And I am off….

 

I am off for a few weeks on vacation! I hope I will be able to post from where I am staying (I am pretty sure I will) …J and I will be taking LOTS and Lots of pictures to share with you guys …. I am so excited! You know that feeling you get just before you step foot at the airport….excitement building….LOVE it… it will be a great break from everything! I tried not to pack too much and trust me….its hard when you are going for three weeks. Had to run some last minute errands today with J and the mama…. met up with Melinda and purchased a few things from her online sale that you guys should check out HERE…. All of her proceeds go to charity…she is such a sweetie and a just a gorgeous girl! I am actually wearing one of the shirt/dresses I got from her on the plane..its so comfortable and loose…

I will be back soon! I will be meeting J’s family for the first time in a few hours after having dated him for almost 8 years and now being engaged…eek!

Love you!! 

Waiting to see you again …

 

Hey guys! Been loving this casual sweater and jeans combo for all the running around and last minute errands I have been doing… casual, comfortable but not sloppy… the point is…I’m out of those damn sweatpants which I think is a big step up from last week….haha

For those of you who were wondering where I was headed to … I am going to Portugal/Spain for a few weeks and cannot wait because I have not been there in 5 years!

I have been packing and I think I still need to cut down…I don't want to show up with two large suitcases….so I am trying to get it down to one and a half…I need to be very selective with my clothes/shoes…so we will se how that goes tonight… :s …

Ps I used to be big on Seven for All Mankind and True Religion jeans….was going through my closet and came across these….I forgot how much I used to love wearing my flared leg jeans with my Kors heels… I think I will bringing these with me when I go on vacation …they're comfy, loose and different from the usual skinny jean that I sport…

Lastly, I have a new storage space for my makeup… look to the last picture….organized and super easy access…that was I can see and actually USE what I have! well worth the $25 investment…picked it up at Wal-Mart…its two containers stacked on top of each other

Well… I am off to work! XOX

 

Jacket: Zara, Shirt: Urban Outfitters, Sweater: Talulah, Jeans: True Religion, Shoes: Michael Kors, Purse: B Makowsky (I have used this thing SO much its starting to rip….boo to that)

It’s to the Beautiful Us

This past weekend J and I went for sushi at New Generation Sushi at Bloor and Bathurst… that place has great sushi for a great price! The two of us spent under $20 and left full and satisfied =) … the atmosphere is pretty good too ..nothing fancy but good eats at an awesome price is what we usually tend to go for… when I am not feeling fancy or like putting much effort into getting dressed in the morning….I have noticed that I tend to stick with plaid…specifically this shirt…lately, I have also been into these J Brand skinny cords….lots of stretch and they feel like I'm wearing leggings but obviously the look is a lot more polished. Packing because I have a lot of travelling ahead of me… I will hopefully be able to post from Europe because I am pretty sure we have internet…and if not, I'm sure we can find a little internet cafe… I will be there for three weeks…long time but I am looking forward to it (although I am a tad nervous about meeting J’s family for the first time…. he is introducing me as his “Wife-to-be” …eek!

Ps these pictures were taken at a little shop at Bloor/Bathurst that had the most interesting jewellery and crafts….the prices were quite decent too! The model car in the first picture was $38….I think I will be picking one up for my little brother because he is very into collecting vintage cars (model cars that is…) ….also ….I have just recently discovered he has a crazy artistic talent (which he had been hiding :p)… J happened to notice a sketch of a nude woman …beautiful shading and all….quite professional looking… I went and asked my brother if he drew it…and he shyly and modestly told me that he did….I am super proud of him and now trying to encourage him to pursue whatever it is he likes….if its art, then focus on that ….etc… he is still young… 16 years old… and a great little brother =)

Well I am off to continue packing for my trip…. Hope you all had a great Family Day long weekend (to my Canadians)!

Jacket: Zara, Pants: J brand, Shirt: UB, Belt: Vintage (love this!!! The studs are amazing), Bag: Winners, Boots: Vintage (believe it or not these were my neighbours…she is about 70 years old and got these YEARS ago …kept them in mint condition)

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day my lovelies! J and I celebrated yesterday on my “Lucky Day”…the 13th… I will start by saying that J outdid himself this year! After almost 8 years of being together he still finds ways to amaze me and I can honestly say that I love him more everyday… I know I am so lucky to have found the man that I know I want to spend the rest of my life and days with … and we dont need a day to “profess our love so to speak” because we do this everyday through our actions and little things… BUT I am not going to lie…I do love Valentines Day and the idea behind it despite how commercialized it may be :p …

