nail polish trick

hey o!

in a better mood today. :)

my nail polish usually lasts about a week but by the end of the week there are little chips at the end of the fingers, especially the most used ones. I came up with a little trick to still make your nails look great right into the weekend. 

before:

after:

just take a bit of sparkle polish and make a freehand swipe across your nail. easy peasy!

 HAPPY FRIDAY LOVES!

I'm really looking forward to this weekend because melis is coming for the whole time and we always have the best of times. probably do some thrifting...I'm craving utopia and I'm sure she will be on board for that. seriously best food/great vegetarian options.

tonight I might try to get to the really difficult pilates class and if I do then I'm for sure buying wine!

xoxoxox

the hardest part is the stupid title

its been a while since I just sat down and wrote.

its so easy to put content out there but its much harder to write about the personal going-ons.

I have to be honest. I've had a rough few days.

I think I am pms-ing.

ha I read on merediths blog today that she calls it her 'not-pregnant' and I am reallllly into that name hahahaha.

heres why I think that:

1) I got in my car and drove to the store to specifically buy chocolate. (recess pieces and caramilk)
-----> side note: in the elevator back up to the office I told the new girl my uterus made me do it.

2) I was out for dinner with a friend and started crying! in fairness we were talking about emotional things and it was an intense conversation but..really...usually I can hold myself together.

3) everything is pissing me off and I have zero patience for hassle, like don't even talk to me unless you have chocolate.

in good news my brother bought me a veggie monster sandwich from budhapie that was waiting for me when I got home.

hallelujah!

he's making up for trying to kill me with sour milk.

Life lesson #45: don't put sour milk BACK into the fridge for your unsuspecting sister to absentmindedly put in her cheerios.

don't think I've forgotten about that!

kidding I love you!

(do it again your dead meat)

kidding!

not   .....kidding




wanna hear a song I really like right now?

4) I NEED ICE CREAM RIGHT NOW

russet and empire

this past weekend we went for a little walk around our new neighborhood and I love it! One of the shops I have always admired the really cool window displays in is Russet and Empire on keele at dundas west. This weekend I was finally able to go in and see ...and I was NOT disappointed! They stock vintage goods as well as really neat vintage inspired goodies.

the above photo are maps of toronto that you pop out of the wood frame.

I bought something in the photo above. can you guess? you will find out soon, on my bedroom makeover reveal!

thats jaci, me and ian in the reflection! I can't wait to go back and see what else they have. also, super nice girl working in the shop, very helpful and I'm glad she said I could take a few pics.

clothing show + Subject II Change

This past weekend was the fall edition of the Clothing Show! I've been a few times in the past and this year there were a LOT of great jewelry designs. I noticed many more independent jewelers selling their own home made items instead of the typical 'made in china' stuff. it was GREAT to see!

One downside of the show this season was the vintage clothing. I found it to be overpriced and well...lackluster. I remember looking at vendors booths with racks and racks and racks of clothing. this year it was edited and beautiful but also higher priced. Also, I found the vintage to be really 'fancy'. long flapper style dresses, fur hats, gloves and gowns. not your typical day wear.

I was slightly drawn to this feathery sparkly number though.

sidenote- don't you love jaci's thinking stance here? she is DEEP in thought deciding which item to go with.

AND THEN! and then we ran into my friend from school Amanda who has started her own jewelry line. Subject II Change. she had AMAZING items for sale and displayed it perfectly. she even made or re purposed all of her furniture.

I bought a pair of great white feather earrings which i'm in love with and jaci bough a realllllllly cool hair clip with feathers on it.

I fully recommend anything Amanda makes, she is genius and her items are very well crafted. check her stuff out at the links below.

http://www.SubjectIIChange.etsy.com
http://twitter.com/#!/SubjectIIChange

bonlook glasses

 I found out about bonlook glasses from the giveaway that miss james is hosting on the bleubirdvintage blog for a pair of free glasses. But! I have totally fallen in love with these glasses and they are only $99! And the best part is you can return them if you don't like them. So now the hardest part is choosing which ones...I have my eye on a certain pair. what do you think?!

ps. for the bleubird giveaway, all you need to do is 'Like' bonlook on facebook and leave a comment. So Easy!

magazine inspiration - Part 2

The second batch of inspiration images (see part 1 here) are much more colourful and FUN. I really like when colour is mixed with neutrals, woods and especially lots of white.

The colour blocking artwork above this table is done using felt, how neat (and cheap!) is that? the image on the left has little colour but it really shows how stunning black and white can be together.

 I love love love the look of the green kitchen cabinets, wooden mix-matched chairs and industrial lighting. I'm not sure I would ever be bold enough to have green cabinets but wow. so pretty.

the collection of inspirational images above this credenza is awesome. so many of the pictures pick up on the indigo blue of the table lamp and contrast it with golden orange colours. A-mazing. I am thinking of something similar to this in my computer nook. mostly to corral inspirational postcards and business cards I pick up but also to motivate good design.

