Tis the Season for Presents

Only 26 shopping days left until Christmas! While I'm knocking people off of my to-buy-for list, I found a few little items that I'd love to gift myself!
How perfect would this be to keep all your precious jewels on display? I need everything out where I can see it and this is a great solution!
Ikea Serving Platter - $14.99

I'm not usually one for huge danglers, but I'm heading to the Dominican again in the new year and this colour is just amazing.

Stella & Dot "Charlize" Teardrop Earrings - $34

I have been coveting a pair of fire engine red jeans since the end of the summer, but due to my shopping ban have yet to indulge in a pair.

American Eagle Jegging - $46.63

The essential party game.
This one includes tracks like "Everybody Dance Now," "Jump On It," and "Party Rock Anthem." Good Times.

Just Dance 3 for Wii - $34.99

The perfect day planner.
Monthly views, weekly views, and laminated tabs. This one can be personalized any way you'd like on the inside and monogrammed on the front!

Emma Rose & Me via Etsy - $44

What are you guys asking Santa for this year?

BT: "A Case of the Mondays"

Has anyone seen Office Space? If you haven't you should!

I definitely have a "case of the mondays," so I wouldn't blame you if you came around my desk, put on a fake-pouty-face and lamented the same.

I booked a trip down to the Dominican for January 7th and when I excitedly told my mom my happy news the only feedback she had was "why do you need to take two vacations in the same year?"
Oh mom. Come work with me for a week. Then it should be pretty self-explanatory. LOVE my job, but totally stressful.

denim shirt - Walmart (2011); belt - Smart Set (2010); skirt - Thrifted (2011);
boots - Sirens (2010); necklace - Stella & Dot (2011)

I'm seriously debating chopping this skirt off. I could easily make 2 with this amount of material... A knee length A-Line and a super swingy short one with the bottom foot and a half!
Also, behold this mess:

Sock Bun Fail!

Other ways I've Worn these boots:

BT & The First Snowfall

I'm really confused.

I live in Canada, so you think people would be used to the crazy amounts of snow we get every winter, right? So why is it that for some reason, come first snowfall, everyone just kind of forgets how to drive?

You should see the number of cars in the ditch... hilarious... until of course one spins out and comes your way.

And no, I didn't wear this today... heels, tights & short sleeves do not mix well with a first snow fall! This is from a few days back...

dress - Dynamite (2011); tights - Hue (2010); belt - Dynamite (2011);
heels - Aldo (2010)

Keeping: tights, belt & heels
Debating: this dress, I've only worn it once before now.

And once again... no "Ways I've Worn" because as I've said, this baby's only been pulled out once before! Hmmmm, it's a good thing I'm doing this challenge!

BT & An Overshare.

So apparently, dogs get periods. Who knew, right?
(can we detect my self-directed sarcasm?)

My procrastination bites me in the ass again. For those of you with female puppies - don't wait too long after they turn 6 months. Now poor coco will be in her uncomfortable (yet hilarious!) diaper for a few days and I'll have to wait 3 months to get her spayed. *siiigh* Maybe this will finally teach me to stop putting things off.

am I an awful mother for posting this? haha, she just looks so confused at the whole situation.

Oh right... the whole fashion blog thing...

shirt - Suzy Shier (2009); vest - H&M (2011); skinnies - Smart Set (2010);
flats - Steve Madden (2009)

nugget wrap bracelet - Stella & Dot (2011); watch - Guess (2010);
La Coco Chain - Stella & Dot (2011)

Sadly, I didn't have enough pictures of either the vest or button down to do a "Ways I've worn"... its a good thing they're finally getting some camera time!

BT & Holiday Prep

Surprisingly the shopping ban is going just swimmingly, even with Christmas just around the corner! I managed to find a fake tree for only $35 and I picked up all my decorations on the cheap last January, so I'm pretty much all set! The bf has a job in Toronto all week, but when he gets back next weekend we'll be in full decorating mode!

Christmas presents on the other hand have me a little worried... Does anyone have any creative DIY ideas for friends and family gifts? What do you guys have planned in terms of presents this holiday season? Feel free to share ideas and links in the comments section!

blazer - Ricki's (2009); tee - Smart Set (2010); skinnies - Smart Set (2010);
necklace - Smart Set (2010); heels - BCBG (2009)

Ways I've Worn This Blazer...

BT: Define Me.

I've owned these shoes for about 3 years now and I'm pretty sure this is the first time they've seen the light of day. Sad, isn't it?
Fortunately I've developed (or am developing.... I still have my moments!) better shopping habits and don't purchase random things just because they're on sale.

So I'm again facing this conundrum on defining my style. I don't think I have a definition per se. I see something, I like it, I buy it, I wear it - but maybe it's time (after the shopping ban of course) to develop a more cohesive closet?

So since I have no idea where to start, if you had to define my style, what words would you use to describe me?

knit dress - Charlotte Russe (2009); belt - Dynamite (2010);
leggings - F21 (2011); flats - Aldo (2008)

Keeping: Dress, Belt & Leggings
Debating: Flats

Ways I've Worn this Knit Dress

BT: Weekend Fun & A Love Affair

SWAMPED!

Or at least that's how I feel at work lately. It's only Tuesday and I already feel like I've worked more than a week. I have a feeling I will be in serious need of vacation come Christmas.

The little bits of fun I've been having in between are welcome changes. Last Saturday we had a lovely dinner at the Best Friend's place out in Woodlawn, followed by drunken "Just Dance" on the Wii. If you haven't played yet, you have no idea what you're missing. You look so ridiculous trying to mimic the avatar on the screen you can't help but laugh at yourself :)
Last night the BF and I went for Indian at the East India Company on Somerset - by FAR the best indian food in Ottawa, and they have buffet so if you're new to the experience there's lots for you to try. I'm in love with their Veg Korma. I asked it if it wanted to date, but apparently it has a lot of suitors and wasn't ready to settle down. That's okay, as long as it has time for me at least once a month.

