Weekly Shopping & Goodies

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy gives readers a sneak peek into the homes of the artistic and famous in Todd Selby's book, The Selby Is In Your Place

Fashion Cents found you the perfect pair of "not so basic" basic pumps for only $44.

Fashion Hippo admires American Women and contemplates 5 key elements of their style

Shopping and Info found Kim Kardashian's favorite platform Proenza Schouler sandals on sale.

The Well-Heeled Society proudly shows off the artwork of Sole Sister Lauren Luna.

TheFind is ditching the flip-flops for a pair of summer chic lace-up sandals!

Homes of the Artistic & Fashionable: The Selby is in Your Place

Do you shop at Urban Outfitters? Listen to Broken Social Scene? Eat organic, or know anyone who wears thick resin frame nerd glasses and sports an ironic beard? Well then, you may just qualify yourself as a hipster. Don't worry, it's stylish - just take a look at the extremely fashionable people captured by famed photographer Todd Selby.

Todd Selby is the creator of the internationally known style blog, The Selby. His blog captures the perfectly casual stylings of people who live their lives just a tad more creatively than most: actors, musicians, artists, models, designers, and club stars are all just a few sources of inspiration for Todd's diamond sharp lens.

In his new book, The Selby Is In Your Place, Todd puts in paper form the best of his fascinating peeks into the minds of his muses. Perusing someones home is like peering into their mind, even more so than analyzing one's outfits. While clothes are what we externally present to others, it is often in the home that we can reflect on one's collection of life experiences.

The homes featured in The Selby Is In Your Place are relentlessly quirky and full of eclectic memorabilia and random knick-knacks. They range from old-fashioned cottages to ultra-modern condos, from New York to Tokyo, and everywhere in-between. If you are moving, have just moved, or have lived somewhere for years, then you will find that this book will inspire you to dust off those paintbrushes and trek out to flea markets in search of your own touch of Selby hipness.

Here are a few snapshots of some of my favourite homes:






You can find The Selby Is In Your Place at your local bookstore. Happy reading!

If we do the unthinkable would it make us look crazy

Bandeau: from random store in Toronto
Sweater: Winners
Skirt: Aritzia
Booties: Aldo

When will summer arrive dammit. June is 3/4 of the way over and hot summer weather has still yet to arrive. I actually wore this outfit a couple months ago, but it would still be just as wearable now. This outfit contains two of my favourite things at the moment: my Elfering booties and my floral skirt. I haven't decided if this outfit makes my legs look stubby, but part of me also doesn't care because I think the hard-soft effect is worth a little pretty-ugly. There is little I wouldn't give to be willowy and tall with coltish calves!

This week's song is a lush, beautiful tune, by Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy heroine, Alicia Keyes. Here is a role model to follow ladies; Alicia always keeps it classy and sexy and her immense beauty is only surpassed by her soulful talent. She seems like a lady with thoughts in her head as reflected in her recent single, Unthinkable.

The song is about pleading with that special someone you just want to share your heart with, but both of you are scared of falling too hard, too fast, and landing. Love is all about risk and who hasn't had those moments when you just want to shake the other person to stop letting their fears get in the way of their heart. Maybe we should all stop listening to our brains so much, and go with with our heart! Anyways, enjoy.

Lyrics available here.

Lust of the Week: House of Harlow Resin Necklace

via Chickdowntown, $125

Nicole Richie is a woman that I secretly admire. Just a little bit. She is proof that people can change for the better and that a leopard really can change its spots. Does anyone still remember her back in The Simple Life days with BFF Paris Hilton? The chubbier body, the tacky magenta streaks and garish makeup, and an attitude to match. While Paris continues on "keeping it classy", Nicole has moved on to keeping it real - as in real life mother, designer, and fashion icon.

