Fashion Friday: Fall Basics!

I've always had what many might consider to be an unhealthy addiction to shopping.  Personally, I see nothing wrong with it, as I don't really have any other vices, but shopping for clothes, accessories, beauty products and home stuff... well that's just my thing.

I haven't really shared too much of my fashion finds on here because I just figured there are so many gorgeous fashion bloggers out there with much more amazing style, budgets and of course sponsors sending them beautiful things to shoot or even keep!  Of course, I still love looking at their sites and clicking on links, but in reality, my lifestyle necessitates more of a comfortable/casual esthetic.  I work in the construction industry (business casual/casual) and part-time in retail (all black); my weekends are more often than not spent shopping, running errands, working around the house and taking the dog to the park. As such, I have built the majority of my wardrobe around comfortable "Basics" that I can add my personality to with accessories and a fun find or splurge item.  Of course, I go out and love getting a new outfit or item to spice up my wardrobe (I'm most likely going to be splashed all over the social media sites of my friend's, so I don't want to be seen in something I've been captured in before.....). 

But I figured I was probably with the majority here and figured that if I'd like to see fashionable finds for a realistic lifestyle and budget, other people would be too!  So, I'm going to try and aim to post some sort of fashion find every single Friday - sometimes it will just be a great new piece I stumbled upon.  Maybe it will be a wardrobe mash-up to create new outfits and sometimes, like today, I will showcase my Top 5/10/20 (whatever number I like) Picks for a Season/Event/etc.  But everything was attainable for me, on my budget, so it should most likely work for you!!

Without further ado, here are My Top Picks for Fall!



Plaid Shirts
As with everyone else out there, I am LOVING plaid shirts for Fall.  I have a few, but these two are my newest finds and are super comfy!  Best of all?  They're from the G21 line at Walmart and I think cost around $15Cdn each!!!  I like my sleeves rolled up, and these have the little button to keep them in place.  They look great with jeans and leggings.  I've dressed mine up for work with some jewellery and some cute flats; once it gets a little cooler I'll be wearing them with boots.
Similar here

 

 

Patterned Dressy Tank
Since the temperature at my office is so inconsistent, I almost always wear layers.  My usual uniform is cute black pants and a cardigan, but since that can get boring, I make sure what I wear underneath my cardi makes a statement,  like this cute sleeveless top from the Mossimo line at Target .  The front features a great watercolor pattern of gorgeous purples/blues/white on a silky fabric and the back is a super soft modal/jersey fabric.  It's also longer in the back and covers the bum, which is perfect if you want to wear it with leggings. Approx $25 Cdn.

Fantastic Fitting Black Pants
For work, my pants of choice have become Jessica Simpson's Kiss Me Jeggings .  However, the ones I wear are technically not a denim at all, but a soft, stretchy black pant.  They are so super comfy.  Love these and love that they come in a short length!  I wear them with pretty much any kind of top.  They look good with flats, heels and boots!  I hope they never stop making these!  I usually buy them on sale and they cost me around $50 Cdn.

Long Sleeve Striped Tee
I recently picked up a lot of vests and a sleeveless cardi and was looking for a nice striped long sleeve tee to wear with them.  Whenever I think striped long sleeve tee, I think of the Gap and they always have a ton.  I'm a little self-conscious of my mid-section right now, as I'm just getting back to working out so when I found this one with a drop waist and a peplum, I couldn't resist.  I couldn't find it online though, and this was at the Outlet, so check yours.  I'll be straight up and say the drop waist isn't the most flattering on my particular body type, but I wanted  something that wasn't so body conscious and figured that it would more often than not be under a vest or cardi, so I was alright with this being a bit looser.  It's super comfy and I might even see about getting it a tiny bit more tailored.  I think this was about $25 Cdn.

 

 

 

 

Dressy T-shirt

I never seem to have enough t-shirts that are suitable for being dressed up OR down.  This Gap  beauty is exactly the kind of t-shirt I love for weekends!  The cranberry color is new for me and I really like it.  The shirt is soft and comfy but with the lace sleeves and yoke, it adds just enough of something special that I don't feel like a slob if I just pair it with jeans.  But it can be dressed up with a pencil skirt for work!  This was on sale for $20 and I am still thinking about going back and getting the cream one as well.

