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random thoughts

Style

Day 30 of 30 …finally done :)

August 5, 2010

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I really wanted to do something super fun and wild and crazy for my last outfit, so I looked to Whitney Port for inspiration. This brought me to incorporate a hipster bun (or cinnamon bun hehe) and some mustard yellow into an outfit, et voila! The feather piece on my vintage blazer is actually a hair piece. The hair clip part was falling off, so I just pulled it off completely and safety pinned it to the lapel of the blazer. It’s not easy trying to make a mustard yellow blazer look different from when I wore it only a few days ago!!!!
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I have sat here for quite a while just staring at these pictures trying to figure out what to say. I think I’m blogged out from posting so much over the past few days. Here we are at Day 30, the most important day of them all, and I’m at a loss for words.

I suppose the first place to start is to say thank you.
Thank you so much Kendi for being a daily inspiration with your outfit photos and hilariously witty commentary. If you hadn’t invited all of us to join then I would have never met so many other amazing bloggers from all over the world!
That brings me to saying thanks to all the people who have religiously followed me these past 30 days to see what I’ve come up with. I’m still amazed that people even care, but if I can inspire you or even just make you smile, then that makes me incredible happy!
I’d also like to say merci beaucoup to my friends and family for taking photos and being supportive, as well as all the followers, commenters, retweeters, etc. etc.
A big internet hug, you all ROCK 🙂

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30 days of not shopping has been the best thing that could have happened to me (and my bank account) this summer. I am taking a moment to admit to you that I have a serious shopping addiction. Not a ha-ha I love shopping and buy a lot, I mean like full on addiction. It was time to stop this now, rather than letting it spiral out of control for the next 10 years. I want to be proud of what I buy, rather then feeling pangs of guilt every time I look at my overflowing closet.

The 30 for 30 challenge certainly hasn’t cured me. I went into Barefoot Contessa a few days ago (which is a whole other story to come later) and instantly felt the addiction. My face got hot as I filled with panic and anxiety. I wanted to look at everything in the store, my brain quickly calculating how much I could spend on new clothes and the stunning jewellery the day after the challenge was over. It took a lot of strength to leave the store empty handed, without even trying anything on. Once I stepped outside, my head cleared and I was brought back to reality. I didn’t need anything new right now, and if I did want anything new I was to save up and wait to purchase.

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In order to continually try to save money and improve my spending habits I have set boundaries. I will try to keep the ban in place until I go to San Fransisco in September. If I absolutely feel the need to break the no-shopping rules, then I cannot purchase the item until I’ve left the store and thought about it for a few days. The worst thing that could happen is that it could sell out, and then so what? It wasn’t meant to be!

I’m so impressed that the challenge forced me to realize how easy it is to remix the clothing you already own. I look forward to posting more outfits that are just items from my wardrobe, and I SERIOSULY can’t wait to wear my other pairs of shoes haha!!!!

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Feather Hair Piece Turned Brooch from Barefoot Contessa // Earrings from Plum // Marc by Marc Jacobs Watch30 for 30 Banner

xoxo

15 Comments
Style

even though you left me here i have nothing left to fear

June 25, 2010

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I woke up this morning to a blank cell phone. My Blackberry flip is just a white screen with an error message. Does my BB not realized that I have a phone addiction? I am having withdrawals here!!! I keep picking it up and checking it, but it’s the same white screen and error message. Rogers sent me an email about how to fix it that is only about oh, 50 steps long. I just can’t wait to dive into that disaster tonight LOL

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On a much happier note, it looks like my vacation-less year is turning around. My dad called yesterday about a random cousin getting married in Frisco on the September long weekend. Flights are super cheap, $150 or something? Maybe cheaper if we fly out of Seattle…gotta check it out. Anyways, Adam will come too and my whole family, perhaps some cousins. I have to warn Adam about my family on a vacation…it’s a very different experience. My dad is already stressing out about a rental car, suggesting he’ll drive down before we all fly down there to save money on the rental car? Which sounds ridiculous to me, since gas and accommodations seem like they’d be far more expensive then renting a car for a few days? Haha oh dear. I’m so happy to have an end of the summer workout goal, as well as something to look forward to (don’t worry Paula, I am excited about your wedding too!!!!)

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It’s so funny that this year Adam and I were making a conscious effort NOT to plan too many weekend trips. We wanted to just relax this summer and enjoy our new apartments and the East Van life. Of course, things are booking up quickly and unfortunately a lot of events are overlapping. Including one party in particular that I’m furious I have to miss 🙁 Why must important events fall on the same day?

