Category: style


Aug
2014

Staycation Adventures: Edmonton Zoo

categories: Life, style, Travel
J. Crew Chino shorts; edmonton zoo
Shorts, J. Crew Factory; top, Anthropologie (via eBay); sandals & necklace, Old Navy; bag, MbMJ (via eBay)

Our family summer vacation this year was a staycation. Edmonton is a pretty cool place to hang in the summer, so this wasn’t as depressing as it would have been if we were talking about our mid-winter vacation. The kids like need to stay busy, so we cooked up a week’s worth of local adventures to keep them entertained.

One of our stops was the Edmonton Zoo. My last visit was about 7 years ago, and it wasn’t much to write home about, so my expectations were low. And they got blown out of the water! The city has done a tremendous job of expanding and modernizing the zoo, and making it very kid-friendly.

Edmonton Zoo
Urban Farm @ Edmonton Zoo

The boy loved the urban farm, although he spent most of his time there running away from any animals that got too close … only to start following them around as soon as they walked away. If this is in any way a window into his future dating strategies, his teenage years should be interesting.

We even had a little celebrity sighting when we spotted Lucy the elephant take her morning stroll. Lucy became famous a few years ago, after being at the centre of a court battle between PETA and the city.

Edmonton Zoo; Lucy the elephant
Miss Lucy the elephant

The zoo is full of cute animals but, really, it’s all about these gingers for this lady:

red panda; edmonton zoo
Dat face tho
red panda; edmonton zoo
o hai, is it time to get up?
red panda; edmonton zoo
nope!

Call me biased, but they are the cutest, ever, period. Well, this little guy’s pretty cute too:

edmonton zoo
Arctic exhibit … now with extra local flavour

All in all, a really fun morning adventure. If you’re looking for ways to keep the kidlets entertained this summer, definitely give the Edmonton Zoo a try.

J. Crew chino shorts; Anthropologie Fei floral peasant blouse
Non-photo bombed

Stay tuned for more staycation adventures. And a few more shorts outfits, because holy heatwave, Batman!


Aug
2014

The Other Maxi Dress

categories: style
Gap Factory black maxi dress lace
Dress, Gap Factory; shoes, Vince Camuto; clutch, Gap; earrings, J. Crew

You’ve heard me gush all about my magical maxi dress. I also have this (less magical) one too. I’m all set for maxi dresses for the foreseeable future, especially since I’m heading back to work soon (and saying goodbye to my casual wardrobe). So, naturally, I bought another one. All the sense, I make it.

But, but, but.

It’s a really nice cut, it’s comfortable, it’s black (easy to dress up or down), it has that nice lace detail. Oh, and it was under $30. I’m starting to look like a genius less nonsensical, yes? Only (minor) downside is that the pockets are oddly enormous, which adds some bulk right on the hip. I’m planning to have the pockets either taken off or cut smaller.

If you’re interested in chasing down this dress, make sure to size down at least one size. I’m wearing the XS, and it’s quite loose on me (I’m usually on the smaller side of Medium in dresses).

Gap Factory black maxi dress lace
so fashun …

Oh, and in case you’re curious about my oh-so-bashful posing, no – I’m not taking a page from Fashun Blogger Posing 101. It was just an extra sunny day. Scout’s honour.


Aug
2014

Closet Inventory, pt. 2: Shoessssss!

categories: Shoes, style

A closet inventory is all fine and good (and you can read about mine here), but numbers alone only get you so far. How about some visuals? I’ve started cataloging my entire closet in photos, but that project is proving to be long and laborious, and nowhere near complete. Demonstrating my priorities, once again, I did manage to finish two parts of it. Care to guess?

Yep, bags and shoes. Always with the bags and the shoes.

I’m saving the best (my assessment, I stand by it) for last, so let’s look at some shoes. In no particular order:

shoe collection; closet tour; closet inventory
1. Jimmy Choo ($8); 2. Jimmy Choo ($132); 3. Stuart Weitzman ($150); LAUREN Ralph Lauren ($70)
shoe collection; closet tour; closet inventory
1. J. Crew Factory ($26); 2. Tory Burch (swap); 3. Tory Burch ($40); J. Crew Factory ($26)
shoe collection; closet tour; closet inventory
1. Liz Claiborne ($14); 2. Anne Klein ($70); 3. Ferragamo ($100); 4. Ferragamo ($100)
shoe collection; closet tour; closet inventory
1. Ferragamo ($125); 2. J. Crew Factory ($75); 3. Ellen Tracy ($60); J. Crew ($38)
shoe collection; closet tour; closet inventory
1. Ferragamo (gift card); 2. Cole Haan ($60); 3. J. Crew Factory ($26); J. Crew ($60)
shoe collection; closet tour; closet inventory
1. Manolo Blahnik ($14); 2. Modern Vintage ($120); 3. Prada (gift card); 4. J. Crew Factory ($26)
shoe collection; closet tour; closet inventory
1. Stuart Weitzman ($150); 2. Nine West ($70); 3. Ivanka Trump (dark green, $40); 4. Pour La Victoire ($38)
shoe collection; closet tour; closet inventory
1. Zara ($83); 2. Mel ($13); 3. Old Navy ($20); 4. Vince Camuto ($18)
shoe collection; closet tour; closet inventory
1. Target ($30); 2. Josef Seibel ($100); 3. North Face ($60); 4. Hunter ($90)
shoe collection; closet tour; closet inventory
1. Sam Edelman ($44); 2. No-name, Winners ($89); 3. Ecco ($65)

Missing from the picture: Stuart Weitzman blue peep toe pumps; Enzo Angiolini t-strap pumps; Enzo Angiolini gold sandals; Old Navy black flats (seen here and a million other posts); Gap Factory red sandals (ditto); Nine West black booties (seen here); Tahari black boots (seen here); Old Navy yellow wedge sandals; Bloch pink flats (seen here, can’t decide if I’m keeping); G by Guess metallic flats (seen here, ditto).