Thanks to friends like super-stylist Rachel Zoe, Nicole transformed her image from party girl to fashion guru with her very own successful design line, House of Harlow, and a happily settled life with her rocker guy and children. House of Harlow echoes Nicole's own bohemian and vintage style with its geometric cut jewellery. This particular black resin and gold plated necklace is a classic piece from the collection. I am lusting over how classic and yet edgy this piece is. You could style this with anything and any style. Go corporate with a power blazer, or beach girl chic with a peasant top. Wear this at night with a sexy LBD, or during the day with a PWT (plain white tee). Nicole designs with life in mind, and this gorgeous necklace is proof of that aesthetic. Bravo Nicole!

Weekly Shopping & Goodies

A Few Goody Gumdrops is so excited to wear her new White Gucci Sheath and Open Toe Booties!

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy urges you to check out weFashionista - it's fashion on steroids!

Fashion Cents gets you ready for the bleacher seats. Watch the latest video now for 3 tips on what to wear to a baseball game.

Fashion Fille is looking forward to the new edition of The Autobiography and Sex Life of Andy Warhol- check out a little intro!

Fashion Hippo found the best SPF Moisturizers for Every Skin Type

RedPoppy invites you to check out Marchesa's Resort 2011 Collection...

Shopping and Info has a $210 Skincare Package Giveaway of iQ and Raw Beauty Products from Dermstore.com.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com found a cool new site that lets you rent maternity clothes!

Style Eyes is looking forward to a stylish and guilt free holiday with ethical beach and swimwear

StyleMaven turns everyday into a summer holiday on a tropical isle with Kai fragrance oil.

Listen to The Well-Heeled Society talk about her book during her interview with Marcel of HOT 96.3!

TheFind is going to rock the one-shoulder dress this summer, it's the perfect style for warm weather weddings, picnics, and parties.

Current Inspirations: vintage floral style

Lately, I've been yearning for warm afternoons and lazier evenings filled with golden sunshine, loose, floaty silhouettes and casual, pretty appeal. As you can tell, I've also been inspired by the summer outfits of my fellow bloggers as I wait longingly for my own summer to make an appearance. Can you name all the bloggers that appear in here?

Here is the breakdown of what's driving me crazy fashion-wise right now:

• florals everywhere: skirts, tops, hair pieces, oh my!
  
• neutral tones like pale pink, heather grays, white, robin egg blues
• loose blouses tucked into pants, shorts or skirts
• sheer tops made of lace or chiffon
• elements of nature, particularly waterways and forest paths
• vintage elements: old rotary phones, a Beijing clay workshop, a room filled with books and music
  

So healthy, I'm like a fricken angel

The food of champions: fresh mango, Bunnie's bean salad, yam fries, aloe vera juice

Damn, it feels good to be healthy. By some weird quirk of nature, my body literally rebels against me if I eat foods it deems unfit such as anything overly cheesy/fatty/greasy/disgusting. Sometimes it's nice to me and lets me indulge, but most of the time it's faster out than in, if you know what I mean!

This meal was as delicious as it was healthy and I felt so energized after I went for a run! Then I promptly spent the day after nursing my sore knee. The recipe for this bean salad came from local blogger Bunnie, but I tweaked it a bit for my own preferences and for what happened to be in my fridge. You could totally add more protein to this by grilling some chicken breasts and rolling this up into a pita! The salad only tastes better the next day as the flavours soak in. To make this meal, you'll need:

• 1 can of black pinto beans
• 1 small red onion, chopped
  
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 1 ripe avocado
• 1/2 cup of corn
• juice of 1 lime
  
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  

Mix all the ingredients together into a flavourful stew and serve. As you can tell, I like my salads quite tangy so this may be too much flavour for everyone. The lime is essential to keep the avocados from turning colour, but you could cut back on the vinegars and/or add some sprinkling of sugar to lighten the taste.

weFashionista: fashion on steroids

As a lover of social media and fashion, anytime I'm made aware of a hot new site that merges both aspects, I'm on it like a model who's been told she can eat a bucket of KFC without getting fat. Recently I was alerted to the presence of new site that called weFashionista.com that relies on the recommendations of peers to alert its users to the hottest new looks and deals on the Internet.

