Lather. Write. Repeat.

Style Peek: striped scarf + black maxi + coffee cardi

2012-04-13T12:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! I couldn't be more happy that the weekend is here...there's definitely been a few ups and downs lately. Ups = lovely Easter dinner with family, hosting girl's night full of laughs and talks, some fun new items for summer, counting down to our honeymoon in Florida (3 weeks - yay!). Downs = getting rear-ended and having to go the doctor twice for relief for my neck and back...okay - that was the only down! How are you doing?

Winnipeg's weather has been up and down all spring so this was my first maxi dressing of the season back when it was HOT! I picked it up in the fall at H&M during my trip to Calgary. Don't laugh - I know it's more of a midi on me! I paired it with a cropped coffee cardi, brightly coloured scarf and thin red belt. It's a little bulky overall, I think I would streamline the look a little next time. Thoughts?

black maxi dress - H&M

coffee cardigan - Gap (old)

striped scarf - Joe Fresh

red belt - AE.com

I have cool news for you thrifty ladies out there - Winnipeg is having it's first ever Swap Team event! Take off your Clothes (in support of Kid's Help Phone) is happening Saturday, April 21st from 11am-4pm at the Delta Winnipeg. You simply bag and tag your clothes, drop them off before April 15th and attend the event! You'll get exchange coupons for your donations so you can pick up great swapped items!

For full info on the event visit their web page here! You can also RSVP on their Facebook event page here! Happy swapping!

Style Peek: hearts bubble top + black cardi + straight jeans

2012-04-04T13:09:00.001-05:00

Wondering why I look so happy in that photo? Probably because I'm in love with curvy styles available from UK online retailers! Why or why can't you find gorgeous, modern, affordable clothes in curvy sizes this side of the pond?? It's unjust. I refuse to be matronly - my new life mantra!

This heart print bubble top was one of my first Dorothy Perkins purchases and I think it's so sweet. Many would advise against a bubble for the 'already bubbly' but I don't care - it's so comfy and the print makes my heart swoon!

heart print top - Dorothy Perkins (buy here)

straight jeans - AE (buy here)

black cardigan - Gap (old)

rose necklace - Etsy

black leather flats - Aldo (buy similar)

Have you done any online shopping from the UK? What has your experience been?

Style Peek: colourful striped dress + navy cardi + brown woven belt

2012-04-03T13:24:00.001-05:00

The almost-daily arrival of new spring and summer dresses in my fave stores making me more and more excited about the warm season ahead. I picked up this multi-coloured striped dress at the Gap and lingered long and hard over a blue on blue stripe (safe!) and this pink/orange/navy palette (brave!). I chose to go with my instict and take a chance...I'm so glad I did - it makes me happy when I wear it. To start I anchored it with navy and brown leather accessories...maybe next time I'll go bright on bright??

striped dress - Gap (buy here)

navy cardigan - Gap (buy here)

brown leather woven belt - AE (buy here)

brown leather flats - Aldo (buy similar)

Hope you're all having a lovely week friends!

Style Peek: whimsical chair print blouse + skinny jeans

2012-03-20T11:39:00.002-05:00

Happy Spring friends! It seems somewhat symbolic that I will emerge from my blogging slumber on the first day of the fresh new season, non? I hope you are all doing well and I really missed you. I missed blogging but I really did need a break...and continue to reset my internal compass in order to make sure I'm living the life I want.

It's been a very busy month. Lots of ups and downs. We lost a loved one from Jack's side of the family, so there were many tears and heavy hearts mixed with relief that she is finally at peace after a long battle with illness. I seriously explored a new career direction and this involved lots of stressful sleepless nights flip flopping on what was the best next move for me and our family. In the end, it was just not the right opportunity for me and I decided to stay where I am and feel extremely grateful for the amazing workplace I have and people I love seeing every day. Henry is growing from a little puppy into a BIG puppy and we're enjoying introducing him to dog parks and this weekend - the cabin! YES! It is so warm here in Manitoba that we've decided to do our earliest cabin visit ever...can't wait!

