August Resolutions Recap

 Gap top, Mexx skirt, Anne Michelle heels (last seen here), Joe Fresh belt,

Suzy necklace, Bay ring, F21 & Mexican bangle & BCBG beaded bracelet

Goodness*!  It's the last day of August; hard to believe. This month my resolutions didn't sit too well with me, and by 'sit well' I mean I barely followed them.  It's as if I forgot I'd made them... funny how that happens.  Onto the list!

1.  I have spent many-a-time lake-side this summer, which I'm super grateful of.  It's so nice to get away on weekends in good company.

2.  I used Instagram a lot more than before (twice counts, right?)

3.  I didn't go thrifting once.

4.  Resolutions #3's outcome didn't help me save money this month... I just shopped at regular retail stores instead.  (oops?)

5.  I didn't just run 1km without stopping, I ran 2km.  Woot.  Woot.

6.  I wore sunscreen on the tops of my hands once.  I blame the non-sunny days.

* I've been using the term, 'Goodness' in regular everyday life.  It's strange.  Where does one pick up this sweet, but slightly senior-citizen-like term?  I'm not sure.  Someone tells me something shocking, 'Goodness!' I say.  I burn the dinner, insert-the-term-here.  I'm talking to a friend and they show me a new purchase, 'Goodness.. that's pretty'.  I forget to do something... you know the drill.  The word is really quite versatile.  Try it.  You might feel 70+ yrs. but maybe I'm starting a trend.  Just sayin'.

Listening to...

 

Purse Score + Rockin' the New Ash Booties

 H&M blazer (last seen here), H&M dress (worn as a shirt), H&M pants (last seen here),

Ash booties, Costa Blanca belt, Deux Lux bag, Suzy necklace, F21 ring & Zara cuff

Apparently I'm a walking billboard for H&M in this outfit (and I didn't even realize it until I started typing out the deets).

So I have been on a real bag binge lately (wtf) - I've been having so much luck in the purse department, it's getting a little ridiculous (and I am stopping immediately... or am I?).  This one is new and is by Deux Lux (pronounced: deluxe, for all your non-French speaking people out there) and I picked it up at Winners for a cool $60.  Normally I tend to keep my purse purchases under $50, so this was a splurge (for me. What!?).  However, I have since found the bag online and it sells for $150 (insert happy dance here)!

So last week was super hectic, hence the lack of posts, but I've got a few lined up for you this week, so check back.  And I know, the give-away, I haven't forgotten, I swear and you've all been so patient... it's coming!

So this was the first time wearing my new Ash booties (that I'm completely in love with, for the record).  When they arrived in the mail, my Dad was curious to see what I had ordered so I showed him.  His response?  Silence.  And then, "Oh... interesting'.  I laughed and told him he didn't have to like them, and it was okay (I think he then breathed a sigh of relief).  I understand not everyone has the same taste in shoes as I do, and that's okay.  I sometimes like 'out there' shoes and while there aren't for everyone, these booties got many looks and several compliments (bonus!).

Recent Eats

 

1.  (New) favourite workday breakfast: egg-white veggie omelette

2.  Burger & poutine (kicking the weekend off right)

3.  Toasted avocado & tomato sandwich

4.  Fresh watermelon

6.  Perfect breakfast

7.  Sugar pie (my first time trying it.  Verdict: amazing.  Especially in good company.)

Boot Wish List

 Betsey Johnson  |  Promise  |  Nine West  |  Aldo

Bamboo  |  Aldo  |  Cassidy  |  Alloy

Have a Great Weekend!

How I'm displaying some of my current faves right now

Killer booties.  Purple please.

One of the best (and most luxe) wedding videos I have ever seen.

A super sensitive and helpful article on what not to say to someone who is sick (and what you can say instead).

DIY nail trend for this fall you have to try.

Bored?  Need a laugh?  Feel like wasting time?

Size 41 please (in taupe).

Would you trash your dress?

Changing Up My Daily Breakfast

 Dyanmite blazer (last seen here), Old Navy top, H&M skirt (last seen here), BCBG heels (last seen here),

Mexx necklace & various bracelets

Ever wear your clothes backwards?  I do.  Prime example right here.  This top is totally on backwards.  It has a kind of criss-cross strap-thing going on in the front and with the blazer, it was just too much coverage so I flipped it around and voila.

The weekend is getting close, so close I can almost taste it.  I'm heading out of town for the weekend and couldn't be more excited.  It's so nice to get away and relax, especially in good company.  I've been trying to eat super healthy this week and have even changed up my diet a bit to see if it would make a difference (and so I can super indulge this weekend - ha!).  Normally I eat a 12-grain bagel with peanut butter for breakfast everyday.  This week I've been making a brocoli, tomato & cheese egg-white omlette every morning instead (at work, none the less - special thanks to the person who taught me this).  It's delicious and fills me (and I stay full longer, I think).   I've been eating tons of fruit and veggies (but that's pretty normal for me) and have added chicken to my daily salad I make for myself.  My dinners have been good too (except a little indulgence the other night) with lots of protein (I sound like a health nut - that's kind of annoying because trust you me, I love me so treats).  Sometimes a little tweaking is good... but then again, next week I might be back to my old ways.

