that's a wrap!

2011- it was a good year. i am so blessed to have a life full of love and happiness. to my wonderful friends, family and significant other, thanks for being great.

i believe that everything happens for a reason, and while sometimes it's hard to understand why, the experiences and opportunities that came about in the past year have helped shaped me into the person i am today, and for that i am thankful.

2012 - i hope it is a year filled with lots of laughter. i hope to be the most positive and kind person i can be. i hope to visit (atleast) one country i've never been to. i hope to be more open minded. i hope to get into better shape. i hope to read more books. i hope to make more cupcakes. i hope to love until i can't possibly love anymore.

i'm off to BC for the weekend with d to visit his parents. my sister left this morning and i miss her terribly already.

enjoy a fabulous, sparkly new years eve! cheers! xo

replay

i am so completely obsessed with this song. i go through phases where i find a song that i just can't hear enough of and i listen to it over and over again until i know every single word. well... i'm going through one of those phases with this one... the opening tune is kind of old school quirky and dark..and i like the girl/guy voice combo... i'm diggin' it.

gotye - somebody that i used to know

social ticketing

i heard of this concept on the radio this morning and thought it was pretty funny. the idea is to ticket people for acts that inspire, disturb, annoy, bring happiness, etc.. to you.

one of the examples the radio jockey gave was his wife over saw a husband verbally abusing his wife in front of his child. she wrote him a note telling him that not only was he verbally abusing his wife, which was wrong, but he's doing it in front of his child, leaving them to grow up thinking this is ok.

that example is slightly depressing, another idea is if someone did a really shitty parking job - you leave them a note telling them to work on their parking!

or if someone does something great! leave them a note praising their kindness!

the idea is obviously a little situational. but i thought it was a grand idea!!! i'm going to run with the praising the good rather than focussing on the bad!

it kind of reminded me of my little civilettes that i picked up at the drake general store. i've mailed one to katie in a big useless envelope, left one on d's car door handle leaving the gym, left one on my momma's pillow. beautiful, silly reminder of how much i love love love them all!

boy crush

what a babe, what a babe. been meaning to share this gem for a while, ignacio "nacho" figueras. might recognize him from the ralph lauren polo ads? google image search him, you know you want to...

guilty pleasure

ok. so i understand if you choose to completely skip over this post, but i secretly love the kardashians. well, maybe not so much love, but find them unendingly entertaining. i love the idea of a personalized christmas card and thought theirs (no thanks to stylists, profesh photogs, etc) turned out fabulously! kourtney posted some fun behind-the scenes pictures of the shoot to her twitter account as well, check em out here.

we received some christmas cards from friends and family with personal photos on them and i secretly hope to send out my own one year! d isn't a huge fan of the idea, so it might be a couple years yet, but i think i'll win him over eventually!

back with a vengeance

so... i had a bit of a christmas holiday when it came to blogging... work got busy, as did life...

but i'm back at it dolls!

well firstly, i need to share my boxing day blowout bargain buy!!!

these enzo angiolini pumps. in a worn black leather (not the satin pictured). perfect with my nye dress. originally $170, practically stole them for $33!!! yippee!

my boxing day strategy seemed to be quite successful this year. i woke up early and got to the mall for opening but i wasn't in a rush for anything. i didn't need anything, so i just lazily browsed and walked around.

any line up more than about 5 people was deemed too long. seeing the lineups of people waiting outside stores like lacoste and aritzia, eager to dish out their gifted monies for overpriced/regular priced merchandise made me laugh.

i was happy to leave with my shoe bargain and a new pair of jeans i had previously lusted over and my waiting resulted in a $70 discount!

did you brave the mall madness?! any good deals?!

company christmas party

i have my office christmas lunch coming up this thursday... hope you find this as hilarious as i did!xo

sale alert

so i sort of feel obliged to share a sale this good... browns is having a sale online, 50% and more off all sorts of shoes! i just ordered these sorel boots for $79 (incl. taxes & s/h), usually $190... too good to pass up! and i've been wanting these forever, but avoiding because of the price!

find yourself a deal HERE!

gift suggestions

wanted to share two ideas that came to mind this morning for people left on your list...

