Weekly Shopping & Goodies

The Fashionable Housewife is giving away 2 fabulous handbags loaded with a TJ Maxx & Marshalls Gift Card! Enter today! Contest ends October 11th.

A Few Goody Gumdrops covers it up with a Key Piece to own this Fall. Alice+Olivia's Poncho!

Bags, Bling & Beauty posts about the Luxe Link by Kalika Yap, the coolest way to protect your bag.

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy is getting fresh for fall with Chickdowntown! Tell us your top 3 fall picks and you could win a pair of LNA zipper leggings!

Fashion Fille has a behind-the-scenes look at Dolce and Gabanna's Spring/Summer 2010 show. Famous faces are spotted backstage!

Fashion Hippo features best ankle boots to wear through Fall 2009

Handbag du Jour picks its haute bag of the week: the Rebecca Minkoff Mini Nikki Bag with Resin Handle.

I love Barbara B shoes! Read it in Quinta Trends

Good for Summer, good for Fall... Raging Rouge posts about a beauty perennial, tarte 24/7 Lip Sheer.

Shopping and Info found the leather jacket worn by Elena on Vampire Diaries.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com is giving away a FREE PLAID SHIRT from Chick Downtown and is offering 20% off all week long Check it Out!

Style Eyes is in love, she takes a trip to Evening Shoe Heaven

TheFind Blog is getting set for the fall social season with fabulous and festive earrings from Pippa Small, Orhan, and Isharya.

What's Haute Magazine heads to Brooklyn for Self Salon's Blogger Beauty Night!

Get Fresh for Fall with ChickDowntown & Win!

Fall came in with a whimper. Here in Vancouver we were blessed with a few last days of sunshine, but as of this week, fall has finally announced its arrival with typical Vancouver rain. Oh well, that just means it's time to put those summer sandals away and bring out the fall wardrobe!

This season is all about sequins, studs, and sexiness. Thank goodness there are sites like ChickDowntown out there that will help you to satisfy your fashion fix, while keeping to a (somewhat) reasonable budget! Even if you can't afford the things on this site, it's still worth checking out as there are so many inspirational finds and you may just see something worth saving for! Here's a few items I am lusting over for fall:

Alice + Olivia zebra print sequined jacket, $495

Be the trend, not the follower with this funkilicious blazer from Alice + Olivia. Don't be scared by the blazingly loud zebra print and sequins; just pair it with super simple clothing partners like black leggings and a simple white tee. I suggest also trying this with a hot pink tube dress a la Blake Lively - eee I melt just thinking about this!

BB Dakota tangerine Laurie skirt, $48

Color is in. Bold and bright, this clingy skirt features tulip draping and side ruching and is perfect for both the office and the club. Pair with a crisp white button-down for day, and switch to a sexy bustier top in black for night!

Tolani blue feather inspired scarf, $86

Tolani has burst out on the scene thanks to ChickDowntown with their wide variety of this gorgeous line of scarves. Made of luxurious 100% silk, the swirling play of blues, greens, purples, and yellows, are sure to dazzle.

Alice + Olivia over sized v-neck tee with belt, $154

Here is a look that anyone at any budget level can pull off. This season is all about loose, billowing silhouettes - think off-the-shoulder and over sized to the max! However, feminine lines are still drawn out thanks to the ever-humble belt. Corset styles are all the rage and are great waist-cinchers.

What are your top 3 must-have items and signature look for fall? Answer this question and you could win these awesome LNA zipper leggings from ChickDowntown!

To win, simply leave a comment answering this question! To gain extra entries, become a subscriber of my blog, follow me on Twitter, or re-tweet ("I just entered the Get Fresh For Fall contest from @mizzjblog!") this contest, but be sure to let me know you are doing these things in the comments or I won't be counting it!

Want more chances to win cool stuff? Then follow Amy of ChickDowntown on Twitter and get a chance to win in her daily Twitter giveaways!

This contest is open to anyone in the world (although international winners may have to pay for custom fees to receive their prize) and you have until midnight of Oct 12, 2009 to enter!!

