Peace, Love & Reading Material

 

Peace, love & bracelets (Aeropostale, set of 2, $14.95 (on sale for 50% off)

Favourite cheap & chic (and absolutely delicious smelling!) candle. Superstore, $3

 

Currently reading  & a new addition to my (small) bracelet family.

 

Yes, I know I need a proper vase for these daffodils. Bonsai tree & bubbly have appropriate homes, though!

The bracelet up close & personal.

Animal Instincts

Stuck in a rut? Do you want to switch up your usual look without committing to a drastic change? Try adding some animal print into your wardrobe! Some animal prints such as leopard and snakeskin are so classic. Season after season, these prints pop up time & time again. However, some accessories are taking the shape of the animal itself. Remember when owls were huge? Yep, you can still find them! One of my favourite animals featured in jewelry is the snake. I remember seeing a stunning Sarah Jessica Parker shoot where she wore snake accessories, and I soon fell in love. How can you add animal prints into your wardrobe?

The easiest way to add animal inspired goodies to your outfit is through accessories. You can use a leopard print belt or bag as a statement piece to an otherwise simple outfit (think skinny jeans & a white T-shirt), or a great pair of zebra print shoes to jazz up your little black dress. The possibilities when it comes to animal accessories are endless, and you'll be feeling fearless and ferocious with your new wild additions.

Here are my picks:

Grey leopard scarf, Topshop, $32

Michael Antonio Zebra Print Pumps, DSW, $40

Kelsi Dagger Zebra Print Cap-Toe Flats, heels.com, $91

ASOS Faux Snakeskin Clutch, ASOS, $37

Black & Gold Owl Necklace, ModCloth, $23

Animal Print Stretch Bangle, Dorothy Perkins, $17

House of Harlow 1960 Faux Snakeskin Clutch, House of Harlow, $195

Rhinestone Owl Studs, Nordstrom, $38

Zebra Stripe Snood, Topshop, $32

Small Stripe Hat, Emilio Pucci, $170

Spotty Ponyskin Belt, Topshop, $16

Gold Snake Ring, Lucky Brand Jeans, $39

Leopard Print Embellished Flats, Sam Edelman, $115

Large Leopard Print Chain Bag, Betsey Johnson, $210

Happy Shopping! xo

Rockstar 101

I wore this outfit a couple days ago when the boyfriend & I went to do the last of our Christmas shopping. I am so relieved that I am FINISHED with my shopping, as the malls are so crazy & people are rushing around in a hurry (or they don't walk at all which is equally frustrating). I had this outfit in mind as soon as I opened my closet; I knew I wanted to be comfortable, and there's nothing more comfortable than a cotton T and jeans! 

 Jeans (unpictured): Parasuco
Blazer: Suzy Shier
Chain & pearl necklace: I forget (so helpful).

Boots: Payless Shoes. Am I the only one who feels like a bad ass super woman wearing motorcycle boots? Yes? Oh, okay.

I got this shirt last year at a Rihanna concert Brandon & I went to. It was amazing!

PS. The Jay Z & Kanye West concert was amazing too. Pretty sure I died and went to heaven several times last night. However, now my throat is so sore, my head is aching & my legs feel so heavy! I am currently laying in bed and plan on doing so until I have to get ready for work at 5. All of my shifts this week are closing shifts, but I finally go back to the island on Friday to be with my family for Christmas! Hallelujah.

Tales of Recent Fortune

This month has been great as far as luck & fortune is concerned! What a perfect time to have this winning streak, as Christmas is a mere eight days away (can you believe it!?), and it always feels good to have happiness come your way around this time! I wanted to share with you some happy things that have happened to me lately!

1. I finally splurged (slightly) and bought myself a Cambridge Satchel. I have been drooling over this large size purple satchel at work for weeks now, and I figured it would be a nice Christmas present to myself that ALSO gets the whole shopping bug out of my system for a while (yeah, I say that now..).

2. Every week work has been doing something different as far as treats and staff-celebrations are concerned. One week we had free cupcakes, this week we had a potluck, and there is pizza & other goodies coming up throughout the month! I snagged a mini gingerbread cupcake that was "gone in 60 seconds," but in my case, inhaled in .5!

3. I won this lovely red cocktail ring from Social Experiment (search her on Etsy, absolutely beautiful pieces!) through the blog Belle Epoque 21. Thank you, lovely ladies, for this prize! I'm wearing it now!

4. Some days call for cozy flannel. I had this hidden away in the bottom drawers of my dresser, and while I was frantically trying on outfits and throwing clothes on the floor this morning, it dawned on me that I hadn't worn this shirt in a while. I actually found it at a local thrift store in my hometown, and it is so warm and cozy (perfect for the cold office/weather since I am closing at work tonight). Top it off with a high ballerina bun and some bow earrings, and I'm good to go. That is, after I finish my coffee.

