Steal Versus Splurge~ Booties

My lust for booties has been hot and heavy since this time last year when they first burst onto the fashion forefront. I have to be honest, at first I was fairly appalled by them. I always hated the idea of ankle boots, whether with skirts or tucked under pants.... so what was the difference with booties? Yet as I saw them photographed more and more and then saw them in person in the stores my tide turned. I became a little bit obsessed! These are cousins of the ankle boot but a more chic incarnation~ and they look far more refined with skirts and dresses than the lengthier variety. 

Booties are hugely trendy right now and I'm normally hesitant to drop significant cash on something I may not feel like wearing in a few months. I mean, if I had a huge bank balance I would definitely splurge on this platform pair (above) by Louboutin that I mentioned in my last post. However, this is more of a "save" time for me so instead I opted for something a little more affordable. Or a lot more. These faux suede, peep toe cuties (below) are from Forever 21 and set me back a whopping $31. Not an ouch to be heard. I decided to cut off the little side bows to make them more streamlined and now they are perfect and set to wear. The best thing? They are actually comfortable! 

This was one smart steal! 

This Much I Know For Sure

I'm in a questioning phase of life right now. Questioning my present, my future, my very near future. Questioning choices I've made and choices I have to make soon. There are so many things up in the air right now that I feel pulled in a hundred different directions. Despite all the unknowns in life at the moment this much I know for sure.....

1. French toast with maple syrup in a groovy 1950's-esque diner with my BFF solves pretty much anything.

2. Taking a veritable "cat nap" with Lulu solves anything else that #1 didn't solve.

3. I have the best ringtone in the world~ Alison by Elvis Costello.

4. I am really really excited that Christmas is coming and in another month I get to start decorating for it!

5. I really love rainy days, good parking spaces, days I have more than one coffee, days my bangs behave, wearing something new, Red Vines licorice, days when someone cute tells me I'm cute and days when I don't have to make any decisions. 

I also know this much for sure....

I want this dress from Shopbop. I also wish I looked like her, or even could just master the come hither look she's got going on. I think when I try to look like this people just think I'm about to sneeze. Plus, I love her booties. 

These tights from J.Crew are the prettiest ones I've seen all season. I visit them online every few days, they are that pretty. The shoes are pretty outstanding too. And the clutch. And the skirt. Come to think of it, I worship this whole look. But especially the tights. Sigh. 

I passed on these ridiculously beautiful stockings last year at Pottery Barn and I refuse to do that again this year. They are really too lovely to pass up. Plus, I have a mantle crying out for stockings. I'm not sure my (male) roommate will appreciate a white, bejewelled stocking, but too bad for him. He's getting one. 

I also love this eclectic, fun garland from Anthropologie. If I decide to forgo the stockings, this would be the alternative to hang from the mantle. I adore the cheery, bright colours and handmade feel to it. 

One day when I get married I will wear brightly coloured shoes like this bride. Isn't the yellow surprisingly pretty? 

Every time I see a picture of the Eiffel Tower I am happy. This one is no exception. This I know for sure.... next year I will make it back to Paris. I promise myself this. 

If I were to have one fantasy purchase this season it would be these super sexy booties from Christian Louboutin. What can I say? Swoon. And mine for only $1200. No problem (cough, cough). 

If the Louboutins were my splurge, this little number would be my save. My new obsession with Forever 21 has brought me to this hot piece for only $24. Astounding, how much style you can get for so few dollars! It's all about the high/low mix for this girl. 

This much I know for sure.....

I am lucky in many respects. Sometimes things are tough but they always get easier in time. I will decide what to do "when I grow up". Things will become clear. I am lucky for my amazing BFF and my other wonderful, supportive friends. I am lucky for my extraordinary parents. I am lucky for a pretty home and a current job I like to do. I am lucky to have an animal with such fantastic toe hair. I am lucky, this much I know for sure. 

Quote of the Day

"The hardest thing about saying good-bye is having to do it again, every single day."

What I Miss Dearly About Childhood on My Favourite Things

My lovely friend Chloe of My Favourite Things has been revisiting her childhood this week in the most wonderful way. She has been reminiscing about her favourite things when she was a little girl and asking her friends to do the same. I was happy to regress a few years and think of what I missed most about being a child. There were so many happy memories swirling in my brain but I managed to narrow my list down enough to post. 

Here is my list...

10 Things I Miss Dearly About Childhood

1. Barbies. My Little Ponies. Gem and the Holograms. Care Bears.

2. Gymnastic "competitions" with two of my neighbours; two of us would compete and one would judge but I could do a back walkover so I basically always won. Oh, the good old days.