Basically, weFashionista is like ShopStyle, Polyvore, and Lookbook.nu all in one. Crazy I know, but I swear it's for real. The premise is that weFashionistas are "boutique owners" who recommend items and create looks, which other users can share and rate with others. If another user really likes something in a particular boutique, they can click on the handy links that take them straight to the item in question. Then, if they buy it, the boutique owner who added that item is eligible to get a maximum of 8% commission off the sale!

Here are a few examples of the cool things going on at weFashionista right now:

Ann Taylor printed bucket tote, $49.50

TopShop pink flower cup bandeau dress, $90

Cool stylish peeps like Park & Cube

Amazing looks like this one by Tiffany Ivory's boutique!

So what are you waiting for fashion lovers? Get on weFashionista now!

Lust of the Week: Elizabeth & James Loni lace-up pumps

via Chickdowntown, $340

Peep-toe lace-up booties are all the rage this season as are neutral tones, so you just know that this pair by Elizabeth & James just has to make it into a LOTW post! It's very obvious why one should lust for these babies: that soft neutral cream, those killer 4.25" heels, the sexy mix of masculine elements with feminine sass, but what really makes these booties special is the summery macrame pattern! Straw, wicker, crochet - these are all perennial summer classics and I could totally imagine these shoes with a pair of olive satin shorts and a billowy blush pink chiffon blouse and Panama hat. TDF!

Weekly Shopping & Goodies

A Few Goody Gumdrops loves to "spice" up her eyelids with Nars Cayenne Cream Eyeshadow!

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy showcases cute ruffle tops all under $30!

Child Mode asks, "Looking For Child-Friendly Wallpaper? Have Your Kids Draw On The Walls!".

Couture In The City shares with us edgy fashion designer Alexander Wang

Fashion Cents wants you to help her make her daddy proud. Vote for her in Oprah's search for the next TV Star.

Handbag du Jour is giving away two Botkier bags - the Jaden and Stevie hobos!

Raging Rouge publishes her Father's Day Gift Guide for 2010! Spoil Dad... he's worth it!

RedPoppy brings you the Hottest World Cup soccer players you'll want to know and love!!!

Shopping and Info is loving the Nautical and Cargo trend from Vince for Fall 2010.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com is giving away a FREE GIFT for Dads Enter to Win!

StyleMaven gets inspired by Thom Browne's trendsetting menswear for Father's Day - get a sneak peek at the WSJ Magazine photo shoot and hear about the inspiration behind the brand.

The Well-Heeled Society interviews the diva who creates the edible shoes of Wendy's Cake Art.

TheFind is giving away $500 from Envite.com to shop for Father's Day and perhaps even a gift for yourself!

What's Haute Magazine previews Ramona Singer jewelry for HSN at Mizu Salon NYC.

Talk about a sin, was the day I walked into the other side

Dress: TopShop
Sweater: Le Chateau
Leggings: Zara
Nail polish: OPI

Blue is such a universally liked colour. It's the vanilla ice cream of colour - who doesn't like some shade of blue? I wonder what it is about humanity's love of blues. Is it because we are surrounded by blue skies and blue oceans? Blue is calming yet vibrant. Blue is easy on the eyes. I love blue.

Another thing I love is this single off David Choi's new album. The single is called That Girl and after watching this video, it just makes me long for summer romance. I want to run through a field of flowers and sunshine holding a boy's hand!!

David Choi recently got his Youtube account (he's a Youtube supastar in case you didn't know) suspended by THE MAN for copyright infringements on his music covers. WTF MAN. When will the dinosaurs of the recording industry get their heads out of their butts?! I'm so happy that luckily David got his channel back, so that we can continue to enjoy his sweet sweet music. Enjoy!





