lesson learned...

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With a 25% off discount to Coach burning a hole in my pocket, I gave into a little retail therapy amongst all the wedding planning. My sister decided to go in on the order and we were both a little shocked in how much we had to pay for duty and shipping! Despite their US origins, it would be nice to not have to pay so much for a package coming from our neighbouring country. (I've spent less on goods coming from the UK!) It's also hard to anticipate additional costs from duty and taxes and it seems most of the good stores we're going to order online are across the border. 

   

The Outfit 

• Purse: Coach (ordered online, May '11)
• Jeggings: Guess- Envy (SJ, Dec '10)
• Floral tank: Free People- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, May '11)
• Cardigan: American Eagle (SJ, Sept '08)
• Necklace: Aldo Accessories (Toronto, June '10)
• Belt: French Connection (Toronto, June '10)
• Sandals: Steve Madden- The Urban Shoe Myth (SJ, April '11)
• Sunglasses: Michael Kors- TJ Maxx (New Hampshire, April '09)

However, I did later learn that I could have called the Coach store in Halifax and have them ship me the purse from their store for less...oh why didn'tI know this beforehand?  Despite the duty costs, I do love my new draw-string cross-body. (Once you go crossbody you never go back!) And we still saved more than a few pretty pennies with the discount. Now that it's all said and done with, I try to look on the bright side and pass on this little piece of knowledge so that someone else might benefit from my learning experience!

 

And speaking of savings- you could save yourself a $100 on a new pair of shoes if you've entered The Urban Shoe Myth Giveaway! Do it now! For those of you who already have, stayed tuned- tomorrow I'm going to tell you how you can get a couple more entries- even if you've already maxed out all the previous opportunities!

 

 

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just peachy...

Honestly, before this fall, I rarely wore hoisery...even in the winter months. I hardly ever wore dresses or skirts in the cold periods, reasoning being obvious. I'm not really sure why or if I had an opposition to pantyhose before, but I have to say it's made a huge difference in my wardrobe and extended the wear of items that were just seasonal before. As I planned my outfit for a formal I attended this past weekend, wearing bare legs with my dress didn't even occur to me as an option. But the last two years I would have never wore pantyhose. Interesting how your outlook and style can change all of a sudden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Outfit

• Grey sleeves (shrug): DEPT- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, April '10)
• Coral top: French Connection (Toronto, June '10)
• Dress: Lush- Envy (SJ, Dec '10)
• Belt (from another skirt): Eve Gravel- The Black Dog Boutique (SJ, Dec '10)
• Tights (in light orange): We Love Colors (ordered online, Mar '11)
• Boots: Town Shoes (Halifax, Oct '07)
• Ring: Silpada (jewelry party, Summer '10)

You purchase the right fit of pantyhose and they are actually comfortable. They're also a saving grace for my pale legs. They also double as shapewear and give everything a more firm appearance, even if you haven't been to the gym in months. Pantyhose have become a secret weapon for women. And when you look good, you feel good!

 

 

 

 

goodbye summer...

It seems that Earl sweeped in and sucked the heat out of the air. In New Brunswick, he seemed to be a sad excuse for a hurricane, but despite the lack of wind and rain, he did take something from us it seems. Anyone else find it a bit odd that last week were melting in the humidity and this week we're pulling our sweaters from binds we had stored away? Are we saying goodbye to summer already?

Labour day weekend I found myself in lovely St. Andrews standing in the wedding of my friend Marielle, and the next day is when I noticed the change. Saturday afternoon I was running around the Algonquin, with hair and make-up done, helping with last minute preparations for the wedding and desperately searching for some loose powder to tone down my "glow". The next morning, when B and I walked out onto the roof top garden, it was if the warmth had been sucked from the air, and there was that chill in the air that warned that autumn was closing in. Hopefully there will be a few more hot days in it for us, but for now, last Sunday was the last time I put on a sun dress.

The Outfit:

• Purple silk dress- Gap (Dartmouth, July '07)
• Green belt- French Connection (Toronto, June '10)
• Gladiator sandals- Sam Edelman (Montreal, June '09)
• Leaves necklace- Charm (gift from Ben)

After we packed up, we headed down to Water Street to browse the cute shops and get some lunch. The wind prompted me to grab a beige hooded cardigan from my suitcase before I zipped it up and tossed in the trunk. I took some pictures as we walked by the water in this quaint, historic, seaside town.

blackberry beer

Last month, Shauna and Alex came over for beers on the deck on a sunny Friday evening. We were testing out Moosehead's new blackberry beer- which is quite good I might add! I think it might possibly be my favourite drink this summer (...that long with margaritas and pear wine.)

