alison*elle

Whistler Weekend

2012-05-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

Blouse: Joe Fresh / Pants: 7 For All Mankind (here) / Bracelets: Derng

It was my boyfriend's birthday this past weekend, so we headed up to Whistler for a mini getaway. I haven't been up since before the Winter Olympics in 2010 so it was interesting to see how the Village has changed... all sorts of Olympic paraphernalia to remind us of the Games.

There is still snow on the mountains and a couple of runs remain open for skiing/snowboarding. However, down at the base, the weather was quite nice so we decided to go on a "hike" around Lost Lake (the more athletically inclined among us would probably call it a "walk").

Now I'm back in the city and ready to hit the books - my Bar Exams are in 10 weeks!

Summer Whites

2012-05-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

With the summer weather hitting our sun-deprived city, I've found myself increasingly drawn to lighter and brighter colour palettes. Admittedly, white pants still cause me much concern due to their "easily visible spills" potential (in fact, the last time I wore these was in my blatant rip-off of Zara's lookbook), yet I do love how crisp they can make an outfit look. Now if only I could figure out some way to not get them dirty!

Bustier Top: Wilfred (Aritzia) / Blazer: Rachel Roy (similar) / Jeans: gift (similar)

Belt: Club Monaco / Heels: Steve Madden (similar)

"Thanks Mum" with LUSH this Mother's Day

2012-05-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for all your nice comments on my last post. Though I still feel like I'm on an emotional roller coaster with no end in sight, I am incredibly grateful to have so many wonderful people in my life, as well as this blog (and you lovely readers), to keep me distracted. With that being said, it couldn't be more appropriate that Mother's Day is this Sunday... Now, more than ever, I am aware of how truly important it is to treasure our loved ones and make sure they know it. My family situation has been particularly difficult for my mom, so I am wishing her all the strength in the world, and sending my love to her everyday.

And for those of you still on the hunt for the perfect gift for the mothers in your lives, may I suggest some fool-proof pampering & spa treats, such as this limited edition LUSH Cosmetics Thanks Mum Gift Set ($26.95 CAD), which I was recently given the chance to preview?

Aside from the adorably sweet packaging, this lovely little kit includes four essentials to appease all of your mom's bath and body needs:

Tiny Hands
I'm a hand cream fiend (see my review of Cake Beauty's Velveteen Hand Creme, for example) but have never tried a solid moisturizer like this before. It's a little weird, but I really like it! Scented with vanilla and marigold, all you have to do is rub the bar over your hands to soothe and moisturize. I find it a bit greasy so would personally only use it before bed and not throughout the day.

Madame Butterfly Reusable Bubble Bar
Similar to the Easter-edition Carrot Top Reusable Bubble Bar that I posted about here, you simply swirl this wand around in your bath to create mounds of frothy bubbles and then leave it to dry to be re-used up to five more times. Madame Butterfly smells just like roses and can be bundled with LUSH's other Mother's Day re-usable bubble bars, The Mum and Mum Tulip, to make a cute bath "bouquet."

Sugar Scrub
A great exfoliating product made with Fair Trade sugar that stimulates circulation through the inclusion of fennel and ginger. I don't typically use body exfoliators (other than exfoliating beads in my body wash) so this was a new experience for me. Smells great but might be a bit harsh for super sensitive skin. I would also recommend storing it away from water in a tin or travel soap dish after use so that it doesn't melt away.

Dream Cream
I posted about Dream Cream in my review of the LUSH Home for Christmas Gift Set and my thoughts remain the same. Since it's no longer winter, however, Dream Cream is now perfect for daily use (in my opinion).

If you're looking for other Mother's Day gift ideas, be sure to check out LUSH's other Mother's Day products and gift sets. As always, they're limited edition!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!! ♥

On A Personal Note

2012-05-07T18:37:00.001-07:00

Sometimes life can be so incredibly cruel and unfortunately for me and my family, one of the worst things that could have possibly happened to us has, in fact, recently happened (sorry to be vague, but it really pains me to talk about it). As I am currently dealing with what seems like an almost insurmountable grief, I wanted to let you all know that my updates may be more sporadic than usual.

In an effort to take my mind off of the situation this weekend, I ventured down to Granville Island, which is one of my favourite spots here in Vancouver. To be quite honest though, I am finding it extremely difficult to go on "living life" as I did before. From now on, I think I will literally have to take things one day at a time and just hope for the best...

