Give it to me Straight!

You may have noticed that I've been rockin' the super straight locks lately.

This of course is all thanks to the lovely folks over at Misikko who were nice enough to send me a fabulous new HANA 1.5" Titanium Flat Iron. 

I've been using it for about two months now and have to say that I am truly happy with this amazing product.

First of all, I'd like to point out how incredibly beautiful the package was. My box unfortunately came slightly damaged, but that's due to the lovely people at Canada Post (note the sarcasm), and not Misikko. The hair brush, metal tin, and eyelash curler that they were nice enough to include in the package were broken beyond use. Sad face.

My Package :)

So Many Goodies!

 Unlike my old straightening iron, I actually USE this one on an almost daily basis. Instead of the usual 20 minutes it would take to straighten my super thick hair, this one does it's job in 5 minutes flat.
It heats up quickly (with an adjustable dial!), and straightens with one pass.

makeup-less me, rockin my super straight strands :)

Needless to say, I'm thrilled with this flat iron, and I will definitely check out Misikko for any future hair needs.... I already have my eye on a fabulous new hair dryer!

Help! I'm in a Fashion RUT!

Jeans. Tees. Flats. 

I have been so ridiculously boring lately... thus the lack of outfit posts.

Why, you ask?

In the last year I've changed my work environment three times - and my closet/daily dressing routine has changed with it. 

About a year ago I was employed by a company that had a strict "business" dress code. Black pants and skirts were the norm for me, and you'd almost always fins me in a pair of cute, yet conservative, heels.

When I came to Mistura at the end of last summer, my fashion prayers were answered. I was suddenly in this fun, business-casual, family environment, where I was free to wear practically anything. I took this opportunity to experiment a bit and my closet suddenly went from trying to look like everyone else's, to finally looking like mine. 

Then, back in January, we decided it was time to take over the warehouse and shipping aspect of our business and we moved to a much larger, much more utilitarian space. Slowly I felt myself making the transition from "accountant" to "jack-of-all-trades." I now spend half my days in the office, and half my days in the warehouse kitting, packing, shipping, and playing with inventory.

So here's my dilemma: How do I spice up my new "uniform"? I still need to be practical so I can run around like a crazy person at times, but I also want to remain fun, with enough "professionalism" to be introduced to other business people who drop by the office from time to time.

How do I get out of my jeans and t-shirt rut?

Must Read: a Beginner's Guide to Posing like a Fashion Blogger

I'm sure this has already been re-posted a million times right now, but it caused me to actually LOL at my desk this morning. 

Here's the Beginner's Guide to Posing like a Fashion Blogger. 

Here's a sneak peek at his genius... 

"The Agony"

And the funny thing is we really DO look this awkward.... at least I do! 

Weekend Perfection

Work - Study - Sleep 

has been the norm for the last few weeks. 

Oh, and throw in being disgustingly sick for the last 7 days. So fun. 

Lucky for me, the boyfriend gave me a little break this past weekend with delicious Chinese buffet Friday night, and a stroll and a pint in the market (with a little window shopping thrown in!).
Add a BBQ with good friends, and a Mother's Day cake, and you pretty much have the perfect weekend!

hat - Call it Spring (2012); sunglasses - Juicy Couture (2009); blouse - Jacob (2010);  

watch - Guess (2010); skinnies - Smart Set (2010); flip flops - Old Navy (2011)

 

A perfect outfit for a gorgeous, laid back afternoon. 

Breezy top, a sassy chapeau, and flip flops for extra-long walks :)

Britain's Most Beautiful Face

How's this for a definition of Beauty?

"A woman's face is said to be most attractive when the space between her pupils is just under half the width of her face from ear to ear. [...] Experts also believe the relative distance between eyes and mouth should be just over a third of the measurement from hairline to chin." 

"The 18-year-old student is blessed with what is described as the perfect face. It matches an international blueprint for the optimum ratio between eyes, mouth, forehead and chin, endowing her with flawless proportions. [...] And to top it off, Florence's face is almost perfectly symmetrical, which is also scientifically linked with beauty."

 

This Daily Mail article caught my eye this morning. 