So I thought we were going out to dinner or something…J told me he had been working/planning a surprise….I got to his house and he told me to come in for a couple drinks before we leave…so I did…and then I saw the table he had set up … wine, appetizers, etc… with a beautiful centerpiece he had arranged for me … He went grocery shopping and cooked everything himself…and it tasted great….I was impressed because this took more time to put together ..with love.. then just having made a reservation somewhere…

He also made me a memory box HIMSELF with the beautiful phrase on the inside lid that matches the necklace he bought me: Live, Love, Laugh =) He included a photo album of the process and him making it….so sweet! One of the best gifts I have EVER received… it took a lot of time…also has a metal plate engraved with our names and the date we met on the front….and of course, because its J….he didn't stop there….gosh, I'm so spoiled… he also got us a couples spa package for the day before we leave on our flight..to relax :) …. and my fave chocolates EVER – Guylian!

Now onto the Outfit and Makeup :

I wore this silver sparkle Alice and Olivia top that I found at winners marked down from $200 sale price to $50! It is so beautiful when paired with a simple blazer….which is what I did and I am so sorry I didn't catch a picture of it…. I wore it with my mom’s white Elie Tahari blazer (it is so gorgeous! will show you all soon) …has silver button detailing to match the shirt…. Simple but elegant for Valentines Day I think….

The make up was a lot more dramatic….I wore Revlon Colorstay foundation (which seems to be my go-to regardless of how many other brands I have tried) … Guerlain rose blush, Pure white eyeliner on the waterline (which I will also be including in a give-away soon!), Urban decay silver eye shadow from Alice in Wonderland palette under the waterline and outer V of the eye… and a darker green on the outer third of the eye…gold colour in the crease…High Beam highlighter by Benefit under the brow, inner corner of the eye and cheekbones – Lipstick is Gaga by MAC and Darling by Gosh mixed together, Quo eyelashes from Shoppers Drug Mart =)

Hair- I just got my hair done and went for a more natural looking blonde…seems to match my extensions perfectly! I am really liking this toned down blonde..I like to change it around every now and then … Thanks to those of you who left me your suggestions on what I should do with my hair….I appreciate that!

Have a great Sunday!

PS put up another YouTube video but its all messed up- I kept it up to see if someone might be able to suggest what I need to do to fix the fast-forward setting it seems to be on - doesn't jive with my voice

XOX

Taking it Easy

This is me trying to look semi-glam while still being a lazy a**… Yes, I have lived in these pants for a few days…yes, they are SUPER comfortable, yes I was inspired by an editorial (which only prolonged my “wanting” to keep these babies on) and YES, I need to wash these things…asap!

It has been a long week but a good one considering I can now reward myself to a long weekend =) …. perfect treat for a Valentines day weekend…which reminds me… I need to pick out what I will be wearing tomorrow ..on the bottom…I am wearing this GORGEOUS Alice+Olivia shirt (which I cant describe in case J is reading :p) that I cannot wait to show you all! I have been itching to wear it but it is not the sort of thing I could just wear to work if you know what I mean…it is definitely now something I would describe as “toned down” or even slightly neutral/plain…

Also thinking of doing a Rachel McAdams inspired makeup look….but we will see how that goes…sparkly eyes and red coloured lips.. Might need the Cyndi Viva Glam MAC for that (thanks to one of my readers!)… we’ll see ….I really need some variety …too many versions of pink/nude lately!

and I finally have a hair appointment this weekend! say goodbye to the rootage ;)… oh and I was really contemplating going dark again (brown) and then thought….hmmm it will probably end up like my short hair…like it for about 3 months…then back to the old (except my hair is taking forever to grow and …to get my hair blonde again is one damn process that's for sure …so think I’m sticking with it for now)

Wishing all of you a ton of love! XOX

Boyfriend Blazer: Kenneth Cole, Shirt: Winners, Pants: Garage (on sale from $35 for $10!), shoes: Colin Stuart, Sunglasses: Ray Ban

R.I.P

Alexander McQueen ... You will be missed

Viva la Gaga

Hey guys! So just thought I would give you a little sneak peak into my new found “treasures”… the last picture shows a few of the things I picked up during Value Village’s Half Off sale ..so I got all of this for dirt cheap… I think the total came to $15? I found the most AMAZING studded vintage leather belt from Holt Renfrew (in my size …sweet!) and cant wait to come up with some outfits to wear it with … I’m picturing a loose draping top cinched at the waist with my over the knee boots and drainpipe jeans =) … The bag is made of solid leather and was just a simple piece that I thought would work well in my wardrobe….also got a pair of dress pants for work that are slim fit (fit just like my skinny jeans) and I love that they fit perfectly into my winter boots!

