Sofia Ajram

Collaboration Sofia Ajram x Le Petit Petit x Urban Outfitters

2012-02-13T00:31:00.000-05:00

Rapture Cropped Shirt c/o Le Petit Petit x Sofia Ajram for Urban Outfitters | Velvet Leggings from American Apparel
Browns Boots | Zara Blazer Rapture Shirt | Hypnosis Shirt

So pleased to announce that my collaboration with Le Petit Petit is now available at Urban Outfitters! I'm so happy with this my heart could burst. I was just notified earlier this week and went into my local UO store to see if they happened to be available and there they were ♥ Thank you all for your continual support in my work. It means the world to me that others find inspiration and solace in the images I create. Me posing nerdily with the Rapture shirt at my local UO.
If you're interested in purchasing any of the garments, please send me a photo of you wearing it!
I'd love to post it on my Facebook Page!

Canada GlossyBox February 2012!

2012-02-09T17:12:00.001-05:00

I came home from class today and ahhhlsdlkgdklsgklsd my GlossyBox had already arrived!! So I'm making this post as a little sneak peek! It's their first box in Canada - ever! Ohhh man. You know when you've found the one, and baby (baby, baby, ~oooh~), I've found the one. This is the best beauty subscription service yet (excluding Topbox, which looks absolutely gorgeous, but has a 4-month waiting list).

I think it was clever of them to include an Essie nailpolish with their signature company colour! So many delightful products! I'm going to try and make a review video tomorrow, but no promises!
Let me know if you've ordered yours or what you received in your box! I'm so thrilled though! ♥

COSMIC WITCH GIVEAWAY

2012-02-09T12:18:00.001-05:00

Thank you all for subscribing and continuing to support this blog. I've reached over 200 followers on Cosmic Witch, so I think it's time for a GIVEAWAY! Included in the giveaway is: Kimchi Blue velvet floral clutch w/ removable strap. Perfect for spring! ♥ Faun Notebook & hand-bound sketchbook. TokyoMilk soap, Crabtree & Evelyn India Hicks perfume. Benefit minis: Foaming Cleaner, Moisture Prep, Total Moisture.

So in total, included in the giveaway:
- Kimchi Blue clutch
- Faun notebook
- Hand-bound sketchbook
- TokyoMilk soap
- Crabtree & Evelyn India Hicks perfume
- Benefit minis

To participate:
- Be a subscriber of Cosmic Witch, either via BlogLovin' or Google RSS.
- Comment on this post with your favourite thing about spring
- Sharing this link via Twitter/Facebook will gain you an extra entry!

Giveaway closes March 10th! Good luck to you all! ♥

Quick OOTD & Imadake

2012-01-29T19:10:00.001-05:00

Some things I've been pining over lately,
Charlotte Martyr Gri Gri Bracelet Picnic Leather Bag in tan | Gainsbourg Hallmarked Ring 9K Gold

Nelly Trend Choker (Image c/o Love Aesthetic)

Ursa Minor Sage Linen Hand Dyed Dress (Made in Montreal! ♥) | Alexandra Grecco You Are My Moon & Stars Hair Pins

Real quick outfit of the day from this weekend!
Hello Kitty Shirt | American Apparel Shorts | American Apparel Belt
Deena & Ozzy Combat Boots | See by Chloe Cardigan | Thrifted Purse

Spent the weekend with the love of my life hanging around downtown. We revisited the Japanese restaurant Imadake for a delicious dinner last night and I picked up a Magic Mushroom Bubble Bar from Lush. Just a relaxing weekend before a hectic week. I'm shooting Ann-Ya garments tomorrow at the Snow Village, which I've never been to (I hope it's beautiful and not too busy!), and later this week I have some assignments due. Blergh!

January 2012 Luxe Box

2012-01-27T14:51:00.001-05:00

So this little gem came in the mail this morning.

I'm actually not that thrilled with this month's box, although there was an effort made to improve last month's box by adding a second box? When I filled in the customer review form, I wrote (paraphrasing here) that I absolutely loathe receiving perfume samples. And this is like a joke. "Take a look at the collection of scents that we put together just for you!" Seems like they don't read through client feedback.

So here they are in all their 1.2mL glory. I could get these for free at The Bay, and some of these I already received in previous Luxe Boxes, but hoarders and perfume sample lovers should get a kick out of this. Curly Hair Solutions - Curl Keeper and NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (Full Size) & NYX Round Lipstick (Full Size)
These are probably the products I'm most excited about - granted, NYX usually makes me break out in hives, and alternatives to the Curl Keeper were full-size Benefit products (that sold out before I could get my hands on that option in their "first come first serve" program). I used this on my hair this morning in place of Lush's R&B before curling my hair, and it's actually quite nice. I'm really pleased!

NYX Lipstick (Full size)
This was sent in a sheer light pink. Doesn't have a lot of coverage and rubs off pretty easily but it probably looks quite lovely with some pink lipgloss over top!

Contents of the second box: Schick Razor & Fekkai Hair Products
I am pretty thrilled about being able to try out the Fekkai hair products - I have a friend that swears by them. I found the addition of a razor in my box to be pretty comedic.. I hardly think that's a luxury beauty product, and the addition of several papers and an entire other box and paper to keep the products in place feel like such a waste in comparison to beauty subscription programs like Topbox, which are compact and more environmentally friendly.

