Author: willowbrook3d

Make It Sweet

HOW SWEET IT IS…

Sweet. Sweeter. Sweetest. Whatever your level of sweet tooth or how much sugar you need to get your fix, we’ve got you covered.

Sweetest

For the super sweet tooth, why not build a candy sampler or sugar-fuelled charcuterie for an easy and oh-so-yummy dessert? Cover the basic candy food groups—gummy and sour—with a stop at Sweet Factory and pop into Purdys Chocolatier for your chocolate fix. Share with a special someone, or enjoy on your own (don’t worry, we won’t tell).

Sweeter

If the idea of a serving platter of candy and chocolate makes you want to eat some fresh fruit and call your dentist, then maybe baking a sweet blueberry orange marmalade muffin is more your vibe. Made with zesty gourmet marmalade this recipe is *chef’s kiss*.

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup milk + 2 tablespoons
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 4 tablespoons orange liqueur
  • 2 cups pastry flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 cup blueberry orange marmalade from Murchie’s Tea & Coffee

How to make it:

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a muffin tin with paper liners
  • In a large bowl mix the oil, sugar, eggs, orange zest and liqueur
  • Add in the flour, baking soda, baking powder and combine
  • Spoon two tablespoons of the batter into each muffin
  • Place a teaspoon of marmalade into each and then top with batter making sure there is enough batter to cover the marmalade. Be sure not to overfill the muffins or they may spill over the edge when baking.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until the tops of the muffins start to crack.
  • Enjoy with coffee, tea, milk, and warm butter, or more marmalade!

Sweet

If your sweet tooth is missing, fear not. There’s plenty of ways to enjoy chocolate in savoury dishes, too, but we think it’s hard to go wrong with a chocolate and beer BBQ sauce that goes great with ribs, chicken, brisket, or whatever’s on the grill.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 cup pale ale
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup chopped dark chocolate from Purdys Chocolatier

How to make it:

  • In a medium-sized pot over medium heat, combine olive oil and crushed garlic and cook until garlic becomes fragrant (about 30 seconds).
  • Whisk in the remaining ingredients except for the chocolate.
  • Simmer for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
  • Add chocolate and stir until completely melted.
  • Enjoy with assorted BBQ meats or use as a dip on the side.

Whatever your tastebuds prefer, enjoy your sweet (and savoury) treats and remember—save room for dessert!

Skincare Is In The Air

It might still technically be Summer for a little while longer, but that Fall feeling has arrived. As the temperature starts to cool, the days get a little shorter, and the kiddos head back to class, it’s a great time to turn the focus on yourself and your skin.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it definitely deserves some TLC. Beyond being a barrier it also helps regular temperature and protects us from the elements. But even the healthiest skin needs a little help.

Fall and Winter are notorious for dryer air. That, combined with turning on the heat indoors, can lead to dry, flaky, itchy skin. The solution? Exfoliate.

Regular exfoliating (with scrubs, chemical exfoliants, and dry brushing) not only helps to remove dead skin but can also help unclog your pores and encourage collagen production, which is the key to plump and glowing skin. Hit up Sephora or The Bay at Willowbrook for your essentials.

Now it’s time to moisturize. As cool weather sets in, look for a moisturizer that’s thick and gentle to lock in moisture without stripping your skin or smothering it in heavy oils. Remember to wash your hands before applying your products to avoid introducing and spreading bacteria around your face and body.

Just because the sun seems to have gone away doesn’t mean you can skip the sunblock. SPF is an essential skincare step, even in the winter. Invest in a purse-size bottle of SPF stick, like this one from Sephora, to keep in your purse for easy applications on the go.

Is there anything worse than chapped lips? Hardly. Protect your pout year-round with lip treatments like a nourishing lip mask or a gentle scrub to help exfoliate those pesky little flakes. And while some lip products may smell good enough to eat, resist the temptation. Licking your lips repeatedly can cause further dryness and irritation. Just let the balm do its job!

When in doubt, treat yourself and trust the experts! Book time for a massage or reflexology in our ToeToSoul Relax Lounge. The benefits of massage are extensive—relaxation, improved sleep, better circulation, to name a few—and there’s nothing like making time for yourself in a quiet and soothing space. Plus, the pros can make additional recommendations about what products to use at home and treatments that will benefit you.

