Home Inspo Gallery Wall

Hey there.

My Friday night was a spontaneous one. I spent the afternoon in my empty, spacious apartment and really got into the home decorating mode. I mean, getting totally inspired to decorate is the norm for me but the naked walls made it actually impossible to resist. So, I headed to Pinterest (my go to for everything) and started searching for some great living room decor ideas.

Of course, as always, my budget was all I could think about while scrolling through the beautiful suggestions on Pinterest. I came across so many gallery walls and knew this is what I wanted to do. I started looking at prints and posters on Urban Outfitters and Chapters Indigo but the cost was adding up quick. My roommate came home from work and she threw out the idea of drawing and printing the pictures ourselves. Not only would we save money but the images become more personal and we can switch them up whenever we want to.

Read on for more details and pictures!

Top Picks Tuesday: Winter Survival Guide

Hello there!

It took a little longer than usual for winter to kick in, but boy is it here now. Canadian winters are so unpredictable… One day it’s sunny and gorgeous, then the next day it’s a snow storm with wind chill warnings. Needless to say, a survival guide is much needed! I’ve put together a few things that help me get through the winter months for this week’s Top Picks Tuesday.

Fit Tip

Hey friends!

All this week I have been thinking about New Year resolutions. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, my main resolution is finding the time in my busy schedule to do things that I love.. Mainly blogging, yoga, and adventuring. But another resolution I’ve come up with is all about living a healthy lifestyle. Year after year, one of the top resolutions made by Americans (and Canadians) is to get into shape, to start eating better, and to lose weight.

Last summer my sister shared with me this really great fitness website called neilarey.com. Neila Rey offers suggestions to all aspects of a healthy lifestyle from full workouts to meal plans and recipes. Basically, it’s your guide to creating the new you for the new year.

Monthly Muse: January!

Hello friends, happy January!

Despite how crazy busy this time of year can be, I hope you all had a lovely holiday! I absolutely love Christmas and I’m so sad that it’s over. However I’m more than excited to start into another new year. I think a great year awaits and I’m looking forward to it. I put together a monthly muse board for January to kick the year off right.

I put together a feminine outfit for January because feeling and looking great is the best way to overcome the January blues. This long sleeve dress from H&M ($24.95) is super cute and easy to dress up or wear casually. I matched it with a pair of colour block polka dot tights from Urban Outfitters ($24). These will keep your legs a little warmer in January weather while adding a playful pattern to your outfit.

These buckle ankle boots from TopShop ($112.00) are one of my favourites right now. They balance out rustic and feminine in a very unique way. The colour makes them easy to wear as part of any outfit.

I also like this colour block shoulder bag from Zara (SALE $59.99).. The bag is perfect for day or night use and adds a pop of colour to your outfit. I chose a statement necklace from Forever 21 ($15.80) because this dress is asking to be accessorized. This statement necklace adds just enough sparkle and shine while the flowers add a girly touch.

A necessary winter accessory is a travel mug filled with your favourite hot drink to keep you warm in the chilly weather. The travel mug ($12.00) I picked out can be found at Chapters/Indigo. There are other cute messages on the mugs but I love this particular one as it’s positive and and sends good vibes to start off the new year, not to mention every morning.

Another way to start your day on a positive note is getting ready listening to your favourite songs. I’ll admit that One Direction is my guilty pleasure these days.. I can’t stop listening to Night Changes. Haven’t heard it? I bet you’ll love it. Listen to it now.. 1D isn’t so bad afterall, eh?

Lastly, a new year calls for a new day agenda. I can’t explain how important it is to have (and use) a day planner. I write everything in my planner from homework to when I’m going to do laundry… It’s my key to staying organized and keeping my stress levels down. You can find a large assortment of day planners at Chapters, cute ones of all sizes. I like the Kate Spade agendas because… Well, they’re Kate Spade. But also because you have so much space to write.

A new year waits for us all and I hope you’re as excited about it as I am! What are you looking forward to this month? Let me know in the comments below.

Top Picks Tuesday: Holiday Gift Guide!

Hey friends!

Can you believe there’s only a little over a week left until Christmas? It’s at this time when people really start to freak out about last minute Christmas shopping.. So I’ve put together a little gift guide for all of those people who are sitting there scratching their heads.  Hopefully you can find an idea on here for everyone on your list, from your best friend you’ve known for 15 years to the coworker you hardly know but pulled for your Secret Santa.

Read more for details!

Monthly Muse: December

Hey friends!

I can finally breathe a sigh of relief… I’m done exams and have a whole month off for Christmas. I absolutely love the holidays… Ever since moving to the city a year ago, I’ve become a Christmas fanatic.

One reason I’ve come to love Christmas so much is because I’ve discovered the Christmas Market in the Distillery District in Toronto: it makes the magic of Christmas really come alive. The string lights, festive music, and unique vendors make up the happiest atmosphere. If you’re in or around Toronto, you need to take a trip to the market this season!

It’s important to stay warm and comfy during your adventures on the chilly winter days. For this reason, I’ve put together a very casual but cozy outfit for this month. I absolutely love this sweater dress from American Eagle. Unfortunately it’s only available online (on sale for $48.50), but I’ve seen other sweater dresses at many other stores the past few weeks. Match it with a long, simple chain necklace and it’s a definite must have this month. I paired it with these super cute tights from Titika ($106). If I had it my way, I would never take off my tights, I love being comfy at all times. These tights from Titika are comfy but they’re also stunning with the detailing on the side of each leg. Definitely check them out! You’ll be wearing them all the time (day, night, work out… you name it) once you get your hands on a pair. To keep your feet warm and dry in all weather conditions, throw on the cabin socks from Roots ($28 for 3 pack)! Pull them up over your pants to peek above your boots and you’ll be on trend and warm at the same time.