I love the use of colour in a 'calming' way, if that makes any sense. I love the white on white neutral look but I think we need colour in our lives to keep it interesting and show our personalities.

xox

the weekend

 this weekend was great.

here is the coles notes version of why

-step sister visited from ottawa
-davids tea
-the clothing show
-home made pumpkin pie
-falling in love with the same 30 year old song as your best friend in the same week
-home made lasagna
-scategories, blokus and kings
-chilling on the roof top patio
-discovering new stores in my neighborhood
-van cabs and dave mathews shots
-rearranging my room
-learning how to use auto focus on my camera

sorry, short and sweet but its monday morning and i have a lot to do today!

xox

the calm before the storm

I took these pictures over a month ago. it was hotter then heck out and there was a weird eerie quietness outside. the sky was so pink and vibrant that I had to try and capture it. Most of these photos are taken from my rooftop patio and show our view of the city.

this is the little school across the street from my house, I love the red doors.

I am less in love with the children who yell on the playground at 7am.

this week has been great so far. I have had dinner with old friends and it feels great to catch up on their lives.  this weekend my step sister is visiting from Ottawa and I can't wait to take her out! we are going to go thrifting and probably to kensington market. Its been so long since we had quality hang out time and I can't wait!

ps jaci I have been trying all day to facebook message you the house address so if you read this I am trying!

(this last photo was a mistake but I loved how the lights turned out blurry and bright.)

the beauty department + sparkly nails

How amazing are these nails?! I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with the sparkly gold colour. tutorial here

Also the website this tutorial came from is one of the best websites I have discovered this week. The Beauty Department is a great resource for hair tutorials, makeup, and other beauty related topics. The site is very well organized and VERY informative with lots of pictures. I'm sort of a dummy when it comes to hair and makeup (I've been using the same products pretty much since I started wearing makeup) so I'm really enjoying learning how simple some of these looks are. Especially the hair tutorials, who knew braids could be SO simple?!

magazine inspiration- Part 1

So when I finish reading design and decor magazines I will usually recycle them. I am an anti-clutter type person. I may hold on to them for a few months, build up a small pile and then something inside me says GET RID OF THIS PILE RIGHT NOW. If its not contributing to making my life better, its gone.

so I've always had a pile of tear out pictures of the best stuff I can't imagine recycling. Its an 'inspiration pile' if you may (not quite as glamorous as an inspiration board but it works!)

I thought I would take some pictures of the different styles I am attracted too. The picture of the bed below appropriated says "organic modern" which I think describes this style very accurately.

This style is all about clean but warm whites, neutral grey and clear glass. Natural woods and eclectic details.  This is the look I am going for in my new bedroom. 

what do you think?!

Tuna Luna

MMMM.... I came across this yummy looking sandwich on koko's kitchen and wish I had this in my lunch today! 

I love a good tuna sandwich but tuna is one of those ingredients that really relies on the supporting ingredients to take it to the next level. roasted peppers and white beans?! YES PLEASE! 

(not my pictures or recipe, but looked WAY to good not to share!)

TUNA AND WHITE BEAN SALAD ON TOASTED BAGUETTE

Recipe Courtesy of Laura Calder – French Cooking at Home Via Koko's Kitchen

• 2 red peppers
• 1 yellow pepper
• 1 orange pepper
• About 1/2 cup olive oil, more for the baguette
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 celery ribs, sliced
• A scant cup (100 g) pitted Kalamata olives, roughly chopped
• A few handfuls of fresh parsley leaves
• 2 cups cooked cannellini beans (use white kidney if you can’t find cannellini)
• Salt and pepper
• Zest and juice of 2 lemons, more to taste
• 14 ounces (390 g) high-quality tuna chunks packed in olive oil, drained (about 3 cans)
• 1 to 1 1/2 baguettes

Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Seed and julienne the peppers, toss on a baking sheet with a few tablespoons of olive oil, spread into a single layer, and bake until soft, about half an hour. Remove from the oven and turn the heat up to 400°F (200°C).

Tip the peppers into a large bowl. Add the garlic, celery, olives, parsley, and beans. Season with salt and pepper, and toss with the lemon zest and juice and the remaining olive oil. Add the tuna last and carefully mix it in with your hands so the chunks don’t break up too much. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Slice the baguette(s) in half lengthwise and then into pieces the length of the palm of your hand. Arrange on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Toast until golden and crisp on top but still squishy within, about 5 minutes.

Put a piece of toast on each plate and top with a generous heap of the salad, including the juices.

REALLLY inspired by these pictures of the most gorgeous home. wow wow wow

via The Brick House

its in the mail!!!

Do you love getting mail?! I DO!

even though my friend Dave and I probably talk on the phone at least once a week we also mail each other. pretty much he mails me back regularly and I procrastinate for a few weeks and then get my shit together and mail back.

we are constantly starting sentences with "well your going to read about this in the letter but.." or better yet

D-"I went on an nature hike"

E- "Yeah i know, I read it on your blog"

D-"Right"

D-"So after that .."

E-"You went shopping with your mom"

D-"Right, guess I wrote about that too"

hahaha oh the internet!

do you like this envelope Davey?!

He gave me shit about my lackluster envelopes and called me out on it in the last letter. "YOUR MOM WORKED AT FABRICLAND, MAKE THIS HAPPEN"

if your interested in being penpals I would love to have more letters coming and going in the mail.

Leave me a comment and I will be sure to email you back! I will even write the first letter.

HAPPY SATURDAY!