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While we’re talking about weekend trips, my friend Kadie does her birthday in Whistler every year and this will be my third time attending. Each time it’s a different theme and this year it’s “Tight and Bright”. Unfortunately kind of a vague theme, so Brandi and I went out shopping for it the other day. It was definitely a challenge, especially since our go-to store American Apparel was into pastels this spring instead of neons. We totally got sucked into buying 3 nail polish colours from AA though, they were to die for! You’ll be seeing them in posts to come for sure. After an long search, we both ended up getting dresses at Forever 21, which are more bright and less tight because we’d still like to be comfortable!

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What is everyone up to on Canada Day? I just realized I wasted my red and white dress yesterday…only one week away from when I should have worn it. I’m so silly! I’ll have to bring out some of my Olympic gear instead. Red mittens in July anyone?DSC_0041new

Dress, Tank, and Belt Plum // Ring Forever 21 // Purse Value Village // Boots Steve MaddenI hope you don’t mind a few more fashion posts than usual. I’m trying to put this new camera to good use and I bought so many summer outfits, I might as well share them with you! It’s actually perfect trying to get outfit shots after work on a sunny day because then it gives us an excuse to go for a nice walk. It really helps to go for a walk after work and forget all the troubles of your day. And it feels good to get moving before dinner! We obviously stopped to watch the dogs swimming for a few minutes. Well the dogs and one random foreigner who thought it was a good idea to swim in Trout Lake? Questionable decision…

DSC_0045newCivil Twilight – Letters From The Sky

5 Comments
Health

& in love is how i hope i die

June 22, 2010

Kits Beach all smiles
Having this wicked cold/cough that is going around, combined with these less than ideal weather conditions, I need to take a moment to concentrate on what makes me happy. Mostly because I rely on the summer weather to lift my spirits every year…I need more Vitamin D!!! Also, this year Adam and I didn’t go on a big sunny vacation and even though we’ve been on a few weekend trips, I can’t shake the stress of work and school for only a few days. I literally need to be on a beach in a different country for a week to feel detached from my responsibilities!!!!

Yesterday I went to Chapters and purchased “The Hormone Diet” by Dr. Natasha Turner (as recommended by Laura and Stacey.) Of course, I am now kicking myself that I didn’t purchase this book months ago when they’d mentioned it! I’m only on Chapter 1, but I can already tell that this book is exactly what I need at this moment. I need to find a balance.

So my goals this week are:

1) Try not to complain about the weather (please ignore the above paragraph about it :P)
2) To get at least 8 hours of sleep a night
3) Do something relaxing (have a bath, do a yoga class, read outside, etc.)
4) Walk to work
5) Make my lunches the night before

Sounds easy enough, but I tend to get so busy that I ignore the simple things. I’ll let you know how the rest of the book goes, but so far I really like it. Not even necessarily to lose weight, but to just feel healthier.

I believe I am a lot like you and the many people out there who simply want to
be healthy, without becoming a “health nut.”
-Dr. Natasha Turner

Paolo Nutini-Coming Up Easy

7 Comments
Life

A story of vandalism and a case of the sads

June 14, 2010

I started writing about how exhausting my Saturday was, but it became an extremely long-winded story, so I’ll spare you. On Saturday night though, I’d gone to Adam’s friend’s house to watch the UFC fights (well, everyone else watched it, I just kind of wandered around) I’d parked on the street outside of a church on 8th Avenue in New West. Laura’s car was in front of mine and Brett’s was behind mine.

Right when the title fight ended, Adam asked if he could go get something from my car, so I got him the keys and he went out there. He came back in and told me “You’re going to want to call the police.”

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My poor sweet Jetta had been damaged so bad, that I was at a loss for words. Adam showed me how the person had likely jumped from the roof of Laura’s car onto the hood of mine, causing enough impact to severely dent and crack the hood. This was concluded because of footprints on our cars, as well as a huge dent on the roof of Laura’s, which was likely done to gain leverage to jump onto mine.

The worst part of it, is that we saw a guy and a girl down the street holding a piece of paper talking to people in a car. The entire moment seemed to be in slow motion, with teenagers running around and when we tried to get close enough to get a license plate number, the car sped off.

