classic noise

A Plea

2012-03-01T12:20:00.000-04:00

PLEASE OH PLEASE LET SUMMER COME SOON!! I broke down yesterday and bought this striped, cotton blazer. I couldn't help it - it just SCREAMED spring and I thought to myself: if only I could build a little patch of spring in my closet, the rest will surely follow. Judging from the bite in the wind and the forecasted 5 - 10cm of snow, things are not going too well. However, I did spy some nude pumps, a pretty lace peplum shirt, a pair of pink jeans and some TOMS ballet flats... SOoo if I play it right, I may still have a chance at that early spring!

This outfit look familiar? You must have already entered my Stella & Dot giveaway! If you don't recognize the threads then you have definitely been missing out - head over right now and enter!

Giveaway: Stella & Dot necklace!

2012-02-29T12:20:00.002-04:00

I promise to quit slacking and have a wedding post up for you all next week ...however, in the meantime, I am incredibly excited about this GIVEAWAY!!!

Odette necklace layered with the libby layering necklace

The February/March stretch is a hard, unfortunate one folks. The snow has lost it's lustre, the wind seems to have it out for you and the lack of vitamin D has really hit home. While I can't do anything to coax the world to spin faster, I am hoping to help you through the home stretch onto literally, greener pastures.

I have partnered with my local Stella & Dot rep, the very lovely, Emily, to offer you all the chance to win your very own Odette Link Pendant [as featured above], from Stella & Dot's Spring Collection 2012! I will even model and style mine a couple times over the next two weeks, to offer you some inspiration... not that you need it - this piece is seriously beyond flexible.

HOW TO ENTER

mandatory - worth one entry
01 . Head on over to Emily's Stella & Dot store and then leave a comment below with your favourite item[s] and your email address, so I can contact you if you win!
02 . Follow me through Google Friend Connect

bonus - please leave a separate comment for each one
01 . Follow me on Twitter
02 . Like Emily's facebook page
03 . Follow me on Bloglovin
04 . Follow me on pinterest
05 . Tweet about this giveaway, tagging @sorrenisler and @emilymacneill in your tweet!

As an added bonus, throughout the duration of this giveaway, Emily will be offering free shipping* for orders over $100!

To take advantage, contact Emily by email and she will set it up for you!

This giveaway will run until Wednesday, March 14th at 5pm [Atlantic Standard Time] - open worldwide!

*Sorry folks, although the giveaway is open worldwide, this perk is just for the canucks, however that may change in the near future so stay tuned for other, upcoming promotions.

Winter Storm-wear

2012-02-28T12:08:00.000-04:00

Miss Sixty coat (similar) | Firefly hat (similar) | American Apparel leggings (similar) | Hunter boots | Hunter fleece liners (similar)

In honour of what will hopefully be [fingers crossed!] our last snow storm, here's a little peek at what I've been sporting out-of-doors all winter long. When it gets as cold as it does here in Halifax, you need to create a little collection of coats that help transition you season to season. This collection of coats needs to be built of cute little numbers that help remind people that you are likely wearing something stylish underneath. Something that you put a bunch of thought into styling, that gets so unfairly buried under the layers of winter. As important as the style factor is, this collection also needs a practical option; something that will stand up against the wet snow and bone-chilling wind.

Luckily for me, I stumbled upon this coat which does both. I was in-between meetings in January and popped into a thrift store to pass the time. Naturally, I headed straight for the coats where I saw a BRAND NEW Miss Sixty, down-filled coat. No lie. And guess what? It was 65$ - at 50% OFF! For REALS! I got this coat for 35$, taxes in! The only downside is the lack of a hood [seriously, what were those people thinking?], but I can totally suck it up for the price I paid. Plus, the lack of a hood created the perfect opportunity to accessorize with adorable hat[s] [I'm fancy and own more than one... two to be exact] and my go-to Hunters.

Music Monday

2012-02-27T12:37:00.000-04:00

As part of the new approach I have to my blog, I will use Mondays to feature different things. Music will be one of the big ones, but I'll also touch on movies I've seen, what I got up to over the weekend - if it's worth sharing, (i.e. I will not recount my haps of being a potato and watching movies all weekend while designing blog layouts and attempting to avoid sugar hangovers), how-tos or what I likes. Basically, anything is really fair game - perhaps I should re-name to mish-mash Monday, or mash-up Monday. hmmmmm... what do all y'all think???

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Grizzly Bear: Two Weeks

I absolutely love this song. I think I may have said something to the effect of "This is the type of song that buries straight through you and encompasses your soul". Embarrassing. I know. Rarely do I allow myself to go that close to the granolas, but this song is deserving of that kind of cringe-worthy admission.

Food Friday: Vegan Marble Banana Bread

2012-02-24T07:48:00.000-04:00

I am very excited to announce my second-ever pinterest recipe adventure was a delicious success! If you follow my pinterest, you'll know that the majority of my pins are of food and so I can't help but celebrate each time I manage to make one a reality [I want to eat. it. ALL.].

I love banana bread, always have always will. It's deliciousness is the only reason I can even stand saying the worst moist [ugh. that was hard and gross -that's what she said... I digress]. The point is, when I saw this pin and knew that I could up my game to include a chocolate - but not too chocolatey - banana bread, I nearly passed out from excitement.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup mashed banana
3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon canola oil
1/3 cup almond milk
1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons boiling water, divided

Begin by boiling the water and preheating the oven to 350 F. Next, start mashing your naners in a large bowl, beating in the sugar, oil, milk and vanilla. Set aside.

Sift your flour, baking soda and salt - not because it's fun, but because you know it's worth it. Gently mix the flour into the wet ingredients.

Now, here's where things get crazy. Separate half of the batter into another bowl. In a small bowl mix the cocoa powder with 3T of the boiling water. Once this has dissolved into ~~delicious~~ hot cocoa water mix it into one half of the batter, creating that chocolatey goodness. Once this is mixed, add the remaining 3T of boiling water to the boring ol' plain batter and mix.

At this point, you should have two bowls of batter. Begin added them to your nicely buttered, lightly flour-dusted pan, one half cup at a time layering the chocolate with the plain. Once all your batter is in there take a knife and swirl it around the length of the pan -don't let it drag on the bottom though.

Put it in your preheated oven and voila! 55 minutes later [more if your oven is sneaky] you've got a delicious marble banana bread! ...and since it's all vegan and healthy you can pretty much devour that thing start to finish right from the oven. Enjoy!

Notes:

Just because it's vegan doesn't mean it needs to have a weird rubbery texture!

Hurray for finding healthy recipes that also taste good!!

Since it's vegan you'll need almond, soy or rice milk instead of regular. Ooo! Also, you could try coconut milk. Any would do and they're all pretty fantastic to bake with.

Sift the flour twice. This always helps with cakes and muffins and since eggs aren't included in vegan recipes, the sifted flour will definitely help lighten the batter.

Fleurs and Brogues

2012-02-23T10:05:00.000-04:00

There's nothing I like more than mixing and matching brown, grey and black pieces. I'm not sure when my love for this blossomed. Perhaps it was somewhere between episodes 3 and 8 of Downton Abbey, Season 2, or maybe it was while I sat patiently, waiting for East Bound and Down to finally return... in any case I'm hooked and I don't see things changing any time soon. In fact, I may just toss out everything that isn't black, grey or brown from my closet, it's in a desperate need of some cleaning and organization and, well, that just sounds horrible right about now. Case closed.

Review: HANA Titanium Flat Iron

2012-02-22T18:31:00.000-04:00

Last month, when I was approached by Misikko to review the HANA Titanium 1.5" Flat Iron I didn't even have to think twice before answering: yes, yes! a million times YES!! This may seem like an over-the-top reaction, however if you knew grade-11-Sorren personally, the girl who often turned to an iron and ironing board, you would probably understand my excitement a little better. I have come a long way since those days, owning four separate flat irons [Hai 2 Ceramic Flat Iron, ISINIS tourmaline, Babyliss Pro nano titanium and most recently, a GHD], and I fancy myself a bit of an expert ...although I suppose I do still need to get my hands on one of those CHI Straightners before I can consider myself an ace.

When the package arrived I was immediately impressed by the detail and thought they put into the packaging.. the couple extra goodies weren't too shabby either!

Since I'm serious about flat irons, I needed to know this flat iron was serious about me (I know it's a little early in our relationship to be testing the waters however, at this age I don't want to waste my time if we're not a fit). Not going to lie, I did not go easy on this straightner. I curled my hair in the morning, wore it down all day long, put it a-top my head through the evening and finally let it down when I needed to start getting ready for my night out.

