Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today was red, pink, and white day at school to celebrate Valetine's Day. Here's my ensemble:



I also painted my nails red, accented with a pink heart! 

I had a wonderful day, got a few Valentine's and a couple of sweets. But best of all, I got to chaperone a dance- oh, it brings back the memories!!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Clementine box Upcycle

I've seen a few cool upcycles for clementine boxes, so I decided to try one out for myself!

Re-Purposing a Clementine Box

Materials:
Used clementine box (with labels removed)
Glue gun
Scissors
Pencil
Paint brush
White acrylic paint
lined paper and thin cardboard
scrap of fabric
(there are rhinestones in the picture because I thought I might add them 
for some detail, but they just didn't work with the look I was going for)

First I traced the bottom of the box onto a piece of lined paper with a pencil.
Then, I cut out the piece of paper, traced it onto the piece of thin cardboard (I used the back of a spiral bound notebook), and cut that out.
Then, I flipped my fabric over (so the print would be facing up), and placed my cardboard on top of the fabric. Then, I gently tugged each corner up, and secured it with some hot glue. Notice the fabric is leftover from my DIY Cake Stand?
I continued to do this around the edges until it looked like this. 
This is what it looks like flipped over. 
Just to make sure it fit, I placed it into the bottom of the box before I painted the box. 
I coated each side (inside and outside) twice, and the coverage was pretty good.
Here's what it looked like when I was done painting. I didn't paint the entire bottom because I knew that the cardboard would cover the stain. 
See? When the fabric bottom is in place, you can't see the stain at all! 


This will be sittin' pretty on my dresser with my favourite perfumes, lotions and other beauty potions. The best part about this? It was entirely F-R-E-E, because I had all supplies on hand. Now that's what I'm talkin' about!  

Saturday, February 11, 2012

My blog birthday- and I missed it!

I just realized that I missed my own blog birthday. On February 7th, I've been blogging for a year. Crazy or what? Well, Happy Birthday to my blog. I love being able to share what inspires me, tiny details of my life, outfits posts, and recipes. I'd also like to thank my lovely friends who read my blog and are interested in what I have to say!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Woot for the weekend!

Oh my, has this week flown by or WHAT! I am totally enjoying teaching Grade 6- the kids are hilarious!! I will be a lesson planning fiend this weekend, and look forward to a few captured moments of rest and relaxation. This past week is a whirlwind (can you tell by my lack of post yesterday?). I just want to sit back and take a breath for a moment. 

{via}

Too bad my view isn't this one... instead it is a grey, snowy white one. Oh well, all the better excuse to snuggle up and watch some t.v.! 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Gimme all your lovin', all your hugs and kisses too

Soon the day of love will be upon us. I'm not a fan of this holiday (single girl syndrome?) but really, what girl can deny herself chocolate, candles, lovely stationary, a darling red dress and some fabulous accessories? 


*For those who are way uncool, the post title is from ZZ Top's song Gimme All Your Lovin'. Duuuh. 

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Kate Spade spring campaign

Loving the rockstar vibe and bright colours of Kate Spade's spring campaign
1. Siren Dress $448
2. Japanese Floral Print Drop Earrings $78
3. New Bond Street Florence $448
4. Alathea sunglasses $148
5. Thin Bow Belt $78
6. Baublebox Bib Necklace $278

Monday, February 6, 2012

rocking them red jeans

A trend that I'm seriously coveting are coloured jeans. Specifically, red skinny jeans. Coveting so much that my next cheque will be spent on a pair. Really, think about how versatile red jeans could be. You could pair them with a black top, a striped top, a print, or even a fuchsia top for some colour blocking. Meow.


These are two options that I'm seriously considering....
Left:  Life in Progress skinny jeans $29.80 Forever 21/ Right: The Rock Star Jeggings $44.50 Old Navy

 I think I prefer the deeper red of the Old Navy pair. Of course, if I decide, you will be the first to know! 

Sunday, February 5, 2012

a weekend outfit

Oh my goodness, yesterday was glorious! Simply glorious! The weather felt as though it were late March, rather than early February. I wore a spring jacket, and went for a casual stroll in this outfit: 


 And check out this adorable squirrel basking in the sun's rays on top of my fence! So cute! 


A weekend like this is one for the books. Relaxation, gorgeous weather, casual strolls, football on t.v today, and snacks. Couldn't ask for more (well, maybe a cute cowboy, but hey, I won't push my luck).

Saturday, February 4, 2012

the most delicious cupcakes in the world

That may be a slight over-exaggeration, but they are pretty delicious (I may or may not have eaten 1/3 of this batch by myself). This recipe comes from a cookbook passed down from my grandmother- look at how well-loved it is! This cake recipe is simple but delicious. A tested and timeless dessert for all occasions! 

My grammy's cookbook!
Come on pups, into the oven!
See how I dyed some of the batter pink to make swirled cupcakes? Perfect for Valentine's Day!
All iced, dipped, and ready for devouring! 

Friday, February 3, 2012

let's get down to business

The other day I was scrolling through my board Favourite Places & Spaces and  noticed that I've been pinning office spaces with similar styles, consciously unbeknownst to me. 


These images tell me a few things. A) I love Mac computers (or everyone else does). B) Neutral palettes with hints of colour through accessories and flowers make me swoon. C) A collage or cluster of framed photos above a desk is the most conducive for creative license.  

My Style Philosophy

This is a post I've been meaning to write for a while now, but finally got the chance to sit down and hammer it out. Read on for my personal style philosophy. 

I always get complimented on my outfits, my style, and fashion sense. Heck, my class even voted me best-dressed recently! *see below for photo* I'm not sharing this to be egregious, but rather, because I believe that the way I view fashion is applicable, and should be, embraced by all.

 
You are a walking billboard for yourself- professionally, personally, any which way, wherever you are. Despite the fact that we'd all love to believe that appearances don't matter, they DO. Even if you're just visiting the supermarket, I believe that you should look put together. Now, I'm not saying you should  be wearing a 3-piece suit, a ballgown, or anything outrageous, but a pair of dark rinsed denim jeans with a cardigan, ballet flats, and simple accessories really look pulled together. To me, throwing this outfit on is just as easy as putting on pajama bottoms, Ugg boots and an oversized sweater (Yuck!). You never know who you'll meet, and I believe that clothing allows you to look professional, polished and with it, without you having to say anything. Talk about sending power vibes to those around you! Personally, I would think that a person who is dressed carelessly and doesn't take the time to put themselves together would be less likely to spend quality time and care with other aspects of their life.

Dressing for the job you want is how you should always present yourself. If you look like you should be in charge, people will be more likely to put you in charge! I can't count the number of times I've been approached by people asking "Do you work here?" or "Are you the person in charge?" simply because I look like I should be in charge! This is simple to do, really. You just need to stock your closet with some essentials. My essentials are: black trousers, gray trousers, a tweed skirt, pencil skirt, cardigans and sweaters in a rainbow of colours, tank tops, a black dress, trench coat, a pair of pumps, flats, and heeled boots.  

I live by three quotes that summarize my personal style philosophy:

"You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it."  - Edith Head

" Dress poorly, and people will notice your clothes; dress well and people will notice you" - Coco Chanel

"You can never be overdressed or overeducated." Oscar Wilde 

I'll leave this post with the timeless words from those greats, but I can't stress enough how easy and important looking put together is. When you have the basics, it's a grab-and-throw-on situation, and you're bound to look good and be taken seriously.