I am a lifestyle blog

I Am... A Link List

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 23:30:00 +0000

This week I've been loving...

Dia de los muertos was ages ago, but when I see this gorgeous red velvet skull cake I instantly want to reproduce this. Anyone know where to get a skull cake pan?

These earrings are so understated, but still add some glam to an everyday outfit. Definitely on my wish list this Christmas (husband, are you reading this?).

This little peek into shirt heaven is now a new life goal.

I Am... Over There

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 13:00:00 +0000

{via}

Here's a cute picture of some dogs. And that is all I have for you today. If you really want to read a post I wrote, you can head over to Loose from the Zoo where I am guest posting today.

I Am... Blogger behind the Blog {Becky from Loose from the Zoo}

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Back with another edition of Blogger behind the Blog. This time we have Becky from Loose from the Zoo. She blogs about her daily adventures and she takes some amazing photographs. Definitely worth a visit. Take it away Becky!

What's your favorite perfume?
I wear Marc Jacobs' "Lola" in the fall and winter and I wear "Oh Lola" (also Marc Jacobs) in the spring and summer. When I was is in high school I has this ritual of changing my perfume whenever I was dating someone new (I went through Georgio Armani's "Sensi", Ralph Lauren's "Ralph" and Juicy Couture's "Viva La Juicy" respectively. Around the time I started dating Steve I bought a bottle of "Lola" and I guess the rest speaks for itself!

What dish can't you live without?
I am a diehard popcorn-aholic, but it must be air-popped with real butter and a little salt. I've loved it for as long as I can remember, but I'm not sure if there are any specific memories attached. It's just the most simple, delicious food. I want to go make some for breakfast now.

What is the destination of your next trip?
I am in total trip-planning mode right now (though I suppose I am 90% of the time). We are trying to plan a little adventure in the next few months, but we haven't decided on a destination yet! We are toying with a few ideas, among them: Bunberry Music Festival in Cincinatti, Ohio (Belle and Sebastian, Yo La Tengo, and The National are playing...need I say more?), somewhere in Florida, or possibly Niagara Falls. It's really just the unfortunate matter of trying to juggle our very limited vacation days from work, as neither of us have been out of college for long.

What are you currently craving?
I have been OBSESSED for ages with the "Ikebana For All" skirt from Modcloth.

What is your web addiction?
Blogger is my most visited webpage and I'm a total Instagram-aholic.Otherwise the most consistent thing I do online is surf semi-smutty news sources/blogs like Slate, The Daily Mail, Salon, The Atlantic and Huffpost. If I am really really bored i'll throw in imgur and Perez Hilton.

What is your favorite TV show?
Party Down. It ran for two seasons on Starz back in 2009 and 2010, but then a number of cast members got busy with other commitments (Jane Lynch with Glee, Adam Scott and Megan Mulally with Parks and Recreation). I'm also obsessed with Arrested Development, Downton Abbey, and the first two seasons of Shameless UK.

What event is happening in the next few months that you are really excited about?
There is something coming up quite soon that I am really really REALLY excited about, but that's going to have to stay confidential for a little while longer. However, in August, Steve and I are finally moving in together for the first time and both of us are completely stoked. We're also a little frantic about it because there is still so much to before the move, but we can't wait to finally have a little home to ourselves!!!

Thanks for stopping by Becky!

You can follow Becky on Bloglovin' here and you can follow I am a lifestyle blog on Bloglovin' here

I Am... The Crush List

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Pffff... Monday again. I have had a great weekend. One of my best friends had his birthday party and on Sunday the plan was to go to a music festival. Due to a major hangover, the music festival didn't happen. What did happen was a lot of surfing online. See the results below.

This bathroom has been rocking my world. Check out the rest of this gorgeous house here.

This is a beautiful sweater that I am pretty sure I will get a lot of pleasure out of. The only thing holding me back is the price (260 euro). Ouch...


{Equipment}

Just discover this lovely girl's blog. You might just recognize her from this little TV-show called 'Revenge'... She has great style though and she has been blogging since 2009!

Happy Monday!

