Lust of the Week: Mulberry Polly Push-lock satchel

via Net-A-Porter, $1300

Purse Blog is a terrible obsession for me - does anyone else have it too?  I am constantly seeing bags to lust for on that damn site and this is one of them.  At first glances at the post, I wasn't super impressed.  I liked the hardy textured leather of the satchel as well that classic prepster vibe, but I knew that the little tote handle wasn't my style.  It was too ladylike and preppy and I prefer a bit of a laid back edge.  If only it had a cross-body strap to make it more downtown style I mused and lo and behold it does!  Now I am instantly in lust with it.  Something about the option of the two strap styles really has a hold on me, although it would be rather unlikely I'd ever use the top handle unless I was channeling my inner granny.  Knowing me, it's possible.

BTW readers, there will be no Friday post as tomorrow's Canada Day!  I'll be off, channeling my Canadian spirit by sleeping in, stuffing my face, and going to the Britney Spears concert.  Have a great Canada Day eh??  (Yes, we do actually say that)

What's for dinner: dok boki leftovers

Last week's What's for Dinner featured a recipe for Korean roasted rice cakes (dok boki) with Red Dragon sauce.  While delicious, I found that I wasn't able to use up all the ingredients I had bought for the dish, so one night I decided to use them up by creating my classic standby of using whatever is in my fridge to create a noodle soup.  The result was actually delicious and satisfied my cravings for savoury goodness.  Here's how to make it:

• 1.5 cups of boiling water
• 1 tbsp of ssamjang paste (or to taste)
• fried tofu cubes
• Korean rice cakes
• 1 green onion, chopped

This recipe follows a classic instant noodle cooking method.  Boil water, and then add the tofu cubes and rice cakes to fill pot.  Cook until tofu and rice cakes are squishy to preference (usually a few minutes at med-high heat).  Turn off heat and add ssamjang paste.  Stir to dissolve paste into soup and add more until you get the desired flavour.  Toss in green onion and serve!

Some love for boobies

Boobs.  Half the population has them, and the other half loves them (for the most part), but why are we all so obsessed?  For women, it seems we spend a portion of our early life loving them for giving us nutrition and then the rest of it worrying and poking and squishing and lifting them to become what we envision they should be. 

Boobs.  They come in various colors and shapes and sizes, yet there seems to be a universal standard to how they should be judged.  Considering the world is a pretty mixed up, nonuniform place, is that the right idea to have?  Is that idea even natural to us, or something we've all been duped into?  Hate to blame the media for everything, but I sure do see a lot of reminders everyday that I am less than perfect and that I am lacking even though I'm healthy, happy, independent, and accomplished.  All everyone sees is -

Boobs.  Many of us, myself included, have pondered the I-word: implants.  Are they safe? Do they feel real? Will people judge us having them?  I've never thought about it seriously, as the thought of undergoing a serious surgery and having a foreign object unnecessarily put into my body kinda makes me feel ill.  Growing up, my mom would always tell me that surgery should not be your first option as there is always a chance for complications.   That being said, I wouldn't judge anyone who gets them.  You can't imagine how a person feels about themselves unless you are that person and even beautiful people can feel bad about their looks.  The only thing I'd say to those who are thinking of getting them, is to get all your information.  Talk to your friends, your family and talk to your significant other to see what they think.  Watch a surgery on TV.  Talk to your doctor and research online about the pros and cons - cons like a recent article I was sent about a study stating that the majority of women who get implants have to get them replaced or removed after a few years, and that many have complications requiring further surgeries!   

 Could this be you?

If you can see and know all this, and you still want them, then do what makes you happy and I hope it does.We should all work to being happy with ourselves and valuing the qualities that make us unique as a person.  We can't all be smart, or athletic, or gorgeous, but we all have something that makes great.  Maybe for some people it's fake boobs, but I highly doubt a pair of silicone gel sacks is anyone's best quality.