PROS: I was a little wary about the 1.5" plate because I had grown quite accustomed to the 1" and loved how easy it was to handle. I had also grown to favour the ceramic finish and so the titanium plating made me a little nervous too. Once I began straightening however, my nerves were calmed. It turned out that I love the 1.5" plate! The extra room makes it easier to straighten larger chunks allowing me to finish my hair quicker. I also noticed that when using the HANA Titanium to straighten my hair I avoided the static that seems to accompany my GHD flat iron during the winter. Now I don't know whether this has anything to do with the fact that my HANA has titanium plates rather than ceramic however, I know that I no longer need to fear the unknown!

CONS: I did noticed that, when fully heated, the outside of the flat iron became considerably hot at certain areas. However, this wasn't much of an issue once I had this realization although I may have already scorched myself a couple of times by that time. The funny thing?? I didn't even consider turning it down or using any of the other temperatures available, I'm 400 or bust kind-of-gal, so I worked around it.

After all was said and done, I must say, the HANA Titanium Flat Iron is a great tool. I have owned some quality flat irons and it's definitely able to keep up. It worked quickly (under 15 minutes for my entire head), kept my hair smooth and didn't create any frizz or burn the tips. Obviously, every girl knows the true test of a quality flat iron is longevity and unfortunately I can't speak to that at this point. However, I will definitely keep you guys up to date as I find out!

*Disclosure: I received this flat iron c/o Misikko. I was asked to test out the product and write a review of my experience, this review stays true to my own personal opinion. A big thank you to Misikko for allowing a flat-iron-aholic like me test out their awesome product!

Transition-wear

2012-02-21T12:51:00.000-04:00

American Apparel sweater | Club Monaco skirt | Hue tights | Nine West peep toes | Matt & Nat bag

I wore this outfit to my friend's birthday dinner a couple weekends back and I must say, the only downside is I'm still not sure if I should have chosen these peep toes over my black booties. That, and the fact that winter is quickly dwindling and I may not have much more time to wear this outfit on repeat! Honestly, i think I may have found the perfect outfit. A pretty skirt, fancy heels, fun tights, AND to top it off, a slouchy, comfy sweater!??! Heaven, I tell you. Especially since lately I've been completely stumped on how to style my top half. With this outfit, I don't even have to deal with that shirt nonsense. I just got to by-pass the entire ordeal and go with a more comfortable option - complete win-win. The other amazing thing about a slouchy sweater (besides the warmth) is that it hides your food baby, and after saganaki, moussaka, salad and cupcakes, you can bet I was into my third trimester... I may have even begun thinking up baby names. What`s everybody think of Jeremy? Jeremy the food baby, I think it's got a nice ring to it.

A mostly similar, slightly new, Beginning

2012-02-20T09:46:00.000-04:00

A BIG thank YOU to all those who commented, emailed and completed my survey! It meant so much to me to get your feedback and I appreciate everyone who took the time to do so. You were all so kind in your comments. I must admit that I may have even gotten a little teary (in a good way) when reading a couple of them. I promise I won't be making any major changes around here, however I may introduce a little more variation in my topics and alternate between certain topics on a week to week basis. You'll notice some alterations in my editorial calendar over the next couple weeks, feel free to continue to provide more feedback as we go!

I only have ONE follow-up question (it may have began as a follow-up survey, but I reigned my addiction in and stopped myself): Many of you answered you would be interested in "How-to" posts, I have a couple how-tos in mind, however I would like to see if there's anything specifically you would like to see.

HAPPY MONDAY!!

Food Friday: Grilled Veg Bagnat

2012-02-17T22:53:00.000-04:00

This isn't the GIANT sandwich I've made, it definitely won't be the last and I won't share EVER large sandwich I make with you, but this one deserved some attention. When I posted my experimentation with Pan Bagnat my friend, Terra, commented how she had made something similar with roasted veggies, goat cheese, fresh basil and pesto. Yeah. That DOES sound delicious. I pretty much tripped over myself trying to make it ASAP!!!

The concept is pretty simple. Choose some of your favourite veggies, drizzle olive oil over top of them (1 - 2T), sprinkle with your seasoning (I chose salt & pepper), toss, lay flat on a baking sheet and then roast for 30 minutes, flipping half way through.

Next, slice your large baguette in half and dig out the majority of the bread and discard... or eat it bit by bit while you assemble the sandwich. Spread the pesto on one side and the goat cheese on the other, laying the basil leaves over top the goat cheese. Layer your veggies on the side that is the deepest and then put both sides together.

Technically, you could just go ahead and eat the sandwich right away ...but you shouldn't. Instead you should be super patient, wrap the sandwich in saran wrap and put it in the fridge with a weight on top (like a block of butter) and let it sit for 5 hours so the flavours blend.

Serve with a side salad or soup, or just continue eating through the entirety of the sandwich, forgoing any sides; either one.

Distractions

2012-02-16T16:59:00.001-04:00

Holy cannoli! I cannot believe this is my FIRST outfit post of the week! Seriously, Valentine's Day causes all kinds of ruckus! From skewing my traditional posting schedule to causing wrestling matches in the grocery store over the last half-off gummy heart, jujube and jelly bean mix. What can I say? I'm passionate about half-priced holiday themed candy ...mind you I was wrestling Jack for them. But what do you expect me to do when someone tells me I can't hold my candy and they don't want to deal with my sugar hangover for the rest of the week!? Clearly, the answer is I must eat ALL OF THE CANDY and prove him wrong, and don't you worry, I plan to do just that.

ps. I loved wearing this outfit. It was super warm and I liked the greys against the black and the pop of purple

V-Day Round-up!

2012-02-15T21:27:00.000-04:00

I'll be back to posting style photos in no time - I promise! However, since I don't want to lose the opportunity or let the moment pass me by, today you'll just need to be happy with some of my valentine's day snap shots.

- Love twix - the peanut butter chocolate kind
- Homemade valentines
- Thai takeout - green curry, pad thai and spring rolls. mmhmmm
- The Artist - our movie of choice for the evening
- Lovely flowers
- Make your own sock monkeys from the monkeyshow... which we totally made

heart

2012-02-14T16:05:00.000-04:00

Oh the day of love, happiness and half priced candy. Hope you all have a great one. I'm not entirely sure what this evening has in store although I do know it will be fantastic whatever it is! Be prepared for a couple photos of the evening (not those kind, guys! Sheesh. Y'all know I don't work blue), I figured out a pretty awesome v-day gift and I can't wait to share!

Featured: Fashion East

2012-02-14T10:56:00.001-04:00

Hello all! I have been getting some great feedback from you guys - thank you and keep it coming! Remember, you can comment, email or complete my survey.

Yes, I did make a survey. Yes, I did love making it. Yes, I am definitely addicted to making surveys now. Yes, I do think you should make some too... and yes, I have crossed over and begun pushing survey-making. I lurk by playgrounds and fast-talk the next generation so they get hooked on survey-making. It's a bit of a learning curve but I've got some good pointers after watching the Wire three times through. I am going to have to keep an eye out for snoop though - you can't trust that girl.

In the meantime... I was featured on Fashion East this past week! Fashion East is a local street style blog run by a couple of great girls including the lovely Meghan Tansey Whitton, who snapped my photo - in public.. might I add. She's real good. Check out my feature and follow the blog - you won't be disappointed!

pause.

2012-02-13T10:04:00.001-04:00

With spring around the corner I’ve been bitten with the bug of change. Fresh start, new-lease-on-life kind of thing and obviously, this bitty blog isn’t going to be left behind. So, the other night I got to thinking, how could I freshen up my blog?

Clearly a redesign is the forerunner to accomplishing this, but since this design is still fairly recent I didn’t want to toss it out with complete disregard for other possibilities. For inspiration I began considering how I’ve changed, and how my blogging habits have changed, over the past year.

My life has gotten A LOT busier – I’ve switched jobs, have many more hobbies and have made an effort to be more social (ahhh yes, poor hermit sorren is waiting in the wings for her time to dominate once again) i.e. I have less time to blog.
I have less time to take outfit photos – This is for two reasons; 1. It’s winter here so daylight is at a minimum and my apartment lighting isn’t the best. 2. My new position has me across the city from Jack rather than 5 minutes, and although I could become a self-photographing whiz like these lovely ladies (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) I have a strict “no photos near work” commitment that nixes this option.
Style burnout – I feel as though the quality of the outfit I post has suffered. As much as I love personal style blogging – and I do, it’s just fun – it’s exhausting to do it every day. You start to criticize yourself for not be creative enough. You get it in your head that you always need new pieces to put together anything worth seeing.
There’s more I’d like to blog about – I love food. I love music. I love local. I love design. I love pinterest. I’m planning a wedding. I have hobbies. I like sharing reviews. There’s tons out there to talk about, and since I apparently can’t focus – I want to talk about it all!

