Gifted

What a fabulous birthday! I should bake and throw a party every year! Being lucky as I am to have such a great group of friends, I ended up with an overly generous assortment of lovely things to show off here on the blog. I was especially excited to be given my first set of "real" jewelry from Boyfriend. I didn't expect it by any means, which made it even sweeter. He cleverly bypassed my birthstone (red is not my colour) and selected a set of blue topaz. The shade of blue is exquisite and will go anything in my wardrobe.

Also contributing to this outfit, my friend Tammie gifted me this awesome Target purse. The colour is a perfect neutral for all my pastels and is quickly becoming my favourite bag of the summer.
Amanda and share a mutual love for owls, and she picked out this gorgeous peachy pink owl brooch from Etsy. I anticipate using it often as it also lends itself pretty well to my personal colour scheme.

The last birthday goodie is this breezy, cotton dress. I don't think I ever noticed this online, but when I was grabbing up items to try for my birthday discount, I fell in love. Subtle cherry blossom print in a sky blue, machine washable (!) ... what's not to like?

Gifted;
Dress: Anthropologie Beau Ideal dress (on sale, give it a try!)
Top: H&M peach cropped cardigan
Bag: Target mocha shoulder bag
Shoes: Anthropologie Dearie Me wedges
Accessories: Cushion-cut blue topaz ring & necklace
Anthropologie High Prairie belt
Etsy custom owl brooch

Sun Hats

I love summer. I love swimming, lemonade, fresh fruit, and sun hats. I didn't always enjoy dressing for it, but now I wait all year for the easy days of my pulling out my Anthropologie sun dresses not agonizing over matching shoes, tights, cardigans, or coats. Don't get me wrong, the challenge is fun too, but a few weeks without it is a welcome break.

This is actually my first true summer vacation in many years. I can't remember life without a full time job, a summer job, or summer reading lists. Unemployment is scary, and will soon get boring I'm sure, but right now, the ease of it is refreshing.

Ah, this dress... I forgive your unflattering pleats on my stomach for your beautiful colours and fantastic print.

Sun Hats;
Dress: Anthropologie Wisteria Halter Dress
Shoes: Anthropologie Dearie Me Wedges
Accessories: Urban Outfitters braided sun hat
Accessorize rose necklace
Bow clutch from local boutique
Betsey Johnson floral sunglasses

High Tea and elderflower scones

When I'm distressed about my professional life, I tend to retreat into the all my favourite sections of my closet - lace blouses, pastel skirts, bows, and of course anything pink. They all remind me that the dry, cubicle-ruled parts of my life aren't everything.

I was forcibly transferred to a new office this week. My old project was discontinued and it's funny how much I already miss working on it in my old office with old coworkers and we haven't even said our final good-byes yet. We started the send off with an informal cook-off party, giving me an excuse to do the other thing that keeps my mind off the world: baking. I made elderflower orange scones, and served them with fresh blueberries, vegan "clotted cream" and strawberry jam.

High Tea & Elderflower Scones;
Outer: Leifsdottir cream ruffle coat
Old Navy pink ruffle cardigan
Accessories: Juicy Couture pink bow scarf
Disney Couture gold Alice silhouette necklace
Anthropologie Rippled Ribbon Belt in sky
Urban Outfitters metal flower hairband
Hue opaque tights in black
Top: Anthropologie High Tea Blouse
Bottom: Anthropologie Sagebrush Skirt
Shoes: Madden Girl black patent heels
Bag: Coach Madison Sabrina in pink

Pride & Prejudice

I'm still soldiering on without a camera of my own, so thank you to all my readers for bearing with me! I've finally been able to borrow Boyfriend's to try and get back in the outfit of the day groove.

I wasn't expecting to love the First Hints blouse before I tried it on. I ignored it on the website despite the beautiful print since I figured it would be shapeless on me. I was surprised by how much I loved it, despite the shapeless drape. I was partially swayed by how many outfit ideas flew into my head once I had it on.

I've put on some winter pounds, so I've stayed away from some of my favourite pieces that I felt showed off the gain. My menswear shorts fell victim to that, but I knew this blouse was meant to be paired with them. I put aside my insecurities and proudly wore this spring ready outfit today.

Pride & Prejudice;
Top: Anthropologie First Hints blouse in ivory
Bottom: Urban Outfitters menswear tweed shorts
Shoes: Chie Mihara Alegra platform mary-janes
Bag: Coach Madison Sabrina in pale pink
Accessories: Hue opaque tights in black
Forever21 layering camisole
Forever21 drop charm necklace

P.S. I want to thank a local Anthropologie SA, Anna, for being so cheerful and sweet on my last visit into the store! Hopefully I'll get a chance to try on the Overwhelmed Aster Dress she recommended soon!