What if I change for you, then will you see me, still with you?

Leopard print top: H&M

Leggings: Zara

Fur poncho: vintage

Ring: Aldo (turquoise), Engineering Iron ring (pinky)

Bracelets: Claires (white), gifted from China (black)

HOT PRICES! I didn't notice this blaring piece of advertisement in my trash can until I was editing this photo later.  I wonder what it was selling? 

Normally I eschew wear my engineering ring, but this outfit called for some over accessorizing, so I put it on.  I've always been kinda conflicted about wearing my engineering ring.  It's something every engineer is given when they graduate in Canada as part of a secret induction ceremony.  We take an ethics oath and the ring is given to us to symbolize our duty to our industry.  When we retire, we're supposed to return it, to pass on to the next generation. As engineers, we are supposed to always wear the ring and many do as a sign of pride, but I've taken to rarely wearing mine. 

Perhaps it's because I always felt a bit alienated as an Engineer; often I felt out of place and dismissed because people presumed they were more intelligent and harder working than me for various reasons I won't go into at the moment, but I'm sure you can guess.  Maybe I wasn't top of my class, but I was far from the bottom too and unlike some people I don't need to name, I can actually function socially outside my geek circle.  I worked my ass off for my degree and I treasure what that hard work taught me in both knowledge and life lessons.  I guess I've always felt that you don't need to show off your pride for people to know about it.  You don't need to tell someone you're intelligent, or accomplished, you only need to live it and people will pick up on that. 

In photo news, I think I've begun to understand how lighting works and what to adjust for what instance.  The type of photos I really enjoy are the ones where innocuous things come to life to describe a moment. Anyways, here are some recent shots I've taken...

Lust of the Week: Reid Damnit Easy Rider red suede leather clutch

via Etsy, $75

I've kinda been obsessed with pouches and clutches lately.  Maybe it's masochistic of me, but I want to see how much I can minimize my life into a teeny purse.  Since clutches are so small, you can get away with getting them in flashier designs and colors than you might with a larger purse.  Case in point, this hot red number by New Zealand designer Kelly Reid.  The pungent red color of this clutch is a great year long piece - nautical with white shorts in summer, and a rich contrast for winter's blacks and greys.  A soft suede exterior also gives the clutch a more worn-in, softer feel while zipper details give it a touch of edge.  This week's lust is highly affordable - why not add it to your collection?

What's for dinner: Dok Boki (Korean roasted rice cakes with Korean Red Dragon Sauce)

A couple weeks ago, a group of coworkers and I had another round of our office potluck dinners. These lunches usually fall on the fantastic side (ie. hot pot at the office!!!) and this time was no different, with the theme being "Asian Dinner."  I was originally planning to make some classic Chinese food, but as fate would have it, I happened to be perusing (and drooling) over a new website I'd stumbled upon: Korean Food Gallery.  Consider yourself warned that viewing this website will cause saliva to pool uncontrollably out of your mouth.

One of the oh-so-delectable recipes I found via there was a dish called Korean roasted rice cakes with Korean Red Dragon Sauce (see recipe here and red dragon sauce recipe here).  Rice cakes, or dok boki, are a popular staple apparently in Korean cuisine, and this particular dish is a common street food.  Rice, street food, Korean - you know I had to try this.  Lucky for my coworkers, my lineage of Chinese cooking genes are still active and this recipe turned out delicious and apparently authentic according to my Korean, and Korean loving, coworkers! Here's how it all went down, with photos grudgingly taken by Mr. Artist:

Vegg

• 1/2 white onion, sliced
• 1 stalk of green onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

First, you gotta take care of the vegetables.  A main component of the sauce is some roasted onions.  Take a nice hot wok and add the oil when wok is hot.  Swirl the oil around the pan a bit, then throw in the onions.  Stir fry for several minutes until onions are golden and reduced.  Periodically add bits of water as per usual in stir fry.

