Sequin Jacket: Kate Moss x Topshop

This post is kind of a celebration of the snap of warmth we have finally been having and when wearing open back dresses are appropriate. Took a few snaps in Riley Park and being silly in my new Kate Moss x Topshop sequin jacket. I've already worn it twice, once to work and once to a charity event last week. The collection came out April 30th. If you're lucky there may be some pieces still available in store and online. I looked through the entire collection before the media pre-shop so I could get this jacket since each store only carries one of each size and Calgary only has 1 Topshop, it was a must have!

This is the second and the final collection Kate Moss will be doing for Topshop, and the pieces are simply amazing and incredibly detailed. So better act quick and get a piece of history!

Sequin Jacket: Kate Moss x Topshop // Dress: Urban Outfitters // Shoes: Rag & Bone - Harrow

DIY Copper Planters

The good weather has put me in a mood to start cleaning up the patio and add some plants. My one problem is that I'm a plant killer. Everything just dies and when I say everything, no joke. Everything! It's mostly because of neglect. I'm often running around busy with friends, blogging, events, work.. and so many other adventures that watering my plants isn't a 1st priority. So many friends have suggested cactus's and succulents (I killed mine last year) but here's to another chance. Maybe these will survive or my lovely roommate will water them occasionally for me. I've already been stabbed by the cactus twice so this maybe a sign that this will not go so well. 

Enough of me talking about killing plants. This post is about is the planters. As usual i've been pinning like mad and come across so many variations of copper planters that are so lovely that they simply needed to be DIY'd. I've amassed a collection of glass candle jars (these are the bath & body works 3 wick size) When they go on sale, I buy! lets just say they go on sale often.

What you will need:

Glass jars, tins, old vases

Copper spray paint - this one is from home depot. The colouring is darker for this version which also has a bit of the hammered texture. You can also try Walmart or Michaels for a lighter colour.

News paper/ card board - something to protect the surface around what you are spraying

These were pretty simple to do, but remember to spray them in a well ventilated area. Like a patio or open garage. For the best results spray them with 2-3 light layers and 30 min in between to avoid drips for the best even coverage. 

The cost of this project was about $20:
3 plants from walmart - $10
Spray paint from Home Depot - $10
Glass Jars - reused from finished candles

New Balance 420

The era of comfortable and stylish footwear is here. While looking through other blogs and street style photos the number of flat shoes is climbing. Not to say the number of women teetering on stilettos will ever decrease but women seem to be finding stylish and comfortable shoes to wear in any situation now a days. I'm not tall, 5'3 is very not tall and for the longest time I have thought that anyone under 5'4 needs a boost and should wear a little heel. But maybe with age comes not caring about what others think and if feeling good in a pair of stylish sneakers or flat ankle boots is how I'm feeling that day then that is exactly what I'm going to wear!

I have fallen in love with looks like this and this so thus began my search for black or burgundy New Balance sneakers. It was a hard search as every online store was sold out in my size or only had bright colour combos. luckily my local consignment store had a brand new pair in my size and in the perfect black/grey combo! so my comfortable/stylish shoe dreams have been fulfilled and just in time for Tuesdays +20 weather jump. Sorry for the dirty patio. These have been the first few days of good weather and the patio has finally defrosted, so i'll be cleaning it very shortly. 

Outfit: Dress: H&M // Belt: Moschino // Shoes: New Balance 420

Spring Switch Up: Low Cost Ways to Refresh Your Space

 

Thanks to pinterest it's so easy to create inspiration boards that contain hundreds of photos of spaced and things we all want to redecorate with and acquire. The only problem is the budget. Not everyone can afford a $5000 sofa or a marble coffee table without some major credit. And what if we get tired of the style or just want to refresh what we already have. Well this is where these tips can come in handy. For those on a budget or if you simply love what you have and just want to give it a new life. These are some ways to change up your space without a lot of investment. It's officially spring and what better way to enjoy it than refreshing your space.

1. Vintage/retro hunt: I often find myself stopping by Value Village or surfing online on Kijiji for great retro pieces (I love mid century) and sometimes you can find great deals. Like the pink chair in the photo above, it was $10! Other good ideas are estate sales, the turquoise bench the books are sitting on was from and estate sale (it used to be orange, a little spray paint and tada!) and something not pictured is my TV stand, it actually used to be a tube TV hutch and it still has a working radio and record player inside. 

2. Bargain shop: Great style doesn't mean you have to go to expensive boutiques and department stores. There are so many low cost options like Target, Homesense, Ikea, and even Walmart. I've found so many pieces from Homesense I don't even think of shopping at boutiques anymore and Target has some great lines. The Nate Berkus collection is my favourite. The tray from the last picture is from that collection and is on sale right now. 

3. Rearrange things: Sometimes the reason we get bored with the things we have is because they have not moved in months and seeing thing the same way can be stagnating. So move things around! Switch up pictures hanging on your walls. Move your furniture. I have one corner in the living room that always gets changed. One month it could be a table with photos and tiny treasures and the next is a comfy chair and funky cushion. Whatever suits your mood.    

4. Put things in unexpected places: Add a little dash of quirky and uniqueness to your spaces by having something unexpected. Like hanging lamps with art on the walls or having jewelry as your coffee table accent. They are beautiful things in interesting places. Adds a little something don't you think? It breaks up the monotony and gets people asking questions or at the very least lets you have some fun.

5. Little additions: Lastly are the little add on's. I'm a big believer in adding little accents to a space, place, nook, cranny, table, etc. It fills things out and they and are usually inexpensive items like candles, pillows, trays, jars, and baubles. These items add colour or accent the space around them. Plus the smell of a new candle can completely change a space too.


I hope these tips will help you this spring and give you a little inspiration without breaking the bank.

Happy decorating!

Perk Up with Coffee Jello

I've acquired a taste for coffee in the last year. Honestly before all I drank was tea and coffee made me think, bleh! but I've slowly moved towards coffee and as usual it's not just one thing that I begin to like.. it has to be everything in-between. Coffee flavored everything, like candies, ice cream, desserts and now jello. A caffeine fix in a jiggly format. This recipe is an Asian style dessert because it uses condensed milk which is popular in Vietnamese coffees and desserts. The popular jelly recipe is normally jello with the creme on top but to make things easier and more portable I've mixed it all together.   

 What you will need:
1 - Can sweetened condensed milk
3 - Packets Knox unflavoured gelatin
2 - Cups strong coffee, hot
1/2 - Cup cold water

1. Place 1/2 c cold water in a bowl.
2. Sprinkle 3 unflavored gelatin packets over the water. Let sit until the gelatin blooms, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the hot coffee and mix until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
4. Stir in the can of sweetened condensed milk.
5. Pour into glass pan. Thickness of finished jello depends on the size of the pan. I used a 7 x 11 pan but a 9 x 13 pan will give you thinner pieces and an 8 x 8 pan will give you thicker pieces.

Recipe taken from Food Librarian

Home

It's a beautiful Sunday and here are a few snaps from my computer that I've been meaning to share.

Hello Spring!

Just a quick post before I head out for some coffee and shopping on 17th Ave with my boyfriend to enjoy what looks like an amazing spring day! I've been meaning to try Analog Coffee and to browse Sloth Records for some new vinyl. So time to get out and about!

Sunglasses: H&M // Shirt: Sheinside // Lipstick: MAC in Dark Side