{Diane Von Furstenberg bedding}

bright colors, graphic patterns. while at first it might seem a strange offspring for DVF, i think these sheets would add a welcomed punch of cheer to any bedroom!

currently on sale on the discount site gilt, shop here.

personalized jewelry- a beautiful, heartfelt gift. I recently gave these cute friendship necklaces to a best. there’s so many ways to personalize a piece of jewelry too – initials, some quirky reminder of an inside joke, a term of endearment or nickname… and every time the person wears it they will smile thinking of you, and get to rave about how great of a friend you are when asked where they got it!

holiday party dresses

with the holidays upon us, it means the start of festive parties. treats, drinks, great friends – I love everything about them! especially the excuse to dress up all fancy-like! I’ve bought a lovely red calvin klein blouse that I’m saving for the right occasion, along with a cute black mini dress that I’m thinking of wearing for my work christmas lunch. I’m not one to shy away from glitzy outfits, regardless of the time of year, but I find it so fun to dress up during the holidays and just feel great about yourself as you catch up with friends and stuff yourself silly with all the delicious food! my friend sent me a link to these 25 fabulous party dresses, all priced under $200 (i'm in love with a solid 80% of the dresses... shocker eh?) – if you haven’t already purchased that “go-to” holiday dress or outfit, this list is sure to give you some inspiration!

holiday bake exchange

a friend emailed me this morning with the idea of hosting a holiday bake exchange. if you've never head of the idea, a group -preferably not too huge - gets together and each person bakes a pre-set amount of their favorite holiday treat (i.e. if there were six of you in total, you would bake five batches to dish out!). then you all meet, greet and exchange and leave with all different treats! we discussed our desire to keep trim during the temptations of the holiday season and decided half-dozen batches seemed like a better idea! but i'm quite excited! i'm trying to decide whether i want to make a holiday themed treat or go with my new go-to, chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel buttercream frosting...

do you have any fun christmas cooking or baking traditions?! i used to always bake cookies with my grandma and it's such a fond festive memory, i hope my mom continues it one day!

music monday - holiday edition

this tune came on the radio today and i quite enjoyed it.. god rest ye merry gentlemen/we three kings by the barenaked ladies feat. sarah mclachlan.

a lot of posts in the next couple weeks will be holiday inspired.. you have been warned. hopefully it gets you excited and in the mood for a cheery holiday season!

j.crew gift guide

i've developed a recent love for j.crew. for the most part the price point is a bit higher, but so many items are such classic pieces that i think it's great clothing to invest in. their holiday gift guide for her has so many great suggestions. some traditional holiday pieces and colors combined with some twisted classics - i think there's something for everyone! get some names checked off your list by starting HERE!

thoughtful thursday..life's simple pleasures

thought i would share some silly thoughts that are making me happy lately...

kisses on the forehead... for some reason I find these kisses extra sweet.

being thanked. whether it’s in passing for something small like holding a door open, or a genuine heart-felt thank you, manners should never go unnoticed or unappreciated.

getting a good parking space. while the walk could do us all some good, there’s nothing better than getting a prime parking spot! (especially with holiday shopping upon us)

when a great movie is on tv unexpectedly. with the holiday season approaching i find this is more common.. but I love turning on the tv to randomly find a good flick. it’s usually like a wednesday at 7 or something like that, but its always a nice treat. my dad told me how “actually love” (he got a little confused - he was really watching “love actually”) was on the other night and he started to watch it and stayed up until 1am to finish it because it was just too good!

finding a good christmas gift. personally, i find as much joy in giving gifts during the holiday season as I do in receiving. i love the feeling of finding a gift that you just know that special person is going to adore!

a good haircut! i had my hair cut this week and i'm so pleased. i always get nervous but i've found a great hairdresser and even though he's only chopped my locks twice, i totally trust him. his names matthew, and he's in a band, and he's recently engaged. his motto was "the hair you don't cut is just as important as the hair you do cut" - which was like music to my ears - since i almost always leave anxious about how short my hair is now.
i find it funny to hear each girls hair stories. what's your hair ritual? same person every time? do you give them free range? i'd love to hear what your routine consists of!?

enough blabbering. until tomorrow.xo

wanderlust..

with registration for this summers cruises opening on saturday, yacht week seemed like the perfect subject for this weeks wanderlust post. Depending on which week of the summer you choose to sail off during, the destinations include croatia, greece, turkey, sicily, or the british virgin islands. pricing depends mostly on the boat size and the destination, but to give you an idea-it’s about the price of an all inclusive trip down south to a nicer resort.. to imagine filling a yacht with your closest friends and partying the week away on the beaches of hot european countries, sounds uber dreamy. I could definitely see escaping for a girls week sometime in the summers to come. Watch the official trailer here!

you can never have enough...