These changes highlighted a couple of things; mainly that I need a focused, achievable editorial calendar (which I’m working on now). I also realized that I wanted to hear your feedback, find out what you would like to see. Things you like about my blog and things that you aren’t the fondest of. I’ve always been interested to know these things and now I find myself willing to ask. Whatever you can think of - I'd like to know!

You can leave a comment below, email me, complete my survey or do a combo of those things. I made the survey to highlight the specific things I wanted to know and so you could answer anonymously.

Although I will admit that I intend to remain true to myself, there is always room for improvement and I would love to hear it all - so lay it on me.

*Obviously comments made in an attempt to be malicious will be ignored but everything else is welcome and will be considered!

Food Friday: Pita Pizza

2012-02-10T12:14:00.000-04:00

Holy cow, guys. I just took a peek through my last few "what i ate" posts and was shocked at what I found; I have been on an intense sugar kick. S'mores bars, carrot cake, dessert tarts, peanut butter cookies!? I think the only thing I have left to master is molasses. Just call me Betty Crocker and we'll call it a night. I'm serious, I think I've proven I deserve it.

In any case, I've seen the direction my life is going without an influx of veggies and I'm making strides to change my ways. Pita pizzas are an old friend of mine. Not going to lie, they've helped me out of a few jams in my day. Random veggies leftover from a week's worth of dinners? Not enough veggies to make anything substantial? Toss in a pita and some pesto and they'll have a new lease on life!

One of the best things about pita pizza is you can dress it pretty much any way you'd like AND it always stays fun and exciting because it's so easy to switch up the toppings! This week my fridge had a bunch of my favourite veggies (coincidence) left over from the week's meals. I wasn't picky; I chopped them all up.

Since I was feeling fancy and have a penchant for basil, I went with pesto as my base. I have also been known to use olive oil with garlic or tomato paste, both are delicious. Other awesome topper options are sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, asparagus, pepperoni, cheddar, smoked gouda, eggplant, and the list goes on... although I wouldn't begin to assume they all mesh perfectly together.

Once you've brushed your base and topped your toppers, place your pita pizza on the cookie sheet and toss it in your pre-heated (400 degree) oven. Bake for 10 minutes and, voila! Dinner! This whole meal can take as little as 25 minutes to make. And even better? One pita pizza with a side of salad is enough dinner for one girl! Quick, easy AND a perfect portion size!? Amazing.

Notes:

hmmm, notes... notes...

anything you want to sautee or soften before hand?

Do it. it's worth the time and makes it all kinds of extra delicious.

For the above pizza I sauteed the onions, mushrooms, zucchini and red peppers.

that's all I've got. I love these effin' things.

if you've got any questions, ask away!

Pretty in Pink

2012-02-09T15:36:00.000-04:00

Guys, I must tell you, I am completely in love with this skirt. This is certainly not the first time I've found myself with amorous feelings towards a piece of fabric however this may be the first time I've ever contemplated dating one. I stumbled upon this skirt during Boxing Day sales at Biscuit. It was amazing - I totally wasn't expecting to fall head over heels like this but I did and we're so happy. So far, my favourite pairing for the skirt is this shirt. I know that it's so much more versatile than just this, but I haven't discovered exactly how far I should push it yet... any ideas? How would you style it?

A Touch of Spring

2012-02-07T13:33:00.000-04:00

Pink Martini cardigan | FCUK tie blouse (similar) | Seven for All Mankind jeans | Nine West peep toes

I'm not sure why it took me so long to think of it but I'm sure glad I did because I loved the pairing of this light, lace cardigan with my tie blouse. Up until now I had only gotten so far as to pair it with a white tee, or layer it over a cami; glad to know I'm slightly less boring than I was this time last year. I must admit though, if I were to re-create this look I think I would nix my Nine West peep toes. As much as I love them they just were not doing it for me. I think an awesome nude pump is exactly what this outfit needs to pull it all together -looks like I've got a new mission...

Featured: Style Nine to Five

2012-02-06T22:52:00.000-04:00

Hey guys! Wouldn't you know it, I've been featured in Style Nine to Five's Maritime Stylish Dot Coms! It's just a little blurb but I'm flattered to be featured with such a great group of girls. So check it out if you get a chance! If you're from the Maritimes you may get a glimpse of some familiar places and faces. If you're not, you may just end up loving how we style it here on the cold coast!

Polka Stripes

2012-02-06T20:13:00.000-04:00

Striped Banana Republic sweater (similar) | Katrina Tuttle polka dot dress (similar) | Hue tights |
Steve Madden boots (similar)

I don't know about you guys, but holy moly that weekend was short and I'm not talking Little People, Big World short, I'm talking Antz short. I can never tell whether a weekend feels longer when you laze about and take it easy, or if it's when you pack as much in as humanly possible. What I do know is, when you stay up until 3:30am Saturday night because "you're having tons of fun and haven't done this in a while" and then you go out to an awesome show Sunday night with awesome friends, put on by some guy who apparently do not recognize from a hole in the wall, it won't matter if you're home by 11pm because the damage will have already been done. You are in the Monday danger zone. At this point, all I have left to hope for is an early dinner and a food coma that knocks me into Friday.

Food Friday: S'mores Bars

2012-02-03T21:25:00.000-04:00

Yes, you heard right; S'mores bars. They exist, it's not a dream. I know, I did a double take the first time I got wind of this too. In fact, I think I yelled at my screen "I've been dreaming of this day for so long, it can't be true." But they are. They are true. And they are DELICIOUS. I've been a fan of s'mores since I had my first one three years ago - yeah I know, sheltered - but I've never cared for the uneven melting a campfire offers. With s'mores bars, there is none of that NONSENSE! My thinking is, this is a little taste of what heaven would be like.

Don't actually use marshmallows. I tried it and they disintegrate. But they sure are pretty.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cups flour

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (approximately 7 full graham crackers)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 or 3 super-sized (5 oz.) chocolate bars
1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff (not melted marshmallows)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined.

Grab a 8 x 8, or 11 x 7 pan. Butter it. Butter it good. Divide dough in half and press half the dough into an even layer of your pan. Next lay down the full chocolate bars and then begin to scoop the fluff in a layer on top.

As tough as it's going to be, do not eat the chocolate bars before you get a chance to use them in the recipe. I started in on them, which is why you see all the chocolate evenly spaced in chunks around the dish, that and my low-level OCD of course. This is not the best way to go about it. The fluff is sticky and a life-ruiner. If I had been able to control myself and not give into that sweet, delicious, milky Cadbury the fluff debacle may never have been and I'd be a different person today.

Now I didn't take photos of the next, difficult and irritating part, but you can go here to see how it's done. I apologize for leaving it out but I was slightly cranky. It's actually not too hard to roll out but getting it from the saran wrap to the top of the fluff is super fun (italics = sarcasm).

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes and then let cool completely.

Finally, make sure that you can bring these to your office, a party or a friends' house or else you will eat them ALL. You may enjoy it at first, but believe me, your tummy will turn on you later.

Secrets

2012-02-01T21:42:00.001-04:00

Fit USA blazer (similar) | Joe Fresh shirt (similar) | Rich&Skinny Jeans (similar)
Chelsea Crew oxford pumps | Medallion necklace (similar)

I have something to admit, I'm in a bit of a clothing rut right now. It's not because I dislike the clothing I own, but rather that my closet is a mess and I can't easily grab a bunch of items and mash them up into something interesting. Seriously folks, a clean closet does a world of difference when it comes to tossing together something fun and exciting so it looks like I've got some cleaning to do.

Lucky for me, I've got this handful of items that work awful nice together and that stand out easily from the piles of laundry. If only I hadn't shown you that I just wore them, then I could get away with repeating this outfit tomorrow and only my coworkers would think I was a dirt bag. You live and learn, I guess..

2012-01-31T19:07:00.001-04:00

I assure you I wore clothes today. I just don't have the time to prove it to you 'cause I'm busy pitching my film5 project. Looks like you'll just have to take my word on it.
Clear eyes. Full Hearts. CAN'T LOSE.

