Les Delices La Frenaie has five locations – east, west, south and Laval, so they’re easy to get to wherever you live. They have been a fixture in St-Leonard for years and you can find just about any kind of cake you could want.

Come here for: Bacio, Key Lime Cheesecake (15 others), Frutti di bosco, Dulce de Leche, Orange or Walnut pound cake (16 others), Limoncello, Heavenly Berry and Milky Way in 8″ or 10″ sizes (this can serve about 20). Some can be ordered 36 hours in advance for more than 20 people.

Sandra’s newest favorite is the understatedly named, Fruitcake. Imagine a Strawberry Shortcake made with an assortment of fresh fruit. It is light, whipped creamy, and not overly sweet.

The best deal is the apple, lemon, chocolate chip, or cinnamon marble cakes. I really like the amaretti biscotti. Trays of pizza (tomato, white, all dressed and vegetarian) can be ordered.

Locations:  8405  Lafrenaie at Jarry (514-324-8039); Rosemere, 199F Cure-Labelle (450-430-4222); 58A boul. Brunswick (514-542-4242) at boul. des Sources; 51 Westminster Ave N, Montreal-West (514-312-2253); 1276 Dollard, LaSalle (514- 363-8776); 8245 boul Taschereau, suite B12 Brossard (450-462-4000).
Regular Hours: Mon-Fri 6-5, Sat 6-2
www.lesdeliceslafrenaie.com

It never fails to surprise me how you can shop in discount stores in Montreal and get better, much better service than in regular retail stores. Jeans, Jeans, Jeans is the ultimate in service. To start with, if you drive there, they have always taken care of your parking (either paying for your meter or paying for a nearby lot) and now there is even a Car Jockey to park it for you!

At this outlet, looking at the huge selection of the latest brands and styles is overwhelming.   However, after you tell the knowledgeable sales team (who have been there for years) what kind of jeans you are looking for, they narrow the selection down for you – and bring it to your dressing room! No time is wasted as they will only select what you are looking for and before you know it, you are wearing the most comfortable jeans, in the style you want, in the color you want in exactly your correct size. They have brands which run 00-56. They know which ones will stretch afterwards and give you washing and drying instructions.

Next they take them over to their seamstress who will hem them for Free while you are putting your clothes on. Where are you ever going to get this kind of service in a mall?

And as if that wasn’t enough, the prices are always discounted. You can find a list of brands on my site:  http://smartshoppingmontreal.com/store.php?s=14  So gather your holiday gift money and head right here.

Location: 5575 Casgrain  H2T 1Y1
corner: St-Viateur
Tel: 514-279-3303
Hours: Mon-Wed 9:00-5, Thurs 9:00-9, Fri 9:00-6, Sat, Sun 9-4
As of Jan. 8th Closed Tuesdays
Metro Stop: Station Laurier / Station Rosemont
www.jeansjeansjeans.ca

Boxing Week is the time to head to Denim Kings to re-fresh your jeans department. Prices will be an extra 25%-60% off for:  Rudsak, Pajar, Moose Knuckles, Kuwalla Tee, Soia & Kyo, Arctic North, Vitaly, Levis, Kollar, G-Star Raw, Joe’s, one teaspoon, EPTM, Palladium, The Tribute…

Both sexes can add  sweaters, boots, coats and accessories to their wardrobes and these reduced prices.

Location: 8575 St-Laurent, Montreal H2P 2M9 / Click for map 
corner: de Liege
Tel: 514-750-3288
Dates: Sept 28 – Oct 8, 2017
Hours: Mon-Wed 11-6, Thurs & Fri 11-8, Sat 11-5, Sun 12-5
Metro: Station Cremazie
www.denimkings.com

JRC toy warehouse is  open to the public until Xmas Eve (3pm) with their toy liquidation sale. This is your last chance to grab something for the holiday and take advantage of their incredible deals of up to 70% off on all kinds of toys.

Name brands from Alex Toys, Barbie, Crayola, Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Hot Wheels, Leap Frog, Lego, Little Tikes, Mattel, Mega Bloks, Melissa & Doug, Playskool, Spinmaster, Step 2, The Orb Factory and VTech.