{kimchi blue box purse}

{ecote suede fringe backpack}

you can never have enough purses. that's my story, and i'm stickin to it! it's that accessory that finishes a good outfit, making it great! i am notorious for getting sidetracked when shopping for others at christmas, but cyber monday sucked me right in. i've been on the hunt for a black bag with silver detail and the snake skin just added that extra touch. and the suede backpack, that can double as a side bag. i'm all for it. the size of the suede bag was great too, after the purchase of a bigger digital camera(which santa will deliver shortly..), i was looking out for something fashionable that i could lug around the bigger piece of machinery in! oh and the prices were unbeatable too!

just because

{i totally understand how these might not have widespread appeal.. but i keep getting drawn back to these carvela booties. faboosh, for the right occasion, if ya ask me!}

the countdown is on

for those of you who love christmas as much as i do, (in case you haven't already realized) today is exactly one month until the glorious day is upon us! i think what i love most about christmas is the traditions. i am a creature of habit regardless, but the parties and happenings that repeat themselves year after year bring just as much happiness and comfort as the years before. and i'm lucky enough that all these traditions are shared with people i truly love and cherish.

really looking forward to all that the next month has in store!

what are your favorite christmas traditions?

black friday

i couldn't let the biggest sale day of the year pass me by! ..right? my participation was minimal, i swear! once again, gap was practically giving things away. their clothes come in my go-to neutral colors and always seem to fit me well, so it was the only site i tempted myself with. this knit black sweater looks like it will be a winter favorite! along with two other shirts, i'm very much looking forward to this delivery! : )

did the lure of "black friday" get the best of you?

the perfect union ?

kermit the frog and miss piggy. this duo makes me smile and this adorable and funny interview on us weekly made me laugh. i hope it brings a bit of cheer to your afternoon. for an even bigger (muppet induced) smile, watch this!

wanderlust wednesday

as D and i start to plan our travels i think we've concluded europe is the destination of choice. with that being said, we still have endless options to explore. croatia tops my list of countries to visit. i've had a few friends who have visited and none have returned with negatives to report. it looks beautifully exotic and different. that's something that i'm most excited about traveling, going places that are different than mississauga, toronto, ontario, canada. different cultures, languages, foods, natural landscapes - escaping the daily routine and reality that i've become so accustomed to. i found a cool national geographic blog from 2005 reporting on a kayakers trip to croatia. he gives great tips and suggestions and i definitely hope to use it as a reference point when we begin to plan more intensively. i would love to explore croatia by boat! i love being on the water ... romantically sailing among the islands, floating along in the warm oceam, sun shining, without a care in the world..... seems ideal doesn't it? ..daydreaming is fun.

what are your thoughts on sailing/boating? where do you think would be a cool place to explore on the water?

fashion fundamentals

as much as i try to buy clothing that introduces pattern and color into my wardrobe, i always fall back on solid- black, white & grey. a creature of habit, it's what i feel most beautiful and comfortable in. i'm also a big fan or skirts and dresses. for both casual and fancy occasions, i figure i was blessed with long limbs so might as well show em off, right?! the theory line featured on shopbop contains what i consider to be a complete collection of wardrobe essentials. neutral colors, interesting and flattering cuts, well fitted silhouettes, beautiful textures, lush material choices- it has me making a wish list that would empty out my bank account. shop and enjoy it here!

flowery ideals

music monday

so i had a small cd shopping splurge on the weekend. 6 new discs, all of which i'm practically obsessed with. i'm having trouble deciding which one gets played in the pearl first!

couple of my fave tunes include.

make me proud - drake

take care - drake ft. rihanna

you are the best thing - ray lamontange (please don't judge the song on the horrible, corny music video)

all of this - the naked & famous

countdown - beyonce

.. i know i'm jumping on a bandwagon thats practically overflowing, but the drake album is fantastic. even if you're not a fan of hip-hop rap, i suggest you giver a listen.

more songs to be shared from these albums eventually, i'm sure of it. i haven't even begun to explore and search and listen for the hidden gems! you know.. those songs you can only find by listening to the whole album, cover to cover a couple of times.

please note: the young the giant album topped my list of wants and needs but unfortunately their distributor sucks! the music store has been sold out for over a month and doesn't know when they will be getting more in! i will be showing my love by purchasing the album on itunes (it will be my first itunes purchase, and i'm pretty stoked that it's in support of such a wicked band) incase you're a developing groupie like myself, they have a show in toronto on march 1st, $20 tickets. yippee!

and in honor of their awesome-ness, one more song for your listening pleasure.. cough syrup

yo hello hooray

TGIF! i am so very looking forward to the weekend and i hope you all enjoy the two days off!

some things making me happy on this friday afternoon...