Butterflies and Glasses

White tank: RW&Co
Ribbed tank: Smart Set
Skirt: Urban Behaviour
Bag: Michael Kors
Wooden Cuff: from Thailand
Glasses: ProDesign
Sandals: Army & Navy

A rare photo of me kind of wearing my glasses. I hate wearing glasses as they are always slipping down my nose and I feel as if I am looking through a little window instead of having full peripheral vision (peripherals are important!). I like playing the various colors of this outfit together, the black and white, and the magenta and turquoise against gold sandals. It's interesting to mix up your color combinations and recently I've been actively trying to do that more. Nobody told me I'm terribly clashing yet, but I'm sure one day my time will come.

In other news, I had a conversation today with a friend about forgiveness and what is unforgivable. Apparently I am too forgiving! Not surprising I suppose, since many times I bite my tongue in the interest of keeping the peace, but I don't feel like a pushover? What then is worth forgiving and what is not? Is it good to be forgiving, or does it only lead to people taking advantage of your niceness?

Lust of the Week: Marchesa Spring 2010 RTW

I am a recent fan of Marchesa as it is not as obviously well known around my locale as LV or Gucci, but I am quickly falling in love for Marchesa's romantic, fantastical designs. Take for instance this gorgeously feminine dress from the Spring 2010 Ready To Wear collection. Although it is entirely un-ready-to-wear, this beautiful creation makes my heart flutter with its voluminous petals of fabric and artistic use of purple shading. This dress reminds me of nothing more than an orchid flower, one of my favourite species of flower!

Weekly Shopping & Goodies

A Few Goody Gumdops is giving away a to-die-for croco Zipsavoy Handbag from Stuart Weitzman. Enter to Win!

Kim Carlson shares tips on how to Green Your Routine!

Couture In The City Shares with us stylish eyeglasses from GlassesUSA

Fashion Cents is giving away a couple of great tips on how to wear leggings. Watch the video now and learn about CYA.

Fashion Fille wants to supply you with a case of all-natural (and delicious!) zero calorie soda. You can feel confident still enjoy soda! Enter now, time's running out!

Fashion Hippo asks To Trend or Not To Trend Fall 09 Trends Contemplated

Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion is hoping all you true fashionistas will go to the POParazzi Collection by Amber Kessee. Enter to Win the Snowflake Earrings!

Quinta Trends reads about independent boom in Chile by Schön! Magazine 2

Raging Rouge proudly introduces readers to her latest makeup addiction, Surly Girly!

SomeoneSpoilMe.com is giving away 2 prizes of the Ultimate Fitness Gift!

Style Eyes loves so much about London Fashion Week, she tells all in her post London Fashion Week SS10

TheFind Blog found a fab a pair of classic leather riding boots from Danish designer DAY Birger et Mikkelsen for under $300!

Back!

Hey everyone! This is just a quick note to say that I'm back from vacation and eager to catch up on all my comments and unread blogs! I'll also be putting up a post with all my shopping goodies, so be prepared people, be prepared. I have a pretty busy week ahead, so the posting may still be a bit erratic, but I very much appreciate you all visiting my little corner of the blogosphere!

In other news, part of the reason for my week's busy-ness, is that this Wednesday is the first of the blogger/web-writing workshops that I've been working on with my work with Schema Magazine! I'm super nervous guys and have been seriously having dreams of nobody showing up, but even if we only have 10 people I guess it will still be worth building upon? Argh. So, if you're in the Van-city area, come check it out at UBC this Wednesday evening - I guarantee an interesting time and if you can't come to this one, there will be one every upcoming month!

Here's the info below:


A monthly web-writing series presented by Schema Magazine.

In partnership with: the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (University of British Columbia), the North American Association of Asian Professionals Vancouver (NAAAP), theTyee.ca, Fresh Media (Vancouver) and the Office of Learning Technology (University of British Columbia). Sponsored by The Laurier Institution.

Schema Magazine launches a monthly series of web writing workshops and speakers, featuring some of the most pioneering, innovative and ethnic cool voices on the Internet.

In the world of social networking and Web 2.0, having an online presence on the web is becoming more and more important. Social media gives us the tools to be a part of this growing conversation, but how do we define our voice on the web as a writer, a producer and as a blogger?

iWriteAboutMe.com will showcase dynamic web personalities, social media gurus, bloggers and writers who will talk about how they transformed their personal stories and diverse identities into an online brand. The series begins with Phil Yu, aka. AngryAsianMan.com, a trailblazer for Asia American voices on the web and someone who has truly set the stage for online discourse around race, culture and identity for the blogging generation. Phil will share the inspiring story of starting one of the most influential online spaces in today's Asian American movement, share tips on how he keeps his content accessible and relevant, and what was involved in moving AngryAsianMan.com from activism to super-blog status.