Have a lovely weekend everyone! Do you have your Christmas shopping ready? It's sneaking up fast!

Cocktails, Anyone?

Cocktail rings, people!

I recently discovered these beautiful, hand made rings through the crafty online giant Etsy. What draws me to these rings in particular isn't just the beatiful stones and colours of these unique pieces, but they are all made here in Vancouver! There is a shape and colour for everyone when it comes to these rings. Whether you like a hint of diamond-like bling or a bold hued stone, you can find exactly what you want! The prices are reasonable, and they would make a wonderful Christmas gift (or any other occasion)!

Be sure to check out the Social Experiment shop to drool over more of her fabulous creations!

Cambridge Charm

Current purse on my to-buy list: The Cambridge Satchel.

They are so colourful, fun, and come in a great selection of colours. If you are looking for a basic, safe bag, you probably won't be opting for any of these bright colours (although you can go with the classic style satchel for neutral hues). However, I absolutely love the fluoro line & hope to be purchasing it soon!

I love how you can add it to a single-toned outfit to add a pop of colour, yet you can also use it for colour blocking in your outfit. I know I am jumping the gun here since it is still winter, but a girl can dream for sunny days filled with colour and spring fashion! I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Shopping Finds and a Video!

Yes, here is an awkward video of me sharing my finds from The Style Spy shopping event! Stay tuned tomorrow for pictures of the event.

Have a great day everyone! Let me know if you have any suggestions for future video blogs. I am terribly new to it, and it feels strange talking to my computer!

xo Holly

PS. Sorry it's so long!

Christmas Wishes: Marc Jacobs

Since Christmas is only a mere 32 days away, I have started to compile a Christmas list for Brandon & my mom. Although most things are fairly pricey (I don't expect to get one, if any, of the 5 Tiffany's necklaces on my list!), there are several things on the list that are under fifty dollars (we are not looking at the things above, folks!). I'm talking the necessities - socks, underwear, pajama pants, tootbrush, etc. Or in other words, the (somewhat) boring things you KNOW you will be getting! Luckily I don't mind that at all. A brand new pair of socks, especially fuzzy ones, are so cozy & even BETTER if they celebrate the Holiday season. Snowman socks, anyone?

I wanted to slowly start sharing with you some merchandise on my Christmas list. I will be dividing it according to brand (if there is a certain grouping of items from the same brand) or by subject. This will keep it a little more organized & easier to reference... For all of you super star readers out there. Wink wink!

I kept it to the main bag I want & all the fragrances of his that I love. I would be a very happy girl if I could have EVERYTHING from the Marc by Marc Jacobs line (who wouldn't!?), but for now, I will slowly start to build the collection!

1. Black leather "Natasha" bag, Marc by Marc Jacobs

2. Daisy by Marc Jacobs
3. Lola by Marc Jacobs

4. Oh, Lola! by Marc Jacobs

Have you started making your Christmas list? If so, what are some of your most-wanted items?

Other (recent-ish) Posts Featuring Marc Jacobs:

Fashionable Faces
Shine On!

Outfit Snaps

Wearing: SheBella Accessories infinity scarf, H&M ring, Aritizia oversized T-shirt dress.
Nail Polish: China Glaze Ruby Pumps
Worn with (not pictured): Parasuco skinny jeans, Spring shoes wedge boots

Wearing: H&M Sequin T, Suzy Shier blazer, SheBella Accessories necklace, H&M rings.
Worn with (not pictured): Black pleather leggings & black motorcycle boots

I am thankful my iPhone allows me to snap pictures of my outfits in a hurry. While it isn't the full thing (which is ultimately better), it gives you a taste of the smaller details. I will try to take some better pictures soon. Unfortunately the last time I tried to have an outfit photoshoot, not only was it freezing outside, but people kept on walking by as my self-timer was JUST about to go off. How rude, people. Can't you see I'm taking important photos for my blog!? Pfft.

Anyway, just a quick post with some quick photos, but I will see you all tomorrow! I hope you have a wonderful day! :)

Victoria's Secret Comes to Vancouver

Ladies, get ready! The American lingerie giant Victoria's Secret is coming to Vancouver. No longer will we have to travel over the boarder or order online to keep our lady bits well covered. This Monday, Victoria's Secret will be popping up at YVR Airport!

"The VS at YVR will carry beauty and accessory products, including perfumes, bags, sunglasses and wallets. It will also have a “panty bar” containing 5,000 panties." says VanCity Buzz. Although it is not a full store, you can get your cute panty fix while picking up your favourite VS scents and accessories. It is more of a concept store, but there's rumors for more locations in Vancouver.

You can read the VanCity Buzz article here for more information.