Blouse: Central Park West (via Hautelook) / Skirt: Oonagh by Nanette Lepore
Booties: Report (via Beyond The Rack / Belt: Wilfred (Aritzia) / Sunglasses: Primark
Necklace: House of Harlow 1960 (here) / Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs (here)

Instagram Lately (or, Eating My Way Around Vancouver)

2012-04-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

First of all, I just wanted to say how thrilled I am to be featured as Lulu Frost's Look of the Week! I wear my Lulu Frost for J. Crew bangles a lot and love all of Lisa Salzer's gorgeous jewelry designs. Check out the feature HERE.

And now for another instalment of iPhone snapshots, which once again seem to indicate that all I really do is eat... and eat... and eat...

Chilling out in the VIP lounge at FIVESIXTY

I hardly go clubbing anymore since the crowds are always so young but I do love dancing

New iPad = LOVE

Love how unique my new House of Harlow 1960 Crater Locket Necklace is

Brunch at The Templeton, a lovely 50's-style diner

Finally tried Mom's Grilled Cheese Truck - definitely worth it!

Much-needed comfort food at Burgoo

Sunday afternoon tea at Shaktea on Main Street

Phnom Penh is one of my absolute favourite restaurants in Vancouver... their chicken wings are to die for!

Cheers to the weekend!

For more snippets from my daily life, feel free to follow my Instagram (my username is alison_elle).

Weekends for the Weary

2012-04-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

I've been battling some sort of cold/flu for the past week or so, so my weekend was rather uneventful as rest became my #1 priority. I did, however, manage to make it out to the 5th Annual Nifty For Fifty Sale where local designers were showcasing their wares and everything was under $50! Managed to pick up a cute pair of earrings for one of my besties.

You may have also noticed that I've been living in my maxi dresses and skirts lately. It's funny to think that I only donned my first maxi dress less than year ago... They are seriously as comfy as pajamas (an absolute must when one is sick) but let me feel like I at least put more effort into my outfit.

Blouse: Primark / Cardigan: Propaganda (Plenty) / Leather Jacket: Mackage / Belt: H&M

Skirt: Club Monaco (here) / Flats: Bloch / Bag: Marc By Marc Jacobs (here)

P.S. Remember the "My Fat Little Rule Book" pre-launch party I attended a few weeks ago? Well, Vancouver author Jacquie Somerville's first book has finally been released!! Read Jacquie's post about it here and purchase the e-book on Amazon here.

Weleda One-Step Cleanser & Toner

2012-04-18T20:54:00.001-07:00

Weleda is one of those companies that I've heard many great things about but just hadn't gotten around to trying until very recently. This European company, founded in 1921, has a rich history of creating all-natural skincare products that focus on healing, wellness, and balance. In fact, you may have even heard about their infamous Skin Food moisturizer (if you haven't, it's amazing).

Last month, Weleda released its new One-Step Cleanser & Toner, which I was fortunate enough to be sent for review. This new product aims to simplify your daily routine by combining the deep cleansing action of natural olive oil soap with the toning properties of witch hazel extract.

The One-Step Cleanser & Toner comes packaged in a gorgeous blue glass bottle that I was initially afraid of breaking. However, I was relieved to find that the bottle shape makes it easy to hold even with wet hands. Once you remove the cap, the tapered plastic spout ensures less waste, letting out only a few drops at a time.

The actual product is of milky consistency that you apply and then rinse off. This cleanser & toner is best suited for normal to combination skin (which I have) and leaves my face feeling refreshed after use. I've been using it for my morning face washes as I don't find it strong enough to remove makeup at the end of the day. If you don't wear much makeup, you could probably use this both morning and night with no problems.

Weleda describes the scent as "fresh citrus" derived from pure essential oils. I personally think it smells more like witch hazel, which some may not like but is not necessarily unpleasant. Personally, it actually helps wake me up in the mornings!

Conclusion: it's a great product if you're looking for a gentle cleanser made with natural ingredients. In Canada, a 100 mL bottle of Weleda's One-Step Cleanser & Toner retails for $24 and can be found at www.weleda.ca, Whole Foods Market, natural independent health food stores, Planet Organic Market, Nature's Fare, Noah's Natural Foods, and Rexall Pharma Plus stores.

alison*elle on Facebook

2012-04-15T21:14:00.002-07:00

Despite being on Facebook since 2004 (that's 8 years... craziness!), I'd put off starting a dedicated page for my blog for ages. However, guess who finally got around to it this weekend? In addition to my other social media channels, you can now keep up with alison*elle-related things on Facebook, such as my newly organized Nail Polish Swatch Gallery.