The upcoming workshop:

Phil Yu aka. AngryAsianMan.com
Wednesday September 23, 2009
Victoria Learning Theatre
The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre | University of British Columbia 1961 East Mall, Vancouver, B.C.

Free Event and everyone is welcome. RSVP required as seating is limited. Please visit NAAAP Vancouver to reserve a seat.

To minimize the carbon footprint of this event, Phil Yu is speaking in Vancouver via video-conference from his headquarters in LA.

How to get there: We encourage you to take public transit. Get directions at translink.ca. Otherwise please carpool. Map for drivers and cyclists. Visitor parking information

What's in Your Wallet, er, Bag?

Recently I've been reading posts by my fellow bloggers laying out the contents of their purses for all to see, most recently the ever stylish Savvy Mode. Personally, I find these posts fascinating and revealing, not only of what that particular person finds necessary to carry around, but also of how there are so many of us women out there who carry a crap load of things in their bags. In my own defense however, I do own smaller purses and do wear them, but often I find myself needing that big bag of things to hold all I'd need in the span of a day - plus whatever items my boyfriend decides to give me to hold!! I don't mind holding his things though, because it gives me good justification for having large purses :)

Bag: Michael Kors
Mini-umbrella: Roots
Phone: Nokia
Bunny pouch containing band-aids, lip balm, lip gloss/lipstick, bobby pins, hair elastic, hair clip: gift
Transit tickets
Blotting papers: from Taiwan
Gum
Kleenex: Daiso
Wallet: Guess
Keys (not shown)
Other items that pop in on occasion: sunglasses, PSP, cell phone charger, ipod, notepad and pen

Lust of the Week: Free People Manzanita Ruched Tunic

via Free People, $88

Go bohemian chic with this lovely patterned dress from Free People. I'm really lusting for the colors and unique detailing of the patterned panels on the front and back of this tunic. It's a tad short for anyone to wear as a dress, but would look perfect with leggings or skinny jeans and paired with an oversize cardigan. However if you are a little daring, you could wear this as a dress out to the club, if paired with a set of black tights!

Cutesy cute

Tank: Twenty-twelve?
Cardigan: Gap
Skirt: from Thailand
Nude heels: Spring

As anyone knows, I'm a sucker for skirts with pockets! I'm not sure why it's so satisfying since we all wear pants with pockets and nobody goes around clapping their hands with joy over that. My head looks like I'm 15, but my outfit is thankfully more sophisticated than I was at 15. The skirt is actually too big and just hangs on my hips, but you can't tell really in this photo. Formerly fitting skirts that are now too big = GIANT HAPPINESS because it means I've lost weight!!! How, I have no idea because with all the over time I've been pulling at work, I haven't visited the gym in a month.

Lust of the Week: Alexander McQueen Slouchy Leather Boots

via Net-A-Porter, $1175


Your weekly dose of shoe porn is here for your drooling pleasure. Fall is all about gorgeous, dark, leather boots and these babies from avant-garde genius Alexander McQueen definitely fit the bill. Luxuriate in its edgy exposed zippers, buckles, and slouchy hotness. The perfect length for leggings, skinnies, and skirts, this calf boot is made for stalking that concrete runway.

Weekly Shopping & Goodies - September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month

This week's edition of Weekly Shopping & Goodies is more serious than usual as the group highlights September as Thyroid Cancer Awareness month. Thyroid cancer is the 6th most common cancer in women, but is curable and preventable if caught early. This week's topic especially hits close to home as group founder Betsy of A Few Goody Gumdrops is herself a survivor, so please take care of yourself and your loved ones and remind everyone to get themselves checked next time they visit the doc!


A Few Goody Gumdrops Supports Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month and asks Is Your Neck In Check?

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy showcases ways to jazz up a simple turtleneck! Perfect for anyone, including those recovering from thyroid surgery.

Fashion Fille has an excellent post about fashionably wearing turtlenecks, which are great for covering surgery scars.

Fashion Hippo found perfect fall scarves to blend summer pieces with fall wardrobe.

Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion Adores the Fair Isle Cowl Neck Sweater dress It's a Staple for every Fall Wardrobe.