3. Elaborate and sweet birthday parties thrown by my amazing mother. 

4. Patent leather Mary Janes with white knee socks. The love of fashion started early.

5. Eating all my trick or treating candy in a week flat. I was (and still am) a sugar fiend!

6. Decorating the Christmas tree with Bing Crosby on the tape deck (yes, tape deck) and drinking egg nog while my Dad swore as he untangled the lights and my mother soothed him and then basically did everything herself. Sigh.

7. Cabbage Patch Dolls. I had two. I rocked.

8. Sticker collecting, for sure. I was beyond obsessed.

9. Splashing in puddles with my gumboots and playing in the rain endlessly. I still love rainy weather.

10. What I miss most~ looking at the world with child's eyes. Everything was so big, endless, possible, easy, simple. I miss that childhood innocence most of all.

Thank you, Chloe, for asking me to take part on your wonderful blog! It is an honour. Please read My Favourite Things for more of these charming lists!

Scenes of a Restaurant

Scenes of a restaurant: 

Last night. 

Two fabulous gay men are leaving for the night after their dinner. 

"Giiiiiiiiirl, you have a strut on you! 

You are like a European supermodel! 

Pow. Pow. Pow." 

(The "pow" is in demonstration of hips moving side to side, 

thrusting suggestively as they imitate me in the lobby)

I beam, thank them, giggle to myself. One compliment made my night.... or my week! 

(Photo via This is Glamorous)

The Best Things on Earth

Okay, I couldn't wait for Monday for the second installation of 

The Best Things on Earth. 

This Saturday needs an injection of happy! 

The Best Things on Earth Part 2

Midnight phone calls that last for hours

Running through sprinklers

Laughing for absolutely no reason at all

Laughing at an inside joke

Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep

Your first kiss (either your very first or your first with someone new)

Playing with a puppy

Sweet dreams

Hot chocolate on a winter night

Road trips with friends

Swinging on swings

The smell of cinnamon buns or cookies

Running into an old friend and realizing that some things never change

Watching the first snowfall of winter

Watching the sunrise

Getting a hug from someone you care deeply about

The Christmas spirit

Looking at old photos that bring back sweet memories

Knowing that somebody misses you

Thank you again, Kayli! 

The Best Things on Earth

My good friend Kayli sent me this last night~ a long list of the absolute best things on Earth. I think these loves are wildly universal and that everyone can relate to nearly everything on this beautiful list. It's a wonderful way to start the weekend! 

This is half now.... the other half I'll post Monday! 

The Best Things on Earth

Falling in love

Laughing so hard your face hurts

A hot shower

A special glance

Getting mail

Taking a drive on a pretty road

Hearing your favourite song on the radio

Lying in bed listening to the rain outside

Hot towels fresh out of the dryer

A bubble bath

A good conversation

The beach

Finding a $20 bill in your coat from last winter

Laughing at yourself

Having someone tell you that you're beautiful

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and thank you, my lovely Kayli! 

Living Their Dream

Yesterday was a completely lovely day. A happy reunion sort of day. A year ago my beautiful and kind friend Erin and her utterly adorable husband Dan packed their belongings and headed down to live in Los Angeles. Both E and D are actors and Hollywood is there waiting for them. The last year has proven many acting jobs, classes and successes for these two amazing people and I loved hearing about their new life down south. Erin and Dan are and will continue to conquer their dreams and they inspire me to do the same in the very near future. They are truly doing what they love everyday~ not many people can say that. They fly back to LA today and our short visit is on hiatus... until I go to see them in May! I can't wait for another reunion~ and a sunnier, warmer one at that! 

I love you two! Visit Dan and Erin's lovely blog and read all about their life in LA here. 

ps- E- Can you believe all the Coldplay songs we heard yesterday?! Talk about meant to be! xo

Dan and Erin onstage in Room Service

Paris On My Mind

Paris by Elisabeth Perotin

I'm gushing all over this beautiful photograph of Paris right now. I love the simplicity of the buildings, the dreamy light behind the clouds and the darling hearts floating in the sky. It perfectly expresses my love for the city. I pretty much need to have it. 

Le Manege by Elisabeth Perotin

This one by the same photographer is a close runner up. Situated at the foot of the hill of Montmartre (where a pivotal Amelie scene was filmed), I used to sit watching this carousel each day that I stayed at a nearby hotel. I would sit on a bench, ignore the pesky French men calling to me, admire the children on the ride, gaze at Sacre Couer and eat my daily creme de marron (chestnut cream) crepe. Le sigh. 

Smile of the Day~ Halloween

I'm not really a Halloween person. I mean, I like the candy (a lot) but that's about it. I don't start dreaming up my costume months in advance and I usually work the night of anyways (as I do this year). However, this photo brought a smile to my face and I have to admit that if I had a little one (or when I do, years from now) this costume is absolute, adorable genius! How sweet is this?! Lobster anyone? 