 

 

Vests 

 

Speaking of vests, here is my absolute NEW FAVE!!  Also from Gap this will be put into heavy rotation for fall. It is super comfy, not too hot and the fur trimmed hood is removable.  It's absolutely perfect with the striped tee or even a black thermal tee and jeans.  At $79.95, this was one of my more expensive pieces, but since it's considered outer wear, that's not surprising.

 

Similar here

 

 

 

Another fun find was this great loden green silk safari-style belted vest with gold accents!  This picture does NOT do it justice, but it is stunning and it is the reason I went out and bought long sleeved tees to wear with it!  It would also be cute over a maxi dress so I will be doing that some summer next year, for sure!!  Another Winners find, I think this was like $12 in Clearance.  The brand is Chaus, which I have never heard of, but fits phenomenally well, super light weight. I like the longer length which covers the bum!

 Leather Jacket

Another great outer wear piece I stumbled upon is this Marc New York, Andrew Marc leather jacket at Winners .  Definitely more than I usually spend at around $250; this was my SPLURGE item for the month, but I have been wanting one for years and the fit on this one is perfect!  I also needed a dressier jacket for fall and like this option for wearing with something a little more feminine like a flowy floral dress.

 

 

Floral Kimono Top

For a night out with the girls, this kimono style Vero Moda top from Hudson's Bay  is absolutely perfect!  The pretty floral pattern looks great with a neutral cami underneath, some jeans, heels and a leather jacket.  Also the wrap style is super flattering and great for those of us whose mid-section isn't as flat as we'd like. I think this was around $30.00?

 

 

Long Sleeved Romper
Another fun option for a Girl's Night Out is this fun heart-print romper from Target  .  I like it paired with a cute belt, some sexy booties and a great bold clutch!  I think this was around $30-40 as well and was the first time I had ever looked good in a romper so I had to snatch it up!  I don't see it on the US site, but there are similar ones here .

 

 

 

 

Embellished Top

Because you can never have enough fun little tops, this cute sleeveless top with a beaded collar from Gap also came home with me.  I got some great patterned leggings that this would look perfect with and I don't even need to think about accessories!!   I think I got this on sale for about $20.

 

 

 

 

Fit & Flare Dress

Since I'm always a fan of dresses, these cute fit and flares from Old Navy have been my faves lately.  The fit is amazing on my body type and they are just effortless.  I add a cute belt, a fun colored cardigan, some fun jewellery and shoes.  I like changing the color schemes up every time I wear them so people aren't always seeing the same thing. I think I paid about $25 for each but think they are on sale for $15 right now.

 

 

Jeggings in Various Colors

Since I always have a hard time finding pants that fit my body (short legs, muscular calves and thighs, an in-between waist size and a perky booty), if I find some that fit well, are comfy and make my legs and butt look good, I go kind of crazy and have a tendency to buy multiple pairs and often grab every color they have.  It was been that kind of month....

 

Up first are these jeggings from American Eagle that are a neat grey color.  (The picture is showing these a LOT darker than they are, probably the flash hitting the velvety fabric...?Check out the true color online)  The fabric is almost velvet-like, super soft brushed cotton and they fit nice!  They aren't technically a denim, but they are great and a nice change from black pants, leggings or jeans.  I should mention they have different styles as far as waist height.  I also bought some black ones in a high-waist and DO NOT LIKE THEM!!!  I mean I will still wear them, but it was an accident as I didn't read the tag.  High waisted pants just don't work for me.  It's a personal preference and while I think they look great on some girls, just aren't comfy to me.  I prefer just the regular jegging over the Hi-Rise or Sky High.