Red Dragon Sauce
While the onions cook, it's time to make the sauce!

• ½ cups Water
• ½ cups Sugar
• ¾ cups Ssamjang (Korean Fermented Bean And Chile Sauce)
• 2 Tablespoons Light Soy Sauce (I used dark soy sauce)
• 1 Tablespoon Sherry Vinegar (I used Rice Vinegar)
• 1 teaspoon Asian Sesame Oil
• 2 teaspoons Sesame Seeds

Don't forget about those onions like I did!

Bring water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stir until sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes, then stir in the ssamjang to dissolve it while the mixture is still warm. Then stir in the soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil and seeds and taste the sauce. Adjust as necessary.

Once all the above ingredients are combined, in another pot, combine 1/4 cup mirin (sweet cooking sake) with 1/4 cup chicken stock and bring to a boil.  Boil to reduce until lightly thickened, 2-3 mins

Add red dragon sauce, lower heat to medium low and reduce, stirring occasionally.  After 6-7 minutes of reduction, add the roasted onions. 

Meanwhile, remember those rice cakes??  Take out half a bag's worth, making sure they're not totally frozen.

Pan fry those mofos in a well oiled wok.  Being lazy, I used the same wok that I cooked the onions in, but looking back this was wrong to do.  The recipe said to use a clean pan as these pristine rice cakes pick up every bit left on the pan previously and BOY do they ever!  You can't tell here, but it looked like I had liberally sprinkled these babies with pepper!

Cook on med-high heat for a few minutes, tossing periodically until they have a nice golden singe to them and you can easily squish them with your spatula. 

I would highly encourage doing a taste test here as well for the right consistency as you can easily overcook these rice cakes until they become super hard and dry.  For my tastes, I'd say they're done when the cakes are slightly crunchy on the outside and still nice and chewy inside.

Once they're done, combine the rice cakes with your delicious red dragon sauce and stir to coat.

 

Sprinkle in your green onions and serve right away! 

This dish is a little spicy, a little garlicky, a little BBQ'y, a little sweet and a whole lot of savoury goodness.  If you love flavour then you will be craving this like I am, writing this post right now!  You'll get plenty of servings out of this one, I'd say enough for a dinner party as the rice cakes are quite filling.  Enjoy!

If you have any yummy recipes you'd like to share, I'd love to try them!  And if you make this dish, let me know how it goes, or if you have some special tweaks you've made. Until then readers, good eats for good living!

Dance me to your beauty, with a burning violin

White tee: gifted

Dress: gifted, Circle Moon designs?

Leggings: Zara

Shoes: Toms

I was rummaging around in my drawers and found this dress again after literally not touching it for a year.  Does anyone else ever do that?  A good closet purge more often for me opens up my eyes to new opportunities to how to recycle current clothes and I end up keeping probably way more than I should.  The last few months my exercise routine has been thrown out of wack due to events and then hockey madness.  Now that it's all over, it's time to get back down to business!

Lust of the Week: Black Milk Clothing's The Snow Fox swimsuit

via Black Milk Clothing, $90

I don't quite get why I'm lusting after this swimsuit, but it's just so damn original that I love it!  I've been really off bikinis lately and am always on the look out for one-pieces that scream "bad-ass!" more than "grandma!"  After all, can't I have tummy control and hotness?? I'm thinking I would need to muster up some major pizazz to pull this off since I'm not a porno-hotness-slighty-tranny-Asian chick.  Can one wear falsies on the beach?  Something about this suit makes me think it would be expected.  Oh well, not like I swam in my bikinis either!

Check out more of Black Milk's sexy take on swimwear, leggings and more in my article on Black Milk designer James Lillis on Killahbeez!

Hot events this week: the Buzz Event + Lace Embrace Atelier Antique Corset Exhibition

Who says that Vancouver is a boring, no-fun city?  Fools that's who!  Vancouver often gets derided as a place that is pretty, but also pretty dull, however I would beg to differ.  Vancouver has lots going on, but unlike some places, it's a little harder to see.  Do a little sniffing and know the right people though, and watch your calendar fill up like any snobby socialite!