Don't get me wrong - she's a stunner - but I was always led to believe that beauty can be found in the differences and imperfections. Julia Roberts' mouth, Tina Fey's scar, Jewel's crooked teeth...

"perfect proportions" - could this be another way the media is setting an unachievable standard for beauty? 

Thoughts?

Read the whole article here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2132896/Florence-Colgate-Girl-Britains-beautiful-face.html#ixzz1syTbEzmc

Before I Go Completely MIA

I'm going through some serious blogger withdrawal at the moment, but life has gotten in the way!

Posts will be very sparse and sporadic for the next little while as things pick up at work and I prepare to write my next huge professional exam in June, so bear with me.

So until the next time, here's an outfit from a few weeks back...

blouse - Thrifted Vintage (2011); skirt - Smart Set (2010); belt - Thrifted Vintage (2009); 

heels - Aldo "Urquisa" (2010); pearls - Stella & Dot (2011)

In Which I discuss Pug Farts

Poor little Coco was spayed, micro-chipped, and had three teeth pulled yesterday... What a trooper. 

I was told she'd be lethargic, a huge suck, and over-all a whole new puppy - for the better of course. 

This was not the case. She's still a nut-job.

And it might just be her meds - but she's even stinkier than usual. I don't know what it is about this dog, but she can clear a room like it's her job. Is it all dogs whose farts smell like death, or is this a pug specific problem? Haha.

I'll try to be less gross with my topics in the future... but no promises.

 vest - H&M (2011); tee - Smart Set (2011); skinnies - AE (2011); 

wedges - Chinese Laundry (2010)

I need a nap

I am not a morning person.

Come to think of it, I'm not a night owl either.

I like sleep way too much...

But it seems that no matter how much sleep I get I'm always exhausted!

I had to wake up an hour earlier than usual this morning to have some work done on my car and I feel like a walking zombie. No amount of coffee seems to snap me out of it.

Does anyone know of any jobs you can do from the comfort of your own bed?

 

button down - Walmart (2011); necklace - Stella & Dot (2011); vest - Dynamite (2009); 

pants - Jacob (2011); flats - Aldo ( 2008)

March Additions & Subtractions

Since I have another clothing swap coming up in a few weeks, I took another pass through my closet and got rid of a few things this month.

This green button up never fell right on me and I was constantly tugging it down, so out it went. 

This white dress became too short when I gained a few pounds last year - not sure why I was holding onto this one!

I LOVE the gold sparkly tee and have already worn it a handful of times, AND it was only $3.50 at Dynamite. 

The purple skirt is also from Dynamite and came in at $5.50. This was totally an impulse buy as it's the "Mistura" colour, so I figured I would get some use out of it at a future event or demo. 

Smart Set was having an end of season sale a few weeks back (yay extra 40% off!) and I bought this fishtail skirt for $6 and this beautiful black pleated maxi for $9. These are definitely trendier items, but I'm looking forward to trying to style them as the weather warms up.
The Max Studio black mini and the gold coloured Cynthia Rowley tank were both gifts from my bosses - gotta love the perks of working for such an awesome company!

Grand Total? $24, just under my $25 monthly clothing allowance.

I think I deserve a pat on that back. 

This month I'm searching for the perfect white summer dress! Stay tuned to see what goodies I find!

Slightly Distracted...

Oh Heeeeeeey! A blog post! It's about time, eh?

I'm not even going to lie - although last week WAS hectic at work - I've been super distracted by World of Warcraft. 

Yup, I'm a closet geek.

This is what I wore when I wasn't in my pj's in front of the computer:

Oh and hey! I found time to crop my ex-favorite skinny jeans! Go Team Me!

sunnies - Michael Kors (2011); scarf - ???; 3/4 tee - Smart Set (2011); cardigan - A|X (2011); 

skinnies - Smart Set (2010); flats - Aldo (2008)

Is That New?

Granted, it was only my unobservant boyfriend who made this comment, 

but don't you love it when you put on a piece you wear all the time and someone mistakes it for something brand new just based on how you styled it?

Score.

