My Picks for Top 5 Best Dressed at the Oscars!!

If you're anything like me, you cannot wait for Oscar night.  I love listening to the interviews, seeing the dresses and of course competing against my family and tallying up correct votes/guesses of who's going to win in which category (all while gorging ourselves might I add!)

Here are my top 5 fave outfits on the Red Carpet!

#1- Mila Kunis..by far!!! I love the colour, I love the way the dress fits and flatters her figured and I love the lace around her bust. Flawless!

#2-Jennifer Lawrence: If you saw Winter's Bone, I'm sure you had no idea that she looked anything like she did on the red carpet..WOW ! She was gorgeous even as the rough-and-tumble tomboy in her film but in this gorgeous, fitted red dress she was just astounding.

It was simple but so extraordinarily glamorous!!

#3-Reese Witherspoon: I loved her dress which was just a perfect black and white combo, especially for the red carpet.  The deep back was a unique touch and a nice way to bring a statement to a fairly low-key dress. I also really loved her hair and makeup.  She looked so fresh and young. 

#4- I really, really loved Kate Blanchette's dress.  I loved the mustard color beading with the grayish-lavendar dress color.  It was such a unique combo and her short hair was the perfectly styled to help pull it off without taking away or adding too much to the dress.  My boyfriend said the round part in the center of her dress reminded him of a carebear though! Overall, I really love the boxy, futuristic shoulders with the flowy bottom portion.  Gorgeous!

#5-For me it was a tie between Celine Dion and Scarlett Johanson. I loved Celine's tight fitting number and Scarlett's dress color combined with the exposed back and lace.

Is it just me or does Celine always look amazing? And she just had twins, what like 5 months ago? Insane.

DIY Artwork Using Old Calendar Pages

So I was at Chapter early last year and saw an old Calendar that had just expired.  It was with 12 photos of Audrey Hepburn and they were really gorgeous black and white photographs so I decided to pick it up (it was only $4) becase I figured I could use it for something.  I ended up deciding to frame them. After my sister saw this she wanted the calendar too so I ended up picking her one up as well.  Then when she went out of town, my mum decided to re-do her room(my mom loves little room makeovers). 

We picked out two cream 23x23 inch square frames which included matts, and then cut the photographs out of the calendar.  We then just placed them in the frame and voila! Instant art!

 

Imagine these pictures on a pop of wall color! They would stand out really nicely!

The one below is my favorite one of Audrey, it's a photo I had never seen before and she looks like she's so happy.  I plan on framing this one eventually when I move out.

An alternative way to frame these would be to buy an album frame (you can get them at Michael's Arts & Crafts for around $12) and frame them that way if you want a more simple line.

This is just a really good way of creating artwork on a budget, or turning your favourite calendar photos into wall-art! Enjoy!

Spring Break Baby!

SO! I have reading week this week..woohoo! A week off. Err, not really.  I dont have any classes this week (aside from my one online class).  While everyone else is going far away to some hot beaches to drink and tan, I am staying home :( I have to work and had to pick up more hours at my business placement this week.  However, it is nice to have some extra time to get things done. I just went through my closet, donated some clothing, cleaned up and organized.  I also plan on fixing some clothing that has been sitting in my closet, waiting to be repaired before I can wear them again!

I don't know about any of you, but I HATE to waste so I am very careful to fix or mend things that I know I can still get some use out of.  There are too many consumers out there that waste, waste, waste and add I try not to be one of them.

Anyways, hopefully some of you are on break too and can finally catch up on anything you haven't had time to do!!

Some Tips on how to successfully sell clothing on Ebay

I don't know if any of you are like me in this sense but for a long time I would buy a ton of clothing that I "loved", which I would never wear and so it would end up sitting in my closet for months and never get worn.  I eventually would do a closet clear out but did not want to just discard/donate these clothes that still had the tag attached or that had just been worn once.  So about 3 years ago I decided to give Ebay a go.  Over time I got really good at targeting those Ebayers who I thought would enjoy my clothing.  Here are my top 5 tips for anyone who is looking to successfully get rid of some clothing on Ebay:

1.) The TITLE of you listing is the most important.  If you are selling, say, a really gorgeous blouse from Anthropologie that you bought for whatever price it is important that you use certain key words like "Urban", "Bohemian", "Vintage" and other such terms in order to target those individuals who would likely buy from that store.  People who are looking for that type of clothing are more likely to search for these terms as opposed to "blue blouse".  You are not allowed to put titles of stores in your listing if your item is not from there, this is called key word spamming. BUT you can use words that are descriptors that resemble the store such as "Urban" or you can use words that would target the audience you think would be most likely to buy your item.  A lot of people make the error of putting "cute!" or something like "gorgeous pink top" but no one is going to actually search for a "cute top", they would most likely type "Chloe pink blouse" or something of the sort. 

