Welcome to The Winter 2024 Jilly Box!
Valued at Over $450
The theme of this season’s Jilly Box is ‘Celebration’ to commemorate our 5-year anniversary! That’s right, it’s The Jilly Box’s birthday!! Can you believe it?! Our first box was a winter box in 2019, and gosh, I remember that day so well… but that’s a story for the end of this magazine. When the team and I were planning this box, I really wanted it to be about throwing a festive party that had a Parisian and vintage feel with items that felt elevated and refined with a splash of colour.
I love to throw a festive party, and putting this box together brought me back to my childhood, when I used to have a pink Christmas tree with lots of bows and ribbons, including iridescent decorations.
I know there are a lot of celebrations and parties this time of year, so I hope this box adds a fun element to your next party! Thank you all for supporting The Jilly Box over the last five years!
Giving Back With The Jilly Box
Every season, we are proud to contribute $2 CAD per box sold to support causes that are near and dear to our hearts. With the sales of The Winter 2024 Jilly Box, we were able to support these two amazing organizations! Thank you for your contribution!
THE KELOWNA WOMEN’S SHELTER
The Kelowna Women’s Shelter’s mission is to help women and children live in safe and equitable communities free from abuse. They have been offering safe emergency accommodation and essentials such as food, clothing and toiletries for women and their children who have experienced domestic abuse since 1980.
@kelownawomensshelter kelownawomensshelter.com
RAISING THE ROOF
For over 26 years Raising the Roof has been leading the way on long-term solutions to homelessness across Canada through the creation of affordable housing, employment opportunities for people at risk of homelessness, and fundraising through their annual Toque Campaign.
@raisingtheroofcanada raisingtheroof.org
Did You Know?
3 9 4 16 14 INSIDE YOUR WINTER 2024 JILLY BOX of the products are made in Canada of the brands are eco-friendly of the brands are plastic waste-free of the brands are Canadian-owned of the brands are women-owned
Unbox with Jilly!
I am so excited for you to unbox your Jilly Box with me! Let me guide you through this season’s box and explain why I love these items so much!
You will find a QR code sticker holding your beautiful Jilly Box tissue paper in place when you first open your Jilly Box. All you need to do is scan that QR code with your phone to bring your unboxing experience to life. Not sure what I mean?
Follow these 4 steps to watch my unboxing video:
1. Open the camera on your phone.
2. Hover your camera over the QR code either here in the magazine or on the sticker holding your tissue in place.
3. Open the link to the video.
4. Press play, and let’s unbox The Winter 2024 Jilly Box together!
I’m not normally a cake lover but my mom’s chocolate cake is my FAVOURITE! I could easily eat the whole cake!! Since this box is all about celebration I thought it would be fun to include a cake recipe that truly anyone would love. I promise, this will be the talk of the town!
You can also find this recipe in my Fraiche Food, Full Hearts cookbook on page 260! I swapped the chocolate icing for vanilla to be extra creative with the colour scheme!
Cake Celebration Ingredients
For the cake:
2 cups (500mL) sugar
2 cups (500mL) all-purpose flour
1 cup (250mL) Dutch dark cocoa powder
2 teaspoons (10mL) baking soda
½ teaspoon (2mL) salt
2 eggs
2 cups (500mL) water
⅓ cup (75mL) avocado oil or vegetable oil
2 tablespoons (30mL) mayonnaise
2 teaspoons (10mL) pure vanilla extract
For the icing:
½ cup (125mL) butter, at room temperature
2 cups (500mL) icing sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon (5mL) pure vanilla extract (or pure almond extract)
1 to 2 tablespoons (15-30mL) almond milk (unsweetened)
Note: In the cookbook we added ⅓ cup (75mL) Dutch-processed dark cocoa powder, sifted to make this a chocolate icing.
Serves: 10-12
This recipe makes one 8-inch (20cm) round two-layer cake
For the cake:
Preheat the oven to 350F (180C). Grease and flour two 8-inch (20cm) round cake pans.
In a large bowl, sift together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, water, avocado oil, mayonnaise, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk together to combine.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean, 3540 minutes. Let cool in the pans on a rack for 10 minutes before turning the cakes out onto the rack to cool completely.
For the icing:
In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, cream the butter. Add the icing sugar, cocoa powder (see note in icing ingredients), and almond extract and beat well. Add the almond milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until the icing is smooth, spreadable consistency.
Putting it together:
Once the cakes are completely cool, level off the tops, if needed, with a sharp bread knife, holding it as straight as possible horizontally to create 2 even cake layers.