Hope you "like" it! :)

Tutorial: Gradient Nails (No Sponges Required)

2012-04-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

I've posted my gradient nails on this blog before (see them in pink and green) and have been meaning to do this tutorial for ages. I had initially wanted to make a video but alas, I have no idea how to film/edit... so I hope this pictorial will help explain things!

My version of the gradient nail look doesn't require sponges like many other tutorials; however, you will probably need some patience at the beginning as there are lots of polishes and multiple layers involved. Here is the final look:

To start off, you will need 4 nail polishes (or 5-6 if you count base coat and top coat). Your base colour must be semi-sheer and light (I am using OPI Tijuana Dance?). Your 2 next colours must be in the same colour family going from a light colour to a darker one (they make up the gradient). For this tutorial, I decided to go with blue. My middle gradient colour is Deborah Lippmann Across The Universe and my tip colour is Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Navy Baby. Lastly, you will need a glitter top coat to help conceal the harsh lines between each layer of polish. Here I am using Revlon Galaxy Top Coat.

To explain this tutorial, I will be referring to the names of the polishes I used to avoid confusion. Just substitute whatever polish colours you are using accordingly.

1. Paint on a base layer of Tijuana Dance? and let dry.
2. Paint a layer of Across The Universe from the tip of your nails to 3/4 of the way down and let dry.
3. Layer Tijuana Dance? on top of Across the Universe to conceal the harsh lines and let dry.

4. Paint the tips of your nails with Navy Baby and let dry.
5. Layer Tijuana Dance? over Navy Baby to conceal the harsh lines and let dry.
6. Layer the entire nail with Galaxy Top Coat to conceal the harsh lines between each gradient colour.

7. Brush on top coat, and you're done!

NOTE: Once you've completed all the steps, you can play around a bit with your polish layers to get the right look. For this mani, I actually ended up layering a bit more of Across The Universe on top to blend in the colours.

I know there are a lot of steps but once you get the hang of it, I swear it's really easy to do. Let me know if you try it out for yourself!

Light Denim Lovin'

2012-04-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

Closet confession time: despite being a former obsessive premium denim collector, I have never owned a denim jacket in my life. Not even in the 90s when denim jackets were de rigeur. This light denim shirt is, of course, not a jacket, but I'm going to go out on a limb and call it "jacket-like." I have a feeling I'll be living in it this Spring/Summer... it seriously goes with everything!

Denim Shirt: TNA (Aritzia) (similar) / Maxi Dress: gift (similar) / Belt: H&M / Wedges: Nine West

LUSH Cosmetics 2012 Easter Collection

2012-04-06T12:10:00.003-07:00

I'm sure I'm not the only one excited that it's finally Easter weekend given the fact that we haven't had a long weekend since New Years. Unfortunately I don't have any getaways planned, but you can bet there will be lots of rest & relaxation.

To that end, I'm especially looking forward to indulging in some bath time fun with some products from the LUSH Cosmetics Easter Collection that I was recently sent to try out.

Pictured above are the Carrot Top Reusable Bubble Bar and the Fluffy Egg Bath Bomb... so cute and perfect for Easter, right? LUSH never fails to impress me with their amazing holiday collections!

The Carrot Top Reusable Bubble Bar is made with nutritious carrot oil, which is rich in vitamins and is an extraordinary skin soother and rejuvenator. The fragrance is pleasant and fruity with oils like buchu, lemon and bergamot. To use, you just have to hold on to the "leafy" greens and swish it around the tub to create masses of skin softening bubbles. Then, just leave it on the side of the tub to dry and re-use another time. I love the fact that this is reusable since you get more "bang" for your buck (retail price is $7.95 CAD).

As a bath bomb fanatic, I was especially pleased with the Fluffy Egg Bath Bomb, which seriously smells like candy (without all the calories!). A bath with this is seriously like bathing in a mass of marshmallow and jelly bean scented water. Yummy! I also love the bright pink colour and candy flower decorations. Retails for only $6.95 CAD.