For the record; I thrift shop all over the place (I am around the city quite often from Mississauga to Brampton to Etobicoke to Toronto ….so if I have a few minutes to spare I might pop in… 15 minutes is usually sufficient for me :p). If you check out the Value Village website at http://valuevillage.ca/ there is a little search bar at the top where you can type ZIP/Postal code and find all the nearest locations near you..you can also get a heads up on the sales ;) … I always recommend switching up locations because obviously every store has different and unique merchandise… Goodwill and Salvation army are great too…I just don't have as much patience for those stores because I find they are not as well organized by size, colour and item as Value Village (in my opinion)…

Lastly, Check out the new lipstick! YES you guessed it ….it is the Limited Edition “Gaga” colour by MAC for their Viva Glam line (100% of the proceeds go to AIDS/HIV organizations)… shopping AND making a contribution? Check and Check =) … It is a more toned down version of one of my FAVE lipsticks which is MACs Saint Germaine (also LE) … If this interests you, I suggest picking one up quick because once they run out ..that's it..thats what I hate about finding a Limited Edition colour you love… :s..packaging is really sweet too!

Almost Valentines Day….Hope you are all feeling the Love =) XOX

The fanciest food in the world couldn't make me love you more

Hey guys! I'm back …with another post … I must say, I have been getting some great feedback (both emails and comments) from you guys and it puts a smile on my face… =) … I received an email requesting a “work clothes” sort of post ….so I decided this would be the perfect time to show you guys the sort of thing I might wear (sans jeans during the week….this is for dress down Fridays) … I actually wore this while out for a very quick Starbucks run with J… I felt like wearing something simple yet classy …and of course, when I get something new I cant WAIT to wear it …hence the BCBG blazer..this is the one I picked up at Value Village in size xxs for $18 … I LOVE it so much and can see myself wearing this to work quite often… it has that perfect fit and little touch of unique to make it something that transitions its way from the office to “play time” depending on what I wear it with… Notice the stitching =)

So here goes… in terms of work clothes….I tend to wear a lot of black skinny pants/dress pants with either blazers and a simple tee or dress shirt (nothing groundbreaking in terms of office wear) and boots … I like the way skinny pants can work with flats/heels.boots…they work for all seasons (try stuffing flared or wide legged pants into your boots during the winter…not a pretty look in my opinion)

The jewellery is where it gets a little more interesting I guess you can say …for example the bracelet I am wearing in these photos …chunky and bold and appropriate for the office ….The studded cuffs, leather straps, chains etc …stay at home!

If it interests you I can show you guys my “work closet” and the sort of things I might wear .. Just let me know! I think its important to buy pieces that you can see yourself wearing outside of the office as well but again…it depends on the environment you work in as well as how “funky” of a style you might have…some spaces are more lenient than others (and foster more of a creative approach/outlook when it comes to personal appearance and dress)….my style is a little random and very much depends on my mood…although one consistent trend seems to be my love of vintage as well as an awesome bargain …you will rarely see me wearing something that I didn't either A) get on sale or B) buy at Value Village …well except for these jeans :p…

PS Value Village had a 50% off sale today and I cant WAIT to show you guys the crazy Vintage gold studded Holt Renfrew belt that I found…as well as a vintage brown leather purse, studded silk top and vintage sunglasses (round frame ….lets see if I can pull them off)!!

Clothes: Blazer: BCBG Thrifted, Pants: Marciano, Shirt: Garage size Large, Boots: Colin Stuart, Purse: Winners, Bracelet: Sears, Scarf: Free from Recall because I spent over $50 on Fragrances/cosmetics at Christmas time….(PS I LOVE Rexall ten times more than Shoppers Drug mart…their prices are better and they always have great sales…well aside from my beloved Wal Mart …haha), Necklace: Christmas Gift from J

Makeup: Revlon Colorstay foundation, PURE blush in Cookie, PURE white eyeliner on the waterline (LOVE this eyeliner!), Lancome Effacernes concealer (the BEST …but pricey…lasts me about a year though so its worth it for me), MAC gel liner in blacktrack, Smashbox lipstick in Pout, Urban decay eye shadows (purple and pink colours)

Dear John …

What a mediocre movie… I cant say it was horrible but honestly not worth two hours of a Saturday night and $23 out of my pocket … oh well… my advice is, if you want to watch the movie Dear John…save it for a rental night! But hey…that's just my opinion…