I Am...{2x4} Sunglasses Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Summer is in full swing and you've got to shield your peepers from the sun. Not only will these protect your eyes from sun damage and protect the skin around your eyes from crow's feet, you'll also look mighty cool in the process. So there is no reason not to pop one of these beauties on your face, right?

1. Warby Parker 2. H&M 3. Ruche 4. The Row 5. Sosie 6. Karen Walker 7. Ray-Ban 8. Illesteva

I Am... Blogger behind the Blog {Amy from Cupcakes & Couture}

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

For the second edition of Blogger behind the Blog, I am honored to have Amy from Cupcakes & Couture here. A while ago I guest posted for her while she was on this amazing trip to Antigua and I am lucky that she was willing to return the favor. This girl has some great style and her blog is a daily visit for me. I am sure you will love her as much as I do.

Hi all! My name’s Amy and I’m the creator of Cupcakes & Couture, a lifestyle blog featuring posts on baking, shopping, DIY projects, interior design, gifts and more. I'm 27 years old and live in the beautiful city of Boston with my cat Phoebe. I'm excited to be guest posting on Hannah's blog today and share a bit about myself - hope you enjoy reading it!

What is your favorite perfume?
Oh boy. i hate to get really wordy right off the bat here, but I'm a perfume addict and there's no way I can pick just one! I wear different perfumes for different occasions and moods. My favorite go-to for every day and especially the spring months is the beautifully floral and fresh Chloe EDP. I love Tocca 'Florence' for the summer because it's a perfect blend of jasmine, gardenia, tuberose and bergamot. I normally wear Hanae Mori 'Butterfly' during the colder months because it's very warm and comforting, and I like to wear either Chanel 'Chance' or Annick Goutal 'Gardenia Passion' for nights out on the town!

What dish can't you live without?
Macaroni and cheese, hands down! It's always been my favorite and I think it always will be! Even when I'm trying to eat healthier, I never deprive myself of mac n cheese - I still eat it, just in smaller portions. I would be a total grump without it.

{via}

What's the destination of your next trip?
I am so excited to be traveling to Paris this coming November! I rented an amazing apartment near the Eiffel tower and I'm looking forward to spending my week relaxing, eating, shopping, going for long walks and seeing new things I didn't see last time I visited.

What are you currently craving?
I've been dying for Chloe's ankle strap ballerina flats. I already own a pair of Chloe ballet flats and I'm obsessed with them, so I know these would be just as comfy and cute but I haven't splurged on them quite yet!

What is your web addiction?
I am definitely a Pinterest addict! I'm on there all the time when I'm bored and am always pinning things during my commute to and from work on my iPhone app. It gives me a lot of inspiration for my blog posts, especially when it comes to street style and interior design!

What is your favorite TV show?
I'm really into cheesy reality shows like The Bachelorette, America's Got Talent, The Voice and The Biggest Loser. But I also really love The Killing, Law & Order SVU, Pretty Little Liars, Shark Tank and any/all shows about baking!

What event is happening in the next few months that you are really excited about?
I am super excited to be moving into my new apartment on September 1st! I will be renting a cute lofted apartment in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston that has really classic features like crown moldings and a marble fireplace. I'm really looking forward to decorating it in a feminine, Parisian chic style - check out my inspiration ideas here and here!

Another big thanks to Amy for stopping by!

I Am... A Confession

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

I have long admired Candy Chang. She had the most wonderful exhibit with Before I Die and I am loving this one even more.

In 2012, Candy lived in The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas for a month and turned a gallery into a place where people could confess whatever was on their mind. Candy would than hang these confessions on a wall and painted a select few on a larger canvas.

What really struck me about this, is that everyone has their secrets and everyone has something they are ashamed of. It takes anonymity for people to come forward with their deepest and darkest emotions. It reminded me of this quote and how true it really is.

Below you will find some images from this exhibit.

I love art that makes you think. Would you ever confess like this?

I Am... A Spin On The Pin

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

It was a perfect day. I was sitting in the garden on a warm summer night, a glass of wine and my laptop sitting on the table in front of me. First stop: Pinterest.

And BAM! This popped up:

{via}

I love everything about this. The soft pink pants, the striped shirt, the somewhat-adult-you-don't normally-see-these-on-kids sunglasses. But most of all, the attitude!