Sidenote:  I may or may not have eaten peanut butter straight from the jar a few times (I'm going through withdrawls!).

My Favourite Sunscreens

I am really into sunscreen.  You are too?  Don't lie to me now, you'll get me all excited.  When I say really into sunscreen I mean I wear it everyday, preach it to anyone who will listen, and give my family and friends a hard time when they don't wear it.  I wasn't kidding you.

The only downfall to being 'really into sunscreen' is being really, really pale.  I am naturally fair skinned and if I wasn't really into sunscreen, it'd be a struggle to get colour on my body.  The sun and I don't mix super well and I could be out there all day long and get very minimal colour (or a lot of red colour).  It wasn't always like this.  You see, when I was younger (about seven years ago) I used to work at a tanning salon (this was somewhat before all the bad press tanning beds have gotten).  I would tan every three or four days and I was dark.  Super dark.  I'd never had such dark, tanned skin in my life.  It was amazing.  Amazing, but obviously very unhealthy.  I worked at that salon for about eight months and  to this day I cringe about how much damange I did to myself. 

After quitting the salon, I didn't stop there.  I continued to tan and keep that beautiful bronzed colour I'd 'worked' so hard for.  I remember going for a facial at an upscale spa and the estitician telling me I had sun damage around my hair line; but that didn't stop me.  I kept right on tanning because I wanted to look good (and I wasn't worried about wrinkles, fine lines and of course, cancer at that time). 

However, there came a time where I did stop, and it wasn't necessarily by choice, but I consider it a huge blessing in disguise.  In the spring of 2006 I had received a gift card for my birthday to a tanning salon I'd never been to before.  'Free tanning minutes!  Awesome!' I thought to myself.  Wrong.  Within the first visit, I developed really bad hives all over my body, specifically on my chest, arms and shoulders - it was ugly.  I was concerned about what kind of salon I was tanning at; was it clean? Was it the bed? Was I not acustom to their bulbs?  So in true smart fashion, I went back to try again.  Sure enough, I broke out in mad hives again, and not only was it ugly, they were super itchy too.  I stopped visiting that salon altogether and decided to go back to the place I used to work at, since I'd never had any issues there.  Sure enough, the hives appeared again and after some minor research, it looked like I had developed an allergy to the sun (or UV light for that matter).  I couldn't believe my misfortunate; would I have to go back to being pale?  I certainly hoped not, but my fortune didn't seem to change.  After spending a day at the beach with a girlfriend a few weeks later, the hives appeared yet again and it sealed the deal: no more sun for me.

From that day forward I vowed to take my sun protection seriously as (1) I didn't want to be covered in an ugly rash, and (2) I knew that I shouldn't be tanning anyways (the facts are out there people) and this was just the kick in the ass that I needed to stop.  The following week I went out and bought a moisturizing lotion that contained SPF that I would wear on my face and neck everyday.

Since then, I have worn an SPF 15 (or higher) on my face everyday, even in the winter.  It has become part of my daily morning routine and I have found a formula I really like.  Enter Equate Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 15.  Yes, this is from Walmart, and it costs me about $7 a bottle.  The bottle lasts me about two months and the formula is non-greasy, light and absorbs quickly.  I have tried many other face lotions with SPF, but I always go back to this one because it's so light (I hate those thick formulas and will only wear them when I'm spending a full day outside or at the beach, versus commuting to work and eating lunch outdoors).

When I do spend the day outside or head to the beach or cottage, I like to wear an SPF 30 or higher.  My friends and family rouse me for this, but I don't care; I'm being proactive about my skin and trying to be as preventative as possible in reducing wrinkles and my risks of skin cancer.  I really love the Ocean Potion brand (sadly not available in Canada so I stock up when I'm in the US) despite the Creamsicle smell.  The formula goes on smooth and easily, it's not thick, it's not greasy and it covers well.  Their water/sweat proof one is great too as the formula doesn't change much and it works in the water (but of course you should always re-apply after swimming).

Lastly, for convienence, I picked up the Banana Boat Ultra Defence aerosole SPF 50 this year because as much as I want to be careful, I too get lazy and sometimes just don't feel like rubbing a lotion in.  The aerosole is a great alternative because it's super quick and easy (you can even chase your friends around with this and protect those, 'I-don't-wear-sunscreen' types).  I do find this formula slightly greasy (I've been trying to wear it consistently on the tops of my hands daily as part of my August Resolutions) and doesn't absorb really well, but it's convienent and sometimes that trumps greasiness.

Do you wear SPF?  Are you hard core about protecting your skin like me or more lax about it?

Don't forget your hat!