Place one layer on a cake pedestal or cake plate. Evenly spread ½ cup of the icing on top of the cake layer. Place the other cake layer cut side down on top of the iced layer and carefully spread the remaining icing over the cake using a knife or thin metal spatula. If you want to add piping to your cake, I suggest separating the icing into different bowls depending on how many colours you want then add food dye and add the icing to your piping bag!
Store covered at room temperature for two
Directions Ingredients
The Party Starts Now!
THE CROSS
Pâtisserie Cake Plate
$50 cad
Did you know that I have a collection of cake stands?! I’m OBSESSED! I love that a cake stand can be used in so many ways. I use it for cake and desserts, of course, but I also use it for decor and to fill a space with dimension. It was important for me to fit a normal sized cake stand in this box and The Jilly Box team was able to make that happen!! So, this white porcelain cake stand is 10” in diameter with a fluted base. I know so many of you will be baking this holiday season and I hope you put your baked goodies on this cake plate!
@thecrossdesign thecrossdesign.com
Bow Stud Earrings
$95 cad
As part of our celebratory theme for this box, I wanted to make sure we included bows! Bows really remind me of my childhood, and I love finding ways to rediscover my inner child. These eyecatching bow-shaped studs are designed with a pavé application with white cubic zirconia. The design is modern and feminine, perfect for taking you from day to night!
@hillbergandberk hillbergandberk.com
HILLBERG & BERK
MINORI
Champagne Cream Highlighter
$43 cad
You might have seen me use this product before because I have been testing it for two years and absolutely love it!! I use The Minori Cream Highlighter on the bridge of my nose and cheekbones, but I have also used it for eyeshadow. Such a great multi-use product! Made to look beautiful on all skin tones, this highlighter has the perfect creamy formula that blends effortlessly into skin without smudging your other products. Minori is plastic-negative certified through rePurpose Global.
@minoribeauty minoribeauty.com
HOHM AND CO
Rechargeable Candle Lighter
$25 cad
I’m always looking for ways to elevate everyday items, and when the team presented me with this USB rechargeable candle lighter, we knew all of you needed one! Think of it as your new way to wow your guests at your next party as I bet most people haven’t seen a lighter as cool as this one. This lighter is electric and rechargeable with its USB functionality. Simply hold the button down, illuminate the electric current, touch the current to your candle, and it will light!
@hohmandcocollective hohmandco.com
OLF
Hand-Frayed Ribbon | Set of 3
$62 cad
Would you believe me if I told you that all of you holding this product right now are holding handdyed and hand-frayed ribbon made in Canada?! Crazy, right?! I’m so impressed with the OLF team for creating all of these beautiful ribbons. These are super luxurious and can be used in so many ways. You can put them on your wreath, around the stem of champagne glasses, around a cake stand, on your Christmas tree, in your hair for a cute holiday look, and so much more! The options are truly endless!!
@shop_olf olfette.com
JENNA RAE CAKES
Jilly Mix Sprinkles
$21 cad
I have something to admit to all of you… I have a drawer FULL of sprinkles! I love them and think they are the perfect way to elevate cakes and cupcakes. I was first introduced to the amazing twin duo at Jenna Rae Cakes when I did my cookbook tour in Winnipeg and fell in love with Jenna and Ashley and their brand. I’ve been looking for a fun way to collaborate with them, and this timing felt perfect. The teams at Jenna Rae Cakes and The Jilly Box and I got to make a custom mix of sprinkles for this Jilly Box, and they fit our celebration theme perfectly. I hope you top your next cake or cupcake with them!!
@jennaraecakes jennaraecakes.com
HALFPENNY POSTAGE
Greeting Card Set
$19 cad
There is always something so special about writing a card to someone you love or receiving one! Especially a ‘just because’ card. So much of what we say to each other is no longer in handwritten form, and I wanted to include beautifully designed cards that inspire you to write a ‘just because’ note to someone on your mind. These cards were designed by our Jilly Box team and are printed on responsibly sourced papers and sustainable-friendly inks. This set includes four gold foiled cards and four envelopes! So, send that good old fashion card to someone in your life!
@halfpennypostage halfpennypostage.com
SUGARJOY
Swedish Candy Mix
$8 cad
Candy is a must-have, and I’m so excited we have a custom Swedish candy mix in this box! If you know me, then you know I always have candy around: in a drawer by my bedside table, in the glove box of my car and, of course, a drawer in my kitchen! I love snacking on candy. There is so much you can do with it, like adding them to a cute cocktail or on the icing of your cake! This mix is made up of sour peach lips, sour watermelon, and sugar-coated strawberries! It’s the perfect mix of sweet and sour flavours.