So of course this image was my inspiration for this weeks A Spin On The Pin.

1. Sosie 2. Ruche 3. H&M 4. Joie 5. Charlotte Olympia

Now I've added the shoes and bag for you but the attitude is not for sale. You'll have to come up with that one yourself.

I Am... Mastering Monday / 16

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000


{via}

It is important to remember that the iPhone 5 will not make me as happy as spending time with the people I love will. Things will break, memories will keep forever.

Just a thought on a sunny Monday. See you tomorrow for another edition of A spin on the Pin!

I Am... Five Years Old and I Got Swag

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Remember this post where I showed you a bunch of kids with amazing style and swag? Those kids were brilliant right? Well, they got nothing on Alonso.

Alonso Mateo is five years old and lives in Laguna Beach, California. His mother is a stylist and you can certainly see that she passed the gift of style on to her son.

Now I imagine that she dresses him and that he doesn't have much say in the matter, but I have to say that if I ever have a son I kinda want him to be dressed like this. Heck, I kinda want my boyfriend to be dressed like this!

{All images via Alonso Mateo's instagram}

I Am... A Little Reward

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:59:00 +0000

One of my goals on my July Bucket List was to work out twice a week.Now I am surprised to say that I actually managed to keep up! I have been working on my arms and abs on Monday and legs and butt on Wednesday. And let me tell you, I am sore all the time now.

If I keep it up for the rest of July, I will start to incorporate other forms of exercise, but let's not jump the gun. We're not there yet!

If I finish this month as scheduled, I have decided to give myself a little reward. Now a chocolate chip cookie is high up on that list, but let's not cave to temptation. A reward that will motivate me to keep working out, is probably a better idea. Some workout gear it is then! I am loving all of these, so it's going to be hard to choose.

1. Lululemon 2. Adidas 3. Reebok 4. Under Armour 5. Nike

Which one would you pick?

I Am... Mastering Monday / 15

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

{via}

I Am... {2x4} Earring Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

1. H&M 2. Gorjana 3. Shourouk 4. Mango 5. Sosie 6. Modcloth 7. J.Crew 8. Heather Hawkins

I Am... Blogger behind the Blog {Emily of PartyMixTape}

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Here we are for the first edition of Blogger Behind the Blog. I am always curious who is actually writing the blog and what their lives look like. So here we are going to get a little peek behind the curtain.

First up: Emily from PartyMixTape. She writes all about the art scene in Montreal, style and whatever else crosses her mind. She is also hilariously funny and always looking for the next thing in the art scene (as evidenced in her Instagram). After you read this post, you should definitely jump over to her blog.

What is your favorite perfume?

I've been wearing Chance by Chanel for several years. I first discovered this scent at the Duty Free (of all places!) while heading to Vegas with my girlfriends for my bachelorette in 2010. It smells fresh and subtle... and the fact that it evokes such happy memories is a definite plus!

What dish can't you live without?

I can't live without pesto pasta... add to it some grilled vegetables, pine nuts and freshly grated Asagio and you've got one of my cooking staples. Pasta of all kind makes me a happy girl. So does ice cream. If a restaurant has a chocolate milkshake on the menu, I'm ordering it with my dinner FOR SURE. I have no shame. Wine and milkshake: yup, I've done it.

What is the destination of your next trip?
My husband and I have always made traveling a priority. Last summer, was EPIC! We traveled to Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam and Prague. Amsterdam blew my mind: I felt at home! If given the opportunity, we'd definitly consider moving there... As for future destinations, my friends Misha moved to Laos a few months back, which got me thinking of traveling to Thailand and visiting her at the same time... Fingers crossed!

What are you currently craving?
My summer must-have is an all-white look. White nails, white short pants, white jacket... Essie's blanc rules my world. It's retro yet contemporary. I also saw this great bright white BCBG jacket... it's calling my name... White is the perfect summer shade! However, since I tend to shy away from the sun, I do need some extra help from Avène's Moisturizing Self-Tanning Lotion, because my über pale face and an all white look can be a ghostly combo.