 

 

Okay, so I have officially found my absolute favorite jeans jeggings! These 1969 Super Stretch Legging Jean .  The wash was a little too "fake blue" for me originally but the amazing fit let me overlook it.  I also bought them in black, but the black dye made those a little tighter.  I'm gonna be stocking up on these, let me tell you!!  They look great as an ankle jean and some flats but I know they are gonna be perfect tucked into boots as well!!  I lucked out and got the original pair on sale but I will most likely shell out full price to get a few more and tuck them into my closet for when these wear out!! 

(I realize this picture makes them look sooooooo short and stubby - my ensuite bathroom isn't deep, so I was standing about a foot away when I took the pictures... But I assure you, these make my legs and butt look great!!)

 

 

 

Sleeveless Drapey Cardigan

Since I love a good cardigan, especially one with a boyfriend-style fit and more of a chunky knit, I grabbed this one a while back at Target and wished I had also grabbed it in navy before it sold out.  It was my first sleeveless one, and it is so cute!!  Perfect for wearing with a colorblocked tee, or even with a fun dress like I did this summer!  I can't find it online, but I'm sure you can find these probably most places.  A cream one is a nice change from my usual grey cardis.

 

 

Gorgeous patterned Infinity Scarves

 

I love anything with birds on it so when I happened upon this pretty green scarf with swallows from a teen girl's jewelry store, I snatched it up so fast. There was a 3/$15 deal or something like that and I was getting accessories for a costume event so this was pretty much a BONUS!

 

I am an Avon Representative purely for the discount on stuff I am ordering anyhow.  Admittedly, since signing up, I order way more things than I regularly would since I get a Demo Discount, and this beautiful scarf is a prime example.  It cost me $10 and the gorgeous purples, pinks and blue in this floral scarf is perfect for fall.  I've worn it a few times already and can't get enough.  It is a lot brighter in this picture than in person, but trust me, it is GORGEOUS!

 

 

 

Preppy Loafers

I regularly don't spend a lot of money on shoes because I have a lot of them, but every once in a while, I will splurge and get a quality pair that I know I will get a lot of wear out of.  I've worn these probably 3-4 times a week since I bought them and they still look brand new!  They are also ridiculously comfy and the classic logo in brown means they look great with all my Autumn stuff.  You can't get more classic than Coach and I found these at Winners so they were less than $100!!

Studded Strappy Heels
Okay, so I know everyone out there is day dreaming about the Valentino stunners every fashion blogger has been sporting.  I can NOT justify that much money for a pair of shoes, so when I saw these come up in a Mark by Avon brochure, I immediately threw them in my cart.  I think they were around $40.  The heel is a lot lower than I typically go and these are a worn-looking bronzey leather like material, but they feature the gorgeous studded straps and look great with jewel toned shirt dresses!

Animal Print Heels
I am still looking for the perfect pair of leopard pumps, but I do have a few pairs with python, including these Cream Suede Platform pumps trimmed in python print.  Another Avon find, believe it or not, they were around $40, I think?

 

Edgy Flats

Okay, so I just realized that almost every pair of shoes featured here are from Avon or Mark by Avon, this pair included.  They are black ultrasuede, with gold/rose gold studded pointy toe caps and a sweet little gold buckle accented bow.  Also around $40. I've only worn them once, so still breaking these in.  They aren't anywhere near as comfy as the Coach loafers but still super cute!

Gorgeous Booties
I am relatively new to the bootie trend.  I just always thought they would look weird on my short legs.  Turns out, I should have been shopping for booties all along, since I don't have to worry about fitting my wide calves!!  These are "suede" and "leather" mix, have edgy buckles and a great cut out.  I think these were more around the $55 mark, but still perfect and another Mark by Avon deal!!
 

 

So these are just a few new pieces I will be mixing into my wardrobe for fall. What are your thoughts?  Am I missing anything key?  Do you have any suggestions on what I should add or do you absolutely HATE anything?  I want to know what YOU think!!

 

Everything listed here is stuff I've purchased.  I tried to find links online, whenever possible, or at least a similar item.  Many of the items were purchased on sale/clearance or are a bit older so they weren't available online.  Plus, many of the Canadian sites don't carry the same stock as the US ones, so I did what I could.. Stores like Winners don't even have shoppable sites so that can be tricky, but the point is to share what I'm liking, and for you to create your own adaptation of what works for you.