@sugarjoyinc sugarjoy.com
GENTLE
FAWN
Serenade Skirt | Cream, Rose Smoke, Blue Serenity, Green Lily
$138 cad
I wanted to create a skirt that could be versatile to wear, where you can dress it up or down and wear it all year round! I have loved wearing midi skirts over the years for their versatility. When I want to create a new look with items I already own in my wardrobe, a chiffon skirt like this is one of my go-to items to start off a look. This skirt is a high-rise midi skirt made from polyester chiffon and features sunburst pleats and an elastic waistband. The fabric flows beautifully and has a full liner. This will now be a staple in my wardrobe, and I hope it will be for you too!
@gentlefawn gentlefawn.com
MERI MERI
Ladurée Candles
$19 cad
Since it’s The Jilly Box’s birthday, I wanted to include these stunning gold-dipped candles that Meri Meri made with Ladurée. I have been obsessed with Meri Meri for over 10 years, and I’m so happy we got them in the box for all of you to enjoy! Meri Meri creates the most beautiful whimsical items for parties, and, if you didn’t know, a lot of celebrities use products from Meri Meri for their parties! These birthday candles are in a pack of 16 with four different soft pastel colours: lavender, blue, pink, and green. Perfect for your next birthday party! Don’t forget to make a wish before you blow them out!
@merimeriparty merimeri.com
JENNA RAE CAKES
Jilly Advent Calendar
$60 cad
I feel like kids get so many fun traditions around the holidays, and I wanted to have something fun for us adults! So, we worked with the fantastic team at Jenna Rae Cakes to create a custom Jilly Box advent calendar!! Adults deserve a surprise every day too! This advent calendar has decadent, mouthwatering handmade chocolates inside, as well as four magical edible glitters!
@jennaraecakess jennaraecakes.com
QUICKIES
Champagne Nail Set
$25 cad (Valued at $30 cad)
Having your nails done for a party or event is always the perfect way to complete your look! It’s all in the details!! Since I know that we are all very busy, especially when getting ready to host a party, we wanted to include Quickies as part of our add-ons in this box. Quickies nail sets are salon-quality press-on nails that take less than 10 minutes to apply. In this custom Jilly Box nail set you get 24 nails in 10 sizes in a nude base with a champagne ombre glitter design! These are beautiful, and I hope they finish off your look for your next party!
@getquickies getquickies.com
CAMILIA LIVING
Soy Taper Candles | Almond & Lychee
$12 cad (Valued at $17 cad)
Candles are the perfect decor piece when it comes to hosting a dinner party. They always set the mood and feel very elegant. I love having candles in the entryway when hosting parties or as part of the table decor for a sit down dinner. These unscented 12” soy wax candles come in a two-pack and are hand-dipped with cotton wicks. They are smokeless and have an eight-hour burn time. They fit beautifully in our candlestick holders, and we recommend trying the USB rechargeable lighter on them!
@camilialiving @camiliasupply camilialiving.com
NOIZE
Soirée Jacket | Cafe Brown & Pink
$179 cad
Do you all remember the pink faux fur jacket I wore nonstop last winter?! Since I wore it all the time and all of you seemed to love it as well, I wanted to create a custom faux fur coat for all of you. This coat has a boxy, relaxed fit and comes in two colours, a cafe/coffee colour and a dusty pink. Both are timeless colours that go with almost anything you’re wearing. Did I mention the coat has pockets!! It really is the perfect winter coat to wear to your next party!
@noizeoriginal noize.com
BE HOME
Nalia Candlesticks | Pink & Clear Iridescent
$69 cad (Valued at $84 cad)
You know I love decorating for a party and having stand-out pieces that people might ask where did you get that from?! I feel like these candlesticks are totally that. These glass candlestick sets offer a beautiful and unique way to illuminate any room! They are handmade and designed to fit a standardsized candle. I love the custom colours we created with the Be Home team with both colours having that iridescent finish. These would pair perfectly with our tapered candles… just saying!
@be_home behome.com
HAILEY GERRITS
Oso Bracelet
$89 cad (Valued at $110 cad)
I love adding unique pieces of jewellery to my collection, and this Oso bracelet will be the perfect addition to all of your collections. It has details of the natural stones used to make it. Each of these bracelets are handmade in Vancouver, BC, by an all-women team! How impressive is that!!