Quote of the Day

"The only thing standing between me and greatness is me."

-Woody Allen

Steal Versus Splurge~ Bandage Dresses

 

While it's fun to drool over beautiful, fashion forward pieces with ka-ching price tags, my budget these days is far more Prosecco than Champagne. Who am I kidding? I hate worshipping over something I can't have, which is why I never window shop. If I find something I love, I usually have to have it. So when the cost is too high I often search for comparable but more wallet friendly alternatives. 

Bandage dresses are incredibly hot right now and I want in on the action. Brought back to the forefront when BCBG designer Max Azria revitalized the defunct Herve Leger line (popular on supermodels in the 80's and 90's), bandage dresses can now be seen on starlets everywhere, such as Rachel Bilson (here), Kristin Bell (here) and even Oscar winner Kate Winslet (here). 

While I adore the look of these super sexy dresses, they start at $2000 (Canadian dollars) and climb from there. Um, not really (or even remotely) in my price range (though I love to admire them in person at the BCBG store on Robson Street). The black Leger dress pictured below~ a cool $1450US.  An alternative? At one tenth the cost I've been lusting for this royal blue number (bottom picture) from French Connection ($148 Canadian). 

Same sex goddess style, but a smart steal instead of silly splurge. 

A Onesie For Adults

I'm dreaming of cozy, winter nights wrapped in oversized blankets while watching snow fall from a hazy sky. What could be cuter than being cozy in a onesie for adults? I adore these striped, one pieced  pyjamas from J.Crew. They remind me of the innocence of childhood while being more fun and whimsical than my normal flannel pj's. 

I can just picture wearing this cuteness on Christmas morning 

(for which I already see decorations popping up in all the stores~ eek!). 

New Life

The next generation is beginning. 

There is going to be new life in my family and I couldn't be happier. My beautiful cousin is going to be the most wonderful of mothers~ she is kind, thoughtful, patient, nurturing. Her husband, my first cousin, I have known since birth~ we were born a month apart and our parents were inseparable when we were babies. How lovely that now he will have a baby of his own. This is the first new life to be brought into our family in our generation so it is amazingly exciting. Congratulations, my beautiful cousins! I can't wait to meet your sweet little one!

Smile of the Day

The rest of this day is all about cuteness and happy things! Here are a few images that can't help but make me smile~ 

like the baby and mama donkey snuggling above. 

Can I hear a collective awwwwww? 

Paris and snow, two of my absolute favourite things in the world. Together they make me dreamy and happy, planning my next visit. Paris at Christmas?

Need I say anything? Off the charts cuteness! 

The most beautiful, cozy hide away bed~ I would like to escape here to read all the time!

Boy and baby elephant~ what is it about baby animals that make me mush inside? Love.

Revel in happiness and cuteness, today and all weekend. xoxo

Crossroads

Yesterday was an off day. It was great in many aspects but I still feel at odds with the world. My best friend and I spent quality time together and it was much needed but I found myself with tears rolling down my face as we drove back into the city after our fun, girly excursion. It was an overwhelming few moments (no longer) of frustration and I couldn't talk myself out of it. Luckily I have a wonderfully supportive bff who calms me down~ and the cry was cleansing and cathartic at least. 

There have been so many "life" questions lately and in that moment, there were too many. I am a very introspective person but all this quiet contemplation only serves to make me miserable and stressed! Perhaps it's best to deal with one thing at a time, something small that I can handle and something that I do have control over (like, hmmmmm, what to do with my life? not small but in my control at least). Taking on too much at once is simply too overwhelming. I need to simplify, breathe, make some decisions, take care of myself. 

Changes to come in the future.

I was driving home late last night and I was nearly stopped dead (in my car, um, not a good idea) by a billboard on the side of the road. I grabbed my phone, not wanting to forget it, and tapped it into my message pad at a stop light. 

"We are not made to understand life but just to live it."

How wonderful. We don't have to comprehend this whole crazy thing we share called life. Just live it. Simplifying. I love it. 

Forever 21 Coming Soon to Vancouver

While I adore fashion and spending a good amount of money on one special piece, bargain hunting is always fun to fill out what is lacking in my wardrobe. My favourite haunts for bargains are normally Zara and H&M, but there will be a new go-to store for me come November when massive American retailer Forever 21 opens their first "Vancouver" store (Burnaby actually) in the Metrotown Shopping Centre. I, for one, can't wait to scour the new location for trends I don't want to spend a fortune on. I've been eyeing these below on the website~ but I'll have to wait another few weeks to 

snap them up in person! 