The guy and the girl had gone to a house party two houses down so we went over to kindly ask if they’d seen anything. Baaad decision. Have you ever tried to talk to defensive punk ass 16 year old boys? It was just brutal. They were so rude even though we just asked nicely if they’d seen anything. I could tell ALL of them were lying, one was pretending to be on his cell, the girl froze up, and the lippy Asian kid just kept sarcastically telling us they didn’t know anything so we should leave. Then as we walked away the Asian kid mumbled “thanks anyways” under his breath and Shannon just couldn’t handle it. She turned back around and said “You don’t have to be a fucking dick about it. We came over here to ask if you saw anything because there is hundreds of dollars worth of damage to our cars!” Ughhhh so bloody infuriating.

The woman on the non-emergency line was super nice and said she’d had a call for almost the exact same incident somewhere else in New West. When the cop came he said all he could do is give me a police report number. Then I asked him if he’d go talk to the kids because it would make me feel a lot better.

You’ll love this part. So he came back and said that the kids were doing the annual grade 12 scavenger hunt that New West Secondary students complete every year and that what had happened to me was likely a task they “had to complete”. That would explain why there was another report of almost the same incident happening to someone else and why the girl had been holding a piece of paper. Thanks so much NWSS students, for completely ruining my night and costing me a $300 deductible when I didnt’ even DO anything :

I am bitter, yes. Especially since there is probably a YouTube video out there of those assholes jumping on my car to prove they did it for their Grad Scavenger Hunt.
And so, my Saturday night continues my life’s series of ironic events.

12 Comments
Music Style

the most beautiful colours chase the sun

May 30, 2010

I know I sounded pretty emo there for a moment, but seriously thank you all for such kind words and well wishes. I thankfully feel much better now and am currently relaxing in bed (my Saturday night…you jealous?)
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I am especially pleased to report to you that I have been promoted at work! I started out three years ago as a ‘junior stylist’, a title that I hated because everyone thought I was a hair dresser. Not that there is anything wrong with being a hair stylist, it was just annoying to explain to everyone what I did for work. I am now a part of the marketing team and I think I’ve decided on the title ‘Online Marketing Specialist’. Fancy, right?
007newThe promotion has forced me into full time hours and puts the brakes on my plans to speed through my last ten courses in school. As of right now I am working 36 hours a week at the office, teaching dance 9 hours a week and taking a 3 hour night class. Perhaps that explains my meltdown(s)? I need to delete something for fall…school seems like the best option. Maybe a distance course? That way I can do the work when it is most convenient for me. Sorry…thinking out loud.015newI took my brother shopping today and we spent a bunch of his money. If there’s anything I like more than spending my own money, it’s helping someone else spend theirs. He ended up with plaid chino shorts and grey chino pants from Club Monaco, some basic tees from Old Navy, and a vintage inspired Adidas tee from Plenty. We are going out again soon to hit the boutiques in Gastown and Main Street. He has never been shopping in Vancouver before…can you believe it?

018newLast night was great fun at Venue on Granville Street. I hadn’t been there since it was the old Plaza, where I’d had such a bad experience I swore I’d never be back. But clearly it’s trying to change itself into a cool place for bands to play. Last night was Local Natives who I sooooo l-o-v-e! If you weren’t there I am telling you right now that you missed out, but hope is not lost. They claim that they’ll be back in the fall woot woot!024newThey were awesome live, they sound just as good if not better than their Gorilla Manor album!026new

Local Natives-Sun Hands

3 Comments
Studio Style

my nine to five

May 6, 2010

I don’t normally talk about it here on le blog, but today I feel like sharing with you some aspects of what I do for work (well one of my jobs anyways). I work for a local clothing company as their “junior stylist”. Hardly junior, I have now been employed with the company for five years, and working in the design department for three years as of June. Since it’s a small company, I get a ton of hands on experience in marketing such as press releases, their twitter account, and if I’m lucky…advertisements! I also put together the style books of the company’s designs each season, create all trends and product knowledge projects, and make all their in-store signage.

My favourite part of the job lately has been the styling. Up until a few months ago I had to choose outfits, dress them on a mannequin, photograph them, and post them to the web. This was fun at first, but after a while you realize that dressing a mannequin is an absolute pain. After years of asking for it, I was finally allowed to search for my own real live model and if she passed the test shoot then they’d consider using her for all website photos.

It was easier than I imagined finding someone, since I simply used my social network to post an ad and got quite a great response. We ended up hiring Erin, who is not only gorgeous and super enthusiastic, but she also loves fashion and is very stylish herself!
Here is a small sample of some of the photos we’ve done so far…

She looks so stunning in this Max & Cleo dress!