No matter what your Fall fun times entail, with a few simple product swaps you’re sure to look and feel your best all season long.

Flower Field

You are invited to step into an immersive floral experience at Willowbrook Shopping Centre, one that will transport you into an oasis of sunflowers. Designed to spark joy for our guests, the surprise and delight floral moment will provide a unique picture-perfect experience for the whole family. Perfect for selfies, family portraits or simply immerse yourself into floral heaven.

In collaboration with Gunnar Floral, the initiative aims to celebrate our homegrown floral bounty by using seasonal blooms grown by local growers.

September 17 – 19

Flower Field is a FREE immersive experience

Located in the Nordstrom Rack / WINNERS corridor

*In accordance with BC’s PHO, masks are required when you’re visiting Willowbrook.

Searching For Your Signature Scent

They say that scent is the strongest link to memory. So when it comes to shopping for a perfume you want to make the right choice, create the right memory, and leave the right aroma behind. But how do you do that? Before you hit the amazing stores at Willowbrook such as Hudson’s Bay or Sephora, it’s important to understand how perfume works.

Fragrances are made up of a top note, middle note, and base note. The top note is the first thing you smell when you spray the product, but it also dissipates the fastest. When you’re testing a perfume, be sure to wait a few minutes and don’t judge a scent by your first sniff. Middle notes make up the bulk of the scent and tend to be the more dominant ingredient—as a result, it’s key that you like the middle note. Finally, your perfume has a base note, which doesn’t become apparent until about a half hour after you put it on, but this is the aroma that will stay with you throughout the day.

Are you a spicy vixen? A floral goddess? Knowing what type of scents you prefer, can make finding your trademark perfume easier. Perfumes typically fall into one of four categories—floral, citrus, spicy, or woody. Florals are commonly described as sweet. Not surprisingly, these are usually made up of flowers (duh) like rose, lavender, or violet. Citrus aromas like orange and lemon are thought of as being fresh, while spicy and woody options like vanilla, amber, musk, and patchouli are known to be warm and sultry.

When a scent speaks to you (or smells to you, we should say) give it a fair shot. Your individual body chemistry can impact how a scent wears. Test it out for several hours to get the full experience of all the notes and avoid wearing other scented products at the same time (like fragrant lotions or hair products) to prevent a nasal nightmare.

Experiment, enjoy, and happy sniffing!

What’s In Your Purse?

It’s easy for your purse to become a dumping ground of crumpled receipts, wrappers, and stale breath mints. But a well-packed bag can make your life easier. So, what essentials deserve a permanent spot in your purse? We’ve put together a list of life’s little necessities you’ll want to keep close.

First things first. When it comes to picking the ideal purse there’s a few to consider—do you like to be hands-free? Shoulder bag? Crossbody? Mini backpack? A big bag to hold everything or a tiny tote for keys and a credit card? It’s important to choose a bag that’s comfortable and practical, and of course, stylish. Nudes, beiges, and tan are totally trendy but can show wear and tear or scuff marks easily while black is a timeless option that’s sure to match your wardrobe through all seasons.

Pssst…find the season’s must-have purses and handbags at Aldo, Call It Spring, Hudson’s Bay, Nordstrom Rack, WINNERS, H&M and more.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a full glam gal or a bare minimum beauty, carrying a few essentials like a compact mirror, hair ties, bobby pins, lip balm, and a pair of tweezers can come in handy for a range of reasons. Refresh your look, pluck pesky stray hair, and give yourself a swift and simple hairstyle on the go with essentials from Sephora. Keep everything organized in an easy-to-reach clear makeup case from H&M so you know what you’ve got without having to turn your bag inside out.

Even on a cloudy day, you need good sunscreen, and you need to reapply it often. Keep a small tube in your bag to reapply regularly and treat your skin right. Or look for sunscreen sticks to make applying mess-free and reduce the risk of an accidental spill. Merle Norman Cosmetics has incredible SPF products that are made just for you!

Say it with us: band-aids. Even the comfiest shoes can cause the occasional blister after a long day, and there’s nothing worse than an unprotected paper cut or scrape, especially when we’re all using hand sanitizer on the regular. Keep a secret stash of band-aids tucked safely in your bag and thank us later. You can also get your shoes fitted perfectly at Willowbrook Shoe Repair!

