Thursday, June 30, 2011

Phone Me... on my Swaggberry

 Mexx cardigan (last seen here), La Senza tank (last seen here), H&M pants (last seen here), Aldo wedges (last seen here), Joe Fresh necklaces, Auslini bangle, Hot Diamonds ring & Stitches connector ring

I just love these in motion photos.

I'm starting yoga and need to get a pair of these (because I cannot borrow my friend's pair forever).

This one is making me want to rush to the movie theatre.  Stat.

I'm craving these heels but am trying to decide if I'm too tall for them...

I use an iPhone.  What about you*?

Listening to...


* Did I actually just link to that song?  It's so bad.  Likely why I love it; it makes me laugh.  
Those swaggberry users... they're hardcore.

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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Fathers' Day: iPhone Snaps


I know these photos are a little late, but better late than never, right?  Right.  My sister and I hosted Fathers' Day brunch for our family and it was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining, it was warm and we dined al fresco, drank mimosas and had a bean bag game tournament (and guess who won?  This kid, right here).  This is the fourth brunch we've hosted in under two months and again made something new: breakfast pizza, which ended up being a total hit with everyone, including the Dads.


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Monday, June 27, 2011

Willing Something

 
Smart Set tee, Seduction skirt, Mossimo flats, Gucci shades, gifted Auslini bangle, Bay ring & F21 necklace

Do you ever will something to happen?  For instance, willing someone to text you and then it's like, 'Speak of the devil, you ol' devil you!' when they text you?  No?  Just me?  Do you believe in willing something to happen?  I believe in positive thinking and optimism.  Willing something to happen?  Sometimes... Coincidences?  Always. Apparently there are no coincidences.  Apparently coincidences are a product of willing.  And to be honest?  I believe in that.

 
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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Featured: A.Co on Veronabrit

Veronika has featured me on her weekly 'Motivational Monday' post.  Find out about what I eat, my workout routines and why I don't believe in cheat days.

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Monday, June 20, 2011

Secret Agent + Music

 Smart Set top, H&M jeans (last seen here), Anne Michelle heels (last seen here), Gucci shades, Aldo necklace, Michael Kors bracelet, gifted Swarovski bangle & Charlotte Russe ring

So I'm siting down writing this post when I realize my tail bone is quite tender (yes, tender).  How did that happen?  And really, how does one get a 'tender' tailbone when you don't know how it happened.  Surely the only time your tailbone hurts is when you know you've done something to it.  Thanks body, also known as Secret Agent Body.

So I'm one of those people that always has to have music playing.  It's one of the first things I do when I get home from work; put some music on.  Whether it's a tv music channel, streaming it online or (last resort) pumping it from my iPhone.  My preference is always hip-hop, dance and ambient.  The latter is always my favourite dining music.  Music is a must when dining.  And when throwing parties.  And when cooking.  And, well, always.  Agree?  Agent tailbone does.

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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Covet


Why didn't I pull the trigger on these while they still had my size?  Why, self, why!?  ...I guess I could still get them in orange...
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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Recent: iPhone Snaps


 Just some recent iPhone snaps:

1.  The top I said I'd make as an April resolution.
2.  Mom's Birthday brunch (I rocked that quiche thanks to Ka).
3.  DIY'd pasta/coffee jars I made for my sister as a Christmas gift using chalkboard paint.
4.  Mojitos.  'Nuff said.

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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

6 Secrets for Better Blogging


I started this blog over a year ago and it's become a crazy passion of mine.  Crazy as in I'll spend hours working on posts, perusing other blogs, thinking up ideas and taking photos and editing them to share with you all.  Blogging gives me a creative outlet and let's me express myself however I want all while keeping it in one handy little spot, and if other people enjoy it, bonus (and I obviously won't lie when I say your comments really bring a smile to my face).

That said, I'm not blogging expert and sometimes I do get discouraged, run out of time or get what I like to call, 'Bloggers Block' (kind of like writers block but when you don't know what to blog about).  I thought it would be helpful to put together a post about things I look for when coming across a new blog and what appeals to me (Tiffany wrote a great post about this and I read it when I first started blogging and it really helped me).  Everyone is different, hence why there are so many blog styles, but these are what really catches my eye and I strive to do:

1.  Write often.  

I love having blogs I can 'count on', and when I say that I mean I know that when I'm going through my daily blog route, those blogs will be updated daily and I can look forward to it.  I know we are all busy and blogging takes a lot of time and work, but posting frequently will up your readership because your readers can count on you.


2.  Use your own photos.  

Sure, every now and again I'll use a random photo I found on the web (like here), but that's not very often.  Readers come to your blog to read about you, what's going on in your life, what you're loving lately, etc. and that is easily demonstrated through your own photos.  If you are loving a new piece of make-up you just purchased, take a photo of it and use it instead of google-image-searching a photo of the product.  Even better: take a photo of you with the product.  People eat that shiz up.