Part of my gift to David. It's our two year anniversary on Monday, January 30th.

Bonus points if you can guess where this little guy is from!

Anyway, apologies for the rushed text - I'm headed off in a bit and wanted to get this post up so that people could have an idea of what's to come in this month's Luxe Box. This is my last month being a Luxe Box subscriber.. I don't think that for the money, it's been worth it. The products featured are hardly luxury products and are available at local drugstores. One thing that was in this month's box that wasn't featured was Seattle's Best Coffee - Ground Coffee... this would be nice if 1) I had a coffee machine that took ground coffee, and 2) If I drank coffee. Will probably be pawning this one off to someone else. Anyway, I'm much more excited about Glossy Box coming to Canada, which I've ordered one month of. It seems it's been consistently amazing if you watch YouTube unboxing reviews, and I can't wait for my February box to arrive!

If you received a January Luxe Box, please leave me your post link/review in the comments section below! I'm really interested in what everyone has to say about this month's box.

お帰りなさい

2012-01-25T10:46:00.000-05:00

Braided headband by Good Night, Day

Some of the photos David took of me a while back where I'm wearing my ultra soft wool headband by Tara-Lynn. It's by far the most beautiful handcrafted winter accessory I've ever had, and I keep getting copious compliments when I wear it. I'm always happy to reply that it's handmade from a friend of mine ♥

Tara-Lynn has the most gorgeous online shop, if you're not familiar I definitely recommend checking it out! If the fact that every piece is hand made doesn't pull you in, the gorgeous wooly designs definitely will. Some of my favourites are the Lambton Merino Wool Cowl, the Merino Sweater w/ Leather Tassles and the Wawa Inspired Wool Cowl

Agent Provocateur S/S 2012 Collection

2012-01-23T14:42:00.000-05:00

Daena | Ariel Mercy Body | Candace
I am hard-pressed to be in a good mood right now, but seeing Agent Provocateur's Spring/Summer 2012 Collection this morning brightened up my mood. Whenever a new collection for a designer I love is released, I'm tempted to pick and pry at the details that I dislike in attempt to deter myself from making a purchase, but AP never fails to clue in on exactly what I love and this season is no different.

Their S/S 2012 collection is 70s inspired, which I am head over heels in love with. It's definitely reminiscent of 70s erotica with its enchanting prints and fabrics and styles completely new to the AP repertoire. I am so thrilled to see that the lacy Ariel set features suspenders with six straps, something I've been pining over for ages, but can't seem to find anywhere! I'm also glad that their models are finally wearing suspenders properly (under your knickers, so you don't need to untie them when going to the washroom!)

I really can't wait to see this collection in person, especially the gorgeous Daena set shown above. Typically I dislike the look of florals on black (tends to look like you bought your knickers at Sears), but up-close the Daena line looks so elegant and romantic.
Now the hardest part is choosing a set.. can't just buy a pair of knickers.This is Agent Provocateur, after all. Photo from a few months ago w/ David.

January 2012 Glymm Box

2012-01-18T11:03:00.002-05:00

My January 2012 Glymm Box arrived in the mail yesterday! For those of you who are unfamiliar, Glymm Box is a monthly beauty subscription program available in Canada and based in Quebec. For $10 a month, they'll send you between 4-5 "luxury" beauty samples (and usually one full-size product) for you to try out. All of this is tailored to a beauty profile that you fill out when you first subscribe. Let's get started on this month's box! List of everything that's in this month's box. When opening new beauty boxes, make sure they're cat-approved before continuing. So here are the five products!
Kaia Naturals | Juicy Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths (Full Size: $17.99)
This cloth is soaked in Vitamins and is said to be made with 99% natural ingredients, perfect for removing makeup, toning, or cleansing the face. I'm pretty excited about this! The full-size is pretty expensive, almost 3x what I spend on makeup removing wipes, so we'll see if it's worth the price.

Vasanti Cosmetics | BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator (Full Size: $34.00)
This product claims to "dramatically improve your sin's texture". It's enriched with aloe and papaya enzymes. I haven't ever used any Vasanti products, but I'm pretty excited given the opportunity to test this one out, seeing as it seems to have very positive reviews online!

Anastasia Beverly Hills | Clear Brow Gel (Full Size: $21.00)
This is the product I'm the most excited about! This gel claims to set your brows perfectly all day, and is an Anastasia Beverly Hills best-seller.

Burt's Bees | Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion (Full Size: $12.99)
This new body lotion says it is clinically proven to restore moisture and replenish dry skin. It claims to deliver beneficial nutrients to the skin through coconut and Vitamin E. I'm not crazy about Burt's Bees products, especially hair and body products, but milk and honey sounds like a delicious fragrance combination, so I'm excited to try it out!

Cargo Cosmetics | Eye Pencil (Full Size: $16.00)
This is the full-size product that's available in this month's box, so this product alone pays for the box. I don't know if I would've gone out of my way to pay $16 for an eye pencil on my own, but it gives me the chance to check out this new brand. This glides onto the skin really smoothly and came in a rich chocolate brown colour. I'm left wondering if I can use it on my eyebrows or not.