Books are only $1 & up.

They accept debit, Visa Mastercard, but no cheques. There will be no exchanges or refunds, as all sales are final.

Location: 5589 Royalmount
corner: Chemin Devonshire
Metro: Station de la Savanne
Google Map: http://bit.ly/1RUJlsh
Tel: 514-342-6979
Times: Sat -Wed 10-5, Thurs & Fri 10-8 and Christmas Eve 10-3 (Oct closed Mon & tues)
www.jrctoys.com
email: info@jrctoys.com

For anyone, a cool gift might be the “upside-down” umbrella which closes without water dripping on you or your car. There’s a big display of everything lavender. You can always buy Montreal’s favorite humbugs (now in different flavors), or someone might enjoy their own 5-year-old cheddar or their homemade fudge.

Le Panier won the title of best gift store in Canada so this store worth a trip from anywhere. The huge shop is chock full of gourmet food, kitchenware,  and gifts at prices mostly under $25. You will not walk out empty-handed when you can choose amongst the jewelry, jams, hot sauces, kitchen gadgets, wearables and much, much more

If you can’t decide, there are ready-made gift baskets or custom-made ones too.

Here’s some ideas:

Michael Design – shea butter soaps, handwash and lotions

Wine Bag Totes – Carry the wine in an insulated pretty handbag

Louis Sherry New York chocolates – in beautiful keepable metallic tin boxes

Mighty Mug – This mug won’t fall over – EVER – can be used near a keyboard without worries. $19.99

Grumpy Butcher’s Maple Bacon – Hand made here in Montreal  in small batches from local Quebec pork farmers

Mike’s Hot Honey – Spice up all kinds of food $14.99

Wrendale pottery –  adorable mugs with kittens, owls, ducks,

Big selection of teapots  

Willow Tree Figurines    

Location: 274 Bord du Lac, Pointe Claire
corner: de Lourdes
Tel: 514-695-7038
Hours: Regular plus Sun 10-5
www.thepanier.com

Paradis du Maillot is a bathing suit treasure trove. A one stop shop for the whole family. This time of year it is hard to find a new suit that you might need for traveling south or a winter getaway. This is the shop to head to with thousands of the latest designer swimwear and bathing suit styles stocked for men, women (full-figure too) and children, at liquidation prices.

Women dread trying on bathing suits but they make it easier here. You can select 20 or so and go into their air-vented, large-mirrored try-on rooms to find the ones that look best and suit your personal style (ladies 6-32).

Suits from all over the world – David from Italy, Nygard, Tyr, Calvin Klein, Bikini Bay, Baku, Sunseeker (bra up to EFG), Diva, Alia, Gottex, Speedo – are there to compliment all body types.

For beach side, poolside or for execise, Paradise Swimwear men will find their favorite board shorts and European style above-the-knee trunks and Burnside brand. You’ll find children’s fashion and competition swimwear at the lowest prices from top brands like Speedo, TYR, Quiksilver.

Beach accessories can make your time on the beach or poolside more enjoyable: snorkels, masks, thongs, flip flops, sunglasses and towels are all there to add fashionable style and functionality.

Location: 9800 St-Laurent Blvd, Montreal H3L 2N3
corner: Sauvé
Tel: 514-389-2032
Hours: Regular plus Sun 10-5
Metro: Station Cremazie, Station Sauve
www.paradisdumaillot.ca

Tapis Decor Chantilly makes it easy to update your home. They will just come to you with their free shop-at-home service. Just put your feet up, have a coffee and await their arrival. It’s that easy.

Open since 1983, they offer one-stop decor shopping for both home and office, in one location, at competitive prices. For flooring, they sell the gamut from carpets to laminate floors, solid hardwood to engineered wood, linoleum and marmoleum, as well as PVC strip wood and tiles. They also carry a huge array of window coverings from well-know manufacturers, custom-made drapes and bedding, wall coverings, ceramics and more. They supply and install all of their products; their installers are certified and experienced, and they are RBQ licensed.

