I have not gone to school in a long while but still, even as a career woman, I can remember that back to school feeling... a little excitement and a little dread, but also definitely that feeling that summer is coming to an end. I know technically the end of summer/start of fall isn't until later this month (and I hope mother nature can squeeze out a few more beautiful weekends), but mentally it's kinda over. Summer is definitely my fave month. The sunshine and the heat just do it for me!
I will say this though, I do not mind fall. I think it's probably one of the most beautiful seasons! Also who doesn't love the leaves changing colour, fall clothes (big cozy sweaters and boots are the best), and even the smell of fall - all so good. For the most part, patios are still open too, you just might need to bring a jean jacket with you (and who doesn't love breaking out that jean jacket?). I think this year I am finding it harder to believe that September has arrived and summer is coming to an end because the weather hasn't been the most ideal... the sun and heat were not in full force as much as I would have liked. But you can't win 'em all - we've been very lucky in past summers... and hey, mother nature could actually surprise us still!
Where are you on this? Hoping summer will extend itself a bit more? Or ready to embrace fall?
Just like he did with Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas", Jimmy Fallon did a version of "Blurred Lines with Robin Thicke and the Roots, and classroom instruments! I love it. And I love LOVE love the song. But who doesn't? It IS the song of the summer.
This weekend is a long weekend in Canada, and although I've taken vacation days to give myself long weekends the last few weekends I am VERY much looking forward to this one! I'm going to a music festival in Montreal on Sunday and I can't wait.
Happy Friday all!
Happy first day of August! Can you believe it's come already? I had a very different post planned for today but I wanted to quickly share my evening last night. Basically, I got "BINGO"!
I went to drive-in BINGO with my mom (her first time) and we had a blast! It's such a fun, creative thing that the nearby country fair grounds does for fundraising every July. It's exactly what it sounds like: you drive your car up to the field, either stay in your car or pull out a blanket or chairs to sit on, and play bingo. They also have a BBQ and assorted pies that they sell there too. It's pretty cool. Last night was the last one of the summer and the only one I've made it too all year - well what do you know, I won the last game of the night! I couldn't believe it - so fun! Also, you know you're a grown up when: you talk about how with the winnings you're going to buy bed-side tables, hahaha!
The two looks of the week I want to share with you today are two dresses that were seen last night! First, we have Jordana Brewster. Here outfit here is so simple but so stunning. The flowy v-neck mini is in a beautiful soft aqua colour and is kept elegant with her strappy sandals. Very minimalist and perfect. Definitely versatile dress too as I could see it switched up with a pair of metallic t-strap flats. The next star is Glee star, Naya Rivera in a very sophisticated Michael Kors dress. If only I had a couple thousand dollars to spare and somewhere to wear that dress! I love how she coordinates the dress with metallic ankle strap shoes but goes with a demure hairstyle with a simple ponytail.
I don't know about you but both these outfits make me wanna have a dressy girls night out stat! What do you think of these looks from last night?
This weekend for me is the WEEKEND OF ALL WEEKENDS! Or at least tomorrow is the DAY OF ALL DAYS! Tomorrow my city is holding it's annual H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere) Volleyball Summerfest! Basically it's a just for fun (unless you're competitive, which I my friends, am not) all day volleyball tournament and all 'round good time! It is also a charity tournament, if you didn't get that from the acronym, so there really is no downside. I look forward to this day almost all year long. Fact. Or at least starting in January. In January I start looking forward to April which I know is when the early bird registration begins. In March I have to try and restrain myself from recruiting a team because it's "too early" when in fact, I know that we're only a month away from registration! April, well April is awesome. Then every month after that I count down is in full force. It's my Christmastime in summer essentially! :)
I started playing in HOPE 8 years ago when I worked at a restaurant that put in a team. I could not believe the time I had. I played for that team for 2 more years and was addicted! The next year I had graduated school and was in my career and not at the restaurant, which meant I wouldn't be playing on that team. I took it upon myself to start my own team and have kept it up the last 5 years - this will be year 6 of my team and 9th year playing! So far my team has been an all-girls team where the point of the day is primarily to have a good time. If ever a new person plays for us sometimes they worry that they're not a good volleyball player. As much as it's fun to win, that's not what the day (and the team) is about.
Every year we try to do some sort of theme as well. The first year most of us wore the same vibrant purple bikinis with white cover-ups, then it was the same VS deep pink bikinis, then an all-neon theme, then black and white (most of us did zebra), last year was pacific blue with neon yellow shorts, and this year is white suits with neon accessories/cover-ups. Outfits are half the fun sometimes I swear!
2010 - Neon Year
As far at the "Summerfest" goes, in addition to the volleyball playing, there are a couple of tents that serve drinks and play music all day, as well as a mini-concert series towards the end of the day. As I type this I'm pretty darn excited, and it doesn't hurt that tomorrow looks like a STELLAR day :) Have an excellent weekend!
Woooo weeee! What a week, what a week! You know when you have one of those weeks where you start to feel like you never stop? Well, this is one of those weeks. Nothing to complain about but as a result blogging has fallen off my radar. I also find that being busy, combined with post-long-weekend tiredness is one difficult combo. But one I'd better get used to because I am taking the next 4 Mondays off, and the 5th Monday is a holiday, so I'm looking at many long weekends ahead! With no plans to go on any big trips this summer, long weekends are my kind of summer vacation. But enough about that for now, without further ado I would like to wish our American neighbours a very happy 4th of July!!! :)
There were 4 celebrity looks this week that I thought were pretty incredible so I wanted to share them here on this Friday, final day of the week!