@haileygerrits haileygerrits.com
THE MAKERS
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT:
Quickies
Team Jilly Box is so excited to have Quickies as an add-on for this box not only because all of you will get amazing nails but also for the fact that the founder and CEO of Quickies Bailey Stanworth used to work for Jillian! It feels like such a full circle moment to have her included with this Jilly Box. We wanted to feature her for this section so you can get to know her and her business.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the interview…
What inspired you to start Quickies?
I started Quickies kind of by accident. I made the switch to press-on nails reluctantly during COVID as all local nail salons were shut down. I started using press-on nails from drugstores and Amazon and while I loved the convenience I was not impressed with the quality or the dated designs. I eventually started ordering “samples” for myself off of manufacturers because of my background in apparel manufacturing and all my friends, family and followers were asking where and HOW I was getting my nails done. I eventually saw a gap in the market for presson nails that were both quality and trend forward.
What some people may not know is that long before Quickies, you worked for both Jillian and Justin! When did you first meet them?
I love that Quickies being in the Jilly Box makes this truly such a full circle moment. I met Jillian back in... I want to say 2014(ish) when I was working in fashion and conceptualized and pitched, what I think was one of the first ever influencer collaborations at the time, a Jillian Harris clothing collection. I instantly fell in love with Jill and was so inspired by her work ethic and worked with both her and Justin on some freelance roles helping with blog posts, social media support, merch design, etc. which I have always hugely attributed to foundational lessons I’ve learned that have helped me grow to where I am today with Quickies. I can’t thank them both enough for their support over the past 10 years.
What was it like working with Jillian again and Team Jilly Box all these years later for The Winter 2024 Jilly Box?
Honestly it makes my heart so happy and grateful. Community is my why behind everything I do and Jillian/Team Jilly Box have been so supportive with Quickies since the beginning that getting to collaborate on an exclusive set of Quickies for The Winter 2024 Jilly Box feels very meant to be.
Quickies has a charitable component. What does that give-back component of your business mean to you?
I knew from day one of conceptualizing Quickies that I wanted to create a brand that gave back— again, community. Since day one of launching we have always donated $1 per sale to charitable initiatives. We originally partnered with mental health or-
ganizations but when Roe v. Wade was overturned, and knowing that our audience is predominantly female, we made the shift to support Abortion Funds. At the same time I had just come out as Queer and I had always taken notice of the lack of representation in press-on nail brands when it came to gender, drag and LGBTQ+ communities (which is why we’ve also since day one noted we’re for the girls, gays and theys) and decided to also donate to Rainbow Railroad in efforts to give back to a community that is also very important to Quickies.
What was one of the most pivotal moments for you building your business?
Our collaboration with Katie Maloney from Vanderpump Rules was a very pivotal moment for the brand. We launched our collection with Katie a year and a half after launching and our existing audience was very very Canadian heavy but Katie really helped us step into the US Market and grow in a space where a lot of consumers knew other brands. The coolest part about it all though was that Katie was a customer of Quickies (yes, she literally placed orders) and that was what sparked the idea of a collab between herself and Quickies!
What advice would you give to a business owner looking to level up their social media game?
My advice for social media has changed SO much over the years and I really think a social strategy now depends on the brand and what the product/ service is they’re offering. My biggest tips for anyone though are consistency and community. Add value for your audience whether it’s through educating how your product/service makes their life easier or getting them involved in feedback, upcoming launches/ campaigns and making them feel a part of the brand. Consumers care about where they are spending their
time and money so making them feel included and seen in your brand is incredibly valuable and important across social media channels. Quickies does this through doing Q&A’s in our comments, reposting story mentions, using community photos in feed, having our community vote on upcoming collabs, etc.
Your branding for Quickies is witty and distinct. Was this sense of fun your vision from the get-go?
Yes! I didn’t fully feel motivated to start the brand until I thought of the name. I was definitely playing around with the idea but once I thought of Quickies as the name it truly was an ah-hah moment that spiralled into so much creativity that I knew there was no turning back. I wanted the brand to stand out, be playful and approachable and ultimately push the norms of how press-on nails were being marketed and branded.
All of your packaging at Quickies is designed to reduce as much unnecessary waste as possible. What drove you to focus on sustainability?
One thing I always hated about other press-ons I had been trying was the packaging and how non-functional it was. I would open up the cardboard boxes to a plastic tray and had no easy way of storing the extra nails after application. I also was always so scared a tube of glue would explode in my purse. I knew when starting the brand I wanted to fix this problem for consumers and I’d remembered storing my jewelry in zip pouches and thought this was PERFECT for press-ons. Not only to eliminate the unnecessary and wasteful plastic trays but to take my nails on the go and ensure the glue was contained. Our travel pouches are made from 100%
plastic in efforts to be as sustainable as possible and given that they are so functional they can be repurposed to hold jewelry, vitamins, cords, etc.
