Merry Christmas Holidays!

Today is my last (half) day of work and reality before the holidays! I'm now off until early January. I so love this time of year, but especially the vacation part - I mean who wouldn't? I get to bake, watch movies, relax, read, spend time with family and friends, all to my heart's content! Not to mention enjoy the odd rum and egg nog!

Wishing you have a safe, happy, and joyful holiday!!!

Love Actually

EVERY SINGLE CHRISTMAS SEASON this is a must watch for me! Definitely one of my favourite movies of all time, this film just warms my heart and gets me in the holiday spirit like nothing else.

I just watched it with my cousin and there were so many times we were saying "oh, this part is so good!", or even got emotional! (That's my M.O. by the way - I'm a weeper!) Since the movie takes place while counting down to Christmas, it's hard not to let the Christmas spirit take you over. It's also such a powerful movie when it comes to love. Isn't love the best?! So many stars in it too. I just can't get enough of it. I'm pretty sure I smile from start to end, haha!

With the negative things going on in the world/on the news as of late, the opening dialogue in the movie is something worth sharing and keeping in mind: "Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around."

Chances are you have seen this movie, BUT if you have not, I recommend you drop everything you're doing right now and watch it immediately. You will not regret it. 

Taffy Lane

I don't know if every city has one, but we have a street in our city called Taffy Lane that is known for it's Christmas spirit and over-the-top decorating. I heard about it for the first time last year, on the radio I think, and ever since have had this itch to go see what it's all about. I never made it last year but this year my roommate and I were determined. We visited this street last night and it was everything we'd hoped for... maybe more!

I think before arriving we were both expecting the street to be decorated with all the traditional lights and such - but boy, were we surprised! You know the movie, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation? Even if you haven't seen it, maybe you at least know that the dad in that movie covers the house with a ridiculous amount of lights and other decorations, so much so that you don't know where to look and the power even goes out? Well, it was kind of like that! Not all the houses mind you, but there were some crazy ones! We definitely turned into kids running from house to house looking at all the lights and details. We decided to walk it because then we could get up close, take pictures, and take our time. By the time we left there was quite the build up of cars driving through super slowly. I've heard closer to Christmas they have to pull police in to manage some of the traffic build up! It was definitely worth it though. I thought I was in the Christmas spirit before but this just shot it WAY up!

SNOW & Cyber Monday

Winter Wonderland in Tremblant, Quebec last year

Every morning when I wake up for work I have my shower, do my hair and make-up, get dressed, then as the final step, I walk towards my (black) curtains and throw them open as if to say "HELLO WORLD!". Well this morning I did exactly that, but what caught my by surprise was that old man winter had come by in the wee hours of the night. Everything is covered in snow! Although very unexpected, I'm okay with it. Its been fairly cold lately and this blanket of snow helps ease that pain by visually telling me winter is quickly approaching. It also helps the abundance of Christmas decorations I've been seeing, feel a bit more appropriate. But only a bit - we're still in November after all! 

But enough about the weather, today is another special day - Cyber Monday! Always the Monday following American Thanksgiving and Black Friday, Cyber Monday is the number one online shopping day of the year. The last 3 years Cyber Monday has been breaking it's own record of online spending on this day, and this year is expected to be no different. Apparently Americans will likely spend about $1.5 billion dollars online today. WOWZA, right?! Just like Black Friday, Cyber Monday has made its way to Canada as well! Cyber Monday also tends to have bigger sales too. Will you participating in today's online shopping spree event?

Winter Whites

The old fashion rule of "no white after Labour Day" needs a little reworking I think! 

I will agree with no white jeans. I will in most circumstance also agree with no white footwear. Nothing that screams SUMMER which both tend to do for me. I think you need to use your judgement and go with your gut. But what about a cocktail dress? or a white suit? Are they not classics? Why yes, I believe they are! Take a look at these lovely celebrities rocking some winter whites on the red carpet recently (yes, a couple are more cream, but the others are WHITE) . I think they look gorgeous. White doesn't seem inappropriate here, it's almost unexpected and that to me is what makes it so stunning! I am just loving this look right now.

What do you think? Is it pushing the limits or breaking boundaries?

Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Sienna Miller, Diane Kruger, Ashley Greene, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julianne Hough