What is your web addiction?
It's no secret that I love street art. My go to websites are Stikki Peaches' tumblr and Station 16's online site. I'm obsessed with both their Instagram accounts... oh my god, Instagram is such an addictive app! As far as fashion goes, I try to keep a close eye on what Cheetah is the New Black and Frassy are rocking. They have great style!

What is your favorite tv show?
I’m the only person I know who does not have cable tv. My husband and I don’t watch a lot of television, but once in a while, we’ll buy a series and go on a rampage… we’ve gone through Mad Men, Fringe and How I Met Your Mother. We’ve got eclectic tastes, haha! One of my favourite is probably The New Girl… I’m not going to lie: Zooey Deschanel is my girl crush. Quirky, great hair, full lashes and a drool worthy Kate Spade wardrobe: what’s not to love?

What event is happening in the next few months that you are really excited about?
No doubt, the most exciting event of 2013 has been the purchase of our condo. For the past six years, my husband and I have been living in a great apartment in downtown Montreal, but in just a few months, we will be moving to Little Italy. I am beyond excited to start decorating and discovering Montreal from a different vantage point. (It will be pasta galore!)

I Am... A Non-Boring Fridge

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Who doesn't know Instagram? Raise your hand. I bet no one's hand was up. That is because everyone and their grandmother is on Instagram nowadays. It is amazing for sharing your life with the world without giving too much away.

But what do you actually do with these snippets of your life? Most of the time these will just reside on your phone and nothing happens with them. Of course you might look at them from time to time, but that is about it. Just like me, there were some smart entrepeneurs who thought this was a crying shame. Unlike me, they actually decided to do something about it.

You can get your snippets printed on calendars, as regular photo's, on canvas and a number of other mediums. My favorite, however, is printed on magnets. You open your fridge multiple times a day and how fun is it to see all your memories right there, every day.

You can get these magnets through multiple online shops, but the following two get my stamp of approval.

Instantgram specializes in magnets solely. They offer 9 magnets for 17 dollars and they are 1.97 inch by 1.97 inch. Below some instagrams of their magnets.

Stickygram offers the same but for only 15 dollars.

I have only tried out Stickygram and I love how they look on my fridge.

Tell me, what do you do with your Instagrams?

I Am... A Spin on the Pin

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

{via}

1. H&M 2. Current/Elliott 3. Marc by Marc Jacobs 4. Sosie 5. Gianvito Rossi 6. Mango

I Am... Mastering Monday / 14

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

{via}

A little fighting spirit to start your Monday.

I Am... Somewhere in St. Maarten

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 11:00:00 +0000

What I really want out of life is to be able to look back on it in hopefully 80 years (107 is a respectable age, right?) and say that I have really lived. For me, really living is about experiencing the new. New food, new people, new experiences and new places. I truly believe that routine will slowly kill you. So to avoid such a boring life, you have to actively pursue the exciting and the new.

One way to do this is by travelling the world. And Saint Martin (Sint Maarten) is high on my list.The climate is very pleasant and it would be the perfect destination for a beach vacation where you lie on the beach and read a trashy romance novel. Doesn’t sound bad at all, right?

One beach isn't meant for reading or chilling out, but for getting your adrenaline pumping.

{via}

This beach is Maho beach. It is directly adjacent to the landing strip of Princess Juliana International Airport. Every day, planes bringing new tourists to the island fly right over this beach. On the 2180 meters long airport runway, which starts just a few meters from the beach, the biggest airplanes like Boeing 747 and other big size airplanes land. And you could be standing right below it.

{via}

Amazing adrenaline rush. However, caution is advised. Some people like to stand right behind the airplanes when they take off. The jet engines blow you square across the beach and people have gotten hurt this way.

Still, if you use some common sense this could be an experience to remember.

I Am... {2x4} th of July

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Here is how I wish I was dressed today.

1. Topshop 2. Etsy 3. ThreeBirdNest 4. Forever 21 5. JaneDoeSmoke

I Am... Taxidermically Challenged

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Whenever I walk into a room and there are antlers on the wall, I fall in love. With the entire room. Even if the rest of the room is hideous. I do not have the same reaction when there is an elk head above the fire place or if there is a mounted bear ready to attack me in the corner. But antlers on the wall steal my heart every time.