I've also been doing a massive, slow closet overhaul and you'll see new items added to my Shop My Closet tab (on the upper nav) weekly as I methodically go through each item and FINALLY let go of what doesn't work, doesn't fit, shouldn't have bought...you know the drill. But this leaves room for fresh new items - like this blouse I bought from ASOS over in the UK. It has CHAIRS on it!!!! Their CURVE collection is so modern and fashion forward. Now that I know my size well, ordering is a breeze and they offer free worldwide delivery. I got this on sale with a coupon code so double score! I have a little secret for you....us busty gals often need to go up a size to fit our blouses. This leaves them long and frumpy and not-so-flattering...so I hem them to a flattering hip length! This is pretty easy to do yourself or you can bring the item to a local tailor - totally worth the $10!!

chair print blouse - ASOS (buy here)

skinny jeans - AE (buy here)

black flats - Aldo (buy here)

Hope you are all having an amazing first day of spring! Hugs!

Style Peek: Coral Cardigan + Black and Pink Swallow Print Dress

2012-02-28T12:18:00.001-06:00

Hello! How are you doing today? I'm pretty tired because let's just say that puppy training is not a cakewalk!! We're having some serious issues with Henry crying all night in his kennel and it's not something we experienced with Gus. Argghhh! We're trying everything so if you have any tips or tricks - do share!

So interesting story about this dress...it was my first ever purchase from UK retailer New Look. I love their clothes and was excited for this fun and casual bird dress. When it finally arrived, I opened the package and found they had sent the dress 2 sizes too big. I had a little panic attack and tried to contact them via Twitter, FB, email and any other way I could find....cue crickets noise....no response! Nada! Nothing! Nothing makes my blood boil more than bad customer service. When I didn't hear anything, I decided to try the dress on to see what I could salvage with alterations. Turns out, because of the elastic waist and blousy fit, I could get away with the bigger size (sniffles :) and I actually love the dress (and the adorable pockets!). I do a lot of online ordering so a snafu was bound to happen...but still no word from them?? What would you do? The clothes are adorable, but would you write them off in principle? I probably already know your answer...

dress from New Look

coral cardigan from Gap (shop similar)

red belt from American Eagle Outfitters

coral and gold necklace from Forever 21 (shop similar)

Do you have any online ordering horror stories? Has it kept you off the web or do you shop online anyway?

New Items in Shop my Closet!

2012-02-27T20:27:00.001-06:00

Just a quick hello to say have a fab week friends and let you know that I've added a few more items to shop my closet - check them all out here!

Faryl Robin Black and Cream Peep Toe Kitten Heels - Size 11

Aldo Black Leather Pointy Toe Flat - Size 11

J. Crew 100% Cashmere Cardigan Size XL in Heather Spearmint

Gap White Cotton Tunic - Size XL

Paige Premium Denim Robertson Jeans in Size 32

Dessy Dutchess Satin Pleated Ballet Flats Size 11 in Oyster

Don't forget Winnipeggers - I offer free local pick-up! Have a fantastic week and I'll talk to you all soon!

Curvy Spring Dress Picks

2012-02-24T12:13:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you're all doing well...it's continued to be sicky central at our house so I've been off the grid and DEFINITELY not wearing anything worth posting. That hasn't stopped me from scouring the internet for the cutest curvy dresses for spring though....here are some of my faves!

I love the bold colour and flowy feel of this ASOS Curve dress! Comes in UK sizes 20-26 (North American sizes 16-22).

via Asos CURVE

Did you know Ruche has a Curvy Plus section? The pieces come in 1X-3X and they are super chic AND super affordable! Love the pretty pink and versatile shape of this dress.

via Shop Ruche

I order my jeans and the occasional top and dress from American Eagle online. They carry a lot of extended sizes online that are not available in store. Jeans go up to 18 Long and tops/dresses up to XXL. I love the soft grey floral print and adjustable side ties on this dress!

via American Eagle Outfitters

At Modcloth, you can search by size and this fun and frilly take on the LBD comes in sizes 1X, 2X and 3X! Plus, if you have any doubt about sizing, you can ask a Modstylist to take flat measurements of the garment you're thinking of buying! How's that for service? (I really wish every online shop offered flat measurements.)

via Modcloth

Old Navy has been knocking my socks off this spring with their adorable prints! I've picked up several silky poly tops to mix and match with skinny jeans and my fave cardis. The dresses are fab too, I really love this pretty navy maxi dress...fits a supportive bra perfectly and hits you at all the right spots! Goes up to a size XXL.