Making Lemonade

2012-01-30T13:28:00.000-04:00

American Apparel sweater | Gap skirt (similar) | Hue tights (similar) | Steve Madden boots (similar)
Joe Fresh necklace | Turquoise & Caicos Essie nails

I think my favourite thing about winter this season has been the pairing of heavy, bulky sweaters with light, summery skirts and dresses. There's something about the contrast of it that I just cannot help but love. It's the same kind of love that I have for a masculine leather coat paired with a soft lace top, or a strong boyfriend blazer paired with a light champagne floral. The other obvious draw to this trend comes from the fact that my closet grows exponentially when I don't have to pack away my summer dresses AND that I get to keep extra warm with all the big sweaters.

Lucky for me I live in Canada and I've got a bunch more months of bulky sweaters and pretty dresses on my horizon.

That's how Chickens Talk

2012-01-26T15:29:00.000-04:00

Club Monaco blazer (similar) | Aritzia lace top (similar) | JBrand coated skinnies | Franco Sarto pumps

We've been lucky to get some unseasonably warm weather these past few days

and I am soaking it up every chance I get!

It's not every day that Nova Scotian January sees

a stretch of 2 - 8 degree (35.6F - 46.4F) days.

It's as though the east coast is finally getting a glimpse into

the charmed lives of those on the west.

I love it.

Seriously.

I'm getting reckless;

leaving my hat at home, forgoing the gloves,

shoes not boots - and even shoes without socks!

I'm unhinged.

Potential colds be damned! I refuse to miss out on this mini winter holiday!

A little vitamin D goes a long way folks and I'm determined to get my fair share.

Wedding Wednesday: Decoration Inspiration

2012-01-25T13:14:00.001-04:00

I realized today that it's still a little bit of a stretch at this point to be

doing Wedding Wednesday posts on a weekly basis

so be warned - I'm going to get all sporadic on you guys; keep you guessing.

However, since the lovely Lili over at Relatable Style sent me a link

for some awesome wedding inspiration,

I couldn't help but go on a mad mood board/pinning spree

that I now would like to share with all y'all.

My guess, you'll be seeing a lot more of these from here on out

- you can thank Lili for my new found addiction.

Rebellion

2012-01-24T12:53:00.000-04:00

Vince cardigan (similar) | Tulle oxford (similar) | Seven jeans (similar) | boots (similar) | Longchamps bag

As I mentioned yesterday, this past Sunday I attended podcamp Halifax.

It was a full day of lectures and sessions about social and digital media

and also, a fantastic way to spend a Sunday.

Jack and I have actually been waiting to attend since last January

when I heard about it day-of through my facebook news feed!
Needless to say, I was excited

...until I realized I would have to wake up before 8am.

Horrible really. I honestly almost backed out.

Instead, I went to my closet and made some compromises.

Initially, I was aiming for a professional, I-get-shit-done kind of look,

but once I had begun to mourn my Sunday I dropped such pretenses

and rebelled with a more relaxed, causal look.

I felt a little under dressed but overall didn't really mind;

my wool socks kept my toes toasty and my cardigan kept me comfy.

juuuuust noticed that top picture makes me look like I'm picking something...

let's all pretend like it doesn't because I'm not up for reformatting another image :) Awesome.

Back in the Game

2012-01-23T13:25:00.000-04:00

That's right folks!

My Film5 application is submitted and this weekend was ALL MINE!!

(breathe a sigh of relief)

Well at least Saturday was mine,

Sunday was for podcamp, but that's another story.

Friday night I celebrated an awesome gal's birthday,

then trudged through the post-storm streets to get home (well worth it).

Saturday morning I brunched, did a little light shopping

and then got my butt back home to thoroughly clean my apartment.

After weeks of working on that application our place was a mess.

Coats thrown on the kitchen chairs, make up strewn across the coffee table,

and piles of clothes, waiting to be worn, stacked around our room.

It was rough, but I had 3 weeks worth of Vampire Diaries to keep me company.

On a lovely note, we managed a delicious dinner and a movie,

so it wasn't all soap, bubbles, scrubbing and cleaning.

What'd you all get up to this past weekend?

Food Friday: Carrot Cake

2012-01-20T17:05:00.000-04:00

Carrot cake... where do I begin??
I make this cake at minimum, 2 times a year (usually it's more like 4 -5).
It all began when Jack and I first started dating and I found out that he LOVES carrot cake. If it were a human I would have some intense competition for his attention. Even as a baked good it often overshadows me... but that's an issue for another time.

So, two times a year I'm required (although I do so lovingly) to make this cake.
The first time is at Jack's birthday, the other is at Ruby's (Jack's sister)
Apparently the whole Carr family has a thing for carrot cake
and when Ruby realized Jack was getting it on an annual basis she signed up, although under the strict request that there be no nut OF ANY SORT included in the cake. She's "allergic".

Carrot Cakes are pretty easy to make, they're just slightly time consuming.

1 & 2 - The hardest part to get through is the beginning when grating carrots. Usually I am able to coax someone else into doing this for me, but this time I was on my own. It. took. FOREVER. I'm serious. The only reason I didn't go crazy while doing it was that I pulled up a stool and set up Gossip Girl (pre-Christmas)- I recommend it for everyone.

3 - A key thing to remember is to shift that s*** (i.e. flour, baking powder, spices, etc.) Sifting when baking cakes, muffins and cupcakes, makes all the difference in the world. When I make a special cake, I even sift 2 - 3 times - yeah, that's right, I over do it. That's how I roll folks; all or nothing.

4, 5 & 6 - Another trick I like to use when making cake (although it is slightly less effective when carrots or other disruptive ingredients are involved), is to separate the yolk from the egg white. I mix the yolk in with the rest of the wet ingredients and then beat the whites until they form soft peaks.

Place the egg whites aside and continue the recipe as instructed. Once everything is mix in, fold in the egg whites. This should help make your cake lighter since the white add air into the mixture - it's the bees knees.

FULL RECIPE (It's my go-to)

The icing is fairly simple and completely delicious.

1. Make sure you have enough icing sugar. I always assume I have enough but never do. Checking first will save you a trip to the store in your sexy sweats and lounge-wear.

2. Take your room-temperature butter and cream cheese and blend them together. Take these out when you begin your cake. I never do. I only think of them as the cake goes in the oven and then I have to wait. Don't worry though... I always have tons of Gossip Girl to catch up on, and once that's done there's always Vampire Diaries (or VD, as Mary would prefer call it).

3. Blend everything with your mixer. Don't be a hero, mixing by handing does nothing for anyone. Everything includes, vanilla, icing sugar, butter, cream cheese and grated lemon and orange rind. Don't think this is enough of a recipe? Here's the full thing.

4. Oh yeah, the orange is my secret edition. So don't tell anybody... I'm looking at you, internets.

Now all you gotta do is decorate to your hearts content. Sometimes I fill the iced cake with walnut pieces, other times I use the coloured icing tubes to decorate. When I feel fancy I go all out a create tiny little marzipan carrots that I paint with orange food colouring and top with cloves.

The one note I will make is, when layering cakes it helps to shave off the top rounded part of the cake. This will help them stack better and prevent sliding.

My decorating job for Jack's birthday 2011

Toasty toes

2012-01-19T19:27:00.000-04:00

I had no idea when I threw this little ditty together

that it would quickly become my new favourite outfit - but it has.

I can't put my finger on what it is specifically.

Perhaps the blazer, or maybe it was the stripes

...I'm definitely a fan of the red lips.

Who knows why.

All I know is I'll be using this as a go-to.

The one thing I am second-guessing is the wool socks.

Although my toes were nice and toasty, I don't think it was the right move.

I liked them in theory but in practice the contrast is a little too subtle to work.

Perhaps next time I'll just throw on my fleece Hunter liners and call it a day.

Wedding Wednesday: Dress Shopping . Part 1

2012-01-18T19:47:00.001-04:00

Ohh, the dress.

No matter how hard you try, or how little you may care leading up to it,

that damn dress will get to you.

As I'm sure you've gathered by now,

I am not the type of gal who had her wedding dreamed up, planned and bindered.

So naturally, I had not given any thought to wedding dresses.

Holy moly, there are a ton of wedding dress styles!

And colours? Who knew there were so many shades of white!?

I mean, obviously, I’m not a hermit,

I know you can paint your house a million shades of white;

I just never knew this rang true with wedding dresses.