 

 cardigan - A|X (2011), necklace - ???; sheer blouse - Jacob (2010); 

skinnies - Bluenotes (2012); OTK boots - Spring (2012)

And One for Good Luck! (Stripes Day 5)

Alright, I'll be honest, I never actually wore this out in public.

I had it planned out to wear to a friend's birthday when the weather turned ridiculously warm, but instead it was freezing cold and I realized it was a tad too short. But I had too much fun taking them not to post them.

Don't worry, this dress won't be seen again! It's made it's way to the swap pile. 

 

cardigan - Urban Behaviour (2010); dress - Dynamite (2007); belt - Dynamite (2009); 

heels - Delicious (2011)

Click HERE to see how the other ladies rounded up the Super Stripes Challenge!

Stripes: Day 3 & 4

It's been a crazy few days, so I'm going to make it short and sweet before I indulge in some much needed sleep!

Here are my stripes from the last two days:

i love this reversible tee!

3/4 tee - Smart Set (2011); skirt - Jacob (2011); wedges - Aldo "mignona" (2010)

 

 tank - Dynamite (2011); draped cardigan - Winners (2010); jeans - Bluenotes (2012)

Watch: Killing Us Softly

I'll be back later today with my stripes, but for now, check out this amazing little mini-docu on youtube about women, advertising, and how it subconsciously distorts our perceptions. 

I thought it was very appropriate as we're the type of women who are constantly looking at Ads from the fashion industry.  

Thanks to Debbi for introducing me to these videos :)

Stripes: Day 2

Wednesday already? Awesome. 

More gorgeous weather here! For my second day of stripes I decided to be a bit more "spring-y" and opted for an open heel and a light cardigan and tank. 

Would you even classify this as a cardigan? Hmmm...

 

necklace - Gift (Xmas 2011); "cardigan" - Smart Set (2010); tunic - Dynamite (2007); 

jeans - AE (2012);  heels - Spring (2010)

Don't forget to check out the rest of the girls participating in this challenge here.

Stripes: Day 1

I had no idea that "super stripes week" would be taking place in the middle of a heat wave!

Let's just say that by 4pm yesterday, I was seriously regretting my outfit choice.

 

cropped sweater - H&M (2009); dress - F21 (2011); necklace - Thrifted (???); boots - Spring (2012)

Don't forget to go visit the other ladies taking part and say "Hi!"

Photo Dump!

This week is "Stripes Week" thanks to Megan and Keely! I'm definitely in stripes today, but the photos will have to wait until after work, so for now, here are a few shots from last week :) 

cardigan - Zara (2010); lace tank - Winners (2011); skinny jeans - Bluenotes (2012); boots - Thrifted (2009)

cardigan - Jacob (2011); tee - Dynamite (2008); skinny jeans - Tommy Hilfiger (2011); flats - Aldo (2010)

oh heeey! I did throw some stripes in! This next one's from Saturday at the dog park.

cardigan - Urban Behavior (2010); tee - Walmart (2011); skinny jeans - Bluenotes (2012); boots - Thrifted (2009); 

bag - Old Navy (2011)

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for my official start of stripes!

In My Shoes: Thrifted Cowboy Boots

Damn I love these boots. They cost me $8, and I would have paid way more if I had to!

They're from this great little vintage shop in Peterborough (where I went to University), called "Sympathy for the Rebel." I found soooo many treasures there, but this is definitely one of my favorites :)

Ways I've styled these Thrifted Cowboy Boots...

How would you wear them?

Aaand it's gone.

Have you ever had a blog topic randomly pop into your head while you were in the shower/grocery store/car wash/wherevs where you think, "omg, this is GENIUS! I will be able to write for HOURS about this!," only to sit down at your computer hours later and have absolutely nothing to say?