I was also sent the Immaculate Eggception (not pictured), which is Lush's newest Easter innovation. It's a giant fizzy egg that you crack open to reveal a surprise bath bomb inside. There are two colours to choose from, pink and yellow, and each comes with either a baby chick or bunny bath bomb. Retail price is $12.95 CAD which I'd say is worth it because the egg is quite large and you can break it into pieces for multiple baths.

These products are limited edition, so my best advice is to get your hands on them while you can.

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!

Obsessed

2012-04-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

I am so obsessed with Club Monaco these days (although "these days" is a total understatement; I am obsessed with Club Monaco "always and forever" is probably more accurate). Any time I'm in one of their stores, I find myself exclaiming over how amazing everything is and how perfect all the mannequins' outfits are. Surely I'm not the only one who does this...

At the moment, I am especially obsessed with this new motorcycle vest that you may have noticed in my #VanBloggerSale Re-cap post. It is seriously one of the most versatile pieces ever and can be paired with just about anything! And how do I feel about this grey sweater maxi tube skirt, also from Club Monaco? Yeah, you guessed it. Obsessed.

Top: Wilfred Free (Aritzia) / Vest: Club Monaco / Skirt: Club Monaco (here)

Booties: Rachel Comey (similar) / Bangle: Marc By Marc Jacobs (similar)

Event Re-Caps: "My Fat Little Rule Book" Pre-Launch Party & Converse S/S 2012 Preview

2012-03-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

#MeetJacquie

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the pre-launch party for local author Jacquie Somerville's upcoming book, "My Fat Little Rule Book." The event was a fabulous affair, held in a gorgeous two-storey penthouse suite at the Hotel Georgia, where we downed cocktails and noshed on a delicious spread of food. Jacquie also read us some excerpts from "My Fat Little Rule Book" - a story about how a fashionista finally reconciles with being a foodie. This is definitely a girl after my own heart.

"My Fat Little Rule Book" will be available in ebook form soon, with a print copy to follow not long after. Jacquie's work is incredibly candid and funny, and I personally can't wait to read the whole thing.

Many thanks to Jacquie and Brendan Bailey PR for the invite, and Sheila for playing photographer!

Converse Spring/Summer 2012 Preview

Yesterday, I also got to preview Converse's new designs for Spring/Summer 2012. Since my classic black and white Chuck Taylor All Stars are summertime staples, I was super excited to see what the brand has planned for the upcoming seasons.

The event was held at The Warehouse Studio in Gastown, where we were first offered glasses of the new #MBellini, a cocktail made with Molsen beer. I don't drink beer because I can't stand the taste but I really liked it in this alternative form. Yum!

Next, we were given a "tour" of Converse's Spring/Summer 2012 Collection (thanks Chris!). You can expect to see updates to the classic Jack Purcells and Chucks in seasonal colours and on-trend fabrics, as well as cool collaborations with DC Comics (my personal fave), Gorillaz, John Varvatos, and Marimekko. There are also some amazing boat shoes (think Sperrys but Converse-style) and lightweight summer styles to look forward to.

Thanks so much to Micki Benedetti for inviting me to this preview, and if you see any shoes you like (those amazing purple ones, for example), you should start to see them in stores soon!

At The Pier

2012-03-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

In trying to make the most of the amazing weather we had this past weekend, I happily ventured over to the North Shore for a day of adventuring (though to be fair, my version of "adventuring" mainly involves eating gourmet sandwiches and Pinkberry). Funny how a little bit of sunshine seems to instantly brighten everyone's moods.

As for my casual weekend outfit, it seemed only appropriate to don a more nautical-inspired look for some time spent by the the water. You'll just have to trust me since I don't have any pictures, but the buttons on this sweater have the cutest little anchors engraved on them!

Sweater: Club Monaco / Tank Top: TNA (Aritzia) / Jeggings: Paige Premium Denim (similar)

Flats: Bloch (in cream/black) / Scarf: Singapore / Bangles: Lulu Frost for J. Crew

güd from Burt's Bees

2012-03-23T09:36:00.001-07:00

I've been a fan of Burt's Bees for years and have even featured a few of their products on my blog (see my reviews of their Pore Refining Scrub and Tinted Lip Balm) so I was excited to hear about the recent launch of their new line, güd.

The full collection includes all the bath and body products you can think of (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body butter, body lotion, body mist, foaming hand wash, and hand cream) in 4 different scents: Floral Cherrynova, Orange Petalooza, Vanilla Flame, and Pearanormal Activity.

