop waists aren't for everyone and tassels don’t work at the office, but these 18K rose gold, diamond and white agate earrings feel classic, but never go out of style. $2,250 at Birks.

He may not have Leo’s matinee idol face, but even the dude-iest of boys would look dapper in this Pink Strip Linen Jacket ($698) from Brooks Brothers’ The Great Gatsby Collection.

For brooding by a big picture window overlooking your estate, slip into this silk, bias-cut gown Long Luxe Gown ($310) from Vancouver's own Christine Lingerie. At Holt Renfrew in the fall.

Prohibition is history, but long live forbidden cocktails! We’ll be serving up Southsides (gin, lime, mint and simple syrup) in this sophisticated Lady Diamond Pitcher ($49). For total authenticity, consult this Vintage Cocktails book ($50). Both at The Cross Décor and Design.

Yes, Zurich's clean, organized and easy to get around – but there's plenty of creativity to go around, too. Try these stops on your next visit to Switzerland's financial capital.

pack

Switzerland ain't cheap, so why pay for bottled water? Make sure to bring a purse-size bottle to refill in one of the city's more than 1,200 stylish fountains featuring the city's very drinkable water. (The exception? Any fountains marked with the sign "kein trinkwasser", which we in fact never spotted.)

eat

To the Swiss, fondue's a winter food, but we say tourists get to break the rules. Head to Le Dézaley to get your fix and sample other local specialities like rösti (potato pancakes), spätli (dumplings) and Vaudois sausage.

shop

Look for souvenirs with class at Schweizer Heimatwerk, which sells its selection of high-quality goods – think jewellery, home decor items and kids' wooden toys – both in the old town and at the airport. Off the beaten path, head to West Zurich's Viadukt shopping centre, a reclaimed area nestled in the arches of a working 19th-century rail viaduct, for more offbeat retailers; around the corner, stop by Frau Gerolds Garten to browse through several cute clothing boutiques.

drink

Thursday evenings, take a 90-minute city tour in a classic tram complete with wine or champagne and snacks on the Apéritif Tram, which makes its way past some of the city's top sights. The rest of the week, head up early to beat the crowds to the Jules Verne bar with its panoramic views of the cityscape.

discover

Pick up a 24- or 72-hour Zürich Card for unlimited access to the city's beyond-amazing transit system – that means trams, trains, buses, boats and even the cable car – plus free access to most museums and discounted city tours. Don't miss a guided walk around the historic and well-preserved Old Town.

—Kat Tancock

Move over BB, we’re into CC now.

We admit that to anyone but beauty enthusiasts, this sentence must sound like gibberish, but long-time readers will know that we love a product that multitasks. Short for ‘Complexion Corrector,’ the Almay CC Cream is packed with complexion improving ingredients, while conveniently providing coverage with one product. Unlike its predecessor BB, CC can be thought of as more of a skincare product, rather than a makeup one. Almay’s brand new Smart Shade CC Cream does the trick without having to spend a fortune on multiple products.

Wear alone for a light summer cover up nad you've got this season's minimal trend covered. —Anya Georgijevic

$16.95 at London Drugs and Shoppers Drug Mart.

As far as fashion team-ups go, there are few that we'd actually line up for, and none that we'd camp out for.

But the Virginia Johnson for J.Crew collaboration definitely has us excited. It's the perfect summer tote – bright, whimsical and quintessential Virginia.

I've got my sights on the lobster print, inspired by Johnson's trip to Cape Cod. The emerald green will go nicely with my coral pink Virginia Johnson scarf.

Another prefect match. No lineups necessary. —Athena Tsavliris

$180 online at www.jcrew.com

In my teens and early 20s I'd lather myself in olive oil and fry in the Med sun like saganaki on a grill. It's never too late to smarten up, and these days I'll always forfeit an Aphrodite tan for better skin.

Herewith, my three favourite sunscreens:

I swear by Coola and in the summer months particularly, there is always a tube in my bag. If you're all about mineral filter sunscreens, this is the one for you. Tip: the unscented version applies best. www.coolasuncare.com

Skinceuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50 is another frontrunner. It's lightweight, paraben free, applies beautifully and performs wonders on oily skin.http://www.skinceuticals.com

The sunscreens from Toronto's Pure and Simple only use natural ingredients and help reduce the signs of premature aging. I'm a big fan of most of their products and the sunscreen is no exception. www.pureandsimple.ca

Now all we need is non-stop sunshine. Come on you sun goddesses, pray with us.

—Athena Tsavliris

We secretly think there's only one thing moms want for Mother's Day - more hours in the day. And we would definitely spend part of that time reading these stellar Canadian parenting blogs.

With a tagline like “Not potty trained. Not trying” the Honest Toddler makes our kids look like angels. This Canadian toddler’s reflections on life makes us want to both laugh and cry. “Funny how after 10 p.m. asking for a sip of water is on the same level as attempted murder.” Indeed.

Sweet Potato Chronicles is a blog about family food, created by a pair of ex-FASHION magazine staffers, Ceri Marsh and Laura Keogh. Expect healthy recipes that are designed for modern families (read: quick and uncomplicated), information about food trends, and lots of cookbook giveaways. 