2.) Item Condition.  Do NOT list anything that has stains, holes or marks.  People do not want to buy these things.  I once purchased a blouse that was listed as "gently used" only to receive it and notice that under each arm was a yellow sweat stain! How disgusting is that? The only exception to this rule (in my opinion, obviously) is if it is a very high-end item that is new and has a damage that is easily repairable.  Such a top with a loose seam that can be easily repaired or a stain in an unnoticeable area.  Some sellers on Ebay sell high end merchandise for ridiculously cheap because they can get it from the manufacturer at a discount and then pass that discount on to you!

3.) Photos.  Some people think that listing an item for $50 is justifiable with only one photo of the item.  This is silly.  Make sure you have at least 3 photos so that the people who do come across your item get the best idea of what your item actually looks like.  This will prevent them from getting something they don't expect and thus leaving you with positive feedback.

4.)Shipping.  In order to entice buyers, make sure you are charging shipping costs at their actual rate.  A lot of sellers try to make money by upping the shipping and therefore profiting on this as well as on the sale of their item (which is against Ebay policy, but hard to prove).  Charging $25 for shipping when it only costs $7 will reduce the amount of bids placed on your item for sure.  And for those who do follow through and pay, they will likely leave you a bad rating for expensive charges.  Also, make sure you send out your items within a reasonable 1-3 day period so your buyer gets it A.S.A.P.  Buyers get restless very easily! (If you are unsure what to charge for shipping you can take it to your nearest post office and have it weighed to get a general idea).

5.Paypal.  In order to make your sales as seamless as possible and to get the maximum number of people to bid on your item you really need paypal.  People are skeptical about giving their card out over the internet (rightly so) and Paypal allows them to feel safe.  It also give you a place to keep money securely online and then make purchases with that money, or transfer it to your bank account if you so choose.

I hope this was helpful to anyone who is interested! Let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer! xox

My Celebrity Style Icon

I was just looking through my saved photos of "looks I like" (I don't know if you do this but if I see an outfit I love or a piece of jewelry I like and want to make myself, I save it on my computer) and I noticed that a lot of the photos are of Hillary Duff.  I don't know what it is about her but her style is absolutely my favourite, I don't think I've ever seen her in an outfit that I wouldn't personally wear (at least within the last 2-3 years, not in her Disney days!)

For one, she does the dressed up look well, whether she's wearing a pant suit or a dress.  She always looks tasteful and on trend and always wears really interesting cuts, fabrics or unique patterns.

She also always seems to rock one of my favourite looks: the super casual leggings, tee and scarf look.  This style can go wrong on so many different levels, but she always looks casual and cute at the same time..just the right amount of "I don't really care" without being sloppy.

I also think I gravitate towards her looks because she's similar to me in that I wear a lot of neutral/earthy colors, but then do a strong pop of color in a shoe, scarf of some kind of really bold accessory.  I absolutely love the above look with the bright yellow shoe, so cute!!

Whether she's going to the gym, going to an event or just getting coffee, she always looks fabulous. I love her!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone has a great day.  I know Valentine's Day tends to be that day that makes all the happy people happier, and all the lonely people lonelier.  I hope that even if you don't believe in or celebrate Valentines Day, or you dont have a "special someone" that you at least have some chocolate to treat yourself!!  I am planning on spending tonight at the gym! HA! SOOO ramantic right? NOT.  But I have the night off so that's what I'm gonna do!

How I spent my Saturday..yes it involves shopping

My Boyfriend and I spent the day downtown on Saturday.  I hadn't intended to spend any money but of course that didn't happen.  However, my boyfriend decided to treat me and did buy me two absolutely gorgeous tops from Zara which I am in LOVE with.

The one on the left is a really nice royal blue blouse with gold accent buttons and a military type design on the shoulders.  Unfortunately I have a terribly old camera that does no justice to this blouse, but I can assure you it is fantastic-it's a really bold royal blue, not a dark blue! It really reminds me of something Kourtney Kardashian would wear. She's always wearing gorgeous blouses and tunics that I just adore.

The other blue top is a pretty sleeveless chiffon in a dark navy with a little tie in the front. I got it for the summer for work since it would look great with some white shorts and bold, gold jewelry.

Finally, I bought a skirt and a scarf from H&M.  They were both really great deals in my opinion.  The skirt is a really nice beigy/pink and black striped mini and it was only $6.95! That's a steal and it's just a really versatile piece in my opinion.