I was sent a sampling of all 4 scents to try out and here are my thoughts...

Floral Cherrynova: Cherry Blossom & Almond Milk. A very floral scent, quite feminine and definitely smells like cherry blossoms. My least favourite but that's because I don't tend to like florals.

Orange Petalooza: Blood Orange Flower. My favourite! Smells like a zingy citrus, very refreshing and crisp.

Vanilla Flame: Vanilla & Rice Milk. I always love vanilla scents and this one is warm and sweet. In my opinion, it's not as special as some of the other scents in this collection, but still very nice.

Pearanormal Activity: Pear & Acai Berry. Not quite a full-on pear scent due to the acai berry but very fruity and energizing. This is my second favourite after Orange Petalooza.

As you can see, there is definitely a scent to suit all tastes and what I love is how long-lasting they are. After slathering on the body lotion, for example, I can still smell it hours later. Furthermore, none of the products are tested on animals and contain no parabens, phthalates, or petrochemicals.

Unfortunately the line only seems to be available in the US right now but hopefully it will make its way to Canada (and internationally) soon.

RE-CAP: #VanBloggerSale

2012-03-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

Dress: Dil|ema (Aritzia) / Vest: Club Monaco / Boots: Topshop / Tights: Primark

Necklace: House of Harlow 1960 (here) / Ring: Michael Kors (here)

The much-anticipated Vancouver Fashion Blogger Clothing Sale was this past Saturday! I had a ton of fun meeting all the shoppers (there are so many fashion-forward people here in Vancouver), checking out what the other girls were selling, and manning my own booth with the lovely Randa.

Not gonna lie, when I arrived at The Waldorf to set up and saw that there was a already a line-up to get in, I started to get pretty anxious. But it seemed like everything went off without a hitch!

Kudos to Cee and Alicia for organizing the whole thing - you girls are superstars! And major thanks to everyone who came out to the event!

P.S. Thanks to Leonie for taking my outfit photos. Some photos also via Randa, Monika and Cee's husband, Ian.

A Tuxedo Blazer

2012-03-15T09:46:00.005-07:00

Despite how versatile this cropped tuxedo-style blazer seemed in the store (it's black and white... seriously, what doesn't go with those two colours?), I'd been having the hardest time figuring out how to style it. It finally occurred to me to try pairing this as-yet-unworn blazer with the similarly as-yet-unworn chain print dress (we all know how much I love chain print) that's been sitting in my closet for months just waiting to be worn. Faith in this blazer's possibilities has now been renewed - phew!

Dress: ASOS / Blazer: Zara / Tights: Hue (here) / Cuff: Soo Ihn Kim (here) / Shoes: Nine West

A Little Bit of Leopard

2012-03-11T20:03:00.001-07:00

A girl can never have too much leopard print, right? Which is why this new leopard print piece from OASAP makes the perfect addition to my wardrobe - especially since it can be easily dressed up or down.

For those of you who haven't heard of OASAP, it's a great place to find high street fashions at amazing prices. This mini dress (which I'm wearing as a top) is only $25 with free worldwide shipping. Plus all new shoppers get a 25% discount coupon for signing up as a "new customer."

Dress (worn as top): c/o OASAP / Skirt: T. Babaton (Aritzia) / Heels: Steve Madden (in black)
Wallet: Miu Miu / Necklace: House of Harlow 1960 (here) / Bangle: Lulu Frost for J. Crew
Watch: Michael Kors (here)

And while we're on the topic of leopard print, have you seen my tutorial for leopard print nails? I really should do those again... they were super cute!

Work Wear

2012-03-05T12:29:00.000-08:00

I recently realized that even though most of my time is spent at work, I rarely show my work outfits here on my blog. I figured I'd give you guys a peek into my everyday work wardrobe since I always find it interesting to see how people style their office attire.

My office is quite casual for a law firm so we typically don't wear suits unless we're going to court or meeting clients. I still like to dress up a bit though, so my usual outfits consist of silk blouses and pencil skirts. I'm also a huge fan of well-tailored dress pants like these navy wool ones from Theory. And can I just say how excited I am that J. Crew will be opening in Vancouver soon? No more dealing with missed deliveries for me!