The first two - Ali Larter and Molly Sims - are both wearing CH Carolina Herrera at the designer's boutique opening in L.A. How cute, fun and flirty, and perfect for summer are these! I could see wearing Ali's dress to a wedding or a fun night out on the town! And Molly's ensemble is actually a shirt and skirt so that equals versatile! I love all the soft colours too.
The next two looks that caught my eye were Sarah Jessica Parker wearing Naeem Khan at an event in London. Also, Julianne Hough wearing Naven at a Svedka event in L.A. Obviously both are pure party dresses, but who doesn't love a good party dress?! Both ladies look fab.
Of the four it's hard to pick a favourite, but for me personally, I might go with Ali Larter on this one. Who's your fave?
With summer just around the corner (officially starting at the end of this week to be exact!), I find myself obsessing over summer dresses! I have a few, but mostly maxi dresses which I tend to use as cover-ups. I feel like I don't really have anything I'd really call "short and fun and flirty" - which is every girls' summer dress dream! While in my hunt for the perfect summer dresses, I have found myself frequenting the various online pages of the brand Splendid. I find their clothes in general to be basic, but must-have basics. Comfortable, easy design, in beautiful and fashionable cuts. Here are some of the dresses I've recently been ogling:
What do you think? I'm kind of crazy about that yellow one... don't be surprised if it makes it's way into my closet! Here's a few other non-Splendid dresses that have also caught my eye:
As you can probably tell, the thing all these dresses have is that they are simple - very throw on and go - and that they are all fun! One of the best parts of summer can be sporting colour, and one of the key essentials of summer clothing is that it is light and comfortable. I think it's safe to say all of these hit the mark.
What's your go-to summer brand/brands when it comes to dresses? Is there a summer staple you feel like you need to add to your closet line-up?
This past weekend I took off a few extra days to make it a long 5-day weekend, and went away with some of my girlfriends to the most amazing cottage! It was a dream. Today is my first day back and I'm not gonna lie, it's been tough. Waking up early and to an alarm. Putting on real clothes. Putting on heels. And now sitting in front of a computer screen. It was nice to unplug and relax. Take me back! :)
I got a pair, my first and only pair, of Sam Edelman Gigi sandals about a year ago. Prior to that I had never really liked the whole T-strap sandal on myself. I'm not sure what it was then that made me get this pair (it may have been that I was in love with one strap of snake skin, one strap of leopard and the pink details - basically neutral with a bit of colour) but I am sure glad I did! Not only do I love this particular T-strap on me, I can't get enough of it. It doesn't hurt that they are also the most comfortable sandal I own. My only dilemma now, is with summer (almost) upon us, which one to get next... because there WILL be a next!
I don't know about you but up until maybe 5 years ago, when I thought about white pumps, I would think of something straight out of the early 80's. Were they even a thing in the 80's or am I imagining it? Maybe with some stirrup leggings? OMG, remember stirrup leggings?! Haha! With all the colours and shapes and designs of shoes nowadays I am definitely way open to more and thinking out side the "era" box. I remember at the end of the summer last year, white heels started really taking off. I remember wanting to buy a pair but it was my brief hesitation that did me in as when I was ready to pull the trigger, the pair I wanted were gonzo. Good news for fans of white heels (and good news for whomever bought those shoes I wanted), white heels are back this year and in full force! In the last few weeks, now that spring has sprung, almost every fashionable starlet has been seen wearing them. I cannot get enough...
They are so fresh and clean looking. They go with pretty much everything. They OOOOZE summer. What's not to love? I expect I will be picking up a pair to be my very own VERY SOON. What do you think of the trend? Do you have a pair of white heels in your shoe closet (hopefully not because you saved them from the 80's...)?
I have seen these sunglasses pop up a couple of times in the past couple of weeks and I can not get enough! They are your traditional Ray-Ban Aviators and come in about 6 different colours. They also come in either a gradient lens or a mirrored lens. Apparently mirrored lenses will be big for spring/summer - who knew?! Not sure if I'm a huge fan of mirrored lenses (they kind of make me think of sunglasses from my childhood and I'm not sure if that's a good thing) but I'm willing to give anything a shot!
My biggest problem (which let's admit, is not a problem at all) is that I can't decide between the orange or the green lens...
I can't believe we're already coming up to Labor Day weekend! It may not officially be the end of summer yet, but to me this is it. When you're a kid Labor Day weekend marks the end of summer because once it's over, you're back to school. Even now as an adult my brain is STILL conditioned to think that way. I even get a small twinge of dread that I can't explain because nothing actually changes for me anymore when the calendar flips to September! Although I am sad to see summer go I do love fall. The colours of fall, from the trees to fashion, are warm and beautiful (and cozy). Opening your windows at home and smelling the fall air is pretty fantastic. I've had a great summer to so there's nothing to complain about there! I have completely maximized my fun in the sun and it's been awesome. Moving forward, I've got a few things lined up to make my fall pretty exciting too! How was your summer? Are you ready for fall? In honor of summer (and this post) coming to an end, I would like to leave you with this Lana Del Rey song I'm loving at the moment, "Summertime Sadness"... HAPPY LONG WEEKEND!