It’s nuts. I’m beginning to wish I was one of those girls

with the binder and the sticky notes!

But I digress; I’m beginning to get ahead of myself.

The point is – I didn’t realize, I wasn’t prepared.

I tried on each of these dresses, or at least a similar style

Back in July when Jack I first became engaged,

I decided to wait to go wedding dress shopping until the Christmas Holidays,

when my sister would be home.

I loved the idea of going dress shopping with

my mom, my soon-to-be sister and my two sisters.

So I waited; didn’t think twice about it, really.

I barely even pinned anything.

…except one dress. One vera wang dress.

Big mistake.

Her style? It’s my style.

Her price point? It ate my price point for breakfast...

then it was still hungry, so it ate a chocolate croissant.

Yeah, I know - full time fancy, right?

In any case, I put that thought aside and embraced dress shopping.

It was amazing! I loved every minute.

It was fun to have my mom and three sisters there,

helping me navigate a six versus a seven, or an eight versus a ten.

Trying on beautiful gowns, one after the other was awesome.

It was also exhausting.

There were so many dresses.

I even tried on a whole slew of dresses just because

the sales woman hadn’t seen them on anyone yet.

Not that I minded - who am I to turn down an old fashioned game of dress up?

Seriously though, after 4 hours of climbing in and out of dresses I was tuckered.

I had not been able to find anything similar to the vera but had found a couple of strong contenders.

Strong contenders, that made me giddy (and slightly embarrassing) when I wore them.

I was starting to make short list of my favourites when the sales woman’s’ daughter

said something that stopped me in my tracks.

She said “all that matters, is that in 40 years, when you’re looking at your wedding photos,

you will love your dress as much as you did the day you bought it”.

Now, aside from the obvious questions:
“Why would I be staring at these photos? How long have I been staring at them?
Am I nostalgic for my youth, or am I trying to remember my own name?"
this statement snapped me into focus.
All I could picture was that first dress that ever made an impression on me- the elusive vera.

So, now I'm in a state of flux.
I know that it's ridiculous to dream an unattainable dream,
but I've got another month before I've got to nail this down so I'm going to
wait it out and test my fate.
See what I can do - what magic I can manage.
I'll keep you all posted.

Now for ONE photo of me actually in a dress... it's a charmer.
Please excuse the iphone photoness of it all.

$10 to whoever can guess what this pose is! Okay, probably not, but I'll think you're super cool.

Real Work Wear

2012-01-17T10:23:00.000-04:00

Humor sweater (boyfriend's) | shirt (similar) | American Apparel leggings (similar)| Steve Madden boots (similar)

Sorry about my scattered presence since the holidays. This January has been the craziest, busiest month I've experienced in a while. It was non-stop 9-5, 5-9 and weekends. Just nutty; something had to give. Since I had already begun a take-out diet and not eating altogether is not an option, my poor little blog and my blog reading got the short end. It's been tough. Every time I open my laptop I go straight for my google reader and try to catch up on some blog favourites, but then my brain butts in and ruins everything. Nagging me to put it away and get to work. That I'll have a chance to catch up once my application is submitted. That it'll be so much better then because I won't have a gnawing feeling reminding me that I'm putting off important work in favour of reading blogs and re-sizing photos. Stupid brain, doesn't it understand what priorities are?!

In any case, today we passed in our film5 phase to application and breathed a sigh of relief! I actually enjoyed all the hard work we put in and the thick stack of letters, proposals and notes that came of it. Being able to check off my list and know that we put every last bit of ourselves into this application was super rewarding. I think wearing comfy, hunker-down-and-get-it-done outfits added a bit of enjoyment to the process as well! I'm never as able to justify living in leggings and bulky sweaters than when I busting my lady-bees to get'er done. Now onto the wedding planning...

2012-01-12T21:38:00.000-04:00

Just a little longer guys, and then I'll be back at it regular style.

This Film5 application is a full-time second job

that's got me running laps.

Everybody, Everywear: Black + White

2012-01-10T10:57:00.000-04:00

Not going to lie, I was totally rooting for the LBD.

I can't help it. I love those simple, monochromatic, classic items

and because I've been so adventurous lately,

I felt like I needed an excuse to wear mine again.

Luckily, black & white was the theme that made the cut

and I suppose it's practically the same thing!

I loved everything about this outfit; white and black are where it's at!

I also love the pop of colour the red of my lips brings.

The only thing I'd change about this is,

next time I'd set an alarm to remind me that EBEW was today!

That way I wouldn't be stuck taking stealth photos
first thing in the winter a.m. when it's still dark out and
my neighbours are leaving for work.

Seriously, stealth I tell you!

Weekends are for Working

2012-01-09T12:40:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday, all!

How were your weekends?

Mine was pretty great.

I spent a bunch of time watching my newish obsession, Friday Night Lights,

which is AWESOME! I seriously have no idea why it took me so long to watch it!

I've never really cared for football (or any sports) before this and now, now I'm addicted.

I love football. I love the energy, the excitement and the game...

and Coach Taylor. I can't help it. His morals and work ethic are sexy.

Other than catching up on my TV, I spent the rest of the weekend holed-up hermit-style

working on my Film5, Phase 2 submission. It's intense.

I spent Saturday working almost exclusively on the budget. No lie.

That thing is a slave driver. It is 37 pages of hell.

Sunday was slightly better, spent working on the formatting, financial structure,

marketing plan, my letter of intent and my producers notes.
Even though I spent my weekend working and I do not feel rested in any way, shape or form,

the feeling of achievement and satisfaction is well-worth it.

...kind of ...I really could go for a nap and a sweat-pants party

Food Friday: Simple Dessert Tarts

2012-01-06T17:09:00.000-04:00

On Saturday night, Jack and I attended a little NYE potluck complete with

appetizers, mains, salads, champagne, fancy dresses, sparklers and dessert, made by yours truly.

Since I had just spent the morning cleaning my apartment from top to bottom,

an intricate, complicated and delicious option was not an option.

Seriously guys, messing around in the kitchen after cleaning is my least favourite thing...

actually, cleaning is my least favourite thing, but you get the idea.

SO, I grabbed Jack, we put our thinking caps on and then headed to the Superstore.

This was beyond easy. It was so easy it was criminal.

All you need is curd or custard (or both) for the filling, shells, and berries for the top!

We got our curds, field berry and lemon, from the President's Choice black label section.

The custard and meringues were also President Choice, although not black label.

For the berries we grabbed a bag of mixed frozen berries

because all the fresh berries were rotten, no lie, it was gross.

Not cool, Superstore, not cool.

If you get the frozen berries toss them in a bowl to thaw,

and put the pie shells in the oven to bake.

Once the pie shells are baked, grab a spoon, grab a filling, and fill a pie shell.

Once there is a generous amount of filling, top it with berries.

PREST-O BANG-O; YOU'RE DONE!

Pat yourself on the back, you're a regular ol' Betty Crocker!

Great job!

Notes:

The custard ate right through the meringue and created quite the mess

...although it wasn't so messy that I couldn't manage to eat it.

The curd is very sweet so if you don't have a sociopathic sweet tooth like I do

- seriously, this tooth is dangerous folks; no conscience once sugar is in the picture -

don't fill up the tarts as much as I did!

Perhaps try filling them halfway and then topping the rest with berries.

Featured: Ruche Guest Blogger

2012-01-05T20:52:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, guess what!?

I just found out I was featured on the Ruche blog!

This also means that I am now a part of the Ruche Blogger Family

which, I am very excited about!

Looks like I'm going to have to get thinking

on some other great posts to share on the Ruche Blog...

oh no, now I'm overwhelmed and sleepy.

Oh well, in the meantime swing by and check out

my post on a DIY Coffee Scrub, it'll make your skin silky smooth.

And don't worry, you're not having deja vu,

I did post it on my blog a while back.

Can you blame me for sharing it again?!

(If you've already tried it, I know you'll answer no.. no you could not blame me.)

Fancy that

2012-01-05T13:12:00.000-04:00

I picked up this little gem of a coat at the Biscuit boxing day sale.
I was so excited when I found it untouched and ready for the wearing,

amongst the chaos of shoppers crammed in the store.

I actually almost passed on it because the sleeves were short,

there was no lining and the fabric reminded me of bad choices passed

BUT THEN my friend pointed out the back!

I was smitten!

I love the style and the equestrian feel it offers.

I had already tried this baby on two times and I had failed to noticed the back!

Silly me! I guess it does pay to have friends after all...

looks like I'll defer my becoming a hermit a little while longer.

