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.