So my favourite product this month was... !

Definitely the Anastasia Brow Gel! I wanted to buy this a few months ago, but opted to go for the cheaper Sephora brand, but I'm delighted I get the opportunity to try this one out and compare it to the cheaper-priced alternative. I gel my brows almost daily, so I'm happy that I received a product I'll be using!

Overall, I'd give this month's box a 7.5/10 (room for improvement!) I'm excitedly awaiting this month's Luxe Box, as my 3-month subscription will be over, and I can look into alternatives (Glossy Box is finally coming to Canada, and it looks amazing). I'd like to get my hands on a Topbox (it looks like the best available Canadian subscription program, but they're sold out until 6 months from now!) - one day!
If you're a Glymm Box subscriber, please link me to your post or video, as I'd love to hear your thoughts on this month's products!

Edit | I ordered the first month of GLOSSYBOX! I'm so excited! Every video I've watched of unboxing looks amazing with legit luxury products. I only ordered one month to check it out and see if it's as good, but if you live in Canada, go and subscribe!

Weekly Favourites

2012-01-17T20:47:00.000-05:00

See by Chloé leather keychain. Deborah Lippmann's Some Enchanted Evening, a gift from my mum! ♥ Emerald blouse by Sparkle and Fade | S'well Water Bottle | Deborah Lippmann glitter polish | See by Chloé keychain
Some things from this week. I spoiled myself on Friday before meeting my mum up for lunch by getting this See by Chloé keychain. I didn't even go into The Bay to pick anything up, but was wondering around downtown and I saw it and ahhh the kitten is so beautiful, and I love tapered keychains, even if I only have it for one key, so I got it for myself to replace the Miu Miu keyholder I had lost/mugged/RIP around this time last year.

The S'Well water bottle is some insanely amazing invention. If you know where to find one near you, or are in search of a new beverage bottle, I seriously recommend checking this one out. Normally, I ain't a big advocate of beverage holders (who cares), but this is seriously amazing. I poured hot tea into it yesterday at 5:00pm, and when I woke up at 7:00am this morning my tea was still hot. I kid you not. Science is amazing.

On Saturday, David and I went out to see A Dangerous Method, which, while over priced, was one of the better movies I've seen in a long time at the movie theatre! Sunday we took photos at the Westmount Greenhouse and went to a local café for a late hot chocolate.

Yesterday, I started my first jewelry course. It was three hours - from 7:00 - 10:00pm! So nerve-wracking! I made a really horrible looking star keychain, which I am not going to share because it's seriously horrendous and hangs off my pencil case like a trophy of how long it takes for me to produce shit material, but next week I get to design and make a simple sterling silver ring.

I think - David better not be reading this - I think I'm going to try to make a set of rings for us. Is that cheesy? I always wonder if I'm cheesy. Or creepy. Like taking a photo of him while he's asleep in my bed. That's creepy. That sounds creepy. Especially on the Internet. Damnit, Internet, it looks cute when you see it on Tumblr, but when you do it yourself, it's damn creepy. It was one iPhone picture! Forget I ever said anything. Anyway, on the topic of my creepy affections, January 30th is our 2-year anniversary, and I'd like to make him a ring. Not necessarily that he will wear it, but just as an object of affection, I suppose. I have already planned out what I'd like for it to look like, and I'm extremely excited by the notion. Hopefully it'll come out looking nothing like this shitty keychain I made, especially since I have over a month to make this ring. Cheers to that!

What's In My School Bag

2012-01-16T12:45:00.000-05:00

I had a pretty positive response with regards to a what's in my school bag post, so here it is! For the past year and a bit, I've been using my Cooperative backpack that I purchased when I worked at Urban Outfitters, because I fear scoliosis (I have flat feet, which cause my spine to not be straight, and wearing a backpack is way better than a purse), but for now I've been using my FieldGuided Tote! It's so big and clean, and helps to keep all of my work so neat and organized! I love it! Here's just about everything in my tote from last week. My Marc Jacobs laptop case that was a gift from my mum for Christmas. It's so gorgeous - the lining is absolutely the softest fabric! Also, a custom made bow pouch from Leah Goren, that I keep all of my school bills and receipts in to keep my wallet from overflowing, and my small flat purse from Indigo that carries all my little pills, Advil and such. Mian Mian's Candy, which I am not reading until later this semester, but I had to purchase, and a McGill notebook to keep me organized in my Chinese Literature class. A used hardcover copy of Where the Girls Are that I'm currently reading for my Feminism in the Media class. A great read with interesting personal stories. Beside it, a mechanical pencil and my Louis Vuitton Agenda in amarante, which was a gift from my mum for my 21st birthday. I love it! The design is so gorgeous and it keeps me so organized. Said agenda with monogramed inside panel. All of my books for the week. I'm so delighted that Judy Rebick will be teaching my Canadian Women Studies class. I've only had the pleasure of attending one class so far, but she is so interesting and entertaining. She shares with us really intimate events that have happened in her life. I'm so happy I was able to get into this class. It's her first time teaching at McGill! Prada wallet and a mini mirror. I have a phobia of carrying mirrors with me, for fear of them breaking, but it seems like it should be pretty safe padded neatly inside my wallet. I have awful teeth and food.. stuck.. between.. teeth... embarrassing Braceface moment. My pencil case: hand sanitizer, cream, lip balm, high lighters, pens, etc. What do you keep in your school bag? I'm a bit of a freak when it comes to watching/subscribing to "what's in my bag/purse/knapsack/etc" posts and videos. Also, room tours. Also, makeup collection videos. So please do share! O start my jewelrysmithing classes tonight from 7:00 - 10:00pm! I hope they'll be amazing! I'd really like to get into creating my own line if I end up enjoying it.