Mama. Papa. Bubba: It’s a love/hate (OK, envy) thing with “Mama” Jen Kossowan because she seems to have a talent for preparing extraordinarily healthy, fun food and activities for her “bubba” Gracen. We still can't figure out how she manages to get that much kale into her daughter, but we're hooked on the great crafts and recipes.

Regressive Parenting describes itself as a blog about “Detachment parenting in an attachment age” and is one of the most honest parenting sites we’ve found to date. Penned by two mothers who share a love of wine, they remind us about the realities of having kids and dole out real advice like “Stay away from the Babycenter.com message boards.”  Sadly, the blog is not updated regularly but you’ll find some gems on Twitter @RegressiveMama: Have you met kids? They are not for everyone.

The Thirties Grind: Melissa Carr is best known for her Absurd Vancouver Properties of the Week, but as a mom, she also covers a lot of parenting issues. Expect some debate in the comments section as she tackles issues like childhood allergies or childcare, and her The REAL Real Housewives of Vancouver profiles local women that bear little resemblance to the ones in the show (and have a lot less plastic surgery).

Reasons Mommy Drinks is recently back from a book writing hiatus (expect a launch this fall.) An exploration of the reasons why parents resort to alcohol, this blog not only provides hilarious articles lamenting things like the thousands of dollars we spend on baby carrying devices (carriers, strollers, and car seats) but also provides recipes for cocktails to get us through each day. And we smile at the reminders that all parents make mistakes: “The Park: she forgot to pack your hat, which according to The Unspoken Rules of Parenting is the equivalent of leaving you outside naked in a snowstorm."

Happy Mother's Day from the VitaminDaily.com team!

Prologue [proh-lawg, -log] noun, verb: a preface or introductory part of a discourse, poem, or novel.

It’s this kind of philosophical approach that the owners of Prologue Lifestyle have infused into their airy new spa boutique on King East.

Bay Street boys and girls flock to the sweeping space for pampering that includes waterless foot treatments, organic facials and post board meeting neck and shoulder massages. The attention to detail is impeccable: iPads in lieu of magazines, leather club chairs, medical-grade sterilizing and a sleek wine bar stocked with Niagara vintages. There’s also a thoughtfully curated selection of hard-to-find skincare lines like New Zealand’s Nellie Tier and Sweden’s Recipe for Men.

After a soothing Plantae Facial ($105) we finished our own discourse with a cool glass of Angels Gate Riesling. We just love a happy ending. -Marianne Wisenthal

Prologue Lifestyle, 322 King St. E., Toronto, 416-815-9888, www.prologuelifestyle.com

Skip the glitz and glam of Rodeo Drive, and hit up some of Los Angeles’ cooler spots.

stay

Located just below the picturesque West Hollywood hills and five minutes from the notorious Chateau Marmont, Andaz Hotel’s rooftop swimming pool and its indie soundtrack will put you in the right mood to feel like a hip Angeleno. 8401 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA, 323-656-1234, www.westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com

drink

Forget Britney Spears and her bottomless Starbucks, the best coffee in Los Angeles is in Silver Lake. Everyone drinking and working at Intelligentsia look like they belong in some cool band about to make it big. Who knows? Maybe they are. 3922 West Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 323-663-6173, www.intelligentsiacoffee.com

listen

Silver Lakers take their vinyl very seriously. As does Vacation, the neighbourhood’s acclaimed record store. Whether you are looking for original pressings of Smiths albums or the new Kurt Vile record, they’ll likely have it. 3815 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 323-666-2111, http://vacationvinyl.com

eat

From Silver Lake, head over to the equally happening Echo Park, and stop by Mohawk Bend to taste one (or two or three) of their 72 local craft beers. This gorgeously retrofitted 100-year-old Vaudeville theatre also features modern pub fare using the finest local ingredients. 2141 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 213-483-2337, http://mohawk.la

read

Echo Park is home to writer Dave Eggers, who is also one of the directors of 826LA, a non-profit kids’ writing centre. This adorable place is also home to The Time Travel Mart, where you can pick up the 826LA’s publications like From the Couch to the Kitchen, a cookbook written by high school students, as well as sharp-witted knick-knacks. 1714 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 213-413-3388, http://826la.org

drink more

Over on Mid Wilshire, you’ll find the painfully hip Pour Vous. From PYTs to older distinguished types (and we hear Robert Pattinson), this speakeasy features Parisian-inspired cocktails that will quickly go to your head, while you watch trapeze burlesque artists perform to moody Lana Del Rey songs. 5574 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 323-871-8699, http://pourvousla.com

—Anya Georgijevic

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and a bouquet of colourful blooms is a sure bet come Sunday.

And Toronto's own bi-monthly outdoor flower market is open just in time for mom's big day. Freshly cut tulips or a potted begonia sourced from local greenhouses for her, and why not pick up a pink hydrangea for yourself?

There's plenty of pretty stems for everyone. —Athena Tsavliris

May 11, June 8, July 13,  August 10, and September 14, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., 99 Sudbury St.,, torontoflowermarket.ca