Communication + Gratefulness

Ross dress, Sirens bolero, Jeffrey Campball sandals (thanks to this girl), Auslini bangle, Aldo necklace & clutch

My weekend has been interesting; I've not only had a great one, it's been a huge learning experience.  Over the past few months, I've started to realize just how important communication is (it's huge), and you'd think I would know that (or anyone would, for that matter), but I didn't.  I never realized the powerfulness behind communication and talking things through.  I've also learned that you should never take anyone for granted.  They could be gone at the drop of the hat but if you're really, really lucky, they might still stick around.  You know who you are, and I'm so grateful.

I wore this outfit to a baby shower in the Spring and totally forgot to post about it, so, here we are.

Covet

Guess 'Cielo', $195

I'm not often a huge fan of Guess (don't get me wrong, I like the brand I just don't tend to a find a lot for myself) but when I walked into the store yesterday and spotted this bag, I started drooling immediately.  I have a hard time justifying that price, but I can still oogle (oops!) ogle .

Recent Purchases: iPhone Snaps

1.  Urban Expressions bag

2.  Ash Jezebel booties

3.  Emperia bag/oversized-clutch

4.  Michael Kors inspired watch (from Walmart, $15!)

5.  Nina Garcia's, 'Look Book'

6.  ASOS feather clutch (finally)

3 is Better Than One

 Joe Fresh cardigan, Mexx dress, Jules & James flats, Le Chateau pashmina,

A.Co Designs key necklace, F21 bangles & Bay ring

Three patterns are better than one, wouldn't you agree?  I got so many compliments on this outfit - people seem to really be digging the mix of prints (did I really just say 'digging'?).  It's pretty basic as it's all black and white, but a great way to incorporate the mixing-prints-trend into your look. 

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my return to the world of blogging.  You are all so sweet and it's much appreciated.  I'm doing well.  I know I promised you all a give-away, and I haven't forgotten; I promise to get that up early next week. 

In other news, the weekend is here, my new shoes arrived in the mail yesterday (I will post those tomorrow), I have recently had a ton of luck in the purse-shopping-department (so rare for me, I've been using the same bags for years now with the odd addition here and there, and then I find like, four in the past three months - unheard of) and it's still Summer (for those of you wishing away the Summer and craving for Fall, please stop.  It's especially disheartening for someone like yours truly who lives in winter for, oh, about eight months of the year).  Okay fine, I'm secretly excited for faux fur, layers, leggings, breaking out my (faux) leather jackets, jeans tucked into boots (and boots for that matter), hot beverages, crisp evenings and spiced candles.  But I can wait.

Listening to...

Florida 2011

Essie Nail Polish Review

 Mink Muffs  |  Turquoise & Caicos

I'm a huge OPI fan.  That's pretty much the only nail polish I will buy (because I've become a huge nail-polish-snob like that.  Ugh.)  However, since seeing Essie's Turquoise & Caicos on several bloggers last summer (I know, I'm so behind the times), I decided to take the plunge one year later.

I've never used Essie polish before and while it cost the same as my OPI normally does per bottle ($10), apparently I completely overpaid because the links above are much cheaper.  Le sigh. 

Onto the review!  I find the T&C isn't a super thick formula, so while I did my standard two coats, three might have given a solid coverage (but then that's five coats with base adn top coat - far too much work for me).  The Mink Muffs on the other hand (errr foot?) covered nice and opaque-ly with two coats.  Normally I'm not a fan of thin brushes, but I find the Essie polish to be a bit more liquidy than OPI and thus a think brush is fine as it covers easily since it spreads well.  The lasting power isn't bad, certainly comparable to OPI.  As far as the shades go, I like their collections but find OPI has a bit more dimension to their colours. 

Verdict:  I'd buy it again, but still reach for OPI first.

Psssssst:

* DIY Manicure

* More nail colours

August Resolutions

Joe Fresh top, H&M skirt, Ardene flats, Liliana wedges (last seen here), g21 sunnies,

Ardene necklace, Swarovski & Costa Blanca bangle(s)

I've skipped a few months and haven't been on the ball with the resolutions... maybe I should have had my New Year Resolutions include writing resolutions every month. Oh well. Regardless, August is off to a great start and I'd like to keep the momentum going. Here are my top resolutions for the last full month of summer:

1. Spend time lake-side (at a cottage).

2. Use Instagram more often.

3. Get back into thrifting (it's been soo long).

4. Save more money (does this mean I should cross off number three?).

5.  Wear the clothes I've purchased that still have tags on them.

6.  Run 1km without stopping. Complete!

7.  Wear sunscreen on the tops of my hands everyday.

Did you notice the shoe switch?

Also, I bought these navy Ardene flats and within wearing them twice, sadly, the sole started coming away from the shoe.  I haven't had the chance to try and return them yet and was thinking I might try and superglue them.  I love the colour and they are super comf, plus, for $14, if superglue works, it could be worth it.  Have you ever superglued your shoe soles?