First Week of Classes

2012-01-13T22:17:00.001-05:00

Love Message in a Bottle that I picked up from Indigo yesterday. Going to write in it and send it to someone close to my heart. I think the design is so beautiful. Small Flat Purse, also from Indigo. Keeping my pills in here instead of the year-old Advil bottle that keeps popping open in my purse. Level Shower Bombs, from Indigo. Got these for my mom because they have the most extreme eucalyptus scent and she has been under the weather for a couple of weeks now. I like these because if you don't have time to take a bath, you just pop one at the bottom of your shower and let it work away at your sinuses! This adorable leather and crystal wallet I picked up at Winners a few weeks ago. I have a wallet that I use most of the time, but I think it's fun to switch things up once in a while. This also makes a gorgeous clutch and reminds me of Miu Miu and adklsglkds crystals stop enticing me to spend moar money. Said wallet with a white wicker purse I purchased a few months back at a local thrift shop.
Had my first week of classes starting on Monday, so it's been a strangely long week. I like most of my classes - especially my Canadian Women's Studies class. The teacher is Judy Rebick, who is teaching for the first time, and I absolutely love her class. She has the most amazing personal stories to tell, and her book Ten Thousand Roses is a wonderful encyclopedia of information. It's interesting to find out how feminism progressed in Canada, and particularly in Quebec and know how McGill and Montreal students took part in activism. I also started watching Bomb Girls, a show produced and based in Canada. The title is pretty self-explanatory and if you enjoy Boardwalk Empire, you will definitely enjoy Bomb Girls. Also, another totally awesome part of this class - instead of writing a final paper, I'm making a feminist zine. I am jealous of myself.

I just went out today and last night and walked around town, then met my mum up for supper. Catching the last couple of sales here and there, taking advantage of my gift cards!

I have a "What's in my School Bag" post with photos and everything already done - would any of you be interested in seeing that sort of thing? I am obsessed with seeing what other people carry around. It seems like an unhealthy obsession, but if it doesn't interest others, than I won't post that sort of thing here. Let me know!

Annnd I got allergy tested this week for the first time ever (I have a fear of needles so I stay away from doctors and such). I found out that I'm allergic to cats, dogs, indoor dust and egg yolk so I came home after the appointment, cuddled my cat and ate egg sandwiches. For real.

I'm also having a print giveaway at my Facebook Page, so if you'd like to enter, please do!

This Calls for a Toast!

2012-01-05T19:10:00.002-05:00

Anna Ballet Flats $295 | Napeague Bag $98 How beautiful is this photograph by Ellen Rogers? If I ever have the opportunity to visit the UK again I am definitely going to try my best to meet her. Her work is so beautiful and inspiring. She knows how to capture women's mystical beauty so perfectly.
Anyhow, what calls for a toast/post is that I applied to be a Personal Shopper at the local Anthropologie that's going to be opening in Montreal this year! The last time I really worked one-on-one to create a customer service experience was at Crabtree & Evelyn, and I think at Anthropologie it should be great fun! I love the store, after all, so it'll be great to make friends that are interested in the same things as me, and get to help people style their outfits and homes to their own taste! My winter semester starts next Monday, and my jewelrysmithing classes start the week after, so I'm going to be pretty busy soon, but I'll do my best to update at least 2-3 times a week! And YouTube.. yeah.. someday soon if I can get over being camera-shy!

My classes so far are as follows:

Canadian Studies Seminar (The Women's Movement in Canada)

Intro: East Asian Culture (Korea)

Media and Feminist Studies

Topics: Chinese Literature (Post Mao Chinese Fiction)

Women Writers of China

Hopefully they'll be interesting. Stupidly enough, I tend to switch in and out of a lot of classes the first two weeks of each semester to make sure I enjoy the class, so this might not be my final schedule, but it is hella good-looking!

Field Guided & Outfit of the Day

2012-01-04T19:47:00.001-05:00

Love at First Blush One-Piece | American Apparel Nylon Spandex Micro-Mesh Button-Up | Silence & Noise Skirt | Zana Bayne Harness I really need to come up with a solid place to take OOTD photos because these are awful. I received my Field Guided There is Thunder in Our Hearts tote today. How gorgeous is their packaging?! I felt so awful tearing it apart, but oh my!! This tote is huge! I thought it would've been half this size, but now it's perfect for when I need to buy groceries or bring things to the post office. I can't wait to use it.

I spent most of my day taking a few new photos for my vintage etsy shop. Please check it out, if you can!

