I am in a huge makeup slump. I’ve never worn a lot, but I think I’m ready to learn how to properly dress up my face now and then. Especially my eyes – how beautiful is that whole look above? There are just so many brands to choose from. Which makeup counters give the best makeovers guys? Fill me in!
Tags: beauty counters, eye makeup, makeover, Makeup
The first time I had my eyes examined I squinted painfully at the letter chart, getting each letter wrong while my Mom sat by, horrified that her daughter was clearly going blind and she never noticed. When finished, the doctor had me leave the room and explained to my Mom that I was a filthy little liar – OK not in those terms but I was totally faking my poor eyesight. I just really really wanted glasses.
Payback is a bitch because cut to twenty years later and I’m practically blind. A -7.0 in both eyes. I’d be the first one eaten on a desert island because, like Piggy, I’m screwed without my glasses.
So when ClearlyContacts.ca asked me to try out their Virtual Mirror to test out some frames, I was totally game. Can’t have too many backup pairs of glasses!
But then…then I got lost in the virtual mirror. I tried on pair after pair and just couldn’t make up my mind. Was the mirror accurate? Could I trust that the image of me in the glasses was how I’d look in the frames themselves? The answer was, pretty much.
Yep. Looking totally dorky in all of these.
Some of the things I learned when testing out this feature on the ClearlyContacts.ca site:
I finally decided on a pair of frames from Vancouver designer Derek Cardigan:
I placed my order on a Sunday and got the glasses in the mail on Wednesday - easily the fastest services I’ve ever had for glasses, or even contacts!
Mad glare but you get the idea
I will say that they were a lot thicker than I had anticipated, which is why I suggest you take those measurements into consideration before placing an order. Of course, now I’m addicted and want to order a bunch more. Thanks for the nerd glasses ClearlyContacts! Loves em.
Tags: ClearlyContacts.ca, Derek Cardigan, glasses, virtual change room
We’re having a seriously mild winter here in Toronto. I’m not really complaining – I hate the cold – but I love snow and winter isn’t the same without it! It’s also tough to find shit to do when you don’t really love winter sports. All I want is perfect, snowy winter goodness– think: fireplace, wood beams, board games, knit socks, hearty stews, quiet music and endless piles of books. Kind of like the trip I took last October to Quebec. I need a getaway.
Tags: Vacation, winter escape, ski chalet, cabin, Quebec
I don’t keep a great home bar. Aside from a few bottles of wine and some Jameson (obvi), I’m more of a buy-as-I-drink type. But after taking some cocktail classes at BYOB Cocktail Emporium and enjoying classically made concoctions at the Toronto Temperance Society and Bar Chef, I decided to expand my home drinking options.
Enter The Old Fashioned.
My new favourite cocktail is so easy to make and delicious to drink. Instead of classic Angostura bitters, I used Orange Angostura – a trick I learned from expert mixologist Trevor Burnett.
Now to decide how best to drink the Aperol I bought…
Sources: ohbeautifulpaper, ohgo, eldoradobar, onthefourthfloor
Tags: BYOB Cocktail Emporium, classic cocktails, old fashioned, Trevor Burnett
Yay! This is one of my favourite posts to write all year. I love the Golden Globes – they’re relatively unpredictable and TV and Movie Stars get wasted with each other. People also feel like they can dress daringly and because of that, we get to be super judgmental and make fun of them. Best! On with the show:
OK first of all – these people are crazy. You are on TV!! And will be in magazines!! You. Be. Cray.
Guys even I know that satin is a bad idea. Even me! I feel like she wouldn’t let anyone help her get ready and all her minions gave each other the wide-eye-teeth-inhale behind her back. You know what I mean.
Tami Taylor nooooo. Actually, Tami Taylor would probably be really into this dress. Which means Connie Britton can’t let go of the character which is OK with me. Backing off.
Erin Wasson why did you do this? Did you really need the press? You made the Keep It Neil shirt for RVCA and you go out in public like this? Does not compute.
This was on a dare, right? You guys are SO FUNNY!
I don’t passionately hate this but I just want to point out that it’s pretty much identical to the dress my friend wore to Grad in 1998. Which is not at all long enough ago to be considered retro yet. I just expected more! She’s arguably one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, so why the poorly cut dress? Oh, because guys like her boobs in it. Right.
Some more snoozes that I didn’t hate or love:
Hi I love you, girl crush. Snoozy dress though. You look really comfortable though, which must have been nice. Yah yah yahhhhh so anyways….
Your BFF-ness warms my heart. When you won the Globe, Laurie (I call her Laurie – CT forever) looked like she wanted to tackle you but restrained herself quite nicely.
Last year, Mila Kunis’ Oscar dress was one of my favourites so I guess she decided to get one made just like it this year. Pretty but…boring.
Now the really likes:
Girl, you can wear anything and I’ll still think you’re the coolest-looking of them all. Did I say girl? I meant your High Excellence.
Stunning. Not risky or anything but I love this dress. Most coveted.
I really like this. The hair and matching earrings, I dunno, but the dress is different and looks like something special. That’s all I want to see! Really special dresses from now on only.
More special. Expensive! Expensive can trump special especially when your husband owns Gucci.
I know Rooney Mara is an asshole, but this dress is beautiful on her. Super waif and ethereal and dark.
Something happened later in the night and Biel’s dress started drooping like a third boob (bummer!) but I think it looks great here. I’m a sucker for a good doily dress, and her hair just looks incredible.
Well, that’s it.
Not it’s not.
You didn’t think I’d miss this, did you?
hahahahahaha ahhhhhh she never fails to make me laugh.