Oh, tonight I'm feeling fine
I'm alone, just wasting time
No Friday movie nights
Or romantic candle lights

I'm just having conversations
With the thoughts in my head
All I hear are angels crying
Oh, won't they just sing instead
It would be wrong for me to say

I don't need that girl by my side
I don't need that girl in my life
I don't want to talk it out
Or hold her when she cries

I don't want to say she's my kind
I don't want to say that she's mine
I don't want to tell her that
I love her more than life
More than life, Yeah
Love her more than life
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Honestly, this won't do
How is she doing?
I tell myself I'm feeling swell
But I know I'm such a fool

I could take it as a new beginning
But you know I don't feel that way
Who will take all this pain away?
I know it's wrong for me to say
I don't need that girl by my side
I don't need that girl in my life
I don't want to talk it out
Or hold her when she cries

I don't want to say she's my kind
I don't want to say that she's mine
I don't want to tell her that
I love her more than life
More than life, Yeah
Love her more than life
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Talk about a sin
Was the day I walked into the other side
I would run back in
I wouldn't waste no time
I know it's wrong for me to say

I don't need that girl by my side
I don't need that girl in my life
I don't want to talk it out
Or hold her when she cries

I don't want to say she's my kind
I don't want to say that she's mine
I don't want to tell her that
I love her more than life
More than life, Yeah
Love her more than life
Yeah, yeah, yeah


Finally one last thing before I let you all get on with your days, but here is the winner announcement for my Misikko Hana Elite giveaway!! Thank you to everyone who blogged, subscribed, and commented on this contest! The winner of the Hana Elite flat iron is...

Angel

Please contact me within 48 hours of this post to claim your prize!

No Fixed Address: secret location, sumptuous eats

A couple weekends ago I had the pleasure of attending a secret dinner party care of Steve, the chef behind No Fixed Address. Steve is part of a growing trend of "underground" restauranteurs in Vancouver, whose basic premise is to have attendees invited to a secret location with a secret menu to be cooked by a fine dining chef. The locations can be anywhere: an attendees home, or in this case, the chef's own Kitsilano apartment. I had heard about NFA through Teresa of Senses & Style and she referred me to join this "secret society." What were me, Mr. Artist and 2 of our friends in store for?

We were joined that evening by 3 other couples. First thing we noticed was that the other guests had brought wine. Apparently secret dining is BYOB. Oh well, we were there to eat, not drink!

Our first course of the night was this melon soup with melon balls topped with prosciutto. The combination of tangy sweetness and salty flavour tickled all my taste buds pleasantly, though I wish there had been more soup to slurp up.



Next was a satisfying crab cake with a fruity mango and lime sauce. Crab cakes are always a hit, but it wasn't something that made me go "wow" as my mom makes these all the time.



The main course was roasted pork belly on top of a ball of mashed potato, with endive, prosciutto and some other veggie which I can't seem to remember the name of, but which was slightly bitter in taste. The pork belly was deliciously tender and the skin was crispy, if a bit chewy.




After the pork belly came a refreshing light course that was to be mine and Mr. Artist's favourites of the night. It was fresh tuna sashimi on a white pear slice and topped with delicate spring onions. Fresh seafood is so amazing you hardly need to do anything, and the contrast of the tender meat with the crunchy lightness of the pear was amazing. I could have eaten 4 plates of this alone.



Before moving onto the final dessert course, we diners enjoyed a palate cleaning spoonful of candied ginger and a salmon sorbet. This was probably the most technical of the dishes in terms of difficulty, but was my least favourite. I found the sorbet way too sour, but it was definitely palate cleansing. I may have been alone in this opinion though as Mr. Artist seemed to enjoy this one very much.



And finally the desserts! Good things come in threes they say, and that is just what this dessert followed with its sampler trio of desserts. First up was this dark chocolate truffle mousse with raspberry sauce. The sauce was just sweet enough, but the chocolate was a bit too dark for my liking.



