Sofia Ajram

SlutWalk Zine

2012-05-20T18:23:00.000-04:00

Apologies for the lack of updates for almost 2 months. It's been a busy transitional period for me, where I've been busy all-day every day. This is the first time in a long while that I get to sit down and update my blog.

Anyway, this is a zine I had to create for my summer course at McGill to hand in on Tuesday. The girl at the copy shop said she couldn't print it due to nudity, but I persuaded her.

March GlossyBox & Haul!

2012-04-04T17:20:00.000-04:00

Butterfly Weed Green Wisdom All-Heal Salve | Smith's Rosebud Salve
Two Faced Perfect Lips | Lancome Rouge in Love Lipstick in 340B Rose Boudoir

Swatches from left to right: Pandora's Box Blush, Perfect Lips, Rose Boudoir 340B
Some of the things I received in my March Glossy Box! I'm pretty happy with having subscribed for this box, since it's been the one Canadian beauty subscription box that's been consistently interesting with great products and service. This month's box came with: Evian Facial Spray, Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion (Love!), Sebastian Re-Shaper Hairspray, Pandora's Blush in St. Tropez (not great for my skintone), Bailey Fresh Lip Gloss, and Algemarin Foam Bath. For a good review, check out Aleeza's blog post!
Here are some of the things I received from Sephora last week, since March was my birthday month. I thought it was great that they were giving away such great products! Above are the Sugar Lip Treatments with SPF 15 and a sample for Boscia's BB Cream, which is a bit too olive for my skin-tone, but I'll probably try out fully on my face another day because the texture is lovely and almost watery.
An awesome gift from my partner: a series of HP Lovecraft's work. I'm in love with the cover artwork. Can't wait to fall into Cthulhu mythos this summer.

Also, check out Kimbra's music! If you're unfamiliar, I'm totally addicted!

NYC Haul: Alexander McQueen, Anthropologie, Bobbi Brown

2012-03-28T12:25:00.000-04:00

Last Friday I had the pleasure of driving down to Hoboken & NYC with my mum! We just arrived back home yesterday, which made the trip short-lived, but we crammed every day with different things. If you're ever on your way to NYC, I recommend stopping by Woodbury Commons, which is host to dozens of high-end outlet stores, including Chloe, Prada & YSL (which I frequented on more than one occasion). I also recommend checking out Priscilla, Queen of the Desert on Broadway. My mum and I caught this show, and it's definitely rated PG, but is pretty hilarious and completely different than any other show I've ever seen. Also, drag queens.

Anyway, below is my haul of what I brought home from NYC. I am so excited to share these with you, especially my big indulgence from Alexander McQueen.
I picked up this gorgeous rose gold snake ring from Vale Jewelry at a mini-market, sort of like a pop-up shop around 14th Street. It's so dainty and looks great with my gold snake head bracelet. Together with my sneak head bracelet from Bermuda. This wasn't purchased on my trip, but beforehand, and came in the mail yesterday upon my return. A gold-plated collar, I cannot even begin to explain how long I have been waiting and scouring the Internet and every H&M/Zara/Chloe/etc for one of these, finally, finally, I have one! Prepare for dominatrix fetish queen outfits inc. I also purchased ankle cuffs, because ever since I saw images of ankle cuffs on Tumblr, I have been searching for these too. I'm bringing gold hardware back. The only negative feedback I would have to give for these and the gold collar is that they are extremely malleable and the shape does not keep its original round form, so it's a constant struggle to mold it back into shape. I also hope these don't turn silver or become oxidized over time. Picked these up at Anthropologie & Bloomingdales! My first Bobbi Brown anything. This is her lip shine (SPF 15) in No 3, Papaya. It's so lovely and pigmented, and I like that it has sun protection because most lip products tend to leave that bit out! This is just a little mug I purchased at Anthropologie to put my Clairsonic in. Don't judge me >:( Another Anthro purchase. I only have three pairs of sunglasses: one pair of insane Lady Gaga sunglasses from Tokyo, one from Anthro, and this is my third. ... from Anthro. But I love the black top hardware and the shape fits my face perfectly without making me look like a county sheriff. Last! But certainly not least... my favourite (and biggest) purchase: An Alexander McQueen purse. It's quite a long story as to why I chose this purse, but it is perfection and I am so happy to have been able to bring it home. It's made of soft black leather with black canvas on the inside and comes with a gold skull lock (in-use on the right) When not in use, he chills like a badass on the front of the purse like a masterpiece from the heavens. FROM THE HEAVENS. So let me know what you think! I have an incredibly busy week coming up with the end of the semester winding down, so my posts may be a little less frequent, but you can bet you'll be seeing some dominatrix & skull inspired outfits coming up soon!