Just getting up…. super tired because I have been sleeping weird hours….sleepy during the day and at I'm a night owl come darkness…. It was probably the Grande latte I had with Anne last night that kept me up after the movie (and partially asleep DURING … :s) … maybe its time I cut down on the caffeine and catch up on the sleep …especially because I will be leaving to Europe in a couple weeks.. exciting! I will be gone for almost a month…. but will try to keep up the posts from there (I'm pretty sure we have internet and a computer)

Now on to the outfit…

I bought this shirt at Value Village recently and am LOVING it..the sleeves, the colour, the ruffles and the sheerness of it all! It was $5 well spent…. and the socks are from my trusty local Winners =) …another $5 well spent in my opinion… I love the little lace and bow detailing and the fact that they stay up without a garter… I also picked up an awesome BCBG blazer size xxs at Value Village that I cant wait to show you guys…that was pricier…$18 to be exact but still well worth it because it is pretty much new and perfect condition (and originally retails for over $200) …its the price of a MAC lipstick … haha… that's how I look at it (even though it IS used)

You guys remember the hat? I picked it up at the clothing show here in Toronto (which is pretty awesome by the way… please go if you get the chance.. tons of great vintage booths and unique clothing all packed into one place)…it was $20. It has grown on J .. he used to make fun of me for it .. now he really likes it… =)

Hope you all have a great Super Bowl Sunday and I will see you all very soon!! XOX

PS – Stay tuned as I will be having another “Give Away” soon on my blog as a Thank You to all of my readers/followers!

Clothing: Shirt: Thrifted, Shirt: UB, Jacket: H&M, Socks: Winners, Boots: Urban Outfitters, Hat: Vintage

Makeup: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Plus, Blush: Pure in Cookie, Lips: Gosh Darling and a pink lippie (cant remember which one), PURE eyeliner in Moss Green, Urban Decay eye shadow in Baked and Homegrown on the outer V of the eye.

Alice is Finally Here!

    

Good Morning my Lovelies! I just woke up about an hour ago, made mama and I some breakfast and am just getting ready to cozy up to a morning chick flick :) … Maxi wishes he could join in (look at him sniffing the bagels and chocolate!)… Having a whole wheat bagel with whipped cream cheese with chives…mmmm! My new love= whipped cream cheese….so much creamier..

J and I will have many new outfit posts for you guys this weekend… he should be over in a few hours… might grab a light lunch and later on we are all going to watch the hockey game at a sports bar…. my food of choice= Wings! If I had to choose between gourmet food or wings…I would choose wings…haha… or maybe sushi :p

ok now on to the palette! I picked it up at the post office… ripped open the package when I got home and immediately swatched all the colours to appreciate their true vibrancy/beauty against my skin =) …. I actually love my Urban Decay shadows a lot more than my MAC ones because I find they are easier to blend (BUT the downside is they freaking LOVE shimmer….so almost all the shadows are either sparkly or have serious glitter chunks in them). If you are afraid of glitter or shimmer this palette is NOT for you…

If you already have Urban Decays Ammo palette and the volume 2 book of shadows (picture #1 above) I would not really recommend the Alice in Wonderland palette just because they are so similar and you will end up with a lot of duplicates…unless you LOVE Alice or are some sort of makeup collector…I would say its a pass…

In the mean time, I think they are out at many Sephora’s in the US (just make sure you call first..they might not have it) and should be arriving soon if not already) to Sephora in Canada…it is available online if you want it NOW! Haha…but Canadians beware…we dont get free shipping unless you spend at least $120….so if you want JUST the palette ..its about $4 in duties plus $10 shipping….so tack that onto the $56 CDN price tag….

Hope you all have a GREAT morning or afternoon I guess depending where you are… AND I will be back with some outfit shots =)

XOX

Ps Thanks to all of you who took the time to recommend your favourite lipsticks/glosses! I will be checking out some of your recommendations for sure…

The Line-up

Hey guys! So mama is back home (still recovering …but everyday is a little better than the last right?) and I’m super happy! The hospital is not the most comfortable or pleasant environment to be in so at least now we can care for her here and she can feel more at ease and a little more relaxed…

Since I have been running around,getting things together, tidying up, getting food ready for tomorrow, running between hospitals, doctors apoitments, work etc… I haven't really have time to put MYSELF together (bad excuse I know…but in all fairness…I’m still sick :p) … I thought I would share my FAVOURITE lip colours with you! A few drugstore brand and some that are pricier … I will start by saying that yes….my collection of faves consists of some version of pink or nude… I will go through each from left to right….