The scarf was $14.95 and it's a really nice green color. It can be worn multiple ways which I love, and it's really nice and thin so it can be worn throughout most seasons.

It looks a bit different in the picture but in person it doesn't have so much of a sheen to it..it's more a flat color.  It's really nice and earthy!



So yes, I did spend money that I shouldn't have BUT I have been a very good and frugal girl so this was my treat! ha!

Review: Elf Nail Polish in Smoky Brown

About a week ago I mentioned that I had placed an order on Elf's website (eyeslipsface.com) which I did receive.  I am planning on reviewing all the products, but I am just trying to use them all for a few weeks before I feel comfortable giving my reviews.

One product I feel I can definitely give an accurate review on is Elf's polish in Smoky Brown.  It is a really gorgeous taupy, light brown color that is a great everyday neutral.

\It applies really smoothly and has a pretty good color payoff on the first application.  It is a tad sheer for my taste with just one coat though, so I did two just for a more flawless look.  It dried somewhat quickly which surprised me since I expected it to take forever(that is one of my biggest pet peeves).  It lasted about 4 days without chipping (for me that's good..my job causes my nails to chip endlessly) and for $1, you really can't beat it.  I am giving this polish a 5/5...I will probably try out a few more colors in the future. I've already got my eye on their Mod Mauve,Desert Haze and Rosy Raisin!

Review: Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation

So I purchased a new foundation the other day at my local Walmart.  I have only started using liquid foundation as of last year, reason being I had tried using Mac's Studio Sculpt Foundation when it came out(recommended by a SA)and it caused one of the worst most painful breakouts I've ever had.  However, I tried once again with Makeup Forever's Matt Velvet + and had really good results.  BUT, I am starting to run kind of low so I decided to try a new, cheaper alternative.

I pretty much purchased this one because it seemed like it would match the best.  So far, it is actually a really decent foundation! It covers even better than my Matt Velvet and hides any redness and scarring even with a small amount.  It is absolutely buildable but I found I didn't need a whole lot at all.  I used a larger stippling brush that I purchased years ago on CoastalScents.com and it works wonderfully. I purchased it in the Ligh 01 Ivory shade which I think it actually a tad light for me.  It's almost perfect but gives a "colder" look.  Ill show you what I mean below: (please excuse my hair and clothing, I took this before I went to school at 8am..kind of schlubby-lookin'!!)

I am pretty damn pale with slight pink undertones (which this foundation does have) but I find that this makes me a little bit whiter than I would like.  However, this was taken directly in front of a window, so it's true color is not bad and inside without sunlight, it definitely looks better.  Perhaps if I add some blush and bronzer it will work a bit better.  Below is a picture of me wearing my Matt Velvet + :

While the shades of my matt velvet and the Maybelline Liquid are close, I find the Matt is a bit "warmer". I think I may try to mix the two and see what happens.  A couple of cons to the Maybelline Liquid Mousse foundation are that it does not stop shine as well as my MUFE Matt Velvet and it does transfer easier and definitely needs to be set with a powder.  However, I am planning on keeping this foundation and working with it to see how to make it look the best.  I guess I will just have to embrace my paleness this winter!

Note: Also, I received my E.L.F. package today so I should be able to do a couple of reviews on the items I purchased.  I just want to work with the ones that are new to me before I do a review on those.  I also repurchased one item which is in my opinion Elf's best product...stay tuned!

UPDATE!!!: I returned this foundation..sadly it broke me out on day 4..and QUITE badly might I add.  It is definitely not for acne prone skin. I don't know if I should even try another.  I seem to have terrible results! Oh well

Looks that don't work for me

There are always new trends coming out and I try to keep my eyes open for more "everyday" versions of those trends to ensure I get multiple usage and extra wear out of them.  However, there are a couple that I love, but am either too nervous to try or that just do no work on me.

For example,I am IN LOVE with Jessica Simpson's Dany platform. I think they're gorgeous and I love the height and the raw wood look, but I am just terrified to even attempt them-those suckers are TALL.  Another trend that makes me nervous is the bold lip.  Anything really dark makes my top lip look overly thin since it exaggerates how tiny it is! So I def. have to stay away from the vampy lips :( Some other trends that I have tried but that I feel somewhat introverted in is the really wide trouser leg, the Rihanna inspired bold shoulder and the middle (hair)part. I have a fairly deep side part and when I part it down the middle I feel awkward although it is somewhat cute.Also,I have purchased two pairs of wide leg but I think I just want to wait until summer to wear them with sandals or a taller wedge.  I also want to try a self tanner, but I have a serious fear of turning orange.  I've seen it done right and it looks great and I have seen it go horribly wrong and look oompa loompaish, so we shall see. 