Christmas Haul 2011

2012-01-02T20:46:00.003-05:00

I thought it might be fun to document and share some of the gifts I received for Christmas from my lover and family, as well as some of the things I purchased recently! I turn into a consumerist nut during the holidays - more so than normal. I spent most of today organizing my bedroom closet - there's a lot of garments I keep and tell myself I will wear later, and it's been like, four years, give it up, Sofia. But some of them are real nice, so I think I'm going to wake up early tomorrow and shoot some of these garments on myself for my Etsy shop before meeting Seyoung for tea this afternoon! I also want to pick up Mindy Kaling's book. More buying. Shut up, it's a book, which makes it a more legitimate purchase because reasons.
A lovely crystal necklace my pops gave to me this Christmas from Anthropologie. It's so gorgeous, I feel blessed to have such a giving father in my life. Also, he knows my taste. He got me constellation pyjama bottoms!! How awesome is that? I was lucky enough to receive some Lush products from my parents! I was so happy to find the American Dream conditioner wrapped nicely under our tree! I purchased the mini version of this conditioner because it was so pricy, but now I can indulge! - at least for a while! THE NAKED PALETTE OH MAH GLOB YOU GUYSI've been pining over this palette for ages. AGES. So long that they released a Naked Palette 2. But who cares about that - not me cause I ain't got it. But I do got dis bitchin' Naked Palette! BRACE YOURSELVES FOR ME NOT DOING ANY MAKE UP TUTORIALS WITH IT. Much love to my brother for going out of his way to gift this to me! xo Vivienne Westwood's Naughty Alice perfume! Almost all of the time, I have reserves when given a perfume as a gift, because fragrance is so personal, and it's difficult to find the proper fragrance for someone else, but I was so delighted when I tried this perfume - it's absolutely wonderful! It's a classic and sexy fragrance, featuring notes of powdery musk and black rose - perfect for an evening out. The bottle comes with this gorgeous Vivienne Westwood charm bracelet. I love Westwood's branding so I will wear this proudly!My mum was sweet enough to bring me back some Anthropologie knick-knacks, including this toothpaste & champagne glass (which I am using for my toothbrushes, thank you) - all since our Montreal Anthro store has yet to open! It's supposedly set to open Winter 2012, but now I'm thinking perhaps closer to this summer! Peeking in their window, there's a lot of construction left to do!One of my most thrilling gifts from my parents - a gift card to Agent Provocateur. Make Up Forever's gift set, including their mascara, lip gloss, setting powder, highlighter, and primer. I can't wait to try these out! If you're looking for an amazing cosmetics company, I would recommend checking out the Make Up Forever counter at your local Sephora or equivalent. It's fantastic! I also did an exchange at Sephora this weekend and was able to get my hands on this lovely scented Rose Salve. A gorgeous gift from my brother & his girlfriend - NARS highlighters and eyeshadow. I am so absolutely in love with NARS' packaging. I just want to take it everywhere with me.If you frequent my blog, you will recognize the item above - my new Zana Bayne harness, from my wonderful partner, David. By far, my favourite gift! Beside it, Things I Want My Daughter to Know by Alexandra Stoddard, a gift from my mother. I'm half-way through this book, and it's such a lovely read. I read a chapter every night before going to sleep - Anthropologie has some great books for your bedside table, if you're interested in boosting your mood! Feuille de Lavande Diptyque candle from my brother. I received this, and a L'Artisan Parfumeur candle this Christmas, and oh my looooord, they both smell like the gods of Olympus took a great big glorious poop into some glass jars and someone slapped lovely labels onto them. But in all seriousness, these smell fracking amazing. To the right, Our Darling ring by BloodMilk Jewelry. It is so gorgeous, I don't even have the words to describe it. A gift from the wonderful Jes of BloodMilk Jewelry - my favourite creation of hers, the Swan Song ring in rose gold. It is perfection. It holds such a strong energy and looks gorgeous worn on the ring finger. Thank you so much, Jes xo!& the lovely Chanel No. 19 perfume - a gift from Boyfriend's mum! I am spoiled rotten, but this honestly smells amazing. What I purchased at Sephora in exchange for another item - a Kat Von D lipstick. I'm not a fan of Kat as a person, but this lipstick is really delightful! It's in the shade Adora, a lovely coppery rose-y red colour. Finally got myself a new makeup case from American Apparel during their boxing day sale! At last!!!!Some face cream from Dr. Hauschka. I have yet to try this out, but I am really excited to have a full-size of this face cream. Dr. Hauschka's products contain no alcohol, parabens, sulfates, or carcinogens! I recommend checking out his line - they are on the pricier side, but they are well-worth checking out if skincare is one of your passions!
I'm so happy I got to experience this holiday season with D and my family. Last year I spent it with D in Florida with his family, which was equally enjoyable, but there's something about being with my family and having a white Christmas that makes me feel so blessed.
I received my Glymm and Luxe Boxes during mid-December - apologies for not having written about them until now! I like to try out all of the products before sharing my thoughts on them. If you're unfamiliar, both of these are beauty subscription services - for $10-$12 a month, you receive 4-5 luxury products tailored to your liking so that you can try out different brands and products you wouldn't necessarily try out otherwise! In my December Glymm Box, I received:1. Yves Saint Laurent perfume (Cute sample, but I'm really not crazy about receiving perfumes in subscription boxes, because perfume is a very personal thing)2. Sula Natural Lip Gloss (I liked that this product was natural, but in general I prefer lipstick over lip gloss!)3. Ahava Hand Cream (Soft hand cream - I'm delighted to have received this in-time for winter)4. Caudalie Hand & Nail Cream (..But! I wasn't thrilled about receiving two hand creams in the same box!)
Overall, for this Glymm Box, I'd give it a 6/10. I have two more months of paid subscription for Glymm, so hopefully in the new year I'll receive products that I'm going to be more excited about ♥
In my December Luxe Box, I received:
1. NYX Black Eye Liner (Although this was a full-size product, I wasn't too thrilled with receiving it. NYX is a widely available brand that you can find at most pharmacies. Also, I'm allergic to most NYX products, which is also a plus)2. Lady Million Perfume (Again, not too thrilled with receiving another fragrance in this month's box - I also received the equivalent of this fragrance for men and gave it to David. Not crazy about this, overall. I wish I could opt out of receiving certain products!)3. DDF Cream (This was the product I was the happiest about. I like receiving products that I wouldn't normally go out and purchase on a whim because they're more expensive or are brands I haven't heard of before. I'm using this cream right now and it's good so far! Might invest after looking further into the ingredients!)4. Yves Rocher Shower Gel (Not too happy with this, unfortunately. I'm not particularly a fan of Yves Rocher products. I've tried them before and they're kind of "meh" and this fragrance smells like hand soap, so it's not something I would go out of my way and repurchase).
Their additional chocolate was a yummy touch, but overall I'm pretty disappointed in this month's Luxe Box! Previously, I'd favoured this over Glymm, but now I'm not too sure. I'd give this month a 4/10. I purchased a 3-month subscription to Luxe Box for David's mum for Christmas - I hope she received different products than I did, because honestly, $12 for a cheap eyeliner and perfume samples I can pick up at The Bay for free is not really worth it at this point.