Blouse: J. Crew / Pants: Theory (similar in black) / Belt: J. Crew / Shoes: Aldo

Vancouver Fashion Blogger Clothing Sale

2012-03-03T09:08:00.007-08:00

Vancouverites: mark your calendars for March 17 - the first ever Vancouver Fashion Blogger Clothing Sale! Come out for a fun afternoon of shopping your favourite bloggers' closet, listening to music, and indulging in some sweet treats courtesy of Cakelicious.

Admission is $2 to cover the cost of the event location, with all additional proceeds going to Dress For Success Vancouver. The first 50 people to arrive to the sale will receive a unique gift bag full of tons of swag from cool people like: Establishment, Barre Fitness, Bfrend, LOVE+MARK'D, I See Noise, Girl's Next Best Friend, Wolf Circus Jewelry, Social Experiment, Jennifer Williams Photography, and more!

Check out the Facebook Event Page for more info. I can't wait to meet you all!!

Spring Pastels

2012-02-29T09:58:00.001-08:00

If you follow me on Twitter, you will know how excited I was to get my hands on these new 7 For All Mankind light purple skinnies. As a girl who doesn't wear many bright colours, it's a little strange how obsessed I've suddenly become with light coloured denim... but I'm already plotting my next purchase (these amazing mint jeggings).

Top: Wilfred Free (Aritzia) / Blazer: Talula Babaton (Aritzia) / Jeans: 7 For All Mankind (here)

Bag: Marc By Marc Jacobs (here) / Necklace: House of Harlow 1960 (here) / Shoes: Aldo

Pastel and neon colours are super "in" this Spring, so I decided to complement the soon-to-be season with my makeup: this Express Beauty Spring 2012 Runway Makeup Palette that I was sent a while ago to try out.

The Runway Makeup Palette is packaged in a square cardboard palette with easy-to-follow instructions on the inside cover. Once opened, you'll see it comes with everything you need to create a great Spring look: eyeshadow (base - mossy green, contour - smoked violet, highlight - frosted cream), eyeliner (cobalt), blush (sparkling peach), and lipgloss (fresh pink).

Express is one of my favourite places for inexpensive dress pants (the "Illustrator" is my favourite fit though I think it's now been discontinued), and I've been pretty impressed with the quality of Express Beauty products as well. I especially like their lipglosses which smell delicious and aren't super sticky (I have this Limited Edition Lipgloss Collection and use it all the time).

You can find the Runway Palette on sale for only $10 here, along with other Express Beauty products here.

GIVEAWAY: Schick Hydro Silk Razor - 10 Winners! {CLOSED}

2012-02-27T10:44:00.017-08:00

Congratulations to the winners - Maddy, L, Gloria, Cee, Elaine, bebemui, Rites of Beauty, Lori, Maria, and Victoria!

I was recently given the opportunity to try out the Schick Hydro Silk razor, which launched earlier this month. This new razor retails for $12.99 CAD and has 5 Curve-Sensing Blades with unique Skin Guards to give you a super close shave.

The Hydro Silk is the only women’s razor with water-activated moisturizing serum - meaning that it's supposed to hydrate skin like no other razor can. For best results, Schick recommends that you shave in the shower which makes it easier to activate the moisturizing serum (by placing the head under running water).

Although I usually use a creamy body wash when I'm shaving, the Hydro Silk comes infused with marine extracts and rich shea butter so I decided to try shaving without it. I'll admit I was a little scared to do so, but I didn't cut myself at all! In fact, my skin was left feeling completely smooth, though I would still recommend using shaving cream if you have sensitive skin.

The razor is also super easy to use due to its ergonomically designed rubber handle which allows you to hold it in your hands without fear of dropping.

And now... Schick has kindly offered to send 10 of my readers a sample of the new Hydro Silk razor! In exchange, they'd love it if you could post your own review of the razor on the Schick Hydro Silk Facebook page (I think it's so great when companies are genuinely interested in hearing our thoughts on their products).

WANT TO WIN? HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:

1. Follow my blog on either Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin'.
2. Leave a comment on this post letting me know you're a blog follower and that you'd like to enter this giveaway.

Open to Canadian residents only.

Giveaway ends MARCH 4. I will then randomly select 10 readers to be sent their very own Schick Hydro Silk razor! Good luck!