via Old Navy

Dorothy Perkins is a UK retailer and I recently made my first online purchase...so I'll let you know how it goes. Shipping is about $11-12, so not free but not crazy. They have super cute clothes in curvy sizes that are miles away from frumpy (up to UK size 22/US size 18)! I love the stylish stripes and universally flattering shape of this sleeveless dress.

via Dorothy Perkins

Forever 21 is one of my dress faves....as they are always under $30 each! Some Forever 21 stores carry the Plus line and some don't. Winnipeg does - yay! Calgary doesn't - boo! But you can order online on via the Canadian web site with free shipping on orders of $60 and returns by store or mail. They carry sizes 1X-3X (which unfortunatley is only like a 14/16/18). This is such a nice flattering shape and I love the lazer cutouts on top!

via Forever21 Plus

Have you started spring shopping yet friends? What's on your wishlist?

Style Peek: red tribal print dress + + woven belt + black tights

2012-02-17T12:40:00.003-06:00

Happy Friday lovelies! Are you excited for the weekend? It's a long one here with Monday off so I'm extra thrilled about it! I'm also thrilled about the coming spring...it's been one of the warmest winters EVER here in Winnipeg and I've been taking full advantage by shopping for new spring dresses then pairing them with tights and cardis. This is one of them - a cute little red and white printed faux wrap dress from Forever 21 plus...$27 for cute spring fashion - um, yes please!

red and white print dress - Forever 21 Plus (show now)

black cardigan - Gap (shop similar)

black tights - old

brown woven belt - Old Navy (shop similar)

I don't know if you can tell by reading the blog, but i've got a bit of a Type A personality (duh!). I've always been an ambitious over achiver and as I get older, it's now starting to catch up with me. The things I could juggle in my 20's without batting an eye now feel like too much....my plate feels really full and it's causing me a bit of stress...the problem is - they're all good things! I just have trouble turning things down. I feel like I need to do some soul searching...and so I pulled out the markers and made this little mind map.

It's hard to tell but I've divided my life into work, hobbies, health, family and friends, then added all the things I do and need to do regularly in each category, seeing how they overlap and affect each other. It's giving me some perspective on where I want to do more, where I'm doing too much and my pain points and values. We'll see where it all leads....

Do ever need to stop and re-evaluate friends? Do you have trouble saying no or giving up things? How do you juggle it all??

Style Peek: cobalt dress + white cardi + black tights

2012-02-15T12:16:00.003-06:00

Happy Wednesday friends! How is your week going so far? It's been a bit of a whirlwind here with some unexpected expenses, from the hot water tank going to some expensive work needed on my vehicle. Jack and I are both pretty big hustlers when it comes to finding ways to make extra coin so he's been picking up some extra side jobs and I've been clearing out the house and my closet with items to sell locally on Kijiji (see my listings here) and on Ebay with Shop my Closet items. I'll be adding new items regularly so I'll keep you posted! Plus I finally feel like I'm getting out of my winter rut and I'm ready to paint some furniture. My basement is full of items just waiting for a Lather Creations makeover...so watch for that too!

This is my fave Modcloth purchase to date - it's called the Sapphire for Hire Dress - how cute is that name? I love the vibrant colour and the girly cream embroidery details. I kept my cardi and tights simple....to let the colour really pop! I was sorry to hear some of you weren't happy with Modcloth's new Canadian shipping. I try to keep my purchases under $60 so I don't have to deal with customs fees, I know they can be a huge pain and expense when they do happen :(

sapphire for hire dress - Modcloth (shop now)

white cardigan - Gap (shop similar)

black tights - old

Have an amazing week friends!

Shop My Closet!

2012-02-11T14:35:00.003-06:00

Hello! Big day today...I just listed many more items on Ebay so you can shop my closet here! I've been wanting to do a big closet clean-out for a while but I'd been procrastinating....

Welllllllll....our hot water tank exploded last night, so the giant bill for the new tank was just the driver I needed to get selling! All the items are in mint condition, some new without tags and some pre-worn. There are great dresses from Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Forever 21, Anthropologie and several pairs of Paige Premium Denim at steal prices (from WAY back when I could afford it - ha!). So curvy girls, hope you find something fab! I offer free local pick-up as well for you locals in Winnipeg and I tried to keep the shipping low. If you have any questions at all, drop me a direct email at lhume1@mts.net.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the items...