Outfit of the Day Jan 2nd, 2012

2012-01-02T16:08:00.003-05:00

Olivia Skirt | American Apparel Velvet Bodysuit | C/O Ann-ya Kimono (worn as a top)Miu Miu Purse | Vintage Belt | Zana Bayne Harness | Browns Boots | Thrifted Cardigan
My outfit of the day for running errands (except that the post office is still closed ????). Today is pretty much just a chillaxin' day. I'm just cleaning and organizing my things and editing photos. My next semester starts over in less than two weeks, and I'm trying to get something done every day! Anja, the designer of Anna-Ya (and the everything of Clever Nettle) sent me a couple of garments to shoot, and I'm so excited. I've been looking at models from professional agencies, because I've only shot professional models once, and I'd like to continue doing this more often. It's been a while since I've done a shoot - this tends to happen in the winter months, where it's so cold that I don't want to shoot (most of my photos are taken outside). Still, for her garments, I'm thinking alien princess surrounded by white snow and fog with a crystal scepter (which I'll have to make). These should be taken soon, so be on the lookout!
David and I might go to PAX this April - I'm not really into gaming that much anymore since I ended my WoW subscription, but I still think cosplaying might be fun, since it's been a couple of years since I did my last cosplay at Otakon in 2007. I'm thinking of doing one of the following:
Amethyst Ashe | Frost Queen Janna | Katarina | Valkyrie LeonaCrimson Elite Riven | Warrior Princess Sivir | Vayne
Anyhow, if any of you are cosplay gurus, please message me!! I'd love to have your insight when making my outfit!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T23:11:00.001-05:00

Zana Bayne Harness | Cooperative Velvet Bustier | Silence & Noise Pencil Skirt Forever 21 Tights | Rosegold Pumps | Ann-Ya Prototype Kimono | ERA Vintage Wear Purse
Happy new year, everyone!! This is the outfit I wore out to the New Year's party with my family. Decided to wear my Zana Bayne harness backwards, and I love the way it looks like this so much. So happy to finally have a piece of her work in my wardrobe. I have my lover to thank for that, and I'm so thankful. I spent yesterday trying to keep from catching the cold that's been going around my family and over-eating at dinner. Had a lovely evening, overall! Not many pictures to show for it - the first world problem of being a photographer with a DSLR - it weighs too much for me to haul it to events like this. I would invest in a small Coolpix, but I rarely go out to party QQ.

I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions, so I haven't really got any that I specifically made on New Year's, but in general, for 2012, I would like to:

- Make more friends

- Work several jobs (I'm applying to be a personal shopper at the new Anthropologie store in Montreal, opening sometime this winter!)

- Travel

- Create a jewelry collection

- Dedicate more time to my blog & Etsy

- Actually start a YouTube channel, no matter how embarrassing!

What are your New Year's resolutions?