Any trends that you like but are hesitant to try??

Products I regret buying

I have had a few products laying around that I have purchased over the last 6 months or so that I really am having trouble using up.  I usually do my research before I try a new product e.g. Makeupalley.com, Youtube, other blogs, etc.  However, every now and then I am out and about and come across a product I figure is worth a try.  Well, with these products, it didn't work out so well.  I hang onto them though because I really do not want to waste..I always try to use them up or find another use for them.

• First up is the eyelash curler.  I have always thought that all eyelash curlers were pretty much created equally.  I was dead wrong.  To be honest, there is a little "Dollar Store" (you know the ones that are called dollar stores but everything in there is between $1 and $10?) near my house.  I buy a $1 eyelash curler there all the time.  I replace it when I lose it or it gets old. It has always worked great.  However, they no longer carry it so I picked this one up at a Shoppers near my place. It is terrible! It mostly curls the outside but the middle is left almost untouched.  It also pinches at times. I just don't get it.  Anyone know what "makes" a good curler?
• Next up is the Lorac aquaPrime. A SA at Sephora recommended it to me when I was purchasing foundation.  I told her I have really senstive skin and am prone to breakouts so she told me this was perfect. However, it is literally like putting water on your face and doesn't seem to make any difference with makeup application or make it longer wearing...no bueno!
• Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion: Smells FANTASTIC. My problem with it is that it doesn't really absorb into the skin and just sort of sits on top.  It begins to feel filmy which is just not effective and doesn't moisturize as much as I need for these Canadian winters!
• Infusium Leave-In Treatment: COMPLETE RUBBISH! It does not soften your hair.  It will make it crusty and crackly. If you apply too much it will leave a terrible residue. However! I have found another use for it: when I want to give my hair that crimpy, curly beachy wave look, I apply this after my mousse and then again after my hair is dry.  It helps keep the curls somewhat in place by drying it out.  Sounds weird, I know.  Rubbish as a leave-in but okay as assistance to a beachy wave look (almost like a salt treatment would do)
• Last but not least, Got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Spray.  Don't get me wrong, this is a good hair spray but it is not good for holding curls.  This was an error on my part since I didn't correctly read the label.  It literally "freezes" your hair in place with a "blast" of spray.  I bought it before I saw Jersey Shore; this is the spray Pauly-D uses on his hair to cement it in place.  Not so good for bouncy curls I guess!

OOOKAY! Well I applaud you if you actually read this post. Hopefully someone found it interesting! xoxo

A cheaper O.P.I alternative

Don't get me wrong, I do love OPI polishes. I love the color selection, the continuous release of new colors, the bottle and I love the staying power. However, the price is quite high in my opinion and does not align at all with my current budget.  A few months ago Sally Hanson released a new polish collection called the Sally Hanson Complete Home Manicure.  They are around $8 a bottle but go on sale for about $5 at Shoppers and Rexall every now and then.  To me this is much more reasonable and I can pick up 3 for the price of one (which I try to refrain from..my collection is getting out of hand!!)

I bought the colors Red Zin, Gray by Gray (which is a bit more blue than gray) and Commander in Chic.  I definitely wear Red Zin the most as I feel it goes with almost everything and I really love it.  Commander in Chic is a really nice gray/taupe color which is really "in" right now and the blue color I bought just because it was so unique.  It reminds me of something you'd see on a wall or a car. I also really like how this collection has mostly matte colors since I am not a huge fan of shimmery/glittery polishes at the moment.  I would highly recommend these colors!

Polyvore!!

WOW! I have not posted anything in a whiiiile! I'm not even going to give any excuses (school..*cough*..work)BUT today all three of my school's campuses were closed due to a snow storm that we had today  so I did have a bit of time off tonight which was nice.  I just joined the Polyvore website today and oh my lord. I.am.addicted.  I have not been shopping nearly as much as I would like to and I don't think this site is going to be very beneficial in that regard, it makes me want to go out and buy ENTIRE looks as opposed to just a top here and there! It is really fun though, and super easy to do so if you have never been on the site and created any looks, I highly recommend it (http://www.polyvore.com/)

This is a look I created just to demonstrate pretty much what I have been wearing lately.  I own these boots which I am in love with because I can dress them up or down, I live in my black tights and the tunic length blouse is my favorite staple piece.  I own a ton (not this one particularly..it's RIDIC expensive)! I just feel most comfortable in a long tunic and tights.  And I am also a huge fan of Banana Republic's jewelry which is where this ring is from.  Overall this Polyvore set just illustrates my fave look right now; perfect balance of comfort and style.