The Outfit

1. Coral top- French Connection (Toronto, June '10)
2. Skinny jeans- Dish- Pseudio (Fall '09)
3. Gold and pink flower necklace- Aldo Accessories (Toronto, June'10)
4. Gold headband- Splurge (Halifax, Fall '09)

What are your thoughts on Moosehead's new beer?

friday's finds..

This would be a follow up to my last post. So what did I did I score in my shopping marathon? I kid you not, I was speed walking...that is a lot of floors with a lot of stores! So much shopping to accomplish and so little time! One saleswoman in MAC said I looked like I was on a mission! haha. And right she was.

While in MAC, I picked up another bottle of brush cleaner (unexciting) since I was running low. I had zipped into the store and found a staff member ASAP requesting the bottle right away so that I would not be tempted by the rainbow of colours in that store. But, as it so happens, the line to the cash was moving incredibly slow and I had time to spot a coral-peach shade on another staff that I had to have.

Shade: "Paradisco"

I decided a coral or, as they called it, "sorbet" top with gold buttons from French Connection. This pretty cotton shirt was on sale for $29.99.

Kristen & Jan's kitchen floor makes for a pretty good back drop, eh?

Also from French Connection, I grabbed this "island green" scalloped leather belt. These purchases are of the two colours I'm loving right now: softer shades of green and coral shades.

I did get an item that was specifically off my wish-list: a military shirt. This one snaps up the front and is from Mango.

Also from Mango, I couldn't leave without this cotton, floral print sundress.

I bought this big floral and gold necklace from Aldo because it caught my eye and I fell in love with it.

I was quite happy when I found the Poppy Coach soft laptop case. I bought it only to find out it wasn't thick enough to fit my Dell and I sadly had to return it. I was so disappointed!

And last, but not least, I picked up this OPI nail polish from Trade Secret (which I just finished painting my toes with):

Shade: "Gargantuan Green Grape"

There was a few things I was still thinking about coming back for since it was time to meet Cynthia for an early dinner. As you can see, I hadn't bought any shoes...yet.

friday afternoon's mission...

So I just got off the plane from Toronto a couple of hours ago, bringing new fabulous clothes and photo-evidence of what a great time I had! I also have much material for new blog posts this week!

From my last post, you can see that I spent my morning on Friday in Starbucks blogging and keeping up with business on my lap top in downtown Toronto.

That's a replacement carmel machiatto after having spilt the entire

contents of the first all over the floor. Those who know me, will not

find this surprising.

Noontime rolls around, and I scoot up to the 16th floor to catch Kristen for lunch and we meet up with her friend of hers, Nazanin. We headed over to Jack Astor's hoping to grab a patio seat, but being a beautiful and sunny day, others were in a similar mind-set so we opted for the quicker, indoor, option.

On our table:

Have you seen the movie yet?

The girls went back to the office and I embarked on my new mission: covering the Eaton Center before Kristen gets off work! I managed to cover a mall containing over 230 shops, retaurants and services in full in 2 1/2 hours (I spent the first 1/2 hour somehow getting lost on my short voyage there). I walked fast, and with a purpose!

I cruised through H&M first. I loved this very feminine section of neutrals

and soft pinks. I wanted to try items on, but the line for the dressing room

 was looong (we're talking 30+ people...)

Spotted: a cute pair of modest heeled sandals in pink

and brown at Aldo. I decided to wait and see.

I spotted pretty white sundresses in Aerie, but none felt like what I was looking for.

First piece I tried on was in Armani Exchange. I loved the

colour of this citrus orange dress, but decided to hold off to

see if I found anything I would like better.

I loved these Nine West bright coral pumps at Town Shoes.

On sale for $89.99

Major sales encountered in French Connection.

Trying on a coral top with a black skirt.

As always, cute colours and some girly silhouettes at Aritzia

In Little Burgundy I saw the peacock Havaianas (circled above)

that I had been loving for the last couple months.

I met Kristen when she got off work and then we hopped on the subway

and grabbed a seat at Beer Bistro for appetizers and a Fruli (strawberry

beer) with our friend Cynthia! (who I had gone to grad school with at Dal)

Stayed tuned for the next blog post: I'll disclose what I actually bought that afternoon!