Tags: Busy Phillips, Cameron Diaz, Connie Britton, Deschanel Sisters, Emma Stone, Erin Wasson, Golden Globes 2012, Jessica Biel, Jessica Chastain, Lea Michelle, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Rooney Mara, Rose Huntington Whitney, Selma Hayak, Style, Tilda Swinton
Fave hair/style snaps to inspire looks for the week ahead (typical lazy jackass me is bad at bookmarking so apologies in advance for not linking).
I am into everything this picture has going on at the moment.
Long, short, tight and loose – great combo. If only I could wear a cropped leather jacket (football shoulders over here)
Sweats and jewels. Into it.
In about five months and four inches, this will be my hair.
So Clueless.
Matchy-matchy but still so clean and cool.
Creamy whites.
Any day, every day.
Shorts and opaque tights are awesome on either end of the transition in and out of winter.
Dirty hair day ‘do.
And sometimes I just save pics of people I wish I looked like.
(Most of this is probably from theyallhateus)
Monday morning update – dirty ‘do achieved:
Tags: dirty hair, hair inspiration, leather jacket, opaque tights, style inspiration
Old to the internets, new to me. I love Beirut and this short film by Vincent Moon (aka my future husb) is exactly what my brain needs on a lazy Sunday. Zach Condon’s voice…forget it.
More? NPR taped a DC show last month – you can listen to it here.
Monday music to take the edge off.
Tags: Beirut, NPR, Vincent Moon, Zach Condon
This is a topic very close to my heart (literally). As a woman who is very, ahem, blessed (which is a stupid euphemism because we’re all #blessed), I have had a rough time fitting into bras. Being the biggest chested of all my girlfriends meant I looked to them for the “right” bra to wear. For a while it was the Calvin Klein sports bra (grades 8-10) and then it was whatever super dainty, comfy contraption I could find. Forget strapless! They were forever creeping down my ribcage and causing me anxiety. For years I wore the most ill-fitting ridiculous bras and knew no better.
Then I was introduced to the breast professionals. My first fitting (which was about 20 lbs heavier ago) I was told I was an F30 (at the time, I was wearing a C36). (Note: The letter is the cup size, the number is the band size). I spent about $150 on an extermely tight-fitting French brassiere and proceeded to get wasted and rant at anyone within earshot about how ridiculously huge my boobs were (“I mean, imagine how big Pamela Anderson really is? She’s gotta be like a double V!”).
Now I’m a lot less smaller but I still go to a professional for my bra purchases. I can’t shop at the mall stores because they don’t go as big as my size, but I know a lot of girls who are bigger than me and do. Consider this post a primer to get you thinking about giving up your current cup and letting a professional strap you in from now on! Here are some starting out tips to consider:
1. The back strap of your bra should sit straight across your back, no higher than your shoulder blades
2. The centre of your bra should sit firmly against your chest (you should have to struggle to fit a finger between the bra and your skin)
3. The cup should fit snugly, but not pinch into you, or bunch up in any way
4. If you’re larger, go for a soft cup bra as opposed to a moulded cup – they will fit better and you’ll get less “spillage”
4. Bring or ask for a fitted t-shirt to try over the bra to get a sense of how it will look day-to-day
5. A properly fitted bra should feel amazing – not uncomfortable in any way. If you’re fitted and feel uncomfortable, try a different place – there’s no science to this, sometimes it just takes time to find the perfect bra.
I now have some beautiful bras (specifically Freya) strapped and strapless, that fit me just right. Invest in your ladies, girls, they’re worth it!
Tags: Bra Fitting, Bras, Freya, Perfect Fit
Unlike 2010, 2011 was less of a roller coaster ride for me. Most of this year was spent celebrating other people’s big life changes – which is just fine with me. But that also meant that I spent a lot less time thinking about what I want from my own life. I don’t do regrets, but if I could go back to this time last year, there are definitely a few things I’d like to change. I feel like I’m finally back on the path I laid out in 2010 and I’m excited to make this year my best yet. I mean, the world’s going to end next December so I don’t have a lot of time, right (jokes).
I kicked off 2011 with a trip to NYC, which was just OK but also served as the impetus for how seriously I started to take my health (ironically, I was sick more this year than any other I can remember). One of the most vicariously exciting things that happened this year was the opening of my BFF’s store BYOB Cocktail Emporium – the shop has really thrived and I’m so so proud of my girl that I could burst.
I flew home and brought a boy with me. This led to some low times (thanks for sticking with me, y’all) but thanks to some amazing friends, I rallied right back. Rough winter! The summer got better, starting with my little sister’s wedding back in NFLD – but then my apartment flooded and I was homeless the rest of the summer…maybe this wrap-up was a bad idea haha. Moving on:
I got fake eyelashes (awesome!), went to my sister’s second (catholic blessing) wedding and got to move back into my apartment. I finished a contract and had a few weeks to myself before starting at a great new job. I had a dreamy Thanksgiving and an even dreamier Christmas.
I’m so excited for what 2012 will hold. Mainly, for the birth of my first niece or nephew in July – hurray!
Hope it’s your best year yet, too. Thanks for reading XOXO
Tags: 2011, Happy New Year, New Year's Eve
The most consumed booze on our Island – Lamb’s Amber
Snowfall at Hey Rosetta – encore performance of Fairytale of New York (watch it here)
St. John’s staple – The Ship
Purity display. There is no better soup cracker than a Purity Cream, let me tell you.
We have our own beer brands you can’t get anywhere else. NBD.
Favourite house decoration
This girl is growing up so fast
Elf on the Shelf for Maeva. Awesome new family tradition.
Favourite tree decoration
This flying monkey was my brother’s favourite gift
A good-bye shot of my beautiful city.
Tags: Elf on the Shelf, Hey Rosetta, Newfoundland, St. John's, The Ship Inn