my new fish eye lense camera. film loaded (no, it's not digital) and ready to be broken in this weekend!

the fact that the santa claus parade is this sunday! and fun fact, any child under 12 wearing a rudolph red nose gets to ride the TTC for free!

kernels popcorn. bought two bags last night, mowed through them, and have admitted my severe addiction. favorite flavors are jalepeno jack and thai sweet chili. yumyumyum.

there's only 37 sleeps til christmas!!!!!! and 38 sleeps til my little sister comes home for a visit!!!

the start of the cold weather. it takes some getting used to and a slight wardrobe change, but we live in canada and we should embrace all this great country has to offer!

i got a free starbucks gift card from a resident at work as a thank you for a situation where i helped her out a couple weeks ago. so thoughtful.

the fun flirty cut, color and details of this cute pensey swing tank. little out of season, but perfect for a beach holiday or wear under a blazer or sweater until the summer months return!

beyonces new song countdown. i don't know if its the pregnancy or what, but all her new music is about being crazy in love and i think its grand! my obsession will be over soon, i promise.

have a great weekend friends! over and out. ox

wish list*

{ Vauna $295 }

{ Frances $645 }

{ Bleu $495 }

DANNIJO

"Founded by sisters Danielle and Jodie Snyder in 2008, DANNIJO jewelry is hand-made in New York and offers an eclectic range of designs. Danielle’s bohemian, rocker vibe combined with Jodie’s timeless sophistication makes for a versatile and ever-changing statement collection that consistently maintains a strong sense of DNA."

if these jewels aren't drool worthy, i don't know what is! i love practically ever single piece. the chunky, bedazzled, colorful elements are exactly what i'm loving in jewellry right now.(as seen here in my most recent necklace purchase in miami) read more about the duo and shop their gorgeous line HERE.

just because - i'm so darn excited

officially subscribed!!! i can't wait to receive my first box of goodies! (incase you have no idea what i'm so excited about, check out glymm for further explanation)... i also think a 3 or 6 month subscription would be an awesome christmas gift idea, and who wouldn't be psyched about receiving their christmas gift(s) throughout the year!

just because

{ Brian Atwood }

stationary

how cute are these note cards!? jess lc's online collection is filled with beautiful items including stationary, handbags, jewellry - lots to drool over!
i am a huge fan of snail mail. anyone who says they do not enjoy getting hand written notes in the mail are flat out lying! most any close friend of mine can vouch for my love of snail mail, having received a letter of sorts from me at some point. in the era of texting and email, where technology consumes the way we communicate, I personally feel sending a letter or a note is a great way to show someone you love them.

i think in the next week we should all make it a point to send someone a letter!

i also must give a loving shoutout to my cousins adorably wonderful company dutch door press. shop it HERE!

music monday

PJ20. the film that documents the early beginnings of the band and gives insight to what has made the superstar rockers who they are today.

in honor of their twenty years, my top three favorite pearl jam tunes...daughter, jeremy & better man (two of the three links are of live shows.. pearl jam is just one of those bands, where the songs are even more enjoyable when sung live. and i must say the better man video makes me regret, beyond words, not getting tickets to their concert in toronto this summer - a mistake never to be overlooked again!

while we're on the topic...

magazines. style.com is pretty much the most brilliant reference point for anything fashion. so it is totally awesome that they're now distributing their brilliance in print form! the sizing is exaggerated and i'm hoping they have some copies left during my weekend visit to chapters. not surprised at their choice to have lindsey wixson grace the cover either.. her gap-toothed smile has been fully booked for years.

scarlett fever

{Scarlett Johansson on the cover of December 2011 Vanity Fair}

i was pleasantly delighted when i opened the mailbox last night. i'm not the biggest scarjo fan, but there's no denying how unbelievable she looks on the december cover of VF.

personal note: magazine subscriptions make checking the so mail more fun! and even more so when you have subscriptions to two magazines!

just because

{Zara}

wanderlust wednesday

with ski season fast approaching the snowy slopes are on my mind! my sister moved to whistler, british columbia a year ago and i've been lucky enough to visit a few times. i don't think i can choose whether i love it more in the summer or winter more but with the cold approaching i think skiing has to be the focus of this post. five star alliance released a list of the world's best luxury ski resorts and i was happy to see whistler made the list. i love skiing and have grown up with great memories of family vacations with friends. i hope to continue ski vacations and even though whistler is my destination of choice at the moment, i would love to eventually check out some of the spots of their list!