Yeah. I really need to write stuff down.

blazer - Dynamite (2011); tee - Jacob (2011); jeans - American Eagle (2012); boots - Spring (2010);

 necklace - Stella & Dot (2011)

It's In The Bag

I've seen a lot of "What's In My Bag?" posts, and while mine won't be the most entertaining, I had to get the notion of doing one out of my system :)

1. The bag is a Michael Kors soft leather hobo. I went in with every intention of buying the Hamilton Satchel, but decided to save a few bucks and went for this one... BIG MISTAKE. Don't get me wrong, I still like it, but if you EVER plan on buying an "investment" bag, do NOT go for the softest leather you can find. Not even a week after purchase this baby had a hole in it :(
2. Marc Jacobs "Daisy"  body lotion. Luxuriously creamy and scented just like the perfume, it's great for dry hands or when you need that extra allure.
3. My 1st generation iPod Touch. This thing is OLD and has a crack in the screen, but after almost 5 years it still works perfectly and provides me with shopping lists, a calculator, and music on the go - all must haves.
4. My planner/agenda. I'm SO old fashioned when it comes to planning out my days, I had to stick with pen and paper!
5. Juicy Couture shades - prescription for driving!
6. My janitor-esque key ring. YES, I need them all!
7. The blackberry of course... I'd feel lost without it!
8. Isaac Mizrahi wallet (Thanks Christine!)
9. BigSexyHair volumizing and texturizing powder - PERFECT for when you're feeling  a little greasy and need to add a little "bounce" to my hair!

 What do you need to bring everywhere?

There Will Be No Encore!

I took these photos after work the other day and I guess the flash by the window alerted my neighbor to my activities... next thing I knew I had an audience.

Safe to say I won't be taking photos here after it gets dark anymore... 

I don't know how you ladies with your tripods in public areas do it! I got embarrassed in my own home!

cardigan - Armani Exchange (2011); dress - F21 (2011); belt - Dynamite (2008); 

boots - Thrifted (2010)

Feels like Spring

Today was freaking gorgeous! Finally, spring-like weather! 

I tried to rush home and take some pictures outside in the sunshine, but of course, got stuck in rush hour traffic and missed the last little bit. I'm actually looking forward to "Springing Ahead" the clocks Saturday night.

This outfit's from last week, hence the heave knits!

 

cardigan - A|X; shell - BCBG; skinnies - American Eagle; booties - Aldo 

Ways I've Worn this BCBG Shell...

Confession

As promised (and to cleanse my conscience!), here are my purchases and additions since starting my Buried Treasures Closet Challenge back in November.

Clockwise From Top-Left: Smart Set; Dynamite; Smart Set; American Eagle; Bluenotes; American Eagle; Spring; Bluenotes.

Total Spending: $134

So you might be thinking to yourself, "did she really need FOUR pairs of new pants?!" or, "did she buy THREE of the same sweater?!"

Not really, and yes. 

I think I've come to realize that by denying myself the pleasure of shopping and then being unleashed on a store, I lose all self control. 

I really need a better strategy.

Lazy Weekend

I have been such a disgusting, snotty, mess these last few days! This cold has been building up for the last week, and I think it's finally gotten the better of me. Hopefully with lots of R&R this weekend (and maybe a bit of alcohol... you know, to kill the germs...) I'll feel much better come Monday.

So this is what I wore before I felt like death... 

cardigan - Jacob (2010); tee - Swap (2011); jeans - Bluenotes (2012); 

knit cap - Spring (2012); otk boots - Spring "Baldi" (2012)

Yes, those are new boots... I've kind of broken the shopping ban... I was good for a long while though, and I'm still shopping on a tight budget. I'll do a round-up post shortly.

No Concealing My Opinion

Aren't I a hoot?
 Anyhoo...
Let's be honest, I have deep set eyes and olive skin, so dark under-eye circles are a HUGE issue for me. So much so that I put on concealer both before AND after my foundation.

Because of this, I've been on the hunt for the perfect one for a while now, and have a few opinions to share with you.

The Contenders:

Benefit's "BOI-ING", MAC's "Studio Sculpt", Smashbox's "Camera Ready"

I'm comparing these 3 products because they're all around $20, all mid-range products, and I've used them all for a while now. I took pictures to show you the difference, but a close-up, make-up free, picture of my face is NOT pretty! Hah.

1st Place: Benefit's BOI-ING
Honestly, I've heard the hype forever, and have tried the erase paste before, but never bothered to try this one. Now I regret not trying it out sooner! It is a little thick, but I think that only helps with the coverage. If you warm it up between your thumb and forefinger first it goes on beautifully. It feels light and not cakey at all... And did I mention how much I love all of Benefit's packaging?

