Monday 29 September 2014

Racerback Tanks and Bras

This summer, the streets of Kelowna were filled with women of all ages, shapes, and sizes committing serious crimes against style. It seemed that it became okay, even fashionable, to wear exposed bra straps with racerback tanks. When did this happen?!?

Call me old school, but in my humble opinion, this is just not a good look - ever. Ladies, please get an appropriate racerback bra and keep exposed lingerie to the bedroom, not the street!

 

Thursday 25 September 2014

Wenger Swiss Clipper

Out and about, and discover a hanging thread? No problem! Hangnail? Da nada! Something stuck in your teeth, or errant brow hair? Dinna fash! You always have your trusty Wenger Swiss Clipper with you, so none of these situations pose a threat.

Seriously, this little gadget is one of the best investments I've ever made. It's so tiny it fits into the pen slot of my purse, and has come to the rescue more times than I can count.

It's such a good investment I've made it twice...after forgetting to remove it from my purse while going through airport security - the tiny knife is an on-board no-no - so always put in your carry-on when travelling or leave it at home (which sucks when you have a painful hangnail and realize you don't have it!). Wenger now makes an airplane-safe version with a different tool than the knife, but I still suspect security would be wary of the scissors.

At $25-30 at various retailers, this is an invaluable asset and incredible bang for buck. I got both of mine at House of Knives in Orchard Park Shopping Mall in Kelowna, BC.

 

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Melanie Auld Ring to Earrings

Did it myself! Until this afternoon, I had a Melanie Auld ring that was just lovely - exactly like below but in gunmetal with black hematite stones.

However, I was finding I wasn't wearing the ring as often as warranted - A) because I have a right-hand ring I wear almost every day and adding the Auld didn't look right with it; and B) it was slightly too big for all my fingers so tended to roll around. Classic impulse purchase!

What I really DID need was a pair of classy black studs. I hemmed and hawed if this could actually be a DIY project...and today just went for it! Managed to split some earring backings off old fake pearls I didn't wear, took metal snips to the ring, filed and painted where the ring had joined the stones, and used metal resin to adhere the posts. Voila!

Love <3

 

Wednesday 17 September 2014

Rock Creek Fall Fair

 

Continuing with my Outfit of the Day (without the professional photographer) thread, I dressed as cowgirl as I could authentically muster for the Rock Creek Fall Fair. Provided a stylish opportunity to don my barely-broken Frye harness boots, which came in VERY handy standing in the cowpie-strewn field watching the lawnmower races (NOT kidding). And my poor DH stepping lightly in flip-flops - haha :-)

Patterned cotton/silk shirt by Joe Fresh, cotton skirt by Gap, Rebecca Minkoff Affair bag, Hermes CDC and Pandora arm party, and Oakley Fringe sunnies.

 

Kettle River Provincial Park

Destination of the Day - Kettle River Provincial Park

It's early September in the Okanagan Valley. We are enjoying sunshine and temperatures in the low 20s C, while our friends in Alberta just got their first massive dump of snow for the season. "Calgary is a great city" - yeah, sure, just keeping telling yourself that ;-)

DH and I took the opportunity to visit one of our favourite campgrounds, 5 km north of Rock Creek along Hwy 33. While $28 is quite pricey for a provincial park campsite, the cost is offset with well-designed, treed and private sites, all within strolling distance of the shallow, babbling Kettle River. In summer, this park is choca-block with families tubing down the lazy stream and jumping from cliffs into a natural deep pool. Now, it is placid and peaceful. Perfect for sunning with a good book, then sitting by the campfire, vino in hand. Cheers!

Next instalment will feature the Rock Creek Fall Fair. Time to bring out the s*&tkickers and find the beer garden!

 

 

Wednesday 10 September 2014

The Talisman Guild 1976

Before Eddie Borgo, before Anita Ko, there were a plethora of jewellers cashing in on the pyramid theme. And I'm not just talking about King Tut ;-)

In 1976, a mail order entrepreneur got a US patent on "The Talisman Guild" and started selling gold-tone pyramid pendants. Each featured an inner chamber in which one could place their innermost wishes and desires for the magic pyramid to fulfill, complete with inner magnet...and we all know the power of magnetic jewelry (eye roll)! They were also each stamped with a unique serial number.