Here's a couple fun events I'll be hitting up this week.  To my Van City peeps, hope to see you there!  I'll be the one hanging by the bar :p

The Buzz Entrepreneur Event

Thursday, Jun. 16 from 6-10pm

Canvas Lounge

"Reach Magazine and VancityBuzz will once again present The Buzz Entrepreneur Event at the Canvas Lounge. Sponsored by Sherri Hoover from Investors Group, the Buzz Entrepreneur Event is known to host young and upcoming entrepreneurs Vancouver has to offer. This event will showcase a host of new start ups and award winning entrepreneurs from different industries."

Prepare for swanky drinks and eats, creative people, and cool musical performances by local artists Kristie Yung and Saba Nazarian!

RSVP

Lace Embrace Atelier presents: Antique Corset Exhibition & Historic Fashion Show

Sunday, Jun. 19 from 12-4pm

Hycroft Mansion

Come enjoy the elegant setting of Hycroft mansion for a delightful afternoon sure to please all your senses. See a exquisite selection of the private antique corset collection belonging to owner, Melanie Talkington, corsetiere of Lace Embrace Atelier.  Enjoy a lecture and historical fashion show by Ivan Sayers, costume historian, about the history of unmentionables.  Help raise funds towards a permanent exhibit space for the antique corset collection.  Enjoy a silent auction of treasures.  Become addicted to Coco Nymph chocolatiere, plus other sweet and savory treats. Enjoy a cash bar and beverages.  Smell fabulous scents of Alaya perfumiere and enjoy the many other delightful vendors.

RSVP

Guest post by Vie Couture: Hot summer beach wear

Vie is a fashion blogger living in paradise island, Bali where every day feels like a Summer holiday. She loves spending time on the net finding pretty things for her lovely readers at www.viecouture.com. She also has passion for belly dancing and loves going to the beach for sunset with her husband and their 3 year old German Shepherd.

Thank you so much for your guest post Vie!

1. Delia’s Mix Print Twist Pink Bandeau. $24.50

2.  TopShop Hot pink sunglasses, $32

3. Forever 21 Nautical bangles, $9.80

4. Old Navy Perfect khaki shorts, $19.50

5. Lily Pulitzer jelly sandals, $38

6. OPI Feelin' Hot Hot Hot nail polish, $8

Summer and beaches are inseparable things. For this we always need to stack tons of beach essentials in our closet. Some people go for a swim and tan, others hide under big umbrellas enjoying refreshing ocean breezes with sunset drinks in their hands. Whatever you decide to do, let’s make this Summer fun and fancy!

Now that we’ve mentioned Summer to-do list, what about Summer to-wear? Here’s one of the examples. Summer might be synonymous with orange, yellow and other brights, but I find that pink can also be included in your selection, especially if you consider yourself feminine at heart. Tanks and khaki shorts are my best friends, they’re casual, comfortable and stylish, too. Hope this pink edition gives you more ideas.

We could close the curtains, pretend like there's no world outside

Top: H&M

Jeggings: Aldo

Shoes: Toms

Watch: Invicta

Bag: Michael Kors

Sorry for the graininess of this photo, I hadn't taken into account the discrepancies in the lighting between my foreground and background.  Today was a pretty lazy day as far as outfits go and it reminds me of this past Sunday when Mr. Artist and I literally lazed the afternoon away sleeping among a sea of pillows, blankets, and a golden retriever.  Sometimes it feels so good to do so little.  What are your plans for this weekend?