I’m definitely getting these white earrings…
I have this dress in pink…love!
Does this dress look familiar? It’s just like the white one Sarah Jessica Parker wears in the ads for the new Sex and the City movie!
I can’t decide whether I need this blouse or not, and I really want this skirt but do I really NEED another skirt?
I have to get this top…it’s only $35!
I have this boyfriend blazer too in grey haha wow I have a shopping problem!
I think this is one of the prettiest pictures of Erin so far!
I love the lime green and papaya colour combo, the necklace was Erin’s idea.
This look always makes me wish I was on a beach somewhere!
There are tons more photos here.

Completely unrelated to my work, I have to say congratulations to my best friend who was hired today for an amazing job and is finally starting her career/path to fame and fortune. After the “alleged” Olympic incident this year (a whole other story) and obviously for her hard work and talent, she totally deserves a break like this! Heart

7 Comments
Style

i feel the rain coming down…it reminds me of who i used to be

April 24, 2010

Danielle and I did a photo shoot outside, but weather conditions were less than ideal. I really wanted to show off my new Zara trousers. Ha, I just wanted to call them trousers because that’s what the website said and I thought it was cute. I went to Zara to return the shoes I bought a while ago and desperately tried to make fit, but apparently my feet didn’t shrink this month. I somehow didn’t make it into the store within the 30 days they give you to return items…of course. The sales girls in retail terms “made an exception” for me. They wouldn’t give me money back or a store credit though, I had to get something of equal or more value.

Of course these pants came up $5 short of the target price, so they sent me searching for something more. Basically, instead of getting money back like I’d originally planned, I left $30 poorer. Figures.
Green Slub Tee & Tan Belt with Gold Studs both from Plum//Pants from Zara//Necklace from Forever21//Shoes from Nine West
Just have to be careful about how you stand in these pants or else you get the illusion of parts that I obviously don’t have (sorry if you’re turned off Adam hahaha)

I got a really great (and slightly embarrassing…in a good way) surprise at work today. Someone buzzed the office because he had flowers for Alicia. I was confused and forgot there was any special occasion coming up and got totally red in the face about the whole thing. The guy handed me a beautiful bouquet with a card that read Three Years! Love, Adam.
Thanks Adam, can’t wait to do an unnecessarily mushy post about our 3 years together 😉
Brandi Carlile-Follow

4 Comments
Relationships

10 spring date ideas

April 22, 2010

photo from weheartit.com
I’m feeling super in love today because it’s sunny and it’s our 3 Year Anniversary this Saturday (ahh please don’t run away Adam :P) So when Tieka did a post about Spring Date Ideas I was impressed and greatly inspired. How on earth, had I never thought to do a post about date ideas??? Everyone needs date ideas. Those in relationships need date ideas to spice up their dates and break out from routines. Those who are single need a rolodex of date ideas in case the opportunity arises. Ugh, the worst when the guy gets you to pick the second date’s activities and you can’t seem to think of ANYTHING fun. Also, those of you who could care less about relationships could use these ideas with friends. It doesn’t have to be romantic…just no making out!

Here are 10 of my favourite Spring Date Ideas…

1. Drive-In Movie

To tie in my love for everything vintage these days, I was thinking it would be adorable if you both dressed up from a different era and went to a drive in movie. You could even go to a diner before hand for dinner and milkshakes! It’s ideal if you can somehow get your hands on a pickup truck because snuggling with blankets under the stars is so romantical!
For Vancouverites, our only drive in theatre is in Langley at 260th & Fraser Highway. Admission is $12.

2. Pull an All-Nighter

I did this once with my friend’s youth group (yes, I said it) and it was super fun. You can pre-plan a bunch of activities at places that are open all night like bowling, arcades, etc. It would also be fun to go get food in the middle of the night and it doesn’t necessarily have to be something like Denny’s. For those of you who are local you could try The Naam in Kits! I’ve rarely done it because I’m never up early enough, but you could also plan it out so that your date ends in the perfect spot to watch the sun rise.

3. Hike & Picnic

This is so classic, yet I don’t think I’ve ever done this on a date. If you live in the Lower Mainland you have a ton of scenic hikes to choose from for anyone from amateurs to experienced hikers. I found a list of trails here.
Packing a picnic lunch is so cute and this date is so awesome because it incorporates exercise and being active!

4. A Photo Walk Together

This date is very simple and has the potential to be completely free. To begin, both people pick a location that they feel would be great for photo taking. You can have any criteria, depending on whether you like nature shots, fashion photography, city shots, etc. You then travel to each location and take photos together. It may sound boring, but it’s actually really fun to be creative and try to spot creative photo opportunities.