tasty (temptation) tuesday

on our recent trip to niagara, the wine tour took a (much loved) detour to a chocolate factory where D and I tried salted caramels. i actually bought one and we each had a nibble and had to go back to buy two more! the smooth, creamy caramel, combined with the salty bite that hits your palette and softly fades away. these little treats are to die for! (especially for those who feel that caramel > chocolate -i.e. me!). I found this recipe for fluer de sel caramels that i think i might have to try this weekend. if it's successful i think quite a few of my friends will be getting beautifully wrapped little packages of caramels for christmas!

music monday

i LOVE this song! awolnation first brought us sail, and now have my radio blaring with it's not your fault. enjoy!

just because

bookworm

{New York Times Bestseller.. the memoir details the provocative life of

RHCP front man and his life of sex, drugs & rock n' roll}

arabesque

{NARS - Arabesque}

(newest polish purchase, i have shellac on right now

but i'm dying to coat my tips in this shimmery girly pink!)

a certain fall feeling

today, more specifically than others, feels like fall. the cool wind, dark skies. i think this photo, with its colors and natural feel, captures what i'm feeling quite perfectly. the slow, dreamy melody of glen hansard and marketa irglova's - falling slowly is a perfect musical addition for a slow fall afternoon.

my second home

{Cabot Trail}

{Peggy's Cove}

{Halifax}

{Atlantic Lobster}

As one of my favorite places to visit, Nova scotia really has everything needed to have a great holiday. Fresh seafood, bars that leave you with foggy memories of great nights with friends, outgoing, friendly locals, natural landscapes with great hiking trails. My love of the east coast started on my regular visits to visit D at university in the Annapolis Valley (about an hour outside of Halifax). I’ve probably visited close to 15 times in the past four years, with some visits lasting over a month – I just love it! I’m headed out for the weekend to visit my best friend Katie who recently moved back home after living in Toronto for a year. I cannot wait to step foot on Nova Scotia soil again and am even more so looking forward to a big hug! Some of our weekend plans include a squash game, meeting Katie’s new friends from law school(best friends chance to boast - so proud of you K!), pub crawl with friends (I swear I meet and love more people everytime I go out east!), (hopefully) a lobster feast, a hike with Katie’s dog Bella, and what I look forward to most is lots of time spent with a great friend! If you haven’t visited the east coast, I highly recommend it! I promise you won’t be disappointed.

just because

wanderlust wednesday

Hotel La Mamounia, Morocco. rich design, unending elegance, architectural details that make me weak in the knees. pennies will need to be saved to visit this gem but i think its worth the sacrifice. see the beauty for yourself on their website.

music monday

the naked and famous - punching in a dream. very much enjoying the groovy tunes they're puttin out. their record is definitely on my list of cds (yes i still buy cds) to pick up next time i make my way to the music shop. enjoy!

Happy Halloween!

{have a wonderful weekend friends!(filled with LOTS of mini chocolate bars) }

adult playground

I saw this on a cup of jo this morning. how FUN does carston hollers:experience exhibit look!? i'm really hoping the exhibit is still there whenever i make my way to new york next!! you have to admit, slides are great.. and the slides at parks are just way too short, especially being almost six feet tall, i sit down and my legs are almost touching the ground! this slide looks perfectly proportioned for my lanky limbs : )

closet hoarder

my obsession with jackets continues with this most recent purchase. the pattern is what got me. soft, cozy wool with a collar that will protect me from the cold weather that has come upon toronto this week. and with esprit having a 40% off sale - it was meant to be!

as my coat collection has reached over twelve now i was trying to pin point what i look for in a jacket... this is what i've come up with.

1. color - i like being able to pair the same jacket with lots of different outfits, so i stick with neutral tones

2. texture - i like wearing a jacket that feels nice

3. fit - probably most important. i'm not a girl who wears everything form fitting, but if a jackets going to be oversized, it's gotta still be flattering

4. price - i understand splurging on a luxurious jacket that you've been lusting over in the latest vogue, but for me i'd rather have options... hence, my collection of reasonably priced coats!

so, how do you choose to stay warm?

tart deco

{ i chose essie's 'tart deco' for my lunchtime manicure today. completely love it}

check out all of essie's polish colors. i nearly always have my nails painted, so seeing the rainbow of choices pathetically excites me! if you were to have your own nailpolish what color would it be and what would you name it?

wanderlust wednesday

The Surf Lodge, Montauk, New York.

laid back vibes, seafood pulled right from the ocean and the best waves on the east coast. sounds like a summertime destination that could be easily enjoyed. maybe even the place to learn to surf?! (personal bucketlist item)