'Velvet' Grey Dress from Anthropologie - SOLD

Blush Pink A-line Dress from H&M - SOLD

Red Paisley Print Dress from Forever 21 - SOLD

Olive Green Ruffle Dress from Banana Republic - Buy here

Paige Premium Denim Jeans - Buy here

Retro Denim Bermuda Shorts from Anthropologie - Buy here

I will continue to keep you updated here on the blog whenever I add new items for sale. Tell me friends, do you sell any of your clothing items? I do a mix of donate, sell and give to my sister! Sometimes you have to just freshen up, you know!

Have a fabulous weekend!

ASOS Curve Dress for Sale

2012-02-09T13:45:00.001-06:00

Hi all! Hope you're having a fabulous week! I can't tell you how busy things have been since we got our little puppy Henry...it's like having a new baby!!! (I think, since I wouldn't know :) But two dogs are DEFINITELY more work than one! It's good work, just keeping me away from fun things like blogging.

I wanted to share this with my curvy readers - I'm selling a dress I ordered from ASOS Curve on Ebay. You can check out the listing here! Sadly, it just didn't fit me right...luck of the draw with internet shopping! It's too costly to return to the UK so I'm hoping to sell it. It's more suited to an hourglass figure than my apple shape. It's brand new with tags and you can visit the original dress information here. It's the black version of the Tulip Dress in a size 16US/20UK, fully lined. I paid $55 originally and I'm selling it 'buy it now' for $39.99 or you can bid starting at $19.99. I tried to keep shipping super cheap and I have a local pick up option!

Measurements:

Length: 38 inches

Bust (laying flat x2): 23 inches

Waist(laying flat x2): 19 inches (elastic waist provides additional 4-5 inches stretch)

Hips(laying flat x2): 28 inches

Don't you think we should make a pact? Anything we buy online that doesn't fit and can't be easily returned - we sell and share the info with each other??

Style Peek: floaty bird dress + black tights + cropped cardi

2012-02-03T11:35:00.003-06:00

Hi! It's been such a busy but wonderful week with our new little pup Henry at home...him and Gus have become best buds and he's a fantastic addition to our little family. Jack has also been working away at our bathroom reno and the stand up shower is almost done! I'll be sure to share some pics. How has your week been going friends?

This is a dress that I ordered back in the fall from UK retailer ASOS. They're fast becoming a new fave....I love their 'Curve' section, the clothes are modern and cute - not like some frumpy plus size offerings out there. I feel head over heels for this gorgeous print. I ordered the dress a size too big (UK sizes are 2 sizes up from ours - so if you're a 16 here, you'd be a 20 with ASOS) and it came with sheer sleeves that did nothing for me...so I took a shot at my own alterations and I couldn't be more happy!

For those of you wondering, ASOS offers FREE SHIPPING worldwide! How great is that? Plus, if you keep your purchase below $60ish dollars, you can avoid customs fees. Anything more and you're at risk of getting dinged. The more I hunt around, the more I love the UK retailers for plus size options...they are super cute! Some others I've found are Dorothy Perkins, New Look and Style369. See what you think!

floaty bird dress - ASOS

brown cropped cardigan - Gap (old)

black tights - unknown

black boots - Steve Madden (shop now)

brown suede belt - Target

By the way, I can't WAIT for sunshine in the morning so my photos brighten up! So dark and dreary right now, thanks for putting up with them.

Hope you are all planning a lovely weekend!

Meet Henry

2012-01-30T12:06:00.001-06:00

Henry's first photo shoot

We have a very special new addition to the family - an 11-week old schnoodle (schnauzer-poodle mix) named Henry! We picked him up on Friday and it's been delicious chaos ever since. I forgot how much work a puppy can be, so it's been constant care and attention - plus outdoor potty training and middle of the night whining ever since!

We really wanted a buddy for our dog Gus, who has some anxiety issues. He's starting to adjust as of today, but definitely went through a jealous phase on Saturday and Sunday! He's used to being an only pooch :)

It was also my bday yesterday so there were all kinds of wonderful things going on - dinner out with my hubby and a family birthday party. So great! I'm happily exhausted today and back to work...but I can't wait to rush home and see my little Henry!

My two boys together, Henry and Gus

Sweetie pie!

How was your weekend friends?