Lust of the Week...obtained: Longchamp Le Pliage

My latest acquisition.  After much lusting and seeking of a Longchamp retailer in Vancouver, I finally found it and utterly randomly too!  It was a sunny afternoon last week while on a lunchtime errand stroll to my sister's office that I glanced in a shop window and beheld rack upon rack of a rainbow of Le Pliages.  Of course I had to stop, as the only other Longchamp retailer I'd heard of was Chapman's on S. Granville.  This store, whose name seems to elude me now, carries much of the Longchamp line, from the classic le Pliage, to the traditional hard luggage sets, to higher-end leather goods.  I opted for my choice, the navy Le Pliage in the perfect everyday tote size.  For all you other Longchamp fans, this store is located on Hornby and Hastings.  I'll meet you there.

Dear MizzJ: summer office wear

Recently I was asked by a good friend what recommendations I had for summery work appropriate outfits.  Bored of her usual black and black combo, my friend was seeking something fresher, prettier, and altogether more fun - after all, isn't that what summer is all about?

Unfortunately, I'm no expert in corporate wear as my office has no dress code (yay for tech companies!), but I decided to take a stab at this question anyways.  Now, my friend works in a bank, certainly one of the most, if not the most corporate environments one can work in.  Definitely no hot pink ensembles here!  I had to think very in the box for this readers, but hopefully my suggestions will help her and the countless other ladder climbers out there!

My principal aim was to allow for her to stray away from the tired blazer/white shirt/black skirt combination.  Since summer is warmer, I would advise opting for lighter, breathable fabrics.  Keep the blazer, but add some pops of color and pattern in a blouse underneath, like these below:

Left to Right: 

Zebra Collage tee, $39.95

Loosened Shelby blouse, $58

Finding Roses blouse, $78

All of these blouses incorporate a feminine, sophisticated pattern.  The zebra print is the most crazy pattern here, but even it is in done in a subtle manner.  Florals are always pretty and feminine and when done in classic patterns like these, they are downright traditional.

If those blouses are still too much, then try switching out the usual black bottom for something in a lighter tone.  Heather grey pants are like the black trousers of winter, so this is a no-brainer to style.  I much prefer trying out a nude-toned skirt - still sleek and business-like, but an altogether much more summery look - plus your legs will get some needed sun time walking around!

Left: Banana Republic Martin fit textured linen trousers, $110

Right: Banana Republic Sleek Suit skirt, $51

If opting for the lighter bottoms, I highly recommend also investing in some summer jewelry.  While earrings should still be discreetly small, a statement necklace is more acceptable, provided one doesn't go overboard.  Both the options below are affordable and come in summery tones of turquoise and coral.

Left: Aldo Couto necklace, $20

Right: Anthropologie Layers of the Sea necklace, $78

Hopefully these tips have helped my friend and maybe you!  The key to this look is simple touches that keep to a sophisticated color palette and traditional, subtle patterns.  Following these tips will let anyone be stylish, but conservative in any office environment.

If you have a fashion/beauty question, please don't hesitate to ask as I love helping people with their questions!  Simply leave me a comment here, or email me!

Getting to know... Corinne Lea of Scout Boutique

One reason why I started this blog was to feature and highlight designers and fashions that celebrated strong, feminine figures.  I was tired of seeing all the frankly sexual and downright skankiness out there and wished that there was something that spoke to more my style.  Thankfully, it hasn't been hard to find those out there with the same opinion, such as those at Scout Boutique in Vancouver.

Scout Boutique is located near Main St. and Kingsway, right on the edge of one of the city's hippest shopping districts.  Known for its eclectic mix of ethnic restaurants, stores, and boutiques, Main St. is the perfect place for this quaint little shop, hidden around the corner of 8th ave.  I was fortunate enough last week to get a chance to interview co-owner Corinne Lea, and Sales Associate Virginia about this unique shop specializing in burlesque and retro pin-up fashions.

Scout Boutique first opened up in 2006 with the efforts of Lea and former partner Avril Tait.  Lea, an Art & Design graduate of the Emily Carr Institute, has always had a passion for fashion, despite working previously as owner/manager of local foodie haunts, such as Havanas and Alibi Room.  As a burlesque dancer/pin-up model on the side, opening up her own boutique specializing in pin-up, retro, fashion was a natural fit. 