What’s next for Quickies after appearing in this season’s Jilly Box?
Great question! We have lots of collaborations lined up for 2025 which I am very excited about as well as continuing to build and expand in the US Market (I’ve just moved to LA so excited to tap more into this market). We also might have some new SKU’s coming so definitely sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about everything we have coming up as it rolls out!
Anything else you want people to know about your brand?
Press-ons aren’t as intimidating as they might seem if you’re new to them!! Like any first (wink wink) it takes a bit of time to get the hang of what works for you but I have been wearing press-ons for 4 years now and I cannot imagine going back and sitting in a nail salon for even just an hour to get a manicure. If you have any questions or need extra support for your Quickies our DM’s are always open to you!!
Our Five Year Anniversary
We’re lighting our birthday candles and getting ready to celebrate! How are we already here five years later?! The winter box in 2019 was our first ever box, and holy moly, have we grown from then!
I remember that first box launch like it was yesterday… It was absolute craziness!! It sold out in a few hours, and we were utterly blown away by the number of people who wanted to get their hands on a box and the number of people who signed up for our waitlist. I was in awe!! We realized at that moment that we needed to find a way to get more boxes into all of your hands while remaining true to our values of supporting eco-friendly small businesses, that used minimal plastic and that had products our community would love!
And, I think we have accomplished that over these last five years! I’m so proud of every Jilly Box we have produced, and what’s even better is seeing your reaction to our box launches every season.
The best part of this Jilly Box birthday for me was opening up our Subscribers list! We have had the same Subscribers list since we launched in 2019 and it felt so exciting to open that up to more of you. Being a Subscriber means you have the chance to get the box every season, which I know so many of you have wanted since we first launched! I can’t believe we And, I can’t believe we sold out of our new Subscriber spots! But don’t worry if you didn’t get on that list we still do a lottery launch to all our Insiders every season. And who knows what might happen on our 10th anniversary…!
Thank you so much to Team Jilly Box, our suppliers, and the amazing third party companies we have partnered with over the years. And most importantly, thank you to all of you who continue to support The Jilly Box!!
How to Throw the Best Party
I LOVE to host in general, but ESPECIALLY around the holidays. Everyone is in a jolly spirit about all the get-togethers and the season, besides maybe that weird uncle you have (get him a drink and a cozy chair to sit in!). But it’s truly such a fun time of year. These moments are even more special with Leo and Annie around. They love helping out with getting everything ready for the holidays. This isn’t my first rodeo of hosting parties over the holiday season, so I wanted to pass on some of my top tips for throwing the best party.
It’s all in the preparation!
There is a lot going on this time of year, from multiple parties to organizing holiday events with family. That’s whyI always recommend doing as much prep work ahead of the party as possible, so when the party is happening you can enjoy yourself as much as your guests are!
Make a list: First things first, make a list of what you need to get done and what items need to cook for a certain amount of time so you can create a workback schedule for executing a great party! I recommend reading our “How to Time Block like Team Jilly” article if you haven’t already that was in our fall box magazine, it has the best tips on organizing your day!
Decor: I like to do this by setting out the decor a few days in advance, it allows you to slowly pull items out you want to use and work on it for a few days and play with spaces! Have fun with the decor! And if you have kids, I recommend getting them involved. Give them fun projects to work on so they can be proud of the space when your guests come over too.
Food: A great time to prepare your food is a day before. Chop the vegetables, wash the lettuce, and make the gravy! Get as much done as you can the day before! Also, when people ask if they can bring a dish, be open to it! Usually guests want to help out in some way and a great way is by bringing a side dish, an appetizer, or a bottle of wine! Never be afraid to ask for a little help.
Keep it simple and set the mood!
There are so many ways to elevate simple items for your party that will set the mood and theme of your party off perfectly!
Drinks: I love having a signature drink for a party and you can do this in simple ways. Use edible glitter to elevate any drink like champagne and your guests will be impressed! I suggest using the edible glitter from our Jilly Box advent calendar!! And as an extra touch, I recommend adding a bow to each champagne flute!
Music: A key to hosting is always having background music, it really adds to the atmosphere you’re creating. Put together a fun playlist a few days before your event with some of your favourite music. I’ve also created a holiday playlist on Spotify if you want to listen to the same music as my guests at our holiday parties this year!
Remember, when you’re having a good time, your guests will as well. Hope these help you in throwing the best party!!
support@jillybox.com jillybox.com