Style Peek: sweater coat + white t + skinny jeans

2012-01-24T11:46:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone! I'm back after being down and out with an awful sinus cold. I missed a ton of work and was stuck in bed for 5 days. Yikes. So glad it's getting out of my system! You kind of forget how yucky it is to be sick until you actuall are....hope you're all staying strong and healthy this January!

So, truth and honesty time - I gain weight very quickly and after a very indulgent holiday, I'm feeling it. Both in my clothes and in my self-confidence. A terrible side effect of this is bad purchasing decisions - meant to help me feel better about myself. Do you ever do that? Ugh. Why do we torture ourselves?? So I'm putting it out there to help get myself back on the wagon. This is an Anthro sweater coat I found on super sale while on my December trip to Calgary. I love it, even though sometimes I feel like it's flattering on me and sometimes I know it's not :) It's so cozy to cuddle in. My sweater security blanket - so to speak!

multi-coloured sweater coat - Anthropologie

white t - Elle via Kohls (shop here)

skinny jeans - American Eagle (shop here)

tall black boots - Steve Madden (shop here)

Have a lovely week everyone! Are you feeling the January pinch like me? How do you get back on track?

Style Peek: striped t + black cardi + skinny jeans

2012-01-16T12:55:00.001-06:00

How was your weekend? Besides being busy with dinners (Splurge on Friday and family on Saturday), Jack was sick sick sick! I keep feeling like I'm getting it but never do, so we just kept it pretty low key for the rest of the time. I recently added a third yoga class to my weekly schedule, on Sunday afternoons, and it's been a great way to finish off the weekend and keep my back feeling strong!

This casual striped T was another holiday sale purchase from the Gap, only 6 bucks! Striped T's have really become my favourite kind of basic T. With a simple cardi, skinny jeans and a cute piece of jewelly - they really can go from weekend to office. We've settled into a bit of a deep freeze here in Winnipeg so layers are a huge must!

striped T - Gap (shop)

black cardigan - Gap (shop similar)

skinny jeans - American Eagle Outfitters (shop)

black leather flats - Aldo (shop similar)

How was your weekend? Hope it was fun!

Style Peek: red puppy blouse + white cardi + skinny jeans

2012-01-13T12:27:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday! I'm sure excited to cap off the week. Tonight I'm hosting my Splurge group (dinner for 11 - eeek!) which is always a giant fabulous blast of girl talk. Because I bought so much food...I invited my mom and sis's family over for dinner tomorrow. So this weekend, you will find me firmly planted in the kitchen! How about you?

This top makes me swoon. When I saw it at Old Navy, I just had to have it. I'm a real sucker for the red and white combo with denim (makes me feel springy and fresh!) plus it has pups all over it!!! Sometimes you just gotta wear your puppy love on your sleeve.

The back is the cutest part...

red blouse - Old Navy

white cardigan - Gap (shop similar)

skinny jeans - American Eagle Outfitters

black leather flats - Aldo (shop similar)

Have I shared my love of American Eagle jeans yet? I have a TOUGH time finding jeans I love. With an apple body shape and long legs - it ain't easy :( Lately, I discovered AE and I am LOVING them! Forget the store (unless you're wee...). If you order online, you can get them in up to size 18 and three inseams (short, reg and long). Some sizes even come in extra long! I'm a 16 long and they fit perfectly, with a good rise and soft, comfy denim. Plus they are cheap! Usually between $25-40 a pair. I watch for sales and free shipping promos (they are frequent), then order a few pairs at a time. I love the Boyfriend for more relaxed bootcut and the Skinny (as seen here!). What's your fave brand of jeans?

Have an amazing weekend friends!

Style Peek: blush sweater + white tunic+ charcoal leggings

2012-01-12T09:16:00.001-06:00

Remember me? I'm back from a lovely blogging break...I've been missing being part of the community - even though I still read all your blogs daily! I think I just hit a little bit of the blahs and also took full advantage of the holidays! They were quite nice, how about yours? In order to accommodate the lazy days and big meals, I took on a sewing project and made this a-line white cotton tunic...to wear with leggings and oversized sweaters. Soooooo comfy! It's not a waist-cinching outfit, but sometimes you just gotta be comfy, right? I feel like a necklace always makes it more dressy - ha ha!