Unfortunately, my other half does not feel the same way. He thinks it is morbid and does not want any dead animals in the house. I do get his point of view, I just think it is stupid. To satisfy my craving for deer antlers, I am going the share them with you. So here you go. A couple of images of rooms with deer antlers in them.

{via}

I Am... July Bucket List

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

July already. The months seem to be flying by, don’t they? Remember when you were a kid and time seemed to go by so slow? After your birthday it seemed to be an eternity before the next birthday would roll along. Not anymore. 2013 is almost half way over and I feel like I haven’t accomplished all that much in the past half year.

{Pictures via my Instagram}

June was a productive month however. My June bucket list consisted of 4 items: take a swim in the ocean, book a trip to Bruges, find the perfect wedding invitation and lose 4 pounds.

Results: I booked a trip to Bruges, didn’t take a swim in the ocean since the weather was crap, gained a pound and still haven’t found that illusive card. I did however have an amazing trip to Texel (a small island in the north of the Netherlands), studied hard to get a certificate for work and passed with flying colors, watched a marathon, discovered why I gained that pound and am doing well at work.

So all in all, I am calling June a successful month even though I didn’t meet most of my goals. Here are my challenges for July.

Get my Oracle SQL certificate, this will help with my goal of getting the best possible year-end review.
Lose 4 pounds (if at first you don’t succeed, right?).
Work out twice a week (strength training, once a week Arms & Abs and once a week Butt & Legs).
Find and send wedding invitations (only three months away, eeek!).

What do you have planned for July?

I Am... Mastering Monday / 13

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000

{via}

Motto for the week. Don't bitch, don't complain and just get on with it. So incredibly busy at work this week that I am not even allowing myself to think about how busy I am.

What are you up to this week?

Happy Monday!

I Am... {2x4} Bikini Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Summer is here! It is time to bare that beautiful bod of yours and what better way to do that than in a gorgeous bikini?

1. Zara 2. Topshop 3. Zimmermann 4. Lisa Marie Fernandez 5. Melissa Odabash 6. Agent Provocateur 7. Topshop 8. Emilio Pucci

I Am... Giving You Options

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 13:00:00 +0000

{via}

July 1st is close. Which means it is time for me to post the post you have already seen all over the web. The one about Google Reader. As you all know, Google Reader is calling it quits on July 1st. Which really sucks.

There are so many blogs I follow with Google Reader that most of this weekend I will be making bookmarks for every single one of them, just in case.

I am hoping that some of you guys follow me as well. And I would REALLY like it if you kept coming by, so here are some options.

My favorite: Bloglovin'. You see a small excerpt with an image of every post of the blogs you follow. Everything in one place. This is what I use and I must say, I am quite happy with it.

You could also use Feedly. I haven't used this yet myself, but they have a one-click Google Reader Import function, which could come in handy.

So follow along and I will try to keep you entertained.

I Am... Shampoo Free

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:00:00 +0000

For a couple of years now, there has been a trend that has gained quite a following. Since I have heard about it, it must be mainstream now. The trend in question? Going shampoo free.

{via}

That's right, no shampoo, just water. The theory here is that shampoo contains sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate as a foaming agent. Both are skin irritants. By not using shampoo, you allow your hair and, more importantly, your scalp to do what it naturally does. Regulate itself.

All you need to do, to go shampoo free is: wash your hair without using shampoo. Easy enough right?

Well, there is a transitional period between the moment you stop using shampoo and the moment you will have beautiful, natural and healthy hair. The transitional period lasts between 4 to 8 weeks and in this time you can experience an increase in oil production, an itchy scalp and feeling and looking, well, dirty.

The transitional period is the period that most people give up and return to using shampoo, but according to the people who have stuck it out, it is all worth it. Sarah from A House in the Hills says: "My hair seems to be improving by the day- it's less frizzy (but also not greasy), it's not tangling up the way it usually does and i can't lie- i absolutely love how low maintenance it is"

I am very intrigued by this idea, but the transitional period doesn't appeal at all.

Do any of you have tried this? What were your experiences?