Outfit of the Day

2012-03-22T15:38:00.001-04:00

Reform Sleeveless Blouse | Anthropologie Jewel Necklace | Silence & Noise Pencil Skirt
Holt Renfrew Heels | Vintage belt
Burberry Body perfume, a gorgeous gift from my partner's mum for my birthday last Friday! Beside it, a gold case from Urban Outfitters that I found on sale to hold my business cards. They're two years old and really need to be updated, but I still think the design I created is mega cute. Some John Masters Organics products, a birthday gift from my wonderful brother! I tried them out last night and I'm completely in love. If you're interested in a well-designed, eco-friendly and 100% certified organic hair/skincare line, you should definitely check this brand out! Above: Pomegranate Facial Nourishing Oil | Calendula Hydrating Toning Mask
Porridge Lush soap, a gift from my partner & Clarins SPF 30 eye cream (technically a gift from my mum) for the coming summer days. Red roses from my partner ♥

It's been a bit of a strange week with all of the student protests happening downtown Montreal to combat tuition hikes. A lot of my classes have been cancelled, and this warm weather makes everything feel quite strange. It's usually raining or snowing during this time of year, yet today I'm wearing shorts & a t-shirt. Yesterday morning, I went in for an interview for the new Sephora opening on Ste-Catherine this summer - I'm so thrilled, whether or not I get to become a part of their team, getting to go through this process has made me so much a bigger fan of Sephora. If you guys haven't yet seen their new uniforms, you definitely should! They're designed by Prabal Gurung and look so gorgeous and classic.

Tomorrow, I'm off to NYC with my mum for a bit of a break from life! We're going to be hitting up Woodbury Commons on the way, since we're driving down, but if you have any recommendations for shops/restaurants/interests in NYC, please let me know! I will definitely try to check them out! And I'll be posting photos of the trip as soon as I get back next week!

Little update: One of my partner's friends, Adam, is a great graphic designer and digital artist and recently drew a portrait of David and I in Evangelion plugsuits! Check out the illustration on his DeviantArt. I love it so much! Now if I could get my hands on a real plugsuit...

Ugh ugh ugh, have you guys seen the new Hunger Games Nail Polish collection by China Glaze? I'm so tempted..! They're sold out almost everywhere, but you can pick them up at Nail Polish Canada and see more photos at Aleeza's blog!

Birthday Postu!

2012-03-17T18:55:00.001-04:00

See by Chloe Cardigan | Zana Bayne Necklace Harness
Reform Sleeveless Blouse | BDG Jeans | Vintage Purse | Browns Boots

Wore this to go out today with D to check out Mile End shops and just walk around. Such a beautiful day! Obligatory birthday photobooth! We did one last year too, I'm pretty sure!

Minimalist Love

2012-03-07T22:42:00.001-05:00

More at my site. Will be shooting Maude Nibelungen's collection this weekend at a beautiful outdoor location. The theme is Ice Queen, so wish us all good luck and kind weather!

China Glaze Magnetix Review

2012-02-29T11:46:00.000-05:00

A week ago I was sent two of the China Glaze Magnetix nail varnishes courtesy of Nail Polish Canada to review! I finally got around to trying them out on my fingernails today, and I wanted to share the results. These were the two colours I picked out. Instant Chemistry, which I applied to my nails today, a metallic plumb colour. The other is Attraction, a gunmetal colour. All of the polish names are in some way connected to magnetism (Drawn To You, Pull Me Close, Cling On, etc) which I found super cute. To my knowledge there are 6 different polish colours, which look beautiful on their own, or you can use the 3-in-1 magnet on them, which comes with three design options - star, stripes, or arrows. Here's the star design on my thumb! It looks gorgeous, especially with this plumby colour. And the rest of my nails - I tried to mostly do the stripes, because for some reason the arrow one was difficult to use with this particular colour. I've heard other reviewers claim that some designs work better with certain varnish colours, and I think that may be true, because with this particular colour (Instant Chemistry), the stripes definitely showed up the best.

According to China Glaze, you're supposed to put on one single coat and then immediately place the desired magnet over top of the varnish.. you have to do it quite quickly otherwise it will dry (on the plus side, this varnish dries ridiculously fast). I found it worked best with two coats, and that way you can make sure the first coat is shaped to your liking on your nails. If you're only interested in the colour without the magnetic effect, one coat is definitely opaque enough, and I'm not sure if this is unique to this collection, or due to the fact that I've never tried China Glaze polishes before, but their formula is awesome. It's not gloopy/thick or watery, and one coat applies perfectly sans-mess, and dries fully under a minute.

Overall, I think it's a really interesting concept that I find especially exciting since I've recently delved into the world of obsessing over nail varnishes. Anyway, if you live in Canada, the entire collection is available at the Nail Polish Canada website, and should be available at your local retailer in the US this March!

The Bay, H&M, YSL Haul & February Glymm Box

2012-02-27T15:47:00.000-05:00

My gold Minx nails that I got done last week. I was inspired to get these done by Ivania of Love Aesthetics, which has basically become my style bible for the past month. I've received a lot of compliments on them, and they're not so bad after a week - a bit shredded at the ends, but if that doesn't bother you, then I suggest trying them out!