I picked up this blush pink sweater at Gap for under 20 bucks over the holidays - their deals have been pretty ridiculous lately. I'm kind of loving leggings too...but I made sure to make my tunic cover my bum - that's the cardinal rule ladies. Now that I'm back to work it's back to less slouchy outfits but I thought I would share my casual dressing for fun. What's your go-to comfy outfit?

blush sweater - Gap (shop similar)

white cotton tunic - handmade by me!

charcoal leggings - HUE

wood necklace - bought years ago in Calgary

black leather flats - Aldo (shop similar)

Things have also been busy with our bathroom reno, we booked our honeymoon to the Florida Keys in May (loved it so much last time we just had to go again!) and I found out my sister is having a boy! January has showed no signs of slowing down so far!

Have an amazing day friends!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-23T13:55:00.003-06:00

May your holidays be filled with love and family! Mine will be a good one with my two awesome boys...aren't they so cute together? We'll be doing lots of cuddling, eating, hanging out with family and just general re-laxation!!! Yay!

Have a wonderful Christmas and talk to you all soon!

Style Peek: floral top + black cardi + skinny jeans

2011-12-20T13:11:00.002-06:00

Life kinda looks like this these days....like long cardigans and jeans and flowy tops that disguise excess holiday baking binges. Things are pretty routine and I'm counting down the days to 10 glorious days off work...these will be spent lounging at home in stretch clothes, hanging with Jack and Gus and celebrating Christmas with the families....AWESOME! Yoga has been giving me some relief and I've been allowing myself to lag off on my blogging, it's been nice. Did I mention that Jack started our massive bathroom renovation? Things are a little chaotic in the house but with chaos comes the joy of tile selection, paint colours and vanity searches...when he's done building it of course!

black cardigan - Gap (shop here)

floral top - Handmade by my sister

skinny jeans - American Eagle Outfitters (shop here)

black boots - Steve Madden (shop here)

I hope you're all well and I'm wishing you the happiest of holidays seasons! Thanks for always coming back to visit me...I love reading all your notes and comments. I continue to read the blogs, just more low key on the commenting. Life...I'm allowing myself permission to be less than perfect and it feels pretty amazing. You should too...

Style Peek: sapphire dress + mustard cardi + red belt

2011-12-13T12:00:00.000-06:00

Sapphire + Mustard + Red? Oh yes. I was feeeling a little feisty and decided to throw them all together in one happy outfit! This is my new Modcloth dress and I love love it...it's so cute, comfy and vibrant...plus it will go four seasons! I topped it with my favourite mustard cardi plus this cute skinny tomato red woven belt. How's that for taking a risk?

You probably can't tell but it was so cold the day I wore this that I have on tights, leggings, butter socks AND my boots! Anything to be able to wear those dresses... :)

Sapphire for Hire dress - Modcloth (shop here)

mustard cardigan - Gap (shop similar)

red woven belt - American Eagle Outfitters (shop here)

charcoal leggings - Hue (shop here)

tall brown riding boots - Bare Traps via Famous Footwear (shop here)

Tell me...what's the craziest colour combo you've put together and loved?

Have an amazing day friends! Hope you're getting into the holiday spirit!

Style Peek: hearts dress + green tights + peep toe flats

2011-12-07T12:13:00.000-06:00

Hey friends! How are you doing? My trip to Calgary was a blast but of course, now that I'm back into my routine it feels a million miles away...I guess that's why we need to live in the moment. Because that's all it is - a moment and then you're on to the next one! I had amazing visits with my girlfriends and got to stay with my dad and stepmom Laura, who happen to live just minutes from my fave latte spot. Heaven!

Of course I did a wee bit of shopping, but I made myself only visit 2 stores that I don't have here in Winnipeg - H&M and Anthropologie. You'll definitely be seeing my new duds in posts to come...for now, here's an old pic from last week. It's my faithful hearts dress, with black and white that seems to go with everything! I paired it with a cozy black cardigan and my rockin' green tights from We Love Colors. And those shoes? Well, sadly they are a pair that look adorable but pinch my toe in a weird spot (any tips for this prob?). So they got in the picture but not out the door :)

black and white hearts dress - Forever 21 (shop similar)

black cardigan - Gap (shop here)

olive green tights - We Love Colors (shop here)

black and white flats - Faryl Robin via Soul Shoes

Hope you're all having an amazing week friends! Can you believe Christmas is only a few short weeks away?? Eeek!