I'm short (5'1") and a little curvy right now, so my fave body parts aren't necessarily the same as yours, so find what works for your body type and go with it!

Birthday Loves

Today is my Birthday.  Yup, this girl is now 32!!  Yikes!

In honour of my Birthday, I thought I would share a few things that were on my "Wish List" this year!   Some of the items I have already received, some of them I will be receiving, one or two might be purchased BY me FOR me, and the rest will be getting bumped to my Christmas list.

In no particular order, here are the things I'm wishing for right now:

I REALLY want to make drapes for the living room.  I've had my eye on the fabric for a couple years now, I think I am 100% sold on it being the right choice so I will be ordering several yards from Tonic Living right away.

 

 

I've been dreaming of this beautiful gold Bar Cart for some time now to add a little storage and some vignette space in my dining space!  I love that the base of the cart is a matte gold, the handles are a dark wood and the surfaces are mirrored!  Who would have thought I would be open to adding GOLD to a space?!

 

 

 

 

 

I've been wanting a Silver watch for some time now.  When Fossil came out with the colored face watches, I was super excited!  I love the turquoise and am pretty sure I need to have it.  I'd prefer it in a traditional boyfriend style though, but they don't have one... so we'll see how I like it on.

 

 

 

 

The hose on my carpet cleaner was cracked and it was definitely time for a new one.  There is not an item that I have relied on more since moving into this house. Without it, I would have ripped up my carpet 2 months into living here..... While the new one doesn't heat the water, I regularly use hot water, so this should be fine.  I am excited to put the old one out at the curb!!

 

 

 

I have also asked for a circular saw since I don't own one and occasionally need a saw for a project and have to wait around for a buddy to come by and cut things for me. I have no idea what brand to look for. I need something small, inexpensive and easy to use. Any suggestions? 

What do u have your eye on right now? 

Thanksgiving Day: In Pictures

I mentioned yesterday that we had my family in town for the weekend.  One of my Sister-in-Law's requests was that I take some family photos of them as they hadn't taken any since Phoenix was born, three years ago.

 

The weather was pretty windy on Sunday so we didn't get to take them, and then Monday we got a late start with things and then were running out of time as they had to get on the road.  However, we all had to make a pit stop at my dad's, so weren't we lucky that he just happened to have some beautiful colored foliage and leaves in his yard!

 

While the wind started to pick up and Phoenix decided he didn't want to cooperate with looking at the camera or smiling in general, I did manage to snag a few good ones!

 

Here are my faves:

 

 

I love that she's not looking at me in this one, but at her sweet boy!

 

 

Little boys will only look at the camera for so long....

 

 

The dump truck was a big prop for this fall photo session and it was a big hit filling it with leaves and dumping them !  :)

 

 

Of course Auntie had to get in on the fun and get a smooch from her favorite boy!!

I wasn't planning on being in any of the photos so excuse my sweats and 2nd day hair.... 

 

 

 

It took a lot of convincing to get the rest of us in here, but she wanted one of my parents, my brother, Phoenix and I so we begrudgingly obliged.  It's not the best photo, but we're all there, and almost everyone is looking at the camera, so it was still a win of sorts!

 

 

Here's hoping your Thanksgiving was filled with family, friends and LOVE! 

 

 

Entertaining with Ease: Powder Room/Bathroom

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends!

I hosted my family's get together this weekend, which is usually pretty stressful for me.  My place is pretty small and I have a tendency to feel overwhelmed when my space is a mess or there are things out of order - as is the case when you have a house full of guests!  This year, I decided to try and minimize stress for myself and made things super easy by going super minimal, and you know what?  Everyone had a great time!  They had everything they needed and they were a lot more comfortable and that in turn, kept me calmer.

While I am no Martha Stewart, friends and family often comment that I am a great hostess, so I figured I'd share the tips that made this year the easiest for me.  Today, I'm sharing on how to keep your Powder Rooms & Bathrooms ready for guests!