The second dessert was a cream puff thing on a lemon custard sauce. This tasted just as it looked: light, fluffy, and sweet. Loved it.



The best for last: this banana, cream and cookie sandwich was a sweet dream come true. Well, maybe not that fantastic, but definitely the best of the bunch.



Overall, our meal was satisfying and tasty. Was it worth the price? Well, maybe in terms of variety and for the uniqueness of the dining concept. As well, we got to meet some very cool people as our fellow diners were full of interesting conversation. In terms of just food and price though, I think I'm more of a greasy spoon, hole in the wall type of gal. However if you are looking for an intimate and adventurous twist to your usual dinner party, or dinner date, then I highly recommend looking into joining the secret dining experience.

Dear MizzJ: cute ruffle tops under $30

Awhile back I got a great reader story idea from Elisse to feature some of my favourite ruffle tops as a way to showcase to my readers how to wear ruffles. Well Elisse, here are the results and they are all under $30 thanks to Forever 21!

This season for me is all about a return to flirtatious modesty. Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron doesn't it, but I'm quite serious that you can be flirtatious and pretty without being revealing. Ruffles are all about modesty as they are a great way to camouflage problem areas, while highlighting others. Conceal a tummy under a well placed ruffle, or make a tiny bust bigger - is there anything ruffles can't do?

While ruffles can run the gamut of looks from girlish to edgy, one piece of advice I would give that remains consistent is that if you have a lot of ruffling going on, on top, then keep it slim and sleek on the bottom. Think skinny jeans, bandage skirts, or denim cut-offs for summer. If you've never considered ruffles before, then I hope this post will change your mind! Are you a fan of ruffles?

Floral lace strapless tunic, $29.80

Go romantic and sweet with this lace confection. The empire waist is flattering to waistlines and looks great with shorts.

Flounce ruffle top, $23.80

This ruffle top is for those of us who prefer black to pink. The slightly asymmetrical tiers of these flounce ruffles are an interesting visual detail and this top would look great with anything ranging from black jeans, to leather pants, to a smoking mini!

Sheer dotted top, $18.80

Summer is all about light, sheer tops and this polka-dot top is perfect for those steaming summer nights. Brazen polka-dots are offset by delicate shoulder straps that are just begging to slip off and slid back up by a tall, dark & handsome stranger.

Lust of the Week: 3.1 Phillip Lim Polka-dot silk-satin bra + panties

via Net-A-Porter: bra $85 & panties $75

Yep, that's me. Eat your heart out bitches.

Okay, now time for reality to kick in. Maybe I'll never have the flat tummy and stick-like thighs of the model, but her underthings are definitely within my reach. Polka-dots are less overtly sexy than say lace, but it is still as sexy as it is cheeky! Get your mischievous groove on by allowing these to poke their way out in (and out) of the bedroom.

Get the Look: Whitney Port at the MTV Movie Awards

I didn't actually watch the awards show, but I did avidly watch the red carpet fashion picks the day after. MTV award shows are meant to be fun, flirty, and youthful so the fashions should reflect that. One of the highlights of this year's awards was this unique yellow number worn by Whitney Port. I loved her choice of this popping yellow number contrasted with simple, strong, gold pieces.

You can recreate this look this summer with some amazing pieces care of ICE.com just by checking out the Polyvore below!

MTV Movie Awards - Whitney Port by mizzj on Polyvore.com

Summer Party Drinks - Pear Batida beverage
delish.com

Glitter Gold Classic Keeper - Confetti.com
$2 - confetti.com

SUJE26 Seiko Diamond Ladies Stainless Steel Watch on Yellow Gold Plate...
$273 - ice.com