Style Peek: black crewneck + black tights + summer skirt

2011-11-30T17:19:00.001-06:00

Hey strangers...how have you been? I'm super excited because I leave tomorrow for a long weekend jaunt to Calgary! I'm going to see my dad and stepmom, have tons of great visits with my girls and do a wee bit of shopping. Can't wait!

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the mild November we're having but NOT loving it be dark both before and after work...hence the dark photos. One of the great things about the mild days is being able to still get away with tights. I've been wanting to wear some of my summer skirts, like this one. So I paired it with a plain black crewneck, plain black tights and black flats...so comfy and it puts all the focus on the skirt. Plus I feel kind of ballerina-ish in this colour combo!

black crewneck sweater - Gap (shop similar)

blush embroidered skirt - Gap (shop similar)

black tights - Silk Plus

black leather flats - Aldo (shop similar)

Hope you're all having a lovely week friends!

Hair Ramblings

2011-11-24T12:02:00.001-06:00

So now that I've cut my bangs...I'm can't stop picking at them. I'm snipping and trimming and shaping every second day! I'm working my way up to this...my dream hair....

Not the flaming red even though that looks flaming hot (baby steps!)...just the cut. I imagine she's Florence from Florence & the Machine's young hip niece...I want to be young and hip too :) So I'm starting with the haircut!

image via asos.com

What's your fantasy hair these days friends? How do you work up the nerve to take a leap?

Modcloth reduces shipping to Canada!

2011-11-23T12:53:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone! I have some great news for us Canadian gals who love Modcloth...they've adjusted their shipping fees!

I made an order in the summer and it was something ridiculous like $17 for one item. I definitely think shipping fees are a huge barrier for companies wanting to increase their online shopping market. Well after seeing Modcloth advertising lower international shipping, I plugged this cute dress into my shopping cart for fun to see what shipping would be...would you believe it calculated at $1.98? I refreshed my screen a few times to make sure I wasn't seeing things! Nope, all correct. So of course I couldn't help myself and ordered it.

Sapphire for Hire Dress - Modcloth (Shop here)

As a side note, I tried filling my cart with $200 worth of clothes and shipping was still under $20 so it must be pro-rated.

It's so much easier to think about buying one item here and there when shipping is close to nothing...Asos has really set the bar with this with their free worldwide shipping. I recently scored this dress for free shipping and no customs fees or taxes because the package value was below $50!

dress - Asos Curve (Shop here)

Let's hope everyone else follows their lead and starts reducing shipping fees to Canada!

*Ummm...can you tell I have a thing for blue dresses?

Have you scoped any new great deals you'd like to share? I'd love to hear them! Hope you all have a lovely rest of the week!

Style Peek: navajo sweater + skinny jeans + caramel boots

2011-11-22T13:00:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone! I hope you're keeping cozy this November morning? Full blown winter has arrived here in Winnipeg and for a few moments I forgot what it was like....but I remember now and I'm all over sweaters, boots, berets and thick scarves!

See the happy look on my face (see above!)...I have some fab news to share! I've been named the new Winnipeg City Editor for Western Living Magazine (a Western Canada lifestyle mag)!

What does this mean, you ask? Well, I'm still working full time at Fusion, but now I'm contributing monthly to the front-of-book section of Western Living - sourcing fantastic new and unique home decor and design items to be featured. It's a great little side gig for me, plus I've wanted to be a magazine editor since I was a wee lass picking up Seventeen mag...so this is my baby steps into this world!

On another note - I've been asked by you lovely readers about tights for us tall and curvy gals. So here's my scoop - I adore both HUE and We Love Colors for fantastic quality tights.

I get my HUE tights at The Bay (in Canada) and Macy's (in the US). They have great texture and look for sizes 4 and 5 for more height and weight allowance. The bummer is those higher sizes are only available in basic colours like black and brown.

This is where We Love Colors comes in...they have 51 fantastical shades in their Plus Size Tights to pick from. Shipping is $12 but I order 2 or 3 pairs at a time to make it worthwhile. I definitely recommend them if you're looking for something unique. Hope this helps ladies!

navajo sweater - PURE Alfred Sung via Zellers

white cotton top - Old Navy (shop similar)

skinny jeans - Gap (shop here)

caramel leather boots - Steve Madden (shop here)

Have a lovely week friends!