Wedding Wednesday: Getting Organized

2012-01-04T16:57:00.000-04:00

I've decided to start off 2012 on the right foot! Up until now I've been pretty flaky with my wedding posts. In my defense, our date is still a ways away and I've got plenty of time to plan, however that time is quickly dwindling and I need to start getting on top of it all.

If you follow me on twitter, you'll know that I went wedding dress shopping this past week. It was my first time out and it was fantastic! I went with my mother, my soon-to-be sister in-law and my two sisters. I haven't quite figured out how to post about this yet, since Jack is being all sneaky trying to get a peak at what I tried on, so I'm going to hold off and post about this in the next week or two. If anybody has any advice on how to do this, send it along! Instead, I'm going begin by focusing on getting organized.

Up until this point I have done three main things:

Chosen a venue
Booked our WONDERFUL photographers
Chosen a date (August 18th, 2012)

Beyond this, I have reached a wall. I know I need to find a dress, choose colours, decide a menu, and about a million other details, but it all piles up and I inevitably choose to work on my Film5 Phase 2 submission instead. Usually, I am a planorama extraordinare, but in this case I haven't been plunging in. In addition to not plunging in, I've been filing and ignoring my Martha Stewart and knot.com emails as they come in. SO! I did what I needed to do and I printed off a full and thorough wedding to-do list and stuck in right on my fridge. This way it will be in front of me for a minute or two day-in, day-out, keeping me on track.

After looking at this list, I think I'm actually in pretty good standing. The main thing I did to focus on right now is the dress, the cake slash dessert table, and the menu. I suppose the officiant is important, so I should looking into that too. In keeping with staying organized I'm going to keep a count down to my wedding... that way when it gets really close and I've still done nothing, I can be SUPER aware of how little time I have left!

8 months, 16 days.

New Year's Eve Stylin

2012-01-03T13:36:00.000-04:00

This is what I wore for New Year's Eve this year!

It is also what I wore for NYE 2010, however Jack & I were hermits last year

and stayed in making a big fancy dinner so I figured no one had seen it and it was fair game.

I know it's not your usual, sparkle and shine NYE get-up

but I just love it.

I love how the soft pink contrasts the winter norm,

and how the light layers create a romantic, airy feeling.

I also loved pairing this super feminine piece with edgy MK cage shoes.

The only thing I would tweak in this outfit would be the tights.

Up close, these are a light gold with a soft shimmer.

On film, they make my legs look bare and pale.

But hey, everyone loves a porcelain doll, right?

No? It's not 1923?

Weird. Too bad for me.

What did you all do to celebrate 2012??

Jack and I ended up at our friends' house for a potluck and party!

We had planned on going to see Sloan but chickened out because of

the ticket prices and rain and I am so glad we did, because I had a fantastic time!

We ate great food, drank great drinks and I finally got to mix up a couple French75s.

Sounds delicious, looks delicious however, I may have forgotten I'm iffy about champagne.

I mean it's all good for a cheers and a sip, but I tend to have a tough time when it's my main go-to.

I have yet to settle on any 2012 resolutions, how are you all faring?

Saturday Song Day

2011-12-31T13:43:00.001-04:00

M83 - Midnight City

I know that it has been pretty much no time since I last posted a song by M83,

but I am LOVING them. AND I am even more crazy about this song than I was the last one.

Obviously I listen to it cranked all the way up, so I suggest you do the same - it's great!

Food Friday: Potato Soup with Bacon Vinaigrette & Tea Biscuits

2011-12-30T20:25:00.000-04:00

Winter is the perfect time for easy meals and quick leftovers.

It seems like every single meal you make is built for double duty;

lasagna, shepherd's pie, quiches, soup and chili - it's all amazing on day 2.

It can also get a little repetitive which is why I like to get a little creative once in a while,

and let me tell you, bacon vinaigrette on top of potato soup

isn't something I would come up with myself.

SOUP

The soup itself was super easy to make.

Which is awesome because it means more time

for bacon vinaigrette and tea biscuits.

Basically chop up your veggies, saute, add water and let it cook for a while.

Once it's been cooking for a while, transfer to your blender, blend and add sour cream.
See? Easy peasy.
Not detailed enough? No problem.
Take a peek at the full recipe over on food 52

BACON VINAIGRETTE

Soup wasn't easy enough for you?

Well you sure are fussy... and might I say, slightly lazy.

That soup was effin' easy, so you may need to check yourself.

In any case, the vinaigrette is also crazy easy

so if the soup didn't impress this sure should.

Lay your bacon flat on a baking sheet, bake for a bit.

While it's baking, chop up green onions and pour your white wine vinegar.

Then mix it up and you're basically good to go.

Want a little more insight?

Check out the full recipe on food 52

TEA BISCUITS

Believe it or not, the tea biscuits were the most work of the entire meal.

We followed a very basic tea biscuit recipe, found here,

and then tweaked it here and there.

First tweak - the addition of bacon grease in place of shortening.

Second tweak - the addition of basil and parmesan.

Third tweak - skim milk [to balance out the bacon grease].

They turned out awesome.

Notes:

Even though this meal is easy, there are many layers to it.

It adds up. It's annoying.

I used wine and water glasses to cut out the biscuits,

I think a larger circle may work as well.

Blend your soup in two batches.

I did not. It got messy.

It made everything take a WHOLE lot longer.

Don't make the same mistake I did.

Your kitchen will thank you.

Transitioning

2011-12-29T19:55:00.001-04:00

Going back to work after Christmas vacation can be tough,

- really tough -

choosing the right clothing can help to ease you into the transition.

I try to balance dressy - to help me get focused -

with comfort - so I can pretend I'm still at home

in jammers watching up Friday Night Lights and eating bon bons.

Okay, so the bon bons are a little far-fetched but I've got loads of dino-sours,

chocolate, and pastries to keep me company so I'm all good.

Other great options to aid with the transition include dresses, jeans

and moo moos, if you've managed to wrangle some work-from-home time.

In other news, I went WEDDING DRESS shopping today!
It was my first time, it was exciting and I am tuckered.
...but more on that later!

Christmas Uniform

2011-12-28T13:37:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays!
Besides eating everything within arms length,
I spent my holidays driving back and forth between Wolfville and Halifax which,
thanks to the awesome weather, wasn't so bad!
Currently, brain is still stuck on holiday mode
[i.e. slow, sleepy and only interested in conversations to do with food or candy...
i.e. this post will be slow, sleepy and focus on food].
I didn't mean to, but between the travel and commitments
I ended up wearing pretty much the same thing for the entire four days.
It was fancy.
It was also comfy.
Mainly, the elastic leggings allowed for large meals to be consumed
and the sweater helped to hide my food baby quite nicely.
His name is Jeremy.
He's going to be around for a little while.
I can't help it, people keep sending holiday baskets to my office.

Classic Cheer

2011-12-23T15:40:00.000-04:00

Happy Holidays all!!
I am off to visit family and friends
for the next few days so it's going to be pretty
quiet around here.

I hope you guys all have wonderful vacations and holidays
filled with sweets and turkey and movies and snuggling.
See you on the flip side!

A New Love

2011-12-21T13:12:00.000-04:00

Sweater (similar) | Coated Jeans | Pumps (similar)

Hello world!

These are my coated jeans.

I love them.

I won them from Foreign Affair in Halifax

for re-tweeting a sale they were having.

It was magical.

I literally pressed one button, and then presto change-o: NEW JEANS!

I went in on a mission for their bravest pair.

The bravest pair were leopard print JBrand skinnies.

I'm a-scared of animal prints.

So I checked out their second bravest pair - these babies
Some call them waxed, others say they're coated,
quite frankly, I just think they're wonderful.

Since getting them I have trucked them around store to store

trying to find tops that look oh-so-perfect with them.
- although I'm sure I already have plenty -

It's been a rough journey.

I'm very picky; only the best for my new love.

Finally, this past weekend, I stopped into Club Monaco and found
this AWESOME cream coloured sweater.

There's just a hint of sparkle in the pin stripes and I'm smitten.

I think we-three will be very happy together.

Brown, Black and Grey

2011-12-20T15:53:00.000-04:00

Being employed again comes with a bunch of cool perks.
Likkkke a paycheque, fancy new post-its and a daily purpose,

you know, besides re-watching Arrested Development and Party Down in their entirety.
It also allows me to get all dolled up office-style and break out the more conservative pieces

that I've been recently ignoring.
In all honesty I haven't actually gone full-business yet,

but have instead been walking the tightrope of business casual, with a hint of fun tossed in
(I'm not fully ready to say goodbye to the style I grew accustomed to while unemployed).
Luckily, my office is not at all stodgy and (as far as I know), there have been no complaints.