Boxing Day 2011

2011-12-26T19:01:00.001-05:00

Harricana Fur Hat | See by Chloe Cardigan | BDG Jeans | American Apparel Shirt & Belt | Miu Miu Purse | Anthropologie Necklace | YSL Lipstick
Went through the madness of leaving the house during Boxing Day with David to brave the sales. Unfortunately, there weren't many (tbh there are never any good sales unless you're looking to buy a big tele or kitchen supplies), but I did walk away with The Fashion Sketchpad since I'm going to be taking jewelry/goldsmithing classes starting in January, and the Medium Leather Carry-All Pouch from American Apparel. I got it for 25% off in brown because my current make-up case is quite tattered. American Apparel had some pretty good boxing day sales happenin' and some baller music in their store. Now I just want to get their comfy button-up one piece to lounge in! Did any of you pick up any boxing day goodies?

Zana Bayne Harness

2011-12-19T19:28:00.005-05:00

I have so much exciting stuff to photograph!! But I couldn't wait for this - David gave me my Christmas gift early, and it's just the most amazing creation that's ever graced my skin. It's Zana Bayne's Necklace Harness that I've been pining over for literally months. I'm so in love with it! It looks so gorgeous over simple garments like this blue velvet bustier. I want to wear it for New Years with my black Miu Miu pumps and ring in 2012 like a goddess. Thank you so much, love of my life. ♥

Lush/Burt's Bees/Paul & Joe/Luxe Box Haul

2011-12-16T18:05:00.008-05:00

I've been really dedicated to finding products that aren't stock full of shit for my skin/hair. It's bad enough that I don't eat that many vegetables or drink enough water, but to be rubbing nasty chemicals into my skin twice a day just makes things worse. Burt's Bees does have a couple of nasty ingredients for your skin in most of their products, including alcohol, which causes free-radical damage, and drying. I did find this conditioner and (to my knowledge), it doesn't contain any harmful ingredients in it, and it doesn't smell too bad, so I'm excited to try it out! I also received this Paul & Joe limited edition lipstick in the mail today as an x-mas present for my mom. She better not be reading this! Cat head! Lipstick! Catheadlipstick! A+!

I also managed to go to Lush today after handing in my final paper for philosophy. This isn't really a haul though - Boyfriend's lovely mum bought me a Lush gift set for xmas, and some of the products I wasn't crazy about, so I did an exchange and got all of the above for the same price!

All the product names are in French, lol Quebec. Above: American Cream Conditioner | Cupcake Fresh Facemask

Above: Honey I Washed the Kids Soap | Godiva Solid Shampoo (Wtf is this, I hope it works properly)

Above: Christmas Eve Bubble Bar | Sex in the Shower Emotibomb (smells like heaven & they're discontinuing the product, so I bought three!)

Above: Wiccy Magic Muscles Massage Bar (for Boyfriend when he needs to relax ♥) | Space Girl Bath Bomb (Naturally the first thing I picked up)

Above: Celebrate Lip Tint (This is so beautiful on the skin!) | Sweet Lips Lip Scrub (I need 100 of these, because my lips are always dry. Will probably need more when I run out!) | Helping Hands Hand Lotion

Not from Lush, but another gift from Boyfriend's mamma! She got me the Nars Yorokobi Super Orgasm Set! The blush is so gorgeous, narsgurl4life. To the right is the sample set from Dr. Hauschka. I spent over an hour today at The Bay looking at skincare lines and looking up product ingredients online. This skincare line seems to be safe enough! I was happy to see that they had a sample set available, so I can check out most of the skincare line and then pick out which items I like best!

Click "read more" to see more of the post! :)

I received an early x-mas gift from David, this gorgeous, gorgeous, goooorgeous Yves Saint Laurent Lipstick in Rose Culte [No. 11] - it's this beautiful fuchsia. I don't know if he digs it, but I totally do and AHHH YSL PACKAGING GIMME GIMME GIMME.

Also, I never took photos of my November Luxe Box, but here are some of the items that arrived in it! Skincare from Benefit, which I tried and, to be honest, I don't want to try again. The smell is overwhelming and it's a fracking phonebook of ingredients under the boxes.

The Essie nailpolish came in the Luxe Box, and ahhhh I love Essie nailpolishes and this colour was so delicious, I was so happy to see it included. The center polish is one I bought myself and HOSHIT it's so nice. So so so worth the price. As you can see, the Elf eyeshadow pallet is still in the packaging because I couldn't care less about that brand's products.

My personal favourites for last! These are some of the things my mamma brought back for me on her trip to Egypt, Turkey and Italy... The first is my gorgeous scarab ring from Cairo of lapis lazuli and gold.. it's so delicate and full of energy.. on the right is a beautiful little vial with hand-painted illustrations. Inside it holds both solid and liquid Chanel No. 5 perfume! Ahh, I love it so much!!

Sorry for the long post - I figured I was overdue. Normally I take photos of new things right away, but this had been accumulating! I also went thrifting Wednesday with Emily, and picked up a frame for Chad of Mon Petit Fantome because I am sending him some prints for a little trade! And I picked up a sparkly cardigan but I need to wash it before I take photos of it, so stay tuned!

OH SNAP!!!! I almost forgot!! I name my files all weird when I save them from Photoshop so I forgot about this one because reasons.

SAILOR MOON FABRIC!!! STRAIGHT FROM JAPAN!!!! I know!!!!! I'm going to scan the images and something something future project, you'll see I hope this works out.