Sit back and let their in-house designers walk you through every step, or feel free to go in with your own designer.

– Carpets: Wall to wall, area rugs and runners, in all shapes and custom sizes for residential or commercial, in wool or synthetic, from Shaw, Mohawk, Beaulieu, Couristan, Momeni, Louis de Poortere and others.

– Blinds and Window Coverings: High end custom window coverings from such well-known brands as Hunter Douglas, Maxxmar, Altex, Faber, Shade-O-Matic and more. Since they are a Hunter Douglas Dealer Select company, they can offer the most competitive prices. They can cover any size or shape window. Custom cover your windows with sheers, drapes and swags. If you need them, they sell motorized blinds and black-out coverings.

– Flooring: Laminate floors from names like Alloc and Kronotex. Marmoleum sheet goods are anti-bacterial and perfect for health care or just for healthy environments. Expect a huge array of vinyl tiles such as Armstrong and Amtico, LSI and Centiva, Mondo tiles and Plynyl woven flooring. There are all kinds of special rubber, which is perfect for your home gym or recreation center. From materials for computer rooms (anti-static), lobbies, corridors, elevators, bars, airplanes or any other application, it’s all here.

– Fabric: They carry the extensive lines of Robert Allen, Kravet, Joanne, Rosedale, Avant-garde and more, in silks, satins, velvets, chenilles, leathers or other types of fabric.They employ their own seamstresses and upholsterers to create decorative valences, headboards, draperies or other ideas you may have.

So chill. Head over to Tapis Decor Chantilly and let them take all the stress out of your home re-do project.

Location: 707 Lucerne (corner Jean-Talon)
Tel: 514-388-6060
www.decorchantilly.com

If you want to look your best, step out in comfort, fashion in a stylish, refined look, you should be aiming at hand-crafted custom suits and shirts. The Tailored Man is a family owned business, where the customer is always the priority so you can always expect an immeasurable amount of attention to craftsmanship and detail.

Here’s something you might not have known: They can reproduce clothing you might have seen in your favorite fashion magazine or duplicate an old favorite.

Take advantage of a $50 Holiday Gift Credit -With purchase of $100 or more (Used at point of sale)

Current Tour Specials : Custom suits starting at $500US, custom shirts starting at $70US, 6 shirt packages starting at $350. or how about a 2 suits and 3 shirts package: $1,150. Prices include duty and postage.

“When you wear individually tailored clothes you need individual attention”   Thus they work by appointment only.
Make your appointment here

To make a personal appointment: 866-751-7868 or 647-989-0555 or www.tailoredman.com/appointment. To be added to their mailing list: goodfit@tailoredman.com.

Locations and Dates: Sat Dec 16, Sun Dec 17 : Sheraton Laval, 2440 Autoroute Des Laurentides, Laval;
Mon Dec 18: Le Centre Sheraton, 1202 Blvd Rene – Levesque West, Google Maps: http://bit.ly/1RCB
Tel: 866-751-7868 or 647-989-0555
www.tailoredman.com
goodfit@tailoredman.com

If you’re looking for sleek, sophisticated women’s fashion to be holiday ready, head over to Raffinalla’s pre-boxing day sale.

Don’t miss their special of the week, get back to basics, with solid colored slim leggings in premium cotton spandex®.The mid rise tummy tuck and stretch fabric ensure a comfort fit and the wide, smooth waistband is designed to eliminate muffin top,  giving you an amazing sleek silhouette. Perfectly comfy, pair them with boots, flats and your favorite tops. Such an versatile staple for your wardrobe, a must-have at $40; You’re going to want more than one color.

With discounts of up to 80% off snag selected well-tailored, contemporary sportswear, pants, coats, belts and scarves. Save even bigger in their liquidation room with tops, pants, skirts at $35 to $50.

Location: 9200 Meilleur, suite 400
corner: Chabanel
Phone: 514-327-4477, 514-979-4764
Dates: Wed – Sun, Dec 13 – 17, 2017
(sale continues to Dec 22, closed on Mon Dec 18)
Hours: 10-5
Metro: Station Cremazie, Bus 146
raffinalla.com