Shopping and Info likes LA Mer sunscreen for Thyroid Cancer survivors.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com found a new trend for Thyroid Cancer Survivors Scar Necklaces!

Style Eyes finds some quirky and unusual necklaces to hide any scars in her post neck love and necklaces

TheFind Blog is wrapped up in the luxe look of dramatic cashmere scarves from French Architect turned designer Denis Colomb.

Unfunded Supports Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month by discussing one of the biggest neck offenders...VAMPIRES!

What's Haute Magazine tells how to protect your neck with Love Quotes scarves + check your neck for thyroid cancer.

Why do I always forget a title?

"Leather" jacket: Le Chateau
Sweater: Dynamite
Denim leggings: Aldo
Gold flats: gift

Sorry for the crappy photo quality, my mom actually took this photo for me. This outfit and its variations is totally what I'm going to rock all fall me thinks. The oversized look is something I'm really feeling for the coming season. Blogs everywhere are featuring plain oversized tees cinched in with funky belts and chain necklaces, so these items are all on my fall shopping list, which consists of:

• plain oversized tees
• corset belts and belts in general
• street wear sneakers
• black cardigan
• comfy but chic flats
  

What's on your fall shopping list?

Lust of the Week: Gypsy 05 Maxi Dress

via StyleFly, $160

Goodbye summer. It was nice while it lasted and while you may stick around for a few weeks longer we both know this romance is over. So, to celebrate this bittersweet parting, this week's LOTW is this sunshine delight of a dress from eco-designer Gypsy 05. This back-to-nature line features all organic fabrics, eco-friendly dyes, and water based printing. I love the Grecian lines of this maxi dress and the golden ombre tones. Can't you just imagine yourself running in a sunny spring field, daisies in your hair while wearing this dress? Well, not me, I have allergies so I would imagine myself in an AC'ed mall sipping OJ - much better.

Weekly Shopping & Goodies

A Few Goody Gumdrops can't wait to Shake, Shimmy and Twirl in these short, black, flouncy Ostrich and Tulle Skirts!

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy is lusting for this Marciano jeweled belt!

Fashion Cents shows you what to wear on a movie date. Watch it now!

Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion says the contest has just been extended... Enter to WIN the Gwen Beloti Gold Crush Clutch!

Quinta Trends loves HormaVerde shoes made with salmon leather.

Shopping and Info loves 20% off Boden because it is like J Crew of London.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com found a new site that lets you design your own clothes, Spreadshirt!

Style Eyes loves the collection preview for Ada Zanditon SS10 and hopes that the rest of the collection is as good.

TheFind Blog loves fabulous secret compartment lip gloss rings - the ultimate beauty multi-tasker.

Unfunded styles a shoot: Haus Party 54

Ways to work that turtleneck

Before we get into the fashion, I'd like everyone to take a moment to remember that September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness month. Many are not aware of this often undiagnosed cancer that can take years to develop, but leaves a woman scarred forever.

Living with such a large scar across the neck can be very damaging to a woman's self-esteem. Fashion is often derided for ruining self-image, but it can also be uplifting to it as well. If you look good, you feel good. One way to hide a scar is by wearing items that conceal it, and a turtleneck is the perfect way to cover such a scar through the cooler months ahead. With that idea in mind I've taken this ordinary basic black turtleneck from American Apparel and styled it in a couple different ways:

Baby Rib long sleeve turtleneck, $27

Ways to wear a turtleneck - wild thing! by mizzj


Unleash your wild child by heading out at night in this saucy dress and killer heels! Gold accessories up the luxe look.

Ways to wear a turtleneck - artistic by mizzj

Stand out from the crowd with trendy lace leggings, sky high heels, and eccentric details like this ruffled tank top and gold locket.

Ways to wear a turtleneck - sexy secretary by mizzj


Finally, be bold yet classic by pairing conservative items with accessories in a popping color! This look is sophisticated, yet edgy with the bright turquoise heels and clutch, and multi-stranded chain necklace.

These fashion ideas are perfect for anyone, and not just those dealing with Thyroid Cancer. However, in all seriousness, this disease is not something to make light of and everyone should be aware of a couple key signs:

• You feel a lump in your neck, or your doctor may notice a nodule in your neck during a routine checkup. Most of these thyroid nodules are benign (noncancerous).
• Some people first notice lymph node swellings, fullness in the neck, voice changes, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Always remember, safety first! Sales racks second.