Scout Boutique emphasizes a local feel, carrying mostly Vancouver/Lower Mainland designs, such as co-owner Misty Greer's Trunk Show, Sweet Soul, and Wicked Purses.  Perusing through the small, but cozy space, shoppers will find anything ranging from sleek 40s pin-up gowns, to feather fascinators, fur shrugs, and even sequinned nipple tassels!  Each piece is colorful, cheeky, and unabashedly sexy, but in a glamourously sophisticated way that isn't often emphasized in modern fashion.  Don't even think about looking for a mini skirt or a tube top here - Scout's merchandise urges the shopper to go back to a bygone era when sexy and pretty weren't such uneasy neighbours.  As Virginia puts it, Scout Boutique's pin-up fashion celebrates a time when "dressing was a ritual" and the "art of accessorizing" ruled all.

 

It's an aesthetic that aligns with Lea's own, as she has always been a fan of the "feminine sex appeal" of pin-up style and the old Hollywood glamour of her inspirations, Katherine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, and Bridgette Bardot, to name a few.  The store also has tinges though of 70s and 80s glam rock, particularly in the Trunk Show line, with one of the hottest items currently in stock being the ruffled black denim with skull pocket buttons.

Besides running Scout, Lea also co-owns and manages the Rio Theatre, one of the last independent theaters in Vancouver.  I had to ask Lea how she manages the boutique, the theater, and having a family all at the same time, while still having that pressure to maintain herself as an attractive woman.  Lea's answer was realistic, but also optimistic: "I think you can do what you love, with your career and family. But it’s not easy to juggle. You can’t do everything. Success in anything takes focus and time. So you have to make choices about what is most important to you and don’t let anyone else decide that for you! But most important you have to make time for yourself. If you don’t feel sexy and beautiful you lose a part of yourself confidence and sense of joy in life."

To keep feeling sexy and beautiful, Lea and many others turn to pin-up fashion, which is fabulously known for celebrating a womanly figure instead of resisting it.  At the Suckerpunch Ball I attended last year featuring Scout Boutique, I was thrilled and excited to see a show full of woman who looked like women, acting fiesty, vivacious, and well, damn sexy!  They were the happiest models I'd ever seen and I immediately wanted to know how I could look like that too.  Both Lea and Virginia assured me that incorporating pin-up style into a modern wardrobe is simple.  To try out pin-up style, one can try merely putting on a bold red lip, or go all the way by wearing a pin-up style dress with flats and a cute cardigan; for summer, a pair of high-waisted shorts are a classic item.

So next time you are wandering around the Main St. area, be sure to check out this cute gem of a store and remember: anyone can achieve pin-up style and look crazy sexy, while also keeping your goods to yourself.  How can any intelligent woman not love that?

Want to see more of what Scout Boutique has to offer this summer? You can check out the rest of my photos, or you can come out to their upcoming swimsuit sale and fashion show, Beach Bombshells & Bathing Beauties, happening this Friday!  Check out swimsuits by Betty Page, Leg Ave, Pinup Couture, Soak Swimwear, as well as the debut of a brand new swimwear line by Trunk Show, made by Vancouver’s own Misty Greer!  Admission is free, and everything in store will be 10% off to celebrate the event.  Shows start at 7 and 9pm.  Hope to see you there!

Hot summer tops for every style

Now that it's June and we've had a couple (albeit not a lot) of sunny days, my entire body is now itching for summer to arrive.  It cannot come fast enough, I tell you!!  Summer is truly the best season in my opinion because you're never cold! And you can wear the least amount of clothes bothersome socks and coats when running out the door.