I have no idea how much they sold for in 1976 or what the expectations of the buyers were. But I do know my mom bought one - serial number 60576 - and that I found it while going through a box she designated as garbage during a move in 2014. Inside, I found her nearly four-decade-old "wish" - a simple piece of paper with mine and by brother's name on it.

Being more pragmatic than sentimental, I quickly realized the value in this discarded bauble. It was quite chipped on the corners, and I prefer silver, so a quick coat of metallic paint has created a new pendant. Inside I christened it with a new wish: "Health + Safety + Financial Prosperity = Our Travel & Life Dreams". Amen (or whatever the Egyptian equivalent of that is).

 

 

Tuesday 9 September 2014

Cheap jewelry...c'mon, don't pretend you don't KWIM!

Buying cheap jewelry is SO not worth it! You know what I mean by "cheap"...it's not necessarily about the price, it's about the quality. It's taken me decades to finally figure this out and swear an oath to never again purchase poor quality crap, no matter how stylish it is or what a good deal it seems.

My latest (and last) such shopping blunder occurred when I decided to join in the midi ring craze. I got a dozen simple silver-colored bands in various sizes for $24. Loved the look - for about 2 hours! After that, my fingers had gone green and the bands were exposing brass areas. And I had even coated them with clear nail polish first!

Geez, I hate wasting money! Jewel-lovers, repeat after me: "I will never again buy crappy quality baubles, no matter the sale."

PS. This said, there are many quality makers of beautiful fashion jewelry at very reasonable price points...more to follow!

 

 

Sunday 7 September 2014

John Masters Organics Hair Pomade


You know that moment when you first try a new beauty product and just go "Wow, where have you been all my life!?!"? Then, when you run out of it and have to revert to something else to get by until you can get your hands on said miracle again? This is the true litmus test of a beauty "must have".

For me and my hair, John Masters Organics pomade is IT. Simply the best styling product ever. I have course, naturally wavy, and very thick hair. The only way to make it smooth involves a tussle with many scorching appliances, thus the ends tend to fuzz and break. Finishing my ends with a coating of John's pomade adds shine, softness and nice piecy-ness.

Made with all natural organic ingredients, the pomade actually improves my ends over time. Love that when I rub it into my hands and coif, I don't have any slick chemical residue on my hands - just rub it further into my cuticles. Great softener for dry skin too! And it smells.....oh, just incredibly awesome.

A bit pricey for a styling product, but 1) one jar lasts almost six months because you only need a pea-size amount, and 2) hey, we are talking about my crowing glory here. Qualifies for free shipping at well.ca

 

Saturday 6 September 2014

Orange 'n' Blues

OOTD (wtpp) = Outfit of the Day (without the professional photographer)

Introducing my own OOTD thread. However, unlike many fashion blogs you may have seen, mine will feature terrible photos! Well seriously, this is in part due to my darling husband (DH) being recruited to take the photos, and DH, while talented in a variety of other areas, is not a stellar photographer. Also in large part to the reality that I featuring clothes that I am ACTUALLY wearing out to REAL places! I love and admire fashion bloggers donning fierce designer outfits with staggering heels in a variety of cosmopolitan settings, all captured in mega-pixel, well-lit perfection. However, this is not my life. And I doubt it's theirs either.

I'm sure they are not going out to grocery-shop in these outfits. Or even strolling around sight-seeing and lunching. They are putting on outfits, taking amazing pictures, going home or to a hotel, changing, and getting on with their real lives.

So my OOTD posts will be raw, grainy, and ill-shot...but they will be REAL!

Phew! So today, DH and I decided to treat ourselves to a late summer lunch out at my favorite local winery restaurant - Quails Gate. I orginally put on grey wide-leg coulottes and a black silk tank, but DH vetoed this as too dark for the sunny day. Opted for the fresher BCBG ensemble of a neon orange pleated skirt and flowy white tank. When it came to accessories, I realized all my blues worked beautifully with the orange - from the Minkoff denim blue studded Affair, marine Hermes CDC, light blue Rebekah Price Rivoli studs, navy/cobalt/white sandals from Aldo, and the light blue stone and chain collar I found at Value Village for $4 (private yay!).

Loving my blues!