Dogs & Prairie dresses

2011 had started rough for my family and it seems it's determined not to let up yet. I've spent the last week wading through intense uncertainty my job. Everything has been, to say the least, unpleasant. On the bright side, it is amazing how much troubled times are soothed by coming home to a cute puppy.

Boyfriend and I took my new family dog, Ben, out for a walk at a nearby park this beautiful Sunday afternoon. He's a rescue who is part Black Lab and, we think, Border Collie. We couldn't have asked for a sweeter dog.

Dogs & Prairie Dresses;
Dress: Anthropologie Plains & Prairies dress
Top: Miss Selfridge pink and cream polka dot shirt
Shoes: Anthropologie Winding Ruffle boots
Bag: Coach Madison Sabrina in pale pink
Accessories: Urban Outfitters leather waist belt
Urban Outfitters metal hairband
Forever 21 pink songbird necklace
Betsey Johnson floral sunglasses

The Plains & Prairies dress was not something I initially coveted when I saw in last year. I found it alone in the sale room a bit after it was marked down and tried it on for fun. I was amazed and delighted at how well it fit me. The one complaint I had was that the top was a bit immodest on me. The adjustable straps help, but overall this was an item meant to be layered with a shirt. I barely ever wear the dress without this polka dot top under it.
The dress lightly lined and a bit long, making it perfect for spring. I love adding sleeves to make my dresses a bit more spring seasonal - the perfect thing to throw on without a cardigan for breezy, dog-walking days.

Spring Opener

Well here we are at the end of March and I'm still without a properly functioning camera. It's time for me to get low-fi and creative around here.

I've never had a more appropriate spring day at work. Signs of the season were everywhere, brightening an otherwise humdrum day at the office.

baseball season, blooming into view

weather clear and beautiful enough for a silk, floral frock...
(Anthropologie "Tuileries Dress")

...and bright pink heels

(Seychelles "Woodpecker")

the cashier ringing up my lunch stopping to tell me, "your bangs are perfect."

(Urban Outfitters metal hairband)

a coworker (and friend) bringing me a beautiful, seasonal treat
(桜抹茶 cherry blossom green tea)

Thank you to all my followers for sticking with me through the silence. I hope you're out enjoying spring!

Pacific's Edge

This was my first proper Valentine's Day. Being taken away to be wined and dined on a romantic outing was a new experience, and I had so much fun dressing up for the occasion. I wear so much pink on a daily basis that it doesn't feel too special to dress up in it for Valentine's Day. We went down the coast a bit for the weekend, and once I saw the sun set over Highway 1, the pinks mixed with the pale blues, and I knew my dress would be perfect for the holiday.

We had an amazing dinner, where I neglected to take any photos. I was too overcome with the gorgeous views of the Pacific ocean, the taste of my champagne and the most delicious risotto I'd ever tasted. You can take a peek at the photos on Yelp for just how stunning the sunset over the ocean looked during our dinner, taken by some other diners not floating on as many clouds as me.

Pacific's Edge;
Outerwear: Anthropologie Leifsdottir Floe & Current Coat
Dress: Anthropologie Dreamy Wanderings dress
Bag: Coach Madison Sabrina in pink
Legwear: Topshop mauve tights
Shoes: Madden Girl patent blush pumps
Accessories: Anthropologie Trimmed Necklace in pink
Pink heart ring (super old gift!)

I was also delighted to show off another find off my White Whales list. The Floe & Current coat is admittedly a little too small for the fullest part of my chest, but I'm loath to give it up just yet. I have to think on it a bit longer since for now, I'm just too excited to show off that beautiful robin's egg blue. I've been dreaming of pairing this with outfits for years, so I'm having some fun before I decide if I should turn it back over to eBay and hold out for finding the bigger size. Choices, choices...

Once Upon a Dream

A little while ago, Boyfriend kindly took me to visit the Walt Disney museum on the Presidio. From its modest front doors, I wasn't sure what to expect of the place. Once inside, I was blown away by how well it was put together, and how engaging each of the exhibits were. After my family's visit to Disneyworld over Thanksgiving, I've been feeling so nostalgic for Disney films.

Since I was already indulging my childhood spending a day learning about Walt Disney and his creations, I grabbed all my girliest accessories. I've been obsessing over my Spinning Lace Dress since I got it, so here it is with a princess inspired take.

Once Upon a Dream;
Dress: Anthropologie Spinning Lace dress
Cardigan: Anthropologie angora bow sweater
Bag: Electric Love Letter pink rose handbag (found via Tien of adiaphane!)
Legwear: WeLoveColors Mocha tights
Shoes: Poetic License School Girl heels in brown
Accessories: Urban Outfitters metal filigree stretch belt
Anthropologie Jazz Age Cloche
Forever21 double key necklace
Urban Outfitters metal flower hairband
Pink rose scarf from a Paris street vendor

I've said before I love to go a little over the top a times. All the roses and pink here are definitely a bit much, but sometimes I need to embrace my inner little girl. Like many little girls, I wanted nothing more than to be a Disney princess. You can see some glimpses of Boyfriend, reflected in the trophy cases, and with me while trying to snap a photo of my shoes. He is so sweetly indulgent of my eccentricities. I know I bring out the child in him too with my silly fantasies, and with my ever-present pink and florals. I may not be a real princess, but I've found someone to play along as my prince.