They look so great with gold hardware accessories. And I've always been obsessed with gold - much more than silver. I find it's so rich and delicate and sexy. Quite possibly my favourite colour right now.

I picked up these sandals (??) from The Bay last week with my mum. She's a terrible influence, but I'm so happy I purchased them. I can't wait to wear them this spring, they look so minimalist and beautiful. They're by Vince Camuto and are available at The Bay if you live in Canada.

Also picked up some gold/silver/rosegold/black/white bobby pins from H&M. Again, digging gold as an accent colour. Pictured here with my rose gold Swan Song ring by BloodMilk Jewelry.

And my mum was so lovely last week - she got me this YSL lipstick in a beautiful nude coral colour. I've been searching for a perfect coral lipcolour for ages, and this one is gorgeous. YSL is a wonderful cosmetics brand if you have the funds to indulge!

Two nail varnish colours from Forever 21's cosmetics brand. They were $3 a pop, and I wanted to see if the glittery pink one would make a good dupe for Deborah Lippman's Some Enchanted Evening, although their colours are slightly off.

I was sent these China Glaze magnetic nail varnishes courtesy of Nail Polish Canada. I can't wait to try them out! I did on my toe nails, and they look lovely, but I'll put up a review post/video about how to use them, so that you can check out how they work.

And last but not least, my February Glymm box came in the mail. This is my last Glymm box, as I subscribed for 3 months worth of products, and I'm kind o glad. I've been consistently disappointed with Glymm and Luxe boxes, and have opted to subscribe to Topbox and Glossybox from now on!

The February Glymm Box included:
- Sula Natural Eyeshadow | Full Size (This came in a nude-y colour, which at first reminded me of NARS' Hungry Hearts palette, but pretty much just looks like powder foundation without sunlight)

- Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Hibiscus | Full Size (Cute full-size product. I'll never say no to a free lipbalm, despite my partner's absolute loathing of every lip-related product. Has the same consistency as other Burts Bees lip products, but is rather expensive at $8 for a lip balm)

- Glamglow Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask (Haven't tried this yet, but the sample size is absolutely tiny. I would opt to purchase Lush's Coalface Cleanser, which although isn't a mud mask, probably grants some of the same results for a fraction of the price)

- Mai Couture 2-1 Oil Blotting/Bronzing Papier (Pretty disappointed in this product. I know others received an on-the-go blusher product from the same company, but I do not have oily skin, and seeing as 100 sheets are $24, I think providing only 2 blotting sheets in this month's Glymm box is a bit stingy)

All in all, I'd rate this month's box around 4/10. I'd recommend Topbox or Glossybox if you live in Canada, as their products seem to be much better (as does their customer service!)

Skaði for Ann-Ya

2012-02-25T19:59:00.000-05:00

My little shoot for Ann-Ya | Hair & Makeup by Alexandra Apple | Model, Sophie (Folio) | Clothing c/o Ann-Ya
This was shot a couple of weeks back in the freezing Canadian winter. I couldn't take very many shots because the model was literally grey-skinned and trembling, but these are some of the shots I did manage to get. My first cross-processed set of photos, and although I do love the look of cross-processing, I don't think it worked too well with the Ice Queen/Space Witch look that was intended. Anyway, I love the makeup look Alexandra did - she's amazing at her craft! You can check out some of her work on her Facebook page. And, of course, please check out the amazing craftsmanship of Anja Verdugo, one-woman-creator/photographer/blogger/vintage seller of Ann-Ya. See some of her work here!

Ursa Major Ring

2012-02-17T11:52:00.002-05:00

This is my first completed project from my metalsmithing classes. I'm pretty happy with it, although it's difficult to showcase its daintyness on camera because it's so small! The ring is made of silver and was made from scratch by me. It took 9 hours to complete and has 3 different constellations on it. Above: Little Dipper. Big Dipper (Pisces Constellation) Northern Star and two connected constellations that represent me and my partner. Leo constellation for D. I also picked up a few things over the last couple of weeks! Orly nail varnish & notebook. Lush Karma perfume, which smells like God's feet IT'S AMAZING, GO SMELL IT. Sephora lash curler & Anastasia brow brush because I have had shitty eBay & Dollarama versions of these two products for the past three years, and they really needed to be replaced. I have to go to the Apple Store today, because my laptop charger broke (suddenly*). Hopefully my warrantee can replace it free-of-charge. At least this happened after mid-terms!

Outfit of the Day

2012-02-14T11:50:00.000-05:00

H&M Leather Skirt | See by Chloé Cardigan | FieldGuided Tote
American Eagle Jumper | Anthropologie Crystal Necklace | Aldo Booties

Outfit of the day from a few days ago, sporting my new leather H&M skirt. I've wanted a leather skirt for ages now and initially I had wished it was in black, but I kind of love this colour for spring! Will update later - this week is mid-terms... Work, work.

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.