5. The Zoo/Aquarium

I don’t know why humans are still so fascinated with seeing animals and fish moving around in cages, but we are. So a trip to your local zoo or aquarium is actually a really fun date. For those of you here, the Greater Vancouver Zoo is $20 and the Vancouver Aquarium is $22. If you’re broke like I am, I’d suggest packing your lunch!

6. Be a Tourist in Your Town

Perhaps you’ve lived in the same town your whole life, or maybe you are just getting to know the area you currently live in. Either way, it’s always a fun idea to go do something super touristy in your own town. For Vancouverites, something like Capilano Suspension Bridge or UBC Botanical Gardens works.

7. Have a Laugh

I am a firm believer that laughter keeps relationships alive, so take a moment to share something funny together. Comedy Clubs are a great way to do this. One of my favourite places for a good chuckle is the Improv Theatre on Granville Island, which you could incorporate with a nice dinner beforehand. You could also go see a funny play, or a funny movie depending on what is playing at the time.

8. Camp Out

Remember when you were a kid and camping was the most exciting event EVER? Why not have a camp out for two?! You could pack everything up and head out to a nearby campground or you could even set up the tent in your own backyard! It’s obviously ideal if you can have a fire because roasting s’mores and hot dogs (for those of you who eat meat) is a blast! If you’re not as poor as I am, you could do a date like this in luxury by going on a weekend trip to a cabin or B&B. The islands on the Sunshine Coast are a beautiful spot for those trips.

9. Cook an Entire Meal Together

Most of us love food and many of us don’t take the time to cook an entire meal for dinner. My idea is to choose some recipes and make a whole meal together. Appetizer, Main Course (meat, potatoes, veggies) and dessert. This will take a ton of time, but the results will be deliciously gratifying. If you’re a couple that lives together and always make meals together you could put a twist on this and try a new recipe, take a cooking class together, or perhaps make your own alcoholic drinks for the night!

10. Step Outside Of the Box

Many people stick to routines and rarely take a moment to step outside of the box. Doing an activity that you have never tried before that maybe even scares you, will create a special bond with those you share it with. I’m of course thinking of things like bungee jumping in Whistler or getting tattoos, but it doesn’t have to be so extreme. It could be as simple as trying a new type of food or going rollerblading (because some of us are scared of standing on wheels.)

All of these dates are just starting points to get you guys going on a fabulous day or night out together. I just hope I can get you out on a fun adventure xx

10 Comments
Beauty Style

& if you smell those omens man///i think you better run

April 21, 2010

I just decided to sort through all the papers all over my room (literally all over…in bags, in boxes, on desks, in purses, etc.) to get a head start on this whole packing up my life and moving thing. As I was sorting/reading some Christmas cards, I happened to stumble upon a $50 bill which I laughed about out loud for a good two minutes in disbelief. As I’m still stewing in the glory of finding 50 bucks out of the blue, I opened the next card to find a $20 bill. The lesson here kids, is if you’re as messy as I am with your filing, you may just find $70 in old Christmas cards….it’s true!

I would like to take a moment to introduce you to my new cupcake ring. This little gem caught my eye while shopping with Melissa at Barefoot Contessa on Commercial Drive. The entire line is based on an Alice in Wonderland theme, which was so cute I could barely choose just one! I think the packaging is what lured me in…

We also need to talk about the hair genius that is Miss Marlee. This girl is all “oh hey, why don’t you just come in for a haircut on Sunday?” and then transforms my mufasa mane into the most amazing hair cut/style I’ve ever received.
The best part? It cost me $10.
Yep, if you go to JC Studios in Gastown you can get a cut & style from a student for only $10! They are all so talented, it’s such a steal!
I took my gorgeous new hair out for a spin…err a walk around Gastown and some of the seawall.
Randomly chose Kasabian’s 2004 album as my “city walk soundtrack”…perfection!
Don’t even pretend that you don’t like the ghetto trash bin/abandoned bbq in the background…
Adam and I had some eats and jazz at The Main on Main Street…yum!
Randomly the ‘E’ on my keyboard is stuck today…this is not good. It’s already driving me bonkers! How do I fix?
Kasabian-Cutt Off

PS As far as I know, I have 6 people signed up from my post challenging you to become a registered organ donor. I’m so proud of all of you, keep it up peeps and tweeps 🙂

6 Comments