PEGB02 Pulsar Ladies Watch on Yellow Gold Plate Bracelet
$63 - ice.com

Mens 1 1/5 Carat Diamond 14K Yellow Gold Bracelet
$2,995 - ice.com

4 3/4 Carat Citrine & Zircon 10K Yellow Gold Ring
$47 - ice.com

Party Grid Background - High Quality Free Stock Photos - Free Pictures...
free-stockphotos.com

stereosonicsofun
thecobrasnake.com

whitney port mtv award dres
thehollywoodgossip.com

bright stupid confetti: bitter verbs
brightstupidconfetti.blogspot.com

MTV Movie Awards Popcorn
twilightsingapore.com

NIGHTCLUB LIGHTING DESIGN INSTALLATION-BAR CLUB LOUNGE LED NIGHTCLUB...
disco-designer.com

MODELS.com Feed » 24 Hour Party People
models.com

Roberto Cavalli at H&M: The Fashion Party Has Started | Design News
dexigner.com

Who was your favourite fashion star of the night?

Product Review: Philosophy's Hope in a Tube Eye & Lip Firming Cream

via Philosophy.com, $33

The Product
When it comes to aging, an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure. Philosophy's Hope in a Jar eye and lip firming cream contains 0.5 oz of prevention in one potent tube. This mini powerhouse is designed to combat fine lines along your eye contour and upper lip area and to erase those first wrinkles caused by things like too much smiling (something I do all the time).

The Guts
The ingredients for this product read like a chemical list, but include such decipherable ingredients such as mineral oil, glycerin, and petrolatum, all of which are moisturizers.

Price & Packaging
For $33 a tube, this product isn't much bigger than a lip gloss, however it did last me for months as you really only need a dot or two for full coverage. The squeeze tube was very effective and allows you the ability to literally squeeze every last bit of product out before tossing, making it very economical.

Effectiveness
The product glides on easily and smoothly, leaving a very velvety texture on your skin. It goes on transparent and can even be applied during the day for a subtle brightening effect. If you do wear this product during the day though, be aware the any makeup you apply on top will have a tendency to slide right off the almost wax-like surface this cream leaves behind. After a couple months of regular application, I found my dark circles to be reduced as well as the fine lines I was starting to notice.

Buy or Ditch?
I would certainly buy this product again. It was effective, easy to use, and not extraordinarily expensive. For once, no complaints!

Final Verdict: A

Also, don't forget to enter my Hana Elite flat iron giveaway!

Tribal War

Striped tube dress: can't remember
Draped shirt: Plenty
Leggings: Zara

Here's me just chillaxing in my room one night. I decided to be a dork and take pictures in here - doesn't this just resemble something lame you'd see on some kid's MySpace? When I wore this dress to a photoshoot, the photographer laughed in delight and a little bit at my expense. For some reason he didn't think it fit my personality, but I quite like how fun and "candy striper" it is! Sometimes it's good to surprise people's expectations.

This week's song features Damian Marley and Nas in one of the songs off their epic collabo album, Distant Relatives. I haven't bought an album in ages, but for this, I may have to make an exception. Listen and enjoy.

Product Review: Misikko Hana Elite Flat Iron + Giveaway!!

Didn't have time to watch the video? Then read the text version below!

Product
Misikko is an American online retailer of high quality salon products such as blow dryers, curlers, and professional flat irons. They were so kind as to approach me to do a review on one of their best flat irons, the Hana Elite Flat Iron. Made in Korea, this flat iron promises to straighten, or curl, your hair quickly and easily without the fear of damage. Does it live up to its promise?

The Guts
The Hana Elite flat iron features 1.5" ceramic plates and is infused with tourmaline, a crystal silicate material, to provide maximum heat protection for your hair. It also has adjustable heat settings for various hair types - the stronger/more stubborn the hair, the higher the heat .

Price & Packaging
The Hana Elite normally costs around $389, but on Misikko you can buy it for $299.99, which is still quite the investment; however if you are going to use this everyday then the price may be worth the quality. The Hana Elite came with its own pouch to contain itself and the cord, as well as a rubber non-slip mat to place on your counter, which were two nice touches that made this product special.