Summer time also means sprucing up one's summer wardrobe.  It always feel nice to have something new to show off.  I have already purchased white shorts, a chambray shirt, and Toms to begin my summer preparations!  The one thing you don't want to do is break the bank while investing in your summer closet.  One or two new tops will suffice for most people's needs and there are a huge variety of women's tops available at Bank Fashion right now just waiting to be bought!  Here are couple to get you started on some ideas, depending on what type of style you are going for:

Girly girls:  my personal fav right now - doesn't Hilary look gorgeous here?!  Make like the ultimate girly girl, the Duffster, and try on this pale pink embroidered detail top.  I really love the casual waistband as well that gives this tunic a bit of shape.

Sporty & Sassy: If you're more the athletic type, like pro golf star Michelle Wie, then this basic striped tank is for you.  This top won't give you Michelle's sculpted shoulders, but stripes never go out of style and they go great with everything!  The feminine pairing here of pink and navy here, is also less cheeky than the regular pink and black combo you usually see.

Sexy Sirens: Finally, for those who like to get noticed like Ms. Kardashian, then I would say a tube top is the only way to go.  As far as summer tops go, nothing is sexier than a cleavage hinting, shoulder-baring tube, or bandeau, top.  Take it in a hot pink tone and you are doubly sure to get noticed!  Matching lip gloss and blow-out sold separately.

Which look will you be going for this season?

Note: This post was brought to you by the folks at Bank Fashion.  All images and content chosen by the author.

Lust of the Week: Contagious Creations

Boy I should just call this Vancouver week as all my posts this week have had something to do with Vancouver!  I just had to post this local jewelry line as this week's Lust though as soon as I saw it on the awesome Vancouver blog, A Beautiful Life because well, everything is just so damn pretty!

Contagious Creations was started by Vancouverite Danielle in 2007, this self-taught jewelry maker creates her pieces using sterling silver, Swarovski crystals and semi-precious stones.  What makes Danielle's designs so covetable is the appealing way she mixes silver and crystals together using a minimum of elements to a maximum effect.  I love these two designs because they use items that I am always a sucker for: amethyst and crystal anything, vintage keys and silver feathers.  Both pieces are perfect alone, or I could also see them layered with some matching thin silver chains.  They can be worn with anything from a white tee and shorts, to an elegant lace dress.  Plus, they are totally affordable!  The only question, is which one to get??

Unlock your dreams necklace, $28

Crystal wing necklace, $39

Now I am dearly hoping to win the first necklace as part of my entry in the Contagious Creations giveaway happening on A Beautiful Life right now. While you're there, check out the rest of Liv's cool blog - she is definitely worth a read!

This kitten got your tongue tied in knots

Taupe dress: Winners

Ruffle cardigan: Banana Republic

Lace bicycle shorts: Urban Outfitters

Leather belt: Danier

Ankle boots: Aldo

I think my parents think I do too much.  Yesterday my dad sent me an email with the "top 10 tips to living a healthy work-life balance."  This, because I keep forgetting to do my weekly phone call home because well, I'm not often home!  Things have seemed a bit crazy lately... though I also notice I tend to say that a lot.  Thank god for gmail, google calendar, and my latest obsession, the Astrid Tasks app for Android!  If you have android and are as forgetful as me, then this is your lifesaver.  Think of it as a virtual brain that allows you to create prioritzed, scheduled to-do lists!  You can add due dates, priorities, tags, and even make recurring appointments!  After I received that witty email from my dad, I decided to add a recurring reminder to call home.  

In other news, I've gotten some great mail lately!! I ordered and received, what my friend called, a "photography bible" off Amazon (now to find time to read!) and the perfect red & white checkered vintage bathing suit off Modcloth (now to find time to lose weight!!).  Will try to twitpic later.  Also, I need your help readers!  As previously mentioned, I'm doing a 365 photo project and I need a color theme for June!  April was pink, and May green, so.. what shade personifies June??  To help you think, here are a few photos I've posted recently...

 

Oh yeah, and 

GO CANUCKS GO!!!!