Monday, February 28, 2011

not so lazy sunday

Sunday started early for me: facial at Skoah on 4th Avenue (thanks Sarah for the glow!), and brunch at Sophie's Cosmic Cafe. Afterwards, watched 'Religulous' starring Bill Maher, headed downtown to make a stop at Sephora before we parked ourselves on comfy sofa seats to watch the Academy Awards hosted by James Franco and Anne Hathaway. A Sunday well spent.



Thursday, February 24, 2011

everyone needs a hug sometime


Read this article and had to post it because it's so relateable. Poor whale. It just wants a hug.

Photo from here.

Friday, February 18, 2011

sunshine in vancity

Vivid blue skies with not a single cloud for miles and the sun shining bright meant that I was out and about with my camera. I hadn't been down to Gastown in a while, so I thought this was a good day to snap some pics of the neighbourhood, fully taking advantage of this glorious day before the rain came back.

100% agree with the above statement.
Vegetarian chili soup and scrambled egg sandwich at the Bonchaz cafe on Hastings. Delicious!

nothing like butter

Cookies are made from butter and love ~ Norwegian Proverb

What: Cookies!
When: sometime after work and before dinner as we were driving around looking for an elusive East Indian restaurant.
Why: We found dessert first before dinner.

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookie: two large soft peanut butter cookies with creamy peanut butter butter-cream filling in between. So decadent.


Monday, February 14, 2011

spring fling

Keeping to my shopping resolution, and hoping to cross off another item from my spring shopping list, I was finally able to see the Alexander Way Lia sling bag in person at Holt Renfrew.


While I loved the soft black leather (also comes in a creamy white), the rose gold studs and the functional cross-body strap, it didn't feel right. I don't know if it's because today is Valentine's Day and everyone was running around, getting last-minute gifts for their special someone, but I felt slightly pressured and uneasy. After I looked it over (there might have been some heavy petting involved), I put it back on the shelf and walked away. At the end of the day, if I'm not 100% satisfied or comfortable with the product, then why would I want to have it in my closet?

Friday, February 11, 2011

she's a gold-digger

The stand-alone Michael Kors store opened in Pacific Centre on February 10, 2011 and I happened to be in the vicinity the following day, so I popped in for a look-see. I was also hoping that they would have this watch that I've been lusting after for a few months now:
Tried it on and I loved the feel of it, the clean face and the brushed gold-tone. But... and there is a but... I did not like the huge clasp on it. I felt that it was kind of unnecessary, despite the fact that this is an over-sized watch, something that you might have borrowed from your boyfriend. I'm still undecided about it. Every other detail is perfect and exactly what I've been looking for in a gold-tone watch. Just not so crazy about the clasp. It might be one of those things that will eventually grow on me. Maybe I'll have to try it on again...

Sunday, February 6, 2011

cupcakes, coffee and dinner (in that order)

What: hanging with friends and forming new "bromances"
Where: Aqua Riva
When: Dinner
Why: Vancouver Dineout 2011 continues!

Red velvet cupcake with pink butter-cream icing found at your local Starbucks. So pretty... and SO GOOD.
Started off with a drink: pink grapefruit margarita with gold leaf salted rim.
Grilled scallops with couscous in kiwi sauce.
My friend ordered the grilled salmon with butter leek risotto and garnished with sweet corn and black beans.
Wood grilled prawns served with fennel pesto pasta.
Banana chocolate cake. That's a large slice of dried banana on top as a garnish. Tasty, but I think I want more chocolate in my chocolate cake, if that makes any sense.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

shopping with purpose

Recently, I've noticed that I have become very particular about what I want in a purchase. I don't know if this is a result from the over-shopping that *might* have occurred over the Christmas holidays, or maybe it has something to do with the dismal selection of clothes hanging on the racks at this time of year (leftover winter stock in stores and spring clothes trickling in at a snail's pace leave much to be desired). Or maybe I'm just not excited about what I see.

Thinking back on past shopping mistakes and regrets and after finding this blog and reading this insightful blog post, I've decided that I'm going to allow myself 5 items to purchase each season, but only if they meet my standards. This will allow me to actually think about what I want, and also give me time to come up with the funds, if said item were to be a designer purchase (overtime, anyone?).

Also, by posting this on my blog, it's out there for everyone in the e-world to see (oh, haiii!) and therefore, pretty much sets this resolution in the proverbial stone. Hopefully, I can will be able to stick to this resolution and have 20 lovely additions to my closet at the end of 2011 that personifies {my style} in a nutshell.

Here's my list for Spring 2011: 

1. Leather cross-body handbag in a neutral colour. So far, it's a toss-up between this one or this one.
2. Envelope clutch in a colour other than black.
3. Ombre shirt, preferrably in blue or purple but I am open to trying any other interesting colour combinations.
4. White silk long-sleeved button up shirt.
5. Black straight leg or slightly flared pants (no jeans, no leggings, and definitely not skinny or wide-leg). 
* Side note - I will make an exception and allow myself ONE frivolous, unexpected purchase each season. Therefore, if I find something undeniably spectacular, no matter what the item is, I won't feel TOO guilty about purchasing it and breaking my resolution.

Today, I can check off two items off my list:

This Roots envelope is actually an iPad sleeve, but I think it would function just as well as a daytime clutch.
I've been obsessing over ombre for a couple of years now and finally found what I wanted in this shirt.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

luke, I am your cat

Hello Kitty has been given a face-lift with the help of Joseph Senior, who designed the following Hello Kitty dolls after famous pop culture characters. Coolest thing EVAR.




For more Hello Kitty art, click right MEOW.