3.  Install a stat tracker.  

Tiffany mentioned this in her post but I have to reiterate because it's extremely important.  It's very easy to get caught up in how many comments you are or are not getting, however, it really doesn't exemplify your readership or page hits.  Only a stat tracker can tell you this and you will be amazed to see where people come from, how your readership grows and the posts you write that get the most hits.  I would have never known how many people actually visit my blog per day, versus how many official follow (the numbers are surprisingly not comparable).  I use StatCounter and Google Analytics.


4.   Be honest. 

I love when bloggers are super honest and real, ...loveMaegan is an excellent example of this.. It turns a blogger into a real person and gives you a real taste of their personality and traits.  This certainly isn't always easy putting the true, real, raw version of yourself out there, but it makes you relatable, and really, how great is it when you come across someone who has similar problems or hurdles to overcome as you?  Super great.


5.  Link.  Link.  Link.  (and make it easy)

I always link to the items I'm wearing to when I last wore them, and if they are available for purchase online, I'll use that link as well.  As a reader, you want things to be easily accessible, and as a blogger, I should know that.  Personally, if I have to put in work to find something, it's not going to happen, I'll mostly just let it go.  Additionally, if your post pertains to another post you wrote, link to that.  There is a good chance a good chunk of people never saw that post, so make it easy for them.


6.  Make your own rules.  

This is your blog, your rules.  You can post about whatever you want.  If people don't like it, they don't have to read it.  Just be true to yourself and your readers will see that.
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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Hair Risks

 
Thrifted Gap dress (last seen here), Qupid sandals, Old Navy (kids) belt, Joe Fresh necklaces, 
Charles Jourdan bag, Gucci shades, H&M and F21 bangles

Writers block.  Or as I like to call it, Bloggers Block.  What do you do when you suffer from it?  I'll either ramble or write about something completely irrelevant, or just not say anything at all.  With that said, let's choose the latter and discuss hair colour.  I am a (mousy) brunette, but clearly you did not know this from my photos as I hide it quite well (yeah right).  Recently, my girl friend suggested I do some sort of major overhaul with my hair (yelp) and I must confess; the thought scares (the shit out of) me.  First off, I love being blonde.  Secondly, after chopping off five inches off my hair almost three years ago (into an asymmetrical bob), I've been trying to grow my hair out (and am very reluctant to cut any of it).  Finally, it's summer, and summer is not the time I want to really switch it up.  However, I might consider something drastic for the fall.  Would you?

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Monday, June 13, 2011

Covet


At first glance, this jacket looked like leather to me (and yes, there is clearly a slight leather-jacket-obsession going on over here) but turns out its denim.  I love the waterfall front to it, but to be honest, it'd be better in leather.

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Sunday, June 5, 2011

The Weekend Come

Blogging with a treat
 3 Fighter Jets

Modified 'Warrior Bowl' with quinoa

This week and weekend has flown by.  I killed it at the gym four days in a row now (yes, there is a first time for everything), the weather has finally started to be nice (go sunshine, go heat), and the weekend turned out great (a little girls dinner, a couple movies, and great food and company).  On top of that, I celebrated a good friend's birthday with lunch out, had my first Frappuccino of the season and 'met' with my BBFF (best blogger friend forever, oh yeah, we're those kind of friends) on Skype for the first time ever (and she's awesome).  How was your week?

Here are some fun links from around the web:

* Natalie featured me and my How-To-Tie-A-Scarf tutorial (fun!).

* I had a few gift cards and I used them to purchase one of these designer handbags.
(can you guess which one? + I'm doing a little squeal on the inside)

* Are Chinese mothers superior?  Either way, I still love the article.

* My latest read (so me, ugh).

* Did you watch the Oprah finale?  She had some incredibly inspiring quotes.

* I need these flats (but not at that price).

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Thursday, June 2, 2011

The Older Woman

 Dynamite blazer (last seen here) & dress, Guess slingbacks (last seen here), Suzy belt, necklace & ring

My grandparents invited me to a special soiree a couple weekends ago.  I took advantage and dressed up in a new dress and heels.  Funny story: a middle aged woman comes up to me in the washroom and compliments me, she then tells me that when I walked past her table earlier, her sixteen-year-old son's jaw dropped, which was followed by his 18 year old girlfriend smacking his arm.  Nice to know I'm attractive to a teenager and I'm not 'old' (because I totally thought being a decade older than him would be, you know, 'old').  I had a good laugh and proceeded to receive a few evil eyes from said girlfriend.  Isn't love grand?

My mom & I were taking a shot and my Grammy jumped in at the last second (so cute)
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