Effectiveness
It was extremely easy to use, though at first I didn't know what the red light was supposed to indicate as it would vary between flaring solidly and blinking - the manual didn't state the differences either. As well, I couldn't tell if the temperature dial was in Celsius or Fahrenheit, so I kept having to turn the heat up as I wasn't sure. It only took a couple minutes for the flat iron to reach hotness and once it was ready it was very effective at providing a smooth, shiny finish. I didn't really like how the plates clicked, unlike my Chi flat iron, but I suppose that's a side-effect of the ceramic plates. As well the claimed ergonomic handle was actually a bit slippery in my hand. Overall though, I was quite pleased with the results; my hair was perfectly soft, shiny, and smooth within minutes!

Buy or Ditch?
It's quite pricey so I probably wouldn't buy it as I don't use a flat iron everyday. If I were to be an everyday user though, I would definitely recommend this one and all the reviews on Misikko were raving about the Hana Elite, so I figure this is a safe bet.

Final Verdict: A


Are you intrigued by this flat iron? WELL Misikko and Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy is offering you the chance to win your very own Hana Elite for FREE!! There are multiple ways to enter, so each time you do one of the following, you'll gain an entry - so simple!

• Leave a comment stating why you absolutely have to have the Hana Elite flat iron
• Follow Misikko on Twitter (must leave a comment here stating you have done so)
• Write a blog entry about this giveaway on your own blog (must leave a comment here with a link to your post)
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel: MizzJbanana

This contest is open to Canadian and US residents only (sorry!) and will run until midnight June 14, 2010.

But wait, there's more!



Don't need a flat iron? Well how about an AMAZING beauty prize pack care of Vancouver's Noir Lash Lounge? Enter The Good Life contest and you could win this mother of all prize packs, which includes such goodies as:

Noir Lash Lounge - 2 full sets of eyelash extensions + 2 fills
Bombay Brow Bar - 4 brow sessions
Blo Blow Dry Bar - 4 blo outs
Pure Nail Bar - 2 mani + pedi’s (love this place)
Stripped Wax Bar - 2 “Essentially Stripped” packages: Brazilian + full leg wax
Anna Kosturova - $100 Gift Certificate and a personal fitting with Anna Kosturova (don't know who she is, but I'm sure she's fabulous)
Society – Dinner for 2 + champagne cocktails (definitely try the alcoholic milkshakes!)
Sanafir – Dinner for 2 in bed + champagne cocktails

Seriously people, I want to just enter this contest myself, it is so spankin' spectacular. Here's how you can enter:

• Entrants must “like” all the participating companies or join their group on Facebook.

• Entries will be made by “tagging” your status and filling in the blanks: "Dear @Noir Lash Lounge I want to live @The Good Life this summer. xoxo [your name]" Multiple entries will be permitted, but limited to only one entry per day.
  

This contest will run until June 25 , 2010, 5pm. The winner will be asked to contact info@noirlashlounge.com for information on how to collect their prize. All gift certificates expire Aug. 31, 2010. I'm also fairly certain you must be in Vancouver to collect these prizes ;)

So what are you waiting for?! Get those fingers moving and win your way to being a fabulous, ridiculously good-looking you!

Lust of the Week: Christian Dior 'Dior Initiales' platform sandals

via Bluefly, $516

These babies are literally a steal at 62% off their original $1000+ price tag. Hot off the fashion trend sheets, these gorgeous shoes will make your gams look super long with its platform sole, 3.75 " heel, and sexy criss-crossing straps. What really gets me going though is the combination of rich dark chocolate leather and the natural pine tone of the wooden soles. These Italian dreams actually look as comfortable as they are seductive as the leather is real and not a stiff synthetic and provided that the soles have some good grip on them! Can't you just picture wearing these all summer with dresses, mini-skirts, shorts, or even dare I say - harem pants?! Yes people, I would even wear a pair of crisp cream harem pants if I could have shoes as gorgeous as these to pair with them. Now you know I'm seriously lusting.