This season it's all about the boyfriend blazer and I really like this one. I've been coveting my roommate Nicole's and the other night at work a girl was wearing one like this over a killer cocktail dress~ it looked amazing. I like the striped satin lining at the rolled up sleeves~ a peek of personality despite the conservative bend of the jacket! And for around $30? No problem. 

This little evening bag is perfect for a night out~ I love the fashionable studs and long chain handle! And all for $13! Woo! 

I adore the detail on this fashionable little black dress~ the draping in front, pleated hem and bustier top is stylish enough to persuade me to buy black. 

Update: The store is already open and I'm heading there tomorrow to scout it out! Can't wait to see it and report back! 

The Grand Gesture

Every girl dreams of the "grand gesture". You know, the grand gesture~ that moment at the end of the movie when the man decides he can't live without "her" after all and states his feelings and intentions in over the top, romantic style. Does this happen in real life? 

I wonder all the time. 

Hundreds of films and novels over my thirty years have made me susceptible to the concept of the grand gesture. Fairy tale love, soulmate love~ whatever you call it, I'm a sucker for it. Meant to be. What does that even mean? I believe in it, absolutely, but never quite known it. And I have never experienced the grand gesture. Sometimes I think my idealism has been formed by all those movies I have wept through. After a recent "disagreement" with someone I cared for this ran through my mind~ What if I go home to find him waiting on my door step? If that were ever to happen would there be flowers? Some kind of declaration? This didn't happen, naturally. 

The door step was empty, the phone silent. 

Do men (in real life) believe in the grand gesture? Or does taking that leap mean being too vulnerable, thus too scary to actually act? Risking all is terrifying but the grand gesture is always used and loved in the movies because of that very element of the unknown. The bigger the risk the greater the reward. People love that. Especially women. 

We love the idea of the grand gesture. 

Why do we dream of this? For me~ it is because if someone ever did that for me then that would be utter proof, not only of the person's feelings for me but also a testament to the kind of man they are themselves. I dream of someone that is brave enough and strong enough to take that leap. Every girl wants a man who will take a risk for them. My advice to all boys out there~ scary be damned, risk all for that girl you love. Do it. Sometimes real life can be like the movies. Fairy tale love does exist. Everyone wants a grand gesture, sometime in their life. 

Embrace the romance and leap. 

My all time favourite grand gestures on film:

-Will driving cross country to "see about a girl" in Good Will Hunting

-Harry flying to Paris to tell Erica he loves her in 

Something's Gotta Give

-Mark's Christmastime cue card love tribute to Juliet in Love Actually

-Mr. Darcy's declaration of love to his supposed nemesis 

Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice

-Linus quitting his company and moving to Paris for his love in Sabrina

There must be more..... What are your favourite grand gestures? 

Have you ever experienced this in real life? 

Lasting Distraction~ Out Now!

Lasting Distraction is the new album from Vancouver band Elias and it is my heartfelt recommendation that you buy it. Immediately. You see, this is my brother's band, but aside from that these are three guys that are passionate about their music and inordinately talented to boot. The new album was released today and you can find it on iTunes as of right this moment. Do yourself a favour and buy it. My faves? It is a toss up between Dropouts (sorrowful and angst-y), Thousand Pieces (if only boys wouldn't break my heart into so many pieces) or Awake Tonight (sexy as hell). Buy now!

 

(Band photo via Cohene.com)

Quote of the Day

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."

-E.M. Forster

(Oh, how I adore this photo! It makes me smile like no other!)

ee

New York, I Love You

One of my favourite films of the last few years was Paris, Je T'aime (I saw it three times in the theatres), a movie comprised of upwards of a dozen shorts dedicated to different areas and stories throughout the city of lights. It is a love story to Paris, highlighting its beauty and history while inviting the viewer into the lives of dozens of characters, but only for a few minutes at a time. It made me both laugh and cry, but more importantly, it made me fall in love with Paris over and over again. 

This month another film will be released in the same vein. New York, I Love You is also a series of short films, starring the likes of Natalie Portman, Bradley Cooper, James Caan, Orlando Bloom, Robin Wright Penn, Chris Cooper, Julie Christie, Shia La Boeuf, Rachel Bilson, Hayden Christianson, Andy Garcia, Ethan Hawke and Eli Wallach, as well as many others. The shorts, directed by such talent as Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth), Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, X Men) and Joshua Marston (Maria Full of Grace), weave tales of friendship, romance and heartbreak in the dynamic and iconic city, 

from Brooklyn to Central Park. 

I can't wait to see this. Watch the newly released trailer here. 

Quote of the Day~ Thanksgiving

"As we express our gratitude we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

-John Fitzgerald Kennedy