Deborah Lippmann "The Stripper To Go" Polish Remover Mitts

2012-02-24T09:32:00.001-08:00

My fave Canadian nail polish e-tailer, Nail Polish Canada, recently sent me some of Deborah Lippmann's "The Stripper To Go" Nail Polish Remover Mitts to try out. As you guys already know, I am a huge fan of Deborah Lippmann's polishes (see this post and this post) so I was interested in seeing whether her nail polish remover is also worth the hype.

Right off the bat I will say that I think The Stripper To Go is a much-needed and innovative product. Each disposable finger mitt comes individually packaged and is said to contain enough nail polish remover for all 10 fingers.

I decided to test out one of the mitts on my current mani since I find that dark nail polishes and glitter top coats are especially difficult to remove. Essie As Gold As It Gets is a flakie and not a glitter but it's close enough and will have to do because that's what I've had on my nails this week!

Majolica Majorca BK999 topped with Essie Luxe Effects As Gold As It Gets

The mitt fits easily over all fingers and is pre-soaked in "The Stripper," Deborah Lippmann's popular lavender- and aloe-infused nail polish remover. It doesn't smell super strongly of acetone, which can be a big problem with a lot of other removers.

To use, you simply stick each fingernail in the mitt and rub your polish off with the other hand. Mine came off quite easily though I did have to scrub a bit to get all the flakies off. I also had to flip the mitt when I changed hands since polish was building up on the inside. I think these mitts will work better if you're wearing plain nail polish (no fancy top coats) because towards the end, I found myself needing to scrub extra hard as there was less remover to work with.

The Stripper to Go retails at $12 CAD for a box of 6 mitts here, which is a little pricey. Obviously this is not a product for everyday use but is definitely great for travelling or on the go. I'm planning on keeping a few packets in my purse since I'm one of those people who can't stand chipped nail polish and often end up attempting to scratch it all off the moment my mani is less than perfect.

Railtown & Nicli Antica Pizzeria

2012-02-21T09:28:00.000-08:00

Dress: Wilfred (Aritzia) / Trench Coat: T. Babaton (Aritzia) / Tights: The Bay

Booties: Rachel Comey (in brown/black) / Bag: Primark

I had such a great weekend! I gorged on Japanese sukiyaki at Posh, saw "This Means War" (my friend and I watch any and all romantic comedies regardless of how awful they may be, and yes we are totally the only people over the age of 14 who loved the movie "Prom")... and I finally got to try out Nicli Antica Pizzeria, a restaurant that has been on my go-to list for ages.

Located in the heart of Gastown, Nicli Antica Pizzeria specializes in certified Neopolitan pizza - a super thin pizza with a light and fluffy yet crispy crust. Each pizza is hand formed and cooked in a wood-fired oven, resulting in absolute deliciousness.

I opted for the Margherita di Bufala ($16) while my bf ordered the Capocollo ($16).

Each bite took me back to my trip to Italy last year where I ate pizza almost every day. So good! I especially loved the crust on this pizza, which has a unique slightly sour flavour. It tastes even better drizzled with rosemary-infused olive oil.

The restaurant's decor is classy without being pretentious (lots of white and big mirrors along the wall) and the service was great. I'd definitely recommend this place to my fellow Vancouverites looking for some authentic Italian pizza. However, word of warning: they don't take reservations and get quite busy so make sure to get there early or stop by for a late weekend lunch like I did.

Address: 62 East Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC
Website: http://www.nicli-antica-pizzeria.ca

Instagram Lately

2012-02-17T09:51:00.001-08:00

Too much time has passed since I last did one of these posts so I thought I'd share some more iPhone snapshots. A little bit of style, some recent purchases, some fun things I've been up to, and of course a whole lot of food!

A night out, wearing my Mackage "Ava" Coat (this one is similar)

Warby Parker Zagg glasses in "Tennessee Whiskey"... unfortunately they didn't fit me well so I returned them

I've been super into prints lately, especially chain print

Some new Sorel winter boots (here in darker brown)

Simulated skydiving at Fly Zone - so much fun (though I totally look like a chipmunk in the goggles)

Was finally able to bring out my ice skates for the first time this year

Chicken karaage at Guu, one of my fave restaurants for Japanese tapas

Brunch at the Blue Fox Cafe in Victoria

Dim Sum = major comfort food for me

No Korean meal is complete without soju!

Take-out treats from True Confections

Love these Starbucks "Love" cups

If you're on Instagram, feel free to follow me! My username is alison_elle.