Rawr!

Alright, here is one of my favourite Christmas gifts I received this year. I love this silly polar bear sweater so much! I'm never one for "animal print" clothing, but images of actual animals, I'm all about. Urban Outfitters and their other brands are always good for a quirky animal or two on a dress, sweater, skirt, scarf, you name it.

Rawr;
Top: Urban Outfitters Polar Bear pullover
Necklace: Urban Outfitters typewriter initial necklace
Bottom: Anthropologie Alena skirt in pink & Anthropologie Scant Summer Petticoat
Legwear: Hue black tights
Shoes: Steve Madden black buckle boots
Bag: Pink lace bag from karmaloop
Outerwear: DKNY ivory ruffle peacoat
Accessory: Soft pink scarf (gift)


I'm still sad I missed out on Anthropologie's Shrewd Stitches Stole which I think, along with this sweater, were the silliest (read: cutest!) animal items released over the holidays. Unlike my foxy friend, the polar bear was a far more wallet friendly price for this much whimsy. I felt a lot less guilty putting this on my Christmas list.

I don't show it off enough, but the Alena skirt from Anthropologie is one of my best loved articles of clothing. I wish Anthro offered a few more items so perfectly pale pink. The pale pink helped me keep everything icy in theme but not totally monochromatic. I'm all for bringing a bit more colour into my outfits, especially if that colour is pink.

I've also grabbed one of my favourite pieces of outwear to show off. I'm a sucker for cream coats, no matter how impractical they are in practice. Cream just looks so beautiful in winter! I love to be able to stand out from the sea of black.

Christmas Party [Christmas Outfit 1 of 3]

It's time to wish everyone who celebrates a very Merry Christmas! My holiday preparation has already been rather hectic but I'm still so excited for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The outfit in tonight's post is one of my three big outfits for the season. You'll have to endure three different Christmas posts, dear readers.

My parents always throw a big party for our family friends a few days before Christmas, so I went with something a bit easily elegant to be able to rush around greeting every guest, posing for pictures.
I wanted to thank the community at Effortless Anthropologie for helping me track down this beautiful frock. I had to call at least a dozen stores to get this beauty and I couldn't be happier with it. The shift style silhouette makes me a bit nervous because it doesn't suit my body type normally. This dress though has enough of an A cut that I feel it's forgiving of my curves.

Christmas Party;
Dress: Anthropologie Discovered Lace Dress
Necklaces: Urban Outfitters typewriter key initial & Miss Selfridge
rose & pearl ribbon
Bottom: Anthropologie Scant Summer Petticoat
Legwear: Topshop dusty rose tights
Shoes: Steve Madden Heaven leather flats

Making a special appearance in my holiday posts is my mum's beautiful Christmas decorations. She's been collecting Christmas pieces all her life and goes all out decorating our home. Many of her items, and all my favourites, are from Scandinavia. Her family is Danish, so we've been to that part of the world many times over the years, though she is the only one lucky enough to have gone at Christmas. I really love Christmas decor. Besides the traditional Scandinavian pieces, she mixes in a lot of Victorian items, 1940s vintage, and even some fun modern items.

Blair Waldorf

I've been resisting for a while, but I have to admit that I've fallen for Gossip Girl. I love my bubble gum TV, especially when it involves people as well dressed as Blair Waldorf. I have lusted after nearly everything she's worn. While I don't have the money to afford most of it, I decided to try my best with my closet of high street items to create something in Blair's style. Sure my dress is H&M rather than Chanel, my pearls are fake, and my Mulberry is from Target, but I think I captured the spirit of Ms Waldorf.

Blair Waldorf;
Hair: Forever21 ivory bow hairban
Dress: H&M pale pink dress with black trim (thanks to Anjali of goldenmeans for posting about this dress a few seasons back!)
Cardigan: Old Navy white ruffle trim cardigan
Necklace: Anthropologie Perpetual Spring pearl beaded necklace
Legwear: Ruffian for Anthropologie Lacy Vine tights
Shoes: Steve Madden heaven leather flat
Bag: Mulberry for Target patent satchel

The one item I could see Blair approving of are my couture Ruffian tights. I wish I had bought multiple pairs of these when Anthropologie sold them last year. They are nothing like any other pair of tights I've owned. I definitely see the allure of couture hosiery now.