OH and I will have pictures and hopefully a video of my new Alice in Wonderland Urban Decay book of Shadows… got my Sephora order in the mail =)

1. C-Thru lipglass by MAC ($16) – This is my staple gloss… I love layering it over pretty much any colour lipstick or if I am feeling lazy ..then all on its own

2. Revlon Matte lipstick in Nude Attitude ($8) – I bought this at Wal-Mart a little while ago …its cheap …a tad drying on the lips but nothing that a little Carmex and lipglass cant fix… It is a darker nude (compared to my Gosh lipstick on the far right for example…a tad orange I guess depending on your lip pigmentation/skin tone). I would re-purchase just because I think its a pretty good product for the price

3. Airy Fairy by Rimmel ($6) – I LOVE this colour …when I don't know what lip colour to wear, this is one that I reach for quite often …and the price ?! come on…no brainer….you have to check this out! Its a pinky nude colour (my two faves combined in one).

4. MAC Snob – I have been wearing this colour since J’s prom… so basically since I was 16 years old and one of my favourite pinks… I love this mixed with the C-Thru lipglass … going to repurchase soon =)

5. MAC Saint Germain (Limited Edition) – sorry, this one might be a bit tough to find because it is one of those LE shades…I hate when they do that :s… It can come out a little “porn-starish” so I use it sparingly… usually… unless I am going very easy on the eyes…i.e. Just mascara …then very light application… but I think it is a GORGEOUS pink

6. YSL Rouge Pure shine Lipstick spf 15 in #11 (I think.. the label is a bit faded) ($40) – Its a light pink with a tiny bit of shimmer – very smooth and moisturizing on the lips so I like that of course… I have had this since second year university (a few years now!) and it has lasted me QUITE some time…probably because I save it for occasions :p…well hey, I am spending $40 a pop for this baby… eek!

7. Smashbox in Pout ($25)- this is a VERY sheer pink so if you are looking for some shock factor…this might not be it.. but like my YSL it is very moisturizing…and probably something I would use for everyday (I guess you could layer it on for a bolder look)..I picked this up at Shoppers Drug Mart

8. GOSH cosmetics in Darling #134 ($16) – My FAVOURITE nude colour so far… I just recently discovered it at Shoppers Drug Mart …I’m sorry to my American readers but Gosh is only available in Canada and the UK I believe … if you are in Canada …check this out at Shoppers… but please, make sure you either exfoliate your lips or put some serious Vaseline on the night before because this will just enhance the flakes….yuck! BUT it just makes me work that much harder on keeping my puckers smooth …and the colour pay-off is awesome for me (I have really pigmented lips…and this one works for me)

Now that I have shared MY favourites….I would LOVE to know what your favourite is (if you wear lip-gloss/lipstick that is!)

???

I will be your Cheerleader

Hey guys! So I am home…drinking some ginger tea with mama because I am super sick …again… probably stress and stuff which makes me more prone to illness and catching things…

Got a surprise delivery notice in the mail … my package from Sephora has arrived (thanks to my anonymous reader who told me to call in for the UD palette!)… will show you guys all soon … I will probably do a video on that one… =)

I have been neglecting my thrifted booties but I have re-discovered them once again :p … add a little toughness to any girly floral/granny-ish shirt like this one! Actually this shirt was another Value Village find…Vintage Christian Dior and it was LOVE at first sight… totally worth $12!

oh and drink of the week: Caramel Coretto from Second Cup with a half shot of espresso (too strong with the full amount that they usually put for my liking)… so good! That discovery is all thanks to my good friend Conrad!

Well I will be back very soon…. thanks to all my readers who take the time to comment and leave their feedback … makes coming back here a lot more fun :p

Also, the title of this post is dedicated to my mama…who is my superstar … Please keep her in your prayers as she will be undergoing surgery tomorrow

Outfit: Leather Jacket: Zara, Pants: Sirens (super cheap..$10?..I wear them to work a LOT as well..seems like some of my most inexpensive items are my greatest finds!), Socks: Kensington Market (pink construction socks….so warm..love them!), Shirt: Vintage Christian Dior, Bag: Vintage Chanel, Boots: thrifted, Belt: Vintage, Scarf: thrifted

Makeup: (Eyes): Urban decay Half Baked, Homegrown (on outer V of the eye) and Twice baked in the crease (Lips): MAC Saint Germain, (Cheeks): Guerlain …cant remember the colour but its a peachy colour with very fine milled shimmer …you cant really see it in the pictures