2nd Place: MAC's Studio Sculpt
This formula is lighter and creamier feeling than the "boi-ing" but i also feel like it gives slightly less coverage and rubs off a lot sooner. Using a concealer brush does help a bit with the coverage issue, but I did find myself reapplying it several times during the day, regardless.

3rd Place: Smashbox's Camera Ready
Smashbox always makes great products - I especially love their Photo Finish Primers - so I bought this one first with high hopes. This one is definitely the easiest to apply because it's in a handy little roll-up tube like a lipstick, but i also found that it was firmer because of this and required a little extra blending when it was applied. I also found that it gave the least coverage over-all and needed the most layers during application.

Does anyone else have concealer recommendations?
 
Please note that this review is personal opinion only. I have not been contacted by any of the above mentioned brands, nor have I received any product free of charge.

Clueless Pairings

Am I slow? Does anyone else not get/enjoy closet couture?

Back in 1995 when I first saw "Clueless" I was completely enamored with her computer based closet program. Still am actually. You'd think with all the crazy technological advances that have been made this past decade someone would have cashed in? Either way, I'm still on the hunt! If anyone has a recommendation, I'll take it.

Also, whatever happened to weardrobe?

And no, I don't consider polyvore an equivalent! As if! I like, totally need someone to tell me when I'm mismatched!

is that really a "mismatch"? i kinda like it... haha.

Until then though, randomly pulling combinations from my closet will have to do!

button down - Walmart (2011); vest - YDE (2009); jeans - American Eagle (2011); 

necklace - Stella & Dot (2011); boots - Thrifted (2008)

Other Ways I've Worn This Denim Button-Down...

Mother Nature is a Tease

This past weekend was just plain blah. Huge amounts of snow and crazy winds kept me in hibernation mode. While I did manage to get some laundry done and organize a few future blog posts, the rest of my weekend was pretty much a write off. Yay for hot cocoa and chick flicks!

Before we got the random dump of 6 inches of snow though, it was actually starting to feel a little like spring around these parts...

And nothing says "spring" like a sheer floral blouse!

blouse - Jacob (2010); jeans - Bluenotes (2012); belt - Dynamite (2010); 

wedges - Aldo "Mignona" (2010)

Ways I've Worn This Sheer Floral Blouse...

Getting ReOrganized!

Last weekend, while I was packing to head out of town for the long weekend, my walk-in closet collapsed on my head.

While no bodies or shoes were injured, it left me pretty upset - who knew I had so many clothes that the weight of them would cause such a disaster?

 

my poor closet half-way through the clean out. Notice the bar on the floor? :(

So after reinforcing the structure of the closet, I thought it was time to purge & reorganize. 

The result?

 

 While it looks like a jumble, I assure you, it's organized!

1. I folded all my sweaters, pants, and tank tops, and put them on the top shelf. I divided them up with very inexpensive shelf dividers from Storage Solutions.
2. All my large bags were also put on the top shelf, and the same dividers were used to make them stand upright.
3. Tall boots also made their way to the top shelf, and rolled up magazines were used to help them keep their shape. 
4. Belts, scarves (which used to be shoved in a drawer!), and smaller bags, are now all hanging where I can see them for easy access. I was so surprised how many different types of hangers you can get, and all for only a few bucks!
5. The left side hold all my tops, coats, and layering pieces organized by type and weight. I'm not the type of person who has a "summer" and "winter" wardrobe to swap out... although maybe I should be?
6. The right side holds dresses and skirts. I'm sure I'll be sharing this space with the bf soon, so I need an alternate solution, or to downsize more..... hmmm....
7. My pride and joy! Haha, I love my shoe collection, and I love that it's all on display now. all together, these four shelves cost me $20 at Home Depot. They were super easy to put up too!
8. I know I'm gonna get a lot of flack for this one - but all my flats are now in a convenient basket. I can grab and go, and not worry about them taking up ridiculous amounts of space.

 

 I couldn't resist showcasing a close-up of my babies :)

So tell me, how do you keep your closet organized?