Keys? Check. Wallet? Check. Phone? Dead. Don’t miss important calls and cute texts because of a dead battery. Keep a charging cable with you and a portable battery pack to stay charged on the go. Find them at The Source!

Take what you need, leave the rest, and keep it all together in a cute little bag.

Community Love at Toys R Us

Meet Danae! She is a grade seven graduate from Langley Fine Arts School. Danae and her friends Lauren and Addy decided they wanted to do something amazing for the end of their elementary school years. They decided to try and raise money to buy toys for the children at Ishtar House. They hosted many fundraising activities that led them to raise over $1200!

Danae reached out to Toys R Us to see whether or not they could offer a discount. Toys R Us not only gave her a discount, Geoffrey even offered to shop with her on her very own shopping spree while the store was closed. Geoffrey also donated $50 towards the toys.

Danae filled her vehicle with sports balls, sprinklers, dolls, trucks, crafts, LEGO, games, puzzles and many more things to help out.

We are so proud of Danae and her friends Lauren and Addy for putting kindness first and taking care of others.

The Best Chinese Food at Willowbrook

Hungry? Manchu Wok has got you covered. Offering a selection of quick and delicious Chinese food, the restaurant chain has called Willowbrook home for nearly 20 years, and we are so happy they’re here!

The offerings at Manchu Wok are unique. How unique? Great question. They offer such an array of options, in fact, that it’s possible to dine here daily, for a year, and never create the same combo twice. Think you’re going to try it out? Let us know how it goes!

The team at Manchu Wok at Willowbrook proudly serves tons of guests every day. They even say that replicating the delish dishes made in-centre is nearly impossible due to their irreplaceable, authentic recipes from the East. No other food name is as recognizable as Manchu Wok.

Pssst…their General Tso and Orange Chicken is literally food court heaven!

Think you’re the ultimate Manchu Wok foodie fan? Show off your loyalty with their Rewards Points! Every dollar spent at in-store earns you 10 points towards free food and beverages. Sounds yummy!

Come visit the Willowbrook Manchu Wok team to take advantage of free delivery and enjoy an authentic and delicious meal quickly, at your convenience!

Seeing Red (In A Good Way)

Whether you’re a makeup veteran or a newbie who’s learning the ropes, there’s one thing we can call agree on: it’s hard to compete with a bold red lip. Achieving that classic Hollywood look doesn’t have to be tricky, time-consuming, or require a ton of products.

It starts with the prep. The key to a smooth, even lipstick application is in how you prep your lips. Use a gentle sugar scrub to exfoliate and buff away any flaky skin, then put on a light coat of lip balm. Taking care of your lips, even when you’re not wearing lipstick, is a good step to incorporate into your routine and keeps your pout plump and looking fabulous.

When it comes to lipstick, your options are nearly limitless, especially at Willowbrook. But the wealth of variety can make it hard to choose. Knowing your undertones and shade range can help you find a red that’s flattering and compliments your features well.

The first step is to know your undertone—warm, cool, or neutral. If your veins look green or olive and gold jewellery looks more flattering against your skin, you likely have a warm undertone. Reach for an orangey-red or deep wine shade to bring out and maximize the natural warmth in your skin.

On the other hand, if your veins appear blue or purple and silver is more flattering against your skin, you’re likely a cool undertone. Try a blood-red or berry shade with blue tones for a bold, striking look.

Neither seems to fit you? You may have a neutral undertone, usually accompanied by blue-green veins. If that’s the case, you can’t go wrong with a tried-and-true classic red that’s absolutely timeless.

Are you a glossy gal? A matte babe? Lipsticks come in a variety of formulas and finishes, each with its own pros and cons. If you’re looking for a set it and forget it product, consider a liquid lipstick or matte finish which tends to hug the lips better. Gloss products and satin finishes provide more hydration and shine, but you might need touch-ups after eating and drinking. Whatever you choose, be sure to use a lip liner before applying products to help create definition, enhance the colour, and avoid product bleeding beyond the border of your lips.

Remember, lipstick wipes off. Experiment, enjoy, and as Coco Chanel once said, “If you’re sad, add more lipstick and attack.” Lipsticks are in abundance at Sephora, Hudson’s Bay and Merle Norman. Stop by and pick up your next best colour.

Willowbrook Shopping Centre
19705 Fraser Highway
Langley, BC V3A 7E9

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