For example, today the idea of heels nearly made me want to give up on life.

So instead, I grabbed these flats boots, a little black, brown, grey and threw together this little ditty.
I don't know about you guys but I have really been enjoying the grey/brown, black/brown combo.
I know it's sometimes frowned upon, but quite frankly I do not care.
I definitely think it can work.
My only issue with this outfit is my go-to, structured t-shirt dress is beginning to fade

making the whole thing a little less sharp than I'm comfortable with.
Looks like I've got a little shopping mission for the new year...

Topped with a Bow

2011-12-19T12:18:00.000-04:00

BB Dakota dress (similar) | Stop Staring belt | Hue tights | Franco Sarto pumps | Matt & Nat clutch (similar)

One of my favourite parts of the holiday season are the never-ending excuses to dress up!

i.e. Holiday parties, Holiday get-togethers, dinners, do-drops, and just every day fanciness.

You rarely have to feel over-dressed and you always get to feel extra pretty,

just like you did back in the day heading out for the semi-formal.

Although in this case you don't have to switch gears between KC&JoJo and Nervana every few minutes.

We've been stacking our holiday commitments about 3Deep per day and the big saving grace,

for me, has been relishing in the festive outfits.

Don't get me wrong, the friends and family we're seeing are pretty great too, but when it comes down to it,

they don't really hold a candle to this wrapping-paper style cupcake dress.

Sorry guys, maybe next year.

Saturday Song Day

2011-12-17T19:34:00.000-04:00

She & Him - Baby It's Cold Outside

I know this isn't a very original pick for a Christmas song,

especially considering Zooey Deschanel sang it Elf,

however it's one of my favourites so originality doesn't really have to factor in.

Up until this year my Christmas playlist consisted strictly of Perry Como, Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.

Now that She & Him are in the mix it seems as though nobody else it getting any play.

Tough breaks boys, She & Him just get me, end o' story.

Food Friday: Peanut Butter Cookies

2011-12-16T11:35:00.000-04:00

I've gotta level with you. I've been thinking about it, and I just do NOT like the sound of Matrimonial Monday. I just don't. It sounds old, matronly and quite frankly, as though Jack and I are in for a great big bore come our big day. I just can't have that. Especially, since I will be posting more and more about our wedding planning in the coming months and I don't want to fall asleep at the thought of doing it.

Obviously, my sights are set on Wedding Wednesday as the replacement. Unfortunately this means I have to change What I Ate Wednesdays to Food Fridays. This is a bit of a bummer for me because I've really grown to love the flow of What I Ate, however sometimes a girl has got to compromise. LAME, right? In any case, thems the breaks.

And so, on account of the holiday rush and my slackness of blogging this week, I present to you the first FOOD FRIDAY! (Hope you're all on board!)

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I am a huge fan of peanut butter.

Reese's pieces, peanut butter cups, peanut butter fudge ice cream -

I love it all.

ALL of it.

Don't believe me?

I used to spoon feed it to my sister when we were little.

I wanted her to love it as much as I did.

Now, before you worry about the potential of pint-sized heart attacks -

the peanut butter was all natural. That's right folks, we were raised by hippies.

As much as I love peanut butter, and as easy as these cookies are to make,

I've had very little experience actually baking peanut butter cookies.

Growing up, my mom made baked, but never with peanut butter.

She just didn't like it in things. Weird. It's not even like she's allergic.

I mean seriously, who doesn't like peanut butter

besides those who are afraid of it and it's deadly abilities!?

In any case this cookies existence often fails to make it to my radar

so when the idea popped into my mind, and I had all the ingredients,

I was excited.

I may have done a dance.

Nothing big, but a dance all the same.

If you think these look delicious (and you should),

check out the full recipe here, at the Brown Eyed Baker; she's the bestest.

Everybody, Everywear: Sequins + Sparkles

2011-12-13T11:03:00.000-04:00

Vince cardigan (similar) | Cecico top (similar) | American Apparel Faux leather leggings (similar) | Steve Madden boots (similar) | Matt & Nat bag

How perfect is this Everybody, Everywear?!

Seriously, holidays scream sequins and sparkles

making this is ever-so serendipitous.

So wonderful.

I have actually had sequins on the brain since November

and have been furiously stalking all my favourite boutiques waiting for the perfect piece.

Last Saturday, I even topped off my Christmas shopping with an insane mall-marathon

(I had checked out the downtown boutiques throughout the week)

in hopes of finally tracking down this elusive top.

No dice.

I'm a little worried that I've been too picky

and as a result I will never find a top that's good enough.

Finally, I went home defeated.

And while pouting in my closet,

I stumbled upon a sequins top I already own!

Yeah, guys... I sure AM silly.

It's not exactly what I was looking for, but it's the right price.

I wore this as my Christmas shopping ensemble the very next day.

Lazy sequins... it's wear* it's at.

*haha get it?? it's a pun... now I'm just as clever as the EBEW girls!

'tis the Season

2011-12-12T11:58:00.000-04:00

BB Dakota dress (similar) | Club Monaco belt (similar) | Hue tights | Nine West booties (similar) | Matt & Nat clutch (similar)

'tis the season for dressing up, parties and indoor photos,

and boy do I love it!

(...except for the indoor photos of course, but I get cold easy).

Usually I treat myself to a fancy dress this time of year,

however with the wedding planning (and saving) I skipped the tradition.

Luckily my great pal, Ruby, loves her some red dresses so I've been able to be thrifty,

raid her closet and borrow away.

It's been working out prettttty awesome... although I really must return this one.

I've had it a little longer than I meant to.

In other news - I finally got to pair my sock bun with a dressy outfit!
I must say, after all your kind opinions I definitely came around to it for every day use,
however it was super exciting to see how fantastic it looked all dolled up a-top my head.
The side bangs probably really helped too,
but we`re not going to let them steal the show this time - attention-whores that they are.
It`s sock bun`s time to shine and I won`t stand by and let them steal the spotlight!

Saturday Song Day

2011-12-10T14:12:00.000-04:00

The Cults - Never Saw the Point

These guys can pretty much do no wrong.

Their songs are all awesome

and I always feel relaxed and at ease

after listening to them.

Enjoy.

Comfy Cozy Hussy

2011-12-09T10:18:00.000-04:00

hmmm, anyone else notice how SHORT this is??

I obviously did not notice before leaving my house or else

I would have done something about it.

I'm practically a hussy dressing in heavy wool.

Not the most common hussy, but a hussy none the less.

I swear this dress wasn't always so short.

I washed it recently so I'm guessing in may have shrunk...

looks like it may be better to NOT wash your clothes after all.

But I digress. Apart from the EXTREME shortness of the ~~dress~~ top,

I am a fan of the look.

I love the variations of grey, paired with the white and black.

I also love how all the fabric is heavy, warm and obviously cozy.

I think I may take some time this weekend to stretch this dress and make it long again.

This way, I'll be able to wear it again without worrying about

the fine folks of Halifax getting a little peep show of my sweater-tight seams.

What I ate: Quesadillas

2011-12-08T09:58:00.001-04:00

Sorry I'm late guys, I swear I've been eating (and eating… and eating… )
It's just all this Christmas shopping has put a wrench in me getting blog on.
So please accept my apologies if I drop the ball
on a few OOTD posts in the next coming weeks.
I'll do my best to keep up.

In stark contrast to last week's very involved, slightly expensive sushi adventure,

I present to you: a wintery take on quesadillas
- or quesa-diLLas -

These little ditties rely less on meat and cheese and more on

the root veggies and legumes that we all tend to avoid.

They are also incredibly inexpensive and very easy

(I'm telling you, after a little wine, they'll be putty in your hands)

INGREDIENTS:
1 large sweet potato, cubed
1 can black beans
1 onion, chopped3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 green onions
1T olive oil
1/2 lime
4 - 6 large, multi-grain tortillas
cheese, grated - any kind will do

SPICES:
2T basil
1.5T oregano
1.5T chili powder
1T chili flakes

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS:
avocado
red pepper
cilantro

DIRECTIONS:
Boil the sweet potatos until soft, 15 - 20 minutes.
Drain and mash.
Saute the onions and garlic for about 5 minutes.
Add the sweet potato mash and the black beans.
Stir to combine.
Sprinkle in the spicy mixture.
Let cook on low for about 5 minutes, stirring on occasion.