I don't know about you, but I am excited to check it out! Plus, class is in the evening on Mondays, so I'll have all morning & afternoon to drool (and wish I had some extra wiggle room in my budget for unnecessary undies)!

Recent Posts!

Furry Friends - Stay warm with faux fur this winter!
Fallen Leaves - A look into a lovely fall outfit
Life Lately - What's new and exciting!?

House of Harlow 1960

 It seems as if celebrity collaborations and collections are popping up every where. Jessica Simpson currently has a new diamond line coming out exclusive to Zales (and her clothes/shoes line of course), Alexa Chung for Madewell (which is cool and chic), and countless others. One of my favourite celebrity lines (or THE favourite), is Nicole Richie's House of Harlow 1960 line. She has a refreshing mix of edgy and fashion forward pieces, whether it's an antler ring, leopard print ANYTHING, and cool jeweled accessories. Below are a few House of Harlow 1960 pieces currently on my to-buy list.

 Clockwise from top: House of Harlow 1960 Orlina clutch in leopard pony, House of Harlow Willow sunglasses, House of Harlow 1960 Natalia platform booties, House of Harlow 1960 14 ct Yellow Gold Plated Sunburst Button Earrings, House of Harlow 1960 Long Antler Cuff with Cabochon, House of Harlow 1960 14k Yellow Gold Plated Evil Eye Ring.

photos from polyvore & tumblr

ABC's

A: Adventures

B: Boyfriend

C: Clothing

All of the above are a few of my favourite things!

1. Recent outfit to a management midterm this past week. It's amazing how many people you see wearing sweatpants just because there's an exam happening. Yes, post-secondary school is hard, but make it FUN with a cute, functional outfit! Wearing: Zara asymmetrical shirt (longer in the back with a neck/bottom zipper), American Eagle jeans, gifted scarf & Payless motorcycle boots.

2. Ring from H&M (they had a super cute snake bracelet there too. Nail colour is Naked by China Glaze (more pink in real life).

3. Another quick outfit snap. I apologize for the poor camera quality - I am desperately wanting to purchase a new one soon! Dark jeans by American Eagle, leopard flats from a boutique in Duncan, gifted scarf, Old Navy anorak.

4. An adventure through Delta, Richmond & Burnaby took Brandon and I over the Alex Fraser bridge. I let Brandon have the camera reigns on this one!

5. A little bit of hilarious background noise the night before my retail buying midterm. It was definitely a nice distraction from all the formulas!

6. Post-It notes on my notebook were a constant reminder of things I needed to know for my midterm! Thankfully they worked!

7. My handsome study buddy catching a glimpse at Bridesmaids on TV. Brandon made quizzes for me with content to study, and I had to fill in the blanks. He made it fun & a lot of the "tricks" he came up with helped me during the actual exam! Thank you!

I hope you are all having a wonderful week! My homework assignments are done, midterms are finished, laundry is caught up, and Sex & the City is to be watched (for about the billionth time)! I'm currently on the last disc of season 4. Good night!

Shopping Haul: Pictures!

 

1. The comfiest fleece throw ever! I was flip flopping between purple and this teal colour, but Brandon talked me into NOT purple. It seems as if everything I own is purple. This was a nice change & will look great on our brown suede couch!
2. Slim hangers for my giant closet! My mom bought me some simple white ones as well. However, my love for pattern made it hard to pass these up.
3. I also picked up a few things that were for ME! I bring you my first pair of flip flops in over 2 years. I wore them for the first time yesterday, and I must say, I'm not used to all this flipping and flopping! I had grown so used to my sling-back gladiator sandals, but change is good, right?
4. OPI Black Shatter. Yeah, I'm a little late on this one.
5. MY BOOKS ARRIVED! Yippee! After we came home, there was a package from Amazon on the dining room table. What a perfect day! Hanging out with my boyfriend, forcing him to scour the mall with me (although this was partially his idea, as long as he got frozen yogurt out of the deal), buying things & coming home to things!
6. Pink feather earrings! I love me some feathers.
7. And purple (go figure) feather earrings as well. You honestly can't pass up a by one get one free offer.

New Purchases

 

 

1. New Lou Lou magazine. It is one of my favourites!
2. Sneak peek at three new dresses I bought a couple weeks ago. I was hesitant on the yellow one in the middle (the others may possibly be the same dress in different colours) because it's tighter than I usually wear as far as dresses go, but I actually really love it!

3. Aldo sunnies! I somehow manage to lose every single pair I buy... I actually just found a pair I thought I had "'lost." I think my sister has been sneaking them (yeah, you!).

4. I generally don't buy body butter from The Body Shop because my skin is so picky, but I figured this would be a nice addition to my car. You know you have lotion in your car, too! Plus the smell is lovely!

5. Peacock earrings! Insert Katy Perry song here...