As much as I love the snow, I prefer to be inside and just looking at the snow than actually trucking through it. My ideal winter night consists of watching Christmas movies up until Christmas day. My absolute favourite Christmas movies are The Santa Clause movies… All three of them. You’ll catch me watching them the week before Christmas because they make me so incredibly happy. So of course, they make the monthly board.

While watching Christmas movies it’s only appropriate to be munching on some festive popcorn. I found a recipe on the Cooking Classy website for Christmas crunch popcorn. This is the perfect fix of salty and sweet and unlike most Christmas treats, it doesn’t take long to whip up. Looking for a warm drink to sip on, too? Peppermint mochas from Starbucks are my absolute favourite during this time of year. You also have the option to turn it into a peppermint hot chocolate but mmm! Sooo tasty.

So there you have it, my monthly inspiration board! Let me know what you’re up to this month in the comments below.

Closet Clean Out

Hey friends!

I’ve been getting super bored of my wardrobe lately, which was bound to happen, and is bound to happen again. With the holidays coming up, I’m unwilling to spend much money on myself… I have a lovely family to spoil at Christmas! However come the new year, I hope to do a bit of a wardrobe overhaul. Since I started working at Anthropologie just two months ago, I’ve purchased four tops total between both Anthro and Urban Outfitters. This means at least four old shirts need to go… Preferably more. If you’re in the same position as me and hope to update your closet due to Black Friday shopping, Christmas gifts, or just a new look for the new year, here’s some ideas on what to do with all of the clothes you’re getting rid of.

Top Picks Tuesday: Currently Loving

The month of October honestly flew by… But thinking back on it all, it was a wonderful month! Since I didn’t post much last month, I wanted to do a quick recap of what’s been going on the past few weeks. I feel like I’ve gotten a few new products to tell you about, so… Here we go! My top picks for this Tuesday are a bunch of random things I’m currently loving.

Monthly Muse: October!

(All images from We Heart It and retailer websites)

Hey friends!

Yes, I do realize that it’s already nearing the end of October therefore this post is extremely late! What this monthly muse board fails to show is October is also midterm season… Sigh. Luckily I made it through my first week of midterms and big assignments being due and I have a week off before returning to yet another week of midterms. But on my week off I think I owe you a monthly muse for the month of October. Instead of inspiring your month, I hope to share with you a few of my favourite things from this month so far!

Most people get super excited about October because of Halloween. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not crazy about the spooky holiday. First off, I’m not a fan of dressed up people… Secondly I’m not into getting dressed up myself. And when you take away the costumes all that’s left is candy and movies and I don’t need a certain month to grant me permission to buy a box of candy for myself and curl up with a movie ;) But speaking of movies, my favourite Haloween movies are the Disney channel Halloweentown movies! I look forward to October because of them specifically. They may be cheesy but I’m sure you still have a soft spot for them much like I do. You’ll catch me marathoning these movies for the rest of the month!

Another thing I love about October is seeing pumpkin everywhere! Pumpkin pie, pumpkins on doorsteps, pumpkin scented candles, and of course pumpkin spice lattes! Pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks are one of my seasonal favourites. The tasty drink keeps you cozy on the chilly fall days. I mentioned loving pumpkin pie, but of course that takes a lot of work and as busy students during midterm season, we’re unable to whip up a pumpkin pie. So, my yummy suggestion is Pillsburry “ready-to-bake Pumpkin cookies”! They aren’t pumpkin flavoured but they’re still delicious and they are super easy to bake. Just pop them in the oven, wait a few minutes, and tah-dah!

But speaking of keeping warm in the chilly weather… I was creeping the Urban Outfitters website when I came across a red plaid cardigan; I immediately fell in love. I don’t know what it is that I love so much. I think both plaid and oversized cardigans are essentials for this time of year, but this combines both items into one. It’s an online only item, but I recommend getting a closer look here.

Another fashion item I found this month and really like is two tone skinny jeans from Forever 21. At first I was unsure about this look but it’s something different and the colour change on these jeans is subtle. I can see these jeans being worn in a dark, edgy outfit or as a statement piece in a casual outfit. They’re quite affordable too so be sure to check them out!

Little black booties are very popular right now, but this pair from Topshop are much more fun than what you would typically see. The studs catch your eye but also add a little glam and sass to a casual outfit. I’m in love even though they are quite pricey.. Check them out anyway though! Topshop also has a variety of plain black boots that might interest you if these are too much sparkle for you!

The last thing that has been a favourite of mine this month is the song Riptide by Vance Joy. I have been listening to it online for a few days now, but last night I finally bought it off itunes. After an hour of having it downloaded, I had already listened to it 16 times… I just can’t take it off repeat! Listen here, I hope you love it as much as I do.

My plans for the rest of the month include carving pumpkins, baking some pumpkin flavoured treats, and buying lots of Halloween candy to eat while watching the Halloweentown movies! Let me know what you’ve been up to this month in the comments below.

 

Top Picks Tuesday: Birthday Wishlist

Hey there!

October is one of my favourite months for many, many reasons. One of those reasons is because it’s my birthday month (and also my sister’s, could you tell from the ‘Happy Birthday Alex’ birthday bag in the picture?)! I know birthdays becomes less and less exciting as you grow up, and truthfully I usually have a hard time coming up with a birthday list anymore. However, this year I do have a few items put down on a list, and I’m sharing them with you for this week’s Top Picks Tuesday! (All images taken from Weheartit.com)