Add the green onions and squeeze the lime juice over top the mixture.
Stir to combine.
Lay out your first tortilla.
Take two med-large scoops and spread onto half the tortilla, repeat until the pan is empty.
If using avocado or red peppers or lettuce or anything else delicious that your heart desires,
layer on top of the sweet potato/bean mixture.

Sprinkle cheese on top.
Fold the empty half of the tortilla over top.
Brush the outer sides of the tortilla shell with oil.
Set the oven to broil on high.

Notes:

Not up for eating the same meal for lunch and dinner 3 days in a row?

No problem. These babies freeze well.

Place cooled, uncooked, assembled quesadillas in a freezer bag,

freeze (obviously) and use within two weeks.

Need a salsa recipe to accompany this?

Check, check, check it out

Confessions

2011-12-06T14:09:00.000-04:00

American Apparel sweater | D.E.P.T. sweater skirt | Hue yellow tights | Steve Madden boots

I wore this out over the weekend when I met up with a few friends for some casual drinks at a pub.
Truth be told, I am in love with both the sweater and the sweater skirt

and have probably been working them over time but I honestly can't help it.
Don't you ever stumble upon a piece of clothing that is so perfect and effortless,

in every way, that you can't help but favour it?
You can't help but wear it day in and day out.
Styling it in different ways each time to try and keep it fresh and looking new.
Spilling some tea on it one day, but drying it off and wearing it again.
Rolling the sleeves up to cuff a dress shirt on a warmer day,

causing you to inevitably stretch the sleeves and style around it.

Considering washing it to get the shape back, but lazily dropping the idea once

your Sunday night HBO and AMC line up start.
Spilling some coffee on it, waiting for it to soak in
and resorting to giving it a perfume bath in an effort to mask the smell

and avoid surrendering it to the laundry and drawn out drying process.
And finally, when it's all stretched two sizes too big, and smells like an axe body spray commercial
(because that's what axe is, isn't it? layers and layers of perfume and food?)
you wear it one last time for a quick trip to the grocery store,
where the elderly lady stationed at the Christmas donation booth

gives you the stank eye because she knows.
And you know.
And it's embarrassing.
So you finally go home and wash the damn thing,
so the cycle of love can begin again.

Know what I'm talking about?

Note: After seeing the photos, I swapped these boots for my black ones.

Why so silent?

2011-12-05T12:17:00.000-04:00

MEXX Cardigan | lovelygirl shirt | Rich&Skinny jeans | Rocket Dog shoes

Sorry, guys. I've got very few words today.
My Christmas Party was Friday night.
Saturday night was full of tree decorating and Christmas movies:
Elf, Scrooged, Four Christmases and the Ref.
And Sunday I caught up on some design work I've been needing to do.

So basically I'm brain dead from busy-ness, exhaustion and TV.
Hope you are too. A little bit of stund-ness always helps to numb the Monday blues.

Saturday Song Day

2011-12-03T12:24:00.000-04:00

M83 - Kim and Jessie

I'm really like this band, even though I only half follow the video....

In any case you may be getting a few more by these guys.

Couldn't be!

2011-12-01T21:22:00.001-04:00

Guess what, folks? I'm totally employable.
I know, it's pretty shocking. I mean, who knew?
In all seriousness though, I'm pretty excited about my new position.
I've taken the leap agency-side and am now working as

an Account Coodinator at a brand and advertising agency in Halifax.
I think one of the key factors that drew me in was the promise of

a new challenge and new learning experiences.
I have worked "client-side" since before I graduated with my Marketing degree.
First for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, a not-for-profit,
followed by a stint in the financial industry

and, most recently, my marketing position in the defence sector.

I had never planned on moving company to company, or industry to industry however,
things have a way of not going as planned and I now love having multiple industry backgrounds.

I love having an understanding of the different markets, audiences and demographics.
I love knowing the subtle differences in how companies position themselves depending on these factors.
I really love wrapping my head around why one strategy or medium may really work
for one company in a specific industry, and why it would fail miserably in another.
These are the nuances that make marketing an art.

This is why I'm excited to be in a new situation I've never faced before.

...the only glitch is that I need to find a new outfit photo strategy

because day light is long gone by the time I get home,

and mornings are just out of the question.

What I ate: Sushi!

2011-11-30T16:30:00.000-04:00

What do you do when you accidentally drop $20 of ~~Jacks~~ your hard-earned money

on two pieces of SUPER fresh tuna?
Well, I'll you what you don't do.

You don't leave that shit on a shelf to rot because you made a mistake.
What you do is, take advantage of the situation and turn it into an opportunity to make sushi at home!
Yeah. Aren't you glad you owned that mistake? I sure am.

Jack and I love us some sushi.
We eat it like it's kraft dinner - but it's not, and it can get pricey - especially when you're going out to get it.
For a while we were good and made smoked salmon [could never time it right for the fresh stuff] sushi at home, but we've since fallen out of that groove - sad face.
So when FRESH tuna presented itself at the fish counter that fated Friday,
I nearly passed out from excitement.

TEMPURA
I love tempura. I love it battered around veggies for an appetizer, around naners for a dessert and stuffed into my maki roll for an added crunch. However, I don't love how I become a danger to myself and those around me when making tempura. During my last attempt, I caught my stove on fire and blackened the surrounding walls. SO. Jack makes the tempura now.

All you need is a box of tempura, water, oil and a pan - preferably a wok.
Once your pan is hot, pour your tempura mixture into the oil and let it cook, approximately 4 minutes per side - or until golden.

If you're making tempura veggies, slice your veg of choice, coat in tempura batter and then toss into the oil and let cook until both sides are light golden.

RICE
I do not have a rice cooker, I heard it helps the stickiness factor a bunch if you can use one. Instead I use my trusty sushi tip book. According to them begin with your brand of sticky rice, and make a cup (that was enough for the four rolls we made). Once done cooking, add rice vinegar, sugar and salt - I'm not exactly sure what this does.. all I know is that I do it. It's alright. If you'd prefer to just stick to the straight up sticky rice, feel free. Key here is to make your rice, and then let it cool. The hotter it is, the more it'll stick to your fingers and not to the nori sheet.

TUNA MAKI ROLLS
Now we're talking, this is where the magic happens. I've got my rice, I've got my tempura, I just need to choose my veggies and put it all together. My favourite veggies to find crammed into a maki roll all happen to be green: avocado, green onions and cucumber. Other great veggies (also green) are asparagus and lettuce...

Chop those all up - julienne is best (long and thin) as it allows you to pack it as tight as possible and still fit lots of veggies. I tend to always end up with extras because no matter how hard I try, there's only so much you can fit into a maki roll. Set aside.

Chop and crush the tempura cooked from earlier.

Chop, dice or slice your fish. Depending on the fish, there is a right way and a wrong way to cut it. When using tuna for a maki roll, slice against the grain, about 5mm thick per piece. If you have smoked salmon just tear it into similarly sized pieces. Set aside.

Grab your sheet of nori (I bought mine at the Atlantic Superstore) and place on a flat surface. Place some rice on and begin to spread and flatten across the sheet. Feel free to use your hands - I used a spatular because the rice was not fully cooled and was sticking to my fingers like nobody's business. Leave an inch or so free along one edge.

Once your rice is on, place pieces of fish lengthwise along the edge. Follow with your tempura bits and veggies. Now it's time for the rolling. I've been told that a sushi rolling mat is a god send however I have yet to take the plunge, so my rolling experience is always a little tougher. I begin by using a knife to bring the nori sheet and ingredients up. Once lifted, I move the knife in front to help keep everything in place while I roll. Once you've got your fixings tightly secured you're good to keep going. Wet the edge without the rice and stick to the roll to seal.

When cutting, I slice down half-way and then chop straight to the bottom. I don't know if this is an effective way to explain it but aside from you taking a trip into my brain and fiddling with my vocab, it's all I've got.

Ta-daa! your sushi is ready!

SALAD
One of my favourite parts of a meal at the Hamachi House is the garden salad with ginger dressing. I am obsessed. I just love that ginger dressing. I need to go under cover as a chef there for a week so that I can steal their recipe and use it for life. Unfortunately I have yet to do so and although the Oishi-oilve oil dressing was decent, the salads were a bit of a let down - BUT raw veggies are good for you, so I would recommend ~~choking it down~~ eating them anyway.

Notes:

No notes today folks, I've written myself ragged.