1.  Keep it simple! 
This is undoubtedly the theme I went with this year.  While I LOVE  a home that is decorated to the nines for a holiday, I quite frankly just don't have the space to create all sorts of amazing looking vignettes, so I kept things super subtle décor wise.   Plus, it isn't overwhelming for my guests!

In the powder room, all I did was pop this gold Target pumpkin on the counter and swap out the plates on my Partylite Lantern to the Harvest plates and called it a day!

 

It was hard to get a picture of the illuminated lantern since I use flameless candles that flicker, but the image is super pretty...

 

Other than that, there is little else in the way of tchotchkes or anything cluttering my washrooms. 

 

2. Stock up on essentials!
Even when I am not entertaining, all my washrooms always have more than enough towels, toilet paper, soap and any additional necessities a guest may need.  While I am not typically a fan of having everything out there in the open, I keep my cabinets organized but in a way that a guest wouldn't feel obtrusive about opening a cupboard door to find what they need.

 

 

This is what the powder room cupboard looks like AFTER my guests were here for 3 days.  Still tidy, but you can see that people helped themselves to items!  I like this under the sink organizer for to help maximize space!

 

 

 

The top shelf keeps extra towels, toilet paper and a basket of candles.  You can see, there's only one roll left (usually I put about 3 or 4 here) and people are able to grab a fresh towel if they need it!

 

 

The lower portion houses cleaning products and various air fresheners, extra hand soap, candles and a basket with feminine hygiene products for guest use. 

**Not shown:  I also keep a clean plunger in here. There's nothing worse than being at someone else's house and having any sort of washroom emergency and having to ask/bring it to someone's attention -  some people might disagree but I know as a guest I've appreciated this!!

 

 

My powder room also has a weird alcove next to the cabinet, so I found a cute little shelf thing for rolled towels and guests can help themselves!

 

 

In the upstairs bathroom, I put out stacks of bath towels for people to use.  As there were 4 people sharing this washroom, I found it helpful to put non-matching towels so that people weren't worried about whether or not they were using someone else's towel.

 

My shower stall always has a shampoo, conditioner and body wash available for guests who have forgotten their own.  Full admission:  Sometimes I buy a product that I just don't care for - it gets relegated to the guest bath for other people to use up!  :)

 

**Not shown:  My medicine cabinet is also in the guest bath.  They can help themselves to first aid items and general "medications" like antacids, anti-histamines, cough drops, Pepto Bismol , pain relievers, etc.  The basket under the sink also holds extra wrapped tooth brushes, cotton pads (so eye makeup removal doesn't end up on my towels) and other toiletries.

 

 

 

3. Leave it to the Guests!  

 I don't use the powder room or guest bathroom when I have guests.  I have my own washroom in my bedroom, which I prefer to use.  Plus, this keeps it free for my guests. 

I also ensure they have counter space to put out their belongs if they choose to do so.

 

 

4.  Pop in 2 - 3 times a day to see if anything needs assistance! 

I usually try and sneak a few minutes when my guests are out or busy, to pop in quickly and assess the situation.  Empty the garbage, stock any toiletries that are running low, quickly tidy the counter/mirror/toilet and swap out any used towels for fresh ones!

  

 

Thankfully, always ensuring my washrooms are fully stocked and cleaned, meant the only thing I did this weekend was swap out the towels!  Using a wet towel is just one of my pet peeves so I always make this a priority.  I didn't have a single request for any washroom related item, so that's always a good sign in my books!

 

What special things do you do to make your guests stay more enjoyable?

Wantable Intimates: Subscription Box Review

Well it was an exciting week for me!  Another one of my new Subscription boxes arrived! 

Today's box is from <a href="http://wantable.com">Wantable</a> .  They have 4 different sub boxes: Intimates, Accessories, Makeup and now Fitness Wear.  Cost is $36 CDN per month with a subscription (or you can purchase a one time box for $40.00) plus $6.00 shipping to Canada.  You'll get 4-5 items ranging from socks and tights to loungewear, lingerie, underwear and bras. Items are selected for you based off of your profile.  