Still keeping up with my Challenge too :) I'll EVENTUALLY have a spreadsheet - but that requires free time.

cardigan - Dynamite (2010); blouse - Smart Set (2010);
skirt - Dynamite (2010); boots - LimeLight (2009)

Other Ways I've Worn this "Painted" Skirt...

Shoe Lust: Holiday Sparklers

With the Holiday season fast approaching, I couldn't help but check out the sparklers.
I know I'm on a shopping ban, but I can always daydream....

top: Steve Madden; Sam Edelman; Aldo
middle: Spring; Steve Madden; Aldo;
bottom: Sam Edelman; Betsey Johnson; Jeffrey Campbell

Buried Treasures & some emo-ness.

Today is not a good day.

Bad news has definitely given me a case of the humbugs and has kind of made me question what the eff I'm even good at anymore. Aren't we all supposed to have some kind of talent? Shouldn't we all kind of be good at something and then we manipulate that into some kind of career?
*sigh* I don't know anymore. I realize I'm still young and I have time to figure it out, fail at a few things, and try them over again with greater possibilities of success, but it still sucks. Ya know?

Alright... something good...? Hmmm... I look hot in stripes?

tunic/dress - F21 (2011); cardigan - Zara (2010); skinnies - Smart Set (2010);
boots - Thrifted (2009)

Other Ways I've Worn this Zara Cardigan...

Sweet Somethings: Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake

Monday was the bf's 26th birthday so I had to make him his favorite dessert - cheesecake.

I swear, there wasn't actually anything orange in the cake. My camera is strange some times.

People think cheesecake is intimidating, but I assure you it's a piece of cake. Pun intended.

For the crust:

1 1/2 cup of crushed craham crackers
1/2 cup of sugar
4 tbsp melted butter

For the Cheesecake:

3 sticks of cream cheese
1 cup of sugar
4 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup of cocoa powder or hot chocolate mix

SUPER EASY!

1. Mix together all the ingredients for the crust and press into the bottom and one inch up the sides of an 8" or 9" springform pan.
2. Cream together the sugar and cream cheese. (Don't skip this step or your cheesecake will be lumpy!)
3. Add in the eggs one at a time and then the vanilla and mix it real good.
   
4. Pour half to 3/4 of the batter into your pan.
5. Mix in your chocolatey goodness to the remaining batter and then pour that on top.
   
6. Swirl with a knife to get a ribbon-esque look.
7. Bake for 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees until the edges are firm but the middle is slightly jiggly still.
   

I got lazy and topped it with cherry pie filling, but you could also sprinkle your favorite chopped fruit (like raspberries... mmmmm) with sugar and let it sit for a couple minutes so it gets all juicy and top it with that.
And voila! In less than an hour you have a gigantic piece of deliciousness to enjoy :)

Buried Treasures: Winners Cardigan

I definitely don't feel as inspired in this one, but we all have off days.
What I love about this outfit is my hair What I don't like is the silhouette I'm creating with this long sweater, wide jean combination.

tee - Zara (2010); cardigan - Winners (2011); jeans - Dynamite (2010);
belt - Smart Set (2010); shoes - Madden Girl (2009)

Keeping: tee, jeans, belt
Purging: shoes. they're cute, but I think it's a donate now.
Debating: long sweater

I scoured my lookbook but couldn't find multiple outfits in which I wore any of these pieces besides the jeans... I think that means I didn't choose these pieces well when I bought them!

Buried Treasures: BCBG Full Skirt

With a closet as overstuffed as mine, it's east to forget pieces that you absolutely love.

I'm definitely happy that I chose to do this. Getting dressed these last few days have actually been FUN. Pulled this out the other morning and couldn't believe I hadn't worn it since the spring! It's so swingy and freaking adorable, it should be part of my regular rotation!

blouse - Jacob (2010); skirt - BCBG (2009); watch - Guess (2010); heels - Aldo (2010)

another piece I never wear... thrifted this back in 2008!

Other ways I've worn this fabulous skirt...

Buried Treasures: The Shop My Closet Challenge

It just so happens that today is the 2 year anniversary of my lil' ol' blog. You can partake in my embarrassment here. They grow up so fast, don't they?

I was planning on doing a year in review, but (if we haven't noticed by my lack of posts lately...) I am short on spare time, and while I'd LOVE to go through all my old pictures and put together a little montage-y thing for you, I know I'd just be making a promise I can't keep.

I DO on the other hand have a new challenge that I will be starting today :)
If you're addicted to the shopaholic series of books (a super quick & fun read!) you already know that in the most recent installment Rebecca Brandon (née Bloomwood) is on a shopping ban until she wears EVERYTHING in her closet. I have decided to partake in said challenge as well. I already have a spreadsheet (my OCD goes a little crazy here!) of all the items in my closet, so I will be using that as a starting point to make sure EVERYTHING GETS WORN BEFORE I SHOP AGAIN! If I honestly can't make a piece work, it will be donated. I'll make a post dedicated to my spreadsheet eventually for those of you who are also Type A's!

Wish me luck :)

fur trim vest - Old Navy (2010); vintage blouse - thrifted (2011);
skinnies - Smart Set (2010); boots - Spring (2011)

Ways I've worn this Fur Trimmed Vest...

It's never too late for a costume post.

I freaking love Halloween.

Let it be known that there were THREE costumes this year.... but of course, after the debauchery started, no pictures were taken so you only get to see me as Marilyn and not Red Foo or my adorable 50's chick in my handmade poodle skirt.