Nature / Nukes

2011-12-16T17:29:00.003-05:00

Cover photograph by Ali Scarpulla

This is the poster & zine I created for my modern Japanese literature class. I like the way they came out - I wish I could photograph my work properly, but it's not like I have a studio or anything. My office is green so everything is overcast and I shot these on a white poster-board hahaha. Anyway, they might be available soon through Irregular Rhythm Asylum. If they are, all proceeds will go to survivors of Fukushima. You can find more photos of the work below.. I didn't photograph the entire zine because I want to keep at least some a surprise :)

SuperBeautyNerd Feature

2011-12-14T20:24:00.004-05:00

Still trying to find inspiration for white rooms, because I'd like to repaint my office. I love these first shots from this post. I definitely enjoy putting my clothes and knick-knacks on display.

I've started messing around with embroidery and made this patch for Boyfriend's shirt sleeve (a fun project for the holidays - buy your loved one a shirt/sweater and make them a little love patch and sew it to the inside of the sleeve. It's discreet, but they can still wear their heart on their sleeve!) I had made one about a year ago, but it got totally ruined because it was made horribly, not like this, which was made with a legitimate embroidery hoop! It says 愛してる (I love you) and our names together because reasons.

I'm a YouTube subscription hoarder, and one of my favourite YouTube gurus, SuperBeautyNerd (she is gorgeous, has great taste in products, and is quite hilarious in her videos) featured me in her November favourites video! I'm so honoured, and it totally explains the sudden flow of traffic to my totemo lonely blog. So hello to all my new subscribers, and thank you for visiting!

Beautypedia and the Safety of your Beauty Products

2011-12-06T17:53:00.005-05:00

ON THE SAFETY OF YOUR BEAUTY PRODUCTS
I would advocate that if you do not already use makeup products and that you are happy and confident with the way that you look that you try to keep your beauty regiment the way it is. Even things like moisturizer aren't really a necessity unless you feel that they should be - for example, that you feel or see that you have dry skin. Any other part of your beauty regime is really just a bonus, or some way to tackle other "problems" you find you might have (acne, wrinkles, dark spots, etc.)

But what isn't a bonus is when products that are supposed to be helpful end up being stocked full of crap. If you're interested in reading more on this, I recommend picking up Gillian Deacon's There's Lead in Your Lipstick, which chronicles the majority of beauty products you might use, and the ingredients that are most likely in these products. Fun things like neurotoxins, triclosan, parabens, phthalates, coal tar, formaldehyde, mercury, oxybenzone, and, of course, lead.

I recommend checking out your current beauty regime up against websites like Beautypedia and EWG that do their best to list the ingredients and the pros and cons of the products. Through this site, I found out that some of my Kiehl's products aren't as natural or good for my skin as I might have thought... seeing as on some of them have "alcohol" listed as the second ingredient! If you know of any other comparative websites, please let me know!

That being said, WEAR SUNSCREEN. And drink water.

Christmas Wishlist

2011-12-04T19:12:00.002-05:00

Just some holiday picks! It's getting to that materialistic time of year again. I just want my semester to end so I can listen to Christmas radio music and sip hot chocolate and spend time with people and craft some things. Blugh.

Smart Design Mart

2011-12-04T13:17:00.003-05:00

Cashmere Scarf | Kimchi Blue Sweater | BDG Jeans | Browns Boots | Miu Miu Purse

Olivia Mew's gorgeous booth at Smart Design Mart.

Yesterday, Boyfriend and I attended Smart Design Mart for the second year in a row. It's a ballin' event every year where local artists and designers come together to form a marketplace just in time for the holidays! I was lucky enough to meet and speak to Joanna Szkiela of RedSofa and see some of the new projects she's working on that I am absolutely thrilled about. I ended up buying this cage bodysuit from Love at First Blush, which I'm really excited to have discovered.. Can't wait to meet Sabrina again to pick up my order!

Other than that, next week is my final week of school, so I have a ridiculous amount of projects and finals to do, but after that I'd like to start posting more regularly and potentially doing videos!

Office Decorating Inspiration

2011-12-01T12:13:00.005-05:00

(Image from Hannah and Landon)

(Image from Hannah and Landon)

(Images from Foxtail and Fern & Marie Zucker)

(Right image from Nubby Twiglet)

I've been itching for a while now to redesign my office. It's been a bright green for several years now (previously an ugly cucumber colour, and an ugly salmon-y colour). I stayed with the bright green because it was the first colour I felt comfortable with and pushed me to be creative in an environment I felt comfortable in. Now I feel as though, if I'm going to be spending more time in my office on different tasks, that I should adapt it to suit my new needs. So I've been thinking of painting it white. Above is my ~*office inspiration*~. I know white seems really stark and "clinical", but I think if it's decorated in the proper manner that it can look really lovely! It also makes for good backgrounds for shooting blog posts, Etsy items and YouTube videos. What are your thoughts on white walls? I know a good deal of creative people who live within white walls that they've really personalized. I, myself have never had white walls. I still need to think about it a lot, but if I'm going to be staying in this house for a few more years, I might as well update my living space!