I have to admit I was a little thrown today. I had originally signed up for Intimates and then a week later, decided I wanted Accessories too and signed up for that as well. So when I got the mail and saw the size of the box, I thought they had sent the Accessories first! 

The box was super cute and sturdy.  If you read about my first Splendies experience yesterday, you'll know I much prefer a box to a plastic mailer! 

When I opened the box I was pleasantly surprised to see a sticker indicating this box was personalized for me!

Here's the Welcome card and on the back, they even had some cute little tips for photographing your items! This was a nice little surprise! 

I was then shocked to see not accessories,  but in fact the correct box of Intimates afterall.  They sure do know how to maximize space when packing a box! 

Here's a look at my profile. You are more likely to get items you Love; some that you Like and shouldn't ever get ones you "Dislike". I don't dislike anything but had heard reviews that it's wise to update your preferences regularly to keep your box intune with what you are hoping to receive. Here's a look at my profile for the month:

I don't really wear hosiery or socks often and so I opted out of those since I knew they'd be popular given the time of year. The accessories I've seen in other boxes aren't for me, so those were a no.

So let's take a look at what I got:

NikiBiki Racerbank Tank in Pewter

This tank is so soft, super comfy and light weight. I was a little worried that it might be too small ( I went with a Medium since I've not been to the gym in a while...), or too tight and uncomfortable since it looked so small, but it was super stretchy and a nice fit! The Pewter color is a nice grey with a brown undertone and suits my fair skin nicely! Since it is lighter than black, this will be a nice neutral layering piece for under sheer blouses. 

Valued at $22.00

"Real" Underwear Seamless Bandeau in Coral

I've actually never worn a bra like this before and wasn't sure how I'd like it, since since I'm not typically a fan of soft bras. I really like the coral color and the fit is nice and comfortable. The fabric is soft and the cups are lightly padded for some shape. While I'm still very much a structured bra fan, it is nice to have another option, especially for wearing with casual clothes.  

Valued at $14.00

"Real" Underwear  Daphne Thong in Eggnog

This mesh and lace thong is super cute and looks nice and comfy. I like the mesh front and the lace sides are a nice touch. This is something I would have picked for myself, probably in a brighter color but I often find myself needing more options for under lighter colored clothing, so definitely a WIN! 

Valued at $12.00, however my invoice listed it at $18.00 so I'm not sure where the discrepancy is but I'm using the tag price of $12.00 for comparison

Isadora Black Abstract Circle Leggings 

These patterned leggings are once again super soft and comfy. While the pattern is a little Morrocan and busy, the neutral black, grey and white color scheme toned it down. I tried them on with a black tunic and really loved the look. Perfect for work or weekends! Happy with these for sure! 

Valued at $18.00

Overall, I was very pleased with my first Wantable Intimates box! I had heard so many good things and knew this would be a good subscription. Everything fit, was super comfy and was either something I would regularly pick for myself or something new to me that I am happy with. The items were valued at $66.00 and I paid $36 before shipping, so that's almost double the cost! It was full of some nice, basic pieces and I will get good use out of all of them.

A few things I might change for next month: My wardrobe is missing any sort of cute loungewear ( I mostly wear big, baggy t-shirts from ex bfs and sweats around the house...) so I'd like to see more of that so I will most likely play around with my settings to see if I can steer them in that direction. Also, I will be changing my color preferences so that neutrals aren't a Love and maybe a Like or Dislike, so that I can get some brighter colors this time around for review purposes and to see if I prefer them. 

I'm super happy with this box and looking forward to the next one already!! Not to mention the Accessory box that should be coming soon as well! If you're interested in signing up for your own box, please use <a href="https://www.wantable.com/invites/9Tvp7sn0LKs">this referral link</a> . 

I'd love to know what subscription boxes YOU get! Do you subscribe to Wantable? If so, I'd love to know how your items compare? Share!!!